Yuan Tuo appeared, standing on an auspicious cloud with a red glow above his head.
The Crown Prince was horrified when he saw him. Why had he come? And he was even helping Meng Anli?
The headmaster recognized him as well, though he was somewhat uncertain. "You... you said you wished to be Meng Anli's teacher?"
"Why not?"
Yuan Tuo tilted his head slightly and looked down at him, imitating his master's expressionless face, his voice cool.
"Am I not qualified to be a teacher at this academy?"
"Of course you are! It's just... may I ask why?"
Yuan Tuo showed no mercy as he stabbed at him. "Because you humiliated her, and I could not stand to watch."
Sweat poured down the headmaster's face. "Th-this is a misunderstanding."
Yuan Tuo's tone was hostile. "I have eyes. I can judge for myself whether it was a misunderstanding."
The headmaster did not dare speak to him again. Smiling, he turned to Meng Anli. "What fortune! With this Great Deity's help, even without an inner core, you will surely have a bright future. Hurry and become his disciple!"
Meng Anli was surprised and thrilled as well. She had never expected Yuan Tuo to appear, and she was just about to bow and become his disciple.
Yuan Tuo snorted. "Who said she has no inner core? Half a year ago, she obtained Huan Dan Grass in my North Sea. Seven days ago, she activated the Huan Dan Grass and formed a water-element inner core. She is now at the late stage of Foundation Establishment and is about to break through to the Golden Core stage."
"What?"
The teachers and disciples throughout the courtyard were stunned.
"It has only been seven days, and she has already gone from forming an inner core to the late stage of Foundation Establishment."
"She is a monster among geniuses!"
"That is incredible! No wonder this Great Deity, whom even the headmaster must yield to, was willing to take her as a disciple."
"Look at the headmaster's and teachers' faces—I'm dying of laughter."
Most of the teachers were regretful and vexed, especially the water-element teachers.
The headmaster's face turned green, then white, before burning hot. Just now, he had looked like a complete fool.
It was all the Crown Prince's fault.
Shaoguang's face was flushed bright red, as though someone had slapped him across the face.
She had obtained Huan Dan Grass half a year ago and formed her core seven days ago, yet last night, to put on a display of deep affection, he had even sought Huan Dan Grass from Great Emperor Dangmo.
No wonder Great Emperor Dangmo had refused him and spoken to him so coldly.
He glared resentfully at Meng Anli.
She had always clung to him in the past, but he had been back for two days this time, and she still had not come to find him.
If she had come to find him, perhaps he would have discovered that she had already formed her core.
It was all her fault!
She had made him lose face.
Furious, he left.
This time, he would ignore her for at least two years—or wait until she begged him a hundred times—before he agreed to see her.
Yuan Tuo was pleased to see them shocked by Meng Anli's brilliance.
Beiming did not raise idlers. Every one of them was formidable!
Meng Anli felt a little embarrassed by all the praise and explained things to them, answering their questions.
"Actually, I had a foundation from before, which is why I could cultivate so quickly."
"From now on, I will still cultivate slowly, one step at a time."
"Yes, cultivation will probably slow down once I reach the Golden Core stage."
"It was not that I did not say anything. The headmaster never asked me, nor did he give me a chance to explain."
Hearing this, the headmaster truly wanted to bore a crack in the ground and crawl into it.
Seeing that the disciples had discussed enough, Yuan Tuo said with pressure in his voice, "Enough."
The disciples instantly fell silent and returned to their places.
Yuan Tuo nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Meng Anli with a face full of smiles.
"I know that having me teach you would be beneath your talent and gifts. I do not dare presumptuously call myself your master. Would you be willing to let me guide you into cultivation for the time being?"
The moment those words fell, the headmaster was even more horrified.
This was Yuan Tuo!
Great Emperor Dangmo's foremost Great Killer Weapon. Judging by combat skill alone, his opponents throughout the Seven Realms could be counted on one hand.
Not to mention the treasured weapons in his possession, his spirit pills and wondrous medicines, and countless miraculous immortal herbs like Huan Dan Grass. For him to become Meng Anli's master would unquestionably be elevating Meng Anli.
Yet what he meant was that Meng Anli allowing him to teach her would be elevating him?
He did not even dare presumptuously call himself her master, much less ask her to call him teacher. He only spoke of guiding her into cultivation.
Just how extraordinary was Meng Anli's talent?
Could it be... that her mother possessed supreme and unparalleled authority in the divine realm?
The more the headmaster thought about it, the more terrified he became. He truly wanted to slap his former self to death.
On Meng Anli's side, she hurriedly bowed down. "Thank you, Teacher, for thinking so highly of me."
But before she could kneel, Yuan Tuo raised a hand and helped her up. "There is no need for such a grand salute."
Yet inwardly, he muttered, Mm, she can call me Teacher and call Master her master.
That works too.
Taking the opportunity, the headmaster asked, "Do you intend to teach only Anli, or would you like a few more disciples to keep Anli company?"