Graduating Early

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, Nan Li had spent three years at Nuoding Academy.

Over those three years, Nan Li had grown considerably taller, and her Soul Power cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. Under Dan Hong's care, the remaining wounds on Nan Li's soul were slowly healing as well.

With about a month left before the school year ended, Nan Li went to see the Third Elder. She accepted the letter he handed her, read Dong Yun's "A'li, it has been three years since we parted. Have you been well?", then tucked the letter back into her Soul Tool.

The Third Elder hesitated, as if he wanted to say something.

"What did Dong Yun say in her letter?" the Third Elder asked, thinking to himself, Only Senior Dong Yun can keep this little troublemaker in line. What a pity—why didn't that senior take the form of a boy?

If Nan Li could hear the Third Elder's thoughts, she would definitely say with a look of disdain, "You thought that every day when Dong Yun was still a Soul Beast. What, can taking Humanoid Form change someone's sex?"

"Ah, she still wants me to attend Four Elements Academy."

"That's it?" The Third Elder was stunned. The letter contained several pages of densely packed writing, and she had summed it all up as wanting her to go to Four Elements Academy?

The Third Elder could not understand.

"Isn't the rest just whether she's doing well, what she's been doing, this and that, then asking whether I'm doing well, what I've been doing, this and that? Isn't it always like this?"

Could you really not figure that out yourself?

Seeing that Nan Li had no intention whatsoever of maintaining the relationship, the Third Elder felt a pain in his chest. Forget it. Looking at her now, even if Senior Dong Yun had been a boy, it would have been useless. It was better for her to remain an elder sister and keep Nan Li in check.

In the end, under the Third Elder's reproachful gaze, Dan Hong stepped in at just the right time. She painted a portrait of Nan Li as she was now and asked the Third Elder to find someone to deliver it.

Dan Hong is so thoughtful.

Why is everyone always spoiling this little brat Nan Li?!

The Third Elder put away the portrait and asked Nan Li, "With your current Soul Power cultivation, you surpassed Nuoding Academy's graduation requirements long ago. What are your plans from here?"

Nan Li had already thought it through before coming. Now that the Third Elder had asked, she told him her plans.

"I estimate that after a little more time, my cultivation will reach Level 30. After obtaining my Third Soul Ring, I plan to train in the Star Dou Great Forest for a while, then head to Shrek Academy, south of Soto City within the Balak Kingdom."

"Shrek Academy?" Although the Third Elder wondered why Nan Li always chose obscure academies, he did not ask further. After all, he could not influence this young ancestor's decisions.

"The clan has been busy with affairs lately. Once you finish training in the Star Dou Great Forest, I must return to Sun Island. Dan Hong will accompany you afterward. Though she is only a Soul King, she is highly skilled with medicine, and she should be more than capable of protecting you while you remain at a Soul Master Academy. Shrek Academy is not well-known, so the likelihood of it having a Titled Douluo is low. And with Heavenly Pool Water to conceal your auras, there should be no cause for concern."

The Third Elder and Nan Li agreed that they would depart for the Star Dou Great Forest once her Soul Power reached Level 30.

With the clan and Sun Island weighing heavily on her heart, Nan Li hurried back to the academy and continued cultivating.

Nearly a month later, the Soul Power fluctuations in the room gradually subsided. Nan Li opened her eyes and let out a breath of stale air. "I finally broke through to Level 30."

Only... Nan Li picked up the letter on the table. This month, she had received the seventh letter from Xue Qinghe.

During her second year, Xue Qinghe had sent her the first letter. Half a year after Nan Li replied, she received the Second Letter.

In Xue Qinghe's second letter, she had even remembered to explain the origin of the name "Xiao Xue." She said that her grandfather had always called her that.

Oh, Qian Daoliu.

Since that explosion last year, Xue Qinghe's letters had arrived once every three months, never late. Each letter also came with a different little trinket.

Nan Li did not reply again. She needed to keep her distance from Qian Renxue.

Xue Qinghe did not ask why Nan Li was not replying. As though she had noticed nothing, she continued having gifts delivered.

After hesitating for a long time, Nan Li picked up her pen and wrote her Third Reply Letter to Xue Qinghe.

In this reply, Nan Li said that she would be leaving to train with an elder from her family, that her whereabouts would be uncertain and she did not know when she would return. She told the other girl not to write for the time being and said they could discuss it after her training was over.

Dong Yun's letters, meanwhile, arrived once a month without exception. Clan members would naturally continue delivering them to her.

Nan Li went to the Principal's Office to arrange an early graduation. The Old Principal seemed to have expected it and did not say much.

Like an elder, the Old Principal advised Nan Li, "The further a Soul Master progresses in cultivation, the more difficult it becomes. As your Soul Power Level rises, each additional level will require even more Soul Power."

"So, it is normal for your cultivation speed to gradually slow in the future. You need not worry over it, but you must never rush for quick results or become impatient. Take things one step at a time and build a solid foundation."

"As a Soul Master, you possess powerful abilities ordinary people do not have. Your Innate Full Soul Power has also allowed you to far surpass Soul Masters of the same age. But you must remember that there is always someone stronger, and a sky beyond the sky. Do not become arrogant because of this. Always be humble and cautious when dealing with others. If you encounter someone with greater talent than yours, do not lose heart either. Believe that diligence can make up for shortcomings..."

"Praise and slander come from others; there is no need to trouble yourself over them..."

"Student Nan Li, you are the most gifted Soul Master I have encountered in all my years of teaching, and also the Soul Master most likely to become a Titled Douluo. I knew long ago that the shallow waters of Nuoding Academy were not where you belonged."

"It has been my honor and comfort to witness your growth over these three years. I hope you will go farther and farther in the future. Of course, setting aside your identity as a Soul Master, I hope that you, bright and confident little sun, will always remain steadfast on your path, protect your original heart, keep a kind heart, and leave yourself a pure and tranquil heart as well..."

"All right, Student Nan Li. Nuoding Academy is about to become part of your past. For the sake of a broader world, spread your wings and soar!"

As the Old Principal wished, Nan Li chose to fly straight out the window...

The Old Principal stood with his hands behind his back, watching the direction Nan Li had gone for a long time. Not until the sun rose in the east and the first ray of dawn shone upon him did he brace one hand against the windowsill, stroke his beard with the other, and slowly smile. "The sun is up. A new day has begun. Young one, may you travel ten thousand miles beneath the open sky and have a safe journey..."

The peace of Douluo Continent was only an illusion in the end. A new storm was about to arrive, and whether they were prepared or not, everyone would be drawn into this struggle where the strong preyed upon the weak.

Nan Li knew full well that her path had never been smooth.

Nan Li graduated! Scatter flowers, scatter flowers!

Could those of you reading leave a comment? Some feedback on the story's pacing would be nice—even just checking in would do. Puppy-eyed