Shui Xinrou's breathing began to quicken.
If she could get a peerless prodigy like him to join, how could Skywater Academy fail to rise to glory?
He was the ultimate powerhouse who could lead Skywater Academy to the top of the entire continent!
After the immense shock, Shui Xinrou quickly gathered her excitement.
She took a deep breath and smoothed down her slightly rumpled, figure-hugging skirt.
In high heels, she hurried around her desk and strode toward Xue Tianyu.
The mature, graceful charm of a young married woman was on full display, every step radiating a fatal allure.
Shui Xinrou stopped in front of Xue Tianyu and extended her fair, delicate hand, a dazzling smile blooming across her face.
"Sorry, Young Master Xue."
"I admit I judged you by your appearance just now. I was too blind to recognize your peerless bearing."
"Skywater Academy would be delighted to have you join us."
Xue Tianyu glanced at the soft hand extended before him and raised an eyebrow slightly.
He reached out quite naturally and took her smooth, jade-like hand.
The delicate touch at his fingertips felt wonderful.
Seeing the dean personally invite him, Shui Bing'er and the other Skywater Academy girls were overjoyed.
But just then, Xue Tianyu released Shui Xinrou's hand without any hurry.
He brushed off his sleeve, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.
"Didn't the dean just say that Skywater Academy never accepts male students?"
"That's an ironclad rule. How could I let you break it for my sake?"
A flicker of intense embarrassment crossed Shui Xinrou's face.
Her words from a moment ago had come back to slap her hard across the face.
But to keep this once-in-a-generation genius, she could only grit her teeth and smooth things over.
"Well... rules may be fixed, but people can be flexible."
Xue Tianyu still wasn't buying it. He folded his arms and shook his head carelessly.
"But... after all that just happened, I suddenly feel like I might not want to join after all."
At his words, several of Shui Bing'er's companions grew extremely nervous.
Their palms were slick with cold sweat.
This was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity. They couldn't let this ultimate powerhouse slip away!
Only Shui Bing'er saw through Xue Tianyu's little ploy at once.
He didn't not want to join. He was clearly taking the chance to squeeze them for more!
As the head of the academy, Shui Xinrou was no fool either. She immediately understood what he meant.
She gritted her teeth in secret and promptly offered him extremely generous terms.
"Don't worry, Young Master Xue. As long as you're willing to stay..."
"Whatever materials or resources you need for your cultivation, just ask the academy."
"Skywater Academy will spare no effort and devote all its resources to training you!"
Only then did a hint of satisfaction flicker in Xue Tianyu's eyes at her emphatic promise.
He nodded slightly, his tone finally easing.
"Since the dean is so sincere, I'll agree to join the academy."
Watching Xue Tianyu act as though he'd gained nothing even after getting such a good deal, Shui Xinrou cursed him as a slippery little fox.
Yet when she looked at him, she couldn't help feeling a trace of admiration she hadn't even noticed herself.
Standing to the side, Shui Bing'er watched their exchange and couldn't hold back any longer.
She covered her mouth and burst out laughing.
A girl with wavy hair nudged Shui Bing'er in the waist with her elbow and teased her softly.
"Bing'er, Tianyu saved you and got a sweet deal out of it. What are you so happy about?"
Her companion had seen right through her. The blush that had just faded from Shui Bing'er's cheeks returned at once, all the way to her ears.
She shot the girl an annoyed look, then hurriedly turned to bid Shui Xinrou goodbye.
"Dean, now that Tianyu has officially joined the academy..."
"I'll show him around and help him get familiar with the place."
With that, Shui Bing'er quickly led Xue Tianyu and the Ice Empress out of the dean's office, almost as if she were fleeing.
After leaving Shui Xinrou's office, Shui Bing'er led Xue Tianyu and the Ice Empress along a path paved with azure crystal stones.
As they went, Shui Bing'er took great care to introduce the various facilities of Skywater Academy.
As the only advanced Soul Master Academy on the continent to admit only female students, every building here was elegant and refined.
When the girls they passed saw a young man walking among them without a care in the world, they stopped and gathered in little groups to whisper.
Xue Tianyu remained composed, his hands clasped behind his back. He barely even lifted his eyelids.
They passed through a grove of frost-covered ginkgo trees, and the view opened up ahead. A vast, hemispherical building stood before them.
Its entire outer wall was made of deep-blue glazed tiles, refracting dazzling light beneath the sun.
"Tianyu, that up ahead is our Soul Fighting Arena."
"The members of the Skywater Team usually train here and practice their combat skills."
Shui Bing'er pushed open the heavy steel doors and led the two inside.
In the spacious hall, several tall young women were sparring with Soul Power.
At the sound of the door opening, they stopped in their tracks.
"Big sister! You're finally back!"
A clear, melodious shout rang out.
Shui Yue'er, her short hair a watery green, excitedly leaped down from the Soul Fighting platform and came bounding over like a cheerful lark.
Right behind her came a silver-haired girl with a stunning figure.
Xue Wu wore a tight-fitting dark training outfit that hugged her full, striking curves, her whole body brimming with wild, youthful vitality.
As the two rushed closer, the smiles on their faces suddenly froze.
Their gazes passed over Shui Bing'er and locked onto the young man behind her, dressed in a moon-white robe.
Shui Yue'er's eyes went wide.
So handsome!
His nearly flawless features, paired with that transcendent, composed air, were utterly irresistible to girls who had spent their lives tucked away in an academy.
Shui Yue'er felt her heart skip a beat. Two red patches instantly bloomed on her fair cheeks, and she completely forgot what she'd been about to say.
Xue Wu was also struck by Xue Tianyu's looks for a moment.
But she had always been bold and fiery, and quickly recovered. She reached out and slung an arm around Shui Bing'er's shoulders.
"Well, well, Bing'er. You went out to hunt a Soul Beast and came back with such a handsome young man?"
"Our academy's practically a forbidden ground. Aren't you afraid the dean will lose her temper?"
Shui Bing'er blushed slightly and quickly pulled Xue Wu's arm away.
"Don't talk nonsense. The dean already agreed."
"Let me introduce you. This is Xue Tianyu, our savior when we were in the Far North."
"Starting today, he's an official student of Skywater Academy."
Before you continue