Senior Disciple Sister!

"The fifth Soul Ring of an Angel Martial Soul must not be settled for."

Yu Mengdi's eyes widened.

A soul beast over fifty thousand years old?

She had originally only planned to attach an ordinary Soul Ring that had just passed ten thousand years. After all, with her strength, absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring was already her limit.

Yet her master's opening offer was one over fifty thousand years...

"Master, I... can I really withstand it?"

"With me here, you can."

Qian Daoliu's tone was calm yet resolute. "I will use Angel God Power to protect your meridians and ensure the Soul Ring absorption proceeds without a hitch."

"Besides, the academy has sufficient resources."

"You need only relax. Leave everything else to your master."

Yu Mengdi opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she merely nodded heavily.

"As for Zhengtian Academy, you needn't worry."

"You saved their people. They won't have time to thank you enough."

"Besides..."

Qian Daoliu took several Soul Bones gleaming with an eerie light from his Soul Tool and lined them up across the table.

"These shall be Martial Soul Academy's payment to Zhengtian Academy."

Yu Mengdi's pupils suddenly contracted.

They were Soul Bones.

Three in total. Each radiated light of a different attribute, and their age and aura clearly surpassed ordinary Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones.

"This left arm bone is twenty thousand years old, fire attribute."

"It comes with the soul skill Flame Impact, suitable for assault-type Soul Masters."

Qian Daoliu lightly tapped the first bone, which glowed crimson, with his fingertip.

"This right leg bone is forty thousand years old, ice attribute."

"Its soul skill, Ice Seal for a Thousand Miles, provides large-scale slowing and control. It is extremely useful in team battles."

"This skull is fifty thousand years old, lightning attribute."

"Its soul skill, Thunderbolt Strike, combines spiritual and lightning attacks, capable of paralyzing and harming multiple enemies."

Qian Daoliu's voice remained calm. "The three Soul Bones range from twenty thousand to fifty thousand years in age, each with a different attribute."

"Zhengtian Academy can distribute them according to the students' Martial Souls. That should be enough to cultivate several more outstanding Soul Masters."

Yu Mengdi's lips trembled.

In her fourteen years at Zhengtian Academy, the finest Soul Bone she had ever seen was merely a left arm bone, which the Dean had treated as the academy's treasured heirloom.

Yet now, her master had casually produced three Soul Bones far beyond the ten-thousand-year tier, each with a different attribute and formidable soul skills.

"Master... these are too precious..."

"Precious?"

Qian Daoliu shook his head. "Compared to an inheritor of the Angel Martial Soul, these things are not worth mentioning."

"Besides, Martial Soul Academy has no shortage of them."

As he spoke, Qian Daoliu could not help feeling somewhat moved. Martial Soul Academy's foundation truly exceeded his imagination; even the foundation of the ten-thousand-year-old Spirit Hall could not compare.

He picked up the fifty-thousand-year lightning-attribute skull and handed it to Yu Mengdi.

"Take this skull back to Zhengtian Academy and personally deliver it to your Dean."

"Tell them Martial Soul Academy is grateful for their nurturing such an excellent student. This is a token of thanks."

Yu Mengdi accepted the Soul Bone with both hands, her fingers trembling slightly.

She suddenly dropped to her knees and respectfully kowtowed three times.

"Master, rest assured."

"In this tournament, I will definitely bring back the championship!"

Qian Daoliu looked at her, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

"Good. I'll wait for it."

Yu Mengdi carefully gathered up the three Soul Bones and turned to leave the study.

Sunlight fell over her, illuminating the pair of white angel wings on her back.

Her steps were much lighter than when she had arrived, and most of the unease in her eyes had vanished.

Qian Daoliu stood by the window, watching her leave.

Those golden eyes reflected the wings gradually disappearing into the distance.

"So alike, truly alike..."

He murmured so softly that he was nearly inaudible.

It was impossible to tell whether he meant the Martial Soul or something else.

Outside the study, Er Ha leaned against the wall with his forepaws folded over his chest, his grin stretched wide enough to be frightening.

