Leng Yaozhu: Nana, do you like Lin Chen?

Arriving at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, Gu Yuena took out her phone and made a call.

Before long, a Spirit Pagoda staff member came to greet them.

The staff member bowed and led the way, speaking politely, "Please follow me, the Vice Pagoda Master has been waiting for some time."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, turned his head to look at the smiling Gu Yuena beside him, and spoke with a tone of realization, "Na'er, I think I know who your teacher is."

Gu Yuena curved her eyes and took Lin Chen's hand, "Let's go up first, don't keep Teacher waiting." Following the staff member inside, the elevator rose steadily.

The thick metal doors slowly pushed inward. Clad in a phoenix-patterned cheongsam that outlined her graceful figure, with long, fiery red hair draped behind her, Leng Yaozhu sat upright at her desk.

Gu Yuena let go of Lin Chen's hand, and the two bowed in unison, "Disciple greets Teacher."

"Greetings, Heavenly Phoenix Crown."

Leng Yaozhu raised her eyes, her gaze landing on Gu Yuena first with a touch of warmth, before turning to the young man beside the girl, "No need to be so formal, we meet again, Lin Chen."

She gestured for the two to take their seats, and a faint, elegant fragrance drifted through the room.

After they sat down, Lin Chen scratched his head, muttering to himself, Why does this feel so strange? I have an inexplicable sense of déjà vu, like visiting a future mother-in-law.

Leng Yaozhu picked up the clear tea on the table and took a sip, her gaze calm and gentle, "You've traveled a long way; thank you for bringing Na'er back. Stay for a while and let's chat."

Gu Yuena sat to the side, her ears turning slightly red as she secretly glanced at Lin Chen.

Lin Chen smiled and replied, "You are too kind, Crown. It was on the way, so it was no trouble at all."

A faint smile bloomed on the corners of Leng Yaozhu's mouth as she waved her hand gently, "No need for such formalities. In private, you can just call me Aunt Leng."

Lin Chen quickly responded, "Understood, Aunt Leng."

For a moment, the atmosphere in the large office became somewhat awkward. The two chatted aimlessly, and just as Lin Chen was secretly worrying about how to take his leave, a phone call broke the awkward silence.

Ya Li called to urge him to return to Shrek Academy.

Feeling relieved, Lin Chen stood up to bid farewell to Leng Yaozhu and Gu Yuena before hurrying away.

As the door closed, only the teacher and student remained in the office. Leng Yaozhu rested her chin on her hand and looked at Gu Yuena, who was sitting to the side with her cheeks still flushed, her phoenix eyes filled with teasing.

She asked bluntly, "Na'er, do you like Lin Chen?" The older generation was always straightforward. Caught off guard, Gu Yuena's cheeks turned even redder. She lowered her gaze, her fingertips unconsciously pinching the corner of her clothes, "Yes... I like him a little."

Seeing this, Leng Yaozhu chuckled, leaning forward slightly to tease her, "Just a little? I noticed you two were holding hands the moment you walked in."

Gu Yuena's ears burned hot. She hurriedly lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling slightly, unable to think of what to say.

Leng Yaozhu's smile deepened as she continued to tease her leisurely, "Besides, the way you look at him is unusual, too. It's obvious at a glance."

Gu Yuena pinched her hem and muttered softly, "Teacher..."

Leng Yaozhu stood up and moved to sit beside Gu Yuena, leaning in with eyes full of curiosity to gossip, asking softly, "How far have you two progressed?"

Gu Yuena buried her head, her ears red as she whispered like a mosquito, "We've only held hands."

Leng Yaozhu covered her lips with her hand, "Just holding hands? It seems like nothing is set in stone yet."

Gu Yuena gripped her clothes tightly, her face burning, and pleaded softly, "That's as far as it goes for now, Teacher, please stop asking."

Seeing her shy and embarrassed state, Leng Yaozhu's eyes curved into crescents, and she laughed in compromise, "Alright, alright, this teacher won't ask anymore."

Her expression then turned more serious, "However, Na'er, Teacher must give you a piece of advice: when you meet someone you like, never feel shy. You must be proactive when the time is right."

