The Three Great Elders

That was a slender, blue-haired girl. Her eyes were as clear as the azure sky, yet they held not a trace of emotion. She wore a short black dress that revealed a pair of long, fair, jade-like legs, paired with white knee-high stockings.

"Lingling?" Dugu Yan looked at the person before her in surprise, then stood up and lunged forward for a big bear hug.

"Lingling, I've missed you so much!"

Ye Lingling extended her arms to embrace Dugu Yan. Her expression remained blank, but her voice was soft. "You say you missed me? You've been gone for over half a year without even a single message, and now you finally know to come back?"

"Oh, come on, we agreed to participate in this year's Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament together. How could I not come back? You're the best, Lingling!" Dugu Yan pulled on Ye Lingling's hand, acting spoiled, and led her to the dining table to sit down. "Let me introduce you. This is my younger sister, Dugu Qingxi, a level 28 assault-system battle spirit master. And this is my best friend, Ye Lingling, a level 34 auxiliary-system tool spirit master."

"Level 36," Ye Lingling corrected coldly. Her gaze fell upon the girl opposite her, her eyes widening slightly as a flash of admiration crossed her features.

This girl looked nothing like Dugu Yan. She appeared to be only ten or eleven years old, yet her spirit power had already reached level 28.

Although she couldn't compare to her best friend, she was certainly gifted.

"Hello!" Qingxi waved at her, looking very well-behaved.

"H-hello..." Ye Lingling replied stiffly. She didn't have many friends at the academy and rarely interacted with others.

"Half a year later, and you've actually broken through to level 36." Dugu Yan rested a hand on Ye Lingling's shoulder and signaled the waiter to bring another set of cutlery.

"Tell me about you," Ye Lingling said, glancing coldly at the lively girl beside her. Given Dugu Yan's talent, she feared the girl's progress was likely even more impressive.

After all, she was known as the number one person of the younger generation in the Heaven Dou Empire. If not for the upcoming spirit master tournament next year, she would have graduated long ago.

"Me? I haven't improved much. My spirit power just broke through to level 52 a couple of days ago." Dugu Yan feigned indifference, though she was blooming with joy inside.

"You!" Ye Lingling's pupils contracted. Her personality was always cold, so even in her shock, she couldn't show much emotion.

Yet she clearly remembered that when Dugu Yan left the academy half a year ago, she was only a level 47 spirit ancestor. To rise five levels in just six months—what a monster!

She took the kettle from the table, poured a glass of water, and drank slowly to calm herself before speaking again. "We've been training hard these past six months, but we still can't keep up with you. You and the captain..."

The gap between level 36 and level 52 was more than just a world of difference.

Ye Lingling understood the situation between Yan and Captain Yu Tianheng. They had feelings for each other, but with such a massive gap in spirit power, how could they be together?

Dugu Yan thought of that person, and complex emotions stirred within her. "Can we not talk about him?"

She didn't know how to respond to those feelings.

"You'll see him eventually; you can't hide from him," Ye Lingling said softly.

Qingxi nibbled on the rice in her bowl, watching the two of them with eyes full of curiosity.

"Who is that 'him'?"

Dugu Yan looked up at the woman who was sighing, reached out, and picked a piece of braised rabbit meat for her. "Eat more and stop worrying about getting thin..."

Qingxi snorted and set down her bowl and chopsticks. "I'm done."

"If you're done, let's go. Are you coming, Lingling? I want to take her for a walk," Dugu Yan asked.

Ye Lingling nodded. She had nothing else to do, and a walk sounded fine.

The three of them left the cafeteria and toured the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, with Qingxi memorizing the layout of the buildings.

They saw the Education Committee belonging to the three elders, the training grounds, the simulated cultivation environments, the library, the cafeteria, and the teaching buildings. Finally, they had dinner at the cafeteria before heading to the dormitories.

The dorms were built halfway up the mountain. After passing through winding corridors, one could see small houses built against the slope, featuring carved beams and painted rafters. The roofs were covered in white glazed tiles, and in front of the doors were ornate iron fences painted white. The ground was paved with red bricks, supported by white stone pillars several feet high, topped with statues of the Swan Spirit, the symbol of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

"Pass through the woods ahead, and you'll reach the dormitory area for us Heaven Dou Grade students. Usually, one team gets one courtyard to make it easier to bond. You'll be living next door to me," Dugu Yan said, pointing to the maple forest not far away.

