It was early morning when Zayn arrived at the academy's entrance. He wore his unique school uniform and waited for Vown to come.
It was the day of his departure to the Python Beast Forest.
After being in the infirmary yesterday, Vown explained his training trip to Zayn. The purpose of the trip was to refine Zayn. Not only his cultivation and his strength but also his mind. He would have to hunt for food and survive against strong beasts. It was a life and death scenario for Zayn.
Obviously, Vown was following Zayn and protecting him, if anything bad happened. Vown told Zayn that he would depart after bringing him to the Python Beast Forest. But Zayn concluded that Vown would always be there to protect him.
Zayn still wanted to do that. Infinite Star also recommended it. It was a great experience for Zayn and was for sure able to hone him.
The word beasts didn't have much meaning for Zayn. He just brushed it off as a new word for animals. The only reference he had to it was the Snow Wolfs, which he thought against before. So he thought that the whole survival part wasn't that hard.
The only thing which concerned him was the killing of the animals. Zayn wasn't a vegetarian or vegan, he consumed meat on a weekly basis. But he never killed one before... At least that was what he thought. He wasn't sure about it. The loss of his previous life's memory wasn't exactly helping.
The Python Beast Forest also had many natural cultivation places, which were said to easily enhance the cultivation of those in the Body Refinement Realm. They would be beneficial places for Zayn's lacking cultivation. Added to his ability to skip Stars he would emerge as a whole new being.
Zayn was patiently waiting when Vown emerged from the woods.
"You ready?"
"Yes! Let's travel to the Python Beast Forest."
Right at that time, many familiar faces came storming to the entrance. Everyone present wanted to see Zayn off.
After looking at those faces, Zayn was delighted to see them. It was Ryu, the principal, Teacher Leaf, and the Doc. He wondered about the reasons for the last two, but he was still happy about Ryu and the principal's arrival.
"Sorry, for missing out yesterday. I had to take care of somethings regarding Flint. But I was still able to catch up to you now. I already visited the Python Beast Forest once before. I marked some special places on this map here for you. You should definitely visit them!" Ryu handed a map over to Zayn.
"But, no matter what you do, stay out of the black area. It's the Python Beast's territory. Its cultivation is in the early Qi Gathering Realm, but handling it is far harder than fighting against a normal Qi Gathering Beast."
Zayn was grateful for Ryu's map. He saw that Ryu took his time to mark the map, and really put thought into it. He was truly a great friend.
After Ryu, the principal came forward. He looked really proud and majestic, as he stepped forward.
"Zayn, you have to be careful! Promise me that! You are the pride and the honor of our academy. If you get hurt, the whole academy will start to crumble! You'll become the star and the future! Don't get too haughty, always be on guard! But, also use this time and use the risks for you, but be careful, right?" The principal was at the same time proud, majestic, foreseeing as worrisome, anxious, fearful.
Then Teacher Leaf stepped forward. He seemed really anxious and nervous about the conversation. He hesitated at first but then went with the conversation.
"I-... Ehm... I just wanted to tell you that you shouldn't take Flint's actions personal. He has his good sides. Only the Burning Heart Family didn't affect him well. They spoiled him far too much. He went too far this time. I also wanted to give you these. I know they won't turn Flint's actions good, but still, I wanted you to use them." Teacher Leaf handed 50 Qi Pills in a small sack over.
Zayn took the 50 Qi Pills happily and right when they entered Zayn's hand they disappeared. He openly stored them inside his Inventory. As he received a Spatial Ring from Flint's Uncle, no one asked about Zayn's unusual action. They linked the vanishing of the 50 Qi Pills to the Spatial Ring.
Vown explained to Zayn yesterday, that a Spatial Ring is a small ring, which is capable of storing many items inside. It was like his inventory only in ring form and far smaller. The Spatial Ring's storage capability was one square meter. It didn't sound that big but every young student dreamed of having one. A Spatial Ring wasn't affected by the item's weight. It didn't increase in weight, it stayed at the ring's original weight.
For Zayn, it was utterly pointless. He already had the Inventory from the Daily System, which didn't have any storage limitation at all, as far as he knew. But he also found a function for the Spatial Ring. It worked as a disguise for his Inventory. He could openly put items inside and outside of his Inventory, without anyone suspecting anything.
The last one which stepped forward was Doc, the old doctor which Zayn first met one day before.
Zayn wondered about his reasons to come and see him off. Both of them weren't acquaintanced with each other. They only talked for a few minutes nothing more. He understood Teacher Leaf's reason, because of his student Flint, but Doc's reason left him wondering.
"Little one... I know... Your teacher told me that I shouldn't tell it to anyone... About your departure... I only told it to a few close friends... They must have told it around..." Doc was really embarrassed about that matter. He really told it to a few close friends, but then the departure started to spark around.
Zayn didn't understand Doc's embarrassment. He only told to a few friends. What was the big deal here? Why was he so flustered about it?
Right when Zayn started to think about the matter, a loud rumbling could be heard.
It drew closer and closer.
Zayn was at first left wondering about the rumbling, but then he understood.
"You should run!" Doc yelled at Vown and Zayn. He was aware what the sound of rumbling was about.
Everyone present understood the sound of rumbling.
Zayn looked at Vown and Vown looked at Zayn.
Both of them started running out of the academy.
"IDOL!!! IDOL DON'T GO!!! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!"
"ZAYN!!! AT LEAST LET ME SEE YOU OFF!!!"
"YOU LITTLE COCKROACH!!! I'M NOT MAD ABOUT MY LOSS ANYMORE!!! COME BACK!!!"
Every first grader started running towards the entrance of the academy. Many of them wanted Zayn not to leave the academy, to stay with them in the academy. Many others just wanted to see him off, to see him at least one last time.
Every first grader started to idolize Zayn after the tournament. He became their symbol of hope and their motivation to improve themselves. They wanted to become friends with him and also become his disciple.
After they heard of his departure many of them packed their bags and also wanted to come with Zayn along on the training trip. No one of them knew where he was exactly going, they only heard that he was leaving now. So they wanted to sneak up on them and follow Vown and Zayn.