Early Graduation

Half a month later, Nuoding Academy.

Inside Dormitory Seven.

Early morning.

Lin Ming was awakened from his cultivation by a series of knocks on the door, three at a time, unhurried and steady.

He opened his eyes, and Little Lei Yi, who was lying by his pillow, also groggily lifted its head, letting out a soft "Yi."

Lin Ming rubbed its head, got out of bed, and walked over to open the door.

The girl standing outside the door was wearing a Skywater Academy uniform.

She looked about thirteen or fourteen, with a neat ponytail and a smile on her face.

"Classmate Lin Ming?"

She sized Lin Ming up and asked.

Lin Ming nodded.

The girl took out an exquisite, light blue envelope from behind her back and handed it over with both hands.

"I was asked to deliver this."

Lin Ming took the envelope. Two overlapping snowflake patterns were printed on the seal.

Having completed her task, the girl didn't linger. She smiled, bid farewell, and turned to leave.

Lin Ming closed the door and walked back to the bed, sitting down.

Wang Sheng had already fully woken up and leaned over, curiously poking his head.

"Who is it? Sending a letter from so far away..."

His voice caught when he saw the two snowflakes on the envelope.

"Skywater Academy?"

He blinked, then blinked again.

"How do you know someone from Skywater Academy?"

Xiao Wu also woke up. She lay on her side, propping her head up to watch Lin Ming.

Lin Ming didn't answer. He opened the envelope and took out the letter inside.

The letter paper was light blue and carried a faint, cool fragrance.

Wang Sheng stretched his neck, trying to peek.

But Xiao Wu yanked him back.

"He's reading a letter, why are you crowding him?"

She was being reasonable for once.

"I'm just curious..."

Wang Sheng shrunk back sheepishly, but his eyes couldn't help but glance over.

Lin Ming ignored them and looked down at the letter.

"Lin Ming:

I received your reply.

I've managed to practice the Ice Shield. It's much more stable now. The method you taught me is indeed effective.

The Ice Cone isn't quite working yet. It shatters as soon as I form it.

Sister Yue'er slipped on some ice shards and fell. She chased me for three laps.

Come after you reach level twenty.

Shui Bing'er."

Lin Ming stared at the last sentence on the letter for a long time.

Little Lei Yi had floated onto his shoulder at some point. Its small head also leaned over, staring at the letter.

"Yi."

He called out softly.

Lin Ming folded the letter and carefully put it back into the envelope.

Then, he placed the envelope into his ring.

Facing the curious gazes of the others, he had no intention of explaining.

Tang San continued to attend classes with Yu Xiaogang every day.

He studied Martial Soul theory, Soul Beast knowledge, and Soul Ring ratios.

Yu Xiaogang lectured earnestly, and Tang San studied diligently. The master and disciple maintained decorum in the classroom.

However, Yu Xiaogang occasionally lost focus.

Sometimes, mid-lecture, his gaze would drift out the window, landing somewhere in the area being swept by the work-study students.

Tang San noticed, but said nothing.

He committed those moments of distraction to memory, like collecting fallen leaves.

Flattening them, drying them, and tucking them away in a drawer he'd never open.

He remembered one day asking Yu Xiaogang.

"Teacher, about Lin Ming's Martial Soul, are you still planning to research it?"

Yu Xiaogang had been silent for a long time then.

"He doesn't want me to research it."

"What if he agreed? Would you still take him as a disciple?"

No matter how Tang San repeated the question, Yu Xiaogang remained silent.

He neither refused nor said that Tang San was enough.

He simply remained silent.

That silence was clearer than any answer.

Tang San couldn't recall the feelings he harbored at the time.

He only remembered replying.

"I understand, Teacher."

He never asked that question again.

Time flowed through Nuoding Academy, through Dormitory Seven.

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Time slipped by through the letters exchanged between Lin Ming and Shui Bing'er.

The messenger was sometimes a Skywater Academy student passing through, sometimes someone else.

The seal of each letter bore two overlapping snowflakes.

Lin Ming kept the letters neatly organized by date in a corner of his Soul Tool.

From simple reports of cultivation progress at the beginning, to occasional mentions of academy trivialities later on, to a letter that contained a snowflake encased in resin.

The letters grew more numerous, the words fewer, yet they never ceased.

Three years, thirty-six letters.

His Soul Power had broken through level twenty six months ago.

But he didn't announce it.

He continued his daily routine of sweeping his assigned area and cultivating in a cross-legged position in Dormitory Seven at night.

He had completed the six years of coursework at Nuoding Academy in four years.

He had read the basic theoretical books in the library over and over again.

"You can graduate early."

In the principal's office, the old principal looked up at Lin Ming after reviewing his assessment records.

"Since Nuoding Academy was founded, fewer than ten students have graduated early. You are the youngest."

Lin Ming stood before the desk, quietly awaiting further words.

"Teacher Shen from Skywater Academy wrote to me."

The old principal's tone carried a hint of emotion.

"She said you were a promising talent and asked me to look after you. I thought she was exaggerating."

He closed the assessment records and took a document with a red seal from a drawer.

"Graduation certificate. Take this."

Lin Ming accepted the document and offered his thanks.

"Go on, go on. Pack your things. You're supposed to leave tomorrow."

Lin Ming nodded, turned, and left.

As he walked out of the principal's office, the sunlight was just right.

Little Lei Yi poked its head out from his shoulder, squinting in the sun.

"Yi~"

"Mm, we're leaving."

Lin Ming rubbed his head and said softly.

In the evening, the cafeteria was bustling with noise.

Lin Ming, holding his tray, found a seat by the window.

Little Lei Yi floated down from his shoulder and sat opposite him.

"Yi~"

"Mm, eat."

Lin Ming broke off half a steamed bun and handed it to it.

He didn't know when it started, but Little Lei Yi had begun to enjoy eating.

Although it had no effect on improving its Soul Power, it could ensure Little Lei Yi's happiness.

Lin Ming had just received his graduation certificate from the dean's office that afternoon.

That piece of paper, stamped with a red seal, now lay in his ring.

Along with the letter from Skywater Academy.

Four years.

He had spent four years completing six years' worth of coursework.

He was leaving tomorrow.

Little Lei Yi held the steamed bun and nibbled at it, small arcs of electricity occasionally popping from its body.

Lin Ming watched it, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the cafeteria entrance.

"Make way, make way!"

Several people pushed their way in, led by Xiao Chenyu.

His gaze swept across the cafeteria, landing on Lin Ming by the window.

The memory of being electrocuted on the ground four years ago made him pause.

But he didn't avoid Lin Ming today.

He walked directly towards him with his companions.

The cafeteria suddenly grew much quieter, all eyes following Xiao Chenyu as they fell on Lin Ming.

"Lin Ming."

Xiao Chenyu stopped in front of him.

Lin Ming looked up and glanced at him.

"Something you need?"

Xiao Chenyu twitched the corner of his mouth.

"I heard you're graduating early?"

"Mm."

"Which academy are you going to?"

"Skywater."