Time flew by, and Bai Shu had already spent a year and a half at Notting Academy.
"Principal, these are our graduation applications. Please take a look."
Inside the principal's office, Bai Shu handed over two application forms.
Xiao Wu stood behind Bai Shu, her large eyes darting all around the principal's office.
"Ah..." The principal picked up the applications and let out a complicated sigh. "I knew you would graduate early, but I never expected it to be... this soon. In a year and a half, you've walked the path that takes others six years."
He carefully reviewed the contents of the applications. His hand paused almost imperceptibly when he saw the words "Level 20" under Soul Power Level.
Although he had hoped that an unparalleled genius like Bai Shu could peacefully complete six years at the academy and leave behind its most glorious legacy.
The truth was that Bai Shu had long surpassed the graduation requirements by far.
It was not just his Soul Power. Bai Shu's speed in learning theory was equally terrifying. In just over a year, he had completed the academy's full six-year curriculum through self-study and sitting in on classes.
A genius like this truly could not be kept in the little pond that was Notting City.
"Thank you, Principal, for taking care of us over the past year."
Bai Shu gave a slight bow. Though he had only met the principal a few times, the man had given him plenty of special allowances. One of them was permitting him to attend classes in any grade as he pleased, which had saved him a great deal of time.
Of course, the most important reason he could learn so quickly was the improvement to his constitution brought by the Chaos Green Lotus Spirit.
Over the past year, he had often kept his spirit in his dantian to nurture it. Not only had his body grown increasingly stronger, but his comprehension had risen with it, making his studies twice as effective with half the effort.
Now that he had learned the complete body of theoretical knowledge, Bai Shu's purpose in remaining at Notting Academy had essentially been fulfilled.
There was no longer any benefit in staying here, so Bai Shu planned to head for a larger stage.
When he left the principal's office, Bai Shu had two additional certificates in hand.
"Bai Shu, where are we going now?"
The moment Xiao Wu stepped outside, she skipped over to Bai Shu's side, showing not the slightest reluctance about graduating early.
Her purpose in entering human society had been to see all kinds of people and things. Only then could she grow faster.
Bai Shu looked at the expensive map of the Heaven Dou Empire in his hand and placed his finger on a specially marked city.
"Let's go to Heaven Dou City. It's close to Sunset Forest, so it'll also be convenient for me to obtain my Second Spirit Ring."
"Second Spirit Ring? You're already Level 20?" Xiao Wu abruptly stopped, staring at Bai Shu in disbelief.
She knew Bai Shu had always cultivated quickly, but it had only been two months since he broke through Level 19.
She, Xiao Wu, was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form. Since she cultivated with Bai Shu every day and benefited from the aura of the Chaos Green Lotus, her cultivation speed had greatly increased. Yet even so, Xiao Wu was only Level 17 now.
Bai Shu shot her a sidelong glance. "Is that fast? If I hadn't spent most of my time studying, I could have reached Level 20 at least a few months earlier. Did you think everyone was like you, knowing nothing but eating, drinking, and playing every day?"
Xiao Wu was immediately left speechless. Her little face reddened, and she puffed out her cheeks in defiance, but she could not refute him. She could only lower her head, kick at the pebbles on the ground with her toes, and silently follow Bai Shu's pace.
Bai Shu did not linger in the city. He followed the main road straight out through the city gates.
Watching the traffic coming and going outside the city, Xiao Wu could not help asking, "Bai Shu, you don't mean to walk all the way to Heaven Dou City, do you? I saw the map earlier. It's really, really far away!"
Bai Shu did not turn around. He merely tipped his chin toward a carriage parked by the roadside ahead.
Xiao Wu followed his gaze and was instantly captivated.
It was a luxurious carriage drawn by two exceptionally fine, tall horses. Its carriage compartment resembled a small moving pavilion, entirely crafted from a kind of golden wood. The curtains swayed faintly in the breeze, exuding an indescribable air of nobility.
An elderly white-haired man dressed plainly sat quietly in the driver's seat with his eyes closed, seemingly isolated from the bustle around him.
Xiao Wu pointed at the obviously terrifyingly expensive carriage, anticipation gleaming in her eyes. "We're... riding that?"
Bai Shu nodded. "Of course. It's such a long journey. We definitely need a better carriage."
Upon receiving confirmation, Xiao Wu immediately cheered and dashed toward the carriage, circling it as she examined it from every angle.
Her monthly allowance consisted of Spirit Hall subsidies. She even had to borrow money from Bai Shu to eat anything decent, so she had naturally never enjoyed anything this luxurious.
Bai Shu also walked over at this moment. Looking at the carriage before him, he nodded in satisfaction.
This carriage had not been bought. It was a gift from Xiao Chenyu's city lord father.
Unlike Xiao Chenyu, his father had naturally investigated after several Bullies in the city died one after another. After all, even he could not easily touch those people, or he would have arrested them long ago.
Naturally, the investigation yielded no results. How could they possibly see through the methods of a Title Douluo?
However, he learned of Bai Shu's existence from Xiao Chenyu and also discovered that Bai Shu had once asked about those people.
That was how the carriage gift came about.
Naturally, there had also been some probing involved, but it had only made Bai Shu's purse a little fuller.
The two climbed into the carriage, and the spacious comfort within made Xiao Wu marvel even more. Bai Shu said to Xie Biyan, who was temporarily acting as the driver, "Old Xie, head to Sunset Forest first. After I obtain my spirit ring, we'll go to Heaven Dou City."
"Yes, Young Master." Xie Biyan responded and drove the carriage onward.
Hearing Bai Shu mention obtaining a spirit ring again, Xiao Wu had initially felt somewhat downcast. But when she heard Xie Biyan's form of address for Bai Shu, her low spirits were instantly replaced by immense curiosity.
"Huh? Bai Shu, why does he call you Young Master? Aren't you a commoner?"
"I am a commoner. Didn't you come home with me yesterday and see my grandfather?" Bai Shu revealed a sly grin. "As for Old Xie, he was won over by my talent and willingly became my Guardian. Oh, right, he's very strong."
Xiao Wu wore an expression of sudden understanding. "That's what it was. I was wondering why you were so rich. So you have a powerful expert..."
At this point, Xiao Wu's words abruptly stopped. The smile on her face froze as a thought flashed through her mind. She involuntarily swallowed, looked at Bai Shu nervously, and even her voice trembled.
"Um... you said he's very strong. Just... how strong is he?"
Bai Shu said nothing. He simply smiled at Xiao Wu, making her scalp prickle.
A thought she could not believe, one that even frightened her, surfaced in her mind.
"Ha... haha... H-he couldn't possibly be... a Title Douluo... right?"
Xiao Wu gave a dry laugh, trying to conceal her panic with laughter, but her stammering voice and faintly trembling body completely betrayed the fear in her heart.
The smile on Bai Shu's face deepened. He slowly nodded and said, one word at a time:
"Congratulations, Little Rabbit. You guessed right."
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