Chapter 41: Holy Spirit Douluo Yali VS Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaoju, the agreement

Tianhai Hotel, eighty-eighth floor.

The Tianhai Hotel is the most luxurious hotel in Tianhai City, and Shrek Academy and the Blacksmith Association booked rooms there coincidentally. With Shrek Academy's energy, investigating a room number was not a problem.

Ye Xinglan stood in front of a door, her azure pupils swirling with light. She breathed deeply to calm her state of mind and muttered to herself: "The trouble started because of me; it should be ended by me."

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Prepared to be humiliated to the point of being completely disgraced, the young girl clenched her fists and knocked on the door.

"Late-night snack is here!"

Xiang Xiang Naer's joyful voice rang out from inside the room. She jumped off the sofa, not even having time to put on her shoes, and ran to open the door barefooted and excitedly.

"Hmm?"

What came into view was not a hotel waiter and a dazzling array of food carts, but Ye Xinglan's cold face. Xiang Xiang Naer was stunned for a moment, then backed away three steps, *thump, thump, thump*, and turned to shout:

"Zhao Xuan, grab your weapons! Shi Laike is attacking again!"

"I'm not here to fight..."

Ye Xinglan tried hard to explain, but before she could finish, Xiang Xiang Naer had already pulled out the Silver Dragon Spear, and Zhao Xuan also walked over slowly.

Facing Xiang Xiang Naer's undisguised hostility and Zhao Xuan's probing gaze, Ye Xinglan said earnestly: "I'm not fighting, I just want to take responsibility for my own actions. Can you give me a chance?"

Seeing Ye Xinglan alone and with no intention of pulling out her Star God Sword, Zhao Xuan and Xiang Xiang Naer exchanged a glance and said indifferently:

"Say it here."

"Thank you."

Not being kicked out immediately, Ye Xinglan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She pursed her crimson lips, her shoulders suddenly collapsing as if they had lost their strength, and she hung her head: "I'm sorry, that day was my fault. I shouldn't have doubted you without reason, and I shouldn't have said those rude words."

"Hoh!"

Xiang Xiang Naer's silver eyes brightened. She was somewhat surprised that Ye Xinglan had come late at night just to apologize; this didn't fit the overbearing style of Shi Laike Academy!

"Anything else?"

Zhao Xuan felt that the girl seemed to have something hidden.

Ye Xinglan raised her head, her fair and clean face showing a complex expression, her tone strained: "Because of our battle failure and the inappropriate words and actions at the time, Shi Laike Academy has been ridiculed and abused by the entire continent these days...

I want to ask the two of you to come forward and speak for the academy. You are the strongest members of the Donghai Academy representative team and also one of the central topics of public opinion.

As long as you nod and help, the academy's pressure will be greatly reduced, and it will definitely be able to overcome the difficulties.

I made a big mistake, and I am willing to pay everything to make up for it as much as I can..."

After speaking, a tear slid across Ye Xinglan's small nose, creating a dark round spot on the carpet. More tears continued to well up, her long eyelashes like butterfly wings stained with morning dew.

Seemingly to prove the authenticity of paying everything, she forced herself to look up, letting the chandelier's waterfall of light wash over her tear-stained face. Her upper body and spine were taut, and her gauze-wrapped knees suddenly bent, straight and stiff, as she was about to kneel.

However, the moment Ye Xinglan bent her knees, two round ice blocks rose from the ground, supporting her bending knees. The cold light refracted by the ice happened to pierce into her tear-filled eyes.

Ye Xinglan looked at Zhao Xuan in a daze, not understanding why he stopped her from kneeling.

"Shi Laike Academy's so-called face, you need to trample on yourself for it?"

Zhao Xuan sighed long. Except for certain limited occasions, he didn't like the act of kneeling.

Kneeling is an act of extreme lack of dignity. His education in two lifetimes taught him to stand up. Now, the face of the continent's number one academy actually required a ten-year-old girl to kneel and beg; it was too ironic.

