After hearing Long Chen's idea, a hint of hesitation flickered in Ye Lingling's eyes.
She had no confidence in herself.
"Brother Chen, but my Soul Power is only at Level 23 right now, and there are hundreds of students at the academy. Around fifty of them are already above Level 30. The requirements for the School Team must be very high. I probably won't make it..."
Long Chen stopped and turned around, looking at Ye Lingling with a serious expression. His tone was firm as he said:
"Lingling, Soul Power Level is important, but it's definitely not the only measure of a Soul Master's worth. Your Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul is the most powerful healing-type Martial Soul on the continent, and it has Group Healing Ability. In a Team Battle, an excellent healer can turn the tide. They're indispensable to the team. No one can replace what you bring."
Long Chen gently placed his hands on Ye Lingling's shoulders and continued to encourage her:
"Besides, you're still young. Reaching Level 23 as a healing-type Soul Master at your age is already impressive. The next Soul Master Competition is still five years away, so you have plenty of time to improve. I believe that with your potential, nothing is impossible."
Ye Lingling looked up and met Long Chen's encouraging gaze. A warm feeling welled up in her heart.
She hadn't expected to hold such an important place in Long Chen's heart.
"Brother Chen, do you really think so?"
"Of course!"
Long Chen chuckled.
"Lingling, I actually have some inside information. You've already been promised a spot on the School Team."
Ye Lingling looked puzzled, watching Long Chen with both doubt and belief.
Long Chen explained:
"I met the three members of the Teaching Committee today. The Chief of the Teaching Committee personally promised that you'd be joining the School Team."
Ye Lingling could hardly believe it. A flicker of delight appeared in her eyes.
"Brother Chen, we'll be able to cultivate together from now on."
"That's right. With me by your side, you won't be lonely anymore."
The two exchanged smiles and continued along the road to the Main Campus, enjoying the tranquility of the night and the warmth they shared.
It was getting late, so Long Chen walked Ye Lingling to the Dormitory Building.
"Lingling, get some rest early."
"Mm, you should get some rest early too. See you tomorrow."
As they were talking, a voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Long Chen?"
They turned around at the same time and saw a figure slowly approaching in the moonlight.
It was Dugu Yan.
Although Dugu Yan was only fifteen or sixteen, she was tall and curvaceous. Her green eyes beneath her short hair were deeper than before.
Clearly, the Rebound Effect of the Green Lined Serpent Poison was secretly eating away at her, its influence growing stronger.
Dugu Yan still carried her characteristic pride and icy beauty. She walked with a seductive sway, each step seeming to hold a strange, sinister power.
"So it really is Long Chen. Long time no see. Why are you still at the academy so late?"
Dugu Yan came closer, the corners of her mouth curling into an amused smile as her gaze shifted between Long Chen and Ye Lingling, as if she'd noticed something.
Long Chen smiled calmly, unsurprised by Dugu Yan's sudden appearance.
"Hello, Dugu Yan. We'll be classmates from now on. I hope you'll look out for me."
Ye Lingling chimed in with a smile:
"Yanyan Jie, Brother Chen will be joining the Royal Academy tomorrow."
At that, Dugu Yan's eyes flickered slightly, as if she were sizing up Long Chen's strength.
She could tell that Long Chen was definitely stronger than Ye Lingling.
She just didn't know why he'd waited until now to enroll.
"Long Chen, now that you're here, spend more time with Lingling. She won't be so lonely anymore."
Long Chen nodded.
"It's getting late. You two should head upstairs and get some rest. See you tomorrow."
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan went upstairs together.
They no longer shared a dormitory, but they often ran into each other.
Dugu Yan had only obtained her Third Soul Ring recently. Her Soul Power had reached Level 31, making her a Tiandou Rank Student.
After returning to his dorm, Long Chen went to bed early.
Early the next morning, Long Chen got up.
He'd visited the Royal Academy several times, so he was fairly familiar with the grounds.
However, the academy had four or five hundred students, divided into different classes according to three ranks.
It was his first time attending class, and he didn't know where his classroom was, so he had to go find it early.
After asking around, he finally found the classroom.
Long Chen arrived early, and there weren't many people inside.
But as time passed, the students began to file in one by one.
Almost every student who entered glanced at Long Chen.
They were all Tiandou Rank Students, at least fifteen years old, and some were even over twenty.
Compared to them, Long Chen looked rather young.
If he hadn't been wearing the uniform reserved for Tiandou Rank Students, he would've been kicked out of the classroom long ago.
A few boys around eighteen or nineteen huddled in a corner, laughing and chatting. Then they all walked over to Long Chen.
"Hey, kid. New here?"
The speaker was a burly boy who stood quite tall and looked about twenty.
The students at the Royal Academy were either rich or powerful. Most had been spoiled from birth and were arrogant and overbearing.
Long Chen couldn't be bothered to answer. He merely glanced at the boy before returning to the Herb Atlas in his hands.
The other boys looked at him with disdain.
"Hey, are you deaf or something? Our boss is talking to you!"
"Kid, how old are you? You think wearing that uniform makes you a Tiandou Rank Student?"
"This kid must've put on the wrong uniform. At least he wasn't dumb enough to come to the wrong classroom."
"Hahaha!"
The boys' mockery quickly drew everyone's attention, and all eyes turned to Long Chen.
Everyone wanted to know who he was.
Why was a boy in his early teens wearing the uniform that represented a Tiandou Rank Student?
"Kid, you think pretending not to hear us will get you off the hook? Let me see what you're capable of if you think you deserve to sit here!"
As the burly boy spoke, he raised his fist and swung it at Long Chen, trying to force him to make a move and test his strength.
Long Chen didn't even flinch.
Black light surged in his right palm as he released his Dark Night Demonic Lute Martial Soul.
Immediately afterward, three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—appeared around him in succession.
As the Second Soul Ring suddenly lit up, Long Chen's fingers plucked the strings. A gigantic Nine-Tailed Fox Phantom appeared without warning, covering most of the classroom.
Everyone was startled by the sight.
"W-what is that?"
"A fox with nine tails!"
"He really is a Three Ring Battle Soul Elder!"
While everyone was still in shock, Long Chen's fingers continued to pluck the strings.
The boys who'd just mocked him seemed to fall into a trance, forming a circle.
Each of them raised both hands. With his left, he slapped his own mouth; with his right, he struck the face of the person next to him.
Smack!
Smack!
Everyone fell silent, watching the scene in stillness.
The only sounds in the classroom were the gentle music and the boys furiously slapping themselves and each other.
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