Graduating Early!

"Stop talking!" Xiao Wu's body trembled, her face turning even paler as she bent over and retched again.

"Alright, Xiao Wu, Zhu Wu really can't be blamed for this." Tang San looked helpless. He had eaten Stinky Tofu before too, and as a Tang Sect disciple who had studied pharmacology, he truly did not think it was anything special. "If it doesn't work, have Zhu Wu buy you something else later as compensation."

Only then did Xiao Wu straighten up and glare viciously at Zhu Wu. "Did you hear that? Hurry back to the cafeteria and buy me one jin—no, three jin—of Carrots, plus five skewers of Meatballs and two servings of Steamed Eggs to compensate your boss! Otherwise, I definitely won't let you off tonight!"

For fuck's sake... Forget it. I'll make it all back at once later anyway. It's only one Silver Soul Coin... Zhu Wu felt no ripples in his heart. He turned and left. "No problem. I'm going right now."

Rabbits had to be fattened up before they were slaughtered!

"Hmph!" Xiao Wu snorted. "Let's go!"

Supported by Tang San, she headed toward the dormitory with him.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhu Wu delivered the food to Xiao Wu. She glared fiercely at him, took it, and silently began eating.

As expected of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form. What an appetite. Zhu Wu glanced at her lower abdomen. By his estimate, it was a few months along, yet it remained perfectly flat.

Sighing at the wonders of the world, he called out to his roommates before heading outside for a nighttime run, looking for a place to practice the Longevity Exercise.

"Perfect chance to use Internal Vision and observe the circulation route of Soul Power in my body." With that thought, his pace quickened.

After jogging a lap, he arrived at the familiar deserted grove and began practicing beneath the moonlight.

As he continuously performed the movements, a chill gradually rose within his body. By now, he could clearly sense the coldness constantly entering his meridians from the outside, drawn along them by his bodily movements.

At the same time, the space between his brows grew increasingly cool.

Zhu Wu instinctively slowed his movements, making the circulation slower, smoother, and more natural.

His consciousness gradually sank into the process, following the flow of Soul Power through his meridians and naturally traveling along that route. As his awareness immersed itself within it, the Soul Power in his body was unconsciously stirred as well, accelerating through his meridians like a trickling stream.

The moon shone bright overhead, its gentle radiance spilling down. Specks of silver light began to appear across Zhu Wu's body, cloaking him in a faint glow.

"What a miraculous technique." After practicing several rounds in succession, Zhu Wu opened his eyes and clicked his tongue in wonder.

He could not continue practicing. Guided by his will, he had accelerated the Soul Power along that route, but after only a few cycles, his hands and feet had turned icy cold, while the chill between his brows pierced to the bone and nearly numbed his mind.

If he continued, he felt he would freeze stiff.

"Balancing yin and yang. What an excellent balance of yin and yang. If practicing the Longevity Exercise draws yin energy into the body, then cultivating the Vajra Power Exercise should draw in yang energy. Only by accumulating enough yang energy and nurturing—or tempering—the corresponding resistance of my body to a higher level can I sustain the Longevity Exercise for longer. Progress may be slow in the early stages, but once I lay a solid foundation, my improvement later will definitely be rapid."

"So, if I consume the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot like Tang San did in the original story, and undergo Ice Fire Body Tempering to greatly increase my resistance to ice and fire in a short time... would that mean I could directly overcome the most difficult early stage?"

The thought rose in his heart, and blazing anticipation filled his eyes.

"Tomorrow, I'll apply to graduate. After that, I can cultivate peacefully at home and keep Grandpa company. Once I obtain my second soul ring, I'll set out for Sunset Forest."

"Mm, while I'm out gathering herbs with Little White, I can also look for the cave where the Blue Silver Emperor is located. The original story clearly mentioned that it was near Holy Soul Village, so it should be no more than a few days' journey away. There's also a waterfall several hundred meters high there, an extremely conspicuous feature. I can have Little White fly high into the sky. With a broad view from above, the search will become much easier."

