A year passed in the blink of an eye.
Su Wen's milk tea shop was booming.
Business at the main store leveled off, so he opened several branches in the city.
Profits dropped to one copper soul coin, but he managed to boost revenue through sheer volume.
During this time, Jiang Nannan helped out in her spare time, dressed in a convenience store uniform (from a cake shop), with simple, elegant makeup.
Her striking beauty earned her the title of "Milk Tea Beauty," attracting a few waves of customers to the main store.
Meanwhile, the influence of Jubaoge gradually seeped into the milk tea shop, taking over.
Su Wen and Elder Lin had already agreed on a 70/30 split: the academy would take 30% as management fees, and Su Wen would be a hands-off manager, collecting 70%.
Inside the Golden Tree House,Su Wen exhaled a long breath.
He felt the golden core circulating within his body, like a spiritual energy pump, flowing through his meridians and forming a cycle.
"Level 38 peak, just one step away from level 39."
Feeling the abundant soul power within his body, Su Wen sighed softly.
In less than a year, he had broken through nearly seven levels, and still reached the Soul Venerable realm.
Leveling up was truly as easy as drinking water.
After all, even top talents like Dai Huabin and Ning Tian would struggle to advance even one level in the Soul Venerable realm for at least three or four months.
Of course, this was also thanks to his ascetic lifestyle and the cultivation boost from his three pet beasts consuming his flesh and blood after he became wealthy.
"Back to school season."
Su Wen stood up, pushed open the wooden window, and the entire Shrek Academy outer campus came into view.
The most eye-catching feature was a huge, empty space—Shrek Square.
Beyond that were white, yellow, purple, and black teaching buildings, corresponding to grades one through six. Further away were the student dormitories.
At this moment, Su Wen could vaguely see hundreds of people gathered under the white freshman teaching building, their voices booming, seemingly reaching this far. Most of them were parents with their children, registering for school.
"Roar!"
A low growl came from an ancient tree outside the window.
Hurricane, clinging to the trunk, roared excitedly.
"There are a lot of people in the freshman academy building today, don't wander around."
Su Wen calmly closed the window.
"Roar."
Hurricane drooped its head and listlessly swung to another tree.
Walking on the outskirts of Seagod Island, feeling the damp, salty sea breeze on his face,
Su Wen's eyes narrowed slightly.
If he wasn't mistaken, the main storyline would most likely begin in the next couple of days.
A little boy resolutely walked out of the Duke's mansion, taking his first step towards defying fate.
According to Jiang Nannan, Bei Bei and Tang Ya would leave the academy today to help Tang Ya obtain her third soul ring.
This was also the first step in Huo Gua's rise.
Although he had a neutral attitude towards Tianmeng Ice Silkworm—he wasn't a spirit-type soul master, and the other party probably wouldn't choose him—he absolutely had to attract Ilex.
This necromancer's strength and his almost treasure trove of knowledge were enough to tempt Su Wen.
"Dean Yan?"
Su Wen, lost in thought, suddenly looked up in surprise at the handsome old man standing not far away.
"Hehe, little Wen, have you decided which academy to join?" Yan Shaozhe smiled broadly, even with a hint of obsequiousness.
"The Martial Soul Department, don't worry, I won't be led astray by the Soul Guidance Department. I'm going to the Star Dou Great Forest now, don't follow me."
Su Wen's lips twitched, he waved his hand, leaving Yan Shaozhe with a dashing back view.
"It'll all fall into place~" Yan Shaozhe's lips curled up.
Only after Su Wen's figure disappeared did he happily head towards the Martial Soul Department's teaching building.
He needed to give Du Weilun a few instructions.
Although he was safe, he couldn't be too careful about what kind of "dirty tricks" the other side might use.
...
Meanwhile.
The Duke's Mansion.
A small, thin figure darted out of an inconspicuous back door of a grand mansion built of red bricks and white walls.
The boy looked back at the Duke's mansion, his eyes filled with resentment.
He turned around and kowtowed heavily, saying in a voice only he could hear, "Mother, from now on I will change my surname to Huo, Huo Yuhao!"
Then, without looking back, he embarked on his journey to the Star Dou Great Forest.
...
Outside Shrek Academy.
Two captivating gazes drew considerable attention.
A handsome young man and a beautiful young woman.
The boy, dressed in the outer academy's uniform, sported short, dark blue hair.
His dashing face radiated youthful energy, and his tall, slender figure drew admiring glances from many girls in the outer academy, even those who had just entered the university.
The girl, with her long ponytail, had a pretty face and a lively, cheerful demeanor. She held onto Bei Bei's arm, asserting her ownership.
In her other hand, she held a cup of milk tea, took a satisfied sip, and then offered it to Bei Bei, who, with a doting expression, didn't refuse the offer to share a straw.
"Strawberry flavor~"
Tang Ya's beautiful eyes narrowed into waves, her face beaming with happiness.
"Hmm."
Bei Bei stroked the girl's hair, about to say something, but the smile on his face slowly faded, his pale blue pupils fixed on the boy not far away.
"Su Wen?"
A hint of suspicion flashed across his face.
He had naturally heard of the latter's reputation in the inner courtyard; a prodigy, he had recently challenged a Soul King in the arena, beating him black and blue, and crushing him despite being two levels above him.
What was most terrifying was that he was only eleven years old.
An eleven-year-old Soul Master.
Su Wen had never had any conflicts with him, but the boy's invisible aura was enough to make many people breathless, like facing a ten-thousand-year-old Soul Beast with its sharp edge exposed.
Although you knew it wouldn't kill you, this invisible pressure was always there.
"Bei Bei?"
Tang Ya noticed Bei Bei's unusual expression and looked on nervously, curiously following his gaze.
It was a handsome young man with a bright smile.
"What's wrong? Why are you spacing out?" Tang Ya waved her hand in front of Bei Bei's eyes.
"Nothing"
Bei Bei's expression softened considerably; he had been too sensitive.
"Little brother, is he your friend?" Tang Ya stepped forward, pinched Su Wen's cheek, and her eyes lit up.
"He's very handsome.
I've never seen him before.
Or is he a freshman from the outer academy? It's registration season today."
"Don't."
Bei Bei's pupils dilated.
A chill ran down his spine, and he was about to step forward to stop him. He knew how terrifying this boy was.
If he really got angry, even Tang Ya, a peak Great Soul Master, might not be able to withstand a single blow—nor would he.
"..."
Su Wen's face twitched, and he expressionlessly slapped Tang Ya's hand away.
If Tang Ya and Bei Bei hadn't encountered Huo Gua on their journey, he wouldn't have taken the initiative to approach them.
After all, the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest was too vast.
The chances of him finding it alone were slim, and following behind the two of them seemed too shady.
It was better to travel together openly.
Seeing that Su Wen wasn't angry, Bei Bei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly pulled Tang Ya behind him, asking politely, "Little cough cough, Su Wen, is there something you need?"
"Are you going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt soul beasts?" Su Wen smiled.
"Yes, Xiao Ya will break through to Great Soul Master in a few days, so."
Bei Bei was taken aback, wondering where Su Wen had heard this.
"It just so happens that I'm going too, let's go together."
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