After Feng Qingyu arrived, she first checked on her grandfather. Seeing that he was not seriously hurt, she respectfully greeted Su Cheng, calling him "Teacher."
"Teacher?" Feng Tianyang looked at his lazy granddaughter, who he had high hopes for, with surprise.
Clearly, he was unaware of this development.
Feng Qingyu had not elaborated on her relationships within the Heaven Dou Royal Battle Team after returning, as she was hoping Su Cheng could find a way to help her escape the academy. To avoid alerting anyone prematurely, she only gave a brief introduction of her teammates and shared her experiences during the final competition.
At the same time, other teachers from the academy gathered around. The sight of Feng Tianyang being punched down was quite shocking. Especially since he was forced out of his martial soul avatar state mid-air, indicating he was seriously injured. Naturally, everyone was concerned.
However, with the battle just ending and Su Cheng present, they were cautious and refrained from making any rash moves.
Now that the dust had settled, and it seemed the headmaster's granddaughter had a close relationship with the young elder from Spirit Hall, they felt slightly relieved.
Su Cheng glanced at everyone, nodding lightly at Feng Tianyang. "Principal Feng, you can discuss with the other teachers and consider my proposal. Please give me a reply as soon as possible. Times have changed, and the future of Godwind Academy is in your hands."
After speaking, he patted Feng Qingyu on the shoulder and walked away with Zhu Zhuqing under the varied gazes of the onlookers.
He left the area clear for them to discuss among themselves. He had done all he could; these people, who had managed the academy for years, were not children. They should be able to make the right choice.
"Times have changed..."
Hearing this, Feng Tianyang was slightly shaken.
Yes, those two were so young, even among the students of his academy, they were the youngest. Su Cheng was exceptional, but what about Zhu Zhuqing? In just one year, she had advanced to such a level. Even with a strong martial soul, it shouldn't be so exaggerated.
Moreover...
Feng Tianyang looked at the girl with lively eyes beside him, his face stern. "Aren't you going to explain?"
Seeing her grandfather a bit displeased, Feng Qingyu stuck out her tongue and quickly explained everything that had happened, including details of the Soul Master Competition from a year ago.
In the end, she said, "Grandpa, you should seriously consider Teacher's suggestion."
Her young face bore a rare seriousness.
"That Elder Su..." Feng Tianyang hesitated, then asked, "Does he have any other disciples?"
"I don't know. He didn't before, but I'm not sure now."
"He didn't before..." Feng Tianyang thought to himself.
Feng Qingyu's final advice had little impact. No matter how promising she was or how smart her actions, she was still just a child. Her opinion held little weight in such matters. But the master-disciple relationship acknowledged by Su Cheng was real, and Feng Tianyang had to consider that.
"He probably doesn't," said the vice principal beside him, understanding what Feng Tianyang was pondering.
The relationship between Su Cheng and Feng Qingyu was not ordinary; it was different from the typical teacher-student relationship at the academy. It was akin to the bonds between Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, or Bibi Dong and Hu Liena, representing a form of legacy. This bond could be as close as familial ties.
"Think about it. If he had taken a new disciple at Spirit Hall Academy, he wouldn't have brought Zhu Zhuqing here today."
He indicated towards the pair with his eyes.
At that moment, Su Cheng's arm was still around Zhu Zhuqing's slender waist, and she was leaning her head on his shoulder. They were whispering to each other, appearing very close.
"They are clearly not in a master-disciple relationship."
"Why speculate so much? I'll just go ask," Feng Qingyu rolled her eyes, exasperated by their cautious attitude, and turned to walk towards Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing.
On the other side, Su Cheng was quietly nurturing Zhu Zhuqing's meridians with his innate energy, asking softly, "How do you feel after this battle?"
"My soul power circulates faster and has become purer. And... I feel much more relaxed."
"Relaxed?" Su Cheng was puzzled. "Be specific."
"Previously, it wasn't noticeable, but during the fight, it felt like all the restlessness and pressure within me were being released. Especially with the last punch, my entire spirit felt elevated." Zhu Zhuqing explained her feelings in detail.
"I see..." Su Cheng pondered.
It seemed he hadn't fully understood her situation before. Combat was the nature of the Hell White Tiger. Suppressing it or easing it in other ways was not the best method. Only intense battles could provide the most effective positive feedback, creating a virtuous cycle...
