When he finished speaking, Meng Shenji turned to Xue Qinghe beside him and apologized. "Please forgive me, Your Highness. The academy's teachers have an urgent matter to report. I hope you'll excuse us."
"Think nothing of it, Chief Meng." Xue Qinghe gave a faint smile, her voice as gentle as jade.
Qin Yue slowly entered the room. She first bowed to the three chief instructors, then greeted Xue Qinghe and Xue Xing before speaking. "Reporting to the chief instructors: two exceptionally gifted children have just arrived at the academy. I believe you should meet them in person."
"What?!" Meng Shenji's voice suddenly rose, a note of disbelief in it.
Do you even hear yourself?
If Qin Yue hadn't always been so composed and steady, he would have wanted to crack open her skull and see what was inside. You're bothering me over something this trivial?!
Seeing Meng Shenji's stunned expression, Qin Yue wasn't sure how to explain. With so many people around, she could only emphasize her words. "Chief Instructor, their talent is 'far beyond' that of ordinary people."
She stressed the words "far beyond."
At her words, not only did the three chief instructors' expressions change, but Xue Qinghe and Xue Xing, seated to either side, also looked up.
A glint flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes. She raised a hand toward the several nobles beside her and said calmly, "You may leave."
"Yes, Your Highness."
They filed out one after another, but Prince Xue Xing remained where he was, unmoving.
"Uncle."
Xue Qinghe still wore a faint smile, her tone as placid as ever. Yet Xue Xing detected a hint of barely perceptible chill. Only after his expression shifted several times did he rise and sweep out of the room.
He wasn't afraid Xue Qinghe would attack him. For one thing, he had no claim to the throne; unless all the princes died, it would never be his. For another, he had once helped the Title Douluo Dugu Bo. Xue Qinghe wouldn't dare touch him unless she'd lost her mind.
What he feared was Xue Qinghe taking her anger out on Xue Beng.
Only after everyone had left did Qin Yue bring Lan Yu and Tang Shan, who had been waiting outside, into the room.
"Chief Instructors, Your Highness, this is Tang Shan."
Qin Yue led the little girl before them, admiration in her voice. "She's only nine years old. Her Martial Soul is the Haotian Flood Dragon, she's a Level 25 Soul Grandmaster, and her Soul Rings are one yellow and one purple."
"What?!"
Meng Shenji shot to his feet and stepped forward, placing a hand on Tang Shan's wrist. After probing her with Soul Power for a moment, he turned to Zhilin and Bai Baoshan, who were equally astonished. "She really is only nine!"
"Child, quickly, release your Soul Rings and let us see."
Tang Shan timidly looked back at Lan Yu. Only after the boy gave a slight nod did she raise her hand and summon her Martial Soul. Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, rose from beneath her feet. Their light brought a variety of expressions to the onlookers' faces.
The three chief instructors stared at the purple Soul Ring, their faces full of approval and delight.
A flicker of surprise crossed Xue Qinghe's eyes, but she didn't lose her composure like the others.
After all, she had reached the Soul Grandmaster level at six. Tang Shan becoming a Soul Grandmaster at nine made her an unparalleled genius, but there were still monsters above geniuses—those blessed by the gods!
"Chief Instructor, there's one more." As soon as Qin Yue finished speaking, Lan Yu stepped forward and spoke for himself.
"This junior is Lan Yu. I'm nine years old this year."
Meng Shenji stroked his beard and nodded warmly to Lan Yu.
In his eyes, an unparalleled genius was already a rare sight. Tang Shan alone was a stroke of tremendous luck—surely they wouldn't run into two in a row?
Perhaps this boy wasn't as strong as his younger sister, but his composure was remarkable.
"My Martial Soul is the Primordial Dragonman. I'm a Level 33 Soul Elder, and my Soul Rings are three purple."
Lan Yu's voice wasn't loud, but his words rang across the room like a bolt of thunder.
Xue Qinghe jolted in shock, her hand gripping the armrest so tightly her knuckles turned white. "That's impossible..."
But then she saw the three purple Soul Rings revolving around Lan Yu, their light dazzling.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Meng Shenji threw his head back and laughed. Only after a while did he abruptly stop, step forward, and grab Lan Yu by the shoulder. His eyes burned as he stared at him. "Good child, tell me—which academy did you attend before this?"
