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Night fell, and darkness enveloped the earth. Tonight seemed particularly quiet, with a crescent moon hanging askew in the sky, and scattered stars emitting a faint glow.
Shrek Academy Outer Court, New Student Assessment Area.
The new student assessment had concluded successfully. The series of matches had left a profound psychological impact on these eleven or twelve-year-old boys and girls, teaching them the vast disparities in the world and the truth that there is always a higher mountain.
To catch up with their more powerful peers, the new students rushed back to their dormitories to practice, afraid to waste a single minute. At this moment, the Soul Duel Arena was sparsely populated and silent.
"Thud, thud, thud!"
Heavy footsteps and heavy breathing suddenly echoed, and a crimson figure burst into the assessment area, leaning against a pillar for a few seconds before looking up at the person in the stands, his voice hoarse, speaking slowly and deliberately:
"Ling Bai, you are really something!
Ning Tian has gone missing, and you still have the nerve to sit there like a dead turtle!"
Wu Feng's face was a mix of frustration and anxiety. His white school uniform was drenched in sweat, and if he wrung it, water would surely come out.
Ning Tian had vanished as if she had evaporated into thin air. Wu Feng had almost turned the Shrek Academy Outer Court upside down but found no trace of Ning Tian.
"Are you really stupid or just pretending?" Ling Bai looked down at Wu Feng, who was glaring at him, feeling pity for his lack of effort.
"Ning Tian is clearly hiding from us, licking her wounds in some secluded place. Why must you deprive her of her last bit of personal space?"
"I... I'm worried she might do something foolish..."
Wu Feng unconsciously bit his lower lip, his trembling teeth betraying his chaotic inner state.
They had grown up together since childhood, and Wu Feng believed no one understood Ning Tian better than he did. Ning Tian was the little princess of the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower, as noble as the moon in the sky. Now, the moon had fallen, and if Ning Tian couldn't bear it, Wu Feng didn't dare to think further!
"Ning Tian won't."
Ling Bai's tone was very calm but filled with unparalleled certainty: "She should have calmed down a bit. Go back to the dormitory and rest. I promise to bring you a new Ning Tian tomorrow."
"New? What do you mean? We are already new students at Shrek! Hey! Hey!"
Ignoring the idiot's shouting, a pair of golden angel wings unfolded, and Ling Bai shot up into the sky, turning into a golden streak flying out of Shrek Academy.
"Bang."
After a barely perceptible collision, Ling Bai landed slowly in front of a dimly lit alley near the west gate of Shrek City.
The alley was deep and dark, with only the light from the stars and moon barely illuminating the path ahead.
Ling Bai walked along the alley, and as he went deeper, he heard a faint, sad sobbing. A curled-up figure of a girl came into view.
"Who's there!"
Ling Bai did not deliberately lighten his steps. Ning Tian immediately became alert upon sensing a stranger and picked up a stone, hurling it at Ling Bai with over thirty levels of Soul Power, making it appear like a phantom.
Ling Bai caught the stone steadily and smiled, "Little Tian, it's me."
"Brother Bai?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Ning Tian instinctively looked up. Confirming it was indeed Ling Bai, she instantly buried her head in her knees, her voice sharp:
"Don't look at me! Please, Brother Bai, go away!"
She shouted until her voice was hoarse, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably, trying hard to hold back tears, but her eyes betrayed the deep pain she felt.
The first failure in her life was almost an unbearable weight for Ning Tian. It wasn't that she couldn't accept failure. If she had lost to Bai Hu Dai Huabin or Xi Fan Yue, she would have felt disappointed and regretful, but she would have worked hard to make a comeback.
But it was... it had to be... losing to Huo Yuhao, a one-ringed Soul Master with mediocre talent, weak background, who relied on the Tang Sect and casually broke the rules!
And Ling Bai just happened to witness her at her most vulnerable moment!
The glory of the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower, the pride of the sect's little princess, and the opinion of the person she admired—this new student assessment match had destroyed everything Ning Tian held dear. Her mindset was like a shattered mirror, and she dared not face Ling Bai, fearing to see disappointment and disdain in his eyes.
Suddenly, Ning Tian felt a warm embrace envelop her body. After some time, a gentle voice slowly entered her ears.
"Little Tian, have you heard a story? Everyone's heart rate is different. When you hug someone for over thirty seconds, your heart rates will synchronize. So, when you're sad, hugging someone tightly can help you calm down."
