Shrek Academy, the third day of the new semester.
Lin Ciyan leaned back in the recliner in the teachers' office, flipping through the course schedule for the Freshman Class One this semester.
After returning from Star Luo City, he first went to Sea God Island to see Zhang Lexuan.
When the Grandmaster saw that he had returned safely, she was visibly relieved. She didn't ask any questions about the details of his Journey to the Far North, but gently told him to get some rest.
Then there's Ling Luochеn...
The girl in the ice-blue dress waited for him at her residence for three whole days.
When they met, she didn't say anything, but simply hugged him tightly, her cool lips pressing against his; all her longing was unspoken.
Ma Xiaotao was the most direct; she blocked his path right by the Sea God Lake, her fiery red figure throwing herself into his arms and bombarding him with questions. "You've been gone so long? Do you know how worried I was?"
Lin Ciyan had no choice but to appease him with actions...
He helped her regulate her Martial Soul again at the Sea God Lake, and the result was... both of them "benefited greatly".
After dealing with these matters, he returned to the Outer Court to continue serving as Han Ruoruo's teaching assistant.
" Ci Yan," the office door was pushed open, Han Ruoruo walked in.
Today she was wearing a light green teacher's dress, her long hair was tied up in a gentle bun at the back of her head, and her slender neck was as white as Swan's.
She was carrying several files in her hand, and her skirt swayed gently as she walked over.
"Senior Sister Ruoruo." Lin Ciyan sat up straight.
Han Ruoruo placed the file on his desk, then sat down in the chair opposite him, her legs together and crossed at an angle, her posture elegant.
"The second-grade advancement exams have begun," she said.
" The Martial Soul Department finished their exams yesterday; today is the turn of the Soul Guidance Department."
Lin Ciyan nodded. "I know. Huo Yuhao and the others have their exams this afternoon, right?"
"Hmm." Han Ruoruo looked at him, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes. "I heard... Huo Yuhao was sent out by the Soul Guidance Department to test a new Soul Tool during the summer vacation. He disappeared for a few days in the Star Dou Great Forest and only returned on his own later."
Lin Ciyan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Sure enough, the correction worked.
Originally, Huo Yuhao was supposed to go to the Far North to obtain his Second Soul Ring after the first semester. But now, because he intercepted the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and left behind a portion of the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's unclaimed spiritual power, Huo Yuhao only obtained two Soul Skill, which would last for about a thousand years...
Electrolux didn't possess him either; his growth trajectory went astray.
But Child of Destiny is Child of Destiny; they can always make up for it elsewhere.
"And then?" Lin Ciyan asked.
"Then when he came back, his Soul Power soared to level twenty-three," Han Ruoruo said. " Fan Yu personally examined him and said that he might have obtained the fusion of some kind of spiritual Soul Bone, but Huo Yuhao himself didn't know what kind of Soul Bone it was."
She paused, then added, "Teacher Wang Yan told me privately that Huo Yuhao's mental strength is currently at least equivalent to the Soul Ancestor level, and his use of mental strength is extremely exquisite."
Lin Ciyan's lips curled into a slight smile.
It seems that although Huo Yuhao did not have Tian Meng's complete Million-Year Soul Ring, he still managed to grow in other ways.
Perhaps... it's a backup plan left behind by Tang San?
To ensure the growth of his "prospective son-in-law," that God King left quite a few hidden plans in the Douluo Continent.
"Interesting." Lin Ciyan chuckled. "As expected of someone favored by fate in the past, but now, I am the one favored by fate!"
"Fate smiled upon you?" Han Ruoruo asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing." Lin Ciyan waved his hand. "I'll go to the Soul Guidance Department's experimental area this afternoon. After all, Huo Yuhao is also a student in my class."
Han Ruoruo nodded. "Okay. By the way, there's a Treasure Appreciation Fair tonight, all the core disciples of the Outer Court will be attending. Would you like to...?"
"I will go," Lin Ciyan said.
Han Ruoruo smiled gently. "See you tonight."
She got up to leave, but as she reached the door, she glanced back at him with tender eyes.
In the afternoon, at the Soul Guidance Department test area.
Lin Ciyan leaned lazily against a corner of the spectator area, watching the battle in the test area.
Han Ruoruo went to attend to other matters, and he came alone, without disturbing anyone, quietly remaining an observer.
At this moment, in the testing area, Huo Yuhao is facing an attack from three senior students of the Soul Guidance Department.
The three were all around fifteen or sixteen years old, with the lowest Soul Power being Soul Grandmaster and the highest being Ye Canying, who was even Soul Elder.
As for Huo Yuhao... Lin Ciyan with his senses and confirmed his Soul Power Level.
Level 23, Soul Grandmaster.
However, the strength of his mental power did indeed reach the level of Soul Ancestor.
" Mental Interference ..." Lin Ciyan watched as Huo Yuhao skillfully used his mental power to influence his opponent's aim, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
Despite lacking the complete inheritance of Tian Meng, he was able to figure out how to use spiritual power on his own; this talent is truly astonishing.
Inside the testing area, a fixed-mount Soul Cannon suddenly appeared on Huo Yuhao's shoulder, its incandescent light startling his three opponents into fleeing in panic.
Then the cannon barrel disappeared, Huo Yuhao approached like Gui Mei, easily defeating Tang Suifeng, the fastest of the three.
"A bluff, psychological warfare." Lin Ciyan nodded. "Good tactical execution."
The outcome of the ensuing battle was a foregone conclusion.
