Main Story Begins

A year passed in the blink of an eye.

Su Wen's Milk Tea Shop was booming. Once business at the main shop began to level out, he opened several more branches in the city. With profits lowered to a single copper soul coin, he forced revenue back up through sheer volume.

During this time, Jiang Nannan also came to help whenever she had free time from her studies. Dressed in a convenience-store girl's outfit (from a certain cake shop), with light, elegant makeup, she relied on her outstanding looks to earn the nickname Milk Tea Beauty, bringing several waves of traffic to the main shop.

As for the Treasure Pavilion's influence, it was also gradually injected into the Milk Tea Shop, taking over step by step. Su Wen and Old Lin had discussed it long ago: a seventy-thirty split. The academy would take thirty percent as a management fee, while Su Wen became a hands-off shopkeeper and simply lay back to collect his seventy percent.

Inside the Golden Treehouse.

Su Wen let out a long breath of turbid air.

He sensed the Golden Core circulating within him, like a Spiritual Energy pump, sending power through the meridians throughout his body before forming a Reincarnation.

"Peak Level Thirty-Eight. I'm only one step away from Level Thirty-Nine." Feeling the abundant Soul Power inside him, Su Wen sighed softly.

In less than a year, he had broken through nearly seven levels, and while still in the Soul Elder realm at that. It really was leveling up as easily as drinking water. After all, even for top talents like Dai Huabin and Ning Tian, wanting to rise a single level in the Soul Elder realm would probably be difficult without three or four months.

Of course, this was also thanks to his ascetic-like lifestyle, as well as the cultivation stacked on from his three Pet Beasts devouring flesh after he became wealthy.

"School opening season..."

Su Wen stood up and pushed open the wooden window. The full view of Shrek Academy's Outer Court appeared before his eyes. The most eye-catching sight was a vast empty field—Shrek Square. Farther back were the white, yellow, purple, and black teaching buildings, corresponding respectively to the first year, second and third years, fourth and fifth years, and sixth year. Even farther away were the student Dormitory buildings.

At that moment, Su Wen could vaguely see several hundred people gathered below the white Freshman Teaching Building. The noise was so lively it seemed to reach all the way here. Most of them were parents bringing their children to register.

"Roar!"

A low growl came from an ancient tree outside the window. Hurricane clung to the trunk with one hand, his face full of excitement.

"There are a lot of people at the freshman academy building today. Don't run around." Su Wen calmly shut the window.

"Roar..." Hurricane drooped his head and listlessly swung off toward the other trees.

Walking along the outer edge of Sea God Island, Su Wen felt the damp, salty sea breeze brush against his face.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

If he was not mistaken, the main story would most likely begin in these two days. A little boy would resolutely walk out of the Duke's Mansion, taking his first step toward defying the heavens and changing his fate. Because according to Jiang Nannan, Bei Bei and Tang Ya would leave the academy today to help Tang Ya obtain her third Soul Ring.

And this was also the first step in Huo Gua's rise.

Although his attitude toward the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was take it or leave it—he was not a Spirit System soul master, so the other party probably would not choose him—Electrolux was someone he absolutely had to attract. Whether in terms of strength or his almost treasury-like reserve of knowledge, that necromancer was enough to move Su Wen's heart.

"Dean Yan?"

As Su Wen was thinking, he suddenly looked up in surprise at the handsome older man standing not far away.

"Hehe, Xiao Wen, have you decided which department you'll join?" Yan Shaozhe asked with a face full of smiles, even carrying a faint, almost imperceptible trace of flattery.

"The Martial Soul Department. Don't worry, sir, I won't be lured away by the Soul Guidance Department. I'm going to the Star Dou Great Forest now, so please don't follow me..." The corner of Su Wen's mouth twitched. He waved his hand, leaving Yan Shaozhe with a carefree view of his back.

"It'll happen naturally~" The corner of Yan Shaozhe's mouth lifted.

