Conversation with Shui Xinhan

About two quarter-hours later, Shui Xinhan arrived at the VIP room alone.

"Mr. Dugu, Patriarch Yang, young friend Su, please forgive me for keeping you waiting." Shui Xinhan bowed slightly, her expression apologetic.

Su Yun Tao looked at the woman in blue, who appeared to be no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight, and felt a ripple of surprise in his heart.

This woman was a top-tier choice in every regard—temperament, figure, appearance, intelligence, and strength.

"Not at all! Dean Shui, it is we who were abrupt," Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi replied, returning the bow.

The host and guests took their seats.

Shui Xinhan spoke up: "Mr. Dugu, Patriarch Yang, young friend Su, may I ask what brings you to our Skywater Academy?"

Dugu Bo began: "Dean Shui, the truth is, we have come today in the hope that this little monster beside me, Su Yun Tao, might join Skywater Academy."

"Oh?" A hint of curiosity flickered in Shui Xinhan's beautiful eyes. What kind of background could this man, who wore a Blue-Gold Mask and acted somewhat discourteously, possibly have to warrant a personal introduction from a dignified Titled Douluo?

Su Yun Tao slowly removed his Blue-Gold Mask; in truth, wearing a mask in front of a powerhouse like Shui Xinhan was indeed somewhat rude.

As the mask came off, a very handsome, youthful face was revealed to Shui Xinhan. While his physique suggested he was nearly twenty, without the Blue-Gold Mask, he looked no more than fifteen or sixteen.

Shui Xinhan asked: "Mr. Dugu, is this young friend Su a direct descendant of the Heaven Dou upper echelons?"

Dugu Bo shook his head. "Dean Shui, actually, I suppose you could say the little monster is a commoner?"

"A commoner?" Shui Xinhan smiled slightly. "Mr. Dugu and Patriarch Yang refer to this young friend Su as a 'monster.' I wonder, in what way is he monstrous?"

Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi looked at Su Yun Tao simultaneously, their faces filled with scrutiny, which only deepened Shui Xinhan's curiosity.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—five spirit rings appeared beneath Su Yun Tao's feet. Along with the appearance of the rings came a look of shock on Shui Xinhan's face.

"Young friend Su! Exactly how old are you?" Su Yun Tao, who looked no more than fifteen or sixteen, was actually a Soul King. Shui Xinhan's breathing grew rapid in an instant.

"Dean Shui," Su Yun Tao said calmly, "I suppose I am fourteen."

"Fourteen!" Shui Xinhan's pupils contracted sharply. Just as Yang Wudi and Dugu Bo had done in the past, she instinctively grabbed Su Yun Tao's arm.

In that instant, Shui Xinhan's beautiful eyes widened. She never imagined that Su Yun Tao could be a five-ring Soul King at only fourteen; such a thing was unheard of.

Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi curled their lips upward, exchanging a glance and smiling. Seeing Shui Xinhan's shocked expression, a sense of satisfaction welled up within them, as if they were the ones who had caused her such astonishment.

Little did they know that when they were shocked in the past, Su Yun Tao had looked at them with the exact same expression.

After a long while, Shui Xinhan calmed her emotions and sighed: "I had originally thought that the talent of Pope Bibi Dong was world-shaking, but I never expected young friend Su's talent to be even a step above hers."

Su Yun Tao laughed: "Dean, you flatter me. I wonder, may I join Skywater Academy?"

Shui Xinhan quickly replied: "That goes without saying! It is the honor of Skywater Academy for you to join us!"

Su Yun Tao said slowly: "Dean Shui, I do wish to join your Skywater Academy, but I must make one thing clear: I am joining Skywater so that I am qualified to participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament four years from now."

"Therefore, I do not wish for Skywater Academy to place any restrictions on me. Four years from now, I will lead Skywater Academy to win the championship."

Shui Xinhan smiled: "Young friend Su, I fully agree to your request. The academy will not place any restrictions on you."

Su Yun Tao nodded: "Dean Shui, since that is the case, I shall address you as Dean from now on, and you may call me Yun Tao."

"Yun Tao, that is for the best."

From this day forward, Su Yun Tao became the only male student at Skywater Academy.

A month later, Su Yun Tao walked along the spacious streets of Shuiyun City with two girls. Yang Wudi had already returned to his clan, and Old Poison had finished detoxifying not long ago; feeling that he was on the verge of a breakthrough, he had returned to his lair to go into seclusion.

For this past month, Su Yun Tao had lived in this free, peaceful, and comfortable city. Living in Shuiyun City seemed to remind Su Yun Tao of the environment of another space-time.

The two girls beside Su Yun Tao were clearly beauties in the making. Furthermore, the two girls looked somewhat similar, appearing to be twin sisters; they were clearly Shui Xinhan's two disciples, Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er.

"Bing'er, Yue'er, I am happy to tell you that the vacation is over. We must return to the academy now."

Shui Yue'er looked at the bustling street illuminated by the sunset with a dejected face, then began to turn back while carrying bags of all sizes.

"Brother Tao," Shui Bing'er called out.

"Bing'er, is something the matter?"

"You accompanied us out this time and bought so many things for Yue'er and me. I will have Teacher pay you back later."

Su Yun Tao waved his hand: "Bing'er, these gifts were bought for you and Yue'er. Let's not talk about money."

"But..." Shui Bing'er said embarrassedly, "These gifts are worth a fortune. How could I have the face to let you spend so much?"

Su Yun Tao smiled slightly and silently took two deposit slips issued by Martial Soul Hall from his storage spirit tool.

Looking at the two deposit slips, each marked with one million gold coins, Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er were left dumbfounded.

"Alright, let's head back. We can keep buying next month."

"Yay! Yay!" Shui Yue'er danced with excitement.

When the three of them returned to Skywater Academy, the moon had already risen.

Shui Bing'er took Shui Yue'er to bid farewell to Su Yun Tao, then returned to their own private rooms. They had training early the next morning, so they needed to prepare for rest.

Su Yun Tao did not return to the luxurious room prepared for him by Skywater Academy, but instead went to the Dean's office and rang the doorbell.

"Come in!" A pleasant female voice drifted out, and Su Yun Tao pushed the door open and entered.

"Yun Tao, so it's you. Is something the matter?"

Su Yun Tao said slowly, "Dean, I have a question I would like to ask you."

"Yun Tao, if you have a question, just speak your mind."

Su Yun Tao said in a deep voice, "Bing'er's Martial Soul is the Ice Phoenix. I have personally come into contact with her Martial Soul, and I discovered that it is extremely powerful—to the point that the ice attribute of her Ice Phoenix has reached the level of Ultimate Ice."

"Possessing Ultimate Ice, Bing'er's talent should be at least Innate Full Soul Power, or perhaps even something that surpasses it. With such talent, combined with how diligently she cultivates, I truly do not understand why her Soul Power Level is still only at the twenties."

A trace of sorrow flickered in Shui Xinhan's eyes. "Yun Tao, tonight I will tell you properly about the experiences that Bing'er and I have endured."