Half a month had passed since Ling Luochеn's fight with Xiao Yan.
Sure enough, the Ling Clan had made no further attempts to interfere with the Xiao Clan's medicinal herb transport business.
Instead, the Ling Clan's patriarch had been dismissed, and a major purge had swept through the clan.
Perhaps because of an unspoken understanding between the two clans, word of Xiao Yan's genius had not spread.
Xiao Yan had not wasted the past half month. Ling Luochеn's Ring Fusion secret technique at the end of their fight had given him a great deal of inspiration.
If rings can be fused, can my Martial Souls fuse as well?
Could the Heavy Xuan Ruler and the Nine Fire Heavenly Plate be combined into an even stronger Martial Soul?
That was Xiao Yan's ultimate idea, and he had already begun trying to cultivate Ring Fusion.
With only the barest hint of an idea to guide him, his path was exceedingly difficult.
Fortunately, with the two great Soul Spirits, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and the Ice Empress, there was little danger in his attempts at Ring Fusion.
He merely suffered a few injuries, but that did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm for creating a secret technique.
In the Xiao Clan's secret cultivation chamber.
Ice and blue swirled around Xiao Yan, his Soul Power fluctuating violently. Only when the fluctuations stabilized did he open his eyes.
"Level forty-six at last. The Flame Mantra really is useful!"
Ever since he had switched to cultivating the Flame Mantra, Xiao Yan could feel the Bone Spirit Cold Flame continuously transforming his body every time he cultivated.
Although each use of the Flame Mantra made him feel as though he had plunged into a sea of fire, his Ultimate Ice Martial Soul smoothed out his meridians, leaving him in pain but happy.
He had a feeling that once he had completely refined the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, his body would also be thoroughly transformed into a special physique: the Heavenly Flames Physique!
Then he would no longer simply wield the Heavenly Flames; they would become an instinct in his bloodline, and his talent would become even more monstrous!
The road ahead was long and winding; cultivation could not be rushed.
He had been in seclusion for three days. He wondered whether Xiao Xiao had been cultivating diligently.
Xiao Yan took out his soul guidance communicator. It contained a message from his father, Xiao Zhan.
Its general meaning was that Ling Luochеn had been staying with the Xiao Clan for several days, saying she had come to honor her promise. His father wanted to know what he thought of it.
What did he think?
"Ahh~"
Xiao Yan got to his feet, stretched lazily, and yawned.
He already had a plan in mind, so he might as well go and see her.
The Xiao Clan's western courtyard, Penghui Residence.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, long time no see."
Xiao Yan sat in the hall, looking outside.
In front of the hall, Ling Luochеn stood quietly in a pale blue dress.
She was tall and slender, with an aloof, beautiful face. There was a chill in her eyes and brows, as though she kept people a thousand miles away, yet her tone held a measure of respect when she addressed Xiao Yan.
At Shrek Academy, Ling Luochеn was known as the "Princess of Snow." She even dared to show Yan Shaozhe a cold face, yet unexpectedly, she showed a different attitude toward Xiao Yan.
"Long time no see." Xiao Yan gave a slight nod, showing no intention of getting up to greet her.
He merely waved for Ling Luochеn to come in and sit down.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, your bearing is as impressive as ever."
The corner of Ling Luochеn's mouth twitched, and her teeth itched with anger.
She had already humbled herself, but not only did he refuse to give her a way down, he climbed right up the pole.
Ling Luochеn, oh, Ling Luochеn, you didn't come here to make trouble today...
Ling Luochеn took a deep breath, entered the hall, and found a seat a little farther away, suppressing the feelings in her heart as she did so.
"I came today to fulfill my earlier promise."
Xiao Yan did not interrupt Ling Luochеn. He merely nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.
Seeing this, Ling Luochеn spoke a little more seriously.
"I've investigated the matter of the Ling Clan branch. They were in the wrong first, so I've dismissed the Ling Clan's patriarch and included one million Gold Soul Coins as compensation."
