Fellow Travelers, Different Paths

As they descended from the dining hall's second floor, the wooden stairs creaked softly beneath their feet, as though speaking of the boundary between the clouds and the mortal world.

Jiang Kuo led the way. He had clearly enjoyed himself to the fullest today, gently waving his folding fan as he strode along as if borne by the wind.

"Brother Chu, I'm not bragging—the Azure Shadow Venison on the second floor really is something special. It cost me three points of Dao Merit, but that feeling of spiritual energy sliding down your throat... tsk, tsk. Much better than swallowing those bitter medicinal powders, right?"

Jiang Kuo glanced back with a chuckle and waggled his eyebrows at Zhou Tong and Chen Shi. "You two should put in some effort too. If you make the top hundred in the half-year tournament, your families might give you a little more support."

Picking his teeth, Zhou Tong sighed. "You're right, Brother Jiang. After that meal, even my spell power feels much livelier. It's just too expensive, far too expensive..."

Chu Bai trailed half a step behind, silently sensing the workings of his [Food Injury Leaks Elegance] fate destiny. The energy from the spiritual meal barely lingered within him before converting into pure spiritual energy with astonishing efficiency.

He was about to speak when his gaze swept casually across the room and settled on a long bench near the door.

In a corner not far away, a familiar figure sat alone.

The young man wore the blue-gray student uniform issued by the Dao Academy. Though washed perfectly clean, it could not conceal his air of desolation.

It was Li Han from Class Two.

Li Han noticed the movement by the doorway as well. He raised his head, and his gaze met Chu Bai and the