Jixia Academy.
Within the majestic complex of white jade palaces, the chilly atmosphere was broken by a burst of crisp footsteps.
Several figures passed through the corridors and headed straight for the training grounds behind the mountain.
Lu Ming was reclining in a lounge chair carved from Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice, covered in a thick Snow Fox Fur Robe. He held an ancient book in his hand and flipped through it leisurely.
Beside him, a cup of fragrant tea gave off curling steam, utterly out of place amid the biting wind.
"Dean!"
An orange-red figure, like a flame dancing across the snow, arrived before Lu Ming in an instant.
The young woman held a Flower Parasol, her lively rabbit ears twitching slightly, her pretty face full of reluctance.
It was Gongsun Li.
Behind her, a burly man wreathed in flickering lightning strode over. It was Sikong Zhen.
Even Da Qiao, who was usually so gentle and graceful, was standing among the group.
Lu Ming put down the ancient book, rubbed his brow helplessly, and sat up.
"What is it this time? A Li, have you mastered your dance steps? Sikong Zhen, can you control your lightning power down to the finest detail?"
Gongsun Li slung the Flower Parasol over her shoulder, pouted, and looked thoroughly displeased.
"I mastered them ages ago! Dean, the Extreme North may have unique scenery, but after looking at it for more than ten years, it's nothing but snow and ice. You can barely even see a living thing.
"I heard Teacher Old Master say that the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to begin. It's the liveliest event in the human world."
At that, Gongsun Li leaned closer to Lu Ming. Her large eyes blinked rapidly, and her voice turned soft and sweet.
"Dean, let's go take part, okay? If we stay here all day, we're going to rust."
Lu Ming lay back down, pulled his fur robe tighter around himself, and remained unmoved.
"No. What's so good about the outside world? Scheming and deception everywhere. How could it compare to the peace here?
"Besides, with your current strength, entering that kind of competition would be like high-level players slaughtering newbies. Is that interesting?"
"It is! Very interesting!"
Sikong Zhen stepped forward, his voice booming like a bell.
He folded his arms across his chest, and the lightning around him crackled explosively in response to his surging emotions.
"Dean, I cultivate the path of lightning. I must use lightning to shatter the darkness!
"The soul beasts of the Extreme North have all been kept in line by the Snow Empress. They do not even dare fight me.
"I need opponents. Even weak opponents can show me the different systems of power in this world."
Lu Ming rolled his eyes.
A bunch of battle maniacs.
"No. Too troublesome. Moving is exhausting, and Jixia Academy was only built a few years ago. Are we just supposed to abandon it?"
Lu Ming waved a hand, making it clear there was no room for discussion.
Just then, a faint fragrance drifted over. Carrying an azure lantern, Da Qiao slowly approached Lu Ming's side.
She wore a blue-and-white dress today, with two long ponytails trailing behind her. A sly smile glimmered in her sea-blue eyes.
"Dean, are you really not going?"
Da Qiao's voice was as gentle as water, soft enough to make one's bones go weak.
Lu Ming looked at her warily. Da Qiao usually appeared mild and gentle, but beneath that exterior, she was utterly wicked.
"No means no. This is a matter of principle."
"Ah, what a pity."
Da Qiao sighed softly, stroked the lantern in her hand with her slender fingers, and said unhurriedly,
"Since the Dean likes staying in his room so much, then to show my concern for you, starting tonight, no matter where you rest, I will open a portal by your bedside."
Lu Ming's eyelid twitched violently.
Da Qiao bent slightly, leaned close to Lu Ming's ear, and breathed out softly.
"And I'll connect the other end of the portal to A Li's room and Sister Mulan's room.
"If I accidentally teleport someone onto the Dean's bed while they're bathing or sleeping... ah, the image is so beautiful that I hardly dare imagine it."
Lu Ming's scalp went numb at once.
A whole group of people suddenly appearing in his bed in the middle of the night...
"Ahem..."
Lu Ming coughed twice, and his upright, unyielding expression instantly collapsed.
"Da Qiao, we can talk this out. As a mentor of Jixia Academy, how can you threaten the Dean with such methods? What kind of conduct is that?"
Da Qiao covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes curving into crescents, yet she showed no intention of withdrawing her threat.
The Snow Empress had been quietly watching the scene from the side.
A faint smile bloomed on her usually cold, exquisite face, like a snow lotus flowering atop an iceberg.
"Lu Ming, just agree to their request."
The Snow Empress spoke softly, her voice clear and ethereal.
"Everyone has accompanied me in cultivating bitterly in the Extreme North all these years. They truly have grown restless.
"And didn't you say before that you wanted Jixia Academy's name to resound across the continent?
"This tournament is the perfect opportunity."
Since even the Snow Empress had spoken, Lu Ming could no longer insist.
He sighed, rose from the lounge chair, and brushed the snow from his clothes.
"Fine, fine. You win. But if we're going, then let's make it big.
"Da Qiao, prepare the teleportation. We're moving the entire Jixia Academy to Heaven Dou City!"
"Yay! Long live the Dean!"
Gongsun Li leaped three feet into the air in delight, her Flower Parasol tracing a graceful arc through the air.
Everyone cheered.
Several days later.
Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City.
Inside the study of the Crown Prince's Mansion, candlelight flickered.
Qian Renxue still maintained her disguise as Xue Qinghe. She sat behind her desk, holding an intelligence report that had just arrived.
Although she appeared calm on the surface, the fingers gripping the letter had turned slightly white, exposing the turmoil in her heart.
Ever since she had seen the ending in that "Life Simulator," she had been unable to sleep at night.
Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw that supreme being annihilating the God Realm with a single palm strike.
That despair clung to her like a festering disease in the bone, impossible to shake off.
"Young Master."
From the shadows of the study, Snake Lance Douluo's figure silently emerged and dropped to one knee.
Qian Renxue abruptly raised her head, urgency flashing in her eyes.
"Did you find anything?"
Snake Lance Douluo nodded and said gravely,
"In response to the Young Master, we now have confirmed information concerning Tang San and Shrek Academy.
"That Tang San led the Shrek group here intending to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"But Prince Xue Xing drove them out, and things ended very unpleasantly between both sides."
Upon hearing this, the tension at the corners of Qian Renxue's lips eased slightly.
"That fool Xue Xing has actually done something right for once."
She sneered and casually tossed the intelligence report onto the desk.
"Tang San is narrow-minded and holds grudges over the smallest slight. Xue Xing has thoroughly offended them this time.
"But that is fine. An enemy's enemy may not be a friend, but at least it allows us to see the situation clearly.
"That Tang San... since he cannot be used by me, then find an opportunity to make him disappear early."
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