This time, it was Teacher Qiu Tian who answered his question, "Ji Dong, your observations are quite meticulous. However, as the saying goes, bite off more than one can chew. Your question will be covered in our next class. The content of our second class will be about the totem of our department and the role of the Yin Yang Crown. By then, you will understand."
Ji Dong nodded, "My last question is, although the two of you belong to the Bing Fire Department and Ding Fire series respectively, I noticed that there is a common factor when you both release your own Yin Crown and Yang Crown. No matter if it's your Yin and Yang Crowns or magic power, there will always emerge a faint golden border around them. What is that?"
Upon hearing this question from Ji Dong, both Xia Tian and Qiu Tian's faces changed. They took a look at each other, each seeing the surprise in the other's eyes. Xia Tian responded in a deep voice, "This is not something you need to know yet. If in the future you manage to become a truly proficient Yin and Yang Demon Master and gain admission to a higher academy for further studies, then the teachers there will tell you."
Ji Dong observed closely, noticing from his superior aptitude for observation that upon his mentioning of the golden border, both Xia Tian and Qiu Tian's faces changed, with a hint of excitement and faint fear in their eyes. What on earth is going on? His curiosity piqued, he decided to ask President Yang Bingtian about it when he went back in the evening, as they did not wish to disclose this.
Xia Tian said, "All right, that's enough for today. The rest of the time is free for discussion. If there are any questions you don't understand, you can come up and ask at any time. Ji Dong, come with me." Having said that, he led the way out of the classroom, leaving Teacher Qiu Tian behind to answer any questions the students might have.
Following behind Xia Tian, Ji Dong left the classroom. Xia Tian led him upstairs without uttering a single word or looking back. Ji Dong felt a throbbing in his heart, he had a distinct feeling that Teacher Xia Tian did not have a negative impression of him, Bi Su, and Carl during the punishment in the morning. Now, however, it seemed that he was harboring some sort of resentment, could it be related to him?
Xia Tian led Ji Dong to the second floor of the Bing Fire Department Teaching building, they entered a not very large classroom. The classroom was devoid of any tables or chairs, a thirty square meter space, furnished with just ten meditation mats on the floor. The symbolic Phoenix pattern of the Bing Fire series was embossed on the door of the classroom.
Xia Tian pointed to a meditation mat in the center and ordered, "Sit cross-legged."
Ji Dong did as instructed, and Xia Tian sat down opposite him, his large, bell-like eyes sparkling as they stared at Ji Dong. The gaze was so intense that it would have unnerved any normal ten-year-old boy. However, Ji Dong showed no sign of retreat; he was not unnerved even when facing President Yang Bingtian. Despite Xia Tian's formidable appearance, he could not shake Ji Dong's resolve.
Xia Tian snorted and said, "No wonder your physical strength was so poor when I punished you with running this morning. So you got in through the back door. It's beyond my understanding why the Principal thought it was a good idea to recruit a weirdo like you. And he even wants to fully nurture you."
Getting in through the back door? Ji Dong felt that these three words hit quite close to the mark in his case. The reality was indeed that he entered the Li Fire Academy through the back door. Unable to refute Xia Tian, he chose to remain silent, showing no signs of dissatisfaction in his expression.
"In consideration of the Principal, I'm giving you this chance. However, let me warn you in advance. If you don't show some results after a year, I won't hesitate to kick you out of the Bing Fire Department, even the Principal won't be able to stop me."
Ji Dong remained silent. Making promises and offering explanations is ultimately meaningless; achieving tangible results is what matters most.
Xia Tian saw Ji Dong's silence, his facial expression was still as indifferent as before, which brought a hint of peculiarity to Xia Tian. Xia Tian's hand searched his breast pocket and pulled out two things from it. He held them up to show Ji Dong. Looking closely, Ji Dong found that there were two gems of special appearance. One was white and the other black. They resembled the Yin and Yang Crowns released by Teachers Xia Tian and Qiu Tian earlier, but were a hundred times smaller and only the size of a gold coin. The glow was also similar; the white gem was emitting a faint red light and the black one a faint blue light, they really looked like mini versions of the Bing and Ding Fire Yin and Yang Crowns. The only difference was that there wasn't a golden light on the edge of these two gems, but grey. Even this minute difference made their aura distinct from the Yin and Yang Crowns released by the teachers earlier.
"Teacher Xia Tian, what are these?" Ji Dong asked curiously.
Looking at the two gems, a trace of desire and solemnity appeared on Xia Tian's face, "You don't need to know what they are. You just need to know that they can help you more easily open the door to practicing as a Yin and Yang Demon Master. These are the private collection of the Principal, they have nothing to do with the Academy. I don't understand why the Principal values you so much, what kind of benefits did your family give him to make him give out this pair of Crystal Crowns? Even though they are of the lowest quality, each is worth a thousand gold coins, and they are priceless. It's such a waste to give them to a piece of trash like you who has a Yin and Yang balanced physique!"
After hearing Xia Tian's words, Ji Dong secretly admired him in his heart. Yang Bingtian indeed was a man of his word, promising to do his utmost to help him achieve the level of a Yin Yang Demon Master, and even going as far as to bestow these precious items. It seems he had to work hard and stir up some new skills to return the favor for his help.
However, with Xia Tian's continuous contempt, Ji Dong's pride was stirred, and he retorted coldly, "Teacher Xia Tian, since these are the things that the Principal has given me, whether they are wasted or not does not seem to have anything to do with you, right? Moreover, I did not have any family members to bribe the Principal, as you said. I am just an orphan. As for why the Principal wants to give me such precious things, you can ask him personally. You are a teacher, I respect you, but undermining a student's fragile heart like this, is this what a teacher should do?"
"You..." Xia Tian looked at Ji Dong curiously as he spoke confidently, standing tall and arguing back. Xia Tian suddenly felt a sense of amusement; he was always seen as a monster in the Li Fire Academy. At least one-third of the students had been punished by him. Even the older students, who had gathered their Yin and Yang Crowns, trembled at the sight of him. However, this ten-year-old boy, who had been punished by him in the morning, was actually debating with him and pointing out his faults. This was kind of interesting.