“Xu Yi, don’t overthink it!”
Just as Yu Xiaoyu was about to reply, she saw Xu Yi’s strange expression and quickly explained.
However, before Xu Yi could respond, Xiong Zhuangzhuang’s figure appeared before them.
“Hahaha, Xu Yi, you’re finally back!”
Xiong Zhuangzhuang was overjoyed to see Xu Yi, his mouth wide open, revealing a row of white teeth.
“Xiong Zhuangzhuang, long time no see.”
Xu Yi’s smile was equally radiant upon seeing him.
They had known each other for a long time and had even faced a life-and-death tribulation in the demon territory, so their bond was naturally deep.
After a brief exchange, they sat down around the stone table.
“Xu Yi, have you already reached the Integration stage?”
As soon as he sat down, Xiong Zhuangzhuang noticed the profound and immeasurable aura emanating from Xu Yi and asked in surprise.
“I was fortunate enough to break through a few days ago.”
Xu Yi spoke modestly, but her expression told a different story.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu knew Xu Yi’s temperament and congratulated her with smiles.
When Xu Yi mentioned that she would be leaving Kunlun Academy after the graduation assessment, their moods immediately dampened.
In their eyes, Xu Yi was an exceptionally special existence. With Xu Yi around, they felt a sense of having a backbone.
Now that Xu Yi had finally returned, she was leaving again, which made them both very reluctant to part.
Xu Yi made a few more jokes. Seeing their worried expressions, she had an idea. She took out a small green worm from her sleeve that was sound asleep.
“Xiong Zhuangzhuang, can you help me figure out its origin?”
Before her tribulation, Xu Yi had placed the little green worm into a magic artifact that could store spirit beasts. When she took it out, she noticed that the worm seemed to be undergoing a strange evolution, likely due to consuming too many spiritual fruits.
This evolution had also caused the worm to remain in a deep slumber.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu were indeed distracted. Their eyes fixed on the little green worm in Xu Yi’s hand, their faces filled with suspicion.
“This…”
Xiong Zhuangzhuang’s eyes were filled with confusion. After looking at it for a while longer, he shook his head and asked, “Where did you get this little green worm? It looks no different from ordinary insect beasts.”
“I found it in the Giant’s Realm. It was originally nearly ten feet long and could shrink at will.”
“The Giant’s Realm…” Xiong Zhuangzhuang scratched his head sheepishly. “There’s a strange power in the Giant’s Realm that causes peculiar changes in any demon beast that grows there. This little green worm has likely undergone some unique mutation, which is why I can’t identify its original form.”
Xu Yi retracted the little green worm with some disappointment. Even Xiong Zhuangzhuang, who hailed from the Beast Taming sect, couldn’t identify the worm’s origin. What was its true identity?
Oh well, as long as it didn’t turn into a fluttery moth in the end, she could accept it.
That evening, Xu Yi, Xiong Zhuangzhuang, and Yu Xiaoyu drank and chatted happily at the stone table.
It was during their drinks that Xu Yi learned that Bei Xinghan hadn’t simply gone out for training but was trying to avoid Senior Sister Xue Qi.
Reportedly, Xue Qi had openly expressed her affection for Bei Xinghan in front of everyone at Kunlun Academy and had been ardently pursuing her.
Bei Xinghan had initially refused firmly. When she realized her refusal was useless, she simply ran away.
Xue Qi hadn’t given up and had chased after Bei Xinghan, leaving Kunlun Academy.
It was estimated that a conclusion would be reached once both of them finished their training.
While drinking, Xu Yi also observed the interactions between Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yu Xiaoyu, understanding the relationship between them.
Yu Xiaoyu was introverted, so Xu Yi didn’t intend to expose anything, planning to wait and see how things unfolded.
The next day, as dawn broke, Xu Yi and Yu Xiaoyu went to the Artifact Building.
They happened to encounter Hua Wuchang leaving the Artifact Building.
Hua Wuchang was also surprised to see Xu Yi. “You’ve already reached the Integration stage?”
“Yes, Senior Brother Hua.”
“How could you be so… Alas!”
Hua Wuchang shook his head and left with considerable disappointment.
He had thought Xu Yi was a smart person, but he hadn’t expected her to be so impatient. What a pity.
Xu Yi watched Hua Wuchang’s retreating figure and smiled, shaking her head.
They thought that staying in Kunlun Academy for a longer time was better, but they didn’t realize that such a decision was a grave mistake.
Time would eventually tell them the answer.
Teacher Jing was extremely delighted to see Xu Yi, especially upon seeing that Xu Yi had broken through. He laughed heartily, exclaiming “good” three times.
His good mood reached its peak when he saw Xu Yi take out the square box.
“This is Chaos Stone! And such a large piece of Chaos Stone! Xu Yi, you’ve really hit the jackpot this time!”
Teacher Jing’s eyes sparkled, and he kept stroking the square box with his hands, a suspicious smile playing on his lips, looking rather lecherous.
Xu Yi, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by immense surprise.
“Chaos Stone? This is actually Chaos Stone?”
Chaos Stone was a divine stone left behind by Nuwa after mending the heavens, the hardest ore on the Kyushu Continent. Even a Mahayana cultivator would find it difficult to break it.
Xu Yi’s eyes now gleamed with a similar light to Teacher Jing’s. She couldn’t help but reach out to touch the square box.
*Smack!*
“Ouch.”
Xu Yi withdrew her palm, her face filled with grievance.
It was clearly her item, so why wasn’t she allowed to touch it!
“Ahem, I’ll keep this Chaos Stone here for now. I’ll examine it for you. Come find me after you pass your assessment.”
Teacher Jing unceremoniously kept the square box and then, like a farmer killing the donkey after it had ploughed the field, he chased out Xu Yi, the original owner of the box.
What was even more outrageous was that he only drove Xu Yi away, but kept Yu Xiaoyu there.
“What a biased old man.”
Xu Yi pouted, grumbling, and then turned to enter the Alchemy Building to show off her newly acquired Nine Dragon Cauldron to Teacher Dan.
Half an hour later.
*Bang!*
Xu Yi stood outside the Alchemy Building, on the verge of tears, cursing inwardly. *Serves you right for showing off. Now both your treasures are taken for research.*
After adjusting her mood for a while, Xu Yi sauntered off to the Formation Building.
She had many teachers anyway; visiting them one by one would surely yield some gains.
As expected, Teacher Yuwen received Xu Yi cordially and even guided her through some of her recent cultivation confusions. By the time Xu Yi left the Formation Building, it was already late.
In the following days, Xu Yi spent her time visiting various teachers.
Ten days later, she finally received news from the Dean and went alone to the thatched hut, ready to take her graduation assessment.
“Xu Yi, this assessment has been tailor-made for you. The difficulty is extremely high. Do you have the confidence to complete it?” the Dean asked.
Xu Yi had a feeling that the Dean’s words were not well-intentioned.
However, she truthfully replied, “I have confidence.”
“Oh? Aren’t you afraid that I’ll deliberately make things difficult for you during the assessment?” the Dean looked at Xu Yi with great interest.
Xu Yi pursed her lips. “Unless you want me to stay for a few more years, you wouldn’t set an impossible assessment. As long as there is a glimmer of hope for passing, I will have the confidence to complete it.”
Xu Yi’s confidence stemmed from her inherent strength. She firmly believed that she could achieve it, so she feared no challenge.
“Very good, then the graduation assessment begins now.”