Chapter 44

This kid really has guts, daring to hit the miss like this—should we step in and warn him?

The hidden guard in the dark watched Ning Rongrong wailing loudly, a faint, inexplicable smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Another hidden guard, seeing this scene with a similar smile, said: "You forgot? The Sect Master ordered us to prevent the miss from returning to the sect, and to protect her when she's in danger."

"That's right. The miss has been domineering in the sect all along; likely the Sect Master placed her here precisely to have Shi Quan properly discipline her."

……

Though Shi Quan held back, the vine whip striking Ning Rongrong would only cause her pain, not leave any real injury—but even this pain was enough to teach her a lesson.

Amidst her sobs, Ning Rongrong completed her afternoon cultivation.

After finishing, utterly exhausted and feeling more wronged than ever, Ning Rongrong chose to flee for the second time—predictably, the weary girl walked half a day only to end up back where she started, deepening her despair, and now she still had to climb hundreds of steps back to the main courtyard dormitory to rest.

This pushed Ning Rongrong over the edge again, and she burst into loud, tearful wails once more at the foot of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's mountain.

After crying herself out, Ning Rongrong simply leaned against the mountain wall and fell asleep.

Thud, thud, thud.

Shi Quan's figure slowly approached Ning Rongrong; he had heard her wailing earlier, and seeing her exhausted and asleep, he helplessly raised a hand to press his brow, thinking: "Sigh, in the end, she's just a ten-year-old child—was I too harsh? Should I take it slower?"

He had never been a teacher before, nor had he any children; though he now appeared as a ten-year-old, his actual mind was over thirty, and he rarely interacted with peers his age—yet now he daily dealt with ten-year-old Ning Rongrong, and Shi Quan truly found it a bother, for in his view she was far too young, not to mention tsundere and utterly childish, and he genuinely didn't want to manage her.

He had originally thought that once he taught her what he meant to, it would be done—let her cultivate as she wished—but if not for today's incident, he never would have imagined having to be so serious with her.

"Sigh."

Shi Quan sighed again, scooped up the sleeping Ning Rongrong in a horizontal hold, and carried her toward the forest designated for simulated training.

Inside the wooden hut.

Shi Quan gently laid Ning Rongrong on his bed, observed her furrowed brow, shook his head slightly, then lifted a small part of her waist clothing and placed his hand on her dantian.

Nine Yin Nine Yang Internal Energy slowly flowed into Ning Rongrong's body.

Ning Rongrong's physical training this afternoon had been the most intense in recent days—she was already near her limit, and after finishing, she'd walked back and forth like this; if not helped to relax and loosen her muscles and bones, she might not be able to get out of bed all day tomorrow.

The warm internal energy flowed into Ning Rongrong's body, guiding her soul power to circulate slowly; her furrowed brow seemed to sense a gentle aura and gradually relaxed, as if she had drifted into a sweet dream, and she sank into deep sleep.

"Ah Quan, she's dreaming—should we go in and take a look?" Xiaomeng's voice echoed in his mind.

"Never mind." Shi Quan shook his head; he had no interest in peeking into others' thoughts.

The internal energy helped Ning Rongrong ease her fatigued body, tidied her clothes, and Shi Quan then stepped out from under the eaves of the wooden hut, sat cross-legged, and gradually immersed himself in cultivation.

The morning sun rose in the east.

Only when the blazing sun had fully risen did Ning Rongrong in the wooden hut slowly awaken; seeing the familiar yet strange surroundings, she shot upright, then immediately realized—this was Shi Quan's wooden hut.

She glanced around the hut—it was empty save for her—and instinctively checked her clothes; though only ten, she understood quite a bit.

Seeing her clothes intact, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Recalling yesterday's grievance, Ning Rongrong remained puffed with anger; just as she prepared to get out of bed and leave, she noticed her body felt unusually light—yesterday's exhaustion seemed swept away entirely, her whole body feeling inexplicably smooth.

"Hmph, don't think that just because you eased my fatigue I'll forgive you." Ning Rongrong arrogantly lifted her chin, got out of bed, and only then noticed a breakfast wrapped in oilskin paper on the table.

She glanced at it disdainfully, not wanting to eat, but upon smelling the rice porridge seeping from the oilskin, her stomach betrayed her with loud gurgling.

After yesterday's long training and skipping dinner, her stomach was already pressed flat against her back from hunger—this sudden scent of porridge was impossible to resist; her earlier thought vanished instantly, she tore open the oilskin and began eating heartily.

