Farewell

Fulfilled days made people forget the passage of time without realizing it.

Five years had passed, and the time for parting was drawing near.

Yan Jin had grown from a tomboy into a young girl just beginning to come into her own.

Her Soul Power had risen to level twenty-eight, and with Amon's help, she had absorbed her second Spirit Ring beyond the usual limit.

The Spirit Ring had come from a fifteen-hundred-year-old Slime, but because the Worm of Time had shared the energy, its quality had dropped to around nine hundred and fifty years.

Lei Yin stood at her side, his dark blue tousled hair swaying slightly. This somewhat delicate-looking boy had also become a level twenty-two Soul Grandmaster.

His two Spirit Rings had likewise come from Slimes. The only difference was that he had hunted Lightning Slimes and had not exceeded the age limit.

The origins of Yan Jin and Lei Yin's Spirit Rings were no secret among the Soul Masters of Frostleaf City, and both of them had demonstrated exceptionally formidable combat strength.

Because of this, the Slimes living in the Xilin Mountain Range suffered. More and more Soul Masters began targeting these easy-to-kill, easy-to-find Soul Beasts for their Spirit Rings.

Only after most people discovered that their Soul Skills did not meet expectations did the trend gradually subside.

Five years had turned Amon from a half-grown boy into a tall, gallant young man. He was seventeen now.

Shi Guantao looked at the three before him, his expression somewhat complicated.

"Five years... I watched you take each step to reach where you are today. Amon, I once promised that if you reached level twenty before turning eighteen, I would write a letter recommending you to Northland Advanced Soul Master Academy... You have surpassed my expectations. With your current qualifications, I'm afraid no advanced Soul Master academy would turn you away even without a recommendation letter."

Amon smiled faintly. "Your recommendation letter is still an essential condition. It can save me quite a bit of trouble."

Shi Guantao neither confirmed nor denied it. He turned to Yan Jin and said:

"Yan Jin, your talent is outstanding. I have never seen a child with gifts like yours. You must work hard and not squander that talent. I hope someone renowned throughout the land can emerge from Frostleaf City, this remote place of ours. But you need to temper that hotheaded personality of yours. Learn more from your mentor, Amon."

Yan Jin scratched her head and chuckled.

Principal Shi had always taken good care of them, which was why she could patiently listen to him speak for so long. If it had been someone else, she would have cut them off long ago with a "Stop nagging."

Finally, he looked at Lei Yin.

"Although your talent falls short of your sister's, you also possess the potential to become a Douluo. I hope you will work hard."

Lei Yin smiled shyly and said politely, "Thank you for your encouragement, and thank you for your care over the years. I'll work hard."

He had only joined the academy at the age of nine, skipping straight into the same grade as Yan Jin.

Amon accepted the recommendation letters and the outstanding graduate certificates from Icewind Primary Soul Master Academy for all three of them from Shi Guantao. He removed his hat and bowed slightly.

"Then this is goodbye. Thank you for taking care of us."

"Go on, go on." Shi Guantao waved them away, an gratified smile on his face.

He stood at the academy gates, watching the three receding figures in silence for a long time.

Lu Wencong walked to his side and said softly:

"Worried about them? There's no need... In Frostleaf City, they're already famous powerhouses. I heard Yan Jin recently gave that Soul Elder under Ma Wen, the one named Wasef, a thorough beating."

Shi Guantao shook his head. "Frostleaf City is only a small place. Once they reach a large city, this little strength of theirs won't amount to much."

"They're still young." Lu Wencong smiled.

"Yes, they're still young."

When they arrived at the city gates, Ma Wen, Glen, Wasef, Mo Lei, and the others had already been waiting for a long time. They had come to see them off.

"Lady Ma Wen, I didn't expect you to come in person." Amon pinched his Monocle and spoke softly.

Ma Wen revealed a kind smile. To the others, this was an astonishing sight. It was difficult for them to imagine that the Shadow Queen of Frostleaf City could smile so warmly.

"Your potential is worthy of anyone's careful consideration. As your partner, of course I had to come see you off. Our cooperation over these past five years has been very pleasant, and I hope our friendship can continue."

Ma Wen was so amiable for two reasons. First, she valued the potential of Amon and the others. Second, the GG effect Yan Jin had brought over the years had earned her quite a bit of money.

Yan Jin's reputation was not confined to the academy alone. After becoming a Soul Grandmaster, she had defeated a Soul Elder and become one of Frostleaf City's rising powerhouses.

As a supernova with limitless potential, she was naturally admired and imitated.

The clothing styles she endorsed had found a considerable market among Frostleaf City's young Soul Masters.

Ma Wen had also made a tidy profit from this. Her investment in Amon and the others had paid for itself, with even a slight surplus.

"Of course... Your support was also an indispensable part of our being able to come this far. If you hadn't helped us when we needed Spirit Rings, we would not have achieved what we have today." Amon nodded slightly.

Ma Wen's smile broadened. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of those seven little ones."

Amon looked at Glen standing beside Ma Wen. The latter merely said calmly, "Goodbye. Take care."

Wasef, on the other hand, looked somewhat uncomfortable. He had provoked Yan Jin before and received a beating for it.

Then he had gone to trouble Lei Yin, only to lose again.

As for Amon, just seeing him made Wasef uneasy. He always felt that this man with a Monocle and a smile on his face was extraordinarily dangerous.

Yan Jin and Lei Yin were saying goodbye to Mo Lei and the others.

"Mo Lei, you'll be the eldest at home from now on. Take good care of your younger brothers and sisters. If anything happens, go to Lady Ma Wen. She'll help you. If you truly can't resolve it, write to us." Lei Yin instructed Mo Lei.

Other than Yan Jin and Lei Yin, the remaining seven had no talent for becoming Soul Masters.

"Don't worry." Mo Lei nodded. "Brother Lei Yin, you should also keep an eye on Sister Yan Jin. She's more likely to get into trouble."

"I will," Lei Yin said seriously. He understood that deeply. More than half of their reputation in Frostleaf City had been earned by Yan Jin fighting other people.

Still, that was considered a Nord tradition. It was nothing major. Often, they would fight bitterly one day, then sling their arms around each other's shoulders and call each other brothers the next.

"What do you mean I'm more likely to get into trouble? Obviously, trouble comes looking for me." Yan Jin muttered under her breath.

The fact that she said it like that showed she had little confidence in the claim. Otherwise, she would have shouted it loudly.

Yan Jin gave Mo Lei a few more instructions before hopping into the hired carriage.

Her gaze swept over Ma Wen, Glen, and Wasef, lingered on Mo Lei for a moment, then glanced above the city gates. She waved her arm and shouted, "We're leaving, then! Take care, everyone!"

"You take care too!" voices called from atop the city gates. They belonged to the other graduates.

"Goodbye, everyone!"

By the road outside the city, a young man in patched, worn-out clothes watched the departing carriage. He adjusted the Monocle over his right eye, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.