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Dugu Bo didn't stop Su Wen.
However, Su Wen didn't ask Dugu Bo to accompany him on the trip home.
When they passed Tian Dou City, Dugu Bo returned to the Sunset Forest, while Su Wen continued southwest, heading back to Nuoding City.
Fasno Province.
Nuoding City.
Su Wen appeared at the Nuoding Primary Spirit Master Academy.
"Su Wen?" The bald principal was quite surprised to see him.
"Principal."
"I heard you went to the Star Dou Great Forest alone to hunt your second spirit ring. Seeing you back now puts my mind at ease," the bald principal sighed with emotion. Then, remembering something, he asked, "Oh, right. Did you join an intermediate or advanced Spirit Master academy?"
"Yes, I joined one."
"Oh, good." He nodded. "Joining an advanced Spirit Master academy is good."
"Unlike our primary academy, most advanced academies are actually talent reserves for the major powers. Their resources and cultivation of students are much more comprehensive and precise."
In fact, some academies were factions in themselves.
Among the Five Elemental Academies, Blazing, Kamikaze, and Tianshui could be seen as factions in their own right.
Of the remaining two, Elephant Armored Academy belonged to the Elephant Armored Sect, and Thunder Academy had deep ties with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
These were just the powerful and famous advanced academies. Other advanced academies on the continent were also more or less entangled with some faction, or were the hegemons of their respective cities, counting as a faction themselves.
Of course, academies generally didn't participate in conflicts, remaining just 'academies' in name, but in essence, they were equivalent to factions.
Hearing that Su Wen had joined an advanced academy, the bald principal was clearly happy for him.
"By the way, how far is your spirit power from level thirty?" the bald principal suddenly asked curiously.
He remembered that Su Wen's cultivation speed had been quite fast.
Now that nearly three years had passed, he wondered if he had broken through to level twenty-five...
"Still quite a bit away." Su Wen was a bit embarrassed to tell the truth.
The bald principal sighed. "As expected, your spirit is fundamentally lacking. It shows weakness in the later stages. However, reaching level twenty at eleven gave you a good foundation. If you continue to work hard, your achievements will definitely be higher than mine."
Even at one level per year, Su Wen could reach level sixty by age fifty.
Even if it slowed to one level every two years after fifty, Su Wen still had a chance to become a Spirit Saint by eighty.
Of course, that was assuming Su Wen could maintain his passion for cultivation.
Su Wen was speechless.
He and the bald principal no longer had any common ground for conversation.
It wasn't appropriate to say he was already stronger than the old principal.
So, he simply changed the subject.
"By the way, Principal, how is Tang San doing?" Su Wen asked with a look of curiosity.
"Tang San?" The bald man rubbed his shiny head, his face beaming.
"He and that Xiao Wu broke through to Grand Spirit Master long ago. They just graduated this year. They're still a few months shy of twelve, yet their spirit power has already reached level twenty-nine."
Clearly, this bald principal was extremely proud of these two students.
Placed anywhere on the continent, this was top-tier, right?
And they were cultivated by Nuoding Primary Spirit Master Academy!
"They graduated?"
"Mm. They graduated a month early. It seems they're preparing to go to some 'Shrek Academy'."
"Oh?" Su Wen's expression shifted.
In that case, Tang San had left?
Tang Hao must have left too, right?
After chatting with the bald principal for a while longer, Su Wen left Nuoding Primary Spirit Master Academy.
Su Wen wasn't in a hurry. He went to the Nuoding City Spirit Hall branch.
"Brother Tao."
"Eh?"
Hearing someone call him, Su Yuntao looked at Su Wen, surprised.
Soon, he recognized Su Wen.
Having absorbed three spirit rings in the interim, each a true metamorphosis, Su Wen's physical development had leaped forward along with his spirit's advancement.
Now thirteen, Su Wen had the build of an average adult—1.9 meters tall, handsome features, and an aura of refined elegance, yet not lacking in masculinity. This image added even more points to his favor.
"Little Wen, you've changed a lot in three years!" Su Yuntao was very happy. Putting down his work, he pulled Su Wen into his office and chatted for a long time.
"By the way, where's Sister Sisi?" Su Wen asked curiously.
Before Su Wen left, Su Yuntao and Sisi had already gotten together.
"Sigh." Su Yuntao sighed, instantly looking somewhat haggard as he gazed out the window at the sky, lost in melancholy.
Su Wen: "..."
"Little Wen, I've come to terms with it. Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo was right. Sisi and I aren't suitable. Forcing a pursuit will only—"
"Sigh!"
Su Yuntao sighed repeatedly, unable to say the rest.
Su Wen silently completed the thought in his heart.
Forcing a pursuit will only turn you into a simp.
"Alright, enough about that." Su Yuntao waved his hand and asked about Su Wen's recent situation.
To avoid provoking him, Su Wen didn't state his spirit power rank, only saying that his recent cultivation had been going smoothly.
Everything was going smoothly.
Leaving the Spirit Hall branch, Su Wen finally returned to New Moon Village.
"Grandpa Jack."
"Little Wen, you're back."
Seeing Su Wen, Old Jack was also happy. He held Su Wen's arms with both hands, patted them vigorously, and smiled.
"Haha, haven't seen you for three years, you've changed quite a bit."
"Grandpa, you've changed a lot too."
Three years had passed, and Old Jack's spirit power had reached level twenty.
With his cultivation, Old Jack's body also seemed much hardier.
The absorption of the first spirit ring, plus the nourishment of the Clarity Wine on his body and spirit, made Old Jack seem twenty years younger.
"Why did you suddenly think to come back to the village to see your grandpa?" Old Jack asked.
Although he knew from their letters that Su Wen was coming back, he didn't know the specific reason.
"Grandpa, I brought you something good this time. After you take it, maybe reaching Spirit Saint in this lifetime won't be a problem for you," Su Wen whispered mysteriously.
He didn't mention Titled Douluo, only saying Spirit Saint was possible.
Hearing that Spirit Saint was possible, Old Jack's eyes lit up.
Why did the nearby Holy Spirit Village solely occupy a working-student quota? Why did Old Jack, the village head of Holy Spirit Village, speak so toughly among the surrounding villages?
Wasn't it because a Spirit Saint had appeared in their village!
If... if a Spirit Saint appeared in New Moon Village...
And that person was him... Old Jack was genuinely excited.
Of course, after the excitement, he quickly realized. Using such a heaven-defying good thing on himself... wouldn't that be a waste?
"Little Wen, giving such a good thing to me is a waste. You use it yourself."
Moved, Su Wen explained to Old Jack, "Grandpa, I've already used it myself. This thing is useless to me now."
Useless?
Old Jack instantly returned to his excited state.
Useless to you? Then I can't very well refuse, can I?
Just like with the Clarity Wine, he only accepted it after Su Wen said it wasn't very effective for him. The Earth Dragon Golden Melon was naturally the same.
(End of this chapter)