Flender cleared his throat and pushed up his glasses with a hint of smugness. "It's a long story. Liu Erlong was generous enough to give up the dean's position to me, her older brother. But in the end, I still benefited from Yu Xiaogang's connections."
"Because of Yu Xiaogang... who is that?" Qin Ming was taken aback and was about to ask for the reason when Flender coughed a few times and changed the subject with a somewhat evasive look. He knew all too well the complicated history of the " Golden Iron Triangle " and it was really inappropriate to mention it in front of the students.
"Alright, let's get down to business." Flender pointed to Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the other eight people who were resting on the playground. "These are the new batch of promising talents I mentioned to you. I plan to train them into the next generation of ' Shrek Seven Monsters.' As it stands, apart from Huang Yuan, whose talent is slightly weaker, the rest are all one-in-a-million Little Monster."
Flender looked at Qin Ming, a hint of comparison in his eyes. " Qin Ming, you're now leading a class in the Imperial Fighting Team. What do you think of my students compared to the ones under your command?"
Qin Ming pondered for a moment before answering truthfully, "Dean, I just observed their fighting style for a while. Although their movement techniques are not weak, they are a few years younger than the Imperial Fighting Team, so it's too early to tell the real difference. However, with proper training, their future achievements may not be inferior to those of the Imperial Fighting Team."
At this point, Qin Ming's expression became somewhat complicated. "However... a group of truly exceptional individuals arrived at the Emperor Class just two days ago. They were children personally brought over by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe; their spots were forced in by the royal family, but their strength is indeed terrifyingly suffocating."
"Oh?" Flender became interested. "Whose prodigy is it that could make a crown prince personally ask for a spot?"
"The leader is called Gu Tian," Qin Ming said slowly.
As soon as the words were spoken, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun, who were wiping their sweat not far away, froze almost simultaneously. Qin Ming could clearly feel the surrounding air instantly turn cold, and several sharp auras carrying intense hostility rushed towards them. It felt like enemies meeting each other with intense hatred.
" Gu Tian?" Flender didn't seem to care, instead stroking his chin and laughing. "Oh, that kid. Although he only stayed at our academy for a few weeks, I'll never forget his freakish talent. But..."
Flender chuckled, his tone laced with the slyness of a seasoned veteran. "That kid's talent is truly god-like, but he's too much of a womanizer. He's always surrounded by those pretty girls, his mind is entirely on women. I bet he'll die at a woman's hands someday. In comparison, my honest students are much more reliable. They may be a bit poor, but their hearts are pure."
In truth, Gu Tian's contact with Flender and Zhao Wuji was relatively short, only about a month. Moreover, Gu Tian didn't harbor any deep-seated hatred towards them. There was no concrete evidence to prove that Gu Tian had framed them during the misunderstanding at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Furthermore, Flender had now succeeded as the dean of the Blue Tyrant Academy, and with the fame and status there, he could earn a large amount of Gold Soul Coin. Therefore, he genuinely admired Gu Tian's talent.
Qin Ming chuckled, then said seriously, "Dean, once everyone has gelled well, I'll definitely bring the Imperial Fighting Team out for an exchange and sparring match between our two schools. It'll also be a good opportunity for the two generations of Little Monster to meet."
The group continued catching up, while Tang San and the others, their minds in turmoil, returned to their dormitory first.
Inside the classroom.
" Boss Dai, did you hear what Teacher Qin Ming said? Gu Tian hasn't been seen for a few days, and he's actually gotten involved with Xue Qinghe." Tang San sat by the window, the Blue Silver Grass in his hand trembling slightly due to his emotional fluctuations. "Is he really that powerful, able to collude with the royal family?"
Dai Mubai's face was grim. As a prince of the Star Luo Empire Clan, his sensitivity to the political situation far surpassed that of Tang San. He lowered his voice and said, "Little San, you don't know, this Xue Qinghe is no simple man. The atmosphere within the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace has been very tense lately. Xue Qinghe has secretly eliminated several princes vying for the throne. Now, apart from Princess Xue Ke, who poses no threat, there's only that Prince Xue Beng, who spends his days drowning his sorrows in alcohol and wasting his time."
"Everyone in Heaven Dou City is saying that Xue Qinghe is destined to be the future Heaven Dou Emperor." Dai Mubai sneered. " Gu Tian's decision to side with Xue Qinghe at this time shows his ambition is definitely not small."
Tang San thoughtfully stroked the Blue Silver Grass in his hand, a calculating glint in his eyes. "Since Gu Tian has chosen Xue Qinghe, then Xue Qinghe's political enemies are our allies. That Prince Xue Beng... is he really as incapable as the rumors suggest?"
Dai Mubai chuckled, rubbing his forehead, and waved his hand. "Why bring him up? That Xue Beng is a complete spoiled brat, all he does is harass women and cause trouble while drunk. Even I look down on that kind of trash. You want him to fight against Xue Qinghe? Unless the sun rises in the west."
Tang San didn't reply, his gaze drifting towards the direction of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy across the street. Behind those magnificent white jade steps, Gu Tian seemed to have transformed into a gigantic shadow, looming over the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
" Xue Beng, huh..." Tang San thought to himself, "In this world, the more perfect a disguise seems, the easier it is to break. If Xue Qinghe wants to dominate the Heaven Dou, then I will stir up this mess completely."
The following day, the sun shone brightly, and the Heaven Dou Royal Academy maintained its usual luxury and tranquility.