Ning Tian couldn't tell if it was true, but she knew that Ling Bai's warmth, voice, and breath were like a soothing stream, nourishing her heart, which was filled with anxiety and wounds.
She clung tightly to Ling Bai's shoulders, lifting her head. In the darkness, her eyes were red, and her beautiful face was streaked with tears, making her look incredibly pitiful.
The fresh scent of her silver-white hair filled his nostrils. Ling Bai gently patted Ning Tian's back and said, "Little Tian, are you feeling better?"
"Losing to them, I can't accept it, and it's humiliating... Brother Bai, don't mock me. For a moment, I really wanted to return to the sect and never step into Shrek Academy again..."
After saying that, Ning Tian released Ling Bai, looking down at her shoe tips. Ling Bai somehow felt as if her head had grown two ears, hanging pitifully.
"It's just a loss in a match, how big of a deal is it?" Ling Bai held Ning Tian's small hand without hesitation, "Come with me for a walk outside the city."
"Where are we going?" Ning Tian asked hurriedly.
"Mountain climbing."
Fifty miles northeast of Shrek City was the Spring Tea Mountain. Ling Bai released his six-winged angel and flew Ning Tian to the foot of the mountain.
"An upperclassman said the sunrise on Spring Tea Mountain is magnificent. Let's go up the mountain to clear our minds and see for ourselves."
"Okay."
Ning Tian nodded. She needed to do something to distract herself and move past the humiliation of failure.
They stepped onto the first step, officially beginning their mountain climb. They both chose to forgo using Soul Power, relying solely on physical strength and endurance to experience the process.
Ling Bai, with two super Soul Powers, had a body as strong as a Spirit Emperor. His long legs moved swiftly, while Ning Tian, being a support-type, had a body that was even weaker than some two-ringed Soul Masters. She managed to keep up with Ling Bai for a while but soon was drenched in sweat and panting, "Brother Bai, I'm a bit tired..."
"It's okay, sit down and rest for a while."
A long silence fell between them until Ning Tian recovered her strength and continued climbing.
Ling Bai did not slow down, and Ning Tian gritted her teeth and followed closely. She only rested when she was completely exhausted, and at that moment, Ling Bai would also stop, his golden eyes filled with deep meaning as he looked at her.
"Pant... Pant..."
Ning Tian supported her sore thighs, finally seeing the top of the mountain. Victory was within reach.
The wind blew through the lush forest of Spring Tea Mountain, and the trees in the morning light looked like an ocean, a sea of emerald, with thousands of treetops swaying in the wind, forming layers of waves.
"Do you think the upperclassman was lying to me?" Ling Bai smiled.
"No, it's really beautiful..."
Dawn flooded Ning Tian's vision, the massive sun touching the horizon, and the ancient river below her feet slowly rippled, the water crashing against the black cliffs, breaking into white foam.
Exhausted but triumphant, Ning Tian swore this was the most beautiful dawn she had ever seen.
"Little Tian, was the climb tiring?"
"It was, but seeing such a beautiful view makes it all worth it."
"Little Tian, I don't like to lecture people because it's too tedious and unnecessary. I respect others' fates, whether good or bad, it's none of my business." Ling Bai's voice was light, blending into the morning breeze at the mountain top, "But for you, it's the first time I've felt conflicted."
Ning Tian clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning blue, her body trembling slightly, "Brother Bai, I don't understand what you mean."
"Little Tian, the night before we left for Shrek Academy, the sect leader secretly entered your room. Do you need me to help you remember what happened?"
"No need..."
Ning Tian's face turned red, and her hands clutched together.
Ling Bai continued, "I can understand what the sect leader said that night. The Seven Treasures Crystal Tower lacks combat power, and non-family combat Soul Masters naturally became an important part of the sect, second only to the direct descendants. To bind combat Soul Masters, the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower has followed the ancient tradition of choosing relatives by marriage for thousands of years.
Marriage binds hearts and souls, and I don't have a problem with this approach. But Little Tian, you've tasted failure. The lack of combat power in the Seven Treasures Crystal Tower was exposed in the match. After using your Soul Skills, a support-type is just a spectator in the arena.
You are the top support-type Soul Power, giving Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er a forty percent boost. So what? The outcome and fate are still in the hands of combat Soul Masters with lower talent than you.
Little Tian, are you content with that?"
"Of course not!"
Ning Tian's eyes suddenly sparked with light. If she had exchanged her three-ringed Seven Treasures Crystal Tower for a three-ringed Red Dragon, she would have definitely beaten Huo Yuhao and his team!
