Hearing this, Jun Yi asked curiously, "Oh? Didn't Brother Qinghe just visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a few days ago? Why is he here again today?"
Ning Rongrong shrugged. "I'm not sure. Apparently, he has something important to discuss with Father."
"Oh, then let's hurry inside," Jun Yi said.
Jun Yi and Ning Rongrong entered the main hall and saw Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe chatting and laughing.
Ning Fengzhi's face was rosy, and he seemed to be in an excellent mood. Xue Qinghe was much the same.
"Brother Qinghe," Ning Rongrong and Jun Yi called out together.
"Rongrong, Xiao Yi, you're here." Xue Qinghe was as approachable and refined as ever. He rose with a smile, patted the seats beside him, and said to them, "Come, sit down and talk."
"Mm-hmm."
"Brother Qinghe, didn't you just come to visit Jun Yi two days ago? Is something going on today?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"There is indeed something. Otherwise, Father wouldn't have let me leave the palace," Xue Qinghe replied with a smile.
Over these six years, Xue Qinghe had initially visited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect once a month to see Jun Yi. But three years ago, the third prince, Xue Haizang, had also died suddenly due to certain "accidents." Emperor Xue Ye had directed his suspicions straight at Xue Qinghe, but could find no evidence to prove anything.
With the talented second and third princes having died suddenly, and the fourth prince, Xue Beng, being a wastrel who would never amount to much, the imperial family had no other candidate for crown prince.
Emperor Xue Ye therefore began grooming Xue Qinghe as the crown prince. In Xue Ye's eyes, Xue Qinghe was, after all, his own flesh and blood. Even if he found evidence, Xue Ye would not hurt one child for the sake of another who was already dead.
Thus, Emperor Xue Ye chose to remain silent, then laid down a rule: Xue Qinghe could leave the palace only once every six months and had to spend the rest of his time studying inside.
That was why Ning Rongrong and Jun Yi were curious about the reason for Xue Qinghe's sudden visit.
Xue Qinghe explained, "I've come this time for the sake of your futures."
"Our futures?" Ning Rongrong was even more puzzled.
"Counting your ages, you're both twelve now. It's time for you to attend an advanced Soul Master academy. I've come to ask what you think," Xue Qinghe continued.
Jun Yi tilted his head and asked, "Brother Qinghe, you didn't come just to ask our opinions, did you? Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn't have sent you here especially."
"Xiao Yi knows me best. Father wants you and Rongrong to join our Heaven Dou Royal Academy if at all possible. After all, you're both geniuses rarely seen in a hundred years. You've only just turned twelve, yet your Soul Power Levels have already reached Soul Elder."
Indeed, twelve-year-old Jun Yi and Ning Rongrong were both already Soul Elders. This differed from Ning Rongrong's cultivation in the original story, where she fished for three days and left her nets drying for two.
The Ning Rongrong of this timeline had always cultivated diligently. With the added benefits of a simulated environment and abundant cultivation resources, her Soul Power had already broken through to level 31 at twelve years old, reaching the Soul Elder realm.
Jun Yi's Soul Power Level was 32, only one level higher than Ning Rongrong's. This was not because his talent was poor, but because he cultivated many things in his daily routine, dividing much of his attention.
He spent his mornings cultivating the Three Types of Haki and developing his fruit abilities, then forged Soul Tools from the afternoon until late at night. Jun Yi ordinarily left only about two hours for cultivating Soul Power, so his Soul Power Level was only one level higher than Ning Rongrong's.
"Qinghe, I've already arranged an academy for Rongrong. I'm afraid she won't be able to attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Ning Fengzhi spoke slowly from the seat of honor.
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong looked at Ning Fengzhi in confusion, not knowing what medicine her father was selling in his gourd.
"Since you have your own arrangements, Teacher, I won't press the matter. Jun Yi, what do you think?" Xue Qinghe asked.
Jun Yi rubbed his chin. "If I don't go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, can I attend another one?"
"Where would you like to go? There are many academies in Heaven Dou City. You can choose an academy you want to attend," Xue Qinghe said with a smile.
"Choose an academy I want to attend? Then I choose Skywater Academy," Jun Yi answered swiftly, without the slightest hesitation.
After all, Skywater Academy was full of pretty girls in white stockings. If he could join, good heavens-even if he couldn't have a taste, he could still feast his eyes.
Jun Yi's bizarre remark left Xue Qinghe bewildered. He coughed twice and said, "Xiao Yi, Skywater Academy's circumstances are rather special. They only accept female Soul Masters. That's an academy rule, and I can't help you change it."
"Ah, what a shame-ow!"
Before Jun Yi could finish, a sharp pain shot through his waist. Ning Rongrong had pinched the tender flesh at his waist and twisted it a full hundred and eighty degrees. It hurt so much that Jun Yi hurriedly begged for mercy. "Rongrong, it hurts, it hurts! I was wrong, I was wrong!"
"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong glared at Jun Yi and let go.
Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe both gave helpless smiles at the sight.
"All right, Rongrong, stop fooling around," Xue Qinghe said with a smile.
Ning Rongrong pouted and said nothing more.
Xue Qinghe continued, "Xiao Yi, besides Skywater Academy, what other academy would you like to attend? Your Brother Xue can help smooth the way for you."
Jun Yi rubbed his waist. "Heaven Dou Royal Academy, then. It's just that I'll probably have to be separated from Rongrong."
Hearing this, Xue Qinghe explained with a smile, "You needn't worry about that. Father said that as long as you're willing to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy and represent it in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, it doesn't matter even if you don't attend classes there."
"Wow, then I'll definitely join. My thanks to His Majesty for valuing me so highly," Jun Yi replied.
"Mm-hmm. Since you're willing to join the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Xiao Yi, I'll return and inform Father. Teacher, I'll take my leave."
Xue Qinghe stood and bade Ning Fengzhi farewell. Xue Qinghe, Ning Rongrong, and Jun Yi saw Xue Qinghe off.
After Xue Qinghe left, Ning Rongrong turned to Ning Fengzhi and asked, "Dad, what academy have you arranged for me?"
"A very, very good academy, where monsters gather. Any Soul Master who hasn't reached level 20 by the age of twelve isn't qualified to cultivate there," Ning Fengzhi said with an inscrutable air.
Ning Rongrong's interest was clearly piqued. "What academy is that impressive? Why have I never heard of it before?"
"You'll find out when the time comes. I believe that after cultivating there for a while, you'll definitely surpass Jun Yi," Ning Fengzhi coaxed patiently.
"Rongrong, would you like to go?"
"Yes!" Ning Rongrong instantly looked as though she had been injected with chicken blood, her eyes shining.
Jun Yi's expression turned rather strange. What the fuck was going on? Normally, shouldn't Ning Rongrong join Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Why was she still going to that shitty Shrek Academy?
Wasn't Ning Fengzhi unwilling to let Ning Rongrong suffer? Was this the plot's corrective force? Give it a rest already. What age was this, still pulling this crap?
Still, Ning Rongrong really did need some tempering now. Although her Soul Master level was considerably higher than in the original story, her willful personality had not changed much. After all, everyone in the sect spoiled her. Growing arrogant from being doted on was precisely this.
So it was understandable that Ning Fengzhi wanted Ning Rongrong to suffer a little and experience some setbacks outside.
But couldn't she suffer anywhere else? How had he managed to pick that shitty Shrek?
"Just you wait, Jun Yi. When I come back, I'll surpass you without even trying."
(End of chapter)