While Ye Liangchen and the others were returning to Tianshui Academy, Xie Yue and Yan of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, with the help of the two Titled Douluo Gui Ju, successfully acquired their third spirit ring in just two days.
Afterward, the group quickly returned to Spirit Hall to report to the Supreme Pontiff.
At this moment, Gui Ju and the Golden Generation were in the Supreme Pontiff Palace, being received by Bibi Dong.
"Elder Gui, Elder Chrysanthemum, you both did well this time."
The Golden Generation were geniuses personally cultivated by Bibi Dong, and she was very pleased that Xie Yue and Yan had successfully advanced to Spirit Elder; they were the future talents of Spirit Hall.
"Thanks to Your Holiness's blessing, everything went smoothly this time, and Xie Yue and Yan each obtained a perfect third spirit ring..."
Chrysanthemum Douluo also introduced Xie Yue and Yan's spirit rings in detail to Bibi Dong, though the spirit ring age was only the standard of over 1700 years.
"Very good! Yan, Xie Yue, you are the future pillars of Spirit Hall; continue to work hard."
"We respectfully obey Your Holiness's teachings."
Xie Yue and Yan were very excited to receive praise from Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong.
"Your Holiness, we also discovered a little boy in Hunting Soul Town this time; he was only 6 years old but had already acquired his first spirit ring.
Your subordinate concludes that he must be a genius with innate full spirit power..."
"A Spirit Master at 6 years old? Then he must have innate full spirit power.
Why didn't you bring him back to Spirit Hall?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo hadn't even finished speaking when Bibi Dong interrupted him, a hint of anger in her beautiful face.
A Spirit Master with innate full spirit power, if properly nurtured, would surely become a Titled Douluo; Spirit Hall was most in need of such a genius.
"Your Holiness, please calm your anger!
That little boy was not a commoner; he had guardians with him—three women, one of whom was a Spirit Douluo, and the other two were Spirit Saints."
"Because they were wearing cloaks at the time, your subordinate didn't know who they were.
We speculate that they might be teachers from Tianshui Academy."
"Your Holiness! This is merely your subordinate's speculation and cannot be confirmed.
Should we send someone to investigate?"
Gui Ju expressed their conjectures, thinking that if the other party truly came from Tianshui Academy, Spirit Hall would not be able to win them over.
After hearing Gui Ju's narration, Bibi Dong stood up abruptly, recalling some past events, and murmured to herself.
"Tianshui Academy? Could it be her?
But Tianshui Academy doesn't accept male Spirit Masters!"
"A little boy? Could it be the child of that couple?"
"If that's truly the case, then it's interesting.
Shui Lanxin, oh Shui Lanxin!
You two sisters changing your names back then was probably also to protect that child, wasn't it?"
Bibi Dong's mind conjured the figures of Ye Feng and Liu Ruyan, immediately associating them with the little boy's identity.
As the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong had immense power, and she was aware of Shui Lanxin and Shui Lanyue changing their names.
"What does that little boy look like?" Bibi Dong calmed her emotions and asked about the little boy's appearance.
"Teacher! That Xiao Jiahuo is incredibly cute, the most handsome boy I've ever seen..." Hu Liena said from the side, a blush on her face as she described the little boy's appearance.
"Oh! A boy who can earn Nana's praise is truly not simple!" Bibi Dong smiled inwardly as she looked at her disciple's expression.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, send someone to the Tianshui City Spirit branch hall to investigate whether the situation I'm speculating about is true."
From her disciple Hu Liena's description, Bibi Dong recalled Ye Feng and Liu Ruyan, that pair of immortal companions whose looks were extraordinary.
If that little boy was truly their child, he would undoubtedly be an exceptional talent.
"The two Elders can take Xie Yue and Yan away now!
Nana, stay."
Bibi Dong said lightly, taking Hu Liena to her own courtyard.
"Teacher! Do you know that little boy's identity now?
Who exactly is he?" Upon arriving in the courtyard, Hu Liena carefully massaged Bibi Dong's shoulders and legs.
