Evening Banquet, Xue Qinghe's Recruitment

The night after practical combat class ended, an invitation from Xue Qinghe was delivered to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

She wanted to invite some of the Heaven Dou Class students to a dinner banquet.

The list included Bai Yi, Ye Lingling, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and three other highly ranked Heaven Dou Class students.

When Bai Yi received the message, he was eating in the cafeteria with Ye Lingling.

"Are you going tonight?"

Bai Yi asked.

Ye Lingling kept her head down as she ate. "If you go, I'll go."

"Then let's go. The Crown Prince should be pretty rich. We can fleece her for something."

At seven that evening, Bai Yi and Ye Lingling arrived at the East Palace with Yu Tianheng and the others.

The East Palace was an independent palace within Heaven Dou City. It was plainer than Bai Yi had expected, but it occupied a vast area. Two rows of stone lamps before its gates cast a warm yellow glow.

Xue Qinghe stood at the entrance waiting for them in person.

She wore a pale gold robe, her golden hair casually draped behind her shoulders. Her handsome face held a gentle smile.

"Welcome."

She nodded to each of them, her voice unhurried.

"There's nothing important tonight. I simply wanted to gather with some of the finest students in the Heaven Dou Class."

Everyone was led into a side hall.

The side hall was not particularly large. Two long tables stood within it, covered with several delicate pastries.

Xue Qinghe took the seat of honor and gestured for everyone to make themselves comfortable.

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy is the cradle that nurtures the future pillars of the Heaven Dou Empire. All of you are outstanding among them."

Xue Qinghe raised her teacup and took a sip, her gaze sweeping over every face.

"Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan in particular—the inheritances of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and the Jade Phosphorous Serpent will surely become the backbone of the empire in the future."

Yu Tianheng nodded slightly. His expression was solemn, though a trace of pride showed through.

Dugu Yan merely smiled, clearly pleased by the praise.

Xue Qinghe exchanged a few more pleasantries, then signaled to the attendant beside her, who brought out a tray.

Several small boxes rested on the tray.

"As this is our first meeting, I prepared a few modest gifts."

Xue Qinghe smiled. "They aren't anything valuable, but they should be useful."

She had the attendant distribute the boxes to everyone.

Bai Yi opened his and took a look. Inside was a piece of black ore, its surface threaded with faint silver patterns.

He did not recognize it, but it felt warm and smooth to the touch.

Yu Tianheng received an ancient scroll, seemingly a copied text recording certain lost techniques of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Dugu Yan received a bottle of emerald-green medicine with a faint medicinal fragrance. The others had also received items suited to their respective needs.

Xue Qinghe had clearly done her homework.

After the gifts had been distributed, Xue Qinghe carried her teacup over to Bai Yi.

Bai Yi was examining the ore with his head lowered. Sensing someone approach, he looked up.

Xue Qinghe looked down at him with a smile.

"Bai Yi, you're eight this year, correct?"

"Yes."

Xue Qinghe said appreciatively,

"I heard that you defeated Yu Tianheng as soon as you enrolled. And you haven't lost once in over a month of practical combat classes."

Bai Yi slipped the ore into his pocket.

"I got lucky."

Xue Qinghe smiled and shook her head.

"Lucky people don't win every match. I saw your strength with my own eyes yesterday. There's no need to be modest."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Bai Yi's body.

"You're still young and growing. It isn't good to be injured so often."

Xue Qinghe took a white jade bottle from her sleeve and handed it to Bai Yi.

"Keep this. Take one pill each morning and evening. It can strengthen the resilience of your muscles and bones. It isn't some miraculous elixir, but it will help cultivators your age."

Bai Yi accepted it and opened the bottle to smell it.

The medicinal scent was faint and not pungent.

He calculated inwardly. Its effects overlapped somewhat with Indestructible Diamond, but it was not useless.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Bai Yi said.

"You don't need to call me Your Highness."

Xue Qinghe waved her hand.

"Just call me Sister Xue. That's what everyone calls me in private."

Looking at her gentle smile, Bai Yi muttered inwardly,

Calling you Big Sister would be more fitting. Still, you play the Crown Prince convincingly enough. Until I reach Soul Ancestor, I'll give you some face.

His expression did not change. "Sister Xue."

Xue Qinghe seemed quite satisfied with the form of address and chatted with him a little longer about his studies.

As Bai Yi spoke with Xue Qinghe, he also sorted something out in his mind.

Xue Qinghe's intention to recruit him tonight was obvious.

Giving gifts, showing goodwill, getting close—this was exactly how she had treated Tang San in the original story.

Since she was willing to give things away for free, he certainly would not refuse. Better yet, he should ask for more.

So Bai Yi put on an innocent, wide-eyed expression.

"Sister Xue, I just came here, and my parents have left. I don't have a home here anymore. Could I live in a big villa beside the imperial palace? I like places with some grandeur."

Xue Qinghe froze.

"Uh... if you aren't used to living at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, I can arrange a residence for you near the imperial city."

Bai Yi nodded rapidly. "Good, good, good."

The corner of Xue Qinghe's eye twitched involuntarily. She was probably feeling a little pained.

But she did not show it, merely smiling and nodding.

"Then I'll have someone arrange it. You can move whenever you choose."

After saying this, her gaze casually swept toward Ye Lingling beside Bai Yi.

Ye Lingling sat close to Bai Yi.

While Xue Qinghe had been speaking with Bai Yi, Ye Lingling had simply sat there quietly, her gaze fixed on Bai Yi the entire time.

It seemed that the owner of the continent's number one tool martial soul already had someone she belonged to.

Xue Qinghe smiled, then turned to Bai Yi and said,

"Ye Lingling is your teammate, correct? Shall I arrange a place for her nearby as well? If she lives closer to you, it will be more convenient for the two of you to cultivate."

Bai Yi had just been about to say there was no need when Ye Lingling answered first. "Alright."

Bai Yi looked at her in surprise.

Ye Lingling's expression remained unchanged. She raised her eyes and glanced at him, her tone as calm as usual. "It'll be more convenient for your cultivation this way."

Bai Yi opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Seeing this, the curve of Xue Qinghe's lips deepened slightly.

If she could recruit Bai Yi, it would be equivalent to gaining two Soul Masters of limitless potential.

The dinner banquet ended an hour later.

Everyone went their separate ways. Bai Yi and Ye Lingling walked along the path back to the academy.

The night breeze was somewhat chilly, and Ye Lingling pulled up the collar of her coat.

"Why did you agree so quickly just now?"

Bai Yi tilted his head toward her.

Ye Lingling glanced at him.

"Didn't you ask for it yourself? I'm doing this for your cultivation too."

"Tch, then you might as well live with me."

Bai Yi joked.

Ye Lingling shook her head.

"Not yet. I need to take care of my mother. If you solve the problem with my mother's martial soul..."

Ye Lingling did not continue. She lowered her head and kept walking, silently following behind Bai Yi.

Moonlight fell over her blue hair, casting it with a faint white glow.