Ning Rongrong: Dean Gu, Can I Call You Brother Qing?

"We've thought it through," the three said in unison.

"As long as we can stay, we'll do anything."

Gu Qing looked at them. He had already known the answer in his heart: since they were willing to set aside their dignity, stay, and start over, he did not mind giving them a chance.

"Fine. Self Academy happens to be short on a few odd-job workers. Sweeping the training grounds, cleaning the practice fields, moving supplies, maintaining equipment. If you want to stay, those will be your duties from today onward."

Gu Qing's tone was stern:

"But there is one rule. I will temporarily seal your Soul Power. During your time as odd-job workers, you may not cultivate, use your Martial Souls, or rely on anything but your own hands to work.

The seal will only be lifted once I believe you have figured out the answers to those three questions. If you cannot endure it, you may leave at any time."

Sealing their Soul Power!

For any Soul Master, that was harder to accept than a beating or public humiliation.

Dai Mubai understood what Gu Qing meant. This was not a punishment, but a test.

He wanted them to rediscover themselves without the support of any power. Dai Mubai took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

"I'm willing."

"So am I."

Ma Hongjun and Oscar nodded forcefully and spoke at the same time.

Gu Qing glanced at them and said nothing more.

He raised his right hand, and a warm, dark-jade glow appeared in his palm. With three flicks of his fingers, three streams of jade-colored energy entered the dantians of Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar.

All three of them felt hollow inside at once. The Soul Power that had originally circulated through their meridians seemed to have its source gripped by an invisible hand, shrinking entirely back into the depths of their dantians, unable to be summoned in the slightest.

"The seal will last at least half a year. During those six months, you will be no different from any ordinary person in the academy."

"If, after half a year, you can still stand before me and clearly answer those three questions, you will qualify to become Self Academy's first batch of official students."

"Teacher Flender."

Gu Qing turned toward Flender, who was still standing nearby in a daze. "Take them to the storage room, arrange their accommodations, and have them start working before dawn tomorrow."

Flender came back to his senses. He looked at the three with a complicated expression, then sighed and beckoned to them. "Come with me."

Gu Qing watched as Flender led the three away, then withdrew his gaze. Turning around, he looked at Yu Xiaogang, who was still standing where he was.

Under Gu Qing's gaze, Yu Xiaogang unconsciously straightened up, like a student waiting to be lectured.

"Why are you still standing here? As for Blue Tyrant Academy, I want results in half a month."

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and nodded hard. "Rest assured, Dean Gu. Within half a month, I will settle the matter with Blue Tyrant Academy."

He paused, then added, "I have some old ties with that academy's dean. If I speak with her personally, there is an eighty percent chance she will agree."

Gu Qing glanced at Yu Xiaogang but did not expose him.

"Go."

Yu Xiaogang's lips moved as though he wanted to say something grateful, but in the end, he said nothing. He merely gave Gu Qing a deep bow, then walked out through the academy gates without looking back.

Gu Qing turned to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

"You two, come with me for the entrance test."

Second-floor office.

Gu Qing pushed open the door and entered, taking a seat at the head of the room. Tang San and Xiao Wu stood behind him, one on each side.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stood before the desk. One nervously rubbed her fingers together, while the other wore a blank expression, though her back was ramrod straight.

"Don't be nervous." Gu Qing leaned back in his chair.

"The practical assessment is not a fight. I'll ask you two questions. Think them through before answering. Zhu Zhuqing, you first."

Zhu Zhuqing straightened her body and calmly met Gu Qing's eyes.

"You are the second daughter of the Star Luo Zhu Clan. With your status and talent, you could receive the finest cultivation resources by remaining in the Star Luo Empire. Why did you travel all this way to come here?"

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for several seconds before speaking. Her voice was as cold and concise as ever:

"Because I don't want to be arranged like some piece of merchandise. My marriage, my Martial Soul, my future—everything has already been decided by others."

"I came here to take those things back with my own hands. I want to become stronger, not to be worthy of someone, but so that no one can control me."

Gu Qing looked at the determination in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes and nodded slightly. "Pass."

Hearing Zhu Zhuqing's identity, Ning Rongrong's eyes widened slightly.

The Hell Spirit Cat of the Star Luo Zhu Clan—she had heard of that name back when she was in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. She had never expected the icy girl in black before her to be the Zhu Clan's second daughter.

Gu Qing turned to Ning Rongrong. "You are the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi's beloved daughter."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is guarded by two Titled Douluo, Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo. Support-type Soul Masters across the world regard the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda as supreme.

Why did you leave your sect and come to some shabby academy?"

Ning Rongrong blinked. "How did you know I was..."

"Answer the question."

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath. The playful look on her face faded somewhat as she said seriously:

"At first, it was only because the sect was too boring. I just wanted to come out and have some fun. But after watching Tang San and Third Sister fight just now..."

"I suddenly realized I didn't want to spend my whole life as nothing but a support-type Soul Master who needed protecting. I want to stand at the front too. I want to use my own strength to protect the people I want to protect, instead of always hiding behind others."

Gu Qing looked at her and fell silent for a moment.

Compared with the spoiled and willful young lady from the original story, the Ning Rongrong before him was clearly much more mature.

Perhaps it was because she had personally witnessed the battle just now, or perhaps the Martial Soul Resonance had been guiding her thoughts all along, giving Ning Rongrong greater confidence in her own judgment.

"Pass."

Ning Rongrong let out a long breath and patted her chest.

For a moment there, she had truly been afraid Gu Qing would say something like, "Your thinking is improper." She could not afford that kind of embarrassment.

Gu Qing leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping across their faces one by one. His tone became even more serious than before:

"Since you have joined Self Academy, there is one rule you must remember. From today onward, any order I give can only be carried out. You may not refuse or question it."

"No matter what I ask you to do, you can only obey. Can you do that?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded without the slightest hesitation. "I can."

Ning Rongrong nodded as well. "So can I."

After saying that, she hesitated for a moment, then suddenly took a step forward, moving closer to Gu Qing.

Then Ning Rongrong tilted up her head, her bright eyes fixed on Gu Qing as she smiled. "But Dean Gu, can I make one tiny request?"

Gu Qing looked at Ning Rongrong's radiant smile and nodded.

"Dean Gu—no, Gu Qing—can I call you Brother Qing?"

The entire room instantly fell silent.

Tang San lowered the arms she had been folding across her chest, her brows knitting slightly. Xiao Wu had been drinking water and nearly sprayed it out through her nose, coughing violently several times.

Zhu Zhuqing stood beside them, rare surprise appearing on her usually aloof face.

She looked at Ning Rongrong, then at Gu Qing, her eyes plainly asking: That's allowed?