"Hmm! This master is only speculating; we'll talk more once the investigation is clear.
Nana, tell this master in detail everything you encountered in Hunting Soul Town."
"Yes! Teacher! When I saw that Xiao Jiahuo, I told my brother how cute that little boy was, and then Yan got angry, like he lost his mind, and wanted to challenge that little boy..."
Hu Liena discussed with her teacher what happened when they encountered the little boy in Hunting Soul Town.
"This Yan is simply a pig-headed idiot, disgracing our Spirit Hall."
Bibi Dong was furious when she heard that Yan had actually tried to bully someone smaller than him.
...
A few days later, the investigation report from Tianshui City Spirit Hall reached Bibi Dong's hands.
"Tianshui City didn't find any talented little boy with innate full spirit power?"
Bibi Dong looked at the investigation file from the Tianshui City Spirit branch hall, completely bewildered.
"Supreme Pontiff Your Holiness, it seems that the little boy's Elders did not take him to Spirit Hall for registration; they probably don't wish to expose him."
"Logically, after a Spirit Master advances to a Spirit Master, they usually register with our Spirit Hall and can receive a Spirit Master subsidy every month, but the other party didn't register, so they must not be short on money."
"Your Holiness! Should we send someone to contact Tianshui Academy?"
Gui Ju analyzed the situation, and the more they thought about it, the more they felt that the little boy's identity was not simple.
"Tianshui Academy is composed entirely of female Spirit Masters, and it has an excellent reputation throughout the continent.
If we investigate rashly, it would seem disrespectful and also damage the image of our Spirit Hall."
As a woman herself, Bibi Dong was unwilling to make things difficult for Tianshui Academy.
Moreover, she had some interactions with the Shui family sisters in her youth, so she couldn't do such a thing.
"Let this matter end here!
There's no need to investigate that little boy's identity anymore, nor to discuss this matter publicly.
This Supreme Pontiff will decide later."
"Oh, right!
I heard from Nana that Yan wanted to challenge that little boy at the time.
Such an act of bullying the smaller one harms the image of our Spirit Hall.
Two Elders, you should know what to do, right?"
Bibi Dong recalled the Shui family sisters changing their names, which was also to avoid enemies, so she suppressed the matter and decided to wait and see.
When she had time later, she would personally investigate.
If that little boy was truly the child of Ye Feng and Liu Ruyan, then it would be interesting.
"Your Holiness! I have already imposed a punishment; Yan will be confined for half a year to reflect on his actions."
As a Titled Douluo and in charge of Spirit Hall's laws, Ghost Douluo's words had to be executed, so the red-haired Yan's half-year confinement was unavoidable.
...
Spirit Hall Supreme Pontiff's investigation into Ye Liangchen's identity did not cause much sensation; Ye Liangchen was unaware of these matters.
The journey from Balak Soto City to Tianshui Academy was long.
The three sisters, Lan Xiaodie, taking Ye Liangchen along, were like taking a child on a trip, eating, drinking, and having fun all the way, without a care in the world.
After nearly 20 days, they finally returned to Tianshui Academy.
"Aunt Lan, we spent a lot of money this time!"
Ye Liangchen roughly estimated that this trip to Star Dou Forest cost about 2000 gold coin, while the monthly food expenses for all teachers and students of Tianshui Academy were only 3000 gold coin.
The trip for four people almost consumed a month's worth of food money for the entire Tianshui Academy, truly a case of being rich and willful.
"Xiao Chen! Aunt doesn't lack money." Lan Xiaodie smiled and reached out to rub Ye Liangchen's little head.
"Xiao Chen, our Tianshui Academy has many properties in Tianshui City.
80% of the clothing stores in the city are ours.
Many merchants from the Two Great Empires purchase millions of gold coin worth of clothing from us every year."
"The clothing industry is the pillar industry of Tianshui City.
We can earn millions of gold coin annually from the clothing industry."
Su Lin and Lan Xiaoling introduced Tianshui Academy's industries, which greatly surprised Ye Liangchen.
