Elder Xu did not answer Shui Qingwu immediately. Instead, he placed his hand on Yun Tian's left wrist again.
Over and over, Elder Xu repeated this action no fewer than ten times.
With every confirmation, the expression on Elder Xu's face grew more wildly delighted than before.
Watching Elder Xu from the side, Shui Qingwu wanted even more to know just what had happened.
"Elder Xu, what exactly is going on? Please stop keeping me in suspense!"
At her words, Elder Xu calmed his excitement before saying to Shui Qingwu:
"Dean, you'll understand if you try it yourself. All I can say is that this time, our Skywater Academy might just be able to contend for the championship of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament!"
Shui Qingwu gave Elder Xu a puzzled look. She knew what he was usually like.
For him to make such a bold claim now, it definitely could not have been a passing whim.
Could it be...
Shui Qingwu strode over to Yun Tian, rested her fingers on his wrist, and closed her eyes to sense him carefully.
Only a moment later, Shui Qingwu's tightly closed eyes flew open.
One hand quietly covered her red lips, which had parted slightly in shock.
"Seven... seven years old?!"
A voice filled with shock, confusion, and conflicting feelings escaped Shui Qingwu's mouth.
"Tian, you're only seven?"
A seven-year-old, rank-twenty-five Soul Grandmaster-just what kind of prodigy had she recruited for Skywater Academy?!
"What's wrong, Dean? Is there a problem?"
Hearing Yun Tian's answer, Shui Qingwu slowly closed her eyes to compose herself before opening them again.
"Tian, why didn't you tell me earlier that you were only seven?"
You should have told me sooner! If you had, I would have brought you to Skywater Academy ages ago. Why would I have waited a whole month?
What if another faction had set its sights on you?
"You never asked me, Dean." Yun Tian shrugged, looking utterly innocent.
Shui Qingwu was immediately at a loss for words. That did seem to be the case.
From beginning to end, she had simply assumed Yun Tian was about the same age as her daughter.
"Tian, starting today, I'll set aside a separate place in the academy for you to live."
After saying that, Shui Qingwu thought again about Yun Tian's terrifying cultivation speed.
"Once the team members have been decided, you won't have to attend training."
Training, my ass! Rank twenty-five at seven years old-by the time he entered the Soul Master Tournament, he would be fifteen.
Who knew what terrifying heights he could reach in eight years?
Besides, she was doing this because she did not want more people to learn of Yun Tian's existence.
In any case, with the strength of Skywater Academy's younger generation, reaching the tournament's final stage would still be easy.
Once they reached the finals, that would be the time to send Yun Tian out.
Hearing this, Yun Tian nodded. "Understood, Dean. I'll make the arrangements when the time comes."
It didn't matter whether he went to training or not. He could just leave Sang Biao at home to cultivate then.
It was not until evening that all the procedures were completed.
Shui Qingwu ultimately arranged for Yun Tian to live on the mountain behind the academy, where the scenery was lovely.
Most importantly, no one would come here to disturb him. After all, Shui Qingwu's own academy residence was right next door.
"Mom, why can Tian live here, but I can't?"
Inside the office, Shui Bing'er's little face was full of displeasure.
"You're my daughter, the dean's daughter. Naturally, you can't lead the way in seeking special treatment."
Hearing this, Shui Bing'er pursed her lips, turned her little head aside, and looked at Yun Tian sitting on the sofa, making a face at him.
"Hmph, Mom's playing favorites."
Shui Bing'er plopped down beside Yun Tian and even squeezed closer to him.
"Bing'er, when I'm away from the academy in the future, don't come and disturb Tian either."
With Yun Tian's talent, he naturally could not waste time on meaningless things.
It would not be good if her daughter ended up delaying Yun Tian's cultivation.
"Hehe, I'll do it anyway."
Shui Bing'er grinned mischievously, made a face at her mother, and shot out of the office.
Judging by how quickly she moved, she had clearly done plenty of running away before.
"Tian, I've spoiled Bing'er a little too much. If she comes to disturb you while you're cultivating, you don't need to pay her any attention."
Shui Qingwu looked at Yun Tian. She had not asked a single question about why he cultivated so quickly.
Even if she asked, he would not tell her. Everyone had secrets, especially a genius like Yun Tian.
Yun Tian murmured his agreement. After they talked a little longer, he was finally allowed out of the office.
"You know, that really did feel as nerve-racking as getting called into the teacher's office."
After coming out, Yun Tian sighed. Back in his previous life, being called into the teacher's office without knowing why...
That had been the scariest thing of all!
As he thought about it, Yun Tian could not help shuddering.
Fortunately, this was not high school.
Time hurried by, and five years passed in the blink of an eye.
During those five years, Yun Tian's life at Skywater Academy could hardly have been more comfortable.
Every day, he had no worries about food or drink. After waking, he would cultivate for a while himself, while Sang Biao ate the Soul Beast meat Shui Qingwu had prepared for him.
Once he finished cultivating, he let Sang Biao cultivate while he leisurely enjoyed the sensation of Soul Power flowing endlessly into his body.
When he was bored, Shui Bing'er would drop by from time to time to pester him and relieve his boredom.
Bang!
On the mountain behind the academy, the front door of Yun Tian's residence shattered into pieces yet again.
"Little Emperor, I've broken through to rank thirty-five!"
Amid the cloud of dust, Yun Tian's figure flickered in and out of view.
"Look, this is already the third door this month. Could you be a little gentler next time?"
Yun Tian's voice carried a hint of distaste.
Once the dust settled, Shui Bing'er's figure appeared in his sight.
The Shui Bing'er of today was completely different from the little doll she had been five years ago.
Now, she already had the look of a cool, aloof fairy.
"I know, I know. It's just a door. You don't have to pay when it breaks anyway, so why are you so upset?"
As though she had returned to her own home, Shui Bing'er slipped off her shoes after entering and lay straight down on the sofa.
Looking at those little feet in short white socks exposed to the air, Yun Tian rubbed his brow with a headache.
"Put them back on, put them back on. How am I supposed to sit on the sofa with you like this?"
Hearing this, Shui Bing'er gave a soft laugh.
"What are you turning your nose up at? Isn't this a reward?"
At Shui Bing'er's words, Yun Tian gave two dry coughs, then walked over to her.
"What did you come here for this time? Surely you didn't come all this way just to tell me you'd broken through to rank thirty-five?"
With that, Yun Tian casually swatted away Shui Bing'er's little feet, which kept waving in front of him.
"There is something."
Shui Bing'er sat up, then shifted to lie on her stomach.
"The team roster has been finalized, and Mom wants us to find a Great Soul Arena and stay there for a year. We're to come back once we've earned our Gold Soul Fighting Badges."
With that, Shui Bing'er pushed herself up again and brought her face close to Yun Tian's.
"Mom sent me to ask whether you want to go."
Yun Tian was not surprised about the Soul Fighting.
For a newly formed team, Soul Fighting could indeed quickly improve coordination among its members.
Before you continue