Shui Yue'er stared curiously at Jun Yi and asked, a smile appearing on her face, before continuing:
"Junior, do you think that's polite? Staring at someone's legs like that?"
Seeing this, Jun Yi coughed twice and said to Shui Yue'er with an extremely serious expression, "It's impolite, but it's driven by instinct."
"Driven by instinct? What instinct?" Shui Yue'er asked curiously.
Jun Yi explained his reasoning, "People's hearts are always drawn to beautiful things. If I can avoid looking at them, it would make me seem like I have ulterior motives and am not open and honest."
"It's just a sock, how did it get associated with beautiful things?"
"Oh, Yue'er, you're mistaken. These socks may be ordinary, but paired with your long, slender legs, they add a beauty that's even more captivating than bare legs."
Jun Yi paused for a moment, then continued to explain, "As the saying goes, 'False beauty can be alluring, but true beauty can be even more alluring; it's nothing more than this.'"
Hearing Jun Yi's explanation, Shui Yue'er at him with a "you're something else" expression and said with a hint of amazement, "Wow, I didn't expect you, you little pervert, to have so many reasons for peeking at girls' legs!"
"Whether there's a reason or not is unimportant. What's important is that your legs look great in white stockings. That's an objective fact, and it can't be changed by anyone's subjective will."
"Besides, I wasn't sneaking a peek; I was Guangming admiring her." With that, Jun Yi's gaze shifted to Shui Yue'er's thighs.
"This is the first time I've seen such a frank and cultured little pervert. Alright, alright, the contestants are about to enter, and this is where your academy is located. I'm going back now."
"See you at the competition later, senior."
Shui Yue'er smiled and waved to Jun Yi, then turned and went back in her direction. Jun Yi also waved goodbye to her and returned to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team.
Jun Yi naturally sat down next to Dugu Yan. Before Jun Yi finish speaking, Dugu Yan interrupted, " Little Brother Jun, I think your soul has been bewitched by those two sisters from the Skywater Academy. What, is it that Lingling and I aren't charming enough to keep you at our Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
Everyone present heard Dugu Yan's words clearly. Osler and the others' expressions changed visibly. Although they all knew that these words were meant to tease Jun Yi, they still couldn't help but prick up their ears, wanting to hear how Jun Yi would respond.
" Sister Yanyan's charm is certainly enough," Jun Yi replied.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan looked at Jun Yi with a deliberately provocative expression and said, "So, you mean Lingling isn't charming enough?"
"I never thought of it that way. Both of you are stunningly beautiful, with captivating charms, like the moon and the stars, like beauties from heaven and earth. How could you not be charming enough?"
Jun Yi immediately unleashed a four-word mantra, praising the two of them to the skies. Ye Lingling, standing to the side, was also taken aback, looking at Jun Yi with some surprise, not expecting him to be so skilled at praising people.
Upon hearing Jun Yi's praise, Dugu Yan Yan's smile deepened, and she said, "Since you say we're both so good-looking, then why are you even going to the Skywater Academy? Just look at us!"
At this moment, Dugu Yan resembled a cunning fox, a crescent-shaped smile playing on her lips, looking incredibly alluring. She wanted to see how Jun Yi would answer this pointed question.
"My two older sisters are indeed very charming, and I naturally appreciate that. However, I will also appreciate other beautiful things as well. Only in this way can I better understand the diversity of beauty," Jun Yi said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan covered her mouth with her hand and said with a smile, "Oh, you managed to smooth things over? You're really good with words. Wouldn't most young girls be completely fooled by you?"
" Sister Yan, what are you saying? Everything I said is true, from the bottom of my heart, and there is absolutely no falsehood in it," Jun Yi said earnestly.
"Alright, I've got it. I'll relay these words to the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I believe she'll understand you better after hearing them."
Dugu Yan's eyes held a cunning glint as she tried to gauge Jun Yi's reaction.
"It doesn't matter, Rongrong knows what kind of person I am. Um, we don't need to continue talking about this, right? Aren't we about to enter? Are there any important figures coming to this exchange competition?"
Jun Yi shifted his body slightly, clearly feeling a little guilty, and then changed the subject.
Qin Ming then chimed in, explaining to Jun Yi, "It'll be soon. Once His Majesty ascends the platform, we can enter."
"His Majesty is here to watch the game too?" Jun Yi, somewhat surprised.
"Yes, His Majesty mentioned to the three education committee members that this exchange competition is being treated as a preliminary round for the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, so he will be attending. However, normally His Majesty should have arrived long ago, so why is there still no word from him?"
Qin Ming stared at the high platform, filled with curiosity. According to the plan, Xue Ye should have been sitting in the center of the platform at this time to watch the contestants enter.
"Look, someone has appeared on the platform!" Yu Feng shouted to the crowd, pointing to the platform.
Seeing this, Qin Ming instructed everyone, "Yes, get ready, our academy will be the first to enter."
"That's not right, Teacher Qin. There's only Brother Xue on that platform; we didn't see His Majesty."
Jun Yi clearly saw and used his Observation Haki to sense that Xue Qinghe was the only person on the platform, and he did not sense the presence of anyone else.
"Has something gone wrong?" On the high platform, Xue Qinghe came to the seat that originally belonged to Xue Ye, and respectfully sat down next to him. Then he picked up the Amplifying Soul Tool next to him.
Immediately afterward, Xue Qinghe's voice resounded throughout the square. "Everyone, I am very sorry to have taken up some of your time. My father is unwell today and cannot attend the ceremony, so he sent me in his place. I hope you will all understand. Before he left, my father specifically instructed me that all students participating in the exchange competition will receive 500 Gold Soul Coin as a reward."
"Wow..." After hearing Xue Qinghe's words, a cheer erupted in the square. As expected of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, they really have guts. That's 500 Gold Soul Coin! That's no small amount for a student. Even Soul Elder's monthly stipend is only 100 Gold Soul Coin.
" The Heaven Dou Imperial Family is so stingy! Only 500 Gold Soul Coin? Are they trying to give money to beggars?"
Meanwhile, Jun Yi, sitting in the competition area, curled his lip and inwardly complained...
(End of this chapter)