"Mm. Take care on your way, Grandpa."
Ye Qingzhou nodded gently, watching Ye Shuyuan disappear through the door of the Academic Affairs Office.
After Ye Shuyuan left, Meng Shenji turned to Zhilin. His tone carried a hint of entrusting someone to his care. "Zhilin, I'll leave this little fellow to you."
"Of course." Zhilin glanced at Ye Qingzhou, his approval plain in his eyes.
He had lived for many years and seen plenty of gifted youngsters, but he had never met anyone like Ye Qingzhou, who had become a Soul Ancestor at just nine years old.
Ye Qingzhou spoke humbly and respectfully. "Sorry for the trouble, Academic Affairs Commissioner Zhilin."
Since he had visited Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Ye Lingling before, Ye Qingzhou was already quite familiar with its layout.
Zhilin only needed to show him around the academy, help him learn his way around, and introduce him to his homeroom teacher. That would complete the handover.
Days passed, spring gave way to autumn, and summer yielded to winter.
Ye Family Clinic.
Ye Qingzhou sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, his breathing long and even.
Ye Qingzhou spoke slowly, his voice gentle. "Raising my level by five in a year. I'd say that's a fairly average pace."
A year had passed. It had gone neither too fast nor too slowly.
Raising his level by five in a year still made him one of the fastest cultivators among his peers.
Ye Qingzhou stepped outside. Ye Shuyuan and Luo Feng had already been waiting at the door for quite some time.
After a year together, Luo Feng and Ye Qingzhou were no longer on strained terms. Their relationship had become like that of an ordinary father and son.
Throughout the year, Luo Feng had also been trying to make amends for his past.
Seeing Ye Qingzhou arrive, Ye Shuyuan said, "Let's go. It's time to head to Skywater Academy."
Ye Qingzhou simply nodded without saying much, then followed Ye Shuyuan and Luo Feng onto the carriage bound for Skywater City.
On the way to Skywater City, Luo Feng suddenly spoke.
"Once things at Skywater Academy are settled, I'll be returning to Spirit Hall."
His words were full of reluctance. He hadn't expected the year to fly by so quickly.
"Is that so?" Ye Qingzhou paused, then continued walking.
"Mm."
Listening to the father and son talk, Ye Shuyuan could only sigh helplessly.
Ye Qingzhou had finally started treating Luo Feng like a normal father.
If Luo Feng left now...
Skywater City, Skywater Academy.
The carriage carrying Ye Qingzhou and the others entered Skywater Academy. Unlike their previous visit, the academy no longer felt weighed down by gloom. In its place was a lively, bustling atmosphere.
The academy, where men were usually not allowed to enter, now had plenty of students from other schools on its grounds.
They had come from the three academies of Blazing Fire, Godwind, and Thunder, and the emblems on their uniforms made their origins unmistakable.
Ye Qingzhou leaned out of the carriage window, observing the people on the academy grounds. "Blazing Fire, Godwind, Thunder. Looks like everyone's here."
As soon as he finished speaking, the coachman's voice reached them.
"Your Excellency, Medical Saint, we've arrived."
"Good. Thank you for your effort."
"Let's get down and find Shui Qingrou first."
Ye Shuyuan carried Ye Qingzhou down from the carriage, with Luo Feng following close behind.
The three of them headed straight for Shui Qingrou's office.
Shui Qingrou's office.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
With Shui Qingrou's permission, Ye Shuyuan pushed open the door and entered.
Inside were the principals of Blazing Fire, Godwind, and Thunder Academies, along with their most gifted students.
Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and Shui Qingrou stood at the very back.
Shui Bing'er noticed the movement at the door right away. Her gaze fell on Ye Qingzhou, and a glimmer flickered in her eyes, almost too faint to notice.
Shui Qingrou had been discussing the exchange competition with the principals of Blazing Fire Academy, Huo Fenghua, Thunder Academy, Lei Ying, and Godwind Academy, Feng Yuanliu. She looked up.
The moment she saw Ye Shuyuan, Ye Qingzhou, and Luo Feng, a bright smile appeared on her face. She quickly went to greet them.
"Your Excellency, Medical Saint, Deputy Captain Luo, Ye Qingzhou, welcome! Come, have a seat over here."
Everyone from Blazing Fire, Godwind, and Thunder Academies turned to look at Ye Shuyuan, Ye Qingzhou, and Luo Feng as they entered.
Following Shui Qingrou's lead, Ye Shuyuan took a seat beside her, smiling warmly. "It's been a year, and you look even younger, Academy Head Shui."
Shui Qingrou smiled. "Not at all. If Your Excellency Medical Saint hadn't helped me a year ago, the Shrek matter would have left me looking even more haggard."
"Everyone, let me introduce them." Shui Qingrou clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention. "These three are our special guests for this exchange competition."
"Medical Saint Douluo Ye Shuyuan, Deputy Captain Luo Feng of Spirit Hall's Angel Legion, and Ye Qingzhou."
Huo Fenghua, Feng Yuanliu, and Lei Leiying, the principals of the three academies, all voiced their respect for Ye Shuyuan.
Shui Yue'er excitedly waved at Ye Qingzhou. "Little Brother Qingzhou, come sit over here!"
Ye Qingzhou came over to Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er. Shui Yue'er pulled him between them and sat him down.
Shui Yue'er kept her eyes on Ye Qingzhou's face, which was gradually maturing.
Sure enough, she hadn't been mistaken. Even after a year apart, Ye Qingzhou was more handsome than before.
Shui Bing'er's gaze drifted toward his profile. She asked softly, "It's been a while. Have you been doing well?"
Ye Qingzhou replied, "I've had a pretty eventful year. How about you?"
Shui Bing'er paused briefly before answering, "Me? I've been living much like any other Soul Master."
Shui Yue'er sat quietly on Ye Qingzhou's right, straining to hear their conversation.
"How is he?" Ever since Ye Qingzhou came in, Huo Wushuang had been sneaking glances at him.
He looked at Feng Xiaotian and Yu Tianxin beside him.
Feng Xiaotian glanced at Ye Qingzhou and said, "He's strong. Support-type Soul Masters cultivate more slowly than we do, but he's already a Soul Ancestor at his age."
"If he were a Power Attack System Soul Master, he'd probably be a Soul King by now."
There was an unspoken rule in the Soul Master World: Power Attack System Soul Masters always cultivated faster than Soul Masters of other types.
He was the most gifted among the Four Elements Academies: Innate Full Soul Power, and a partially completed Self-Created Soul Skill, Thirty-Six Gale Slashes.
He had only reached the twenty-fourth slash so far.
Once he completed his Self-Created Soul Skill, his advantage in Soul Master duels would keep growing.
"Yu Tianheng told me about Ye Qingzhou."
Yu Tianxin hesitated, then fell silent.
It felt a little inappropriate to talk about someone while he was right there.
Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wushuang exchanged a glance, clearly understanding what Yu Tianxin meant.
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