Chapter 22 - Seeking Help from Ling Luochen

(Note: I purchased the Chapters from the author so I hope for your support on Patreon.com/flokixy so I can purchase more Chapters 💜)

Ling Luochen retracted her soul power, rose from her bed, and walked over to open the door.

Seeing the person outside, she smiled and said, "Xiao Tuo, it really is you. Shouldn't you be in class right now? What brings you here?"

"I have something I'd like to ask of you, Sister Luochen," Yuwen Tuo replied.

"Alright, come inside and we'll talk," Ling Luochen invited him in. She had known Yuwen Tuo for six years now.

If Ma Xiaotao played the role of the strict enforcer, then Ling Luochen was the gentle mediator. As the only person in the academy who knew about the complicated relationship between Yuwen Tuo and Ma Xiaotao—and who intentionally didn't interfere with their interactions—her role was to ensure that Yuwen Tuo didn't grow to resent Shrek Academy too deeply.

Ling Luochen herself wasn't even aware that her kindness had been subtly exploited by the academy.

However, it was also because of these six years of interaction that Ling Luochen had developed a fondness for Yuwen Tuo. Though this affection wasn't romantic, it was heartfelt.

Ling Luochen once had a younger brother who had passed away at a young age, and she often reminisced about him. Perhaps, unconsciously, she had transferred some of that nostalgia onto Yuwen Tuo.

Yuwen Tuo stepped into the room, feeling the intense chill emanating from within. "Were you practicing just now, Sister Luochen? Judging by the lingering fluctuations of your soul power, your cultivation must be close to level fifty-five."

Ling Luochen nodded. "I'm still slightly short of fifty-five. Advancing from Soul King to Soul Emperor is no easy feat. And after that, reaching Soul Sage will be even harder."

Yuwen Tuo fell silent for a moment. Despite Ling Luochen's exceptional talent, she was still practicing using the standard meditation techniques commonly found on the continent—albeit an advanced version refined by Shrek Academy. Compared to true cultivation methods, however, there was still a gap.

If she had access to a higher-level internal cultivation technique, her progress would undoubtedly accelerate significantly. At the very least, she wouldn't fall behind someone like Ma Xiaotao.

Unfortunately, Yuwen Tuo currently didn't have a suitable method to offer her.

He knew of four cultivation techniques: the first was the Ghost Valley Sect's method, the second was the Divine Fire Avatar taught to him by his master—the real Yuwen Tuo—the third was the Tempered Mysterious Mirror, a notoriously grueling practice his master had forced upon him in his youth to temper his willpower, though it paled in comparison to the Divine Fire Avatar. The last was the sound-based cultivation technique taught to him by his master's wife, Ning Ke.

The Divine Fire Avatar was clearly unsuitable for someone with an ice attribute like Ling Luochen. Nor would he subject her to the harshness of the Tempered Mysterious Mirror. As for the sound-based technique, one of its prerequisites was a certain level of musical aptitude, which Ling Luochen lacked.

For now, he could only wait for an opportunity to modify the Ghost Valley Sect's method into something tailored specifically for her. With his previous cultivation level, which rivaled that of elder-level figures in sects, creating a foundational cultivation technique shouldn't be too difficult.

But that would have to wait until Ling Luochen eventually left Shrek Academy. Unlike Xiao Xiao, Ling Luochen had spent years cultivating at Shrek and had deep emotional ties to the institution. Convincing her to leave wouldn't be easy.

Until then, no matter how close he was to Ling Luochen, Yuwen Tuo couldn't afford to share valuable knowledge with her, lest it benefit the academy.

For now, his most pressing concern was to completely sever his ties with Shrek Academy. Whether for personal reasons or future cultivation prospects, there was a place he absolutely needed to go.

"By the way, I heard that your class has Zhou Yi as the homeroom teacher. Aren't you worried about skipping class to visit me? Won't she punish you?" Ling Luochen asked.

Yuwen Tuo chuckled. "Hmph, she can't do anything to me. What I'm more worried about is someone else's anger."

His gaze drifted across the Sea God Lake toward the direction of the teaching building.

