"My name is Na'er… My martial soul is… the Golden Dragon. Innate soul power: Rank 10."
Another student with full innate soul power. The class immediately erupted into discussion, the chatter growing louder and louder.
Li Xiaoyun nodded.
Su Qiu. Na'er.
These two were far more than just possessors of full innate soul power, they had already contracted soul spirits. One was now Level 14, the other Level 12.
When Li Xiaoyun first saw the roster, she had nearly been scared to death. These were two little ancestors. If she taught them well, that was only expected; if she failed, she alone would be held responsible.
"Alright, everyone, quiet down."
Li Xiaoyun clapped her hands.
"Since everyone has introduced themselves, today's first lesson will be about the classification of martial souls."
Time passed.
Whenever the lesson covered knowledge he already knew, Su Qiu took the opportunity to meditate, unwilling to waste even a moment.
At first, Na'er listened attentively.
Gradually, however, her gaze shifted from the teacher to Su Qiu.
She sniffed lightly, then rested her head on the desk, quietly watching his back. Her small legs swung back and forth beneath the table, betraying her mood.
A gentle breeze drifted in through the window.
Na'er noticed a single stubborn cowlick standing proudly among Su Qiu's golden hair.
In the breeze, the cowlick swayed left and right, wobbling gently.
The sight made her a little dizzy, and she couldn't help reaching out, wanting to touch it.
"What are you doing?"
Sensing the sudden prickling sensation behind him, Su Qiu reflexively grabbed Na'er's small hand without even turning around. "Pay attention in class. If you can't focus, then meditate."
"Oh…"
Like a deflated balloon, Na'er lowered her head in disappointment.
Only when class ended,
The students instantly crowded around Na'er, chattering noisily. After all, there were only two people in the class with full innate soul power.
Na'er, the prodigy, was timid, cute, and soft-tempered.
Meanwhile, Su Qiu was completely ignored. He looked too fierce, anyone who approached was met with a sharp glare, making him seem like a little demon child.
"Man, it's been so long since I've attended class. I'm exhausted!"
Stretching lazily, Su Qiu stepped out of the classroom and leaned against the railing for some fresh air.
"No… no!"
Watching his figure grow more distant, Na'er felt helpless. She wanted to follow, but her classmates had surrounded her so tightly she couldn't move.
"Being this thin-skinned won't do."
Glancing back at Na'er, Su Qiu gradually accepted the fact that, through so many coincidences, a little girl had somehow barged into his life.
Hmm. Like a little sister.
Actually, raising Na'er's favorability wouldn't be a bad idea. If Gu Yue ever went crazy, at least she might save his life.
Still, being this timid wasn't good. In Su Qiu's eyes, Na'er's main problem was that she was too thin-skinned, and that kind of personality often suffered losses.
He began thinking about how to fix that flaw.
Life over the following days became routine.
Morning: attend school, raise Na'er's favorability.
Noon: eat lunch, cultivate soul power.
Afternoon: attend classes, tease Na'er a little.
After school: learn forging from Mu Chen.
Occasionally tease Mu Xi as well.
Night: special training, endure the old man's brutal beatings.
And so, three months passed.
Today, an important figure arrived at the Spirit Pagoda of Eastsea City.
At the top-floor office of the Spirit Pagoda,
A tall, graceful figure stood by the window. At first glance, the most striking thing was her fiery figure; next came her radiant, sunlike aura; only then did one notice her jade-like face.
The number one beauty of the Spirit Pagoda, Leng Yaozhu!
At the same time, she was the Deputy Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda, a Level 98 Super Douluo, a Four-Word Battle Armor Master, bearing the title "Heavenly Phoenix."
"Oh my, Sister Leng, what brings you to my small Eastsea Spirit Pagoda? What an honor."
Su Wuyan stood nearby, nodding and bowing obsequiously like an eager sycophant.
Click. Click. Click.
Leng Yaozhu walked forward in high heels and sat behind the desk, elegantly crossing her long legs clad in black silk stockings.
