Studying Abroad?

"Sister Lexuan." Lin Chen called warmly.

Zhang Lexuan nodded, found a chair, and sat down.

Holding a cup of Milk Tea, Lin Chen placed it on the table before Zhang Lexuan and asked, "What brings you here so late, Sister Lexuan?"

At Lin Chen's question, Zhang Lexuan unexpectedly hesitated. Yan Shaozhe had originally sent her to ask whether Lin Chen had any intention of joining Shrek Academy, but when the words reached her lips, she simply could not say them.

All she could say was, "Nothing. I just came to see you."

Hearing that, Lin Chen was confused as well. Senior Sister came all this way just to see me? Is this really the same Senior Sister I know, the one who loves staying at home? After all, Zhang Lexuan had never left Sea God Island before.

"What? You don't welcome me?" Zhang Lexuan smiled faintly, but the sudden surge of chill in the air made Lin Chen shudder.

"No, no, no. Sister Lexuan's visit to my humble shop is truly Lin's honor."

"Smooth talker."

Teased by Lin Chen like that, Zhang Lexuan's mood improved considerably, and some of her inner conflict faded.

As she watched Lin Chen busily at work, Zhang Lexuan's gaze gradually softened. At some point, she had already come to see Lin Chen as her younger brother. She cared deeply for this young man who, like her, had lost both parents and seen his clan destroyed. But ever since he had turned back to save her in the Star Dou Great Forest, some different feeling seemed to have taken root in her heart.

Perhaps it was a sense of security?

Even Zhang Lexuan herself did not know. She was not a woman who liked relying on others.

So she decided not to think about it.

Perhaps it was best to let nature take its course and allow him to live according to his own wishes.

"It's indeed getting late. You should head back first," Zhang Lexuan said to Lin Chen.

"Then... goodbye, Sister Lexuan?" Lin Chen waved tentatively.

"Mhm, goodbye." Zhang Lexuan waved back at him.

Lin Chen walked a few steps, then looked back, only to find that Zhang Lexuan had already vanished.

Early the next morning, Class One's fourth-year classroom.

"This is a Rank 7 offensive Soul Tool, the Flame Arrow. It can condense Soul Power and fire flaming arrows. With your current cultivation as a Soul King, it should be enough to severely wound a six-ringed Soul Emperor," Xiao Hongchen said, holding a red Soul Tool before Lin Chen.

"I don't want that. I want a defensive Soul Tool." Lin Chen shook his head and refused.

What a joke. I'm the current wielder of the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul. Am I lacking in attack power? You think you can fool me with one offensive Soul Tool? Do you take me for an idiot?

Upon hearing this, Xiao Hongchen was so furious that he nearly spat blood, but he still had no choice but to comply.

So far from home, every defensive Soul Tool could be a means of saving Xiao Hongchen's life. Now Lin Chen had forcibly taken one away from him. How could Xiao Hongchen not feel the pain?

Unwillingly, Xiao Hongchen took out another azure Soul Tool and said, "This Soul Tool is called the Azure Cloud Cover. It is a defensive Soul Tool. Although it is forged from black iron, it is as light as gauze. It can withstand three attacks from a Soul Douluo, but only one attack from a Title Douluo."

Lin Chen happily put the Azure Cloud Cover into his Storage Bag and said, "If you still want to fight, come find me again. But make sure you have your defensive Soul Tools ready first."

At those words, Xiao Hongchen turned and left on the spot. Give them all to you? Then how am I supposed to stay alive?

Lin Chen was genuinely surprised that Xiao Hongchen could produce such an excellent Soul Tool, but it also revealed something from the side: this guy had quite a few good items on him.

No one would willingly hand over their best possessions, so the Azure Cloud Cover Xiao Hongchen had given Lin Chen could only be the worst defensive Soul Tool he carried. One could imagine just how many treasures Xiao Hongchen had brought with him.

Just as Lin Chen was mulling it over, the class bell rang and Wang Yan entered the classroom.

Lin Chen stopped thinking about it and instead listened with great interest as Wang Yan explained theoretical knowledge.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Chen still lived a quiet, ordinary life, and his Soul Power had reached Rank 55.

Because of the Life Gold and the Life Domain, Lin Chen activated his Life Domain every time he cultivated. As a result, the Ultimate Attribute had almost no effect on him at all. He even cultivated slightly faster than ordinary Soul Masters, generally advancing one rank every two or three months.

Zhou Mingxing and Lin Xiaolei would occasionally visit Lin Chen, chat with him, and sometimes help out when business was especially busy.

That evening, inside Lin Chen's Dormitory.

"Brother Lin, the Soul Tool Department has assigned me to study abroad at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. I'm part of the second group from the Soul Tool Department going to the Sun Moon Empire," Zhou Mingxing told Lin Chen.

Ever since Lin Chen had carefully analyzed his situation and suggested that he study Soul Tools, Zhou Mingxing had given it some thought and submitted an application to transfer to the Soul Tool Department.

In the Soul Tool Department, Zhou Mingxing had become a fourth-rank Soul Engineer in just two months, showing his talent clearly. On the other hand, he had previously been stuck at the level of a third-rank Soul Engineer for quite some time, accumulating extensive theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Advancing to fourth-rank Soul Engineer had naturally followed.

Such talent quickly caught the Soul Tool Department's attention. Not only had they sent him to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy for exchange studies, they had also exceptionally promoted Zhou Mingxing to a core disciple of the Soul Tool Department. In other words, Zhou Mingxing would certainly have a place in Shrek Academy's Inner Court Soul Tool Department in the future!

"When are you leaving?" Lin Chen asked.

"Tomorrow."

"Mhm. Stay safe. If you encounter something beyond your control, remember that coming back is what matters most. As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood," Lin Chen reminded him.

"I understand, Brother Lin."

With a flash of azure light, Lin Chen took out the Azure Cloud Cover he had previously won from Xiao Hongchen and handed it over. "This is called the Azure Cloud Cover. It can block three attacks from a Soul Douluo and one attack from a Title Douluo. Take it."

"Brother Lin, I already have a defensive Soul Tool." Zhou Mingxing shook his head repeatedly.

Lin Chen's expression stiffened. "Take it when I tell you to take it. One more defensive Soul Tool means one more trump card."

"Besides, you helped me so many times before. What, now that it's my turn to help you, you're unwilling to accept it?"

Only then did Zhou Mingxing accept it.

"Remember, your life is what matters most. If your life is gone, everything is gone," Lin Chen emphasized again.

Zhou Mingxing did not find him annoying and listened with utmost seriousness.

After thinking it over, Lin Chen felt it was better to tell him something. "Do you remember the Evil Soul Master attack on the academy two years ago?"

"I remember." Zhou Mingxing nodded.

"During that battle, I learned by accident that they were an organized Evil Soul Master force, and their headquarters is in the Sun Moon Empire."

At those words, Zhou Mingxing's heart tightened.

It seemed that hidden dangers lurked everywhere within the Sun Moon Empire!