Cai Mei'er: Xian Lin'er, you're almost there too!

Cai Mei'er was highly focused.

At this moment, the sharpness of a Vice Dean was nowhere to be found; she looked more like a devout believer offering her deepest sincerity in her own way.

Only occasionally would she lift her eyes to glance at Tang An, her gaze filled with both probing and an indescribable, ambiguous meaning.

I do not know how much time passed before Tang An's hand, resting on the armrest, tightened abruptly, then slowly relaxed. He let out a long breath, the tension between his brows smoothing away.

Cai Mei'er stood up, took a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and gently pressed it against the corners of her lips.

Her movements were elegant and composed, though a faint blush remained on her cheeks, and a trace of elusive moisture lingered in her eyes.

Yet, there was no sign of embarrassment in her purple eyes; as she looked at Tang An, her gaze held a strange sense of composure.

"Vice Pavilion Master, the interest is paid up to here for now."

Cai Mei'er's voice returned to its usual gentle and calm tone, though the tail end still carried a hint of imperceptible hoarseness. "As for the principal... we shall wait for Ma Xiaotao to repay it herself."

Just as Tang An was about to speak, the door behind him was suddenly knocked upon.

The knocking was very light, only two taps, but before Cai Mei'er could respond, the door was pushed open.

Cai Mei'er reacted with lightning speed; the moment the door opened, she had already turned away, placing her teacup on the table with a composed motion.

The door opened, and a tall figure walked in.

The newcomer wore a deep cyan, slim-fit trouser suit that outlined her graceful curves. Her cyan-green short hair was neatly cut to her ears, and her blue pupils were as bright as gemstones. Her skin was fair, and her features were exquisite yet heroic.

It was none other than the Dean of the Martial Combat Department, Xian Lin'er.

Having heard that Cai Mei'er had invited Tang An over alone, her internal alarm bells had rung loudly, and she had rushed over as soon as she set aside her work.

"Vice Pavilion Master, I just heard..."

As soon as she entered, she saw Tang An about to stand up from his seat, while Cai Mei'er stood by the table, head tilted slightly, lips pursed as if swallowing something.

"Dean Cai, you are..." Xian Lin'er's gaze swept between the two, feeling that something was off, though she could not pinpoint exactly what.

Cai Mei'er set down her teacup and offered her a flawless smile, her voice carrying a hint of unnaturalness: "Just drinking water. I spoke too much earlier and my throat was dry. Why has Assistant Xian come?"

Tang An took over the conversation, asking casually: "Assistant Xian, what did you hear?"

Xian Lin'er collected herself, temporarily suppressing her doubts, and said sternly: "Vice Pavilion Master, I just heard that Dean Cai specially invited you to the Martial Soul Department office, so I came to see what matter required the Vice Pavilion Master to step in personally."

Tang An thought for a moment; there was no need to hide this, so he said frankly: "It is about Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire problem. I have agreed to help her suppress it and even evolve her Martial Soul into the Limit of Fire, on the condition that Ma Xiaotao serves as my maid for one year."

Xian Lin'er's brows arched; this was indeed a major matter.

Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire had plagued the Martial Soul Department for years, leaving even a Limit Douluo helpless. If Tang An could solve it, it would be a tremendous favor to the Martial Soul Department.

Upon hearing the words "one-year maid," Xian Lin'er's brows twitched slightly, and a sense of urgency surged in her heart.

Cai Mei'er was moving too fast, sending Ma Xiaotao directly to the Vice Pavilion Master's side. With Ma Xiaotao by his side every day for a year, who knew what might develop?

No, she had to step up her own efforts as well.

Xian Lin'er suppressed her thoughts, put on a smile, and added a hint of eagerness to her tone:

"Vice Pavilion Master, is there anything you need help with regarding your cultivation? Although Lin'er cannot compare to Mu En, I do have some insights into combat techniques and am always available to spar with you."

Tang An looked at her, keenly sensing the subtle urgency in her words.

This Secretary Xian was likely unable to sit still after hearing that Cai Mei'er was both sending people and currying favor.