As Yuwen Tuo had expected, two people were currently seething with rage inside the classroom.

"You bad boy, Yuwen Tuo, how dare you stand me up again and lie to me! This time, I'm definitely going to ignore you for a week... no, three days... fine, just one whole day!" Xiao Xiao glared at the empty seat beside her, her expression full of dissatisfaction.

There was no pretense in her emotions—just pure frustration.

Yuwen Tuo had promised her that he wouldn't be late. Technically, he hadn't lied; he had promised not to be late, but this wasn't lateness—it was outright skipping class.

Later, he'd have to find a way to soothe this legally-adorable loli.

The other person fuming, of course, was Zhou Yi. For the first time in her career, someone had dared to skip her class. Everyone in the academy knew her reputation, and Yuwen Tuo had set a dangerous precedent. How could she tolerate this blatant disregard for her authority? They had an unspoken agreement to avoid conflict, yet here he was defying her.

She knew she couldn't control Yuwen Tuo directly, so she decided to involve Ma Xiaotao. If she couldn't handle him, perhaps Ma Xiaotao could strip him bare and toss him into her room.

With that thought, she immediately sent a student to retrieve Yuwen Tuo.

The report that came back, however, stated that Yuwen Tuo had gone to the inner court, using Ma Xiaotao's room card as proof.

"That little brat! He's mocking me!" Zhou Yi exclaimed furiously.

Upon hearing this news, she instinctively assumed that Yuwen Tuo had already stripped himself bare and gone to Ma Xiaotao's room willingly, rendering her threat ineffective.

As for expelling Yuwen Tuo?

Not only would the headmaster never approve, but Ma Xiaotao would also fiercely oppose such a decision. Even if it somehow went through, Yuwen Tuo would likely celebrate it as a victory.

For the first time in her life, Zhou Yi found herself utterly powerless against a student.

At the very least, she could resort to violence—but physically punishing students was strictly forbidden at Shrek Academy.

The highest form of punishment officially allowed by Shrek was expulsion.

"Fine, I give up. That boy is beyond saving. From now on, I'll just pretend he doesn't exist in my class," Zhou Yi muttered, shaking her head as she finally abandoned Yuwen Tuo.

She knew about Yuwen Tuo's past and felt a twinge of pity for him. His promising future had nearly been ruined by Ma Xiaotao.

Still, she had believed that as long as Yuwen Tuo worked hard, he still had a chance to rise again. After all, his natural talent was undeniable. Even though the purity of his fire had been tainted and its power diminished, it remained at least a mid-tier martial soul. Combined with his extraordinary innate soul power, he still had the potential to reach the rank of Title Douluo—even if it were the weakest among them, his status would far surpass that of a Soul Douluo.

But now, she felt that Yuwen Tuo had completely given up on himself. A person who had abandoned their own future was no longer worth her effort to guide.

"Hahaha... Teacher Zhou Yi has probably encountered a student like you for the first time in her life. That old witch has finally met her match!"

Inside the room, Ling Luochen laughed heartily, unable to contain herself.

The usually icy and composed Ling Luochen, who appeared cold and distant to outsiders, was only ever this carefree and unrestrained around her "younger brother," Yuwen Tuo.

"Haha, alright, Sister Luochen, are you done laughing? Can we get to my request now?" Yuwen Tuo asked helplessly.

Ling Luochen was always serious and reserved around others, yet with him, she seemed to drop all pretenses.

Could it be that even without blood ties, the bond between an older sister and a younger brother carried its own weight?

"Fine, fine. Go ahead—I'm listening," Ling Luochen said, composing herself.

Yuwen Tuo leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Sister Luochen, I want to make a deal with Principal Yan Shaozhe."

Ling Luochen listened quietly, her brows furrowing slightly.

"If your request is simply to take a trip outside, then from the perspective of the principal, he might agree to the deal—but there would be other considerations as well."

Yuwen Tuo nodded. "I understand. That's why I've come to you for help. Although the academy is keeping me here, they no longer value me as much as before. My remaining utility to them is minimal. So, I'll use that as leverage myself!"