Only after Su Wen's figure disappeared did he cheerfully head toward the Martial Soul Department teaching building. He had to find Du Weilun and give him a few reminders. Although the person was basically secured, if the other side tried any "underhanded tricks," he might not be able to guard against them all.

At the same time.

The Duke's Mansion.

In the imposing mansion built of red brick and white walls, a skinny figure slipped out from an inconspicuous rear gate. The boy looked back at the Duke's Mansion, his eyes filled with hatred. He turned around and heavily kowtowed, saying in a voice only he could hear, "Mother, from now on, I'll change my surname to Huo. Huo Yuhao!"

Then, without looking back, he set out on the road toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Outside Shrek Academy.

Two eye-catching figures drew many people's attention.

A handsome young man and a beautiful young woman. The boy wore the Outer Court uniform, with short dark-blue hair and a handsome, carefree face brimming with youthful energy. Combined with his tall, straight figure, he drew unusual looks from quite a few Outer Court girls, and even from girls who had only just enrolled.

The girl had her hair tied in a long ponytail, her face pretty and charming, lively and cheerful. She held Bei Bei's arm, declaring her ownership.

In her other hand, she carried a cup of milk tea. She took a satisfied sip, then offered it to Bei Bei. The latter's expression was indulgent, and he did not refuse the request to share the same straw.

"Strawberry flavor~" Tang Ya's beautiful eyes curved into crescents, her face full of happiness.

"Mm..."

Bei Bei stroked the girl's hair and was just about to say something when the smile on his face slowly faded. His pale-blue pupils fixed tightly on a boy not far away.

"Su Wen?"

A hint of suspicion flashed across his face.

He had naturally heard of the other party's reputation in the Inner Courtyard. A freak of the highest order. Recently, in the Duel Arena, he had challenged a Soul King one-on-one and beaten the man black and blue, forcibly crossing two ranks to crush and defeat him.

And the most terrifying part was that he was only eleven.

An eleven-year-old Soul Elder.

Su Wen had never had any conflict with him, but the boy's invisible aura was enough to make many people feel as if they could not breathe. It was like facing a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast with all its sharpness exposed. Although you knew it would not kill you, that invisible pressure remained there all the same...

"Bei Bei?"

Tang Ya noticed something off about Bei Bei. Her expression grew tense, and she could not help but curiously follow his gaze.

He was a handsome-faced boy with a brilliant smile.

"What's wrong? Why are you staring into space?" Tang Ya waved her hand in front of Bei Bei's eyes.

"Nothing..."

Bei Bei's expression eased a great deal. He had been too sensitive.

"This little brother—is he your friend?" Tang Ya stepped forward in two strides, pinched Su Wen's cheek, and her eyes lit up. "He's really handsome. How come I've never seen him before? Or is he a new student in the Outer Court? Today just happens to be registration season."

"Don't..." Bei Bei's pupils trembled.

A chill ran down his back, and he was about to step forward to stop her. He knew how terrifying this boy was. If Su Wen truly got angry, Tang Ya, at the peak of Soul Grandmaster, might not be able to withstand even one blow—and neither could he.

"..."

Su Wen's cheek twitched, and he expressionlessly swatted Tang Ya's hand away.

If Tang Ya and Bei Bei had not been going to encounter Huo Gua on their way, he would not have taken the initiative to approach them. After all, the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest were far too vast; if he searched alone, the chances were slim. But trailing behind the two of them would seem far too creepy, so it was better to join them openly and travel together.

Seeing that Su Wen had not gotten angry, Bei Bei secretly let out a breath of relief.

He hurriedly pulled Tang Ya back behind him and asked with considerable politeness, "Li—cough, Su Wen, did you need something from me?"

"You're going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts?" Su Wen said with a smile.

"That's right. Xiao Ya will break through to Soul Grandmaster in a few days, so..." Bei Bei paused, not knowing where Su Wen had gotten the news.

"What a coincidence. So am I. Let's go together."

P.S. There's one more chapter coming a bit later, probably around two o'clock. My schedule's been slipping lately; I'm really sorry...

No NTR for Bei Bei. These two are still the original pairing.