When he saw Yu Mengdi emerge, he winked at her.

"Senior Disciple Sister, please take care of me from now on."

Er Ha's cry of "Senior Disciple Sister" made Yu Mengdi blush. Hugging the Soul Bones, she hurried away.

Behind her, Er Ha's laughter echoed.

Inside the study, Qian Daoliu shook his head.

That damned dog still had such a loose mouth.

By mealtime, waves of food aromas drifted through the academy.

The dining hall stood on the academy's eastern side beside the lake. With floor-to-ceiling glazed windows on three sides, it offered a full view of the lake and mountains.

Constant-temperature formation patterns were carved into the window frames. The interior was warm as spring even in winter, yet the thin ice on the lake outside and the reflection of the distant Spirit Pagoda could still be seen clearly.

When Zhao Mingyi, supported by a student, entered the dining hall, his steps paused.

He had taught at Zhengtian Academy for twenty years and considered himself fairly worldly.

Yet the decor and layout of this dining hall still left him slightly dazed.

White jade paved the floor, sandalwood formed the tables, and fresh flowers rested upon every dining table. A faint fragrance filled the air—not the scent of perfume, but the natural aroma of some spiritual plant he could not name.

"Teacher Zhao, this way, please."

Huo Yuhao walked ahead, politely leading the way.

Zhao Mingyi nodded and took a seat by the window.

Most of his injuries had been healed by Azure Luan Douluo. Though he was still somewhat weak, he was no longer in serious condition.

The two severely injured students had been placed in a small hall next door under dedicated care and were not here at the moment.

Yu Mengdi sat beside Zhao Mingyi, while Tang Ya and Bei Bei sat opposite them.

The remaining lightly injured students took their seats one after another, bringing the total to fewer than ten people.

"The view here is so lovely."

Tang Ya leaned by the window, her face nearly pressed against the glass as she looked at the Spirit Pagoda in the middle of the lake. "Bei Bei, look! That tower even glows!"

"Mm."

Bei Bei nodded, but his gaze fell upon the table.

The tableware had already been laid out—not ordinary porcelain bowls and wooden chopsticks, but jade bowls and jade chopsticks that were pure white throughout, their edges inlaid with silver threads. Every piece was as exquisite as a work of art.

He hesitated, not daring to reach out and touch them.

"If you're hungry, eat. No need to stand on ceremony."

Shen Zhou appeared at the dining hall entrance at some point, with Er Ha behind him.

The moment Er Ha entered, he dashed to a food bowl in the corner and buried his head in it, eating voraciously with loud smacking sounds.

Shen Zhou sat down beside Tang Ya and clapped his hands.

Several figures emerged from the direction of the dining hall kitchen.

They were not living people, but several silver-white humanoid Metal Puppets. Each stood seven feet tall, moved smoothly and naturally, and carried enormous serving trays steadily in both hands.

"Those are... Soul Tool Puppets?"

Bei Bei's eyes widened.

"They deliver food."

Shen Zhou said casually, "Stop making a fuss and eat first."

The Metal Puppets set the trays on the table and lifted their silver covers. Steam billowed upward, and a rich aroma instantly filled the entire dining hall.

The first dish: Braised Ten Thousand Year Earth Dragon Meat.

The chunks of meat were deep red and translucent, coated in a thick sauce. Each piece was the size of an infant's fist.

The steam carried a faint medicinal fragrance, clearly indicating that various nourishing spiritual herbs had been added during the braising.

The second dish: Steamed Red Blood Shrimp.

Zhao Mingyi recognized Red Blood Shrimp.

They lived in the deep sea and sustained themselves by absorbing iron from seabed minerals. Their flesh was rich in iron and Soul Power, making them a supreme delicacy for replenishing blood and vital energy.

At Zhengtian Academy, these shrimp were served only when the Dean entertained distinguished guests. Receiving even one per person was an immense honor.

Yet now, the serving tray was piled high with them, containing a full thirty or forty shrimp.

Each was as long as an adult's forearm, its shell blood-red and its flesh white as jade, giving off a faint luster.