Chapter 73: Qiangu Dongfeng Rejoices: Subjectively No, Objectively Perhaps

"You... are stealing my disciples!?"

In an instant, a clear phoenix cry rang out; Leng Yaoju looked at Xiang Yunming as if viewing a mortal enemy, while True Phoenix Fire spread outward in a ring, scorching phoenix flames interwoven with wisps of black qi, wild and ferocious!

Xiang Yunming and Luo Luo Yali's expressions changed slightly; their soul power shields blocked the True Phoenix Fire. Even though Leng Yaoju could not fight four hands with two fists, they had no doubt that she, on the verge of going berserk, would launch the most frantic assault!

"True Phoenix, please calm down first; I have not finished speaking."

Amidst the crackling sounds of flames striking the soul power shields, countless dark spear shadows pierced out from the void, shattering the tidal wave of continuously attacking phoenix flames, as Xiang Yunming said in a deep voice: "You raised two children; put yourself in their place. From beginning to end, I never intended to let them completely break away from you."

"Xiang Xiang Naer is my direct disciple and will inevitably succeed me as Master of the Sea God Pavilion, while Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, under the joint cultivation of you and Elder Long, can serve as a high-ranking member of the Spirit Pagoda while simultaneously becoming an honorary member of the Sea God Pavilion."

Luo Luo Yali took up the thread, her voice gentle as she persuaded: "Yaoju, in truth, Brother Ming only wants Xiang Xiang Naer to bow to him as master and inherit the mantle of the God-Holding Divine Spear; Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen stems from an unexpected event."

"He once secluded himself beneath the Huang Jinshu for a year and gained the favor of Huang Jinshu Spirit Elder Jin, who bestowed thirty percent of the Golden Ancient Tree's energy to form his fourth soul ring."

"How vast is thirty percent of the Huang Jinshu's energy? It is enough to create at least one Limit Limit Douluo on the verge of godhood; the Sea God Pavilion elders could never allow Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen to leave."

"Brother Ming faces immense pressure as well, especially from Elder Long; she is not a very rational person, so I hope you can understand."

"Luo Yali, are you threatening me?" Leng Yaoju said icily. "If I don't agree to let Zhao Xuanzhen go bow as a disciple, will that old thing Long Yeyue come banging on our door?"

"Fine, then; just let her come. I want to see if I can slap that old face of Long Yeyue, the former Tower Master, right back onto her!"

Hearing this, Xiang Yunming and Luo Luo Yali couldn't help but twitch at their temples; Long Yeyue's status was equivalent to the Empress Dowager of Shi Shi Laike, her cultivation powerful and her seniority deep, such that even the Master of the Sea God Pavilion had to be balanced by her. Slapping Long Yeyue's old face was something the couple wouldn't even dare to imagine!

Involved with her beloved disciple Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, Leng Yaoju's expression turned so cold as to be inhuman, and she said: "Xiang Yunming, do not forget that you are the current Master of the Sea God Pavilion; no matter how high Long Yeyue's generation rank is, would she dare to form factions and storm you off your throne?"

"So-called pressure is all nonsense; it is merely that you find her arguments reasonable and are using that old hag's name to mask your true intentions."

"As for that thirty percent of Huang Jinshu energy... the relationship between the Huang Jinshu and Shi Shi Laike has always been one of mutual benefit. Over these years, how many powerhouses have you cultivated and how many crises have you overcome by borrowing its life energy?"

"The apocalyptic beast tide ten thousand years ago relied on the power of the Huang Jinshu to seal the Beast God Di Tian and preserve Shi Shi Laike City!"

"It is Elder Jin's freedom to bestow energy upon whomever he wishes; the Huang Jinshu owes Shi Shi Laike Academy nothing. Even if one day it decides to leave Sea God Island, you would not have the slightest qualification to stop it!"

With matters reached this point, the probability of Zhao Xuan and Na entering Shi Shi Laike Academy was negligible; Xiang Yunming's face became extremely ugly, while Luo Luo Yali made a final effort, speaking with such earnest persuasion that it bordered on nagging:

"Yaoju, please consider it again. The two children are so close; they will inevitably end up together sooner or later. We can arrange a betrothal for them in advance."

