Time flowed slowly.
In the blink of an eye, another month passed.
For this entire month, Zhou Hong cultivated in his dorm, almost never leaving.
After a month of cultivation, Zhou Hong's application of formations had become even more refined. Space-locking formations, gravity formations, and so on, were all more powerful than before.
Although Zhou Hong was currently in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, if he were to use his formations, perhaps even a late-Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn't be his match.
As for the next level, early Nascent Soul separation, Zhou Hong dared not take the risk. After all, the higher one cultivated, the greater the gap between each level.
"Zhou Hong, tomorrow, our Class 30 is going on a joint expedition. Do you want to go?" In the evening, Zhou Hong's roommate returned to the dorm after school and quickly asked.
Zhou Hong hadn't attended classes for the past month, so he naturally hadn't paid attention to Class 30's affairs.
"Where are we going for the expedition?" Zhou Hong asked, stepping out of his room in confusion.
"According to Instructor Lu, she's taking all of Class 30 to the Tian Huang Forest."
"Oh, okay." Zhou Hong seemed uninterested. After all, his current strength surpassed even Lu Qianqian. The place they were going for the expedition was definitely suitable for weaker students. If Zhou Hong went, it would merely be to relax and sightsee.
"Come on, you've been cultivating alone in the dorm all month. Aren't you afraid of getting sick from boredom? Even though the place we're going for the expedition has weak demonic beasts, suitable only for us, think of it as accompanying Instructor Lu," Liao Yong persuaded.
"Alright, alright, I'll go. Consider it a way to relax and, by the way, protect you all," Zhou Hong said helplessly.
"Great, then we'll wake up early tomorrow morning."
And so, the night passed without incident.
The next morning, Zhou Hong followed his roommates to Class 30's base camp.
Lu Qianqian seemed a little surprised to see Zhou Hong, but for some reason, there was a hint of resentment in her eyes as she looked at him.
During this past month, Lu Qianqian hadn't actively sought out Zhou Hong. However, she had frequently inquired about his situation through his roommates. Consequently, Zhou Hong's roommates suspected that Instructor Lu might have feelings for him.
Zhou Hong also noticed Lu Qianqian's resentful gaze, which left him somewhat speechless, as if he had offended her in some way.
"Esteemed students, today marks the first collective expedition for Class 30 since entering the Taigu Academy. We are heading to the Tian Huang Forest, to a place called the Thousand Dragon Pool. Beneath the waters of this place reside many terrifying demonic beasts. They resemble giant pythons, but have no eyes or noses on their heads, their entire faces filled with fangs. Their intelligence is exceptionally high, and they employ teamwork to kill any intruders. This is where we are going today. I hope everyone returns safely."
"Instructor Lu, how strong are these demonic beasts?"
"Their strength varies. When I went before, the strongest were around the early Heart Movement stage, but they were numerous. In our class now, excluding Zhou Hong, there are over a dozen in the early Heart Movement stage. They will be responsible for assisting the weaker students."
Everyone nodded.
Zhou Hong, however, chuckled. Hearing "early Heart Movement stage" now made him feel they were incredibly weak. After Heart Movement came Soul Stillness, then Golden Core, and only then Nascent Soul. Zhou Hong had already surpassed his classmates by several realms.
Thinking about it, Zhou Hong couldn't help but admire himself.
"Alright! Let's depart."
At Lu Qianqian's command, all students of Class 30 picked up their provisions and swiftly rushed towards the main gate.
Soon, they were outside the academy.
"Zhou Hong, why are you following us?" Lu Qianqian deliberately slowed her pace, coming up beside Zhou Hong and saying with evident resentment.
"I was getting a bit bored cultivating alone in my dorm, so I thought I'd come out with everyone."
"Hmph, aren't you afraid your sweetheart will look for you?"
Zhou Hong couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"What sweetheart?"
"Playing innocent," Lu Qianqian snorted, her face full of jealousy.
Zhou Hong was utterly speechless. He felt like he could just subdue her right there and then.
"Oh right, Zhou Hong, you really shouldn't come with us," Lu Qianqian suddenly turned serious, no longer joking. Su Dan Novel Network
"Why?"
"Don't you remember? You have enemies. Zhang Wenbo's family. Although they haven't appeared now, it doesn't mean they aren't secretly observing you. Once you leave the Taigu Academy's vicinity, they might suddenly appear and capture you. Regardless, you killed Zhang Wenbo's grandfather. Their family doesn't just have Zhang Wenbo's grandfather; there are stronger individuals. I heard the strongest in their family has reached the early Body Integration stage."
"Heh, that's just your speculation. Am I supposed to hide in Taigu Academy forever and never dare to go out because of it?"
"I'm not joking with you. You should be cautious."
"Alright, what's there to worry about? When the soldiers come, we'll block them; when the water rises, we'll build dams."
Zhou Hong paid no heed to her concerns and continued to follow Class 30's students as they left Taigu Academy.
However, as soon as Zhou Hong stepped out of Taigu Academy, he was targeted.
The one targeting Zhou Hong was a white-haired old man. This old man was none other than the ancestor of the Zhang family. One of his family members, a late Spirit Severing stage cultivator, had been killed. How could he not act? However, he didn't want to alert them, so he waited outside Taigu Academy for Zhou Hong to emerge.
As expected, after waiting for only a month, Zhou Hong appeared.
Beside the white-haired old man was a younger man, whose strength had also reached the late Spirit Severing stage.
"Grandfather, that little brat is out," the late Spirit Severing stage man said to the white-haired old man.
"I see him. Don't make any rash moves yet. Follow him. Once he leaves Taigu City, we'll capture him and take him directly back to the family."
"Understood."
Thus, the white-haired old man and the late Spirit Severing stage man followed silently. With Zhou Hong's current strength, he wouldn't be able to detect them at all.
Soon, Zhou Hong and the others left the vicinity of Taigu City.
"Instructor Lu, how long will it take to reach the place for the expedition?" Zhou Hong asked.
"About two to three days."
"That long?" Zhou Hong was a little surprised.
"This is already a short distance. Other classes take several months to travel."
"Oh, okay." Zhou Hong stopped asking further questions.
At that moment, the white-haired old man, who had been following them, said coldly, "It's time to act. You stay here and don't move. I'll go down and capture him."
"Okay." The late Spirit Severing stage man dared not step forward. After all, one of their family's late Spirit Severing stage cultivators had died at Zhou Hong's hands. Therefore, the white-haired old man took it upon himself to act.
Zhou Hong suddenly felt a sense of danger.
"What's wrong?" Lu Qianqian looked at Zhou Hong curiously. Zhou Hong had stopped running and his expression was grave.