"This matter has long surpassed the conventional meaning of battle victory or defeat. Even if discussing solutions, it should be the top brass of Shi Laike Academy coming in person. You don't have the ability to solve it, and there's no need to waste your own life. Go back."

"Is that so..."

The door closed again. Ye Xinglan straightened her knees shakily, her heart filled with mixed feelings. She supported herself against the wall and left in a daze.

Her mind was in chaos, and she stumbled back to the sixty-sixth floor. Her injuries seemed to have worsened; purple-red bruises appeared under her thin-as-cicada-wing skin, her knees were swollen, and fine blood beads snaked down the back of her legs, condensing into strings of pearls on her mutton-fat jade-like calves.

"Sister, Sister Xinglan!?"

An exclamation came from the corridor, waking the dazed Ye Xinglan. She saw Xu Xu Li Zhi running over with his fat, chubby body, his heart aching: "Sister Xinglan, your injuries!"

"It's nothing, it's all deserved." Ye Xinglan bit her red lips tightly. "Still not forgiving me..."

"Forgive?"

Xu Xu Li Zhi caught the keyword, looking at Ye Xinglan's stinging knees, where blood scabs had cracked into fresh wounds, dragging out intermittent red lines.

Aside from her knees, Ye Xinglan's eye sockets were red and swollen, clearly having just cried. A bolt of lightning struck; Xu Xu Li Zhi's fat face trembled uncontrollably. Could it be that Ye Xinglan went to find Zhao Xuan late at night!?

Highly likely!

Ye Xinglan's personality was paranoid and stubborn, plus Yu Yuanheng's stimulation and Shen Yi's words of disappointment, she likely took the blame on herself. It wasn't impossible for her to take the initiative to make up for her mistakes!

The result was as follows: Ye Xinglan's body and spirit were on the verge of collapse. Looking like she had been bullied, Xu Xu Li Zhi couldn't help but think too much. Seeing Ye Xinglan who had delivered herself to the door late at night, how would Zhao Xuan treat her...

"Sister Xinglan, Sister Xinglan... no!"

Just as Xu Xu Li Zhi's heart ached, Zhao Xuan and Xiang Xiang Naer were happily eating a late-night snack, the atmosphere peaceful and serene.

Xiang Xiang Naer chewed on a sausage, *crunch, crunch*, and said vaguely: "Zhao Xuan, have you seen the news? The Soul Net is full of various reports targeting Shi Laike Academy. I feel something is wrong. A mere exhibition match failure shouldn't cause such a sensation."

Zhao Xuan ate a crab leg and nodded: "I've been paying attention. Some forces are taking advantage of our victory for personal gain.

Shi Laike's first failure in twenty thousand years is shocking, so the momentum is intensifying. The mastermind behind it is likely the Sun-Moon Federation. As the ostensible ruler of the Douluo Continent, creating public opinion is their specialty.

Shi Laike's reputation is now greatly damaged. To completely resolve this matter, a high-level official might really be dispatched. I suspect it might be a Sea God Pavilion elder."

"Ah?" Xiang Xiang Naer widened her eyes. "A Sea God Pavilion elder is at least a Super Douluo. We have to ask the Divine Craftsman senior and the Body senior to hold the fort."

"Forget it." Zhao Xuan shook his head. "The Divine Craftsman senior has the Blacksmith Association to worry about, so it's not appropriate to confront the Sea God Pavilion head-on. And the Body Sect is not as glorious as it used to be; the Body senior's status is slightly inferior.

It's time for us to seek off-field assistance."

Taking out the Soul Guidance communicator, Zhao Xuan found a dialog box, pondered for two and a half seconds, sent a cute sticker, and after the other party replied with a "gentle head-pat" animation, he dialed the Soul Guidance communication.

The next day, afternoon.

Tianhai Hotel top-floor conference room. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the scorching sun and layered clouds merged into a radiance at the skyline.

