章 24: Chapter 24: Yan Shaozhe (II)

"Ah, to be young—you can fall asleep just like that."

Behind them, the spirit guidance lamps of the Outer Courtyard formed a continuous glow, weaving golden veins across Shrek Academy. The night wind blew gently from afar, lifting Ling Bai's golden hair as he held Ma Xiaotao in his arms. He sighed helplessly.

He had exhausted nearly all of his trump cards in that recent battle. Except for not activating the Blazing Bone Dragon Vulture's Spirit Bone Skill, he had unleashed all eighteen of his martial techniques, barely subduing Ma Xiaotao, who fought purely on instinct and had withheld her sixth spirit skill, Phoenix Meteor Shower. If she regained her senses and they fought one-on-one fairly, Ling Bai couldn't guarantee a sure victory against this Evil Fire Phoenix Spirit Emperor.

On his very first day at Shrek Academy, he had already gotten himself into such a big mess. He couldn't even begin to imagine how he would navigate the days to come.

A moment later, he landed on the shore of Sea God Lake. He noticed that Ma Xiaotao's hands had somehow wrapped around his neck. One side of her face was tinged with a soft blush that made her already stunning features even more captivating.

"Actually... she's quite beautiful when she's not fighting."

Ling Bai muttered softly. Ma Xiaotao's appearance definitely deserved the description of an angel's face and a devil's figure. If only her temperament were a bit gentler, she would be perfect.

One of the two active volcanoes of the Inner Courtyard—what brave soul would dare to get involved with her?

Suddenly, Ling Bai sensed something and looked in a certain direction. A speck of white light was rapidly approaching, and within a few blinks, it landed in front of him.

A middle-aged man dressed in white with a handsome and scholarly appearance stood before him. His hair was neatly combed, and he exuded a comforting aura of light.

"Oh, you've arrived?"

Ling Bai stared at him with deadpan eyes.

Even a clay figurine had some temper. This guy was obviously a teacher at Shrek Academy and must hold a high position. Ling Bai could hardly believe that despite the huge commotion he and Ma Xiaotao had caused, this person had only just arrived!

"That's right, student."

The middle-aged man had an equally high level of 'cultivation.' Despite Ling Bai's slightly sarcastic tone, his expression didn't waver in the slightest. It was as if his face was genuinely inscribed with the words:

Shameless!

"I am Yan Shaozhe, Dean of the Martial Spirit Department. Ma Xiaotao is my direct disciple. Her Evil Fire Phoenix has always been a concern, and I didn't expect it to flare up tonight without warning. Fortunately, you were here, young man. Are you all right? You weren't injured, were you?"

"Injured. Very badly injured."

"Good that you're... eh?"

Yan Shaozhe's pupils dilated slightly as the well-rehearsed words he'd prepared sank like a stone in the sea. He stared at Ling Bai, whose aura had suddenly weakened, and internally screamed:

Fraud!

Definitely an act!

He had clearly seen Ling Bai looking perfectly fine after the fight with Ma Xiaotao. One moment he was lively and energetic, the next moment gravely injured and on the brink of death. Who would believe that?!

Ling Bai coughed weakly a couple of times, then said in a feeble voice, "Dean Yan, Senior Sister Xiaotao's phoenix flames were too powerful. I was lucky to barely survive, but now there's rampant evil fire all over my body.

It's alright, I can endure it.

Even though I'm just a weak 4-ringed Spirit Ancestor, even though I'm merely a newcomer at Shrek Academy... I deeply understand the spirit of selfless sacrifice for my fellow classmates.

I'm willing to make sacrifices for Senior Sister. Even if the lingering effects of the Phoenix Evil Fire leave me with hidden injuries that hinder my future, I would never take even a needle or thread from Shrek Academy... rest assured, I won't tell anyone..."

!!!

Ma Xiaotao, who had quietly regained consciousness, bit down hard on her lower lip and tried desperately to hold back her laughter to the point that her face became slightly contorted.

So bad!

This guy is so bad!

