By the time Tian Chen returned to the outer court, morning classes had already ended. After grabbing a boxed lunch outside, he returned to the classroom.
"Tian Chen, that woman didn't do anything to you, did she?"
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao were standing at the door. When they saw Tian Chen return, they hurriedly asked in concern.
"No. She just apologized to us for what happened that day, and we chatted a little."
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao breathed sighs of relief.
"By the way, did you ask the teacher to excuse my absence while I was gone?"
"We did! Good thing you came back in time, or I would've gone to ask the teacher about you."
Wang Dong rolled her eyes at Tian Chen as she spoke.
"Hehe, really? You didn't need to worry. That senior might have a bit of a temper, but she's pretty straightforward, and she's quite big-oh, no, I mean she's quite nice." Tian Chen couldn't help recalling what he had seen earlier.
"What? Quite big..." Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao cried out almost in unison.
Wang Dong strode forward and grabbed Tian Chen by the collar. "What do you mean? What exactly did you mean? Explain yourself! What's quite big?"
Ding-
Just then, the bell rang.
Seeing his chance, Tian Chen hurriedly changed the subject. "Uh, class is starting. Let's get inside. We can talk after class." He pulled Wang Dong's hand away and stepped into the classroom.
"Damn it!" Seeing him act like this, Wang Dong gritted her teeth. Although she had absolute confidence in her beauty, comparing her size to that woman's was like showing off a broadsword before Guan Yu himself.
"She's just a little bigger, isn't she? I'm still young. There's plenty of room to grow. They'll definitely grow someday."
Xiao Xiao lowered her head to look at the tips of her shoes. Could that really be the reason?
Then why are mine so small?
Xiao Xiao was deeply troubled. At her current size, even reaching a C cup someday would be difficult.
"Looks like I'll have to find a doctor and get a prescription!"
Xiao Xiao spoke seriously. She couldn't let herself be outdone, or how would she pursue her Tian Chen?
After entering the classroom, Tian Chen was about to find a seat when he saw Ning Tian, dressed in pale blue, waving to him.
She patted the chair beside her and said, "Tian Chen, sit here! You get a good view from this spot."
Tian Chen didn't refuse. He walked straight over and sat down.
Once Tian Chen sat beside her, Ning Tian deliberately shifted her chair toward him, bringing herself a little closer.
Seeing this, Wu Feng cried, "It hurts! It hurts so much! Someone's stealing Ning Tian away!"
Nanmen Yun'er looked at Ning Tian enviously, thinking that she had moved far too quickly. Next time, she would have to beat her to it.
Just then, Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao came over as well. Seeing Tian Chen sitting with Ning Tian left both of them thoroughly displeased.
Stupid Tian Chen. All you ever do is attract girls, Wang Dong cursed inwardly.
Then Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao both sat down near Tian Chen.
For some reason, Ning Tian's gaze carried a hint of hostility as she looked at Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao.
The other two were no different. For a moment, sparks seemed to ignite in that corner of the room.
At the Sea God Pavilion,
"What did you say?! You can control your evil fire at will now?"
Yan Shaozhe cried out in astonishment.
"That's right, Teacher! It's all thanks to that junior." Ma Xiaotao toyed with the clumps of evil fire in her hands as she spoke.
Yan Shaozhe fell silent for a moment, apparently considering something.
"It seems Tian Chen's background really isn't simple! It's time to convene a Sea God Pavilion Meeting!"
When Xiaotao's evil fire had been suppressed before, Yan Shaozhe had already formed a few suspicions.
The violent, uncontrollable evil fire had been his disciple's nightmare. Even he and his teacher had been unable to control it.
Yet Tian Chen had helped Ma Xiaotao stabilize and master it in such a short time. That was absolutely not something an ordinary person could accomplish.
It only strengthened his belief that Tian Chen must have a formidable background.
"Teacher, I keep feeling there's something special about Tian Chen. His temperament and strength don't match his age at all, and the way he dealt with the evil fire was completely different from anything we know."
Ma Xiaotao was silent for a moment before speaking.
"That's right." Yan Shaozhe sighed.
"I suspect he might come from a mysterious organization we've never heard of, or at least have ties to some powerful faction. Otherwise, he couldn't possibly have achieved so much at his age."
"Let's go, Xiaotao. We'll gather the Senior Elders."
Ma Xiaotao nodded and followed Yan Shaozhe.
An hour later, every seat in the Sea God Pavilion was occupied.
Figures radiating terrifying auras appeared one after another, then quietly took their assigned seats around the table at the center of the Sea God Pavilion.
