Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao

Meanwhile, within the Sky Screen,

Wang Dong looked at the Soul Bone. Though she wanted it too, she ultimately tossed it to Xiao Xiao.

"Xiao Xiao, you should absorb this Soul Bone," Wang Dong said.

As the young mistress of the Clear Sky Sect, she naturally had access to quite a few Soul Bones stored within the sect. Compared to Xiao Xiao, she was not in such desperate need of one.

Xiao Xiao caught it in one hand and smiled. "Then I won't stand on ceremony. If our team obtains another Soul Bone next time, you two get first pick."

By now, Xiao Xiao had already made up her mind to follow Ye Chen and Wang Dong wherever they went.

After dividing the Soul Bone, the three returned to Class One.

After the Freshman Assessment, nearly everyone in Class One was familiar with one another.

Dai Huabin, Wu Feng, Huo Yuhao... Since Zhu Lu had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Dai Huabin, she was there as well.

When Wang Yan saw Ye Chen and the others return, he smiled faintly. "Go back to your seats first."

Once Ye Chen and the others had returned to their seats, Wang Yan continued.

"Regarding the class monitor and vice monitor of Class One..." Wang Yan hesitated before speaking.

"The class monitor of Class One will be Ye Chen, and the vice monitor will be Wang Dong."

Originally, he had intended to select the class monitor and vice monitor through a vote.

However, Yan Shaozhe had sought him out in advance and decided the positions of class monitor and vice monitor.

His reasoning was that geniuses should receive the special treatment reserved for geniuses.

Zhou Yi, who stood nearby, wanted to speak up on Huo Yuhao's behalf. But when she recalled Yan Shaozhe's earlier instructions, she held herself back.

In any case, once the semester ended, Huo Yuhao would become a core disciple of their Soul Guidance Department.

In the classroom, when they heard that Ye Chen was the class monitor,

Dai Huabin, Wu Feng, and Huo Yuhao all revealed unnatural expressions.

The first two were angry and unwilling, while the latter was filled with hatred.

Ye Chen caught the scene with precision.

He could understand Dai Huabin and Wu Feng. After all, both of them were the sort whose brains were ruled by their impulses.

Perhaps someday, they might even use their family influence to hunt him down.

But Huo Yuhao... Could it be because he had not chosen Huo Yuhao's favor during the previous selection of nine?

Had that caused Huo Yuhao to lose all favorable feelings toward him?

Still, that was fine. What meaning did the favor of someone who could even forget his original aspirations have?

Over the following days, the freshmen entered their usual cultivation routine.

Autumn passed into winter, winter gave way to spring, and in the blink of an eye, eight months had passed. The first academic year officially came to an end, and Shrek Academy was preparing for a long break.

Since Shrek Academy had no final examinations, only an assessment at the start of the next academic year,

after today, they would be leaving the academy.

The weather was chilly, and a light rain fell outside.

Ye Chen had just left Du Weilun's office. He stared blankly at the gloomy sky, lost in thought.

His Soul Power had already reached rank forty, and he had been on Douluo Continent for nearly a year.

Bibi Dong was similarly melancholy.

"I wonder how Xiao Xue and Nana are doing," Bibi Dong murmured.

Over these eight months, Qian Renxue was the one she mentioned most often.

Meanwhile, just as Ye Chen was lost in thought, Wang Dong arrived at his side with an umbrella.

"It's raining. We're about to part ways, so I came to see you off." Wang Dong adjusted her short blue hair, a strange look in her eyes.

"The break is starting. What are your plans?" The atmosphere between them was somewhat delicate, and Wang Dong took the initiative to ask.

"I'm preparing to obtain my fourth Soul Ring," Ye Chen said softly.

"Then you must be careful." Wang Dong blurted it out almost instinctively.

Ye Chen turned to look at Wang Dong. Under the dark sky, her face was flushed red.

Raindrops pattered against the umbrella, as though they were falling onto Wang Dong's violently pounding heart.

"What I mean is, I'm going home. I won't be by your side, so I won't be able to help you..." By the end, Wang Dong's voice had grown softer and softer.

"Then work hard and reach rank thirty soon." Ye Chen smiled faintly.

"Alright! I'll do my best to become a Soul Elder as soon as possible," Wang Dong declared resolutely.

The distance from the teaching building to the dormitory building was not far. With Wang Dong's speed, it would only take a few minutes.

But this time, she lowered her head and walked very slowly.

Ye Chen had clearly noticed, but he did not expose her. He simply followed Wang Dong's pace.

It was not until they reached the dormitory building that Wang Dong reluctantly bid Ye Chen farewell.

"I'm leaving. See you when school starts."

"See you when school starts."

Wang Dong had not gone far when she suddenly turned around. Seeing Ye Chen wave at her, the tears in her eyes finally rolled down her cheeks.

She kept repeating in her heart: Ye Chen, you big idiot!

After saying goodbye to Wang Dong, Ye Chen was about to return to his dormitory to pack his things when he saw Xiao Xiao squatting at the entrance of the dormitory building, dozing off.

At that moment, Xiao Xiao rested her chin on one hand, looking as though she might fall asleep at any moment.

Ye Chen walked over to Xiao Xiao and gently nudged her.

"Class Monitor? Did I fall asleep?" Xiao Xiao abruptly woke up and instinctively tidied her messy hair.

"The break is starting. Aren't you going home?" Ye Chen asked.

"I am. I just wanted to say goodbye to you before leaving, Class Monitor." Xiao Xiao lowered her head, both small hands tucked behind her back.

"Alright, it's getting late. Go home quickly. Remember, don't casually attach a Soul Ring to your Nine Phoenix Welcoming Flute."

As usual, Ye Chen rubbed Xiao Xiao's little head and reminded her.

"Got it, Class Monitor." Xiao Xiao stuck out her tongue and obediently agreed.

"Then I'll head back first, Class Monitor."

After saying goodbye to Xiao Xiao, Ye Chen simply packed his luggage before heading outside Shrek City.

Bibi Dong also emerged from the Sea of Spirit.

"Teacher, let's go. To the Far North."

At the same time, elsewhere,

Huo Yuhao was also heading toward the Far North under Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's guidance.

"Brother Sky Dream, do we really have to go to the Far North? Can't we go to the Star Dou Forest instead?" Huo Yuhao asked.

"Don't worry, I planned this long ago. Your second Martial Soul can only be found in the Far North," Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said mysteriously.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had long been unable to wait for this day!

Bingbing, Bingbing, I'm coming for you!

"Alright."

It took Huo Yuhao a full eight days to travel from Shrek City to the northern border of the Heaven Dou Empire.

As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but an expanse of white.

Huo Yuhao woke the sleeping Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

"Brother Sky Dream, stop sleeping. We're here. Hurry up and show me the way."

"Show you the way? What way? I don't know this place!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm said righteously.

Huo Yuhao froze completely upon hearing that.

What? He had spent eight days crossing the entire Heaven Dou Empire, and now Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was telling him he did not know the way?

"Don't panic, little Yuhao. Don't forget that I have spiritual detection!"

Seeing Huo Yuhao's speechless expression, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm chuckled.

"Keep heading north first. Let's enter the core region of the Far North before we decide anything else."

"Alright."

Unbeknownst to him, the moment Huo Yuhao stepped into the Far North, two figures had already silently begun following them.

And Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's proud spiritual detection failed to notice anything unusual at all.