Cai Yue'er's face turned ashen, her fingers nearly crushing the sandalwood armrest. The whitish hue of her knuckles betrayed her seething rage.
As an elder of the Sea God Pavilion, how could she have endured such humiliation? Gu La's threat felt like a thorn lodged in her heart—if her actions today led to the doubling of spirit soul prices, Shrek Academy's millennia-old reputation would be at risk of crumbling under her watch.
What worried her most was that she could already imagine the fury future students would direct at her if Gu La followed through on his threat. Spirit souls were already exorbitantly expensive; doubling their price would devastate ordinary soul masters, while only noble families might weather the storm unscathed.
But swallowing this insult wasn't an option for her either. How could Leng Yaozhu allow herself to be manipulated by a junior disciple? Even though Gu La was a direct disciple and future vice-tower master of the Spirit Pagoda, openly opposing Shrek Academy so brazenly was absurd.
She conveniently ignored the fact that Gu La's provocation was specifically aid at her, her gilded earrings tracing chaotic arcs in the air with her labored breathing.
"Sigh…" The red-robed elder discreetly activated his communicator, sending a ssage to the Sea God Pavilion. He knew Cai Yue'er's temperant all too well. Back when Yun Ming had rejected her advances, she had caused a massive uproar on Sea God Island and even stirred trouble elsewhere, forcing the academy to send people to bring her back.
He had warned them against letting Cai Yue'er oversee the trials—now look where it had gotten them.
The response was swift. Within ten seconds, a stunning woman with erald-green hair tied with silver vines, a long dress embroidered with angelic wing patterns, and delicate shoulders adorned with vine-like ornants entered the room. Her presence exuded gentleness and grace.
Holy Spirit Douluo, Ya Li.
Known as the most beautiful woman on the Douluo Continent, a 99th-level Limit Douluo specializing in healing, she was also the deputy head of the Sea God Pavilion and the Dean of the inner court.
"Yue'er."
Cai Yue'er glanced at Ya Li, realizing soone must have tipped her off. She shot a glare at the red-robed elder before addressing Ya Li, "Sister Ya Li."
She harbored feelings for Ya Li's husband, Yun Ming, the head of the Sea God Pavilion. Though she envied and resented Ya Li, deep down, she respected her. Ya Li surpassed her in every way, especially after sacrificing herself to save hundreds of thousands of lives. Still, her lingering affection for Yun Ming kept her emotions tangled.
After listening to the red-robed elder's telepathic explanation, Ya Li gave a slight nod. "Yue'er, I'll take over the rest of the trials."
Cai Yue'er bristled but avoided Ya Li's gentle yet stern gaze.
Ya Li noticed the bloodstain at the corner of Tang Wulin's mouth and released a wave of healing soul power to nd his wounds.
"Thank you, Your Grace."
Tang Wulin expressed his gratitude sincerely. Compared to Cai Yue'er, this elder was at least ten tis more agreeable.
Ya Li smiled warmly. "Children, hello. I am the Dean of the inner court, Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li. Yue'er's actions were overly harsh, and I apologize on her behalf. The academy will address her behavior accordingly."
Cai Yue'er opened her mouth to protest: "On what grounds should I be punished…?"
The red-robed elder used soul power to silence her, ignoring her furious glare and innocently gesturing toward Ya Li with his eyes.
Tang Wulin exchanged glances with his companions. He was accustod to injuries and didn't dwell on them, but he wondered if Gu Yue felt wronged.
Gu Yue shook her head. A dragon doesn't concern itself with the antics of insects beneath its feet.
"I'll give Lady Ya Li face—I forgive her." Gu La chuckled softly, his black robes fluttering without wind. He deliberately glanced at Cai Yue'er's trembling fingertips, satisfied to see a flicker of helplessness cross Ya Li's brow.
Even as Gu La poured fuel onto the flas, Cai Yue'er preferred him targeting her over being forgiven through Ya Li's intervention.
Won always compared themselves to one another.
Especially in front of a "rival," even though Yun Ming's heart held no place for her.
No matter how you looked at it, Cai Yue'er had suffered a complete defeat.
Ya Li smiled gently, her warmth like a spring breeze. "Then I thank you on Yue'er's behalf."
Gu La nodded, realizing Ya Li was no pushover either. He doubted she didn't know about Cai Yue'er's unrequited love for her husband. That comnt was a deliberate jab at her heart.
Won could be petty indeed.
He'd need to tread carefully in the future.
"The friendship between the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy shouldn't be damaged by personal grievances. This is Headmaster Yun Ming's wish."
Ya Li's voice was as soothing as lting snow in early spring, yet it sent Cai Yue'er plumting into an icy abyss. When those erald eyes turned to her, she felt like she had reverted to the awkward junior sister from a hundred years ago, flustered in Yun Ming's presence.
The once-close relationship between Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda had gradually drifted apart due to past entanglents of love and hatred. Yun Ming and Ya Li had long intended to nd fences, and Gu La and Gu Yue's arrival ca at just the right ti.
Tang Wulin touched his fully healed chest, feeling the gentle warmth of Ya Li's healing—a stark contrast to Dean Cai's overbearing deanor. It made him warm to Shrek Academy again, his favorable impression climbing from 99 back to 100.
"Let's continue the trials."
Ya Li's voice remained as soothing as a spring breeze, though Cai Yue'er seethed with resentnt. No one paid her any mind.
"Does anyone here object to their scores?"
Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan shook their heads. Their evaluations were fair and accurate.
Ya Li smiled tenderly. "Very well. Gu Yue, your mastery of the four elents earns you full marks. Are you certain you don't wish to join the inner court?"
Gu Yue shook her head.
"Alright then." Ya Li didn't press further, silencing Cai Yue'er with a glance. "Gu La, it's your turn to showcase your abilities."
Her smile was serene. Normally, the outer court trials wouldn't involve her, but this situation was different.
First, Gu La had threatened with spirit souls—Shrek Academy had to respond appropriately. Second… both she and Yun Ming had heard about Gu La from Zang Xin and Cao Dezhi. He was suspected to be a reincarnated god.
Through the fusion technique of two quasi-gods' martial souls, Yun Ming and Ya Li had learned the truth behind the plane's suppression of soul masters ascending to godhood. Yun Ming imdiately believed 90% of it based on his own circumstances, leaving the remaining 10% to be confird upon eting Gu La.
Gu La felt pleased but remained unaware of the shock awaiting him from the fusion technique of the two quasi-gods.
"Twin martial souls. First martial soul: Ultimate Earth and Ultimate Fire, mastery of the Sword Intent of the Earth. Innate domain: Desolate Land."
Gu La demonstrated each ability, omitting that the Desolate Land domain could nullify water-elent attacks. Although many of the Sea God's techniques didn't rely on water elents, exposing this weakness might make him a pri target for Tang San. Better to stay low-key, which was why he often used the Celebi martial soul instead.
"Second martial soul: Ultimate Wood, a spiritual system martial soul specializing in controlling plants. Domain skill: Boundless Forest Sea. First spirit soul… the Golden Ancient Tree."
Ya Li raised an eyebrow slightly. "Golden Ancient Tree spirit soul?"
Having previously been part of the Federation, Ya Li was unaware that the Spirit Pagoda possessed a Golden Ancient Tree spirit soul. She glanced questioningly at the red-robed elder.
The elder shook his head—he didn't know about it either.
Gu La explained, "The Golden Ancient Tree spirit soul dates back seven hundred years. The Spirit Pagoda exchanged two pieces of hundred-thousand-year soul bones for a branch containing the essence of the Golden Ancient Tree, which they cultivated into this spirit soul."
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