My Wealthy Little Friends

At dusk, Shrek Academy's eastern gate.

A White Clad Youth and a Blue Clad Girl slowly walked inside.

They were Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan, who had been away from Shrek Academy for more than half a month.

Zhang Lexuan did not linger in the Outer Court. After all, as the Senior Disciple Sister of the Inner Court, wandering around the Outer Court did not quite suit the status of the Inner Court's chief disciple. She still preferred staying home on Sea God Island.

No one would come bother her there, allowing her to cultivate and daydream in peace.

Zhou Huan did not really have anything to do either.

The academy was still on break, the library was closed, and the teachers had not returned to work yet. Thus, Zhou Huan could only stay in his dormitory for Meditation Cultivation or take a stroll by Sea God Lake whenever he got bored.

Over the past few days, Zhou Huan had not seen Mu En when entering or leaving the dormitory.

But that was normal when he thought about it. During the break, few Outer Court students remained at the academy, and even fewer returned as early as he had.

Another thirteen days passed just like that, and Zhou Huan was about to begin his new Second Year term.

After registering, Zhou Huan spotted Wang Dong's anxious face. There was no need to ask—she was surely worried about Huo Gua, since today was already the final day of registration.

Upon seeing Zhou Huan, Wang Dong hurriedly asked, "Zhou Huan, do you know where Yu Hao went?"

Of course I know. He went to the Extreme North to cheat his way to power.

But I can't say that, can I, Old Wang?

Thus, Zhou Huan shook his head. "I don't know. The class monitor hasn't arrived yet?"

Wang Dong nodded dejectedly. She was truly worried; otherwise, she would not have asked Zhou Huan the moment she saw him. After all, Zhou Huan was not particularly close to either of them.

But she had already asked Zhou Yi and the Soul Tool Department. The answer she received was that Huo Yuhao had lied—no one had accompanied him to obtain a Soul Ring.

That was why she was so panicked.

Watching this Godly Second Generation, Zhou Huan felt somewhat helpless. After thinking for a moment, he finally said, "Don't worry. The class monitor will be fine. When has he ever done something without a plan? An idiot wouldn't be qualified to be our class monitor."

A trace of hope immediately appeared in Wang Dong's pinkish-blue eyes. "Right, right, right. You're right. Yu Hao can't possibly be in trouble."

Hearing that, Zhou Huan could not tell whether Wang Dong was comforting herself or trying to convince herself.

Zhou Huan had no intention of foolishly waiting alongside Wang Dong, so he left the registration area directly.

He had been back at Shrek for so many days, yet he had waited until the final day to register mainly because he intended to head to Shrek City afterward.

Today, he had arranged to have a meal at Keman Tower with Wen Xiaoshuai, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Qingya. They had not seen one another for a month, so they ought to share a meal together.

By the time Zhou Huan arrived at the private room in Keman Tower, the other three had already arrived.

"Well, well. It's only been a month, but it looks like everyone ate quite well during the break." Zhou Huan sat down with a grin. "Especially you, Xiao Xiao. You've put on weight."

"Hmph, you're the one who put on weight. Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth." Xiao Xiao pouted unhappily. "I've grown up."

"Uh... I really hadn't noticed." Zhou Huan hesitated.

"Get lost!" Xiao Xiao shot Zhou Huan a fierce glare, then, after thinking for a moment, unexpectedly smiled. "Zhou Huan, what's your Soul Power Level now?"

"Level 27." Zhou Huan had raised his apparent Soul Power by another level. That should put him roughly among the top ten in the Second Year—not too conspicuous, but not lagging behind either.

"Hehe." Xiao Xiao smiled smugly. "I'm already a Level 31 Soul Elder. If you dare make fun of me again, I'll beat you up."

As she spoke, Xiao Xiao clenched her tiny fist and waved it threateningly.

Zhou Huan was speechless. He rather wanted to punch this Loli until she cried. That would probably feel quite satisfying.

