The First Male Student of Tianshui (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

The summer night was exceptionally cool, thanks to a gentle breeze.

Gu Yena's figure cast a cold, elegant silhouette against the window.

The summer wind drifted in, stirring her moon-like silver hair that reached down to her waist, the strands swaying silently against her shoulders and cheeks.

She sat quietly on the windowsill, her gaze fixed on the deep night outside, her entire being blending into the stillness.

Yang Teng leaned against the bedpost, arms crossed, watching her for a long time.

The moonlight from outside and the soft light from within intertwined, casting a hazy halo over Gu Yena's profile, imbuing her with both beauty and a sense of solitude.

After an unknown amount of time, Gu Yena turned her head slightly, her silver eyes shifting toward him. They reflected the lamplight, calm and rippleless.

"Seen enough?"

Her voice was crisp and cold, shattering the silence of the room.

Yang Teng grinned, dropped his arms, and walked lazily to the table to pour himself a glass of water.

"Never enough. Xiao Na, you're so beautiful, I could look at you forever."

"I don't know how many tens of thousands of years I have lived, you..."

Gu Yena stopped mid-sentence.

She turned back to look out the window, her tone indifferent.

"Your strength is indeed formidable."

Gu Yena praised him coldly.

"Even suppressed by this plane and burdened by that seal, you were still able to contend head-on with two well-coordinated Soul Ancestors using only the power of a Soul Master, and even break their Soul Fusion Skill."

Yang Teng took a sip of water, his smile carrying a hint of nonchalant roguishness.

"That's just the beginning. As long as I gain a degree of recognition from this plane, once I break through to the God level, I'll show you what true strength is."

Gu Yena was silent for a moment, her voice devoid of emotion.

"I am actually starting to believe that you might have the ability to realize that idea of allowing soul beasts to become gods."

Yang Teng's eyes lit up. He set down his glass and leaned in closer.

"That's the spirit! Xiao Na, you have to have faith in me. I mean what I say. When the time comes, I'll get everything sorted out for you and Di Tian. God positions? We'll be handing them out wholesale!"

Gu Yena seemed unaccustomed to the nickname "Xiao Na" and glared at Yang Teng.

She then shook her head slowly, her silver hair swaying with the motion.

"No, rather than saying I believe in you,"

Her cold eyes stared straight at Yang Teng, carrying a hint of indescribable complexity.

"It is better to say that I believe in your bloodline, in your father. The Lord of the God Star is an existence that even God Kings must look up to. To your father, making what you said a reality is likely nothing more than a drop in the ocean."

The smile on Yang Teng's face stiffened for a moment before relaxing, though a trace of imperceptible helplessness flashed deep in his eyes.

He understood. Gu Yena's meaning was clear: she acknowledged his potential, but that acknowledgment was largely built on the foundation of him having an unimaginably powerful father.

In her eyes, everything astonishing he displayed now stemmed from that unreachable bloodline, while he himself might just be a "young master" inheriting the shade of his ancestors.

"Tsk!"

Yang Teng clicked his tongue and leaned back against the bedpost, his tone returning to its lazy cadence.

"Think what you want. The old man is powerful; I've never denied that. He's a massive mountain, standing very high, and I'm still climbing at the foot of it."

He shrugged. "There's plenty of time. Facts will prove everything."

Yang Teng couldn't be bothered to explain; some things, when spoken of too much, lose their weight.

Just as the atmosphere in the room fell into a subtle silence, a knock sounded at the door.

"Yang Teng, student Gu Yena, it's me, Shui Yunxia."

The Dean's gentle, slightly formal voice came from outside.

Gu Yena stood up, walked to the door with light steps, and opened it.

Shui Yunxia stood outside and nodded at her. Gu Yena gave a slight nod in return, then stepped aside and walked straight out, leaving the space to Shui Yunxia and Yang Teng.

She was perceptive and naturally understood that Shui Yunxia wouldn't have come so late just to check on Yang Teng; there must be something important to discuss.

Shui Yunxia walked into the room and closed the door behind her.

She looked at Yang Teng first. Seeing his ruddy complexion and steady breathing—a far cry from the pale, exhausted state he was in after the battle that afternoon—a flash of amazement crossed her eyes. The seemingly simple treatment Gu Yena had provided was nothing short of miraculous.