With the dual assistance of Spiritual Detection and Mental Interference, Huo Yuhao completely controlled the rhythm of the battlefield.
The remaining two students fought back desperately, but all their attacks were anticipated and dodged.
In the end, Huo Yuhao used his Soul Guidance Ray to precisely break through the shields of the two, easily winning the victory.
The other Soul Guidance Department students watching the battle erupted in an uproar.
At twelve years old, Level 2 Soul Engineer, he took on three opponents single-handedly and won decisively!
This record is too astonishing.
Fan Yu stood beside the testing area, her face full of satisfaction.
He personally announced that Huo Yuhao had passed the test and introduced him to the other students as his direct disciple.
Lin Ciyan looked at Huo Yuhao, who was being watched by everyone, and felt a pang of emotion.
Although the trajectory of the Child of Destiny's growth has changed, that resilience and wisdom remain the same.
Moreover... Lin Ciyan could vaguely sense an extremely subtle spiritual fluctuation deep between Huo Yuhao's brows.
That wasn't the aura that ordinary Soul Bone could possess.
More like... a remnant of divinity?
" Tang San, you really did interfere after all," Lin Ciyan thought with a cold smile.
It doesn't matter.
No matter how much Huo Yuhao grows, he can't pose a threat to me in the short term.
A level 68 Soul Emperor, Twin Martial Souls, three 10,000 -Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, one 100,000 -Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, one 300,000-year Soul Ring, one 700,000-year Soul Ring, and two 300,000-year Soul Ring, with the Ice Jade Snow Phoenix Wings possessing External Soul Bone...
These trump cards are enough to crush any of their peers right now.
Lin Ciyan was even confident that he could put up a fight against Titled Douluo.
"System," he murmured to himself, "Check for any abnormalities in Huo Yuhao."
[Ding! Detected residual 'Divine Sense Imprint' in the target Huo Yuhao's memory body, suspected to be a guiding imprint left by a god-level powerhouse. Imprint function: assists in the growth of spiritual power and triggers inherited memories under specific conditions.]
really.
A glint of light flashed in Lin Ciyan's eyes.
Tang San has essentially given his "prospective son-in-law" a "growth assistance cheat code."
But... what does this have to do with me?
As long as Huo Yuhao doesn't become his enemy, he can grow however he wants.
In fact, Lin Ciyan was happy to see it happen.
The stronger the Child of Destiny, the more energy they can save when fighting against the Holy Spirit Cult and the Sun Moon Empire in the future.
"The core of the Slacking Philosophy' is to let others do the work while you lie around," Lin Ciyan thought with amusement.
"Since Tang San wants to cause trouble, let him do it. As long as he doesn't interfere with my laziness, it's okay..."
" Huo Yuhao, keep growing! The future peace of the continent depends on you."
The test ended, and the trainees gradually dispersed.
Lin Ciyan also left the test area quietly.
By the time I returned to the office, it was nearly dusk.
He had just sat down, preparing to organize tomorrow's teaching plan, when there was a knock on his office door.
"Please come in."
The door opened, and a girl with short, light blue hair peeked in.
" Teaching Assistant Lin!" Wang Dong's eyes lit up as he pushed open the door and walked in.
She was wearing Shrek's school uniform today, but she had clearly dressed up carefully.
Her short, light blue hair was neatly combed, her fair face had a faint blush, and her light blue eyes were clear and captivating.
" Wang Dong?" Lin Ciyan somewhat surprised. "Is something wrong?"
Wang Dong walked to the desk, took out a red invitation card with gold lettering from his pocket, and handed it over with both hands. " Teaching Assistant Lin, this is the invitation to tonight's Treasure Appreciation Fair. Teacher Han said... you might go, so she asked me to inquire."
Lin Ciyan accepted the invitation and glanced at it.
The Treasure Appreciation Fair will invite core disciples from the Outer Court to participate.
"Yes, I will go," he said.
Wang Dong's face immediately lit up with a happy smile, "That's great! Xiao Xiao, Huo Yuhao, and I will all be going, we can go together..."
Before she could finish speaking, her face turned red.
Together what? Shopping together?
That sounds too intimate.
Lin Ciyan found her shy expression amusing. "Okay, see you tonight."
"Yes!" Wang Dong nodded vigorously, then, as if remembering something, added, " Teaching Assistant Lin, I've been working very hard lately! My Soul Power has broken through to level twenty-seven!"
There was a hint of pride in his tone.
In one or two months, I went from level 25 to level 27.
That's quite a pace of progress.
"Not bad," Lin Ciyan praised. "It seems you've grasped the ' Slacker Cultivation Method ' very well."
Wang Dong's eyes lit up even more. "It's all thanks to Teaching Assistant Lin's excellent teaching!"
She paused, then said softly, "Um... about becoming an apprentice, what have you thought about?"
Lin Ciyan smiled when he saw her expectant eyes.
"The answer Treasure Appreciation Fair."
Wang Dong was stunned at first, then overjoyed. "Really?!"
"Real."
"That's great!" Wang Dong almost jumped up, but barely managed to restrain himself. He bowed deeply and said, " Teaching Assistant Lin! I'll go back and prepare now. See you tonight!"
She turned and ran out of the office, her steps as light as a bird's.
Lin Ciyan shook his head and chuckled.
This girl is quite persistent.
He looked out the window; the sun was setting, and night was about to fall.
The Treasure Appreciation Fair... I absorbed the Golden Radiance many years ago, I wonder if there will be any new "surprises" tonight.
A look of anticipation flashed in Lin Ciyan's eyes.