The three-day brief holiday vanished in the blink of an eye.
The heavy, antiquated bronze-cast gates of the Heaven Dou Royal Junior Soul Master Academy opened once more to the students.
Meng Chen stuffed his hands into the pockets of his white-and-gold-trimmed school uniform, a pair of fluffy, pale-golden rabbit ears on top of his head drooping softly.
He walked slowly down the familiar maple-shaded path.
He had lived a life of celestial bliss during these three days at the Crown Prince's Residence.
Qian Renxue not only had the imperial chefs brew him rare exotic bird and medicinal soups to strengthen his tendons and bones using all sorts of methods, but during her free time from court assemblies, she also taught him with keen interest about the various factions within the Heaven Dou court.
That meticulous attention, treating him almost as if he were her own younger brother.
Left Meng Chen somewhat amused and exasperated.
As the dignified Supreme Pontiff's successor of Spirit Hall, who had lurked in the deep palace for many years, her nature was as cold as frost.
Yet when facing him, she revealed a shred of genuine emotion that even she herself had never noticed.
Just as Meng Chen was about to walk out of the maple grove, however.
The temperature in the previously serene and cool woods plummeted abruptly, and a sound of breaking air came suddenly from right above his head.
The hairs all over Meng Chen's body stood on end instantly, and the two drooping golden rabbit ears atop his head immediately stiffened.
"Martial Soul Possession!"
"Spiritual Detection Domain."
The next moment, his detection domain expanded instantly, and an afterimage glowing with a jade-green cold light was charging rapidly toward him.
"Dugu Yan?"
Seeing someone, Meng Chen relaxed his mind a little.
Without the slightest panic, Meng Chen lowered his head and arched his back, lunging forward as his entire body nearly pressed flat against the ground.
Soft Bone Rabbit innate talent, Soft Technique: Backbend!
A snow-white long leg swept past behind Meng Chen.
Missing her first strike, Dugu Yan flipped her body flexibly in midair like a swimming snake, her feet landing lightly on the ground.
Her deep purple short hair was blown by the wind.
Dugu Yan looked in surprise at Meng Chen, who had dodged her attack.
Although she had not used her full strength just now, it was still not something an ordinary person could dodge, let alone a six-year-old child.
"Not bad, Little Brother Meng Chen's reflexes are actually this strong."
Meng Chen straightened his body, rolled his eyes helplessly, and sighed. "Sister Yan, launching an assassination right at the main thoroughfare of the academy early in the morning-if I hadn't dodged, I'd probably be heading home to rest right now."
Dugu Yan covered her mouth and giggled. "Hee hee hee, I wouldn't have the heart to hurt Little Brother Meng Chen~ But lately I've heard quite a few things about Little Brother Meng Chen. Didn't Sister's curiosity get the better of her, so she specially came over to take a look in person?"
"Come on, use your full strength and let Sister inspect you."
Before her voice trailed off, Dugu Yan had already completed her Martial Soul Possession.
Just as she prepared to make a move, a furious, girlish shout suddenly came from the other side of the shaded path.
"Dugu Yan! Stop right there!"
Immediately following, a bright yellow petite figure blocked in front of Meng Chen.
It was none other than the young miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who had just stepped through the school gates, Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong pulled Meng Chen tightly behind her, spreading her two tender lotus-root arms as she glared fiercely at Dugu Yan.
"Dugu Yan! Have you no shame?"
"A sixth-year Soul Grandmaster relying on your high soul power to run over and pick on a first-year early in the morning!"
This rapid-fire string of scolding like rattling beans.
Left Meng Chen behind her feeling both amused and exasperated, yet a warmth also rose deep within his heart.
Though this willful lass was usually self-willed.
When it came to defending him, she truly dared to risk her life to stand firm against opposition.
Dugu Yan was also somewhat stunned, helplessly withdrawing the Martial Soul Possession around her body.
She had merely been itching for a fight and wanted to test Meng Chen, having zero intention of dealing a heavy blow.