Ye Lingling looked at Qingxi in surprise. She hadn't expected this girl to be classified as Heaven Dou Grade. To be ranked as such without meeting the required spirit power level meant she must have some extraordinary qualities.

The setting sun dyed the horizon a brilliant crimson. It was autumn, and fiery red maple leaves covered the ground. The three of them passed through the maple forest, turned a corner, and saw a courtyard still lit with lamps.

Under the dim streetlights, a cold, handsome young man leaned quietly against the doorway. He kept his head down, arms crossed, waiting with his eyes closed.

Hearing footsteps, the man opened his eyes, his icy gaze softening slightly when it landed on Dugu Yan.

"Yan... you're back."

"Yeah." Dugu Yan nodded, looking at Yu Tianheng, but she didn't know what to say.

"What's the situation with them?" Qingxi leaned toward Ye Lingling and whispered.

Ye Lingling glanced at her. "Children shouldn't know about these things."

"The three elders have been waiting for you in the reception room for a long time. Go inside first," Yu Tianheng sighed softly and turned to enter the courtyard.

"Why are the elders here?" Dugu Yan frowned slightly, her eyes brightening when they landed on Qingxi. "Oh! They must be here for you. Come on, let's go see."

Ye Lingling followed them silently; she also wanted to know what could bring the three elders here in person.

Qingxi examined the courtyard. It was a white-and-gold compound; calling it magnificent would not be an exaggeration. Clearly, those who lived here were either wealthy or noble.

Qingxi followed Dugu Yan into the reception room and saw three elderly men she had never met sitting inside, with the teacher from earlier that day standing to the side.

Seeing the two of them, the three elders stood up quickly and walked over to greet them.

"Student Yan, it's been half a year. How was your training outside?" The leader was a lean old man with white hair and a white beard. After some pleasantries, his burning gaze fell on Qingxi. "Is this your younger sister? Not bad, not bad. An eleven-year-old Great Spirit Master at level 28—truly young and promising."

"My harvest?" Dugu Yan's lips curled upward as she summoned her five spirit rings—two purple and three black. "Elder Meng, see for yourself how my harvest is."

"A... a Spirit King!!" the fat old man standing behind Meng Shenji exclaimed in shock.

A flash of surprise crossed Meng Shenji's eyes, followed by a hearty laugh. "Not bad, not bad... With such talent, you are indeed the number one person of the younger generation in our Heaven Dou Empire. A twenty-year-old Spirit King—I fear that even if one were to scour the entire history of the Douluo Continent, one would not find a second."

"Elder Meng Shenji, you didn't come all this way just to congratulate me on breaking through to Spirit King, did you? If you have something to say, speak plainly. My little sister and I have been out all day, and I'd like to get some rest." Dugu Yan stifled a yawn; she had to wake up early tomorrow, and it had been a long time since she had seen her companions.

"We heard that your sister's first and second spirit rings are both ten-thousand-year rings, so we wanted to come and verify it for ourselves." Meng Shenji's eyes burned with intensity as he stared at the little girl behind her.

"Little one, would you mind letting us take a look?" The stout old man stepped forward, looking at her with a hint of excitement.

Qingxi frowned slightly, but she did not object; after all, she could not sense any threat from these people.

She channeled her spirit power slightly, and two black spirit rings manifested around her, carrying an inexplicable pressure.

"Heavens! This... this is simply a miracle!" The stout old man, Bai Baoshan, exclaimed, staring at the black spirit rings before him in disbelief.

Such a genius, provided she did not perish prematurely, would surely reach the legendary realm; this almost overturned every established theory in the spirit master world.

"Little one, would you allow Grandpa to test you? Don't worry, Grandpa won't hurt you." Zhilin, who had been holding back until now, stepped forward in excitement.

"Zhilin, don't be ridiculous! This child is only at level twenty-eight spirit power; how could she possibly withstand your strength!" Meng Shenji rebuked him angrily.

"Good child, just treat the academy as your home. If you need anything, tell your instructors directly, and someone will make the arrangements." Meng Shenji's gaze toward Qingxi held even more warmth than before, and he reached out as if to pat her head.