Drinking, Shopping, Fighting

Steam swirled behind the bathroom door.

Xiao Yin had just turned off the shower and was raising a hand to sweep his wet black hair back, revealing his sharply defined face.

Through the rising steam, his powerful male body, completely uncovered, crashed into Liu Erlong's line of sight.

Liu Erlong had a fiery, unyielding temperament and acted even more like a man than most men. What kind of scene had she not seen before?

Yet this intensely visual sight left her mind blank for a rare moment.

An uncontrollable heat surged up her cheeks, and even the tips of her ears burned faintly.

Xiao Yin was stunned as well. He had not expected Liu Erlong to charge straight into the bathroom. Was that not a little too bold?

"Ahem!"

Liu Erlong abruptly came to her senses, forcibly suppressing her flicker of panic and hiding it with a cough.

"What are you dawdling for? Get dressed!"

Liu Erlong tossed the clothes onto a nearby stool. Her tone carried a trace of embarrassed anger as she turned and walked out, slamming the bathroom door shut with a bang!

"Tsk! Violent woman!"

A moment later, Xiao Yin emerged wearing a brand-new Blue Tyrant Academy uniform.

After changing into clean clothes, Xiao Yin's intimidating wildness was restrained, replaced by a deep, tranquil air.

Liu Erlong's gaze settled on him again, this time filled with undisguised admiration.

What a handsome young man!

"You're Xiao Yin, right?"

Liu Erlong's tone suddenly became exceedingly serious.

"Yes."

"How old are you this year?"

"...Not yet eighteen. Why?"

"I want you to join Blue Tyrant Academy!"

"Why?"

Although he had already planned to stay at Blue Tyrant Academy for the time being, Xiao Yin was still curious why Liu Erlong was being so enthusiastic toward him.

"Because you're not a noble, because you're a genius. I need true geniuses like you!

"If you join, you may claim any academy resources you want, as long as it is not excessive!

"Including... my strength as a Rank 74 Soul Saint."

Xiao Yin saw sincerity in Liu Erlong's eyes.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Represent Blue Tyrant Academy in the Elite Tournament for Advanced Soul Master Academies across the continent five years from now!"

...Xiao Yin had considered many possible reasons, but this was the one he had never expected.

If I represent them, what will happen to those little bastards?

Forget it. Who cares? I'll find a chance to visit the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. By then, they probably won't even qualify to compete!

"...Fine, I agree. But I have three conditions."

"Go ahead!"

"First, I choose my own teammates. You are not allowed to interfere!" Xiao Yin raised one finger.

"No problem, as long as you demonstrate your strength and potential!"

The moment Liu Erlong finished speaking, Xiao Yin swept his left hand, and Taotie appeared behind him!

At the same time, two purple Spirit Rings slowly rotated beneath his feet!

When she saw those two deep, dazzling purple Spirit Rings clearly, Liu Erlong's pupils suddenly contracted!

"Hiss—!"

Even with Liu Erlong's knowledge and fiery temperament, she could not help drawing in a sharp breath. The shock instantly replaced the expression on her face!

His First Spirit Ring was already a thousand-year ring?!

How... how was that possible?!

"I remember Xiao Gang saying that the limit for the First Spirit Ring was 423 years. Why is his a thousand-year ring? Could Xiao Gang's theory be wrong?"

Xiao Yin ignored the dumbfounded Liu Erlong and continued speaking.

"Second, I won't stay at the academy all the time. I have my own path of cultivation to follow!"

"Huh? This... Fine! That works too!"

Having recovered her senses, Liu Erlong thought it over carefully. This condition was not excessive; geniuses all had their own methods of cultivation.

"As for the third condition... spend a day with me!"

Liu Erlong: ...?

Liu Erlong's fair, heroic face visibly flushed from pale to crimson.

"Bullshit!!!"

Her roar made the little building seem to shake. The veins on Liu Erlong's temples throbbed as she resembled a female tyrannosaur that had been thoroughly enraged.

"You brat! You... you dare flirt with me?! Believe it or not, I'll destroy you right now?!"

Liu Erlong's spit nearly sprayed onto Xiao Yin's face as the pressure of a Soul Saint erupted without restraint, as though she might attack at any moment.

