Graduation (Please Vote, Please Give Monthly Tickets, Bonus Chapter!)

"Hahaha, sometimes I'm really jealous of you. You never have to worry about food or drink, and you have parents who love you. All you need to do every day is be happy!" Luo Ze propped his cheek on his hand, complicated emotions flickering in his eyes.

He truly envied Tang Wulin's state of mind. He was cheerful and open-hearted, needing only to be himself every day.

Unlike him, who had grown up without his parents by his side and had also lost Na'er. His only remaining family was his grandfather, and that was what he felt most fortunate about.

But his grandfather was not home often either. Most of the time, aside from his daily prescribed training, Luo Ze was basically alone.

Opening the metal lunchbox, Luo Ze took the chopsticks Tang Wulin handed him, picked up a dumpling, and tossed it into his mouth.

"Spanish mackerel filling!" Luo Ze recognized the flavor immediately.

These were Aolai City's signature dumplings. Luo Ze had once been fortunate enough to try them at a specialty restaurant. Not only were the ingredients easy to obtain, but they also tasted especially good! They were absolutely essential for entertaining guests during the holidays!

"Tasty, right? The Spanish mackerel dumplings my mother makes are the best in the world!" Tang Wulin said proudly, his eyes full of laughter.

"They're delicious! Are there any more?!" Luo Ze wolfed down the dumplings, stuffing them all into his mouth as tears of happiness streamed down his face.

"Yes, both of these boxes are for you!" Tang Wulin said.

"Wulin, thank you! These are the best dumplings I've ever eaten!" Luo Ze wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and looked at Tang Wulin gratefully.

"Hehe, you've helped me so much. First, you took me to listen to lectures, then you led me to victory in the competition. Compared to that, this little thing is really nothing!" Tang Wulin said earnestly.

Tang Wulin was truly grateful to Luo Ze. Without him, he would not have been able to make up so much Soul Master knowledge outside of class, nor would he have gained a Thousand Year soul skill in the class tournament and saved his parents a huge sum of money.

Compared to Luo Ze's kindness, two boxes of dumplings were nothing at all.

At the mention of the competition, Luo Ze suddenly remembered that the academy seemed to have given everyone in Class Five a Thousand Year Soul Spirit as a reward for winning the championship.

Luo Ze himself had no need for a Soul Spirit. His Kirin Martial Soul was inherently special, naturally possessing Soul Rings, and his bloodline was powerful. Ordinary Soul Spirits simply could not merge into his Soul Rings.

"Wulin, this is for you." As he spoke, Luo Ze placed the admission voucher for the Thousand Year Soul Spirit given by the academy into Tang Wulin's hand.

"Brother Luo, this is a Thousand Year Soul Spirit. You'll need it when you absorb Soul Rings in the future! I can't accept it!" Tang Wulin hurriedly said.

A Thousand Year Soul Spirit was incomparably precious to a Soul Master and could greatly enhance one's strength. If Luo Ze's Second Soul Ring could withstand a Thousand Year Soul Spirit, then his strength as a Soul Master would surely rise to another level, leaving his peers far behind.

"Wulin, what did you call me?"

"Brother Luo."

"You already call me brother, so why are you being polite? Take it. For some personal reasons, I can't absorb a Thousand Year Soul Spirit. Keeping it would just be a waste. If you feel bad accepting it, then consider it another favor you owe me. You can repay me later!"

Worried that Tang Wulin would refuse, Luo Ze deliberately emphasized the words "owe me a favor," making it clear that he was not simply giving it away for free and that Tang Wulin would have to repay the favor someday.

Tang Wulin froze blankly after hearing that. Looking at the voucher in his hand, he felt something indescribable in his heart, while tears quietly glimmered in his eyes.

"Brother Luo! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Tang Wulin suddenly threw himself into Luo Ze's arms and burst into loud, emotional tears.

"Don't cry. A real man bleeds, but he doesn't shed tears!" Luo Ze hurriedly comforted him.

