Xiao Xiao: Smooth Sailing!

After parting ways with Zhang Lexuan, Zhou Huan returned to his dull academy life.

But Zhou Huan was more than happy to enjoy such "dullness," because Douluo Continent was anything but a peaceful world. If you went out and got beaten to death, then you simply died. Not even a ripple would be stirred.

Another three months passed like that.

He had been at Shrek for half a year now, and Zhou Huan's Soul Power had broken through to level thirty more than two months ago. He simply had not gone to hunt a Soul Beast and obtain a Soul Ring yet.

He had to thank Huo Gua for the little opportunity "given" to him by the Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly for his rapid progress.

"Zhou Huan, did you really take a month off?" Xiao Xiao asked in surprise during lunch.

"Mm, I did." Zhou Huan nodded. He had already been a Quasi-Soul Elder for over two months. Although continuing to cultivate would still accumulate Soul Power, being unable to see himself steadily level up felt rather unpleasant—like playing a game where he could never gain a level.

Zhou Huan did not like that feeling, so he thought it was time to add a Soul Ring.

"But why would the teacher approve a whole month of leave?" Xiao Xiao asked, puzzled.

After all, Shrek Academy was quite strict about this sort of thing. How could it approve a month-long vacation for a First-Year Student?

"Of course he would. I have a good relationship with Teacher Wang Yan. You all know that," Zhou Huan replied.

He had indeed asked Wang Yan for leave. Naturally, his reason was not that he wanted to obtain a Soul Ring, but that after reading so many theoretical books, he needed to go out and put things into practice.

Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles were both necessary.

In truth, after Zhou Yi learned that Zhou Huan had requested leave, she opposed it. But this time, Wang Yan took a firm stance and gave her no face.

He, Wang Yan, was Class One's actual Class Advisor. Zhou Yi was merely the assistant Class Advisor. Did he need Zhou Yi's agreement to approve leave for a student?

Previously, Zhou Yi had expelled Dai Huabin and the others from Class One. Wang Yan had been somewhat dissatisfied, but since Dai Huabin and the others had challenged Zhou Yi's authority as a teacher first, he had turned a blind eye and let it go.

But when it came to Zhou Huan's leave, Wang Yan certainly would not give Zhou Yi any face. Setting aside his teacher-and-friend relationship with Zhou Huan, as the actual Class Advisor, Wang Yan could make the decision himself.

Thus, no matter how strongly Zhou Yi objected in the end, it was useless.

"But what are you going to do outside Shrek for so long?" Wang Qingya asked from the side.

"After reading so many books, I have to go outside and see the real situation for myself. Theory is only useful when combined with practice. Theory divorced from reality has no meaning, especially for Soul Masters," Zhou Huan explained. "Besides, I mastered First Year's theoretical courses long ago. Leaving for a month is no big deal. Otherwise, why would Teacher Wang Yan approve such a long leave?"

That was indeed the truth. No one understood better than Wang Yan just how extensive Zhou Huan's theoretical knowledge was.

What Wang Yan did not know was that Zhou Huan merely had God's perspective.

Wang Yan had even been shocked when Zhou Huan brought up certain theories from the era of Legend of the Dragon King ten thousand years later.

Thus, when he heard that Zhou Huan wanted a month off to seek out low-level Soul Beasts and put his theories into practice, Wang Yan agreed without another word.

As for safety, Zhou Huan was a two-ring Great Soul Master after all, so Wang Yan was not worried. What Soul Master grew up in a greenhouse?

Especially since Wang Yan knew Zhou Huan was an orphan who had endured countless hardships on his own to reach Shrek.

Given Zhou Huan's circumstances, Wang Yan had even less reason to hesitate.

However, while Wang Yan was not worried, Xiao Xiao and the others were different. "You theory people always go on and on, with A Large Pile of reasons. But no matter what, be careful."

"Don't worry. Don't forget, Brother Zhou walked here alone from a small mountain village in the Heaven Dou Empire. How could I die so easily?" Zhou Huan replied.

"Pah, pah, pah! Shut that crow mouth of yours! Be careful that good things don't come true while bad things do." Xiao Xiao shot Zhou Huan a fierce glare.

"Uh... true enough. I almost raised a death flag." Zhou Huan rubbed his forehead. "I've spent too long around you, Xiao Xiao. I'm getting stupid too."

"You're the stupid one! Hmph!" Xiao Xiao snorted unhappily, then added, "It would've been nice if you had joined the Tang Sect. At least you'd have more Hidden Weapons to protect yourself."

Indeed, not long after the Freshman Competition ended, Xiao Xiao had still joined the Tang Sect—and she had brought Wang Qingya along with her.

Zhou Huan was speechless when he heard that.

Originally, Xiao Xiao had wanted to invite Zhou Huan and Wen Xiaoshuai as well. But unsurprisingly, Zhou Huan decisively refused, and since Zhou Huan would not join, Wen Xiaoshuai naturally would not join either.

It might not matter if others joined the Tang Sect, but Zhou Huan absolutely did not want any direct connection with that God King. That was far too unsafe.

Zhou Huan was rather cowardly. For now, he did not want to embark on a Path to Death.

As for Hidden Weapons for protection, Zhou Huan could only scoff. If ordinary Tang Sect Hidden Weapons were truly that powerful, they would not have been eliminated by Soul Tools—unless they could get him Hidden Weapons on the level of the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus or Pear Blossom Rain Needle.

But was that even possible?

Weapons of that level probably had not even left behind an inheritance.

So they might as well give him a Defensive Soul Tool instead!

Just as he was thinking that, Zhou Huan's eyes widened. He watched Wen Xiaoshuai casually take out a Soul Tool and say, "This is a Level 3 Defensive Soul Tool. Take it for protection."

Zhou Huan froze for a moment, then accepted it without the slightest politeness. "Old Wen really is reliable. Thanks."

Seeing Zhou Huan's shamelessly eager expression, Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes at him. Then she actually took out another Soul Tool. "This dagger is also a Level Three Soul Tool, and it suits the Ice Attribute. Yaya and I bought it together. Neither of us has that much money, so we're each giving you one."

Honestly, Zhou Huan was deeply moved. He was not quite teary-eyed, but his heart was filled with warmth.

These friends were worth having!

They were even giving him equipment just because he was heading out for a trip.

And how many friends would care about you so much that they gave you Soul Tools?

"You don't need to thank us." Xiao Xiao continued, "Anyway, Zhou Huan, I hope you... have a good journey!"

Zhou Huan: "..." It seemed he had been moved too soon. Xiao Xiao, you idiot—if you don't know how to speak, just quietly be a pretty girl.

Wang Qingya helplessly rubbed Xiao Xiao's little head and said, "That's not 'have a good journey.' You should say 'Smooth Sailing.'"

Xiao Xiao nodded belatedly, looking adorably blank. "Oh, oh, then Smooth Sailing."

And so, Zhou Huan left peacefully...

Pah, pah, pah!

After bidding farewell to Xiao Xiao and the other two, Zhou Huan walked out of Shrek City.

He did not head for the Star Dou Great Forest, nor did he go to the Extreme North, where Ice Attribute Soul Beasts were most abundant. Instead, Zhou Huan headed for the Heaven Dou Empire. In its northern region lay a place covered in snow year-round, called the Snow Forest Sea.

That was the true destination of Zhou Huan's journey.

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