"Don't call me sister." She glanced at the somewhat older-looking Su Wuyan, her voice cool with a hint of disdain.
"Tch, Tower Master Leng," Su Wuyan shrugged helplessly. "So, what brings you here?"
"Of course there's a reason. Eastsea City is a place where outstanding talents gather."
She casually picked up a document and flipped through it with slender fingers.
"A few months ago, while passing through Eastsea, I discovered a prodigy."
She noticed Xiao Qiu?
Su Wuyan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"At the time I had urgent matters to attend to. After taking her in as my disciple, I made some simple arrangements and left her here to grow on her own."
Oh, then it's not Xiao Qiu.
Su Wuyan's face instantly returned to its foolish, infatuated grin.
"Longque, where did you learn that face-changing trick? Quite amusing."
A faint smile appeared on Leng Yaozhu's beautiful face.
"My disciple is quite something. I, a dignified Four-Word Battle Armor Master, offered to take her as my student, yet she insisted I fulfill one request first."
Su Wuyan's eyelid twitched. He had a bad feeling about this.
"She asked me to help find a benefactor. After looking into it carefully… oh my, that benefactor is no ordinary person."
That little girl?
Na'er's figure flashed through Su Wuyan's mind, and he immediately felt heartbroken.
To be accepted as the Heavenly Phoenix's disciple, what extraordinary talent she must have! And yet he had missed the chance!
Damn it. If only he had persuaded Xiao Qiu more back then to bring her home.
Composing herself, Leng Yaozhu suddenly tossed the document onto the desk with a sharp slap and said sternly:
"Twin martial souls, full innate soul power, and the first soul spirit is actually a thousand-year Unyielding Soul Spirit, the Riftcry Skyhawk."
She shouted, "Longque, why wasn't this reported? What are you trying to do?"
"What's wrong with not reporting it?"
Seeing the matter exposed, Su Wuyan acted like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
"That's my nephew! What's wrong with keeping him and raising him myself?"
"You're a branch tower master!" Leng Yaozhu narrowed her beautiful eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. "Others might be one thing, but Su Qiu is your nephew. I don't understand why you'd hide him."
"If you reported it, the headquarters would provide far more resources."
"I didn't really hide anything. Who doesn't know Su Qiu is my nephew? You people just can't be bothered to pay attention to a place like Eastsea." Su Wuyan rolled his eyes. "And don't talk to me about more resources."
"What could Qian Gu Dongfeng possibly give? Any good stuff would've gone to the Qian Gu family already. And even if he did give something, what price would come with it?"
"And besides, I don't trust him."
Su Wuyan dropped the pretense entirely and laid his cards on the table.
Old foxes shouldn't bother playing ghost stories with each other.
"Your prejudice against the Tower Master is too great," Leng Yaozhu frowned.
"Then answer me this."
"Why did you leave your disciple here to grow on her own? Are you truly so busy that you couldn't arrange things properly?"
"Admit it, you're wary of him too."
"I admit that's part of the reason, but not all of it." Leng Yaozhu shook her head. "I'm not actually afraid of him. The main reason is that the girl herself wanted to stay here."
She sneered lightly. "She said she wanted to attend school with your dear nephew."
Thinking about it gave her a headache. Three months ago, she had taken Na'er away for a day, but once separated, Na'er lost her appetite and spirit, withdrawing into herself completely.
That night, she even cried secretly the whole time, hiding in her room and shedding tear after tear.
Leng Yaozhu had no choice but to bring her back.
"Good kid." Su Wuyan felt secretly delighted. That handsome face of his nephew hadn't gone to waste, he had hooked the girl so easily.
He had witnessed their first meeting personally. Who would have thought that Xiao Qiu's impatient expression could still capture a girl's heart?
"That's enough chatting."
Leng Yaozhu stood up and stretched lazily, her alluring figure on full display as she walked toward the door.
"I'd like to see what that boy looks like, what kind of kid could charm Na'er this much."