Four Conditions

"Hum!"

Shui Yuerong lightly flicked her fair fingertips, and as blue soul power swirled, all the ice-attribute energy in the room instantly dissipated, causing the frost to melt away.

She crossed her slender legs and returned to her posture of folding her arms across her chest, her expression appearing quite indifferent as she looked into Li Jiuxuan's eyes: "I admit, you are very talented, but you are a boy, so you still cannot join my Skywater Academy."

Li Jiuxuan remained silent, meeting the gaze of this curvaceous headmistress.

Shui Bing'er was slightly stunned, her red lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but Shui Yuerong quickly continued: "However, you may stay at Skywater Academy for three years. Once your situation stabilizes, you will leave on your own."

Li Jiuxuan remained expressionless; three years was three years. For now, he needed a stable environment to cultivate, and only when he had a foundation of strength would he possess the means to protect himself.

Shui Yuerong paused for a moment, her fingertips tapping lightly on her knee: "However, I have four conditions."

Li Jiuxuan did not hesitate: "Please speak, Headmistress."

"First, you may only reside in the detached small building on the west side of the academy, separated from the main campus by Calm Heart Lake."

"Second, you are not permitted to share the training grounds with our students; you may only use the old facilities on the other side of the lake."

"Third, you are merely a temporary resident, not an official student. The instructors of Skywater Academy will not be responsible for you. Whether you learn anything or improve your strength during this time depends entirely on your own comprehension and ability."

"Fourth, and this is the most important point..."

Li Jiuxuan waited for her to state the final condition.

"If you are able to survive and step into the Title Douluo realm in the future, you must protect Skywater Academy for thirty years."

Once these words were spoken, the entire office fell silent for a moment.

Shui Bing'er did not understand the reason behind this and could only look at her master in confusion.

A Title Douluo, protecting Skywater Academy?

Shui Yuerong offered no explanation, simply staring at Li Jiuxuan as if this were a transaction between them.

However, it was indeed a transaction.

The current situation on the continent was quite tense, with undercurrents surging.

The two great empires and Martial Soul Hall were the three largest powers, but the tripod-like balance between these three had long since ceased to be stable.

It was more like three giant beasts confronting each other on a spider web; any slight movement from one side would cause the entire web to tremble violently.

In recent years, the reach of Martial Soul Hall had grown longer and longer. They had tripled the soul master subsidies, ostensibly to benefit soul masters across the world, but in reality, they were quietly buying people's hearts.

Those free-roaming soul masters, accustomed to such generous treatment, no longer cared for the badges issued by the empires.

The Heavenly Dou and Star Luo empires spoke of an alliance, but the friction at their borders had never truly subsided.

Moreover, behind every conflict, the faint, lingering shadow of Martial Soul Hall was always present.

The Upper Three Sects were not of one mind; those who clung to the imperial families did so, while those who remained hidden stayed hidden, each making precise calculations for their own clan's foundation.

Although Skywater Academy was one of the top academies on the continent, it ultimately lacked a Title Douluo to oversee it.

Shui Bing'er was exceptionally gifted and was the student most likely to become a Title Douluo in recent years, but this Li Jiuxuan before them seemed even more terrifying in terms of talent.

Providing him with a place to stay cost Skywater nothing, but if he were to become famous in the world in the future, it could ensure Skywater's prosperity for a hundred years!

"No problem, I agree. If one day I reach the Title Douluo realm, I will protect Skywater!"

Li Jiuxuan nodded decisively and agreed.

Although this condition was unreasonable, he had no other choice.

Given his current situation, he was like fish on a chopping block, coveted by everyone wherever he went.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Regardless of whether he could become a Title Douluo in the future, if not for Shui Bing'er, he would have died today.

Therefore, not for the sake of Shui Yuerong, nor for Skywater Academy, he would simply consider it repaying the debt of saving his life today.

