Tianshui, Divine Wind, Blazing Fire Three Elements Academy (I)

No one knew that, in this deep enough night, Dai Mubai had made a choice unknown to anyone else.

Just like the many eyes and ears that had been replaced by Alchemy Creations in equally deep nights before.

The world of Soul Masters was wondrous enough.

Yet it was not all-pervasive.

What happened tonight was merely a minor interlude.

Countless minor interludes made up a symphony.

This was the plan Ye Qingcang had begun laying out at the age of three—a plan spanning twelve whole years.

In Heaven Dou City, whoever he wanted to know something would know it. If he did not want someone to know something, then even if that person was a Deity, they would still be unable to find a single trace.

He was Justice, and he was also evil.

Justice without restraint, evil without scruples.

However, no matter how just or evil he was, no matter what the colossal entity lurking beneath the surface and obeying only his commands could accomplish, or how greatly it could influence the world of Soul Masters and this continent, the turning of the sun and moon, the alternation of day and night—these remained laws he could not yet change.

"Even the deepest night is only in the past." Standing at the entrance of a hotel partly owned by Blue Tyrant Academy, Ye Qingcang stood in the shadow cast by the eaves and held his hand out into the sunlight. Warmth traveled from his fingertips to his heart. "As expected, I still prefer the light, but I'm better suited to the dark."

"Wow!"

"Big sis, look! A handsome guy!"

"A super handsome guy—not just ordinarily handsome!"

"Over there, over there!"

Not far away, at the entrance of another hotel, a blue-haired girl in a black dress held another blue-haired girl's arm and gently shook it. Both were lovely, especially the girl whose arm was being shaken. She wore a dress in shades of light and dark blue, and the chill surrounding her lent her a phoenix-like pride.

The two girls looked almost identical.

At a glance, they were clearly sisters.

Following the direction her younger sister Shui Yue'er was pointing, Shui Bing'er could not help but fall into a brief daze as well. The reprimand that had reached her lips vanished without a trace.

She was very worried about her sister's tendency to get infatuated with handsome men.

But she had great faith in her sister's taste.

If her sister said someone was handsome, then he really was handsome.

Never question the professional judgment of a looks enthusiast.

But she had truly never expected that the kind of handsome in her sister's eyes could reach this extent—enough to strike down even someone like her, who did not believe in love at first sight, upon their first meeting.

His features and appearance were flawlessly perfect.

There were no especially prominent advantages.

For example: a strikingly noble brow, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, features carved as if by blade and axe, dashing charm, a face like polished jade—he possessed none of those more obvious virtues.

He was simply perfect.

Looking at him made people feel exceptionally comfortable.

He was the kind of handsome man with a distinctive presence.

At first glance: so handsome.

At second glance: it was him.

After that, no matter how many handsome men she saw, she would still be able to pick him out from among them.

His figure had golden proportions as well.

Neither bulky nor frail.

His limbs and torso were exceptionally harmonious.

He was a natural clothes hanger.

Most rare of all, he dressed very well.

His predominantly dark clothing perfectly made up for his excessive youth, stripping away the rashness that youth ought to have and adding considerable steadiness. The black-and-gold cloak lent him an even greater air of mystery.

Wait!

A black-and-gold cloak?

Shui Bing'er abruptly snapped out of her appraisal, her heart tightening. She was deeply alarmed by how she had unknowingly become entranced. Grabbing Shui Yue'er, who was about to sneak over and exchange contact information with the boy, she gave the boy who nodded at her a slight nod in return to express her apology. Just as she was about to say something to scold Shui Yue'er, she heard footsteps behind her.

"What are you looking at?" Though old and past her prime, the plump woman remained beautiful and alluring. Walking out of the hotel where they were staying, she looked at her two daughters standing side by side. Puzzled, she walked behind them, patted them on the shoulders, and followed their gazes to see Ye Qingcang standing at the entrance of the other hotel. "Wait, why is a Blue Tyrant Academy Enforcement Team member here?"