"As for my loss in our match, you can state whatever conditions you have."
Ling Luochеn's swift and decisive handling of the matter suited Xiao Yan just fine. After thinking for a moment, he said, "My request is simple."
Ling Luochеn did not agree outright. "Let's hear it."
"Teach my younger sister cultivation for three years."
Xiao Yan spoke directly.
"Teach your younger sister?"
Ling Luochеn was stunned.
She had considered that Xiao Yan might demand Gold Soul Coins, all kinds of rare medicinal herbs, or Soul Bones. Even making the Ling Clan withdraw from Xiaoshan City was not out of the question. But she truly had not expected him to make such a request.
"Yes."
Xiao Yan nodded in confirmation. After a brief pause, he said seriously,
"I hope that over the next three years, you can supervise her cultivation and help her build a solid foundation."
"Especially skills in areas like using her Martial Soul and gaining practical combat experience. As an academy disciple, you should understand these things better than I do."
Ling Luochеn was utterly baffled. "If you want me to teach her, why not just send her to Shrek Academy?"
"Shrek Academy has grown old."
Xiao Yan made no attempt to hide his views. "Shrek is no longer the Shrek it once was."
Ling Luochеn froze when she heard that. How dared he say such a thing?
She wanted to argue back, but she did not know where to begin. Even so, she spoke up in its defense.
"Shrek Academy is the number one Martial Soul academy on the entire continent."
"Wrong. That was in the past. It isn't anymore."
Xiao Yan shook his head. "Shrek isn't far from destruction. From the academy's recruitment to the management of its upper ranks, everything has rotted through.
"This is the age of Soul Guidance Technology. Go against the times, and you'll only become dust in their wake."
"If the Inner Academy teachers heard you say that, you'd be finished."
Ling Luochеn raised an eyebrow and sneered, but her heart had been shaken after all. As an Inner Academy disciple, how could she not know these things?
But she was also someone who benefited from the existing system, so she had no standing to judge right from wrong.
"Enough about that. Just tell me whether you can do it."
Xiao Yan interrupted with a smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
"I can agree, but I can't stay in Xiaoshan City every moment of those three years." Ling Luochеn did not refuse.
After all, teaching a girl with decent talent to cultivate was not difficult in itself.
But over those three years, she also had to cultivate, and the academy had assessments, so they needed to discuss the specific schedule and arrangements.
"I have my own cultivation schedule, and the academy will assess me too. So each year, I may only have around half a year to teach your sister."
"No problem. Half a year is enough."
After listening, Xiao Yan nodded.
His ready agreement surprised Ling Luochеn instead.
"Are you sure you don't want to think it over? You can choose a different condition."
"There's no need to think it over. I believe you can do it."
Xiao Yan expressed his understanding.
"I'm not the sort to take an inch and demand a mile. Over three years, it's enough if you can teach her for a little more than one. Besides, I believe that by then, my sister will be able to stand on her own."
Ultimately, what he wanted was not a nanny to stay by Xiao Xiao's side every moment.
He wanted someone who could supervise Xiao Xiao and offer her help-someone who, over the next three years, could guide Xiao Xiao's cultivation and lay a good foundation for her on the days he was away.
He believed that with Xiao Xiao's talent, as long as Xiaoxiao herself was willing to work hard, built a solid foundation, and received a greater share of the family's resources, her strength would surely improve greatly!
"In that case, is it settled?"
Xiao Yan rose and walked over to Ling Luochеn, who stood up as he approached.
Xiao Yan extended his right hand, a smile on his face.
With a smile, past grudges vanished.
Seeing Xiao Yan's smile, Ling Luochеn felt the last trace of resentment in her heart dissolve like smoke.
She held out her fair, delicate hand and lightly clasped Xiao Yan's.
"Here's to a pleasant partnership."
Their hands separated after a brief touch.
With the matter settled, much of the urgency weighing on Ling Luochеn's heart dissipated.