That evening, Class One's entire freshman cohort gathered at a high-class hotel in the northern district of Shrek City for a lavish banquet.
With fifty to sixty people together, it was lively indeed, lasting until nearly midnight.
The expenses that night even exceeded two thousand gold soul coins.
In the end, Zhou Sichen did not bear the cost alone—Xu Zihuang, Cao Jinxuan, and Tuoba Yu each contributed a share.
Split among them, it came down to just a few hundred gold soul coins apiece.
Another morning came.
Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu strolled along the lakeside path of Sea God Lake.
Mist shrouded the waters, but as the sun rose, it gradually dispersed.
The two stretched out their right hands in tacit understanding, clapping them together heavily, then shared a smile.
No words were needed.
"See you next semester." Tuoba Yu left those words behind and walked freely toward the outer gates of Shrek Academy.
At times of vacation and the new semester's start, the eastern gates outside the academy were always the liveliest.
But Xu Zihuang's calm heart was unmoved, out of tune with the bustle beyond.
During the three years he was imprisoned on that island, he had long grown used to such solitude.
Silently, he returned to his dormitory, lying fully relaxed on his bed. Instead of cultivating, he retrieved from his soul tool the letter Nanmen Yun'er had given him yesterday.
As soon as he opened the seal, a slip of paper and an old, yellowed map slid out.
The note was largely Qin Yin's words of gratitude. The eight-thousand-year Ghost King Vine right arm bone obtained from Mu Jin had ultimately been given to Qin Yin by Nanmen Yun'er.
But both Nanmen Yun'er and Qin Yin knew that all of it was thanks to Xu Zihuang.
And so, today's letter.
The texture of the map was unusual, and when he unfolded it, seeing what was recorded upon it, Xu Zihuang's eyes betrayed surprise.
"This is actually a detailed record of the terrain around the Icefire Yin Yang Well?"
It marked especially dangerous areas, such as the natural miasma encircling the valley where the Icefire Yin Yang Well lay.
On the valley's front side spread thousands of poisonous Biling Seven Absolutes Flowers.
There was even a special note: many had evolved into Biling Nine Absolutes Flowers, becoming plant-type soul beasts with intelligence.
The Biling Seven Absolutes Flower was one of the most poisonous plants known. Its venom was not only highly corrosive—the foremost of corrosive poisons—but also extremely neurotoxic. Once touched, not only would the body corrode, but it would also endure agonizing instant pain. Yet it was also exceedingly rare and precious, the dream of almost every plant-type soul master.
If a plant-type soul master could find one that had evolved into a soul beast, they would then gain its terrifying venom.
Xu Zihuang quickly recalled the descriptions of this poisonous flower. From his past life's memories, he knew that near the Icefire Yin Yang Well, there indeed existed a large expanse of such flowers.
The various marks on the map were in different shades of ink, meaning they had not all been added in the same era. Yet due to the special material, they remained remarkably clear.
Most importantly, the map even traced a relatively safe route toward the Icefire Yin Yang Well.
Xu Zihuang sat up, spreading the map flat on his bed. Thoughtfully, he picked up the note again. On its reverse was Qin Yin's additional message.
"Junior Brother Yu, this map was passed down from my ancestors. I cannot be sure all of its information is accurate, as with my strength I have never explored deep enough to approach the valley. But I discovered that the closer one gets, the more flourishing the plants and flowers become, and even some extremely rare ones appear. I personally suspect the valley may be a vast treasure ground, perhaps even nurturing top-grade heavenly treasures. The Icefire Yin Yang Well may truly exist. My own strength and talent are ordinary; I may never approach that valley in my life. So I asked Yun'er to pass this map to you. Though we have not interacted much, I can tell you are not reckless. Still, I must remind you: only go when your strength is sufficient."
As Xu Zihuang pondered, a careless voice rang in his mind—it was the Skydream Iceworm.
"Ah, finally had a good sleep. Eh? Zihuang, your soul power has already reached level thirty-eight? As expected of the one I chose. I sure didn't misjudge you, hahaha…"
Xu Zihuang had sensed disturbances in his spiritual sea earlier, so he wasn't surprised at the Iceworm's awakening.
"Skydream Iceworm, take a look—what is this map made from?"
"Hm?" The Iceworm suppressed his excitement, turning attention to the aged map in Xu Zihuang's hand.
"This should be silk produced by one of my kin, then woven together. The iceworm that secreted it must have had at least ten-thousand-year cultivation. Among us, that's considered fairly powerful."
"Ten-thousand-year iceworm silk?"
With pride, the Iceworm said, "I wouldn't mistake it. Our kind may not excel at combat, but our silk is impervious to fire and water, enduring for millennia. Otherwise, how do you think this map lasted so long?"
That meant its credibility was high.
With this thought, Xu Zihuang stored the map back into his soul tool, locked the dormitory door, and left the building.
The Iceworm asked curiously, "Zihuang, where are you going?"
"Sunset Forest."
With a whole month of vacation ahead, staying idle in Shrek Academy was pointless. Better to explore Sunset Forest.
He had long coveted the immortal herbs within the Icefire Yin Yang Well.
His second martial soul, the Purple Sovereign Thunder Prison Dragon, carried the dual attributes of Extreme Lightning and Destruction—natural nemeses of plant-type soul beasts.
Especially Destruction, which not only countered toxins but could corrode the very lifeforce of plant-type soul beasts.
The miasma shrouding the valley and the venom of the Biling Seven Absolutes Flowers would be meaningless to him.
Even immortal herbs of hundred-thousand-year cultivation would have to dread him.
Of course, he would not gamble recklessly with his life. If something proved impossible, he would retreat decisively.
With his decision made, Xu Zihuang left Shrek Academy, vanishing down the northern highway leading out of Shrek City.
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