Three days later, Tang San helped the weakened Yu Xiaogang back to the academy.
Just like in the original story, the two of them encountered the Mandala Snake while hunting spirit beasts, and Yu Xiaogang was poisoned.
Tang San relied on the secret arts of the Tang Sect to kill the Mandala Snake and obtained his first spirit ring.
Everything was back on track.
The only thing Lin Yang hadn't expected was that right after obtaining his first spirit ring, Tang San impatiently came to find him and proposed another challenge.
"You're saying you want to fight me again?"
Lin Yang casually put the book in his hand back on the shelf and looked at the fighting-spirit-blazing Tang San with a speechless expression.
The sky has cleared, the rain has stopped, and now you think you're him again.
You're the famous God King Tang after all, not some random second-rate.
You really think just because you gained one more spirit ring, you've suddenly become rock-hard?
Lin Yang couldn't be bothered to argue with him and answered coldly with just two words: "Not going."
However, in Tang San's eyes, Lin Yang's refusal was a sign of weakness.
Mockery flickered in Tang San's gaze. As his teacher had said, Lin Yang only relied on his own strength to bully the weak.
"Are you scared?"
"That's right, I'm scared," Lin Yang replied with biting sarcasm.
"I'm scared of someone who can't accept defeat and likes to sneak-attack from behind."
"Besides, last time you lost, and up till now you still haven't apologized to Wang Sheng, have you…?"
These were just excuses. Who told Tang San's extremely overpowered old man to be hiding somewhere in the dark, spying on everything?
If he hit Tang San too hard and that old man jumped out to protect his precious cub, then what?
That old fellow didn't care at all about fighting fair.
So in Lin Yang's eyes, Tang San's challenge was like a mangy toad squatting on his instep—not only disgusting, but also extremely irritating.
If you didn't have such a good dad, I'd beat you until you shit yourself. If you managed to keep it in, I'd count that as you shitting clean.
Hearing Lin Yang's string of taunts, Tang San's face turned as ugly as it could get.
Because of what happened on the first day of school, his reputation at the academy was now terrible. The other students avoided him like a venomous snake or a scorpion.
Even if he didn't care on the surface, being isolated by everyone didn't feel good.
And all of this… stemmed from the person in front of him—Lin Yang.
If Lin Yang knew what Tang San was thinking, he would definitely gift him two words: "Dumbass."
You simply couldn't use normal logic when talking to people like this.
They never reflected on their own actions; instead, they pushed all the blame onto others.
Ignoring Tang San, Lin Yang took a few books and left the library, planning to read them back in his room.
At the same time, he decided that once he had grasped Tang Hao's movement patterns, he would immediately apply for graduation.
Otherwise, facing this "god-tier" master-disciple and father-son duo every day, he was going to get hypertension sooner or later.
About half a month later, through his informants, Lin Yang had already confirmed that Tang Hao would not be leaving Nuoding City in the short term.
Tang Hao had rented a small house near the academy. He kept to himself every day and rarely appeared in public.
He didn't cultivate while holed up in his room either.
His daily life was basically the same as in Holy Soul Village: eating, sleeping, drinking, and occasionally watching Tang San from a distance.
Although Lin Yang despised Tang Hao's self-destructive lifestyle, it was precisely this that gave him an opening.
On this day, Lin Yang arrived at the dean's office. Standing before the door, he took a deep breath and knocked.
"Come in."
Su Hong's voice came from inside.
Lin Yang pushed the door open and entered.
At the moment, Su Hong was sitting behind his desk, holding a book.
When he looked up and saw it was Lin Yang, his face immediately blossomed into a smile. He put the book aside and said with a chuckle,
"Lin Yang, what brings you here today?"
Lin Yang didn't beat around the bush. "Dean, I'm here to apply for early graduation."
Su Hong fell silent for a few seconds, his gaze on Lin Yang somewhat complicated.
He had long known this day would come. With Lin Yang's talent, a primary academy was simply too small.
The resources here could no longer satisfy Lin Yang's growth.
A greenhouse can't grow giant trees; shallow waters can't raise flood dragons.
"Sigh…" Su Hong let out a light sigh, but his expression soon turned gentle and warm.
"I approve your graduation request."
He paused, then continued,
"The academy no longer has anything to teach you. The road ahead is something you must walk on your own."
"With your talent and temperament, you'll surely achieve something in the future."
Seeing the dean agree so straightforwardly, Lin Yang quietly let out a breath of relief and bowed respectfully.
"I will always remember the academy's guidance and nurturing."
"Good, good, good." Su Hong nodded with a broad smile.
"As long as you have that in your heart, it means I didn't misjudge you."
After thinking for a moment, Su Hong stood up and pulled a thick hard-covered book from the shelf behind him, handing it to Lin Yang.
"This spirit beast compendium was a gift from a Spirit Hall deacon. I helped him with a small matter many years ago."
"It records information on some rare spirit beasts. I'm now giving it to you as a graduation gift."
Lin Yang froze for a moment, then quickly waved his hands.
"Dean, this is too precious. I can't accept it."
Information about spirit beasts was extremely valuable no matter where it was stored. The compendium Su Hong was handing him was undoubtedly a great gift.
"Take it." Su Hong motioned for him to accept it.
"I've long since memorized everything in that book by heart. Just letting it sit there is a waste. In your hands it can still play a role."
Lin Yang received the heavy book with both hands. "Thank you, Dean."
Seeing Lin Yang accept it, Su Hong chuckled and then asked,
"What are your plans after graduation?"
Lin Yang thought for a moment. "I plan to go home first, then report to an intermediate spirit master academy."
Going home was just an excuse. In reality, he planned to retrieve the spirit bone.
Su Hong nodded, not surprised by this.
After that, he briefly introduced the intermediate academies under the Heaven Dou Empire.
The most famous was, of course, the Heaven Dou Intermediate Academy, which was backed by the imperial family. Graduates from there had a chance to directly enter Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
In terms of teachers, campus environment, and cultivation resources, that place could be said to be the best in the entire empire.
Everyone racked their brains to get in there.
Naturally, those admitted were either absolute geniuses or students with powerful noble backgrounds.
People of average talent and poor background couldn't even step through the front gate.
The world of spirit masters was just that cruel.
Below that tier were the intermediate academies affiliated with the Five Element Academies. Their conditions were also good, and students could be promoted directly into the corresponding advanced academies.
The third tier was much worse, such as the nearby Suotuo Intermediate Spirit Master Academy, Hundred Beasts Spirit Master Academy, and so on…
The reason Su Hong explained so much was because he was worried Lin Yang might choose the wrong school and waste his gifts.
Lin Yang understood that very clearly, and replied sincerely,
"Dean, don't worry. No matter which intermediate academy I go to, I will definitely not shame Nuoding Academy's name."
"Haha!" Su Hong laughed heartily.
"Good, good. You have ambition. I believe you'll definitely succeed."
With that, Su Hong personally handled his graduation certificate on the spot.
"Thank you, Dean." Lin Yang took the certificate with both hands, carefully checked it, then slipped it into his pocket.
Leaving the office, he went back to Dorm Seven, said goodbye to Wang Sheng and the others, then returned to his rented room.
He packed all his belongings into his storage ring and, under the cover of night, quietly left Nuoding City.
He only stopped walking when Nuoding City completely disappeared into the darkness behind him. Turning around, he took one last deep look before leaving without looking back.
The road ahead was wide and open.
From then on, the skies would be free for birds to soar, and the vast seas would be open for fish to leap.