However, Zhou Huan remembered that according to the original plot, Xiao Xiao was only a Soul Grandmaster during the first Soul Master Competition. Could it be that the Blue Ice Seven-Leaf Grass had allowed her to break through to Soul Elder just as she entered the Second Year?

But that did not make sense either. Before the break, this girl's Soul Power had only been at Level 26. How had she advanced so much in only a month...

Could it be... Zhou Huan blurted out, "Xiao Xiao, did you take pills?"

Upon hearing that, Xiao Xiao rolled her eyes at Zhou Huan. "What do you mean, 'take pills'? That sounds awful! It's called making reasonable use of medicinal pills—the kind without side effects. Still, I have to thank you for the Blue Ice Seven-Leaf Grass. It gave me greater benefits when refining my family's secret pill. Together with some other resources from my family, that's how I broke through to Soul Elder so quickly. This past month exhausted me. I've never worked so hard even at the academy."

Zhou Huan nodded. "Taking pills comes with risks. As long as you understand that."

At that moment, Wen Xiaoshuai casually added, "I'm Level 31 too."

Zhou Huan: "..."

Wang Qingya: "... Are you two even here to eat? One after another, you're being ridiculous. During the break, my parents gave me a Soul Ascension Pill, and I only reached Level 25. Now you're telling me you're both Soul Elders? That's too discouraging. I want to cry for a while."

At once, Xiao Xiao put an arm around her close friend. Unfortunately, she was too small, so she could only pat Wang Qingya's back and comfort her. "Yaya, don't worry. I'll protect you from now on."

Wang Qingya was speechless. Was that even the issue she had raised? Her little pet never got the point.

Zhou Huan, standing beside them, was even more at a loss for words. Family secret pills, Soul Ascension Pills... so all of them were rich, huh?

Fine, then they could pay for this meal.

Zhou Huan suddenly realized that he might have concealed his strength a little too well. Among his friends, his apparent Soul Power was now only two levels higher than Wang Qingya's, and she was a Food Type Soul Master.

That was a little embarrassing.

But it was not his fault.

Who told his friends to all have family support?

Even though he complained inwardly, Zhou Huan was still happy that Xiao Xiao and the others could grow stronger more quickly.

Thus, Zhou Huan said, "How about we eat first? Talking about Soul Power Levels hurts relationships. It's not good for world peace."

Upon hearing that, Wang Qingya immediately put away her "heartbroken" expression and nodded repeatedly. "Exactly, exactly. The food is getting cold. Let's eat first."

With Zhou Huan as the only normal one left, Wang Qingya did not want to lose this fellow poor comrade-in-arms.

Thus, the discussion of Soul Power came to an end, and the four began eating. They were old friends, so there was no need to worry about table manners.

Even Wang Qingya, who had been striving to become a lady and cultivate an elegant image, had no interest in maintaining appearances today.

Right now, she only wanted to turn her "grief and indignation" into appetite, as though every extra bite would raise her Soul Power by a level.

Zhou Huan could only click his tongue in amazement.

After eating for quite a while, Xiao Xiao finally asked, "Zhou Huan, the class monitor still hasn't returned. Do you know what happened to him?"

Zhou Huan set down the Golden Great Chicken Leg in his hand, blinked, and looked oddly at Xiao Xiao, who was tearing into a roast suckling pig. "You're strange. Why ask me? You and Qingya are members of the Tang Sect, and you were even teammates with the class monitor. I'm not familiar with him either."

Xiao Xiao continued tearing off a large chunk of roast suckling pig, her speech slightly slurred as she said, "It's because... because we don't know that we're asking you."

Fine, your logic wins.

Zhou Huan could only answer, "With the class monitor's personality, he wouldn't do anything he wasn't absolutely confident about. When the time comes, he'll return."

Xiao Xiao replied, "I hope so."

Afterward, the four ate for another half hour before returning to the academy, fully satisfied.

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