Yet Xiao Yin acted as if nothing had happened, merely raising a hand to casually wipe his face.

"Dean, please calm down."

Xiao Yin's voice remained steady, even carrying a hint of amusement, forming a sharp contrast with Liu Erlong's fury.

"Have you misunderstood something?"

"Misunderstood?!"

Liu Erlong's chest heaved violently in anger, her fitted outfit outlining breathtaking curves that made Xiao Yin's eyelids twitch.

"You said 'spend time with you'! What else could that possibly mean?!

"Do you take me for a three-year-old child, or some inexperienced little girl?! You dare set your sights on me, you..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Xiao Yin made a stopping gesture, cutting her off.

"Dean, isn't your imagination... a little too vivid?"

He leaned slightly forward, meeting Liu Erlong's eyes directly. His gaze was so open it was almost innocent.

"When I said 'spend time with me,' I did not mean the romantic, lovey-dovey kind of thing you are imagining. For someone of your... type, I cannot handle that for now."

Liu Erlong was nearly choked by his gaze and tone, which only made her angrier.

"Then tell me! What do you mean by 'spend time with you'?! If you can't explain yourself properly, I'm fighting you today!"

Xiao Yin leisurely raised three fingers again. "Very simple. Just three things."

"First, treat me to the finest wine in Heaven Dou City."

"Second, accompany me to the largest auction house in Heaven Dou City. I need to buy some things."

"Third, find somewhere without people around and fight me yourself!"

With every condition he named, the anger on Liu Erlong's face faded a little, replaced by an increasingly strange expression.

"That's it?"

Liu Erlong's imposing aura visibly deflated, and the violent pressure of her Soul Power receded by more than half.

She stared suspiciously at Xiao Yin, as though confirming whether he was trying to play some trick.

"Drinking? Shopping? Fighting? That's what you meant by 'spend time with you'?"

"What else would it be?"

Xiao Yin spread his hands, looking completely justified.

"It's my first time in Heaven Dou City. I don't know anything.

"How would I know which place has the best wine? Which auction house is the best?

"You're a local, so naturally you're the most suitable person to show me around.

"As for the last condition..."

His eyes fixed brightly on Liu Erlong. "Don't you want to personally test how strong I am?"

The truth was that Xiao Yin had only fought spirit beasts so far and had never faced a Soul Master head-on. He did not know what a Soul Master's methods of attack were truly like.

And Liu Erlong was a Soul Saint, enough for him to test himself at full strength. She was perfect.

Liu Erlong fell silent.

Thinking about it carefully, apart from shopping, drinking, and fighting... were those not exactly the things Liu Erlong loved most?!

And... he was right.

If she did not fight him personally, how could she get a clear measure of him?

How could she judge just how strong he truly was?!

"Hmph!"

Liu Erlong snorted heavily, concealing the flash of excitement in her eyes.

She sat back down in her chair, crossing one leg over the other and resuming the manner of a domineering dean.

"You sure know how to talk, brat! Drinking and fighting? Fine! At least you understand some manners!"

With a sweep of her hand, she acted as though her previous rage had never happened. "But..."

Her gaze suddenly turned sharp as a blade, filled with intense provocation and fighting spirit. "I won't hold back! Don't cry for your mother when I beat you up!"

Xiao Yin smiled, his expression full of confidence. "I could not ask for more. Just don't complain if I hit too hard, Dean."

"Good! You're arrogant enough! I like that!"

Liu Erlong slapped her thigh. "It's settled, then! Tomorrow! Tomorrow it is!"

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Xiao Yin did not linger and turned to leave.

When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back toward Liu Erlong, and gave her a meaningful smile.

"Oh, right, Dean. Next time you enter someone else's bathroom, remember to knock."

"You—!"

Liu Erlong instantly bristled. The blush she had just suppressed surged back onto her face, even more fiercely than before.

She was about to roar again, but Xiao Yin had already laughed and walked out the door, his figure disappearing from sight.

Only Liu Erlong remained in the living room, her face full of shame and anger.

"Bastard! Tomorrow, I'll beat you flat!"