Skywater Academy Appears

Xiao Wu met Lin Yi's gaze, her face full of innocent guilelessness as she asked, "What's wrong, Lin Yi? You don't look so good."

"It's nothing." Lin Yi withdrew his gaze. "I'm just a bit hungry. Let's eat something and get back on the road."

[Forget it, thinking so much is useless anyway.]

[There will be plenty of opportunities on the road; I refuse to believe I can't shake them off.]

He took out some dry rations and shared them with the two girls. After a simple breakfast, the three of them packed up the camp and continued their journey.

For the next few days, Lin Yi spent almost every waking moment pondering how to ditch these two sources of trouble.

On the first day, he deliberately walked at a fast pace, hoping to use the complex terrain to make them give up.

As a result, Xiao Wu acted like it was nothing, even grinning as she said, "Why are you walking so fast, Lin Yi? In a rush to be reincarnated?"

Although Zhu Zhuqing didn't say a word, her expression clearly said, Is that all you've got?

Lin Yi was speechless.

[Impressive, truly impressive.]

He snuck a glance at Zhu Zhuqing, secretly gauging her strength.

[Was she level twenty-seven or twenty-eight when she first appeared in the original story? Either way, she isn't far from level thirty.]

[The most critical part is that her Martial Soul is the Hell Spirit Cat, which is practically the ceiling for agility-attack types.]

[No wonder she handles complex terrain with such ease.]

[Forget it, if this trick doesn't work, I'll try another.]

On the second day, Lin Yi waited until the two weren't paying attention and quietly ducked into a side path.

He crouched in the bushes for half an hour, thinking, Surely I've shaken them off this time?

But just as he prepared to stand up, he heard Xiao Wu's voice from above: "Lin Yi, what are you doing crouching here? Picking mushrooms?"

Lin Yi looked up to see Xiao Wu squatting on a tree branch, looking down at him with a beaming smile.

Zhu Zhuqing stood on another branch, her face expressionless, but those cat-like eyes clearly held a hint of mockery.

Lin Yi: "..."

[Are you two part bloodhound? How could you find me here?]

He gave a dry laugh. "I just wanted to see if there were any herbs around here. You two go ahead, I'll catch up in a moment."

Xiao Wu jumped down from the tree and brushed the dust off her hands. "Then we'll help you look."

Zhu Zhuqing also followed along silently.

Lin Yi gave up completely.

[Fine, you win.]

[I don't believe you can keep an eye on me forever.]

For the rest of the journey, Lin Yi simply gave up the struggle and honestly followed the two girls.

Although he was still calculating various plans in his mind, he had returned to his usual lazy demeanor on the surface.

In any case, there was plenty of time; there would always be an opportunity.

Three days later at noon, the three of them walked out of the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest and arrived at a small town.

The town was not large and lacked towering walls; only a circle of half-rotted wooden fences and shallow trenches barely marked its boundaries.

However, because it was midday, there were few pedestrians, only a few scattered teams of Spirit Masters.

"What place is this?" Xiao Wu looked around curiously.

Lin Yi thought for a moment. "It should be Soul Hunting Town."

[This place was mentioned in the original story; it's the closest supply point to the Star Dou Forest.]

[Many Spirit Masters who come here to hunt for Spirit Rings stay in this town.]

He scanned the crowd on the street and suddenly noticed a group of people gathered not far away.

Those people were wearing uniform attire, and at the lead were several girls of similar age to them, huddled together discussing something.

Xiao Wu followed his gaze and asked, "Who are they?"

Lin Yi narrowed his eyes.

[This attire... it looks a bit familiar.]

[Wait, aren't those the uniforms of Skywater Academy?]

[Could it be that students from Skywater Academy are here to hunt for Spirit Rings?]

He carefully scrutinized the girls.

At the very front was a girl who looked to be fifteen or sixteen, her long, ice-blue hair particularly eye-catching. She possessed a cold temperament and delicate features, and just standing there, she radiated an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

Several other girls stood beside her, all of similar age, each with their own distinct characteristics.

Lin Yi looked at the group of girls, his heart jolting in surprise.

[Holy crap, is that Shui Bing'er?]

[That blue-haired one is Shui Bing'er, captain of Skywater Academy. Her Martial Soul is the Ice Phoenix, a top-tier ice-attribute beast Martial Soul...]

[The one next to her must be her younger sister Shui Yue'er, along with Xue Wu, Yu Hairou, and Shen Liuyu...]

[Aren't these the main roster members of Skywater Academy?]

[What are they doing here?]

He was lost in thought, completely unaware of the strange looks from those around him.

Most people just paused for a brief moment before losing interest.

After all, with so many people coming and going, hearing a few voices was perfectly normal.

Only the members of Skywater Academy looked around, their gazes eventually landing on Lin Yi.

Shui Bing'er frowned slightly, feeling confused.

What exactly were those voices just now?

However, at that very moment, Lin Yi's inner voice rang out again.

[According to the timeline, they should be preparing for the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament right now.]

[They must be here to hunt for suitable spirit rings for their members.]

[Shui Bing'er should have just broken through to level 30. Her third spirit ring... if I remember the original story correctly, was it a thousand-year Ice Crystal Bird?]

[But then again, Skywater Academy only recruits female students, and every one of them is a beauty. They were a very popular team in the original story.]

[Tsk tsk, if I could just shove the little rabbit and Zhu Zhuqing into Skywater Academy, wouldn't I finally be free?]

As this thought emerged, Lin Yi's eyes lit up instantly.

That's it!

Skywater Academy only accepted female students; if Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing could get in, he could openly and honestly part ways with them.

Perfect, simply too perfect.

Lin Yi thought happily to himself, completely failing to notice that the expressions of the girls opposite him had shifted subtly.

Shui Bing'er's brow furrowed even tighter.

What had she just heard?

That youth she had never met before... knew they were from Skywater Academy?

He even knew they were here to hunt for spirit rings?

He even knew about her Martial Soul and her future plans?

How was this possible?

She looked at her teammates beside her.

A flash of surprise crossed Xue Wu's eyes; clearly, she had heard those voices too.

Yu Hairou covered her mouth, her expression one of disbelief.

Shui Yue'er tugged on her sister's sleeve and whispered, "Sister, that person..."

"I heard it," Shui Bing'er interrupted, her gaze locked firmly on Lin Yi.

The youth looked to be about their age, with delicate features and a gentle temperament. Aside from being a bit handsome, there was nothing particularly special about him.

But those inner thoughts...

What on earth was going on?

Shui Bing'er took a deep breath, deciding to remain still for now.

She wanted to see what other information this youth might reveal.

On the other side, Lin Yi had no idea he was already being targeted.

He was still happily calculating in his mind.

[If they could get into Skywater Academy, that would be just great.]

[Skywater Academy has good cultivation resources and capable teachers. Most importantly, they only take female students, so I can't go there.]

[When that time comes, I'll be all alone. I can go wherever I want and never have to be followed by them again.]

[And the most crucial part is that the highest level at Skywater Academy is only a Spirit Douluo or Spirit Saint; there's absolutely no need to worry about the little rabbit.]