After this incident, the two became true friends who could confide in one another. Whether going to school or leaving it, they were practically inseparable.

Luo Ze knew that Tang Wulin's Innate Soul Power was weak, so he often brought him piles of supplements. As for the reason, naturally, good things were meant to be shared!

Tang Wulin did not dare accept them, because every supplement Luo Ze gave him was an invaluable treasure that could not be measured in money.

Yet every time, Luo Ze could find just the right excuse to make Tang Wulin accept them.

From then on, they cultivated together, studied together, went fishing by the sea together, and sometimes even skipped class together. Their goal, naturally, was to get their hands on the newest Milk Tea!

Their friendship grew ever stronger amid such cheerful and relaxed days.

In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. As the two prepared to graduate, they both received letters of recommendation from the academy. These were specially issued by Red Mountain Academy as rewards for outstanding students during their three years of study.

With one, it was equivalent to receiving direct admission to an Intermediate Academy, where they would also be allocated more cultivation resources.

"Brother Luo, have you decided which Intermediate Academy you want to attend?" Tang Wulin yawned lazily before slowly speaking.

"Eastsea, I think. It's the second-largest city in the Federation's Eastsea region, and its economy is good too. We should be able to buy the materials we need to advance to Level Four Forgemasters there." After thinking for a moment, Luo Ze slowly replied.

During those three years, Luo Ze had joined the three major associations of forging, design, and production. He had also caught the attention of their higher-ups, who wanted to cultivate him as a key member of their respective factions.

The conditions they offered were better than the last. They not only promised to ensure that Luo Ze would break through to become a Titled Douluo, but also guaranteed that they would obtain two Soul Spirits over a hundred thousand years old for him in the future. As for Soul Bones, they would naturally have to be a complete set!

Yet Luo Ze did not even spare such irresistible conditions a glance. In his own words, he did not like excelling in just one field and preferred all-round development.

After all, his goal was to become the first person on the continent to master forging, design, and production, becoming an all-around master of all three!

"I'll follow your lead. Let's go to Eastsea!"

Before leaving, the two deliberately went to the office to bid Teacher Li farewell.

"Teacher Li, Wulin and I are planning to go to Eastsea Soul Master Academy. We came especially to say goodbye to you. Thank you for your diligent teaching over the past three years. Without it, we would not have achieved what we have today!" Luo Ze gave Teacher Li a deep bow.

"Thank you, Teacher Li!" Tang Wulin did the same.

For Luo Ze and Tang Wulin, without Teacher Li's comprehensive education, they could never have achieved so much in every area of Soul Mastery!

Not only had they become the youngest Forgemasters, Designers, and Producers in the major associations, they had also surpassed the highest Soul Master rank normally attainable at their age.

Because of the seal, Luo Ze absorbed Soul Power slowly and could not consume supplements. Under the tempering of Elder Frost and Elder Long, his Soul Power had reached Level Fifteen.

Tang Wulin was entirely different. Over the course of three years, he had consumed quite a few supplements. Combined with training alongside Luo Ze, his physique had improved by leaps and bounds, and his Soul Power had reached an astonishing Level Seventeen. He had even awakened the power of the bloodline within him...

Looking at the two outstanding students before her, Teacher Li wiped away her tears emotionally. "You two little brats had better not disgrace me once you get there!"

"Mm, don't worry, Teacher Li. We definitely won't disgrace you!" Luo Ze promised.

"That's right. With Brother Luo and me at our current level, ordinary Soul Masters are no match for us at all!" Tang Wulin was not being arrogant. He was simply stating the truth.

"You two must not become too arrogant. There are countless outstanding geniuses in this world. Be more humble and conceal some of your strength. It will certainly do you no harm!" Teacher Li sternly instructed them.

Leaving Aolai City was equivalent to stepping into Soul Master society for the first time. The darkness hidden within it was often the most terrifying part.

"Teacher Li, we'll remember that. Please rest assured!"