The three icy words were forced through Ye Feng's clenched teeth.
He couldn't be bothered to keep up the act any longer. He strode forward and walked straight past Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang was stunned by the sudden change.
He hadn't expected Ye Feng, who had been "humbly seeking guidance" just a moment ago, to dare treat him, a master of theory, like this the next.
By the time he came to his senses, Ye Feng had already walked out of the shop.
"You... What did you say?!"
Yu Xiaogang's face instantly turned the color of pig liver. Fury at being toyed with and humiliated surged through him. Pointing at Ye Feng's back, he shouted in a fit of rage.
"Fine! Fine, Ye Feng! Just you wait! Once we're back at the academy, I'll show you how this Grandmaster deals with you!"
Ye Feng didn't slow down at all. He acted as though he hadn't heard a thing.
Just wait!
If he weren't afraid that the woman far away in Spirit City would go mad, he'd honestly want to kill this piece of trash right now.
After calming his churning emotions, Ye Feng hurried back to the inn.
He closed the door, shutting out all the noise of the outside world.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pulled the thin booklet Introduction to Heart Separation Control from inside his robes and gazed at its cover.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
It was the annual opening day once again at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.
The campus was bustling with voices, filled with the excitement of new students and the clamor of returning ones.
However, none of it had anything to do with Ye Feng.
While the other students were still preparing for the new term, he headed straight to the academy's administration office and knocked on the dean's door.
The dean was a kindly-looking old man. He still remembered the name Ye Feng well.
After all, a Soul Power of innate rank seven was a rarity in a place like Nuoding City. There might not be another one for decades.
"Ye Feng, what can I do for you? Is there anything about life at the academy that you're having trouble getting used to?"
The dean set down the records in his hand and asked gently.
Ye Feng shook his head and got straight to the point.
"Dean, I'm here to apply for graduation."
"What?"
The dean thought he'd misheard. He adjusted the glasses on his nose and asked again:
"Graduation? You've only been here a year, and your Soul Power has just reached rank twelve. Isn't applying for graduation now a little too soon?"
"It isn't."
Ye Feng's tone was firm.
"I've already mastered all the basic knowledge the academy can teach.
"Whether it's Martial Soul Theory or the Soul Beast Illustrated Handbook, I've read just about every book in the library."
"As for practical combat... The academy's lessons aren't very meaningful to me."
His words were blunt, even a little arrogant.
But coming from Ye Feng, they carried an undeniable confidence.
The dean fell silent.
He carefully sized up the boy before him.
Silver hair, a face so handsome it seemed almost otherworldly, and a composure and calm far beyond his years.
He knew very well that trying to constrain a genius like Ye Feng with conventional schooling would be a waste in itself.
There truly wasn't much more the academy could offer him.
Rather than let him waste his time there, it would be better to let him venture into a broader world.
"I understand."
After a long while, the dean nodded and took a form from his desk drawer.
"Since you've made up your mind, I won't try to talk you out of it. Fill out this graduation application, and I'll sign it."
"Thank you, Dean."
Without hesitation, Ye Feng picked up a pen and swiftly filled in his information.
The whole process was clean and quick.
When Ye Feng walked out of the administration office with his stamped graduation certificate, his heart felt light.
One more shackle holding him back had fallen away.
Back in Dorm Seven, Aolan, Wang Sheng, and the others were gathered together, excitedly discussing their plans for the new term.
When they saw Ye Feng come through the door, Aolan casually slung an arm around his shoulders.
"Brother Feng, where'd you go? A teacher just came by to tell us there's an opening ceremony this afternoon. Don't be late!"
Wang Sheng came over too, a simple, honest smile on his face.
"Yeah, Brother Feng. I heard there are a few pretty female students this year. Let's go take a look together."
Looking at the roommates he'd spent a year with, Ye Feng wore a rare, gentle expression.
He pulled the graduation certificate from his robes and waved it in front of them.
"You'll have to go look on your own from now on. I've graduated."
"What?!"
Aolan's voice shot up as he snatched the paper and stared at it wide-eyed.
"A graduation certificate?! Brother Feng, you're not kidding, are you? The term just started!"
Wang Sheng and the other Work-Study Students crowded around too, their faces full of shock and confusion.
"Brother Feng, why are you leaving?"
"Yeah! We were hoping to follow you around."
The dormitory's lively atmosphere fell silent in an instant.
Ye Feng patted Aolan on the shoulder and took back the graduation certificate.
"There's no feast that doesn't end. The academy has nothing left to teach me. Staying here would only waste my time."
He looked around at everyone, then took several dozen Gold Soul Coins from his money pouch and pressed them into Wang Sheng's hands.
"Take this. Don't let anyone bully you while you're at the academy.
"Aolan, you're the strongest. Look after everyone."
A year together wasn't long, but these kindhearted Work-Study Students in Dorm Seven had truly given him a taste of warmth he hadn't felt in a long time.
Aolan, who had once been defeated by him, had eyes that were actually turning red.
"Brother Feng... Where are you going?"
"I don't know. I'll find somewhere to stay for now and focus on cultivation."
Ye Feng's answer was short and to the point.
He packed up the few belongings he had, which amounted to no more than a small bundle.
"I'm off."
There were no long speeches, no lingering farewells.
Ye Feng slung the bundle over his back and walked out of Dorm Seven as everyone watched him leave reluctantly.
But as soon as he reached the academy gate, a figure he'd expected stepped into his path.
Yu Xiaogang.
He seemed to have been waiting there on purpose, his face bearing a tightly suppressed anger and a cold sneer.
"Ye Feng! You still dare show your face in front of me! You got away from me at the shop last time, but today this Grandmaster will teach you what it means to respect your elders!"
Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, striking a pose as if he were about to put Ye Feng on trial.
In his eyes, since Ye Feng had come to school today, he was still a student at the academy. There were countless ways to make this ignorant brat suffer.
But before he'd even finished speaking, Ye Feng looked at him like he was an idiot, then walked around him and headed straight out of the school gate.
The feeling of being utterly ignored sent Yu Xiaogang's fury straight to its peak.
"Stop right there!"
He darted forward and blocked Ye Feng again, practically roaring:
"What kind of attitude is that?! Do you think I won't..."
"Won't go complain to the dean and make sure I can't graduate?"
Ye Feng finally stopped and looked at him with amusement.
Yu Xiaogang was taken aback, then gave a cold snort.
"Looks like you're not completely stupid! Now apologize to this Grandmaster at once, and I may consider going easy on you!"
Before you continue