Seeing the angry expression of this little lass, however, a smile surfaced at the corner of Dugu Yan's lips.
"Oh-ho-ho, little girl, your temper is sure fiery."
Dugu Yan patted the dust off her clothes, crossed her arms, and cast a sidelong glance at Ning Rongrong.
"If Sister truly wanted to deal a killing blow, do you think you could still be standing here unharmed and barking at me? This young lady was merely sparring with Little Brother Meng Chen just now; Little Brother Meng Chen hasn't even cried grievance, yet you're all anxious like a cat whose tail was stepped on."
"Who are you calling a cat! Does sparring require opening soul skills? You're clearly bullying the weak with your strength!"
Ning Rongrong stamped her small foot fiercely against the bluestone slabs, lifting her chin without yielding an inch.
Looking entirely ready to summon the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and fight to the death if the other party took another step forward.
Watching this impending explosion of another arena rivalry, the corners of Meng Chen's eyes twitched violently as he hurriedly reached out to tug at Ning Rongrong's sleeve, speaking softly.
"Alright Rongrong, Sister Yan was indeed just testing me without playing for keeps. Calm your anger, it's not worth making a big fuss over this kind of matter."
Ning Rongrong turned her head to glare fiercely at Meng Chen, the grievance in her eyes nearly overflowing.
This fellow, she had risked her life to rush forward and protect him.
Yet he was good; he turned around and started absolving the fierce woman. What a heartless bastard.
Seeing that Meng Chen was truly unharmed, however, the little demoness's hanging heart finally dropped, and she stood huffing and puffing between the two of them, refusing to budge no matter what.
Seeing this, Dugu Yan cast a deep glance at Meng Chen and stopped bickering with Ning Rongrong.
"Fine, I can't be bothered to dawdle with you two little brats. Coming to intercept you today, aside from testing your strength, is mainly to say goodbye to you."
Meng Chen raised an eyebrow and asked, "Goodbye?"
"Indeed."
A trace of pride flashed in Dugu Yan's eyes. "The Academic Affairs Office released the evaluation results the day before yesterday, and I have already passed the special evaluation for the Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy. Tomorrow morning I will be moving to report to the main academy outside the city, entering the Heaven Dou Royal Team First Squad Reserve directly."
The main academy of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy!
Hearing this, the anger on Ning Rongrong's face paused.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy was divided into the junior section inside the city and the main academy outside the city.
Those able to enter the main academy were all young soul masters one-in-a-mortal-minion across the empire.
The imitation cultivation grounds and royal resource allocation they possessed were far beyond comparison to the junior section.
Dugu Yan strode forward on her long legs, walking leisurely to Meng Chen's side with a serious tone and expectancy in her eyes.
"The rules at the main academy outside the city are far more cruel than this soft junior section. There are no lack of geniuses there, and those guys like Yu Tianheng are straining every nerve to fight for their lives in the imitation field every day."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "Little Brother Meng Chen, hurry up and cultivate. Don't hole up in the gentle embrace of little girls being lazy all day."
Having said that, Dugu Yan did not linger and headed straight toward the gates.
Ning Rongrong watched the direction of Dugu Yan's departure, her small mouth puckered high, yet a strong sense of crisis arose within her heart.
The main academy?
That vicious woman had actually advanced to the main academy.
If Meng Chen advanced up there in the future too while she remained stuck in the junior section, wouldn't she be mocked by that woman by her ears every day?
No way! Absolutely not!
Ning Rongrong turned her head, staring intently at Meng Chen as she put her hands on her hips and issued orders with all seriousness.
"Meng Chen, did you hear that? The vicious woman has already gone to the main academy. Starting today, this young lady will supervise your cultivation; if you slack off, this young lady will make you drink Jade Marrow Soup with me every day!"
Looking at this young miss with her peculiar train of thought, Meng Chen could not help raising a hand to rub his throbbing temples.
"As you command, young miss. Can we head into the classroom first?"
"Hmph! Let's go!"
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