After leaving the headmistress's office, Shui Bing'er held Li Jiuxuan's hand and walked toward the opposite shore of Calm Heart Lake.

"Jiuxuan, you don't actually have to take the headmistress's words to heart. Title Douluo, protecting Skywater Academy—those things are all too far away."

Shui Bing'er said to Li Jiuxuan.

For her, she simply wanted to help this pitiful boy and had never thought about asking for a reward.

After all, she had been the same back then, experiencing great hardship; if not for her master's rescue, she would have starved to death long ago.

Li Jiuxuan shook his head and said: "It's alright, Sister, I have to become stronger anyway."

After all, everyone in his entire village had died at the hands of the Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon Clan. How could he not avenge this blood feud?!

No matter how strong the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was, he would definitely destroy it! He would use that to pay tribute to his kin.

At the same time, this was the fundamental reason he compromised with Shui Yuerong and stayed at Skywater Academy.

"Even so, you don't necessarily have to protect Skywater Academy. You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself."

Li Jiuxuan looked up, gazing into Shui Bing'er's beautiful blue pupils, and asked: "Why, Sister?"

Shui Bing'er let go of Li Jiuxuan's hand, clenched her fist, and waved it: "Because, when the time comes, I will become a Title Douluo, and I will protect Skywater Academy!"

This sudden declaration left Li Jiuxuan stunned for a moment.

Shui Bing'er looked toward the setting sun ahead and continued to walk forward, her face filled with pride: "Skywater is my home, and Master is like a second parent to me. Every effort I make is for the sake of Skywater!"

"Therefore, I will defeat every prodigy, overcome every arrogant enemy, and aim straight for the strongest generation of Martial Soul Hall! I will lead Skywater Academy to become the number one academy in the entire Douluo Continent!"

At this moment, Shui Bing'er lifted her chin slightly, her ice-blue eyes reflecting the lake's shimmer, bright and moving.

As the tips of her hair were gently lifted by the breeze, a pure and proud arc curled upon her lips.

Li Jiuxuan watched from the side, momentarily dazed.

Shui Bing'er was beautiful, exceptionally beautiful!

Beneath that cold and frosty exterior, there lay a warm and radiant heart!

"Then, Big Sister Bing'er..."

Li Jiuxuan turned around at this moment, standing face-to-face with Shui Bing'er, and reached out his hand toward her, saying with a smile: "In the future, you protect Skywater Academy, and I will protect you..."

Shui Bing'er was completely stunned.

The dazzling confidence from just a moment ago vanished instantly, and a rosy flush rapidly stained her cheeks, leaving her somewhat flustered: "You, what are you saying, you little brat? Big Sister is much older than you; how could you possibly protect me?"

"It doesn't matter, I will... be exceptionally strong in the future!" Li Jiuxuan was equally confident as he spoke, his words sounding like a promise!

Blushing, Shui Bing'er took Li Jiuxuan's hand again with a hint of playful reproach and continued to lead him toward the opposite bank of Calm Heart Lake: "No bragging allowed. I am already level thirty-one, and you are only level ten. You still have a long road ahead..."

Li Jiuxuan smiled, finding it adorable to see Shui Bing'er's usual "keep strangers at a distance" cold expression replaced by shyness.

However, he truly did need to cultivate diligently.

First and foremost, he had to find a way to obtain his first soul ring.

And unearth his first soul skill.

On the Douluo Continent, one could obtain a soul ring every ten levels, with soul ring ages categorized into ten-year, hundred-year, thousand-year, ten-thousand-year, and hundred-thousand-year...

With his Innate Full Soul Power, he started at level ten.

"Wow, that's Big Sister Shui Bing'er! Who is that she's holding hands with?"

Just as Li Jiuxuan and Shui Bing'er were lost in their own thoughts, a cry of surprise came from the side.

Li Jiuxuan turned his head to look and discovered a group of tall, beautiful girls...

Well, naturally they were girls; this academy had no boys.

Except for him...