Hearing Xiong Jun dare speak to him like that, Di Tian looked ready to teach him a lesson.
"Di Tian, what are you doing? If you dare lay a hand on me, I'll go tell the Grass God!"
When Di Tian heard Xiong Jun threaten to tell on him, he stopped. It wasn't that he was afraid of getting beaten up. The problem was that Lesser Lord Kusanali would lock him up and lecture him over and over, and might even enter his dreams to keep lecturing him.
That was like Sun Wukong suffering under the tightening spell. He absolutely didn't want to go through it a second time.
"Hehe, Xiong Jun really has gotten smarter!"
Bi Ji laughed too, and she laughed happily. She liked her life now. She could write down all sorts of things and put them in the House of Daena.
Ouyang Kong, the Grand Sage, held regular audits. Passing one earned you a small reward.
Bi Ji especially liked a pastry called Date Candy.
Just then, the Sky Screen finally stirred again, drawing everyone's eyes back to it.
"I wonder who'll be tenth on the ranking. Could it be you, Sister Erlong?"
Flender looked at Liu Erlong, a hint of anticipation on his face.
Liu Erlong didn't answer. She simply stared fixedly at the Sky Screen.
[Tenth Place: Nilou!]
When the name appeared, most people on the Douluo Continent looked utterly bewildered. They had no idea who she was.
At the same time, an image of Nilou appeared on the Sky Screen. She danced a beautiful routine, ripples of water shimmering around her. Her dance alone was enough to leave people spellbound.
At Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong watched the image of Nilou on the Sky Screen. A flash of jealousy unexpectedly crossed her eyes.
"Find out who this Nilou is. Could she be a hidden genius from Skywater Academy?"
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
Water elements and dancing really did make people think of Skywater Academy. But if they investigated, they were bound to find nothing.
At Skywater Academy, Shui Yue'er gazed at Nilou's dancing, completely captivated.
"What a beautiful big sister! And her dancing is so beautiful. I wish she'd teach us. It'd be wonderful if she could join Skywater Academy."
"Don't get your hopes up. Anyone who can rank tenth among the young powerhouses on the Sky Screen must have an impressive background. There's no way she'd join Skywater Academy."
Shui Bing'er was more realistic, while Shui Yue'er looked disappointed.
[Affiliation: Akademiya] [Age: 21] [Martial Soul: Water Lily] [Soul Power Level: Rank 88]
The Sky Screen then listed Nilou's basic information. When most people saw it, they were stunned.
"Twenty-one years old, and an eighty-eighth-rank Soul Douluo? What kind of genius is this?"
"Exactly! She's a freak of nature!"
"And she's only tenth. Wouldn't the nine above her be even more monstrous? Since when did the Soul Master World have so many freaks of nature?"
Discussions like this erupted everywhere. Great powers like Spirit Hall, meanwhile, were considering something else: what kind of organization was the Akademiya, and why had they never heard of it before?
"Yue Guan! Gui Mei!"
"Present!" ×2
"Investigate the Akademiya at once. I want every bit of information."
"Yes!"
At the Worship Hall, Golden Crocodile Douluo asked Qian Daoliu, "Big brother, have you heard of this Akademiya?"
Qian Daoliu shook his head as well.
"I've never heard of it. I've never seen clothes like the ones this girl called Nilou is wearing, either.
"Both the Sky Screen and this Akademiya have appeared far too mysteriously."
At the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince's residence, Xue Qinghe—actually Qian Renxue in disguise—also ordered She Long to investigate the Akademiya.
She might really be able to uncover something. After all, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had already joined the Akademiya.
At the Akademiya, Nilou was quite surprised to see herself on the list. She had always thought of herself as a dancer, bringing people happiness and comfort through dance.
She knew her own combat ability well. With her Vision, she could wield elemental power and was stronger than an ordinary person, but she was still far behind those who truly specialized in combat.
"Nilou, congratulations. Even I, your senior, never got the chance to make the list. This Sky Screen is practically bullying us old folks."
"Senior Faruzan, maybe you'll get a chance to make the list too. Your circumstances are rather special, after all."
"You don't have to comfort me. I'm not going to fret over such a small thing. I'm more curious about what reward you'll get."
Nilou couldn't help feeling a little anticipation.
Kaveh and Alhaitham were together, chatting about the Sky Screen as well.
"The Grand Sage is already planning to announce the Akademiya's existence to the outside world. He's even considering setting up Akademiya branches in the major cities.
"The Sky Screen appeared at just the right time. We won't need to promote ourselves; everyone will learn about the Akademiya anyway."
Unlike Kaveh, who was optimistic, Alhaitham was more level-headed.
"By the same token, the Akademiya could become a target for everyone, and come into serious conflict with the local powers."
"Surely it won't come to that. The Akademiya is a hall of knowledge, and besides, Lesser Lord Kusanali and the Grand Sage are here to oversee it."
"Forget it. You'd better go work on your drawings."
"I wasn't trying to talk to you anyway! I want to see what place you get, you jerk."
There was no doubt Alhaitham would make the list. The only question was where he would rank.
At Blue Tyrant Academy, Yu Xiaogang wore an utterly disbelieving expression, muttering under his breath.
"Impossible! This is impossible! An eighty-eighth-rank Soul Douluo at twenty-one? How can that be?"
"Xiaogang, are you all right? The Douluo Continent is so vast. It's not impossible for an unimaginable genius to appear."
Liu Erlong tried to comfort Yu Xiaogang.
"The Akademiya sounds like an academy. Any place that can teach a genius like this must be extraordinary. If we get the chance, perhaps we could visit and exchange ideas.
"A wise man like you, Xiaogang, is sure to be treated with respect."
Flender tried to soothe Yu Xiaogang too. Yu Xiaogang was making a real fool of himself. At his age, he still needed other people to comfort him.
The Sky Screen then showed another scene. Nilou held a sword, water rippling along its blade. As she danced with it, rings of water formed around her.
A group of Fungi swarmed toward her. Nilou drew in the rings of water and swung her sword, sending blade after blade of water flying.
"Bloom!"
Hydro gathered around her, then burst outward like a lotus in full bloom. It became a surging tide, sweeping all the surrounding Fungi away.
That brief glimpse of battle was enough to leave people entranced.
Nilou displayed her grace in combat to perfection. People were so caught up in it that they overlooked how the Fungi in the scene weren't Spirit Beasts found on the Douluo Continent at all.
At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, in the Akademiya Branch, Ouyang Kong smiled and nodded.
"Nilou's dancing is as captivating as ever."
"Indeed. I've asked Teacher Nilou for lessons too, but unfortunately, I'm not suited to learning dance."
"Collei, don't sell yourself short. You have your own talents."
Before you continue