"Soul Power isn't something I can choose..."
As she said this, the light in her eyes dimmed.
"The times have changed. Support-types are no longer purely support. The Seven Treasures Crystal Tower doesn't have to be a parasitic vine, relying on combat Soul Masters." Ling Bai stood at the mountain top, the strong wind making his clothes flutter.
"Little Tian, be the mountain, overlooking the ordinary valleys from the peak."
The mountain wind carried a damp, refreshing chill, her silver-white hair sticking to her pale forehead. Ning Tian's eyes shone brightly, reflecting the entire person at the mountain top. Her chest suddenly burned with a fire of courage, ready to consume everything.
She stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ling Bai, "Brother Bai, what should I do?"
"Study Soul Conductor Devices, seize the opportunities of the times, and blaze a new path for yourself and the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower!"
"Okay, I'll do it!"
Ning Tian didn't hesitate. In the Tang Sect Continent's three original countries, the stronger the Soul Power, the more they resisted Soul Conductor Devices. Most Soul Conductors were a bunch of weak Soul Powers, but she was tired of the helplessness of entrusting her fate to others!
"But there's one issue." Ning Tian changed the subject, "Shrek Academy's Soul Power and Soul Conductor Departments are strictly separated, and dual studies are not allowed."
"With the right people backing you, you can secretly study both."
Ling Bai didn't take it seriously. Huo Yuhao was already studying both under the Soul Conductor Department Director Fan Yu, so he decided to find a powerful mentor for Ning Tian.
Fortunately, there was a comrade in the Shrek Academy Outer Court who was extremely willing to help Ning Tian, and Ling Bai decided to reach out to him.
An hour later, the door to the Outer Court Soul Power Department Director's office was knocked on.
"Little Tian and Ling Bai?"
Du Weilun was drafting the list of core first-year students. Seeing Ning Tian and Ling Bai, he was momentarily stunned and asked, "Why are you here?"
"Director Du, I'm asking for your help!" Ning Tian put on a weak and gentle demeanor, her voice soft.
"What kind of help?"
Du Weilun had been taking special care of Ning Tian for the past three months, harboring some thoughts he couldn't share with others.
"I want to study Soul Conductor Devices. Can you help me find a teacher?"
"Soul Conductor Devices???"
Du Weilun seemed to hit a keyword, jumping up and firing off a rapid barrage of words.
"Why would you abandon your top-tier Soul Power, the Seven Treasures Crystal Tower, to study that nonsense!"
"No, no, absolutely not!"
"I would be harming you by helping you! Little Tian, forget these thoughts, study systematically, and you will surely take over your mother's responsibilities and become the next leader of the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower!"
"Director..." Ning Tian's eyes narrowed.
Fine, you want to push me to the limit, huh!
"Director, my father actually passed away in an accident ten years ago. My mother has been working hard, and the Main Body Sect has been causing trouble for us, making it difficult for combat Soul Masters to join the Nine Treasures Crystal Tower. That's why I want to study Soul Conductor Devices to add combat power to our sect..."
"Condolences... Wait, what?"
Du Weilun first sighed, then suddenly realized.
Hold on, something's off!
"Your parents and I were in the same year, but I was slightly weaker and didn't get selected for the Shrek Seven Monsters like them."
Du Weilun still wasn't convinced. If he had also given up Shrek Academy to pursue love, it might not be clear who Ning Tian's father would be!
"Brother Changqing, why did you leave so early..."
The love and hate of twenty years ago are long gone!
I'll take care of your family, don't worry!
Du Weilun looked at Ning Tian, stood up, and said, "This is understandable. Although studying both is difficult, it can be tried. Soul Conductor Department Director Qian Duoduo always complains to Dean Yan about a lack of people. I'll bring him a top genius!"
He led Ning Tian toward the Soul Conductor Department, rubbing his hands together, "Little Tian... actually, you should call me Uncle Du from your mother's side."
"Um, Uncle Du..."
"Ah! Uncle Du will take you to the Soul Conductor Department!"
Ling Bai followed behind them, shaking his head in shame at Du Weilun's behavior.
Sure enough, if the top is crooked, the bottom will be askew!
From Mu En to Du Weilun and down to Huo Yuhao, Shrek Academy is full of talented people, but also full of lickspittles!
Ling Bai looked at Du Weilun's pitiful appearance and knew that even if the sect leader married three times, it wouldn't be his turn!
(End of Chapter)