Enemies and Rivals

Back at the room, the three girls kept casting glances at Mo Li, looking as if they had something to say but were holding back.

"Is there something on me? Why are you all looking at me?" Mo Li asked, puzzled.

At these words, Ye Lingling's veil fluttered slightly and her eyes crinkled into a smile, though she remained silent. Jiang Zhu simply widened her eyes and scrutinized him from head to toe.

Of the three, only Dugu Yan spoke up after hearing Mo Li's question, huffing, "How could your second soul ring be a thousand-year one?"

The moment the words left her lips, she realized it was inappropriate.

A matter like this was an extremely important secret for anyone, and asking it so bluntly was truly putting him on the spot.

"I knew it. Senior Dugu, you really did come to spy on our academy's intelligence, didn't you?" Mo Li laughed.

"As if I needed to spy!" Dugu Yan retorted, annoyed.

"I've already won, so couldn't you call me something nicer?" Dugu Yan grew even more irritated the moment she heard how Mo Li addressed her.

Dugu Yan's tone was full of defiance, yet her lips were pursed, and her pretty face looked rather aggrieved.

Mo Li sighed helplessly and changed his tune: "Fine, fine, Sister Yanyan."

"Mm-hmm, say it a few more times for me to hear."

The look of grievance on Dugu Yan's face vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of smug satisfaction as she waited expectantly for Mo Li to say it again.

Mo Li smiled and stubbornly refused to say another word.

And so, Dugu Yan went back to sulking on her own.

Mo Li didn't answer her directly; after all, he could tell them about the Whale Glue later, but now was not the time.

Ye Lingling blinked. Although she didn't know how the conversation had been steered in such a strange direction by Dugu Yan, she didn't press the matter.

The mere sight of that purple soul ring on Mo Li had already brought her no small amount of shock.

A thousand-year second soul ring—something an ordinary person couldn't achieve, yet Mo Li had managed it.

Ye Lingling couldn't help but sigh inwardly; perhaps the things he had said in the past could truly come to pass.

Thinking of this, Ye Lingling's palm tightened slightly before she quietly relaxed her grip.

"Aren't you already a Great Soul Master? When Lingling and I arrived, the guards at your academy said they didn't even know who you were."

Dugu Yan felt quite frustrated by this, and naturally, she completely pushed to the back of her mind the fact that she had just spent the time at the gate berating Mo Li.

Seeing her tone soften, Mo Li smiled and explained, "I'm not exactly a big celebrity, and strictly speaking, I haven't even registered with a class yet."

His cultivation had always been guided by Liu Erlong, and although his soul power level met the requirements for enrollment, Liu Erlong hadn't suggested he join the beginner classes.

Naturally, Mo Li had no such intention either.

"Then what level are you now?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.

"Level twenty-two."

The three girls' gazes converged on him once again.

"How are you cultivating? That's so exaggerated!" A look of shock appeared on Dugu Yan's face once more. It had only been half a month since Mo Li was just a Soul Master; how much time had even passed!

It seemed she had received a bit too much surprise from Mo Li today.

Ye Lingling and Jiang Zhu cast equally astonished looks at Mo Li.

"It's all down to my hard work and sweat, of course," Mo Li said, gazing into the distance with a deep sigh.

"Who would believe your nonsense?" Dugu Yan curled her lip.

"Regardless, Sister Yanyan, you still lost to me this time, didn't you?" Mo Li laughed heartily.

"I don't accept it!"

"If you've got the guts, don't use that Black Flame of yours next time, and I won't use poison either. Let's have a fair and square fight."

Having been poked in a sore spot, Dugu Yan immediately bristled. A flush of shame and anger rose to her pretty face as she shouted at Mo Li.

"No fight. Next time, I won't let you in," Mo Li said.

"You!" Dugu Yan fumed.

Ye Lingling hurriedly pulled on Dugu Yan from the side, fearing she might actually lose her temper and rush at him.

"Yanyan!" Ye Lingling's tone was helpless. "Mo Li, and you too—stop teasing Yanyan all the time."

Dugu Yan was on the verge of tears, while Mo Li just laughed.

Ye Lingling sighed softly.

In their Heaven Dou Royal Academy, there were countless students of the same year who looked up to Dugu Yan as their "big sister," not just because of her impressive strength, but also her powerful background.

Although Dugu Yan had never used her status to bully others, she had still developed a proud temperament within the academy.

Yet, in front of Mo Li, a single word from him was enough to make her lose her composure. They were truly like fated rivals, Ye Lingling thought.

Seeming to remember the business at hand, Mo Li looked at the two girls and asked, "Sister Lingling, Sister Yanyan, what levels are your soul powers at now?"

"I am level twenty-five," Ye Lingling said softly.

"Level twenty-eight," Dugu Yan replied with a light huff.

Mo Li nodded.

As expected, their levels were about what he had anticipated; both Ye Lingling and Jiang Zhu were support-type Spirit Masters, so their spirit power increased relatively slowly.

Among them, the one Mo Li was most concerned about was Dugu Yan's spirit power level, as she was the most troublesome case.

The toxins inherent to her Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit had been continuously eroding her body since birth.

If left unchecked, then as her strength increased, she would sooner or later end up in the same agonizing state as Dugu Bo.

Naturally, the sooner her problem was solved, the better. Immortal herbs were the best choice; on one hand, they could resolve the toxin erosion, and on the other, they might even improve the quality of her spirit.

As for the flaws of Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia, perhaps a good solution could also be found once they reached the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Dugu Bo, oh Dugu Bo, guarding such a massive treasure trove as the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well yet having no idea how to utilize it, suffering in vain from the torture of his spirit's toxins for so many years.

He couldn't even properly pass down his Jade Phosphor Snake Spirit, ending up a lonely man, with even his granddaughter unable to escape that same fate.

Mo Li sighed inwardly, his gaze drifting unconsciously toward Dugu Yan. Dugu Yan happened to look over at that exact moment, her green eyes blinking slowly.

The two locked eyes for a moment, and a flash of shy annoyance immediately welled up in Dugu Yan's eyes.

Feeling inexplicably amused, Mo Li couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he looked away.

Meanwhile, Ye Lingling had moved to the edge of the flower garden Liu Erlong had set up, peering inside with her head tilted.

Seeing this, Mo Li walked over and opened the picket gate. "These are the flowers Sister Erlong and I planted together; they've only been in the ground for a few days."

The group took a curious stroll around before coming back out.

"Do you usually live here?"

Ye Lingling asked softly.

"Yes, this house is where I live, and the one next door is Sister Erlong's. You're welcome to enter my room, but it's better not to go into Sister Erlong's."

Mo Li pointed to the two nearly identical wooden cabins and explained patiently.

"You live with your Dean? What kind of relationship do you two have?" Dugu Yan looked at the two houses and asked suddenly, filled with curiosity.