The woman's face was breathtakingly beautiful, her emerald green hair half-tied with a silver vine hairpin. Her long dress was embroidered with angel wing patterns, and the vine tassels wrapped around her moist shoulders were faintly visible. Her whole body released an indescribable aura of life.

"Sister Yali, listen to me!"

The Soul Guidance communicator was in a call, and the name "Cai Yue'er" was clearly written on it. She chattered incessantly: "Although we decided to invite Donghai students to enroll, they made the academy lose face. You must show the academy's majesty!

Shi Laike is the high-and-mighty Shi Laike; enrollment is their honor!"

Holy Spirit Douluo Yali smiled helplessly: "Yue'er, Donghai Academy has a deep connection with us. The team leader, Wu Changkong, is a disciple of Zhuoshi, and his students are working hard to enter Shrek Academy. It's better to have a gentler attitude."

Silver Moon Douluo Cai Yue'er's dissatisfied voice came through: "Among the seven from Donghai Academy, only four are Wu Changkong's students, and the most talented one, Gu Yue, has already dropped out and gone home for seclusion.

As for the other three, Jin Guang is the disciple of Divine Craftsman Zhenhua and is determined not to join the academy. Zhao Xuan and Xiang Xiang Naer's background is the Spirit Tower. We used many secret agents to find out that Zhao Xuan seems to be her disciple. You must be strong!"

"I know what I'm doing. Shen Yi has gone to invite them and should be here soon. Hang up first."

Yali sensed someone approaching and quickly ended the conversation with Cai Yue'er.

A moment later, Shen Yi pushed open the door, and Zhao Xuan and Xiang Xiang Naer stepped into the conference room. A rich aura of life immediately rushed toward them.

"Sit down, let's talk."

The three sat opposite each other. Yali smiled and said: "Hello, Xuanzhen, Xiang Xiang Naer. I am a member of the Shi Laike Sea God Pavilion, Holy Spirit Douluo Yali. I represent the academy to discuss something with you: enrolling in Shi Laike Academy."

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency Holy Spirit." Zhao Xuan said apologetically, "We are disciples of the Spirit Tower and cannot act on our own. We don't have the right to decide whether to enroll in Shi Laike..."

"Yali, the person talking to you is me."

The crisp sound of high heels hitting the floor echoed, and a bright, blazing fire burst into everyone's sight.

A fire-red silk long dress wrapped around the woman's undulating delicate body. When she raised her chin, the crimson long hair hanging by her ears trembled slightly, and the sharpness swirling in her scarlet pupils cut through the brilliance of the room.

Yali's fingertips resting on the table tightened abruptly. The person who came was none other than Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaoju!

Leng Yaoju entered, and Zhao Xuan and Xiang Xiang Naer sat down leisurely. *We children are a vulnerable group, we don't understand, you go talk to my teacher! *

"Whose idea is it to let my disciples enroll in Shi Laike Academy?"

Leng Yaoju looked down at the world like a phoenix bathing in fire, saying: "Yours? His? Or Zhuoshi, Feng Wuyu... or that lunatic Cai Yue'er's?"

"The joint opinion of the Sea God Pavilion meeting."

Yali avoided this sharp question. The two peerless female powerhouses' gazes collided—one gentle and calm, the other arrogant and bright. The compassionate angel and the burning phoenix froze into a confrontation totem in the air waves.

"Yaoju, growing in failure is also an important lesson. It's not that Shrek cannot accept a failure," Yali said softly. "However, Shrek will never allow people with ulterior motives to take the opportunity to smear and spread rumors.

Shi Laike invites Xuanzhen and Xiang Xiang Naer to enroll to prove that the academy's character is not that unbearable, and to remain open to all talented monsters on the continent, encouraging them to defeat Shi Laike disciples."

Leng Yaoju crossed her arms, her momentum awe-inspiring: "Blocking the mouths of the public, rumors will be self-defeating, and by the way, restoring a wave of reputation—a brilliant strategy.

