The female teacher: “...”
The pressure chamber’s plan—how much to increase the pressure, when to peak, and so on—had all been determined through research, analysis, and experimentation, ultimately yielding the optimal pressure growth curve for a spirit to break through to the elite level.
But the middle-aged woman stared at the Dream Mist Butterfly inside for a while and noticed... this spirit was indeed enduring the current pressure.
It wasn’t faked.
It couldn’t be faked either.
She pondered for a moment, then said:
“I can increase the pressure for it, but if the spirit shows any discomfort, you need to tell me right away. Otherwise... excessive pressure could easily injure the spirit, and recovery would be quite troublesome.”
What she saw with her eyes might not be precise.
But at such close range, relying on the contract, she could clearly sense the spirit’s state.
She warned him repeatedly, then began to raise the pressure in the chamber.
Inside, the pressure steadily climbed.
The accumulated spiritual particles grew denser and denser.
Gradually, wind stirred within the pressure chamber.
Particles gathered one by one, visible to the naked eye, swirling in the breeze like falling leaves.
Rising and falling.
The Dream Mist Butterfly’s small face was already tense.
The emerald patterns on its wings burst into brilliant radiance.
Ripples spread outward in rings.
Su Hao clenched his hands.
The butterfly’s figure reflected in his pupils.
Silently, he offered encouragement and support in his heart.
It felt like a long time had passed, or perhaps it was very brief.
The Dream Mist Butterfly’s tiny body trembled.
“Gu nuo nuo—!!!”
Even though the pressure chamber blocked sound, he still heard the little one’s cry.
An invisible aura gradually rose.
The spiritual particles inside the chamber vibrated violently, rapidly gathering from all sides toward the center.
Forming an emerald-green vortex.
At its core was the Dream Mist Butterfly, breaking through!
The female teacher’s mouth fell open involuntarily.
Is this really breaking through to the elite level?!
She had originally thought that once signs of the Dream Mist Butterfly’s breakthrough appeared, she’d have to stop the pressure from rising and keep it at the most suitable level.
But looking now... it had already reached the maximum value of the B-level pressure chamber.
...
Ten minutes later, the commotion inside the pressure chamber gradually subsided.
The Dream Mist Butterfly flew out energetically, circled twice, then landed on his head.
Only an invisible pressure still lingered around it.
...
Three days later.
August 15th was the day when new students of Whale Island University could officially go through enrollment procedures.
Su Hao arrived early at the student affairs office, beating other freshmen to swap out his temporary student card and get one that was easier to “swipe.”
He also received a spirit-summoning bracelet.
It doubled as a communication device, information tool, shopping aid, and more.
From that moment on, he was truly a freshman at Whale Island University.
Su Hao pulled out his phone.
The “Four Little Kings of Ancheng” group chat had been blown up with @mentions.
All from that fool Liu Ren.
“Old Su, snap a few more pics and show us.”
“Old Su, we’ve arrived at Whale Harbor Town.”
“Old Su, Su the big shot, begging for a ride, boohoo.”
With new students arriving, the campus’s automated shuttles might be running short.
Su Hao called over his Water Scale Beast, grabbed it by the hands, and vaulted onto its back.
Sitting steady and firm.
—Riding skills: he’d deliberately practiced for a month.
“Let’s go, target: the school gate.”
“Xilu~!”
The Water Scale Beast galloped joyfully, much faster than during the college entrance exams.
Soon, Su Hao reached the main gate, where he saw many students and parents. The lively, bustling atmosphere hit him like a wave.
It made Su Hao, used to the quiet campus environment, feel a bit out of place.
As he came out, he spotted Liu Ren, Li Songting, and Gu Lingyao.
Their spirits followed beside them.
Of the three’s parents, only Liu Ren’s father had come.
But it wasn’t to accompany him.
Instead, taking advantage of Liu Ren getting into Whale Island University, he’d received approval to do business in Whale Harbor Town.
Liu’s father planned to expand his company’s operations here.
Uncle Liu greeted Su Hao with a few pleasantries, then smiled: “I won’t bother you young folks. The future is your era.”
He turned and left, off to make money.
At that moment.
The wide main gate wasn’t like when Su Hao first arrived, with only the Elephant General and the Golden Armored Overlord as two guardians.
Nor were the table and chess set in front of the flower beds.
The two stood left and right at the gate, their faces stern, exuding a faint aura that underscored Whale Island University’s majesty.
Even the four characters “Whale Island University” carved into the massive stone tablet on the left glowed with a faint light.
There was also an invisible force.
Under its influence, students and parents who drew near spoke in hushed tones.
Besides the two guardians, Su Hao also saw many senior students.
Well... being a volunteer earned credits.
But you had to apply before the 15th, and he’d only gotten his official student card this morning.
The “Four Little Kings” of Ancheng had no parents accompanying them, but as Su Hao scanned the area, he noticed plenty of parents.
Some families had brought five, six, or seven people—enough to form a group.
It made the gate, spacious enough to rival a plaza, feel a bit crowded.
After all, almost all freshmen had come on the first day.
Students from families or with connections exuded confidence, carrying their luggage straight into the campus.
But some from “ordinary” backgrounds, who knew little about Whale Island University, had parents peppering senior students with questions left and right.
The already scarce volunteer seniors were struggling to keep up.
One parent, seeing Su Hao ride out of the school on his mount and greet the new students (Liu Ren and the others), immediately walked over and asked:
“Hey, student, what are the living and dining conditions like here? They won’t let us parents in, but can we at least send things in?”
The parent pointed behind him, at two small trucks stopped at the gate.
“I ordered two truckloads of daily necessities for my darling. Hey, student, could you help deliver them to the dorm? Here’s my card...”
A business card reading “CEO of Such-and-Such Company.”
Then Su Hao saw this parent’s darling.
A female... student, about 1.6 meters tall and weighing at least 80 kilos, lowered her head with a shy smile when she noticed him looking.
Ahem...!!
Su Hao pushed the card back. “Uncle, if you have questions, please ask the senior students. I’m not an upperclassman—just an ordinary freshman. I don’t know anything, understand nothing.”
He pulled out his newly acquired student card, flashing the registration date on it.
Today.
Then he quickly turned, let out a breath, and walked farther away.
The parent of the heavier student stared at Su Hao’s retreating figure.
His mind replayed the registration date on the card and the name hidden by Su Hao’s thumb.
He blinked.
“He really is a freshman, but why... are you so experienced!”
After Su Hao got farther away, he saw other parents about to mistake him for a senior, so he hurriedly called out to Liu Ren and the others.
“Let’s go!”