"A Letter from Xue Qinghe"

After the morning theory class ended, the teacher raised a hand to signal for silence, then called out several names containing the character "Li." "Those whose names were called, stay behind. Everyone else may be dismissed."

The teacher looked at the few students who remained and, unusually, smiled. His voice softened as he asked, "Do any of you know someone named 'Xiao Xue'?"

Since someone among these students might be acquainted with an important figure from above, the teacher had become cautious.

"Xiao Xue? Which Xiao Xue?" someone asked.

Nan Li almost wanted to laugh. Xiao Xue was such a common name—how did Xue Qinghe know it would be enough to find her?

After some confirmation, the teacher brought Nan Li to the Principal's Office, as expected. However, the teacher did not go inside. He left after delivering her there.

Someone dressed in a Spirit Hall uniform had already been waiting in the office for quite some time.

"Hello, I was entrusted by Xue... Young Master to deliver a letter to you." Upon seeing Nan Li and matching her to the description he had been given, the Spirit Hall representative hurriedly rose to his feet. The sight startled the principal beside him, who also stood up.

Nan Li nodded and replied, "Hello," as a greeting.

After they sat down, the man took out a letter and an exquisite gift box, handing both to Nan Li. "Young Master Xue said he wishes you happy advancement to the next grade. Heaven Dou Royal Academy will await your arrival at any time."

The principal's gaze toward Nan Li immediately changed, but with the Spirit Hall representative present, he said nothing.

Both the principal and the Spirit Hall staff member knew that Nan Li had already reached the peak of the Soul Master realm and would soon step into the Soul Grandmaster realm. But how old was she? At most eight or nine years old. Was Innate Full Soul Power truly this terrifying?

Although the staff member knew that the person sending gifts to this little girl came from the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, Spirit Hall possessed the finest Soul Master cultivation resources on the entire continent. What was wrong with trying to poach her a little?

With that thought, the staff member gave Nan Li a friendly smile and began his pitch. "Miss Student—no, Miss Soul Master, haha. Here's the thing, I'm a staff member of Spirit Hall. Although I came this time to help someone from Heaven Dou deliver these things, I am also extending Spirit Hall's most sincere invitation to you. We hope you will consider joining Spirit Hall. Our Spirit Hall has..."

To the stunned eyes of the principal and Nan Li, the man launched into an endless speech about Spirit Hall's many advantages and the generous benefits it offered Soul Masters. At the end, he even took a jab at the competition.

"Whatever resources Heaven Dou Royal Academy can provide, we can provide as well. But what we can give you, they may not necessarily have..."

The staff member rambled on and on. Only when his mouth had gone dry and he picked up his teacup for a drink did Nan Li finally feel that the world had become quiet again.

Setting down his teacup, the staff member still seemed unsatisfied as he said, "You will definitely have better prospects if you come to Spirit Hall. I sincerely advise you to give it careful thought."

"No need..." Nan Li had just begun to refuse when he interrupted her.

"Ah, don't rush to reject it. Young people should be more prudent in their decisions." The staff member did not want to give up on such a promising prospect so easily.

"I'll come again in three days. There's no need to rush; think it over carefully, and you can give me your answer then." The staff member rose to take his leave, but before walking out, he turned back and added, "Oh, right. Remember to write back to them. Bring the reply with you when I come in three days."

"..." Nan Li did not want to speak. She barely managed a smile.

After the Spirit Hall representative left, the principal kept Nan Li behind for a while longer. "Student Nan Li, what that staff member said just now does make sense. The resources Spirit Hall can offer you are far beyond anything Nuoding Academy can compare with. With your talent, you should go somewhere better. Neither Nuoding City nor Nuoding Academy can offer you a better future..."

Perhaps realizing that Nan Li was displeased with Spirit Hall, the principal changed the subject and continued persuading her. "Since that Young Master Xue can secure you admission to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, his identity and background must be extraordinary. The royal academy's resources are also excellent. Why don't you..."

The Old Principal went on and on, while Nan Li listened quietly. Once he had finished, she took her leave. "I'll consider what you said."

Nan Li stood up. Seeing that the principal still wanted to say something, she hurriedly said, "It's getting late, the cafeteria should be serving food soon. I'll be going!"

After returning to her dormitory, Nan Li took out Xiao Xue's letter.

In the letter, Xue Qinghe expressed concern for Nan Li as a friend and congratulated her on officially advancing to the second year after a year of study. Then, as if advising a junior, she gave Nan Li a few reminders: study hard, get along well with her classmates, and so on. The only interesting part was that she said Nan Li should not back down when classmates came to spar with her. She should actively meet the challenge, because victory or defeat alike would be valuable experience for a Soul Master.

She then analyzed the different abilities of various Soul Masters and listed detailed countermeasures for Nan Li.

Looking at the letter, Nan Li could not help thinking, Qian Renxue's letter really has Dong Yun's style—unbelievably considerate and attentive. If there weren't a blood feud between us, we might actually have become friends.

As she continued reading, the other party began asking whether Nan Li had been studying diligently and whether her cultivation had improved, once again inviting her to enter Heaven Dou Royal Academy, rambling on and on. She also casually asked about the other student at the academy with Innate Full Soul Power.

As expected of the Angel Young Master who could disguise herself and infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire, then successfully become the Crown Prince. The first half had been written with such apparent sincerity, yet the true purpose of the letter still showed in the end.

Nan Li gave a derisive laugh.

She just wondered whether Qian Renxue had come again during the past year.

Opening the box that had been sent along with the letter, she found several small items for girls, all exquisitely crafted. Nan Li picked up a feather-shaped hair clip and suddenly remembered: Could these be things Spirit Hall gave their Young Master?

Nan Li tossed the item back inside and snapped the box shut.

She suddenly found it very distasteful.

In her reply, Nan Li wrote some harmless information and did not mention Xiao Wu's existence. At the end, she even imitated a child's tone and asked, "Xiao Xue" sounds like a girl's name. Why did you choose a name like that?

Of course, Nan Li did not expect the other party to answer.

After finishing, Nan Li checked it over once more and successfully disgusted herself.

Three days later, Nan Li stuffed the letter into the Spirit Hall representative's hands, then slipped away under the Old Principal's helpless gaze, leaving the Spirit Hall staff member beating his chest in regret.

They had always believed that Nuoding Academy's student intake was mediocre and had never thought to investigate the academy. And now, such an excellent prospect had been poached by Heaven Dou!