Encounter Under the Moonlight

On the way back, Xia Yan noticed the light in Ning Rongrong's room was still on.

He walked over.

Hearing footsteps, Ning Rongrong opened the door and found Xia Yan standing outside.

A look of joy immediately appeared on her pretty face.

"Xia Yan!"

She ran over and threw herself into his arms: "Mm... Xia Yan..."

"Still not asleep?"

Ning Rongrong said sweetly: "I missed you..."

As it turned out, halfway there in the woods, another figure caught up.

The three of them looked over, "Hm? Tang...?"

A red-haired shadow immediately laughed: "Hahahaha... we all agreed not to come, yet none of us are missing..."

The two shadows beside him didn't say a word, turning their heads away.

The final shadow caught up. With his naturally dark skin, he was even better at hiding in the night than the others.

He was surprised: "Hm? Why are you all here?"

The red-haired shadow replied as a matter of course: "We're going to Suotuo City, where are you going?"

The last shadow said: "Suotuo City has things I need, which can only be bought at night."

He didn't have much money, but he wanted to buy high-quality goods. Those items couldn't see the light of day and only appeared at night.

In order to refine more potent Deadly Poison, forge more powerful Hidden Weapon, and above all, to defeat Xia Yan!

He had to seize every second!

The red-haired shadow clicked his tongue: "Look at you, this is just a lack of experience. Why distinguish between day and night..."

It was clear he was just thin-skinned, too embarrassed to go during the day, so he used such an excuse.

The last shadow was surprised: "They have them during the day too?"

"Of course!"

"Come on, we'll take you."

"But why do you smell so sour? You'll have to wash up once we get there..."

"You're young, you have to pay attention to hygiene..."

The last shadow sniffed his arm; it did seem like there was a smell.

Could it be from sweating during today's training?

Whatever, a wash would fix it.

Suotuo City really was a big city; so sophisticated that you had to be clean just to trade.

Late at night, Suotuo City was brightly lit, with crowds flowing through the streets.

Inside a wooden building, on the second floor, Tang San was soaking in a large wooden bathtub.

He was very curious. He hadn't even said what he wanted to buy, so how did Ma Hongjun and the others know?

Why did Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others separate without saying a word?

What were they going to do?

Vaguely, he heard footsteps outside the door, and then the door was slowly pushed open...

The next morning, In the cafeteria, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai were sitting together. Seeing Tang San walk over, their expressions were helpless and drained.

He set down his bowl.

Once Tang San sat down, he finally couldn't help but say: "You should have just said you wanted to buy materials for forging weapons..."

"You didn't say anything either..."

Last night, he had already taken his pants off, only to be forced outside by the commotion Tang San caused.

Tang San had been wearing a bathrobe, looking vigilant, and the door had been kicked in by him.

There were so many people gathered around.

In the end, it was only after he stepped in that the situation was smoothed over.

Tang San looked awkward: "I thought you were all going to buy materials too."

Ma Hongjun tilted his head: "I wouldn't know about that, you'll have to find out for yourself..."

Tang San glanced guiltily at Xiao Wu and lowered his head to eat.

As they spoke, Xia Yan walked into the cafeteria.

Ning Rongrong's pretty face softened as she stood up and immediately hurried over: "Xia Yan!"

Zhu Zhuqing wanted to go over as well; she had many things she couldn't figure out from last night and hoped Xia Yan could provide answers, but just as she was about to stand up, she noticed that Ning Rongrong seemed a bit too enthusiastic, and felt it might be inappropriate for her to go over now, so she could only remain seated.

Xiao Wu, meanwhile, kept her head down, sipping her porridge and minding her own business.

When it was time to assemble, Oscar arrived late, but he hadn't broken through to level thirty yet. Once class ended and they were dismissed, Oscar immediately rushed back to cultivate.

Sure enough, by noon, Oscar shouted excitedly: "I'm level thirty!"

"I'm level thirty!"

He ran right past Flender's office.

Ning Rongrong was clinging to Xia Yan, with Zhu Zhuqing also nearby.

Xia Yan was answering questions for Zhu Zhuqing, such as how the age limit for a Soul Master absorbing a Soul Ring is not fixed, but primarily depends on the quality of the Martial Soul, the physique of the Soul Master, and the nature of their meridians...

Ning Rongrong wanted to hug his arm, but Xia Yan stopped her because they were discussing serious matters.

Ning Rongrong could only stand to the side, looking at him with adoring eyes.

She had never heard these theories even back at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect; Xia Yan was truly amazing!

Just then, the three of them heard an excited shout coming from afar: "I'm a Soul Elder!!"

They saw Oscar dash toward Flender's office without even looking back.

Xia Yan was not surprised at all; Oscar was supposed to break through today anyway.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, however, were extremely shocked. One had to realize that Oscar was only fourteen—a fourteen-year-old Food-type Soul Elder!

The three of them followed.

As it turned out, they saw Tang San and the others catching up as well.

When Dai Mubai saw Zhu Zhuqing with Xia Yan and Ning Rongrong, his face darkened instantly.

Inside the office, Flender patted Oscar on the shoulder approvingly: "Little Ao, well done!"

"A fourteen-year-old Food-type Soul Elder—the continent has never seen such a thing!"

"Rest well today; tomorrow we head to the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Understood, Dean!"

"I'm a Soul Elder!!"

Oscar waved his fists and shouted in excitement.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, he instinctively looked toward the door.

Ning Rongrong was there too, but she was pressed against Xia Yan, the two of them appearing extremely intimate.

"I am..."

In an instant, Oscar's heart skipped a beat, like ripples on a calm pond. The excited expression froze on his face.

He suddenly felt detached from the surrounding bustle, the world turning gray.

"Thwack." "Thwack."

Feeling the force and sound of Flender patting his shoulder, and seeing Ma Hongjun shaking him excitedly on the side, celebrating for him, Oscar looked up at Flender's gratified face, and realized he didn't feel all that happy...

He could only maintain his smile as he looked at the others.

Ma Hongjun and the others were excitedly celebrating for Oscar. Heading to the Star Dou Great Forest was no small matter; medicine, dry rations, and sleeping bags all had to be prepared.

Just as the others left to prepare, Flender called Xia Yan aside, leaving him alone.

Once everyone had departed, the office, now devoid of its former bustle, felt all the more silent. Flender's expression remained gratified, though tinged with a hint of reluctance: "In twenty years, you are the most gifted student I have ever seen..."

"And the most outstanding one I have ever taught..."

He poured a glass of warm water for Xia Yan. The white porcelain cup was well-maintained, without a single chip.

Xia Yan understood what he meant:

"I understand, Dean."

"I will accompany you to the Star Dou Great Forest one last time..."

Regardless of the circumstances, parting is always sorrowful.

Flender nodded: "Good..."

Even though he was reluctant, he had to ask him to leave for the sake of Xia Yan's safety. As for Tang Hao, he would handle that himself.

Xia Yan picked up the white porcelain cup and drained it in one gulp: "Then I shall return, Dean."

Flender waved his hand, no longer the stingy dean, but rather an elder: "Go on then..."

Through his square crystal glasses, he watched Xia Yan's retreating figure from the side.

Silent.