"Primary spirit master academy, huh? You only need to become a Soul Master within six years to graduate. Intermediate academy? You just have to reach Grandmaster level in six years. But advanced academy... Auntie Ye, don't you think it's weird for someone my age to attend?"
Lin Xiao's reasoning was solid.
After all, on the current continent, spirit master academies didn't require students to complete a fixed number of years. As long as your spirit power met graduation standards, you could apply to graduate at any time.
That's why there was such a wide age range among students in the same academy.
Ye Qingxian frowned, feeling something was… off.
"Auntie Ye, I think it's best if I keep training on my own for now. Then, when I turn twelve, I'll enroll in an advanced spirit master academy. What do you think?"
"No!"
Ye Qingxian shut him down instantly.
Train on his own?
Like hell she didn't know. With Lin Xiao's habits, "training alone" would mean running off to team up with that eccentric old poison man, Dugu Bo!
Dugu Bo was a loner, feared by many. Letting Lin Xiao follow in his footsteps? He'd grow up to be a little poison monster himself!
After a moment of deliberation, she made her decision:
"Forget it. You don't like hanging out with little kids anyway. Just enroll at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
"You can be with Yan and Lingling. It'll be good company."
Lin Xiao tried one last protest.
"How about next year? The admissions season is already over. I swear I'll be the best student next year!"
"It's fine. I'll pull some strings. You'll transfer in midterm and stick with Yan and Lingling."
"Oh—and while you're at it, be my eyes on them. Especially that girl Lingling. Now that her spirit curse is lifted, she might get a little too eager and fall for some random blond pretty boy or something..."
Lin Xiao: "…"
Ye Lingling… doesn't exactly strike me as someone into blondes.
"Mom! You're talking bad about me again!"
Ye Lingling burst out of the house, nose scrunched in indignation as she glared at her mother.
"I'm not lovestruck!"
"And Lin Xiao! You just got back and already betrayed me? Taking Mom's side and spying on your old teammate? Have you no shame!?"
Ye Lingling's tone toward Ye Qingxian was just annoyed.
But toward Lin Xiao, her resentment could practically fill the room!
Lin Xiao blinked. "Lingling-jie, you've changed."
She paused, rage still bubbling in her chest.
"…Changed how?"
"Wait—no, Yan-jie's changed too!"
Dugu Yan: ?
"What's changed!? Speak clearly!" Ye Lingling demanded.
Lin Xiao raised a thumb with a serious expression.
"Not only are you both even prettier, but your personalities have softened. You're like ideal girlfriends now—polite, gentle, reasonable. Once in a century—no, once in a thousand years!"
Ye Lingling blushed and looked down, mumbling, "Don't talk nonsense…"
Dugu Yan, however, slapped her own forehead and poked Lingling on the temple.
"He's sweet-talking you, you dummy!"
Watching Lingling fall for Lin Xiao's flattery so easily made Dugu Yan want to explode.
She could already see it: her bestie would one day get married and be completely duped by her husband.
Probably help him count the money he tricked her out of, too.
Ye Qingxian looked on in dismay.
She was so smart—how did she end up with such a hopelessly naive daughter!?
"Huh?"
Ye Lingling suddenly realized the manipulation and pounced, flustered and furious.
"Lin Xiao! You're dead meat!"
But Lin Xiao, a support-type soul master, subdued her with one hand like it was nothing.
"All right, that's enough!"
Ye Qingxian interrupted their scuffle with an annoyed frown.
These kids and their endless antics…
Was it too much to ask for Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to assign them some holiday homework!?
"Lingling, Yan—when school starts, show Lin Xiao around the campus and introduce him to some people. Make sure no one messes with him."
Not that she was really worried about Lin Xiao being bullied.
If anything, she was trying to prevent drama. Even if Lin Xiao beat someone down so hard they had to kneel and beg, it would still be a hassle to clean up.
Best to avoid trouble altogether.
Ye Lingling nodded solemnly, adopting her "big sister" air.
"Don't worry, little Lin Xiao. Your Lingling-jie's got your back."
Lin Xiao said nothing.
Dugu Yan couldn't even bother rolling her eyes.
"Lingling, you don't even dare eat lunch alone in the cafeteria. Maybe try that first before acting tough."
Ye Qingxian eventually left.
She had herbs to collect—rare seeds from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's trade network had arrived, and she planned to use them to redesign the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
As the three walked along the path, Lin Xiao suddenly leaned toward Ye Lingling and whispered:
"Lingling-jie, quick question."
"What?"
"…How strict is Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?"
"Like, can you skip class?"
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan both froze—eyes wide.
You little rascal!
So cute and innocent on the outside—and this is what you're thinking!?
"Hmph! I'm telling my mom!"
Ye Lingling grinned mischievously.
"You handed me the dirt yourself, Lin Xiao! You really want my mom to know you're already trying to skip school before it's even started?"
Dugu Yan gave him a mocking glance.
"Tsk tsk… looks are deceiving, huh?"
Lin Xiao rolled his eyes.
"Come on… what's school life like there, really?"
"I was planning to teach Yan-jie a powerful self-made soul skill, you know…"
Dugu Yan instantly held out her pale, elegant hand.
"Hand it over first."
"No freebies."
Lin Xiao scratched his head, embarrassed.
"…Still developing it."
Dugu Yan glared and crossed her arms.
"You can fool Lingling and that girl in Tianshui, but me? Don't even try."
If Ye Lingling looked like Ye Qingxian—
Then Dugu Yan had definitely inherited some of her personality.
"Lin Xiao," Ye Lingling grinned, "if you say, 'I love Lingling-jie the most,' I'll be nice and tell you."
"I love Lingling-jie the most."
Lin Xiao didn't hesitate. Not for a second. He was worried she'd take back the offer!
She thinks I'll be shy?
If I'm shameless enough, she's the one who'll be embarrassed.
Ye Lingling choked.
Flustered and red-faced, she mumbled:
"Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's actually pretty relaxed."
"Most students there are rich or noble. The teachers don't care much. Some students are diligent, but a lot just mess around all day. Like Fourth Prince Xue Beng—total slacker."
"But if you join a school battle team, then it gets serious. Team training is strict. If you skip practice, you need to request leave in advance. Team leaders and instructors are held accountable."
Lin Xiao nodded.
Ah—so it was like a top-tier liberal arts college.
You could slack off casually, but if you joined a research group or team, you had to pull your weight.
"Not bad at all," he mused.