"Let Xiang Xiang Naer become Master of the Sea God Pavilion, and let Zhao Xuanzhen be her husband. With a marital alliance linking the two great powers, Shi Shi Laike Academy can naturally intervene in Spirit Pagoda affairs. Combined with your Phoenix Clan, breaking the suppression of the Qiangu Clan and supporting Zhao Xuanzhen to become Spirit Pagoda Master will not be difficult."

"Killing three birds with one stone; what a clever scheme," Leng Yaoju sneered. "Shi Shi Laike not only gains the protection of Zhao Xuanzhen and Xiang Xiang Naer but also incorporates the entire Spirit Pagoda into its territory, restoring the grandeur of the Spirit Ice Limit Douluo era. Luo Yali, since joining Shi Shi Laike Academy, your skills in political maneuvering have truly grown!"

"I..."

Luo Luo Yali bitter-smiled repeatedly; after marrying Xiang Yunming, her thinking naturally leaned toward her husband, and moreover, she believed this was absolutely a win-win situation, an opportunity for the two great powers to break the ice and reconcile.

"Zhao Xuanzhen can only be mine; his teacher can only be me," Leng Yaoju said unequivocally. "If he wishes to contend for the position of Tower Master, I will spare no effort myself; there is no need for Shi Shi Laike Academy to meddle."

"There is no need for us to continue this exchange; it would be best if we henceforth leave each other alone."

Seeing Leng Yaoju clearly displaying her intention to show them the door, Xiang Yunming and Luo Luo Yali could only swallow their full measure of reluctance and return to Shi Shi Laike Academy to consider their next moves.

After the two departed, Qiangu Dongfeng dispersed the Title Limit Douluo guarding the Spirit Pagoda, stepped into the first-floor reception hall, and looking at the stunning woman whose anger had not yet subsided, said: "True Phoenix, calm your anger; did Xiang Yunming just speak excessively?"

The three had used spiritual power to seal the entire conversation from leaking out; not even a Limit Limit Douluo could have eavesdropped. Qiangu Dongfeng asked Leng Yaoju tentatively, and she glanced at him with her crimson phoenix eyes before snorting coldly:

"He came to take my disciple."

"What!?"

Qiangu Dongfeng's tiger-like body trembled violently.

The Phoenix Clan's lineage was long-standing, almost comparable to the Qiangu Clan, controlling thirty percent of the Spirit Pagoda's power; core cities such as Heaven Dou City and East Sea City were all under Leng Yaoju's command.

The plan formulated by the Tower Master was quite cruel, and he had originally worried that Leng Yaoju would vehemently oppose it; now, it seemed that threat no longer existed.

Rarely adopting the posture of a righteous ally, Qiangu Dongfeng spoke with forceful conviction: "Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen is a core disciple of the Spirit Pagoda and the direct disciple of the Vice Tower Master. As the current Spirit Pagoda Master, I have a responsibility to defend the authority of the Spirit Pagoda. True Phoenix, if anything happens, you must report it immediately; I will absolutely not stand by and do nothing!"

After aggressively farming a wave of favor to secure the future support of the Phoenix Clan, Qiangu Dongfeng clasped his hands behind his back, strode out of the reception hall with the gait of a dragon and the step of a tiger, humming a melodious little tune under his breath.

"Xiang Yunming, oh Xiang Yunming, you are truly senile; why go around flirting with other people's disciples..."

Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, Soul Spirit Tower, Fourteenth Floor.

After spending one hour, Yuanen Yehui successfully fused with the Diamond Baboon soul spirit, officially becoming a four-ring Soul Ancestor.

Currently, the Fallen Angel possessed three purple soul rings, while the Titan Giant Ape possessed four purple soul rings. To be on the safe side, Yuanen Yehui did not plan to absorb the Fallen Angel soul spirit for now, constantly using the Titan Giant Ape to suppress the Fallen Angel's evil nature.

"Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, Yuanen," Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen said. "Stay here at the Spirit Pagoda this weekend; I happen to be designing battle armor."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen usually returned to Shi Shi Laike Academy to cultivate using the rich life energy of Sea God Island, but a few nights here made little difference. This weekend, he also planned to go to the Spirit Ascension Platform to increase his soul spirit age, saving himself the trouble of shuttling back and forth between two places every day.