His heart was torn between joy and worry. He was glad that such a peerless prodigy had joined Heaven Dou Academy.
But he feared the boy might come from a great sect or powerful faction, hiding his identity and harboring some other motive.
Such a thing was extremely rare, but what if? What if some faction had gone mad and sent its peerless genius to infiltrate another power?!
"My sister and I were at Notting Academy before. We were work-study students."
"W-work-study students?!"
Meng Shenji's eyes widened. He pulled too hard and plucked out a strand of his beard.
Bai Baoshan, standing nearby, was even more shocked. He lost his balance and fell straight off his chair.
"Don't you believe us? We have proof of our Martial Souls from Spirit Hall!"
Seeing their reaction, Tang Shan thought they didn't believe Lan Yu. She tamped down her nervousness, lifted her little face, and explained loudly.
"Without the proof, Grandpa Village Chief couldn't have borrowed work-study student spots from other villages."
"You mean... Spirit Hall awakened your Martial Souls, but you ended up as work-study students?" Meng Shenji was stunned at first. Then he slapped his thigh and burst out laughing. Zhilin and Bai Baoshan couldn't help joining in.
In the three men's eyes, Tang Shan was guaranteed to become a Title Douluo.
As for Lan Yu, becoming a Title Douluo would only be the beginning.
Given enough time, he could surpass Bibi Han, the youngest Title Douluo of the age. He might even stand against Spirit Hall, annex Star Luo, and unite the Douluo Continent!
Even Zhilin, who was usually so composed and solemn, couldn't help laughing. "I laugh at the Pope's lack of strategy and Spirit Hall's lack of wisdom. If my Heaven Dou personnel had gone to test their Martial Souls, we'd never have let such peerless geniuses languish among the common folk!"
"Why the long face, Your Highness? Isn't this a good thing?" Meng Shenji finished laughing, then noticed Xue Qinghe's expression and asked.
"Ah? Ah! Haha, I was so excited that I lost myself for a moment." Xue Qinghe came to her senses and smiled.
Damn it, how is Bibi Han managing Spirit Hall?!
In Qian Renxue's eyes, Bibi Han was no more than her biological father.
Back then, Bibi Han must have drugged Qian Xunji and forced him to sleep with him.
That would mean her mother, Qian Xunji, had ignored the propriety between master and student and locked Bibi Han away with her in that secret chamber?!
How could that be!
As the thought passed through her mind, her gaze toward Lan Yu gradually grew heated.
Heaven Dou's blessings? Hah. Better to say Spirit Hall has heaven's favor.
Lan Yu looked at Qian Renxue, who seemed ready to devour him, and felt a chill of revulsion.
If you don't know their true identity, assume they're male!
"Your Highness, we absolutely must keep these siblings bound to our Heaven Dou Empire. What do you think about arranging a marriage for Lan Yu and granting him a title?" Meng Shenji suggested quietly to Xue Qinghe.
His words jolted Qian Renxue awake.
A marriage and a title? Then how am I supposed to win him over to Spirit Hall?!
Still, she could use the name of the Heaven Dou Empire to shower the boy with resources and make him grateful to her.
Use the wealth of Heaven Dou to win this boy's favor.
"Chief Meng is right. I've learned from your advice."
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, then changed the subject.
"But a marriage and a title will have to wait. Making too much fuss could draw everyone's attention and invite trouble."
"Yes, yes. I was thoughtless. I spoke out of turn."
Meng Shenji stroked his sparse beard and smiled sheepishly.
"Qin Yue."
Meng Shenji turned to her, his tone serious.
"Starting today, I'm promoting you to Heaven Dou Grade teacher. Your sole responsibility is to protect Lan Yu and Tang Shan. Do you understand?"
"Even if the two of them leave Heaven Dou Academy, you must stay by their side at all times. Don't let anyone lead these two treasures away!"
At the words "lead them away," Meng Shenji's anger flared.
Who knew where Blue Tyrant Academy had found such an idiot of a teacher? With a mere thirty-some levels of Soul Power, he'd managed to dig away the grandson of the Strength Clan's chief while Heaven Dou Academy wasn't looking, and had even brazenly declared, "There are no students who can't be taught, only teachers who don't know how to recruit."