The seats in the Sea God Pavilion were fixed. Unless its membership changed, every chair here represented a member of the Sea God Pavilion.
Unless they held some special status, anyone admitted to the Sea God Pavilion was at least a Titled Douluo.
At the head of the table sat the Sea God Pavilion's current master, Dragon God Douluo Mu En.
On one side sat the Sea God Pavilion's four other Senior Elders: Xuan Zi, Lin Huiqun, Song Yunzhi, and Zhuang Yusen.
On the other side were several of Mu En's disciples: Yan Shaozhe, Cai Mei'er, Xian Lin'er, and Qian Duoduo.
"Yan Shaozhe, go ahead. What made you summon us in such a hurry?"
After sitting down, Mu En casually waved a hand as he spoke.
"Yes, Teacher. Today's Sea God Pavilion Meeting was called because of one person."
"That person is an outer court freshman-Tian Chen. This student's talent can only be described as heaven-defying. Not only does he possess multiple ultimate attributes, but he also has a set of self-created soul skills. I've experienced them myself. Almost no one below Soul King could withstand them."
At those words, the Senior Elders in the Sea God Pavilion instantly lost their composure. Everyone knew that only the most exceptional geniuses generally possessed self-created soul skills, and developing them required years of refinement. Add multiple ultimate attributes, something scarcely seen once in ten thousand years—was this kid even fucking human?!
Just then, Qian Duoduo stroked his chin and suddenly spoke. "Well, old Yan, this Tian Chen you're talking about wouldn't happen to be the freshman Fan Yu told me about, would he?"
Yan Shaozhe frowned at those words.
"Old Qian, what are you getting at? You're not planning to trip him up, are you? Let me tell you, Fan Yu's wife was indeed in the wrong that time. What kind of conduct is it for a teacher to attack a student?"
"Besides, would you really let such a peerless genius form a bad impression of Shrek just for the sake of an outer court instructor?"
Qian Duoduo looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Well... of course not!"
"I just think Fan Yu has always doted on Zhou Yi. If he finds out we're placing so much importance on Tian Chen, he might stir up trouble again."
Hearing this, Mu En frowned slightly and waved for them to quiet down before saying slowly, "I know about everything you've mentioned."
"I know Fan Yu's temperament. He does protect his own, but that doesn't mean we can't treat Tian Chen fairly."
"Yan Shaozhe, go speak with Fan Yu and explain Tian Chen's situation clearly. Make him understand that we value Tian Chen for his talent and potential, not because we're deliberately targeting him."
Yan Shaozhe nodded. "All right, Teacher. But there's one more thing. Xiaotao!"
Ma Xiaotao nodded and slowly stepped forward from the back.
Then a ball of black-and-red flame ignited in her hand, and she casually played with it.
Every Senior Elder looked shocked. After all, Ma Xiaotao was also a major focus of the Sea God Pavilion's training efforts, and they all knew about the problem with her martial soul.
But now... why did it look as though it had already been resolved?
One Senior Elder asked in confusion, "Yan Shaozhe, wasn't Xiaotao's evil fire still going out of control before? How is it now... could it be...?"
"That's right. This was also thanks to Tian Chen. That boy used a peculiar method to help Xiaotao control her evil fire at will."
Yan Shaozhe smiled and confirmed it.
Hearing this, a gleam flashed through Mu En's eyes as well. He had once helped Xiaotao suppress her evil fire, so he knew how frightening it was. Even he couldn't eliminate or control it, only forcibly suppress it. Yet Tian Chen had done it.
"Now you all understand why I value Tian Chen so highly, don't you? In my opinion, he must have some powerful, mysterious backing. Otherwise, I simply can't imagine why he would possess such peculiar abilities."
"If that's the case, we have even more reason to win Tian Chen over properly. Otherwise, Shrek might unwittingly gain a powerful enemy."
Mu En stroked his chin and spoke thoughtfully.
"Yes, Teacher. A genius like Tian Chen is Shrek's hope. I'll make sure to nurture him properly."
Yan Shaozhe patted his chest in assurance.
At this point, Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er, who had remained silent, both showed curiosity about Tian Chen.
Xian Lin'er in particular knew that the Soul Tool Department had never had any truly impressive geniuses, because all its students were those left over after the Martial Soul Department had made its selections.
That was why she paid particular attention to the academy's geniuses, and she was already calculating how to bring Tian Chen into the Soul Tool Department.
But judging by Yan Shaozhe's attitude, he wouldn't let the boy go easily.
Hmph! Just you wait, Yan Shaozhe. The Soul Tool Department definitely won't let this genius slip away.
Before you continue