They noticed the silver-haired girl approaching.
Zhu Zhuqing stopped talking and quietly leaned on Su Cheng's shoulder, reflecting on the gains and losses from the previous battle while recovering.
She was certain that once she regained peak condition, if she fought Feng Tianyang again, she wouldn't be pushed to the same extent as today.
"Teacher, you finally came! It's been over a year!" Feng Qingyu playfully complained.
While speaking, she gave a peculiar glance at the curvaceous girl in Su Cheng's arms. If she remembered correctly, there was another terrifying sister in Spirit Hall.
Her teacher could actually embrace beauties on both sides?
How terrifying!
"What's with that expression?" Su Cheng raised an eyebrow, ignoring her thoughts, and asked, "What did your grandfather say?"
Hearing him ask about the matter at hand, Feng Qingyu put aside her random thoughts and said, "He wants to know if you have other disciples but is too embarrassed to ask, so I came."
Though she called him teacher, the age gap between them wasn't significant, and Feng Qingyu's lively personality meant she spoke without much restraint.
"No, just you. I don't plan to take any more either. Tell your grandfather not to worry," Su Cheng said with a smile.
The reason for coming to Godwind Academy first was due to the connection with Feng Qingyu. Convincing the elemental academies to become branches of Spirit Hall Academy was no easy task. Unlike ordinary family forces, simply using power to suppress them might not work. Therefore, he first demonstrated his strength to intimidate, then had Zhu Zhuqing showcase the teaching capabilities of Spirit Hall Academy, offering leverage. Up to this point, it was the usual mix of threats and incentives.
Finally, by including Feng Qingyu as his disciple, he appealed to emotions. Combining all these factors increased the chances of success significantly.
Once Godwind Academy agreed, it would be much easier to persuade the remaining Blazing Fire Academy and Heaven Water Academy.
With Su Cheng's clear answer, Feng Qingyu quickly returned to Feng Tianyang.
After she left, two figures dressed in fiery red uniforms, distinctly different from the students of Shinfeng Academy, approached Su Cheng and his companion.
Huo Wushuang greeted him, his expression somewhat complex. "Elder Su, long time no see."
"..." Huo Wu, standing beside him, pursed her lips and remained silent, her gaze lowered.
Her proud and fiery nature made it hard for her to be as composed as her brother. Recalling their past, where the gap between them wasn't as vast, and being of the same age, calling him "Elder" felt awkward.
"Captain Huo, long time no see." Su Cheng didn't mind and nodded to both of them.
He then took the initiative to say, "After things here are settled, we plan to visit the Blazing Academy. Would you like to join us?"
Huo Wushuang's face stiffened at these words.
They had come over to test the waters, suspecting that Su Cheng had a special purpose for his actions at Shinfeng Academy. As core disciples of another elemental academy, they had their own premonitions.
Yet, Su Cheng's straightforwardness in mentioning his plans took them by surprise.
Could what happened to Elder Feng Tianyang soon repeat with their own academy's head?
"Captain Huo, there's no need to be so tense. These matters aren't for students to worry about. Leave it to your academy's head and teachers to decide."
Huo Wushuang was momentarily stunned but then gave a bitter smile.
He had to admit, Su Cheng was right. Unlike Su Cheng, neither his current strength nor status gave him the authority to worry about such matters for his academy.
Two months later, a group of eight walked through the Spirit Mountain Range.
Alongside the returning Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing were Feng Xiaotian and Feng Qingyu from Shinfeng Academy, Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu from Blazing Academy, and Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu from Tianshui Academy. These were the most promising young soul masters from several elemental academies.
They would spend the next year and a half at the Spirit Hall Academy for learning and training under the guise of an exchange program.
The two-month delay in returning to Spirit City was due to the academies needing time to discuss, negotiate terms with Spirit City, and arrange follow-up matters. Additionally, Su Cheng and Zhu Zhuqing took the opportunity to travel around the provinces where the academies were located, which also took time.
For Su Cheng, training no longer relied solely on meditation and absorbing soul power.
Gaining worldly experiences and insights, harmonizing the energies within his body, brought benefits far surpassing mere hard training.
For Zhu Zhuqing, intense battles combined with relaxing the mind and balancing tension were also more beneficial for improving her strength.
As for the remaining Elephant Armor Academy and Thunderclap Academy, Elephant Armor Academy had already pledged allegiance to Spirit Hall, requiring no further effort.