"And after absorbing Ah Yin's Soul Bone, the time it takes me to reach level 20 will be greatly shortened."

"The only thing I need to worry about is whether Tang Hao will see through my cultivation once he returns to the village. Such a huge increase in a short time might attract attention and suspicion."

"But it doesn't matter. At worst, I can have Little White keep it for now and absorb it later."

"I should head back to the dormitory first. I'll study the changes in my Martial Soul after I get home tomorrow." With that thought, he turned and ran out of the grove.

Two quarters of an hour later, after warming up, Zhu Wu returned to the dormitory, sat on his bed, and circulated the ordinary Meditation Method to cultivate his Soul Power.

There was no discomfort at all.

Through Internal Vision, he found that the ordinary Meditation Method merely applied mental force to accelerate and propel Soul Power along its natural circulation route within his body. It made no changes to the original route, so there would be no conflict. Perhaps that was precisely why it had become the universal Meditation Method of the soul master world.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, Zhu Wu rose as usual, ran as usual, and practiced the Vajra Power Exercise as usual.

Just as he had used Internal Vision on the Longevity Exercise the previous night, practicing the movements of the Vajra Power Exercise gave him an entirely new Soul Power circulation route. Just as he had previously guessed, cultivating the Vajra Power Exercise should be able to draw Sunlight Radiance into the body. He had not practiced for long before sweat covered his head.

Actively circulating it was indeed more efficient than merely practicing the movements, though it was also clear that performing the bodily movements provided considerable assistance in cultivating both techniques.

There was simply too much sweat, so Zhu Wu had no choice but to return to the dormitory to wash up before packing his belongings and heading to the Dean's Office. Since it was breakfast time when he returned, all his roommates had gone to the cafeteria, and he did not see a single one of them.

However, since they had already eaten together the previous night, he did not intend to say goodbye to them one by one.

"Student Zhu Wu, what is this?" Seeing Zhu Wu carrying a bundle, Director Su could not help but frown.

"Did Spirit Hall recruit you?"

Zhu Wu shook his head. "Director Su, I haven't joined Spirit Hall."

"Then what is this about?" Director Su was puzzled.

"Director Su, you know that my Martial Soul is unusual." Zhu Wu replied, "To be honest, I have no idea how I should cultivate from here on. And at the academy, I don't think there's much left for me to learn that would be of help."

"So, I'd like to apply for early graduation."

"I want to go home first, cultivate on my own while keeping my grandfather company. His health has never been very good, and I've been away from home for so long. It's time I went back to be with him. As for the future, I plan to try my luck in the Imperial City someday."

"The Imperial City." Director Su nodded. "There are many talented people there, and indeed, more opportunities."

"It's just that getting into an academy over there probably won't be easy." With a Silkworm Martial Soul, he felt Zhu Wu would be looked down upon.

"Still, I have to give it a try, don't I?" Zhu Wu smiled. "At worst, I can come back."

"That's true. Young people should get out and explore more." Director Su smiled. "However, I still suggest that you leave later. The outside world is full of danger. You're still too young. Going to the Imperial City alone would be unsafe."

"It's fine. I can set out a few years from now." Zhu Wu smiled. "My Martial Soul is a silkworm, and there's a mountain behind my home. It can count as a natural Simulated Environment, which is perfect for me."

"Ah, since that's the case, I won't force you to stay." Director Su sighed.

"Still, I need to ask the Dean about this matter. Student Zhu Wu, wait here for a moment. I'll go find the Dean."

With that, he strode out of the office.

Before long, he hurried back with the Dean.

After some discussion, seeing that Zhu Wu's attitude was resolute, the Dean could only agree to let him graduate early in the end.

Once the graduation procedures were completed, Zhu Wu did not delay. He walked out of the Dean's Office and headed straight for the academy gates.

"What? Little Zhu applied to graduate!" At noon, after receiving the news, Wang Sheng and the other roommates were all shocked.

"Hmph, he must have run away because he was afraid I'd beat him up." Xiao Wu clenched her fists and grumbled.

"..." Tang San shook his head and said nothing.