"My name is Na'er. My martial soul is… is the Golden Dragon. My innate spirit power is level ten."
Another innate full spirit power.
The class immediately erupted into discussion, the noise steadily growing louder.
Li Xiaoyun nodded.
Arthur. Na'er.
These two were not only born with full spirit power. They had already contracted spirit souls and reached level fourteen and level twelve respectively.
When Li Xiaoyun first saw the class roster, she was nearly scared out of her wits. These were little troublemakers of the highest order. Teaching them well would earn no praise, since it was expected. Teaching them poorly would mean all the blame fell squarely on her shoulders.
"All right, everyone, quiet down."
Li Xiaoyun clapped her hands twice.
"Now that introductions are finished, our first lesson will cover the classification of martial souls."
Time passed.
Whenever the topic was something he already understood, Arthur took the chance to meditate, refusing to waste a single moment.
Na'er listened attentively at first.
Gradually, though, her gaze drifted away from the teacher and settled on Arthur.
She sniffed softly, then rested her chin on the desk and quietly watched his back.
Her little legs swung back and forth beneath the desk, betraying her mood.
A breeze slipped in through the open window.
Na'er noticed the single tuft of hair sticking up from Arthur's golden head.
The little strand swayed gently in the wind, bobbing back and forth.
She stared, completely absorbed, and before she realized it, her hand reached out.
"What are you doing?"
Arthur's instincts flared. Feeling someone staring at him, he caught Na'er's small hand midair and said irritably, "Pay attention in class. If you can't listen, then meditate."
"Oh."
Like air leaking from a balloon, Na'er drooped and lowered her head, looking utterly dejected.
The bell rang, ending the lesson.
In an instant, classmates crowded around Na'er, chattering excitedly.
There were only two students in the class with innate full spirit power.
Between them, Na'er was talented yet shy and adorable, with a gentle personality.
Arthur, on the other hand, was left completely alone. He looked too intimidating. Anyone who approached was met with a sharp glare. A genuine little demon.
"I haven't been in class properly for so long. I'm exhausted."
Stretching lazily, Arthur walked out of the classroom and leaned against the railing, breathing in some fresh air.
"No, don't!"
Na'er watched his retreating back, helpless. She wanted to follow him, but her classmates packed in so tightly that she could not break free.
"Being this timid really won't do."
Arthur glanced back at her. After so many coincidences, he had gradually accepted that a little girl had barged into his life.
More or less like a younger sister.
Honestly, raising Na'er's goodwill was not a bad thing. If Gu Yue ever went berserk, at least someone might spare his life.
Still, this level of shyness was unacceptable. Arthur could not stand it. In his eyes, Na'er's biggest issue was being too self-conscious, and that was a serious disadvantage.
He began thinking about how to fix it.
The days that followed were dull and repetitive.
Morning: school, improving Na'er's favorability.
Noon: eating, cultivating spirit power.
Afternoon: school, teasing Na'er.
After school: learning forging from Muchen.
Occasionally teasing Muxi along the way.
Evening: special training, enduring beatings from that old bastard.
Just like that, three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Today, the Spirit Pagoda of East Sea City welcomed an important guest.
At the top of the pagoda, inside the office.
A tall, graceful figure stood by the window. What caught the eye first was her fiery figure, followed by her radiant, sun-like presence. Only after that did one notice her jade-smooth face.
The Spirit Pagoda's number one beauty, Leng Yaozhu.
She was also the vice tower master of the Spirit Pagoda, a level ninety-eight Super Douluo, a four-word battle armor master, bearing the title Heavenly Phoenix.
"Oh my, Tower Master Leng, what brings you to my humble East Sea City Spirit Pagoda? Truly an honor."
Su Wuyan hovered nearby, bowing repeatedly, wearing an utterly shameless smile.
Click. Click. Click.
Leng Yaozhu walked over in high heels and sat behind the desk, crossing her beautiful legs clad in black stockings.
"Do not call me that."
She glanced at the aged-looking Su Wuyan, her voice cold and faintly disdainful.
"Tch, Tower Master Leng." Su Wuyan shrugged helplessly. "So what brings you here?"
"Of course there is a reason. East Sea City really does produce remarkable people."
She casually picked up a file, flipping through it with slender fingers.
"A few months ago, while passing through East Sea, I discovered a genius."
Arthur?
Su Wuyan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I had urgent matters to attend to at the time, so after taking her as my disciple, I made some basic arrangements and left her here to grow on her own."
Then it is not Arthur.
Su Wuyan relaxed, returning to his foolish, ingratiating expression.
"Dragon Sparrow, where did you learn to change faces like that? Quite amusing."
A hint of amusement surfaced on Leng Yaozhu's face.
"My disciple is rather stubborn. When I, a dignified four-word battle armor master, offered to take her in, she actually demanded that I meet one condition."
Su Wuyan's eyelid twitched. A bad feeling crept in.
"She wanted me to help her find a benefactor. I investigated thoroughly, and that benefactor of hers is no ordinary person."
That little girl?
Na'er's image flashed through Su Wuyan's mind, and his heart clenched.
To be taken in by Heavenly Phoenix, how extraordinary must her talent be? And he had missed it entirely.
Damn it. If I had known, I would have pushed Arthur harder to bring her home.
Leng Yaozhu straightened her expression, slammed the file onto the desk, and spoke solemnly. "Twin martial souls, innate full spirit power. Her first spirit soul is a thousand-year unyielding spirit soul, the Skyshatter Eagle."
She demanded, "Dragon Sparrow, why did you not report this? What exactly are you planning?"
"Why does it matter if I reported it or not?"
Since everything was already exposed, Su Wuyan dropped the act and leaned back with a careless attitude.
"That is my nephew. What is wrong with keeping him here to raise myself?"
"You are a branch tower master." Leng Yaozhu's eyes narrowed, sharp light flashing within them.
"Leaving others aside, Arthur is your nephew. I do not understand why you would conceal him."
"If you had reported it, you could have obtained more resources from headquarters."
"I did not really conceal him. Who does not know I have a nephew named Arthur? It is just that all of you are too lazy to pay attention to a place like East Sea." Su Wuyan rolled his eyes. "And do not mention resources."
"What can Qiangu Dongfeng really give? Anything valuable he has already gone to the Qiangu family. Even if he gives something, what price comes with it?"
"Besides, I do not trust him."
Su Wuyan spoke plainly, laying everything on the table.
There was no point playing games. They were both old schemers.
"Your bias against the tower master is excessive," Leng Yaozhu said with a frown.
"Then let me ask you something."
"Why did you leave your own disciple here to grow on her own? Are you truly so busy that you could not even make proper arrangements for her?"
"Admit it. You are also wary of him."
"I admit that is part of the reason, but not all of it."
Leng Yaozhu shook her head. "I am not afraid of him. The main reason is that the girl herself wanted to stay here."
She sneered. "She said she wants to attend school with your precious nephew."
Thinking about it gave her a headache. Three months ago, she had taken Na'er away for a single day. After that, Na'er refused to eat or drink, sinking deeper into gloom.
At night, she even cried quietly the entire time, hiding in her room and shedding tears like little pearls.
Leng Yaozhu had been completely at a loss and eventually had no choice but to bring her back.
"Good kid."
Su Wuyan was delighted on the inside. All that shameless effort had not been wasted. He had tied her down so easily.
He had witnessed their encounter that day from start to finish. Even though Arthur looked impatient, he had still captured the girl's heart.
"That is enough for now."
Leng Yaozhu stood and stretched lazily, her figure outlined perfectly as she strode toward the door on long legs.
"I want to see for myself what kind of boy could make Na'er so obsessed."