Time Flies

Inside the library pavilion of the Frost City Martial Soul Hall Branch Hall.

Tall bookshelves stood throughout the silent room, while sunlight filtered through the colored glass of the high windows, casting mottled patterns of light across the floor.

Within those shifting lights, a figure slowly closed the heavy leather-bound tome in his hands.

He was a youth of around fifteen or sixteen, straight and slender as a young bamboo stalk, dressed in a plain long robe washed nearly white.

Most striking of all was his silver-white hair, as though woven from moonlight. It fell smoothly to his waist, with a few strands draped lazily over his shoulders.

When he raised his head, the face he revealed was enough to render any words of praise pale by comparison. His skin was like jade, and his delicate features seemed as though they had been meticulously carved by a god.

Yet beneath that breathtaking beauty lay a calm restraint far beyond his years, like the still waters of a deep pool, undisturbed by any ripple.

This youth was Lin Wan.

Setting down his quill pen, Lin Wan let out a long breath.

He had finally finished the last book.

Several thick stacks of notes lay piled across the desk before him.

From a small child newly admitted to the academy, who still needed old Drus to worry over escorting him, to the bookworm who had now read nearly every book he could access at Frost City Junior Soul Master Academy and in the library pavilion of this Martial Soul Hall Branch Hall.

Lin Wan had spent a full six years.

He had long since completed the junior academy's courses and graduated smoothly with the average grades he had displayed.

But Lin Wan had not left Frost City. Instead, he had devoted all his energy to the library pavilion of this Martial Soul Hall Branch Hall.

The reason was simple. On one hand, his soul power level was not high. On the other, the library here far surpassed the junior academy in both the number of books and the breadth and depth of its subjects. It was the best window through which to understand the true face of this world.

The reason Lin Wan had obtained this privilege lay with Lin Zao.

Over the past six years, he and Lin Zao had never truly lost contact.

Letters arrived every so often.

Yet as time passed and distance grew, the topics they shared became fewer and fewer.

Perhaps Lin Zao had come to understand the gap between Innate Soul Power Level One and Innate Soul Power Level Seven. Perhaps the great crucible of Martial Soul Hall Academy had reshaped his understanding. Or perhaps it was simply the distance that came with growing up.

Their correspondence went from unfailingly arriving every month to one letter every two or three months, while the contents grew ever shorter and more formal.

Everyone at the Frost City Martial Soul Branch Hall knew that this astonishingly beautiful youth was closely connected to Lin Zao, who had a boundless future ahead of him in Martial Soul City.

Therefore, for the sake of maintaining that friendship.

When Lin Wan requested permission to enter the library pavilion and read, Moraki agreed after only a brief moment of consideration.

In Moraki's eyes, what could a youth with Innate Soul Power Level One and an ornamental Nine-Heavens Beauty Fox martial soul possibly achieve by reading books?

As long as Lin Wan occasionally mentioned in his letters to Lin Zao that he had received Hall Master Moraki's care, this small convenience would be well worth the cost.

Thus, Lin Wan became a regular visitor to this library pavilion, remaining there for years.

Lin Wan had never expected the collections of a branch hall in a border city merely close to the Far North to be so abundant.

From soul beast illustrations and ecological habits to continental geography and secret accounts of dangerous regions.

The number of books in this Martial Soul Hall Branch Hall was astonishing.

Lin Wan read extremely quickly, possessed astonishing comprehension, and had a memory that could only be called terrifying.

Countless obscure theories, complicated materials, and hidden records were sorted, absorbed, and integrated into his own understanding.

And today, as he closed the final notes on the textual research of ancient soul tools from the Star Luo Empire, it signified that this branch hall's library pavilion held no more secrets for him.

"It's time to leave."

Lin Wan murmured softly. His sea-blue eyes gazed through the window toward the vast sky beyond, where an even broader world awaited.

In his previous letter to Lin Zao, he had already briefly mentioned his intention to leave Frost City.

Lin Zao's reply remained brief, containing only one sentence: "Understood. Take care." There was nothing else.

As for Cold North Village, the little village that had given him his first warmth.

Lin Wan had returned there during every holiday over the years.

He had not revealed the strength he possessed now. He had merely used the knowledge he had learned, along with the Gold Soul Coins he had obtained from system lottery draws, to help the villagers improve their farming methods, teach them to identify low-value medicinal herbs in exchange for a meager income, and reinforce the village's defenses.

After several years, Cold North Village was no longer the impoverished little settlement it had once been. Though it remained remote, the villagers' faces now glowed with hope, and their homes had become much sturdier.

Old Drus remained hale and hearty. Whenever Lin Wan returned, the old man smiled so broadly that he could hardly close his mouth, his eyes filled with pride and gratification.

Lin Wan had done all he could to repay that kindness. There was not much left there to hold him back.

He rose to his feet and began tidying the desk in an orderly fashion.

He returned each borrowed book to its original place, then carefully stored several thick notebooks in a spatial soul tool. It was one of the items he had obtained through a reputation-value lottery draw.

After finishing everything, Lin Wan walked out of the library pavilion.

He still needed to bid Moraki farewell. It was only proper etiquette.

As for Lin Wan's soul power level?

He had already reached Level Thirty-Five, though he had never revealed it to anyone.

Because of the Disguise Card, he kept his soul power level at Level Ten, just enough to graduate from the academy, while disguising his spirit ring as a yellow Hundred-Year Spirit Ring.

Disguising it as a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring was the result of Lin Wan's careful consideration. After all, everyone at the academy knew he was close to Martial Soul Hall, so no one would suspect him.

The door to Moraki's office was half-open. Lin Wan knocked softly.

"Come in."

Lin Wan pushed the door open and entered.

Moraki sat behind a broad desk, handling documents. His dark purple chief steward's robe lent him an imposing air.

Six years had passed, yet time seemed not to have left many marks on his face. Only his gaze had grown deeper and harder to read.

Upon seeing Lin Wan, Moraki set down his pen, and a trace of formulaic gentleness appeared on his face.

"Lin Wan, is something the matter?"

His gaze swept over Lin Wan, carrying a faint scrutiny that was difficult to detect.

The youth before him had become increasingly astonishing in both appearance and bearing. Even Moraki found himself somewhat moved by the sight.

"Yes, Lord Moraki."

Lin Wan bowed slightly in greeting, neither servile nor arrogant.

"Thank you for your care over the years, which allowed me to read in the library pavilion. I came today to bid you farewell."

"Oh? You're leaving?"

Moraki did not seem surprised. His fingers lightly tapped against the desk.

"Where do you plan to go? Back to Cold North Village?"

"Nothing has been decided yet," Lin Wan replied.

"The world is vast. I want to travel around and see it. Perhaps I'll go out and gain some experience."

"Gain experience?" Moraki raised his brow slightly, his tone carrying concern that was impossible to tell was genuine or false.

"Given your circumstances, you must be extremely careful when traveling alone."