Farewell

Damn, good thing he underestimated me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have lasted until now.

Just as An Chen was considering a countermeasure, Wu Ming across from him withdrew his hammer and glanced at him.

An Chen panted heavily, sweat streaming down his cheeks. The hand gripping the Iron Pot trembled slightly.

Wu Ming could tell that his Soul Power had been exhausted and that his physical strength was nearly gone as well.

"Let's end it here for today." Wu Ming put away his hammer.

An Chen froze for a moment.

Wu Ming shook out his sore arm, a smile curling at his lips. "This is just an ordinary spar, not a fight to the death."

An Chen opened his mouth, wanting to say, "I can still take it," but when the words reached his lips, he knew he was just being stubborn. It was hard to say whether he could even withstand one more blow.

Zhao Qinian suddenly appeared at the edge of the field. He swept his gaze over the two of them and nodded. "Not bad."

After saying those two words, he left without any further comment.

An Chen's mouth fell open. Pointing toward where Zhao Qinian had vanished, he asked Wu Ming, "Is he always this elusive...?"

Time flew by. The leaves of an oak tree on the academy's back mountain turned green, then yellow, then green again. Six years passed just like that.

On a cool evening at the back mountain of Tieyan City Junior Soul Master Academy, An Chen wiped the sweat from his face.

At twelve years old, he was completely different from when he had been six.

He had shot up in height. Though still somewhat thin, clear definition had appeared in his arms and legs.

"Bring out the pot," An Chen murmured.

[Big Iron Pot System]

[Name]: An Chen

[Race]: Human

[Wuhun]: Big Iron Pot

[Soul Power]: Level 29

[Soul Rings]: Yellow, Yellow

[Pathway]: The Hanged Man

[Sequence]: Sequence 8 Listener

[Digestion]: 100%

[System Status]: Concealment Enabled (Enhanced)

[System Prompt]: The Iron Pot can be used to concoct Potions.

[Main Mission]: Absorb the Third Soul Ring (Shadow Attribute). Reward One: Hermit Potion Formula and its materials. Reward Two: System ability rewards based on the Soul Ring's age.

An Chen looked at the 100% digestion rate on the panel and recalled the day he consumed the Listener Potion.

That night, An Chen had claimed his reward in the outhouse. After preparing the Potion as he had last time, he drank it in one gulp.

Unlike last time, An Chen sensed that the Potion was extremely compatible with him. It felt as though his body and spirit resonated with it, as if the Potion had acknowledged him.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that the Potion's digestion rate had already reached 100%.

An Chen was secretly startled. It melted the moment it entered my mouth.

He then sensed the changes in his body. Nearby sounds had become clearer, his intuition had improved further, and he had gained another ability.

Listen: He could directly hear the whispers of corresponding mysterious entities and thereby gain certain unique abilities.

This... wasn't this seeking death? Last time, he had directly gotten "close" to a great existence. If the system's gray mist had not saved him, the grass on his grave would probably be taller than he was.

An Chen shook his head, feeling that this ability was far too useless.

Pulling himself from his memories, he was already Level 29 and did not want to remain in Tieyan City any longer.

Because there was something he needed to do.

Immortal Herbs.

Nearly every Immortal Herb in the Douluo world possessed an effect capable of defying fate and changing one's life.

He knew there were Immortal Herbs at the Ice and Fire Yang Well, but Dugu Bo guarded that place, and he did not possess Tang San's poison-detoxifying skills.

So An Chen wanted to go to Shrek Academy and get to know Tang San, to see whether he could somehow get an Immortal Herb.

Coming back to himself, An Chen shook his head and walked toward the dormitory beneath the evening glow.

"Brother Pot, come look!" Seeing An Chen return, Shitou laughed loudly and waved a test paper. "Qian Yiming got ten points deducted again because his handwriting was too ugly. He dropped from third place all the way to seventh."

Qian Yiming snatched the paper back, his cheeks slightly red. "I'm not studying for exams anyway. Zero points is fine by me."

