Chapter 204: A New Journey

One year later.

A tour bus stopped outside a high school in Silver City, and a crowd of excited tourists poured out. Holding up a small flag, the tour guide smiled. "Everyone, this is Silver City Third High, where Fish God once studied and first made a name for himself. Now, please follow me. We'll be visiting his former classroom, Grade 12, Class 3, where you can experience the wonderful days when Fish God worked hard at school."

The tourists followed him, taking pictures as they entered the campus.

Not far away, a vendor selling spicy chicken noodles complained to the two customers beside his stall. "People come here every day. I don't know what's so interesting about it. Don't all high schools look basically the same?"

A burly teenager agreed cheerfully. "Exactly. Silver City Third High seems pretty ordinary to me."

He lowered his head, shoveled up some noodles, and slurped them down with obvious enjoyment.

The ordinary-looking teenager beside him smiled and asked the vendor, "Isn't having more tourists a good thing? More people should mean better business for you, right?"

The vendor sighed. "If only that were true."

About fifteen minutes later, the tourists emerged with their guide, noisily climbed back onto the bus, and sped off toward Yu Xian's former home without leaving so much as a fart behind.

The vendor helplessly said, "See what I mean?"

The teenager could only give him an awkward but polite smile before lowering his head and returning to his noodles.

After finishing his meal, the burly teenager looked at his friend, who was still eating. "Salted Fish, what have you been busy with lately?"

The ordinary-looking teenager swallowed a mouthful of noodles and replied, "Traveling, fishing, taking photos... I met a pretty interesting friend a few days ago. He taught me a new dish. You can try it next time."

These two were Zhang Shou and Yu Xian in disguise. Zhang Shou had merely put on a little makeup, while Yu Xian had changed his appearance. Otherwise, with how famous they were now, if somebody recognized them, passersby would surround them within minutes.

Zhang Shou said enviously, "Must be nice to be that free."

Yu Xian smiled. "What about you?"

Zhang Shou sighed with a pained expression. "Classes and missions."

Yu Xian became curious. "Is university really that difficult?"

"It's insanely hard. I already regret choosing Yanjing Vocational and Technical College."

Yu Xian smiled at him and wistfully said, "I wonder where everyone is now and what they're doing."

Supernatural education had become widespread a year ago. Every student in their class had followed a different path. After the college entrance examination, they had all gone their separate ways.

Zhang Shou hadn't taken the entrance examination for Yanjing Vocational and Technical College because the college committee had recruited him internally. On the other hand, Nora had earned admission into the college through her own efforts.

Yu Xian had wanted to team up with Nora for the examination, but he was too famous. Had they formed a team, people would have accused Nora of gaining admission through connections. No matter how hard she worked, people would never have acknowledged her efforts, instead taking her success for granted. After all, she had Yu Xian helping her.

Hence, Yu Xian could only cheer Nora on from the sidelines and watch her defeat one opponent after another. Protected by the ring and bracelets crafted by Eternal Purity, she trampled every genius and dark horse in her path. Those geniuses threw everything they had at her, yet none of them could even break through her defenses. It was said that after fighting her, many of those proud young prodigies had their Dao Hearts shattered. Nora also earned herself a title as the Genius Slayer.

Yu Xian also remembered Nora's deskmate, Chen Ling, the Queen of Gossip. "How is Chen Ling doing now?"

Zhang Shou replied with a helpless expression, "Chen Ling? She's now a reporter for Huaxia Entertainment. She comes to me for news every day and constantly asks where you are. Make sure you stay far away from her. Once she latches onto you, you're finished."

Yu Xian burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Chen Ling, a reporter? That really suits her."

"You've never experienced the misery of being pestered by her in the middle of the night. I was so furious that I had to knock myself out on the spot. It was terrifying."

Cutting straight to the heart of the matter, Yu Xian smiled knowingly. "So, you and Chen Ling are dating now?"

Zhang Shou looked embarrassed. He scratched the back of his head before nodding. "Yeah, we're together."

After all, how could she bother him in the middle of the night unless they slept in the same room?

"I knew it. You've liked her for ages. You were always calling her 'Your Majesty' this and 'Your Majesty' that. Your intentions were so obvious that everyone could see them."

Zhang Shou looked at him and retorted, "Then what about you and Nora?"

Yu Xian heaved a long sigh. "Ever since her father died, Nora has devoted herself entirely to training. She said that until she reaches Serpent rank, she'll continue living according to the plans her father made for her. I suppose that's her way of remembering him."

Nora had no intention of dating while she was still young. She would continue attending school, studying hard, and working to become stronger.

Zhang Shou thoughtfully said, "I see. That sounds kind of sad."

Nora had clearly not yet overcome the pain of losing her father. Although she had often disliked how much Marcus controlled her life, it was only after truly losing him that she understood how precious everything she once had really was.

Yu Xian smiled. "Let's just take things slowly."

Just then, Zhang Shou's phone rang. When he glanced at the caller ID, his expression became extremely furtive. He looked at Yu Xian, made a shushing gesture, and answered the call. A voice came from the other end.

—Hey? You're not at school, and you're not with Sister Bluebird either. Where are you?

Zhang Shou replied, "I was hungry, so I came out to get something to eat."

—Where?

"Uh... outside Silver City Third High. I was kind of craving the spicy chicken noodles we used to eat."

—Silver City Third High? Is Salted Fish with you?

"Holy crap! I mean... how could that be? He's not here."

—You went all the way back to Silver City Third High just to eat spicy chicken noodles? I don't believe you. Put Salted Fish on the phone.

"He's really not here, I swear!"

Sweat beaded on Zhang Shou's forehead as he hurriedly signaled for Yu Xian to run. Knowing Chen Ling, she was almost certainly already rushing over at full speed.

With a wicked grin, Yu Xian shouted, "Bye!"

He then shot into the sky, gradually disappearing into the distance under Zhang Shou's despairing gaze. High in the air, he could still hear Chen Ling demanding to know why she had heard his voice. She then ordered Zhang Shou to keep him there, warning that he would be dead if Yu Xian got away.

As Yu Xian sat inside a bubble in the air, Eternal Purity said to him, "Have you made up your mind?"

Yu Xian gazed at the distant sky and nodded with anticipation. "Yeah. It's time for me to leave. But... I'll come back someday!"

Over the past year, he had traveled all across the Blue Planet, met many new friends, and learned many things he had never understood before. However, his strength had not increased at all.

He had exhausted his potential. Even basking in sunlight could now do nothing more than store energy. Only by obtaining new bloodlines could he continue growing stronger. But the supernatural bloodlines on the Blue Planet were too low-level. Most of them could not even increase his Power by a single point.

It was time to step onto a much greater stage.