Drawing lots

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

The siblings Xu Xiaotang and Xu Xiaonian headed to school to find out their draw for the Graduation Exam.

Along the way, people streamed past like a torrent, and horses and carriages flowed without end.

"Say, since Sister Nana advanced to Soul Elder and our team went straight into the semifinals, does that mean we only need to win two matches to take first place in points?" Xu Xiaonian asked out of the blue.

"Yes." Xu Xiaotang paused, then continued, "Xie Yue had something to attend to and didn't enter the Graduation Exam, so the other two teams don't have any Soul Elders. Naturally, they're nothing to fear."

"If we draw Yan's team in the semifinals, though, our first match will be the decisive battle."

Xu Xiaotang cautioned him:

"Your soul skill may be powerful, but your soul power reserves are limited. This is a team battle, too. You need to save your soul power and stamina until the end. Don't panic even if you see us get hurt. Make absolutely certain we win."

"I know." Xu Xiaonian nodded. He understood that tuition at the Spirit City Senior Soul Master Academy would put considerable pressure on their parents, so it was better to be cautious.

After all, Yan, Li Kai, and Sun Chuantao were all rare talents. The former even possessed a top-tier martial soul like the Flame Lord. In terms of raw strength, he was probably no weaker than an ordinary Soul Ancestor.

Xu Xiaonian's soul power reserves were limited, after all. If he underestimated the enemy in a moment of carelessness and squandered all his soul power without ending the battle, he might well crash and burn.

"You two little brats! Don't block the road!"

The speaker was a Soul Master guard clad in light armor, whose cultivation was probably somewhere in the twenties.

Xu Xiaotang and Xu Xiaonian moved aside, and the latter looked behind the guard.

A procession of luxurious carriages crossed the broad road, flanked by ranks of guards on either side. It was quite a grand spectacle.

"Is this..."

Xu Xiaonian noticed the embroidered emblem on the guards' cuffs: a seven-story pagoda martial soul.

"People from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Looks like they're not the only ones." Xu Xiaotang pointed at the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's insignia on the guards across the road.

"People from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family are here, too."

At that same moment, inside the luxurious carriage at the very front, a father and daughter of exceptional looks and bearing were talking.

"Sect Master, it was nothing. A couple of children were blocking the way. I just shooed them aside."

Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Mm. Remember to be polite. Don't let the people of Spirit City think everyone from our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a barbarian."

"Understood, Sect Master."

Ning Rongrong paid no attention to the matter before her. She merely widened her beautiful azure eyes and asked curiously, "Daddy, what are we doing in Spirit City?"

"We're accompanying His Highness Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family to promote friendly cooperation between the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and Spirit Hall."

Ning Fengzhi's gaze passed through the carriage curtain and settled on the carriage in the middle of the procession, whose decorations were clearly the most distinguished.

His Highness Xue Qinghe, who usually kept a low profile, had volunteered to represent the delegation visiting Spirit Hall this time.

Could he be hoping to establish ties with Spirit Hall and use its influence to strengthen his standing within the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, helping him ascend to that highest seat?

Ning Fengzhi's eyes grew pensive, and he sighed softly.

Ever since the crown prince's death, this disciple of his had been making increasingly bold moves. His intentions were already quite clear.

But as things stand, Xue Qinghe's chances of success aren't high. Should the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stay out of it, then?

If Xue Qinghe manages to establish ties with Spirit Hall, offering him some support wouldn't be out of the question.

Even if Xue Qinghe ultimately fails, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect holds an exalted position as one of the Upper Three Sects. We should be able to stay clear of the reckoning.

"Holy crap! Our semifinal opponents are Yan's team!" Zhang Ping shrieked excitedly. "Our first match is the decisive battle! How thrilling is that!"

Xu Xiaonian rubbed his forehead, knowing why she was so inexplicably excited.

It was simply because he had just demonstrated his Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill in front of the team, greatly boosting everyone's confidence and making them believe they had a chance of defeating Yan's team.

"Let's not celebrate too soon."

Hu Liena analyzed the situation seriously. "If we leave the captain out of the equation, our team's overall strength is more than a notch below Yan's."

"I'm a control-type Soul Elder, and Xiaonian's Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill is essentially a control skill as well. But our team lacks a corresponding power attack system Soul Master who can deal damage in tandem with our control. That's a major weakness."

"So we can't afford to be careless in this battle. To give us the best possible chance of winning, I have a plan that may require the rest of the team to make some sacrifices. Hear me out on the details..."

Xu Xiaonian looked pleased with himself, thoroughly approving of team member Hu Liena's attitude of addressing him by his position while on duty.

The team needs more members like her!

Hu Liena finished explaining her plan.

"I have no problem with that plan."

Zhang Ping waggled her eyebrows at Xu Xiaonian.

"Then we'll be counting on you at the end, you little freak!"

"Oh."

Xu Xiaonian wrinkled his nose and answered sulkily, thinking, The fewer teammates like Zhang Ping, the better!

"Have you heard?" Xu Yu, who had remained silent at the side, suddenly spoke up. "An elder and a consecrator from Spirit Hall will be attending this Graduation Exam. Also, the Angel Legion—"

"The Angel Legion's commander, Qian Lingxu, and his grandson Qian Hansong are coming. I don't know whether that's true."

Hu Liena nodded at this. "It should be true. There might even be people from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Star Luo Imperial Family coming to watch the fun."

"It's one thing for Spirit Hall's elders and consecrators to attend. They're supposed to come as a matter of tradition, after all," Xu Xiaotang said in puzzlement.

"But why are people from the Angel Legion coming? And the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire imperial families, too. Are they really just coming to watch the fun?"

Hu Liena had been about to explain, but when she noticed the thoughtful Xu Xiaonian beside her, she smiled and asked him instead:

"Little Brother Xiaonian, do you know why?"

Everyone immediately turned to him, skepticism in their eyes. Clearly, they did not believe a six-year-old with so little experience could explain the reason behind it.

Xu Xiaonian remained composed and decided to provide an explanation for this bunch of teenagers:

"It's actually quite simple. Let me give you an example."

"If there's someone you like, and you want to be friends with him or her, what should you do?"

Xu Yu raised his hand. "Reporting to the captain: I'd find a way to build a good relationship with him."

"Very good." Xu Xiaonian first affirmed his answer, then asked in return, "But before you can build a good relationship, you need to get to know each other. And getting to know each other requires a platform..."

"I know, I know!" Zhang Ping giggled. "I'd invite him to a restaurant for a meal and use that meal to get a progressively deeper understanding of his attitude."

"Exactly," Xu Xiaonian said in satisfaction. "The Star Luo Imperial Family and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family are two men, while Spirit Hall is a woman."

"Both men are interested in this woman, while the woman is taking a wait-and-see approach toward them."

"And so our Graduation Exam has become a dish for them to fill their bellies and entertain themselves with. Through our little scuffles, the three powers will open a dialogue with one another."