"What do you mean the Empire wouldn't allow it? Shaozhe, you just came back and already picked up a new disciple. Shouldn't we be talking about something a little more cheerful?" Elder Zhuang stepped in with a laugh, clearly sensing the tension in the room.
It was both an attempt to ease the atmosphere and a reminder of Jiang Qingtong's presence.
Jiang Qingtong hadn't heard the entirety of Yan Shaozhe's last comment—only fragments like "too much involvement" and "the Empire won't allow it." But even with just that, it wasn't hard to guess what it was about.
She knew the three former Douluo Continent empires were actively hunting down Soul Hall.
Yan Shaozhe had been away from the academy recently, likely because of this issue—probably attending a conference in one of the empires. Shrek Academy, proud and aloof as always, wouldn't publicly support any purge of Soul Hall. What they did behind the scenes, however, was another matter entirely.
It seemed the Soul Hall operatives needed to be more cautious.
Yan Shaozhe turned his eyes toward Jiang Qingtong. After a moment of silence, he said, "Elder Xuan already sent word about you. Since this is a decision from Sea God Pavilion, I will respect it. From this day forward, you are my disciple. This is your senior sister, Ma Xiaotao—"
"Dean Yan," Jiang Qingtong interrupted him with a respectful bow before he could finish, "I already have a master, so I cannot accept you as my teacher. I hope you'll understand."
"You already have a master?" Yan Shaozhe frowned slightly. "Who is it?"
Jiang Qingtong took a deep breath. "The Head of Mingde Hall—Jing Hongchen."
Her words drew silence from everyone present.
"I've heard of Jing Hongchen," Xian Lin'er said. "A Rank 94 Titled Douluo. He holds considerable influence in the Sun Moon Empire."
"Then why come to Shrek?" Yan Shaozhe asked, his voice low. "With a master like that, you'd receive far more resources staying in the Sun Moon Empire."
Unfazed, Jiang Qingtong replied confidently, "Because my martial soul is more suited to cultivation than soul tool development. That's why studying at Shrek Academy is a better fit for me."
It was the same answer she had given during the Sea God Pavilion meeting—and one that left no room for challenge.
Yan Shaozhe exchanged a glance with Cai Meier, then nodded. "Very well. In that case, you'll move into the Inner Court soon. Outside of your regular classes, Dean Cai and I will personally guide your martial soul cultivation."
Having her in the Inner Court would not only help them train her but also allow them to better monitor her movements.
"Yes, sir," Jiang Qingtong nodded.
Yan Shaozhe dismissed her. After she left, he said to the others, "This girl doesn't act like someone who's just twelve. She wasn't even a little nervous in front of us."
Xian Lin'er said, "She's carrying a full set of ninth-level defensive and escape-type soul tools. In all of Shrek Academy, only Elder Mu could confidently subdue her. Even Elder Xuan couldn't guarantee doing it without triggering one of those tools. With that kind of protection, of course she's calm and collected."
Because she was going to enroll in Shrek Academy, Kong Deming had been meticulous in selecting the soul tools for Jiang Qingtong. The ninth-level soul tools she carried were all designed to activate in unison. Unless an Ultimate Douluo personally intervened, she could escape from any threat.
"Just a few ninth-level soul tools… and they give a young girl enough confidence to rival a Titled Douluo—or even a Super Douluo," Yan Shaozhe exhaled deeply. "I suppose the Sun Moon Empire's technology isn't without merit."
Taking the opportunity, Xian Lin'er chimed in, "That's why you Martial Soul folks shouldn't keep poaching every promising student from our Soul Tool Department. If we ever manage to produce a ninth-level soul engineer, the Academy's strength would rise dramatically!"
"And when would that be?" Cai Meier asked with a hint of sarcasm.
At that, Xian Lin'er fell silent.
Meanwhile, Jiang Qingtong returned to her dorm. Not long after, Jiang Nannan came back as well—her expression visibly terrible. As soon as she entered, she curled up on her bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
"Senior?" Jiang Qingtong called out, noticing her strange behavior. "What's wrong?"
Jiang Nannan didn't respond.
"Did someone upset you? Tell me. I'll go get justice for you," Jiang Qingtong said, concerned.
"It's fine… I just need to be alone," Jiang Nannan murmured through the blanket.
Seeing her like this, Jiang Qingtong stepped forward. "Did you run into Xu Sanshi again?"
At the mention of that name, Jiang Nannan suddenly sat bolt upright, staring at Jiang Qingtong. Her emotions nearly burst out of her. "How… how do you know that name?"
"There are rumors around the academy," Jiang Qingtong replied calmly. "That Xu Sanshi has been pursuing you, but you've never accepted. So I guessed you ran into him again."
Jiang Nannan clenched her fists around the bedsheets before finally relaxing her grip. After a long pause, she nodded. "Yes, I did."
"He's pestering you again! Don't worry, Senior. I'll stand up for you. Come on, let's go find him!" Jiang Qingtong took her hand and was about to drag her up.
Jiang Qingtong might not be some bleeding-heart saint, but she did have a solid sense of right and wrong. When reading the original Unrivaled Tang Sect, she'd always been disgusted by Jiang Nannan's backstory—and thoroughly disliked Xu Sanshi. She had no patience for people with twisted martial soul requirements.
What was even the point of having a martial soul that awakened only through such predatory "bonding"?
"No! Don't go to him!" Jiang Nannan panicked, shaking her head frantically.
She didn't want to face Xu Sanshi again.
"Senior," Jiang Qingtong said softly, "I don't know what you've been through. But I want to tell you one thing—running away isn't the answer. If you want to stop being haunted by nightmares, the best way is to confront and shatter them."
After speaking, she didn't press further. She let go of Jiang Nannan's hand and sat across from her, waiting silently.
Inside, Jiang Nannan wrestled with herself. Should she go? Should she not? The memory of her recurring nightmares haunted her… but eventually, her hesitant gaze turned resolute.
"Qingtong… let's go!" Jiang Nannan said firmly, looking her in the eyes.
Jiang Qingtong broke into a smile. She stood up and headed out with her. Being able to talk Jiang Nannan into action with just a few words? Maybe she really should be a motivational speaker. She'd earned that applause.