"No one has lived on the ninety-eighth floor for a long time; I will tell my teacher and have someone prepare three rooms."

"Mm."

Ye Ye Xinglan agreed without hesitation, while Yuanen Yehui considered for two and a half seconds before slowly nodding.

Ever since Le Yue Zhengyu blurted out the words "secret room," Yuanen Yehui dared not be alone with Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen anymore; staying with Gu Yue and Ye Ye Xinglan made her feel much more at ease.

"Two rooms are enough; Xiang Xiang Naer and I will stay together."

Gu Yue shook her head, refusing the ninety-eighth floor, and with a smiling expression, she wrapped her arms around Xiang Xiang Naer's fair, lotus-root-like arms, her elbow subtly poking the silver-haired girl in the waist a few times.

"Eh!?"

Xiang Xiang Naer instantly put on a mask of pain; she understood that Gu Yue wanted to meditate and cultivate together tonight.

Ever since Gu Yue enrolled at Shi Shi Laike, she had dragged Xiang Xiang Naer into cultivation every other day; not only did Gu Yue benefit, but the soul power cultivation speed of both halves of the Silver Dragon King had become far faster than in the past.

However, the ninety-ninth floor had always been regarded by Xiang Xiang Naer as a secret base shared with Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, a love nest woven by the two since childhood; on what grounds did Gu Yue barge in!

"Sis~ter~dear~!"

Gu Yue leaned close to the delicate ear beneath the silver long hair, her devilish voice drifting out softly; Xiang Xiang Naer smiled more sorrowfully than if she were weeping, squeezing out a sentence through clenched teeth:

"Ah, yes, yes, yes; we are like sisters, and I love living with Gu Yue the most!"

Seeing this, the trio of Zhao Xuan, Xing, and Ye tilted their heads in perfect unison, wearing expressions that said, "If you're being forced, just blink twice."

Receiving the signal, Xiang Xiang Naer powerlessly closed her silver-white eyes, resembling a pure young girl allowing an evil witch to take whatever she wanted just to give a gift to her childhood sweetheart—a flavor of experience impossible to convey to outsiders!

Gu Yue clicked her tongue; what was wrong with these four guys? She suddenly felt like the villain!

But to be honest, occupying Xiang Xiang Naer's room suited her intentions perfectly; what she wanted was exactly to usurp the magpie's nest!

Start from a single bedroom, gradually replacing everything belonging to the silver-haired girl!

The five withdrew from the Soul Spirit Tower. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen took out a Soul Tool communicator and sent a message to Leng Yaoju, informing her that the three girls would temporarily stay at the Trans Spirit Tower over the weekend.

Leng Yaoju replied instantly, "Received." She dispatched the super butlers, the Bai sisters, to help tidy up the vacant ninety-eighth floor, then immediately instructed Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen to come alone to the hundredth floor to meet her.

"Creak—"

The door was half-open. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen pushed open the large door Leng Yaoju had reserved for him with ease.

Leng Yaoju sat at a table beside the floor-to-ceiling window in the hall. The evening sunlight streamed in, highlighting her long crimson hair, making it look smooth and lustrous. As it fell naturally, it covered half her face, yet could not conceal her peerless beauty, one in ten thousand.

She gently swirled the highball glass in her hand; the amber liquid inside spun along the glass walls. Her crimson phoenix eyes held a mix of mistiness and clarity. Under the twilight, the Lady Tianfeng Limit Douluo seemed to have shed the heavy shell of a Limit Limit Douluo, appearing like a lonely woman, gentle and affectionate, and all the more pitiable.

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen habitually sat opposite Leng Yaoju, glanced subconsciously at the half-finished drink, and asked with a smile, "Teacher, what do you need me for?"

"What? Can't a teacher call her disciple over just to chat?" Leng Yaoju countered.

"As a disciple, I must always be ready for the teacher's summons." Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen followed her lead smoothly.

"That's more like it."

Leng Yaoju smiled contentedly, her gaze fixed on Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's increasingly handsome and mature face as he grew older. She took a small sip of wine and sighed sincerely:

"Zhao Xuanzhen, the teacher suddenly regrets it. I shouldn't have let you go to Shi Shi Laike Academy back then.