It wasn't entirely Gu Yuena's fault that progress was slow; it was mainly because Lin Chen seemed somewhat oblivious.

She paused and said earnestly, "Lin Chen is an excellent child, with few rivals among his peers. Even Yun Ming in his youth would pale in comparison at this age. Such an outstanding young man will surely have no shortage of admirers in the future. If you let other girls get ahead of you, you will regret it too late."

Gu Yuena raised her eyes, her gaze firm, "Teacher, I won't let anyone else take him away. Lin Chen can only be mine."

Leng Yaozhu chuckled and waved her hand, "Alright, you must be exhausted from the journey. Go get some rest."

Gu Yuena bowed and turned to exit the office. As the door closed, Leng Yaozhu leaned back in her chair with a faint smile, "My own disciple and that boy becoming a pair isn't bad at all. I suppose that makes me in-laws with Yun Ming, doesn't it?"

On the way back, Lin Chen sneezed violently. He rubbed the tip of his nose and muttered to himself, "Who's gossiping about me behind my back?"

Without stopping, he used the token Yun Ming had given him to enter Shrek. Just as he was about to call Ya Li, he looked up and saw Yun Ming and Ya Li standing side by side not far away, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing him return, Ya Li smiled and waved, while Yun Ming looked calm, waiting quietly for the boy to approach.

Lin Chen walked up quickly, and Yun Ming said indifferently, "Let's go, to the Inner Court."

Lin Chen looked puzzled and asked, "Dad, why are we going to the Inner Court?"

Beside him, Ya Li smiled softly, "To take you for a spar."

Lin Chen's face immediately fell, looking troubled, "Don't tell me you want to spar with me?"

Yun Ming gave a light hum and shook his head, "Naturally not. The academy recently recruited a few new students; you will spar with them."

The three walked all the way to the Inner Court Battle Platform. Along the way, many Inner Court students looked toward Lin Chen, wondering what kind of status he held to be personally accompanied by the Head and Vice-Head of the Sea God Pavilion.

When they reached the arena, Shen Yi stood quietly by the side, with Ye Xinglan, who had her golden hair in a ponytail, and Xu Lizhi standing beside her.

Lin Chen looked up at Yun Ming beside him, "Dad, you want me to spar with them?"

Yun Ming nodded faintly, "Your mother is here, so go all out. I will act as the referee."

Lin Chen leaped onto the Battle Platform. He first bowed to Shen Yi below the stage, then his soul power began to circulate slowly as he entered a combat stance. His gaze fell on the two people opposite him, and he gestured lightly, "You two, shall we spar one by one, or will you come at me together?"

Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi reacted to their conversation and immediately entered a combat state. The Star God Sword was in hand, and Xu Lizhi's buns were ready.

Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi were suddenly stunned, their gazes locked firmly onto Lin Chen.

Three thousand-year soul rings wreathed in faint black light rose slowly from beneath the youth's feet. The phantom of an Azure Dragon hovered behind him, and his once clear, glass-like eyes transformed entirely into cold dragon eyes, with cyan lightning constantly coiling around his body.

Xu Lizhi quickly tossed out buns, and after Ye Xinglan ate one, she assumed an offensive stance.

However, all three of Lin Chen's soul skills were instant-cast, and he had even developed several ways to unleash his first soul skill.

Thunderous Might activated. Several bolts of cyan lightning erupted from Lin Chen's palms, the thick arcs of electricity accompanied by sonic booms that tore through the air as they lunged toward the pair.

As the dust settled, Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi were left numb all over, their soul power dissipated as they collapsed to the ground, defeated without even having the chance to fight back.

The surrounding students erupted in an uproar. Shen Yi's brows were knit in astonishment, while Yun Ming stood by the edge of the stage, nodding slightly.

Ya Li stepped onto the arena, a gentle soul power flowing out and seeping softly into the bodies of Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi, instantly soothing their injuries.

Lin Chen retracted his martial soul and turned to signal to Yun Ming at the edge of the stage that the match was over.

Yun Ming nodded slightly, his voice indifferent: "The outcome is decided. Everyone, disperse."