After leaving Skywater City, Bai Mu took a carriage south toward the Great Forest.
But as he drew near, his gaze inexplicably turned in another direction.
Several days later, Nuoding City finally came into view again. This border town remained as quiet and unpretentious as he remembered.
"How nostalgic."
Bai Mu walked along the familiar stone-paved streets, feeling as though a lifetime had passed.
The child who had once cultivated tirelessly with Innate Level 1 Soul Power had now become a Level 30 Soul Grand Master.
"Yo, big brother, still guarding the gate?"
Notting Academy's entrance was unchanged, and the gatekeeper was still that young man from before, though he had grown more mature.
"You are... Lord Bai Mu!?"
The gatekeeper froze, then greeted him somewhat stiffly. "I heard you became a Spirit Master a year ago and graduated early. You really... are amazing..."
His posture was exceedingly humble, completely different from the arrogance he showed ordinary people.
He was just like a chameleon from a textbook.
"Is the dean at the academy?"
Bai Mu could not be bothered to chat with him and asked directly.
"Yes. The dean sometimes mentions you during his speeches."
The doorman replied respectfully.
"All right, I'll go pay him a visit."
Bai Mu smiled and entered the campus. Students were training on the sports field, while noisy voices drifted from the Dormitory Building.
Everything was so familiar, yet so distant.
Just after entering the Office Building, Bai Mu ran into someone he knew—Yu Xiaogang.
Grandmaster wore his signature grey robe. His brow was tightly furrowed, his old face drawn taut, as though he were pondering some difficult problem.
When he saw Bai Mu, he froze on the spot.
"Bai Mu?"
"Yes, it's me! Long time no see, Grandmaster."
Bai Mu greeted him with a smile.
"After you became a Spirit Master, I had intended to have a proper talk with you. I never expected you to apply for early graduation."
Yu Xiaogang revealed that expression of restrained pride and superiority. "Well? After traveling outside as a Spirit Master for so long, you've seen how cruel the outside world is, haven't you?"
"Cruel?"
Bai Mu paused. Countless images flashed through his mind—Wolf Bandits strewn everywhere, Immortal Herbs he had eaten, the Prince he had personally kidnapped, and the countless defeated opponents at the Great Soul Arena...
He nodded deeply, his tone sincere. "That's right. The outside world is truly too cruel, too harsh!"
Those Spirit Masters were weak yet loved to play, and they even gave him money and Immortal Herbs. Going outside felt just like going home; he absolutely loved making his way around out there!
Oblivious to Bai Mu's thoughts, Yu Xiaogang straightened his back, a hint of pride flashing through his eyes. "I told you long ago that when traveling outside, strength and connections are extremely important. Having a famous teacher's guidance and not having a famous teacher's guidance are completely different!"
"Well? Have you understood now? Do you want to take me as your master? With my help, your future will definitely be bright!"
Looking at this "Grandmaster," who had no idea what he was so proud of, Bai Mu suddenly found him rather ridiculous.
"I already knew that cultivating under you, Grandmaster, would leave my future without any light. As long as you can break through Level 29 and become a Soul Elder, I will definitely give serious thought to becoming your disciple. So there is no need for you to say any more about this."
He grinned and said with utter sincerity, "I believe that with your ability, Grandmaster, becoming a Soul Elder should be as easy as taking something from your pocket.
The only reason you have not broken through is that you have no interest in becoming stronger and wish to support younger generations with an approachable attitude.
It absolutely has nothing to do with the widely circulated claim that you are unable to break through and become a Soul Elder."
"You... what did you say?"
The expression on Yu Xiaogang's face froze, then shifted through several colors.
He felt that Bai Mu was mocking him, but he had no proof!
"Honestly, Grandmaster, you're not young anymore.
Even children know they should cultivate diligently. Why don't you put more thought into cultivation? I'm still waiting for you to become a Soul Elder and take me as your disciple!
Please try harder!"
Bai Mu spoke as though disappointed that iron could not become steel, but inwardly sneered, Once I clean out all the Immortal Herbs, let's see whether this old man can still rely on his own "efforts" to reach Level 30!
"You... I..."
Yu Xiaogang was momentarily at a loss for words, his finger trembling as he pointed at Bai Mu, wanting to say something.
But after his lips quivered for a while, he only managed to force out one sentence. "If you don't take me as your master now, you'll regret it later!"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes! Grandmaster, everything you say is right!"
"I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first. Keep it up, old man!"
Bai Mu walked around Yu Xiaogang and headed toward the Dean's Office, afraid that if he stayed another second, he would not be able to stop himself from laughing out loud.
Yu Xiaogang glared hatefully at Bai Mu's retreating back, his fists clenched as he muttered, "As long as I train Xiao San into a Title Douluo, everyone will know my greatness!"
"By then, it'll be too late for you to regret it!"
In the Dean's Office, Dean of Notting studied Bai Mu carefully for a long time before smiling in satisfaction.
"Good, good. You've grown taller and sturdier."
The dean patted Bai Mu on the shoulder. "Someone asked me about you before, and only then did I learn that you had gone to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, then dropped out... You've suffered during this time."
"It's all in the past."
Bai Mu shook his head, unwilling to discuss it further.
The two chatted for a long time, from their days as Work-Study Students to Bai Mu's experiences over the past few years.
"It's getting late, Dean. I'll be going now!"
A few hours later, Bai Mu patted his backside and prepared to leave.
"Why are you in such a hurry? It's rare for you to come back. Won't you share some cultivation experience with your Junior Students, or meet Tang San and the others?"
The moment he heard Tang San's name, Bai Mu's intention to stay for a day was instantly extinguished.
He could not be sure whether Tang Hao was nearby. To be safe, he had better have less contact with Tang San in the future.
"No, no. I have urgent business to attend to, so I'll be leaving. We'll talk another time if there's a chance!"
"All right..."
Seeing that he could not keep him, Dean of Notting could only escort Bai Mu out.
When he returned to his office, he discovered that a small booklet had somehow appeared where Bai Mu had been sitting.
He opened the booklet. On the first page was written—
[Dean, these are some of my cultivation insights. I hope they can be of help to you and the academy.]
"This is... a Meditation Technique?"
After reading a few more pages, the dean's eyes gradually widened.
How could this be merely cultivation insights?!
This was clearly a universal Meditation Technique with complete Soul Power circulation paths, methods, and a systematic structure!
Though it was not particularly profound, it was definitely far better than the Meditation Techniques ordinary Spirit Masters comprehended on their own!
"Good kid, this is far too precious..."
The dean's eyes grew moist, and his voice trembled slightly.
When Bai Mu walked out of the academy, the sunset was just right.
After leaving the academy, Bai Mu went to the small restaurant he used to frequent.
The owner still remembered him and greeted him warmly. "Little Brother Bai, long time no see. The usual Xiao Huo Grilled Fish?"
"One garlic flavor, one spicy flavor!"
Bai Mu sat down with a smile.
When the grilled fish was served, its fragrance filled the air. It still tasted just as he remembered.
He ate slowly, listening to the idle chatter of the Diners around him and taking in the lively atmosphere of the little city.
After eating, he paid and left.
Under the cover of night, he left Nuoding City without hesitation and headed toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
He did not look back.
Before you continue