Refusal

The air in the room seemed to freeze.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were stunned.

Yan Shaozhe was also taken aback for a moment, but he quickly regained his smile. He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming even more sincere.

"Student Yao Yang, I'm not joking. You may have misunderstood what happened last time, but I truly admire you."

His gaze met Lin Yaoyang's directly as he said, word by word, "You may not know this, but I am a level ninety-five Titled Douluo. If you are willing to take me as your master, I will personally guide your cultivation and become your mentor."

He paused, as though giving Lin Yaoyang time to process the information.

"Even if you possess an Ultimate Martial Soul and cultivate relatively slowly, I am confident that I can help you become a Titled Douluo before the age of forty."

Wang Dong sucked in a sharp breath.

A Titled Douluo before forty?

What kind of concept was that?

The vast majority of Soul Masters on the continent could not even touch the threshold of becoming a Titled Douluo in their entire lives. Those who reached that realm before forty were few enough to count on one hand over the past ten thousand years.

Yan Shaozhe was not finished.

"I guarantee that I will do everything in my power to provide you with a full set of Soul Bones, and I will make every effort to ensure the Soul Bones you fuse meet the highest standards. Among them, there will be at least one Soul Bone produced by a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and I will also attach at least one Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring to you."

Xiao Xiao's mouth had already fallen open.

A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring? A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?

Things she had only ever heard of in legends—Yan Shaozhe was offering them so casually?

Yan Shaozhe's gaze swept over Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao before returning to Lin Yaoyang.

"And your friends—Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and Jiang Nannan. I can promise that, as long as you meet the grade requirements, I will guarantee the three of you admission to the Inner Court."

He had already investigated which people around Lin Yaoyang were close to him.

At the same time, he felt a strange sense of kinship toward Lin Yaoyang!

This brat was just like him when he was young!

Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, and that Wang Dong—he knew about them. A Light Goddess Butterfly!

Tsk, tsk, tsk. This brat sure had good fortune with women!

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in the other's eyes.

Guaranteed admission to the Inner Court.

The Inner Court was the true core of Shrek Academy. Outer Court students could struggle desperately and still fail to enter it. Yet with a single sentence from Yan Shaozhe, he could send all three of them in.

Such sincerity could no longer simply be described as "great."

Du Weilun stood to one side, watching Yan Shaozhe lay out these conditions, with only one thought in his mind.

Had Yan Shaozhe gone mad?

Why hadn't he offered Ma Xiaotao these terms when he took her as his student?

Yan Shaozhe had finished speaking.

He leaned back against the sofa, lifted his teacup for a sip, and watched Lin Yaoyang over its rim as he waited for his answer.

Lin Yaoyang remained silent for several seconds.

Then he shook his head.

"Dean Yan, I don't need any of what you just offered."

The hand holding Yan Shaozhe's teacup paused slightly.

"A Titled Douluo? My family has those too. They will find suitable Soul Rings and Soul Bones for me, so there is no need for the academy to worry."

Your family has them too?

Wang Dong looked at Lin Yaoyang, and something new appeared in her eyes.

A match in status...

Pah, pah!

What am I even thinking?!

"As for entering the Inner Court," Lin Yaoyang said in a tone as calm as if he were stating the obvious, "if we want to enter the Inner Court, I believe the few of us can rely entirely on our own abilities. There is no need to take a back door."

The room fell silent once more.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao exchanged another glance, suddenly feeling that Lin Yaoyang made a great deal of sense.

With Lin Yaoyang's Soul Ring configuration—three purple and one black—how could he possibly have achieved it without several powerful figures supporting him at home?

And the Inner Court truly was a place one could enter through one's own abilities.

Lin Yaoyang's strength was right there for all to see. Entering the Inner Court was only a matter of time. Though the two of them were not as strong as Lin Yaoyang, they were still among the best of the freshmen. It was not as though they had no chance.

Yan Shaozhe did not give up.

He set down his teacup and leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming even more earnest.

"Your Martial Soul has the fire attribute. One of my students is also a fire-attribute Soul Master. I believe the two of you would have much in common and could exchange knowledge as you study together."

"Furthermore, my Martial Soul is the Bright Phoenix, and I suspect that your Martial Soul also possesses the light attribute. I believe this would be of great help to your cultivation."

Lin Yaoyang looked at him calmly.

"No need. Thank you for your kindness."

His voice was not loud, but every word came through clearly.

"My Martial Soul has its own cultivation method. I do not need anyone else's help. What I need is only time and the right environment."

He rose to his feet.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao froze briefly, then rose as well.

"If Dean Yan has nothing else to discuss, we'll be leaving first."

After saying that, Lin Yaoyang turned and headed for the door.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao hurried after him.

The office fell quiet.

Yan Shaozhe sat on the sofa, watching the three figures disappear through the doorway, and remained silent for a long time.

Du Weilun stood beside him without speaking.

After a long while, Yan Shaozhe let out a soft sigh.

"This brat..." He shook his head, his tone carrying both helplessness and appreciation. "He has quite the pride."

Du Weilun finally could not hold it in any longer.

"Dean, weren't the conditions you offered... a little excessive?"

"Excessive?" Yan Shaozhe raised his teacup and took a sip. "I think they were not enough."

Du Weilun was stunned.

"The fact that he refused means I did not offer enough." Yan Shaozhe looked thoughtfully at the tea leaves drifting in his cup. "An Ultimate Martial Soul... Titled Douluos in his family... no need for the academy's assistance..."

He looked up toward the direction Lin Yaoyang had disappeared.

"This brat is far more complicated than I thought."

In the corridor.

Wang Dong hugged the leather pouch containing the Soul Bone and hurried after Lin Yaoyang.

"Brother Lin, you just... refused him?"

"Mm."

"That was a Titled Douluo! Level ninety-five!"

"Mm."

"You're not going to think it over?"

Lin Yaoyang stopped and turned to look at her.

"Think over what? I can accomplish every condition he offered on my own."

Wang Dong opened her mouth, only to realize that she could not refute him at all.

Becoming a Titled Douluo before forty was not necessarily impossible with Lin Yaoyang's talent and cultivation speed.

As for Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones, his family had Titled Douluos. Perhaps they truly had a way.

The three of them left the office building, and sunlight washed over them.

Holding the pouch, Wang Dong suddenly spoke. "Brother Lin, this Soul Bone..."

"Give it to Xiao Xiao."

"I have no use for it." Lin Yaoyang spoke calmly, his gaze falling on Xiao Xiao beside him as he continued, "This Soul Bone happens to suit a control-type Martial Soul. It will be of the greatest help to Xiao Xiao."

Xiao Xiao pressed her lips together slightly before speaking with some embarrassment. "This is a reward the academy gave to all three of us. How can I accept it..."

"We're companions. Why distinguish between yours and mine?" Lin Yaoyang simply stopped and looked at Xiao Xiao.

Seeing the look in Lin Yaoyang's eyes, waves of warmth rose in Xiao Xiao's heart. She nodded gently.

"Then... I'll accept it. Thank you, Brother Lin. Thank you, Wang Dong."

"You talk too much. Just take it!" Wang Dong stuffed the pouch into Xiao Xiao's arms.

Brother Lin?! Seriously...

Xiao Xiao hugged the warm pouch tightly, her heart overflowing with emotion.

Seeing this, Lin Yaoyang turned and continued forward. Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong exchanged a smile before hurrying after him, walking on either side of him.