"It looks like you've recovered well."

Shui Yunxia walked to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, her tone filled with concern.

"That battle this afternoon took a heavy toll. If you feel any discomfort, the academy has the best healing-type Soul Masters."

"Thank you for your concern, Dean. With Xiao Na here, she's more effective than any healing-type Soul Master."

Yang Teng sat on the edge of the bed with a grin. "You didn't come all this way so late just to comfort me, did you, Dean? If you have something to say, just say it."

Shui Yunxia gathered her thoughts, the smile on her face fading as her expression turned serious.

"Yang Teng, since you have already defeated Bing'er and Xue Wu, according to our agreement, you are now a special recruit of Tianshui Academy."

Shui Yunxia confirmed this point first, then immediately shifted the tone of her conversation.

"However, the academy is currently facing a thorny issue that requires the strength of both you and Gu Yena."

Yang Teng looked directly at Shui Yunxia with an extremely serious expression.

Shui Yunxia felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze.

"Our Tianshui Academy is located within the territory of the Balaque Kingdom, and in the royal capital, there is another academy called Balaque Academy."

Shui Yunxia's tone sank slightly.

"That academy has a deep background, with direct support from the royal princes, and possesses immense influence. For many years, they have intended to annex our Tianshui Academy to incorporate our unique ice-water attribute teaching system and excellent student body into their territory."

"In the past, they still cared about their reputation and the rules of the academy world, so their actions were not too excessive. But now, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to begin in less than a month."

"Balaque Academy likely feels that time is pressing, so their desire to annex us has become increasingly urgent, and their methods have started to become aggressive."

A trace of anger and helplessness appeared on Shui Yunxia's beautiful face.

"Under the banner of integrating the kingdom's spirit master educational resources and concentrating strength to prepare for the tournament, they have applied pressure multiple times. Just this afternoon, shortly after your match, people from Balaque Academy came to our door again and proposed a solution."

She looked at Yang Teng and said, word for word.

"They demand a seven-on-seven team battle against our Tianshui Academy. If we lose, we must voluntarily merge into Balaque Academy and become one of their subordinate branches."

The air in the room seemed to grow a bit heavier.

"Actually, I had thought about it before and was hesitating whether to agree."

Shui Yunxia admitted, "In the spirit master world, strength is respected, and Tianshui does not have much confidence!"

Her gaze became sharp as she stared intently at Yang Teng.

"However, it is different now; we have Gu Yena and you."

"Gu Yena is a Spirit King, and her true combat power is likely far beyond that of an ordinary Spirit King, and as for you..."

Shui Yunxia paused.

"As a Spirit Venerable, you were able to defeat the martial soul fusion skill of Bing'er and Xue Wu head-on. Now, I have at least ten times the confidence that we can win this team battle, which concerns the survival of the academy!"

Yang Teng listened quietly until she finished. "Dean, according to what you just said, does that mean I have officially joined Tianshui Academy? Are the formalities and such all settled?"

Shui Yunxia was stunned for a moment, not expecting him to ask this, but then she nodded affirmatively.

"Of course. Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. For geniuses like you and Gu Yena... Tianshui Academy could not ask for more."

Having received a definite answer, a satisfied smile appeared on Yang Teng's face.

"Since the Dean thinks so highly of me and acknowledges that I am already a part of the academy."

Yang Teng's voice was clear and powerful.

"Then, regarding matters concerning the honor and survival of Tianshui Academy, I, Yang Teng, will certainly go all out."

A flash of excitement crossed his eyes.

"Balaque Academy? They want to annex us? Then let them see for themselves on the team battle arena what it means to kick an iron plate!"

Watching the fighting spirit ignite in Yang Teng's eyes, Shui Yunxia stood up, reached out her hand, and said solemnly.

"Good! Tianshui Academy welcomes its first male student."

Yang Teng also reached out his hand and shook hers firmly.

"Rest assured, Dean."

He laughed, his tone relaxed and filled with powerful confidence.

"With Xiao Na and me here, I guarantee we'll make them crawl back while clutching their backsides!"