Years Flow On, New Branches Thrive

Time flew by, and before anyone knew it, late autumn of the following year had arrived.

At Heavenly Phoenix Academy's central square, crimson maple leaves carpeted the ground like a magnificent red rug. This year's graduation ceremony was grander than ever—the second cohort of students since the family crisis had been resolved was about to enter the various Li Family departments. In terms of overall quality, they were no less impressive than the previous cohort of senior students tempered through hardship.

On the elevated platform, Dean Ya Li wore a moon-white robe, her gentle gaze sweeping over the more than six hundred students below. Beside her stood Li Lexuan in silence. Faint moonlight seemed to linger around the newly advanced Super Douluo, lending her an icy, frost-like aura.

"Once again, it is the season of harvest." Ya Li's voice spread across the square through Soul Power. "Watching you grow from immaturity into maturity is the greatest comfort a teacher can receive."

Below the stage, the fourth-year students of the Advanced Division who were about to graduate stood perfectly straight. At the very front, two figures drew particular attention.

Li Xuanshu, eighteen years old, was a level sixty-four assault-type Battle Soul Emperor. He stood as straight as a spear, sharpness in his brow. The dark-gold Sky Phoenix Halberd in his hand seemed to have become one with him.

Half a step beside him stood Li Yuanqi. This eighteen-year-old girl, with her cultivation as a level sixty-two control-type Battle Soul Emperor, was unquestionably the second strongest student of this class. Her martial soul was the rare Dreamweaving Heavenly Heart Ring, capable of weaving Soul Skill dream nets in battle and trapping enemies in the unseen.

"Xuanshu, how is it? Nervous?" Li Yuanqi asked softly, her fingers unconsciously rubbing at the hem of