She knew that Ling Bai must have realized that Yan Shaozhe had arrived long ago, and perhaps, intending to test him, Yan Shaozhe hadn't intervened immediately. So Ling Bai played along, subtly and overtly extorting him!

The more Yan Shaozhe listened, the darker his face became. Finally, he waved his hand, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes, and said, "Listen to yourself. Does our Shrek Academy not distinguish between right and wrong? For getting injured while protecting a fellow student, the academy must reward you. Here, take this!"

With that, he tossed a white jade bottle to Ling Bai.

A refreshing fragrance wafted out of the jade bottle as Ling Bai pulled out the wooden stopper. Through the bottle's opening, he could see three dragon-eye-sized pills lying quietly inside. The pills were crystal clear, with a faint halo flowing over their jade-green surface.

"Spirit Nourishing Pills. The Dean is very generous."

Ling Bai expressed his gratitude to Yan Shaozhe.

Yan Shaozhe raised an eyebrow. "Seems like you've had these before?"

The Spirit Nourishing Pill was an advanced version of the Spirit Ascension Pill, refined from the essence of over thirty 10,000-year plant-type spirit beasts. It had the miraculous effect of cleansing the sinews and marrow, and nourishing the spirit.

Only a very few plant-type Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent could refine the Spirit Nourishing Pill, producing no more than three to five pills a year.

Even though Ling Bai recognized the Spirit Nourishing Pills, Yan Shaozhe noticed that his expression wasn't particularly surprised, more like a perfunctory acknowledgment:

Spirit Nourishing Pills, huh? Not bad, thanks!

Only disciples from top clans or major sects had ever come across Spirit Ascension Pills. Ling Bai's reaction made Yan Shaozhe hesitate about the plan he had in mind.

"Dean, my name is Ling Bai, from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."

Earlier, he used a recommendation letter from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to enroll. Yan Shaozhe could easily verify this information with Du Weilun, so Ling Bai simply told him frankly.

'Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?' Yan Shaozhe suddenly understood.

No wonder Ling Bai seemed somewhat unimpressed by the Spirit Nourishing Pills. The Protector Douluo of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was currently the strongest plant-type Titled Douluo on the continent!

His title: Jianmu!

TL/N: World Tree in Chinese mythology.

Jianmu Douluo was a powerhouse from the same era as Dragon God Douluo Mu En, the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion. Even Yan Shaozhe, the Dean of the Martial Spirit Department, would have to bow and respectfully address him as 'Senior' upon meeting him. The Spirit Nourishing Pills were precisely the top-grade pills that Jianmu Douluo had developed by improving upon the Spirit Ascension Pills in his youth.

Given Ling Bai's background from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the talent he had displayed, it wouldn't be surprising if the clan and Jianmu Douluo treated the Spirit Nourishing Pills as mere candies for him to snack on.

"How has Senior Jianmu's health been in recent years?"

Yan Shaozhe recalled that his teacher Mu En had mentioned that when the two Body Sect brothers wreaked havoc across the continent, it was he and Jianmu Douluo who stepped in to stop them.

After a fierce battle, Dragon God Douluo Mu En severely injured the Body Sect Master Du Bisi, who retreated to the Body Sect and, years later, succumbed to his wounds. However, Mu En paid a heavy price in the form of a shattered spine that left him unable to straighten his back for the rest of his life.

Jianmu Douluo, on the other hand, fought Du Busi alone for three days and nights, leaving both of them severely injured. Left with chronic health issues, Jianmu Douluo retreated into seclusion within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and disappeared from public view.

"He's the same as before."

Ling Bai's tone was flat. The simple five words made it hard to gauge how much truth there was in his statement.

"Standing up in times of crisis, Jianmu Douluo is a senior I deeply respect. Unfortunately, I've never had the fortune to meet him. His presence is truly a blessing for the continent and the academy," Yan Shaozhe sighed.

"Leave Xiaotao to me. Your injuries are not light; go back and rest well. I'll think about further compensation for you."

Using Ling Bai's fabricated excuse as a pretext, Yan Shaozhe took Ma Xiaotao from his hands and turned to leave.