Even though the Trans Spirit Tower and Shi Shi Laike Academy are neighbors, and they know you are my disciple, and they know I am not far away... with your superior talent, you would still attract those shameless old monsters to step down."

Shi Shi Laike Academy's resources were no less than the Trans Spirit Tower's. Though she was reluctant to admit it deep down, Sky Limit Douluo Xiang Yunming and Light and Dark Limit Douluo Long Yuenue were truly more suitable to teach Zhao Xuan Na.

For a moment, Leng Yaoju felt panicked and disordered. Her sister, Leng Leng Yulai, had resolutely abandoned her, falling into the position of one of the Four Dark Kings of the Holy Spirit Cult. If Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen also abandoned her and joined Shi Shi Laike Academy, she feared she would lose all hope, and a desperate person might do something crazy.

"I will not leave you, nor will Xiang Xiang Naer."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen stared unblinkingly at Leng Yaoju, speaking word by word, every syllable filled with unyielding firmness.

Seeing her disciple, whom she had raised since childhood, so serious, Leng Yaoju felt greatly relieved. For over ten years, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's existence had made her begin to forget the painful memories of the past.

The time, energy, and emotion she invested in Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen increased more and more, gradually occupying the largest part of her heart. He was her final spiritual sustenance.

Leng Yaoju could not imagine the days without Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen, spending the rest of her life as a soulless zombie, or falling into the role of the Holy Spirit Cult's Dark Lady Tianfeng, engaging in an endless war with Shi Shi Laike Academy.

She drained the wine in the cup in one gulp. Leng Yaoju slowly extended a Bai Xi, pale hand. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen thought she wanted to pat his head, as his teacher very much liked that gesture.

Actually, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen was not very fond of others patting his head; even the Bai sisters, who were close to him, were not allowed, except for Leng Yaoju.

The rich agarwood scent emitted by the mature woman, like a blooming rose, forcefully invaded Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's nostrils, causing his ink-black pupils to suddenly dilate. When Leng Yaoju's fingertips reached the stray hairs at the back of his neck, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen realized: the teacher did not want a head pat, but a hug.

This hug caught Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen completely off guard. The brilliant and radiant woman gently stroked his black long hair, her cold, peerless face pressed against his cheek, as she murmured softly, "You've grown up; you're already taller than the teacher."

"So, it's soon my turn to protect the teacher."

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's fingertips sank into the cloud-patterned brocade of Leng Yaoju's outer garment on her back, yet he hesitated whether to pat lightly or hold tight. Leng Yaoju felt the young tremor in the boy's chest and finally revealed a smile of relief.

Leng Yaoju was reluctant to let go for a long time. Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen could not push the teacher away, so he looked up at the ceiling, feeling as though the white wooden boards had suddenly become antiques that needed careful observation and study.

In the silence between master and disciple, Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's body suddenly stirred.

The soul power at the peak of level forty-nine advanced further, breaking through the shackles of level fifty!

Black, black, black, gold, black!

The fifth soul ring condensed, and the soul power naturally reached level fifty-one.

One hug breaks the Soul King!

Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen's surging soul power brought Leng Yaoju back to her senses. She loosened her arms, which had been tightly embracing her disciple. A flush of red appeared on her face as she realized she had lost her composure. She coughed lightly and changed the subject:

"The girls you brought are not right. Except for the girl with chestnut-red short hair, Yuan'en Yehui, the other three do not have the look of normal classmates. Is there something ambiguous between you and them?"

"Subjectively, no. Objectively, perhaps."

Leng Yaoju was stunned, then slapped Zhao Zhao Xuanzhen good-naturedly and sighed, "I always thought you and Xiang Xiang Naer would achieve a happy ending. But the teacher is not an old fossil. I understand that excellent boys attract excellent girls; that is a fatal attraction carved into the bones, irresistible.

Be a bit of a scoundrel then. If you like them, accept them boldly. Love them bravely. Do not betray the feelings of good girls, and do not be restricted by worldly rules. They do not care about others' opinions; they only care about you..."

(End of this chapter)