The next morning, as soon as Chen Shu woke up, he received a photo in the group chat. Everyone in it had a smile on their faces.
It was the group photo from last night!
In the photo, Chen Shu was standing prominently in the very center, flanked by four Imperial Dragon Guards wearing golden armbands.
He himself had his hands clasped in front of him, his shoulders leaning against the two Imperial Dragon Guards, each of whom had an arm around him.
"I feel something's a bit off!"
Chen Shu scratched his head, puzzled for a moment.
"Sorry, there's an issue with the photo. I'll fix it and send it to you again!"
At this moment, Xu Xingxing withdrew the photo again.
Chen Shu replied similarly: 'I knew something was wrong! It just didn't look right.'
As expected of Xu Xingxing, he finished processing the photo in half an hour and sent it out again.
Instantly, the group chat exploded.
The others in the photo remained unchanged.
Only Chen Shu's jacket had been replaced with a red vest, and a pair of handcuffs had appeared on his hands.
His face had also been pixelated...
Xu Xingxing typed: 'Is it okay now?'
'Damn, it really looks like it!'
'I knew it! It's completely fitting now!'
'Chen Pi must be over the moon...'
"I'm completely devastated..."
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. Little Xing, you're truly something!
Before long, the group photo was uploaded to the album and even became the group's avatar...
Days went by.
Chen Shu was quite idle, either playing games at home or going out for a stroll.
Xiao Huang, who had gone out to show off, returned the very next day.
It hadn't even managed to leave the city before being forcibly sent back.
The reason given was that excrement was prohibited from appearing in the city's airspace...
Simultaneously, its flight privileges were revoked!
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Shu visited the [Blazing Volcano] to help the镇灵军 (Zhen Ling Army) outpost clear out the surrounding beast lairs, preventing another beast tide.
Of course, due to his innate aggro aura, he accidentally attracted more beasts than intended.
Fortunately, everything ended without incident.
To express their gratitude, Ye Qing took the initiative to upgrade his privileges:
Tickets for other dimensions were discounted by 20%, while entry into the [Blazing Volcano] was tripled in price...
...
Happy times always pass quickly. Without realizing it, it was already February 15th.
"School's starting again!"
Chen Shu stretched lazily, dragging his already packed suitcase.
"Mom, Dad, school starts tomorrow. I'm leaving!"
"So proactive?"
His father, Chen Ping, looked surprised and said,
"This is the first time you're going back to school early, isn't it?"
"Don't make fun of me, just... don't make fun of me."
Chen Shu's mouth twitched. Then he smiled and said, "I love learning, and learning loves me!"
Of course, what attracted him wasn't studying, but the champion's reward!
Both the school's rewards and the competition rewards were ready, just waiting for him to personally claim them.
"Well, come back and see us when you have time."
His parents nodded, a hint of reluctance in their eyes.
Chen Shu hadn't come home for New Year's Eve last year; he had been at the northern border.
This made them realize their son had grown up and would likely return home less and less often.
"I will!"
Chen Shu nodded and left home, dragging his suitcase.
Downstairs, Xie Sunan was already waiting.
"Old Xie, you're this early?"
Chen Shu raised an eyebrow and said, "You've fallen in love with studying too?"
Xie Sunan shook his head and said with great seriousness, "No, I have something to deal with."
"What's up? Someone dares to provoke you?"
Old Xie's eyes showed a bit of melancholy as he said,
"The principal called me last night and told me I had to be at school on time, or I'd be expelled."
"And then?"
"How could I tolerate that? Plus, I had a bit to drink, so I told him to postpone the start date by a week and to treat it as a serious matter."
"..."
Chen Shu's mouth twitched, and he said, "Old Xie, you're truly outrageous!"
"This morning, I received a notice of expulsion again..."
Xie Sunan looked up at the sky and said mournfully, "The principal really took it seriously and dealt with me..."
"Hahaha!"
Chen Shu couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"I'm ready to present myself for punishment!"
Xie Sunan turned around. A butcher's knife was strapped to his back.
"Are you sure that's for presenting yourself for punishment?"
Chen Shu's eyes widened. You're going to apologize with a knife?
"It's all the same! Hurry up, it'll be too late if we delay!"
"Get in!"
Chen Shu picked up Da Li and Xiao Xing. The four-person team headed north, straight for the capital.
In the evening,
Chen Shu returned to Hua Xia Academy. A banner was hung on the majestic school gate: 'Congratulations to student Chen Shu for winning the National Beast Taming Competition Championship!'
"Is it that significant?"
A look of satisfaction appeared on Chen Shu's face. The gate of Hua Xia Academy had never displayed such a thing.
Let alone celebrating students, not even the changing of the guard for the principal warranted such a display.
Chen Shu was the only student in hundreds of years to receive such an honor.
As soon as he entered the school, passing students cast envious glances his way.
The students of Hua Xia Academy were all geniuses among their peers and wouldn't easily admire anyone.
But at this moment, their eyes were filled with respect.
When the gap between a person and everyone else is not significant, everyone wants to catch up to that person, and there will be a subtle sense of hostility.
But if they can't even see the person's back, then all that remains is admiration and respect.
"It's time to claim the rewards! Time to claim the rewards!"
Chen Shu sprinted, heading straight for the school's mission building.
According to the exclusive mission issued by Liu Feng at the time, the rewards included:
Seventeen thousand academic points, twelve bottles of Tier 1 potions, a piece of King-grade flesh, an unlimited supply of Silver-grade potions, and free access to the school's cultivation rooms.
The seventeen thousand academic points alone were worth at least two billion.
The Tier 1 potions and King-grade flesh from the laboratory were also incredibly expensive, immeasurable in terms of their value in Hua Xia currency.
As for the unlimited supply of Silver-grade potions, they weren't of much use because they could only be used by himself, and his beasts were already quite well-trained.
The free school cultivation rooms were invaluable to diligent students,
but for him, they seemed rather redundant.
It was because he never cultivated...
Fortunately, he could let A Liang and the others use them.
At the same time, he went to the school's storage to collect the national championship reward gift package,
which included: four Silver-grade True Treasures + a large quantity of King-grade flesh + a designated Golden King skill!
Whether it was the championship reward or the school reward, the King-grade flesh was of Golden grade, offering the potential to upgrade the spatial rabbit's exclusive skill by another level.
Chen Shu's confidence soared. Right now, he could only be described by one word: inflated!
"I really want to see who can still defeat me!"
He stood with his hands on his hips, shouting loudly, "Who else?!"
"What's up?"
Just then, Qin Tian and Liu Feng walked towards him, looking at him with smiles.