As they headed back to the house, the three girls kept glancing at Mo Li from time to time, looking as if they wanted to say something but held back.
"Is there something on me? Why are you all staring?" Mo Li asked, puzzled.
At that, Ye Lingleng's veil trembled faintly. Her eyes smiled, but she said nothing. Jiang Zhu merely stared at him with wide eyes, looking him over carefully.
Of the three, only Dugu Yan reacted to Mo Li's question. "How can your second Soul Ring be a thousand years old?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized she shouldn't have asked.
No matter who it happened to, this was an extremely important secret. Asking so bluntly was practically putting him on the spot.
"I knew it. Senior Dugu, you really did come to spy on our academy's secrets, didn't you?" Mo Li said with a smile.
"Why would I need to spy on you!" Dugu Yan snapped.
"I already lost. Couldn't you call me something nicer?" The moment she heard how Mo Li addressed her, Dugu Yan grew even angrier.
Her tone was full of indignation, but her lips were pursed and her pretty face looked aggrieved.
Mo Li had no choice but to give in. "All right, all right. Yan Yan."
"Mm-hm. Say it a couple more times."
The aggrieved look vanished from Dugu Yan's face at once, replaced by a smug, satisfied expression. She gazed at Mo Li expectantly, hoping he would say it again.
Mo Li smiled, but stubbornly didn't say another word.
So Dugu Yan went back to sulking on her own.
Mo Li didn't answer directly. He could tell them about the Whale Rubber later, just not now.
Ye Lingling blinked. Though she had no idea how Dugu Yan had managed to steer the conversation in such a strange direction, she didn't ask any questions either.
Mo Li's purple Soul Ring alone had already astonished her.
A thousand-year second Soul Ring—something ordinary people couldn't achieve, yet Mo Li had done it.
Ye Lingling couldn't help but think that perhaps what he'd once said really could come true.
At the thought, Ye Lingleng's hand clenched slightly, then quietly relaxed.
"Weren't you already a Soul Grandmaster? When Lengling and I got here, the guards at your academy's gate said they didn't know you."
Dugu Yan was quite vexed about it, and had naturally forgotten the scolding she'd given Mo Li at the entrance.
Seeing that her tone had softened considerably, Mo Li smiled and explained, "I'm not some famous person. And, strictly speaking, I haven't even registered with a class yet."
Liu Erlong had always guided his cultivation. Though his Soul Power Level had reached the standard for admission, Liu Erlong had never suggested that he join the junior class.
Mo Li had no desire to do so either.
"Then what level are you now?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.
"Level twenty-two."
All three turned their eyes to him at once.
"How did you cultivate? That's ridiculous!" Dugu Yan's face filled with shock again. Half a month ago, Mo Li had still been a Soul Master. How much time had passed since then?
It seemed she'd been surprised by Mo Li far too many times today.
Ye Lingling and Jiang Zhu looked at Mo Li with astonishment as well.
"Hard work and sweat, of course." Mo Li gazed into the distance and sighed deeply.
"Who would believe that nonsense?" Dugu Yan pursed her lips.
"However you look at it, Yan Yan, you've lost to me again." Mo Li laughed.
"I'm not convinced!"
"Next time, if you've got the guts, don't use that Black Flame of yours. I won't use poison either. Then we can have a proper, fair fight."
Mo Li had hit a sore spot. Dugu Yan immediately bristled, her pretty face flushing with embarrassment as she shouted at him.
"Not interested. Next time, I won't let you in," Mo Li said.
"You!" Dugu Yan was furious.
Ye Lingling hurriedly held her back, just in case she really lost her temper and charged at him.
"Yan Yan!" Ye Lingling sounded exasperated. "Mo Li—and you, too. Stop teasing Yan Yan all the time."
Dugu Yan looked like she was about to cry, while Mo Li laughed.
Ye Lingling let out a soft sigh.
At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, plenty of students in their year regarded Dugu Yan as their big sister. It wasn't just because she was so capable; she also had a powerful background.
Dugu Yan had never used her connections to bully anyone, but the academy had still made her proud and haughty.
Yet in front of Mo Li, a single word from him was enough to make Yan Yan lose her temper. They really were natural enemies.
Ye Lingling thought to herself.
As if remembering what they'd come to discuss, Mo Li looked at the two girls and asked, "Sister Lengling, Sister Yan Yan, what level are you both?"
"I'm level twenty-five," Ye Lingling said softly.
"Twenty-eight," Dugu Yan said with a huff.
Mo Li nodded.
Sure enough, their levels were about what he'd expected. Ye Lingling and Jiang Zhu were both support Soul Masters, so their Soul Power improved more slowly.
The one Mo Li was most concerned about was Dugu Yan's Soul Power Level. She was also the one who would be the most troublesome to help.
The poison of the Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit had been steadily eroding her body ever since she was born.
If left unchecked, then as her strength grew, she would sooner or later end up like Dugu Bo, in a state worse than death.
Her problem had to be dealt with as early as possible. An Immortal Herb was the best choice: it could both stop the poison from eroding her body and perhaps improve the quality of her Martial Soul.
As for the flaw in Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia, perhaps they could find a good solution once they reached the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Dugu Bo, Dugu Bo—he guarded such a precious place as the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, yet had no idea how to make use of it. He'd suffered for years from the poison of his Martial Soul.
The Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit couldn't even be passed down properly. He'd ended up utterly alone, and even his granddaughter couldn't escape the same fate.
Mo Li sighed inwardly and found himself looking at Dugu Yan. She happened to look back at him too, her green eyes blinking slowly.
Their eyes met for a moment, and a flush of embarrassment immediately rose in Dugu Yan's eyes.
For no reason he could understand, Mo Li found himself both amused and exasperated. He looked away.
At some point, Ye Lingling had wandered to the flower garden Liu Erlong had set up. She leaned forward slightly to peer inside.
Seeing her, Mo Li walked over and opened the little gate in the fence. "Erlong and I planted these flowers together. We only planted them a few days ago."
The girls curiously looked around, then came back out.
"Do you usually live here?"
Ye Lingleng asked softly.
"Yes. This is where I live, and the next-door house is Sister Erlong's. You can go into my room, but it's better not to enter Sister Erlong's."
Mo Li pointed at the two nearly identical wooden houses and explained patiently.
"You live with your academy's dean? What's your relationship?" Dugu Yan looked at the two houses and suddenly asked, curious.