Thunderclap Academy, being an affiliate of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, was left for Bibi Dong to handle, as Su Cheng didn't want to get involved.
As they neared Spirit City, Feng Qingyu approached Su Cheng, who was walking at the front.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing was with Shui Bing'er and others, sharing their cultivation experiences, leaving Su Cheng alone.
"Teacher, how strong are you now?"
Feng Qingyu was curious. Her grandfather had mentioned that Su Cheng's current strength surpassed even the peak Douluos, being unfathomably powerful.
"How strong...?" Su Cheng pondered, "With your limited knowledge, it's hard to explain. Stronger than a ninety-ninth level Titled Douluo, I'd say."
"Does that mean you're invincible?"
"Not exactly. But if we're only considering the two empires and Wuhun Hall, then probably."
"Oh." Feng Qingyu nodded thoughtfully.
She wasn't too surprised, having expected this.
In truth, she wanted to ask another question. "The sister Xue in Spirit City, your relationship with her seems special. Does she know about you and Sister Qing?"
"...Not yet."
Noticing Su Cheng's slightly unusual expression, Feng Qingyu's eyes twinkled with curiosity. "Since you're so strong, why do you seem so cautious? If you're tougher, they can't oppose you, right?"
"You're talking nonsense." Su Cheng couldn't help but laugh, "They're individuals with their own emotions and desires. How could I force them?"
"Then why can't you be devoted to one? Isn't this contradictory?"
"..."
Su Cheng fell silent.
After a long pause, just when Feng Qingyu thought he wouldn't answer, Su Cheng spoke again. "Humans are inherently contradictory. We want to hold onto more without letting go."
"Sigh, Teacher, I must say, your mindset has issues."
"Maybe..."
This time, upon returning to Spirit City, no one awaited them outside.
Unlike the last trip to the Slaughter City, this journey's duration was uncertain, and Qian Renxue had been diligently training to stabilize her extraordinarily powerful state, so she wouldn't be waiting by the city gates daily.
However, before Su Cheng and his group could reach the academy in the rear mountain, Qian Renxue, having learned of their return, left the Elder Hall and came down to Wuhun City.
Seeing the white-clad woman at the end of the wide street, Feng Qingyu's eyes flashed with admiration.
It wasn't her first time seeing Qian Renxue, but compared to the last encounter, Qian Renxue now exuded a completely different aura.
The most significant change was the brilliance in her phoenix eyes, sparkling like stars.
Qian Renxue's eyes were stunning.
Large and bright, yet slightly narrow, they gave an enchanting effect that many women achieved with makeup.
But such eyes, on her, appeared not seductive but majestic and fierce, exuding an overwhelming aura.
Qian Renxue walked up to them, ignoring the others, her gaze fixed solely on Su Cheng.
Su Cheng also looked at her. "I'll take them to the academy and the Pope's Hall first. I'll find you later. I have something to tell you."
He was ready to lay his cards on the table.
"Alright, I also have something to discuss."
Qian Renxue's red lips parted slightly, then she glanced at the others. Her gaze lingered a bit longer on Zhu Zhuqing's now more exquisite face but soon moved on.
She had changed.
She no longer needed so-called "teammates."
Feng Qingyu's eyes darted among them.
If Zhu Zhuqing was a young tiger yet to roar in the forest, the woman before them was a solitary eagle soaring in the sky, occasionally glancing at the ground.
Perhaps she found the young tiger annoying, but ultimately, she was indifferent.
But that was only because the young tiger hadn't touched her reverse scale yet.
If the truth were revealed, this proud elder sister might truly go mad.
Regarding her teacher's messy love life, Feng Qingyu held a deeply pessimistic view.
At the heart of Spirit City, a high mountain stood, known as Pope Mountain.
The Elder Hall, Pope Hall, and Douluo Hall, the three iconic buildings of Spirit City, were built on this mountain.
Current Pope Bibi Dong silently left the Pope Hall, stepping onto the plaza, overlooking the city's happenings with an inexplicable smile.
Had she changed after the Hell Road trip?
No, she had become more composed.
From a spider spinning webs, waiting patiently, to a deep-diving, imperceptible dragon.
Burying painful and sweet memories deep within, turning them into nourishment.
Even Su Cheng couldn't glimpse even a fraction of her true nature.