"I told you long ago to practice your handwriting more." An Chen's lips curled upward. "Otherwise, only the two of us know what you wrote."

An Chen did not join in the commotion as usual. He merely sat there, unsure how to begin.

"Brother Pot, what's wrong?" Shitou was the first to notice something unusual.

Qian Yiming turned around as well.

"I... I'm leaving," An Chen said after opening his mouth.

"Leaving? Where are you going?" Shitou's heart tightened.

After hearing this, Qian Yiming stopped folding his test paper and listened carefully.

"I heard there's a... Shrek Academy." An Chen paused. "I'm going to take a look."

"Shrek Academy? Is that some no-name academy? I've never even heard of it." Shitou frowned. "With your strength, why go there?"

A no-name academy? An Chen's mouth twitched, and his melancholy instantly froze.

"No matter where you go, take care of yourself." Shitou's eyes reddened slightly, not noticing An Chen's expression.

"Don't die," Qian Yiming said as he looked at An Chen.

"Can't you say something nicer...?"

An Chen shook his head and watched the two start bickering again.

Early the next morning, An Chen headed to Elder Chen's courtyard.

"Teacher." An Chen greeted him as usual.

"Mm, what is it?" Elder Chen raised his eyes and pointed to the chair opposite him. "Sit."

"Teacher, I want to go out and gain some experience." As An Chen spoke, he watched Elder Chen's expression.

"Have you decided where you want to go?" Elder Chen looked up at An Chen.

"Shrek Academy."

"Shrek... Academy?" Elder Chen thought for a moment, somewhat surprised. "The one Flender established?"

An Chen nodded. He had not expected Elder Chen to know Flender.

"Flender, the Flight of the Horn among the Golden Iron Triangle, is quite capable." Elder Chen tapped the table. "He's just a little greedy and stingy. His standards are high, but you should be able to catch his eye."

"If you want to go, then go," Elder Chen said at last.

"I'm only going to gain some experience and see the geniuses outside." An Chen chose his words carefully. "When the time is right, I'll go to Wuhun City to find you."

"As long as you know what you're doing." Elder Chen's white beard trembled.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a black card and handed it over. "This is a supplementary Black Card under my account. You're still young, and you'll need money when you're away from home."

An Chen accepted the Black Card and froze for a moment.

"Teacher, this..."

"Take it." Elder Chen waved his hand. "You're my student. Without money, you won't get far outside. You can withdraw money from any major bank in the Heaven Dou Empire with this card."

An Chen put away the card, his feelings complicated. "Thank you, Teacher."

"Go. Don't die out there." Elder Chen's voice was somewhat low. "This world is more dangerous than you imagine."

An Chen recalled the incident with the Blood Moon and nodded. "I know."

He turned and left. When he stepped out of the courtyard, he looked back once.

Elder Chen sat in his chair, a thick book resting on the tea table before him. The sunlight stretched his shadow long.

After another three days of travel, An Chen arrived at Qingshi Village.

The village was still the same: stone-paved roads, low houses, the old locust tree at the entrance, and the large pit in the center of the village. The massive blue stone inside looked exactly as it had years ago.

An Chen pushed open the door to his home. His adoptive father, An Dashan, was splitting firewood in the yard, while his adoptive mother, Li Fang, busied herself by the stove.

"Father, Mother."

An Dashan looked up, froze for a moment, then broke into a grin. "Chen'er is back!"

Li Fang hurried over and inspected An Chen from head to toe, her eyes reddening. "You've gotten thinner. Haven't you been eating properly?"

An Chen smiled. "Mother, I've been eating well."

He stayed home for a day, gave Li Fang the Soul Master allowance he had saved up, and helped with some farmwork.

Early the next morning, Li Fang stuffed a bundle of dry provisions into his hands. At last, she could no longer hold back her tears. "Child, take good care of yourself outside. Write home if anything happens."

An Dashan stood beside her and patted his shoulder, his rough palm trembling slightly.

"Father, Mother, take care. I'll definitely come back." He turned and left Qingshi Village without looking back.