Outside the training grounds of the Emperor Class, a carriage decorated with the Swan family crest slowly came to a stop. Xue Qinghe stepped down from the carriage first. Today, he was not wearing a heavy formal suit, but a well-fitting light gold outfit, which made him look refined and gentle. Beside him was a girl who looked to be about ten years old.
The girl had short, bright golden hair that was both neat and playful. Her features were as delicate as a porcelain doll. Although she was still young, her every move exuded royal etiquette and manners, radiating an air of nobility.
At this moment, Gu Tian was leading Xiao Wu and a group of girls toward the training ground. From afar, he saw Xue Qinghe's signature smile.
"Brother Qinghe, what brings you here today?" Gu Tian stepped forward and greeted him politely.
Xue Qinghe strode forward, first looking at Dugu Yan beside him, his tone full of concern. "Sister Yanzi, I heard you were frightened yesterday by the backlash of your Martial Soul. It really scared me to death. Father was also very worried after hearing about it, and specifically instructed me to come and see you. If there is any such emergency in the future, be sure to send someone to tell me. In Heaven Dou City, the royal family can always help."
Dugu Yan bowed slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm much better now."
Xue Qinghe smiled and nodded, then turned her gaze to Gu Tian, her tone becoming somewhat low. "Brother Gu Tian, to my shame, most of the royal physicians were transferred to care for Father yesterday. For some reason, Father was unwell yesterday, and the imperial physician diagnosed him with a cold. I was extremely worried, so I couldn't come to help when Sister Yanzi was poisoned."
Mentioning Xue Ye's illness, Gu Tian sneered inwardly. He knew all too well what Qian Renxue was up to. In the original story, Xue Ye's supposed health problems were precisely because the tonics Qian Renxue had been sending him year after year contained slow-acting toxins, gradually eroding the emperor's life force. Now that Xue Ye was feeling unwell, it was likely that Qian Renxue had begun her plan.
However, Gu Tian did not intend to expose it in public, after all, he did not want to get his shoes wet in the muddy waters of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family for the time being.
"I see." Gu Tian sighed, feigning concern. "Since it's just a cold, Brother Qinghe should take extra care of himself. I happen to have a renowned physician by my side, Sister Bi Ji. Her Martial Soul is the Emerald Swan. She personally helped detoxify Senior Poison Douluo and Dugu Yan from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison. If possible, why not have Sister Bi Ji personally diagnose Xue Ye? Perhaps it could have a miraculous effect."
A barely concealed wariness flashed deep in Xue Qinghe's eyes. If Bi Ji were to go over there, she would definitely be able to spot the poison at a glance. Xue Qinghe then politely waved his hand, declining the offer, saying, "I appreciate Brother Gu Tian's kindness. However, if the royal family can't even cure a common cold, then those quack doctors they employ have no reason to exist. There's no need for such a large-scale mobilization."
He clearly didn't want a healing-type Soul Master of Bi Ji's caliber to get close to Xue Ye, lest it cause unforeseen complications.
Changing the subject, Xue Qinghe pointed to the short-haired blonde girl beside him and smiled as he shifted the topic, "Actually, there's something else I wanted to entrust to Brother Gu Tian today. This is my younger sister, Xue Ke. Father Emperor learned that Bi Ji Ji's Martial Soul is the legendary pinnacle of healing— the Emerald Swan. Xue Ke's Martial Soul also recently awakened, and it happens to be the Swan Martial Soul inherited from the royal family, albeit with some mutations, leaning towards the healing type. She's only at level six now."
Xue Ke stepped forward and gracefully performed a standard royal curtsy. " Xue Ke greets everyone."
She was about the same age as Meng Yiran, but her temperament was more reserved and composed.
Xue Qinghe continued, " Xue Ke has been interested in medicine since she was little. Father Emperor believes that it would be a great blessing for her to stay by Lady Bi Ji's side and learn a thing or two. I wonder if Brother Gu Tian could make an exception and let Xue Ke live in the villa behind the mountain from now on, so that she can keep Rongrong and the others company?"
Xue Qinghe's move, ostensibly to become an apprentice, was actually a covert surveillance tactic. On the way here, he had already told Xue Ke that she should report to him truthfully any major or minor events that occurred at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy that were even remotely related to Gu Tian. He clearly wanted to plant a spy next to Gu Tian, this unpredictable figure, and at the same time, use this opportunity to further win Gu Tian over.
Looking at the poised and elegant Princess Xue Ke before him, Gu Tian was overjoyed.
" The Third Trial requires recruiting three individuals with god-level potential... Ning Rongrong has already succeeded, and Dugu Yan is almost there. Now, Qian Renxue has personally delivered Princess Xue Ke, who possesses a mutated Swan Martial Soul?"
Gu Tian thought to himself: This isn't surveillance, it's a godsend! He was just worried about not being able to find a third candidate!
"Since Brother Qinghe and His Majesty Xue Ye trust you so much, how could I, Gu Tian, refuse?" Gu Tian smiled and took Xue Ke's small hand, pointing towards the villa in the back mountain. "Little Xue Ke, that will be your home from now on. Sister Bi Ji will definitely like you."
Feeling the warmth of Gu Tian's palm, Xue Ke's face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head somewhat awkwardly. Ning Rongrong, standing to the side, stuck out her tongue and gave a meaningful smile as she looked at the newly added sister.