Tang An pondered; he had originally planned to take Huo Yutong to see Zhou Yi tonight, but since Xian Lin'er had taken the initiative to come to him, he might as well tell her directly.

Besides, going to see Zhou Yi and Mu Jin alone might lead to something interesting.

Tang An pulled back his thoughts and said to Xian Lin'er: "Secretary Xian, there happens to be something I need to tell you. I have a student with exceptional talent for Soul Tools by my side."

"She is the one who defeated a level twenty-five opponent with a single move at the Martial Arts Arena earlier. I want her to report to the Soul Guidance Department; please help me arrange it."

Upon hearing this, Xian Lin'er's eyes lit up, and her earlier doubts were instantly cast to the back of her mind.

What level of student could be described by the Vice Pavilion Master himself as having "exceptional talent for Soul Tools"? She hurriedly asked: "Where is she now? I will have someone invite her immediately!"

"Go to your office," Tang An said. "Send someone to Freshman Class One to call Huo Yutong over."

Xian Lin'er nodded in agreement, already calculating. Although she was the Dean of the Soul Guidance Department, when it came to the level of Soul Tool crafting and talent, the true number one in the academy was Fan Yu.

Since the student recommended by the Vice Pavilion Master was so talented, she had to call Fan Yu as well so he could see for himself.

She immediately ordered someone to invite Huo Yutong from Freshman Class One and another to notify Fan Yu in the Soul Guidance Department, then led Tang An toward her office.

Cai Mei'er stood by the table, holding her teacup and watching them leave, a faint, elusive smile flashing in her amethyst-like eyes.

"Xian Lin'er, you should be next, shouldn't you?"

Xian Lin'er's office was more spacious than Cai Mei'er's, with structural diagrams of Soul Tools hanging on the walls and shelves packed with metal parts and blueprints.

Not long after Tang An sat down, the door was knocked upon.

Huo Yutong pushed the door open, her small face still showing a hint of nervousness. She had just displayed Soul Shock at the Martial Arts Arena and was worried she had caused trouble by using too much force.

Seeing that Tang An was also there, she visibly relaxed, subconsciously walking to his side and whispering: "Brother Tang An."

"Sit," Tang An pointed to the chair beside him. "I have found you a good teacher. Let Secretary Xian and Teacher Fan see your talent for Soul Tools."

Soon, a lean, stern-faced middle-aged man strode in. It was the signature figure of the Soul Guidance Department, an eighth-rank Soul Engineer, Fan Yu.

Fan Yu bowed to Xian Lin'er, his gaze pausing slightly when it landed on Tang An. Although he did not recognize this youth, the fact that Xian Lin'er was personally accompanying him meant his identity was certainly not simple.

He did not ask further, turning his head to look at Huo Yutong: "Dean, is this the student you mentioned?"

Xian Lin'er nodded: "Recommended personally by the Vice Pavilion Master, who said her talent for soul guidance is excellent. Fan Yu, test her yourself."

Fan Yu did not waste words, picking up a palm-sized metal base from the table. Embedded upon it were three sensing crystals, corresponding to the three basic indicators: soul power perception, soul power control, and soul power stability.

This was the standard equipment for the Soul Guidance Department's entrance test; though simple, it could most intuitively reflect a student's talent for soul guidance.

"The test consists of three steps," Fan Yu said in a rigid tone. "First, perception—inject your soul power into the crystals; the brightness of the crystals reflects the strength of your mental power."

"Second, control—construct a complete soul power circuit between the three crystals."

"Third, stability—maintain the operation of the circuit; the longer you persist, the better your stability."

Huo Yutong nodded and took a deep breath, pressing her right hand onto the metal base. A faint silver light flickered in her eyes as Spirit Analysis was quietly activated.

The first crystal suddenly lit up, its radiance as brilliant as a star, followed immediately by the second and third, which bloomed with dazzling silver light simultaneously. The three beams of light intertwined steadily, without the slightest flicker.

Fan Yu raised an eyebrow, just about to nod.