In no time, she had finished the oilskin-wrapped breakfast clean; patting her round, full belly, Ning Rongrong finally felt satisfied and stepped out of the wooden hut.

As soon as she exited the hut, Ning Rongrong saw Shi Quan quietly reading.

"Hmph! Don't think that just because you're being nice to me, yesterday's affair is settled."

"Hmm." Shi Quan replied indifferently, saying: "Today you arrange your own affairs—I have to attend the Heaven Dou Team selection this afternoon."

"Heaven Dou Team selection?" Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. "Is it fun? I want to go too."

"Do as you wish." Shi Quan's tone remained flat from start to finish.

Ning Rongrong heard Shi Quan's voice, her brow slightly furrowed, stepped forward to stand beside him, and said haughtily: "If you apologize to this miss, I might consider forgiving you a little."

"Looks like you still don't know your mistake?" he said, as a pale blue light appeared in his hand.

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong instinctively stepped back, angrily saying: "How was I wrong? Those people called you like that—I had you discipline them—what's the problem?"

Shi Quan asked lightly: "You don't know my strength, yet you deliberately stir the flames, escalate the conflict, and have me alone challenge seven of them—where does this put me?"

Ning Rongrong snorted coldly, unwilling to yield: "Even if you're no match for them, as long as I unleash my martial soul, they'll naturally stop—and aren't they also not your match?"

"What am I to you? A friend? A teacher? Or a brother a few months older?" Shi Quan rose, locking eyes with Ning Rongrong: "No matter the role, as your companion in cultivation, you shouldn't toy with companions like this—out there, those two sentences of yours could get your companions killed, and even you—you're a Auxiliary Soul Master, don't you understand how vital companions are?"

Ning Rongrong's face flushed red, unable to counter Shi Quan, for she understood his meaning.

"Even Ning Uncle never claimed to be unrivaled under heaven, and he treated me with courtesy—you merely have a bit of talent and think yourself superior; the world is vast, there are heavens beyond heaven, people beyond people—I haven't been many places, but I've seen two with talent better than yours, both innate full spirit power, same age as me, spirit power at least twenty-third rank or higher. Not to mention others—do you think you can match me?"

Ning Rongrong's figure swayed slightly, her face paling, but Shi Quan's vigorous, resonant voice did not cease.

"Pride is fine, but if it's mere conceit and blind arrogance, then you'll only become a clown in others' eyes—Talent is the primary condition for success, but temperament is also a necessary one."

Seeing Ning Rongrong nearly breathless under his words, Shi Quan sighed inwardly, then returned to his usual calm tone: "Think it over well."

Shi Quan leaned forward, sat down, and continued reading; Ning Rongrong stared at his back, bit her lip until it turned white, then turned and walked out of the forest.

"In one's position, fulfill one's duty. Ning Fengzhi, you've made a killing." Shi Quan glanced back at the departing Ning Rongrong, then quickly returned his gaze to his book.

……

Afternoon.

Heaven Dou Imperial Academy main campus, Spirit Arena.

On one side of the Spirit Arena's spectator stands, everyone wore uniform goose-yellow school uniforms—all students of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

The annual Heaven Dou Team selection trials have begun again.

Most of those present were just here for the excitement, deliberately coming to witness the demeanor of those Heaven Dou Team geniuses.

Actually, aside from the first year's Heaven Dou Team selection process being somewhat complicated.

The selection trials for the following years have become relatively much simpler.

The academy will hold a new round of registrations; after approval, applicants will be matched against Heaven Dou Second Team members based on their martial soul and cultivation direction.

These selections are only for battle Spirit Masters; the selection for Auxiliary Spirit Masters does not require combat, but will directly compare them based on the evaluation of their soul skill abilities and amplification effects in all aspects.

To join the Heaven Dou Team, one must, in the selection tournament, defeat the candidates of the Tiandou Second Team before being able to join the Tiandou Second Team, and then have the opportunity to challenge the Heaven Dou Team and join it.

Shi Quan's registration had already been settled before the start of the school term; he only needed to participate directly in the competition when the selection tournament arrived.

Upon arriving at the candidate resting area, Shi Quan glanced around and discovered that the number of people participating in the selection was pitifully low, including himself, there were only four people in total.

This is also normal, as those who can enter the team are those who have gradually proven themselves step by step in the academy, and their actual strength is well known to each other; unless there is obvious progress within a year, these nobles would fundamentally not go up to embarrass themselves.

Seeing so few people, Shi Quan also thought it would be convenient; this way, he would not have to wait too long, and after entering the Tiandou Second Team, he could immediately challenge the members of the Heaven Dou Team.