Applying for Early Graduation

Lan Hong had already reached level 20, but he had not yet condensed a Spirit Ring. He was in such a sorry state now partly because he had fought a three-thousand-year Flame Python.

Although he had won, it had been a pyrrhic victory. While the Changhong Swordplay was sharp and fierce, he himself was, at most, only a prospective Soul Grandmaster.

The other reason was that he had killed someone. Two Soul Masters had tried to kill him—such things were common in the Soul Hunting Forest.

A common saying in the world of Soul Masters was that when hunting spirit beasts, people were more dangerous than spirit beasts.

Lan Hong had not wanted to kill them, but even after he had spared those two once, they had still tried to ambush him.

So Lan Hong had no choice but to send them on their way. This was the first time he had killed someone across both his lives, and the turmoil in his heart went without saying.

However, he quickly adjusted his mindset. Hong Mao had also told him that the martial world was dangerous, and that judgment and decisiveness were both important. Lan Hong still had much to learn.

On the way back to Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy, Lan Hong reflected on his shortcomings and made plans for what came next.

When he returned to the Seventh Dormitory, Xiao Wu immediately rushed over.

"Lan Hong, you're back! I've been bored to death. Come spar with me!"

"Not today. I have other things to do!"

"Are you applying to graduate early?"

"Yeah!"

"What? Lan Hong, you're graduating early? Have you already reached level ten?"

"Yeah!"

"That was so fast! Wang Sheng hasn't even reached level ten yet!"

"Hmph! I'll reach level ten soon too! Lan Hong, let us see your Spirit Ring!"

"Sure!"

Lan Hong revealed his White Spirit Ring. Tang San looked over at that moment, a disdainful expression appearing on his face.

He had long learned from Yu Xiaogang about the optimal Spirit Ring configuration for Soul Masters: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red!

Someone whose first Spirit Ring was only a White Spirit Ring simply did not belong in the same world as him. There was no need to care about him at all.

Once Lan Hong applied for early graduation and left Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy, he would make Xiao Wu understand that geniuses like them were the ones who belonged in the same world.

Lan Hong went to see the principal of Nuoding Academy. His application for early graduation went smoothly, and as was customary, the principal recommended a middle-level Soul Master Academy to him.

As for whether he would attend or not, they did not care. Middle-level Soul Master Academies did not have work-study student slots. For ordinary commoner Soul Masters, it was impossible to rely on Spirit Hall subsidies to attend one.

After graduating from a junior Soul Master Academy and becoming Soul Masters, most commoners either joined Spirit Hall and started as the lowest-ranking deacons.

Or they joined other factions or clans and became guards or something similar.

Their lives would certainly be much better than those of ordinary commoners, but they could never compare with the nobles.

After politely thanking him, Lan Hong returned to the Seventh Dormitory. He planned to stay at Nuoding Academy for another two days before leaving.

The next day, Lan Hong called Xiao Wu out to the woods again and handed her a small jade bottle.

"Give me blood one more time! Consider it a parting gift!"

Xiao Wu did not refuse. She filled a small bottle with blood and handed it to Lan Hong.

"You're really leaving?"

"Yeah! I'll leave tomorrow!"

"Where are you going?"

"My tentative destination is Heaven Dou City! Here!"

"Crystal Carrot!"

The moment Xiao Wu saw the Crystal Carrot, her eyes lit up. She held it in her hands and began crunching away at it, still wanting more after she finished.

"Do you have any more?"

"No! This thing isn't cheap! I'll treat you to more once I have money in the future!"

"It's a deal!"

"Yeah! It's a deal!"

"Before you leave, spar with me! I'll definitely beat you this time!"

"You don't stand a chance right now."

"You never know. Take this!"

Xiao Wu used Martial Soul Possession and pounced at Lan Hong. With Lingbo Weibu beneath his feet, Lan Hong easily dodged. He did not draw his sword, using only his bare hands to deal with Xiao Wu's kicks.

However, faced with Xiao Wu's relentless attacks, Lan Hong could no longer hold on with just his bare-handed techniques. He turned, drew his sword, and unleashed One Move Three Forms.

Three scorching sword qi streaked in from three directions, and Xiao Wu hurriedly dodged.

"Your Spirit Ring didn't light up. Could this be a Self-Created Soul Skill?"

"Think of it that way! Do you still want to continue?"

"Yes! First Spirit Skill: Waist Bow!"

Like a spring, Xiao Wu shot toward Lan Hong in an instant. Rather than dodging, Lan Hong moved in to meet her.

"Sunlight Illuminates the Nine Provinces!"

This was the ninth form of the Changhong Swordplay, but it was not a sword technique—it was a palm technique.

That palm struck Xiao Wu directly in the waist, interrupting her Spirit Skill and sending her flying backward to crash heavily onto the ground.

"Looks like I used too much force!"

Lan Hong immediately went over to check on Xiao Wu.

"Xiao Wu! Are you all right?"

Suddenly, Xiao Wu grabbed Lan Hong's clothes and used her flexibility techniques to lock him down tightly.

"I won!"

Lan Hong did not know whether to laugh or cry. Xiao Wu was truly competitive. Still, using this kind of flexibility lock on him was practically giving him a benefit.

"Hehe! You won. Let me go! This is rather improper!"

Xiao Wu's little face reddened as she quickly released Lan Hong.

"Are you okay?"

"It hurts so much! You really hit hard!"

"Wasn't it you who wanted to fight?"

"Hmph! I don't care. I won, so you have to promise me one thing!"

"Go ahead. I won't help if it's beyond my abilities."

"Help me comb my hair!"

Lan Hong fell silent when he saw the comb Xiao Wu handed over. Seeing his silence, Xiao Wu became a little uneasy as well.

"Sigh! Fine. Sit down, and I'll comb your hair!"

Only then did Xiao Wu smile again.

Lan Hong held the comb and slowly combed Xiao Wu's hair as he spoke to her.

"Xiao Wu, what do you think the purpose of a Shapeshifted Spirit Beast is? Is it to enjoy human life, or to pursue the endpoint of Hundred Level Godhood?"

"I..."

"You don't have to answer. Just listen to me! Every Shapeshifted Spirit Beast I've heard of has been trapped by love and met a bad end!

Tang San's mother, the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin, is an example. She has now become Tang Hao's Spirit Ring."

"What!"

"Don't be surprised! I'm only telling you this because Tang Hao isn't here for now!

There's something else I need to tell you: becoming a god gives you a chance to revive the dead!

The souls of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts do not dissipate so easily. They will slumber within Spirit Rings or Soul Bones."

"Is that true?"

"Yeah! Work hard! Whether you want revenge or anything else, you'll need strength!"

Lan Hong finished combing Xiao Wu's hair and returned the comb to her.

"Thank you, Lan Hong!"

"Hehe! Let's go. It's time to eat. I'll treat you to a meal!"

They walked together toward the cafeteria, only to run into Tang San head-on.

Seeing Xiao Wu walking so closely with Lan Hong, Tang San felt very uncomfortable. Then he noticed the bandages wrapped around Xiao Wu's hand.

"Xiao Wu! How did you get hurt? Did he bully you?"

"Little San, my business has nothing to do with you, so stop meddling! Lan Hong, let's go! Ignore him!"

Please show some support! This won't be dropped, so rest assured! Please send some recommendation votes! Pretty please!