"A Blue Tyrant Academy Enforcement Team member?" Shui Yue'er's eyes immediately lit up, harboring her own little thoughts. "Aunt Liu's Blue Tyrant Academy?"

"How many Blue Tyrant Academies are there in the Heaven Dou Empire?"

"How many Blue Tyrant Academies are there on the entire continent?"

"Good thing your Aunt Liu didn't hear that, or her heart would have been broken. She treats you so well normally, yet you can't even remember Blue Tyrant Academy?"

The beautiful and alluring woman was Shui Feng, the mother of Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er, and the headmaster of Tianshui Academy. She rolled her eyes irritably, then suddenly noticed several more young people in different uniforms walking out of the hotel across from them. She could not hide her surprise. "Enforcement Team members, Three Rankings Students, and ordinary students—goodness. I heard from Erlong that Blue Tyrant Academy students could apply to hunt for soul rings under a teacher's protection, but this is the first time I've seen so many students gathered together... Bing'er, Yue'er, Xue Wu, and the rest of you girls, come with me and meet them. Erlong and I are on good terms. If these Blue Tyrant Academy children have any difficulties, we should do our best to help where we can."

Thanks to Stellar Martial Arts automatically adjusting one's physical condition and bringing the body closer to perfection, Blue Tyrant Academy had many handsome boys and beautiful girls.

Tianshui Academy did not have Stellar Martial Arts, but its admission standards were: female, possessing a water-attribute or ice-attribute martial soul, and no older than twenty in actual age. Thus, its students were all above-average beauties as well. The Tianshui Team in particular selected the best of the best. All seven members were beauties scoring above seventy-five, while their captain, Shui Bing'er, was the most talented student in Tianshui Academy's history. Not only had her Soul Power reached level forty, and this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest was for her to obtain her fourth soul ring, but her looks were also beyond reproach, scoring above ninety. If she met someone who liked the Ice Mountain type, she could easily score above ninety-five.

Beauty was in the eye of the beholder.

Taste was difficult to reconcile; one only needed to choose what one liked.

Therefore, it was not only Xue Wu, Qiu Ruoshui, Yu Hairou, and the others who later noticed the Blue Tyrant Academy students led by Ye Qingcang. The Blue Tyrant Academy side also noticed the Tianshui Team being led over by Shui Feng.

"Shui Feng?"

The moment Liu Erlong stepped out, she spotted Shui Feng.

Amid her surprise was a hint of delight.

She took the initiative to walk over and introduced her to Ye Qingcang, Flender, Qin Ming, Yu Xiaogang, and the others. "This is Shui Feng, the headmaster of Tianshui Academy, a Soul Douluo and also my friend. Our story began seven or eight years ago. My martial soul is a fire dragon, while hers is the Water Condensing Luan, which has phoenix bloodline. We happened to meet on the street one time, our auras clashed, and we found a place to spar. Gradually, we got to know each other. In the blink of an eye, we haven't met for more than half a year. I never expected to run into you here... Are you here to hunt soul rings too?"

"Of course. You know that Bing'er's Soul Power had already reached level thirty-seven more than half a year ago. Half a year has passed, so she should have made some progress..." Shui Feng immediately caught the implication in Liu Erlong's words. "Could it be that Blue Tyrant Academy is here to hunt soul rings as well?"

"Of course..." Liu Erlong had instinctively wanted to boast about her son as she usually did, but she suddenly remembered how Yu Xiaogang had wronged her son, and her heart trembled uncontrollably. Her tone became much humbler. "My Little Eagle has reached level forty too. He thought that whether one person made the trip or ten people did, it was still one trip, so he brought along the other children at Blue Tyrant Academy who needed to hunt soul rings. Since you're here to hunt soul rings too, why don't we travel together? We can look after one another on the way."

Following Liu Erlong's gaze, Shui Feng looked in turn at fifteen-year-old, level-forty Ye Qingcang and sixteen-year-old, level-forty Shui Bing'er. Like Liu Erlong, she wore the smile of an elder. "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you..."

Thanks to Mengli Situ for the 500 reward.