However, why should I cooperate with Shi Laike Academy? What good does this do for Xuanzhen and Xiang Xiang Naer?"

Yali fell silent. Coming from the core disciples of the Spirit Tower and backed by the Deputy Tower Master of the Spirit Tower, the abundant resources the two received were completely no less than Shrek's. Leng Yaoju indeed had no reason to let go of the two children.

"This time, Shrek is asking you for a favor. Make a condition, Yaoju." Yali smiled bitterly. "Within my authority, I will agree to you."

Leng Yaoju had rushed to Tianhai City overnight last night and formulated a plan with Zhao Xuan in advance. She simply didn't hide it and said straight to the point:

"Three conditions. First, Shi Laike Academy announces to the continent that they are inviting Xuanzhen and Xiang Xiang Naer as exchange students for a period of five years. Once the five-year period is up, they can withdraw from Shi Laike at any time.

Second, they will not live in the outer court but move directly into Sea God Island. The abundant energy on Sea God Island can help them significantly increase their cultivation speed.

Third, we did you a huge favor; Shi Laike will take two 100,000-year soul bones as compensation."

"This..."

Yali frowned and said slowly: "Five-year exchange students is no problem. Shi Laike Academy has a precedent of exchange with the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Guidance Academy in history.

Sea God Island is where excellent inner court disciples and Sea God Pavilion elders live; that can be accepted.

Two 100,000-year soul bones won't work. Soul beasts are becoming increasingly scarce, and 100,000-year soul bones are difficult to obtain. The 100,000-year soul bones treasured by Shi Laike Academy are all treasures passed down by predecessors. I can fight for one at most."

"One 100,000-year soul bone, the bloodline level must be top-grade."

"Okay."

The two great Title Douluos reached an agreement. Yali added: "The enrollment process must be followed, so that the Sea God Pavilion can reward the 100,000-year soul bone on the grounds of excellent assessment results."

Leng Yaoju nodded, turned, and took Zhao Xuan and Xiang Xiang Naer away, returning to the eighty-eighth floor.

As soon as they entered the door, Zhao Xuan's cheeks were already caught by two jade-bamboo-like fingertips. The red-dyed nails sank into the soft flesh by his cheeks, and Zhao Xuan had to look up to receive the fire swaying in his teacher's phoenix eyes.

"Haven't seen you for more than two months, and the first communication is to cause trouble, and you insist on entering Shi Laike Academy!

What, can't your teacher teach you anymore?"

"Teacher, be gentle..."

Zhao Xuan trusted Leng Yaoju, but it was difficult to reveal all his secrets, such as the agreement with the plane's spirit, the life core Golden Tree on Sea God Island, the Blue Silver Emperor hidden in the tree, and the arrival of more Eight Deceptive Gods...

In the next five years, he had too many things to complete at Shi Laike Academy.

And after that night of "reaching up to the clouds and down to the netherworld," Zhao Xuan had an obsession with becoming number one. Outer court, inner court, elder, pavilion master—he wanted to defeat them one by one, slowly climb to the top, and replace someone in Leng Yaoju's heart.

Leng Yaoju rubbed for a long time before suddenly letting go, saying softly:

"Forget it, go ahead. Fortunately, Shi Laike Academy is right next to the Spirit Tower headquarters. If there are any accidents, I can help you in time."

"Teacher isn't blaming me?"

"Of course not."

Leng Yaoju looked at Zhao Xuan, her smile both inclusive and gentle:

"This is your life; your teacher cannot bind you forever.

Those things you think are right, the things you keep in mind, no matter what, you must take action. If it's dark, turn on the lights and do it; if you fall, lie down and do it; if there are rumors, wear a mask and do it.

Your teacher has had regrets, so I don't want my disciple to regret it one day in the future. Courage is fleeting, and youth is the greatest confidence.

Go ahead and do it; if the sky falls, your teacher will hold it up for you."