Shocking

After Ouyang Yuan admitted defeat, Tang Miao finally withdrew the lightning he had been about to unleash.

Everyone present was utterly stunned, especially the people from Lightning Academy!

A student who had only arrived recently—someone who should, by all rights, still have been in high school preparing for his college entrance exams.

And yet this kid, who should have been taking those exams, had gone straight to the Main Campus? What's more, despite being only a Beginner Mage, he had defeated Ouyang Yuan, Lightning Academy's top prodigy!?

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed it...

After all, it seemed far too unbelievable...

But it was true all the same. Four elements, two of them with Innate Soul Seeds? One Thought Star Track... Innate Dual Element...

At that moment, many people felt that fate was unfair!

Meanwhile, Dean Xiao, Qian Kun, and Sun Yuan were practically bursting with excitement!

Especially Sun Yuan and Qian Kun. With Tang Miao's monstrous talent, he was sure to earn a place in this year's academy tournament. If he achieved some outstanding results, the rewards they received would be enough to set them up for life!

Dean Xiao was even more excited. A monster of a genius had emerged from Pearl Academy. In the future, their academy would surpass every other academy in Huaxia. Even the Imperial Capital couldn't compare... And by then, Pearl Academy might even be recognized across the world.

At that moment, Ai Tutu, who had just been cursing Tang Miao, stared at him with shining eyes. Then she said, "Sister Mu, he's insanely impressive! Since you're at this academy now, you should find a way to bring him into the Mu Family. The Mu Family's future would be limitless!"

For once, Mu Nujiao didn't retort. She only shook her head and sighed. "With his talent, I'm afraid our Mu Family can't possibly take him in."

Ai Tutu smiled and said, "With your goddess-like charm, that lecher would be yours in no time! A guy like him wouldn't make a bad husband, either!"

For once, Mu Nujiao didn't retort. Clearly, if Tang Miao was interested, she was willing.

Wasn't that the purpose of women born into influential families?

Mu Nujiao had always understood this. Her younger sister, for instance, was still in high school, yet already knew how to secure benefits for the family.

Ai Tutu noticed that Mu Nujiao had fallen silent and was slightly taken aback. She'd only been speaking offhandedly. She hadn't expected Mu Nujiao to stop responding.

"Sister Mu, you're not really willing to marry him, are you?"

At that, Mu Nujiao blushed and chided her. "What are you talking about? He might not even be interested in me..."

After a pause, Mu Nujiao added with a sigh, "Besides, I'm not like you. I can't have the freedom I want... If he really is willing to join the Mu Family, then I'd be willing to marry him."

As Mu Nujiao spoke, there wasn't a trace of emotion in her eyes. She wasn't boy-crazy; she was simply aware of what was expected of a daughter from an influential family.

Ai Tutu smacked her lips. "If you're willing to marry him, I guess I'll just have to be his mistress~ Sigh~"

Mu Nujiao: "..."

She really had to hand it to Ai Tutu's anything-goes personality. Still, that was just how the little devil was.

Was Ai Tutu in love at first sight? Of course not. She just thought Tang Miao was strong and not that boring. She'd also noticed a hint of sadness in Mu Nujiao, which was why she'd said those things.

She was the beloved eldest daughter of the Ai Family. There was no way she'd become anyone's mistress!

At the same time, the people who had been summoned by Ouyang Yuan were completely dumbfounded. Who could have imagined that Ouyang Yuan's plan to make a splash before graduation would end like this? He'd become someone else's stepping stone...

Some of the young scions from influential families immediately sent word of what had happened back to their families.

A dazzling genius like this—if another family managed to recruit him, the person who recommended him would earn considerable merit!

Tang Miao, the person at the center of it all, naturally knew nothing about this. By then, Dean Xiao had already brought him to his office.

"I thought Innate Soul Seeds and One Thought Star Track were already remarkable talents. I never expected you to give me such a huge surprise... You really are something else." Dean Xiao smiled kindly.

At the same time, he was already thinking about how to keep Tang Miao at the academy. He knew Tang Miao had no backing yet, which meant he could be poached at any moment. If he didn't want Tang Miao to leave, he absolutely had to find a way to keep him.

But even if the academy favored him, there was only so much it could offer...

Just as Dean Xiao was thinking, Tang Miao said, "Dean, I heard that the first-place winner gets the chance to cultivate in the Three-Step Tower for five days?"

At that, Dean Xiao came back to himself and nodded at Tang Miao.

"Can I go cultivate there today?"

The most important thing for Tang Miao right now was naturally cultivation! Not only did his Ice Element need training, but his Summoning Element did too.

As for his Space Element, he could only put it aside for now...

His Ice Element was his other main source of offensive power, while his Summoning Element was important because of Xiao Bai.

Dean Xiao didn't respond to what Tang Miao had said. Instead, he hesitated, then looked at him and asked, "Tang Miao, don't you realize how much of a stir today's events will cause?"

"Hm?"

Tang Miao paused, then said, "What do you mean?"

Dean Xiao's mouth twitched slightly, but he patiently explained, "The talent you showed today already surpasses that of countless people. And in my estimation, you should rank among the top three on the talent rankings for your generation."

It didn't seem right for Tang Miao's talent to rank only fifth, but Dean Xiao couldn't say exactly where he belonged.

He continued, "So I expect that a great many factions will come looking for you soon... When that happens, will you leave Pearl Academy?"

Dean Xiao knew that if Tang Miao was determined to leave, there was no way he could stop him. But he still wanted to try to persuade him to stay. After all, this concerned the academy's future!

Tang Miao was taken aback, then casually waved a hand. "Dean, I thought it was something serious. If I really wanted to join a faction, I could just join the Judgment Society. Why would I come here?"

He knew how many recruitment offers his display today would attract. But if he wanted to, couldn't he just join the Judgment Society?

Why else would he work so hard? Wasn't it so that in the future, he could do whatever he wanted—and walk away whenever he didn't—without being tied down by anyone?

But after hearing Dean Xiao's explanation, Tang Miao finally understood why he'd been looking so worried. A sly grin appeared, and he said, "Dean Xiao, so that's why you've been quiet all this time—you were afraid I'd run off?"