He hadn't expected these women to be so capable; they were truly strong women!
"Aunt Lan, you are all amazing."
Lan Xiaodie smiled: "Tianshui Academy is so large; if it weren't for industry support, it would be impossible to sustain it with just the meager tuition fees paid by students."
"The Empire also allocates a certain amount each year, but that's just a drop in the bucket..."
The three women introduced Tianshui Academy's operating model to Ye Liangchen, also making him realize the difficulties Tianshui Academy faced.
When the group walked through the Tianshui Academy gate, it was midday, and the teachers and students were resting on the playground.
Seeing Ye Liangchen and his group return, they immediately cheered.
"The Dean and the others are back!"
Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, and a group of other girls immediately ran over from a distance, and many teachers from the academy also gathered around, wanting to see what Ye Liangchen and his group had gained from their trip to Star Dou Forest.
"Dean! You spent too much time this time!" Several senior teachers said with a laugh.
"You teachers have worked hard during this period." The Lan Xiaodie sisters also understood that once they left, the main work of the Academy would be handled by these teachers.
"Xiao Chen Didi, what spirit ring did you get? Show us!"
Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, Yu Hairou, and the other girls began to ask Ye Liangchen about his first spirit ring.
"It's similar to yours, a Ten-Thousand Year spirit ring."
At Tianshui Academy, it didn't matter if everyone saw it, so Ye Liangchen had no choice but to summon his Life Goddess Spirit.
"Buzzing…"
A deep yellow spirit ring slowly floated out, instantly astounding the teachers and students.
"Oh my! Xiao Chen Didi's Spirit is so beautiful!" The group of Little girl were stunned as they gazed at Ye Liangchen's incredibly beautiful Life Goddess, their mouths agape in an "o" shape.
"The color of this spirit ring is deeper than our Ten-Thousand Year spirit rings. Is this a spirit ring close to Ten-Thousand Year? Oh my! How is this possible?"
"The first spirit ring is already close to Ten-Thousand Year; it's too unbelievable."
Many teachers and students of the Academy were shocked by Ye Liangchen's spirit ring; it simply shattered their understanding!
Ye Liangchen retracted his Spirit, thinking it was just an ordinary Ten-Thousand Year spirit ring, nothing special.
Some other transmigrators even had 100,000-year first spirit rings, that was truly awesome.
"Dean, how old is Xiao Chen Didi's first spirit ring?" Some senior students asked Lan Xiaodie curiously.
"999 years, just one year short of reaching Ten-Thousand Year," Su Lin explained from the side.
"Now that you've seen Xiao Chen's spirit ring today, you must keep it a secret. Do not let anyone outside the school know."
Lan Xiaodie warned everyone. Although Xiao Jiahuo's safety was not a concern at the moment, if the matter of his first spirit ring exceeding the age limit spread outside the school, it would inevitably attract the attention of various major forces.
"Don't worry, Dean! We swear by our Spirits that we will not leak Xiao Chen Didi's matter."
As the Dean, when Lan Xiaodie spoke, no one dared to disobey.
"I have another good piece of news for everyone: Teacher Su Lin has successfully advanced to Spirit Saint, and her spirit power has reached level 73."
Ye Liangchen announced Su Lin's promotion to Spirit Saint to divert everyone's attention, so that these women wouldn't keep staring at him.
"Buzzing…"
"Everyone! Don't be too surprised!"
Su Lin also cooperated by releasing her Spirit. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—seven spirit rings appeared one after another from Su Lin's body, dazzlingly beautiful.
"Teacher Su Lin has advanced to Spirit Saint, that's great!"
Everyone cheered joyfully, celebrating for Su Lin. Having another Spirit Saint expert was a matter worth celebrating for the entire Tianshui Academy.
"Teacher Su Lin's seventh spirit ring seems to be of a very high age!" Several teachers were shocked by the seventh spirit ring.
"My seventh spirit ring is a 42,000-year Blue Scale Flood Dragon spirit ring," Su Lin explained to everyone.
"A 42,000-year Blue Scaled Jiao? That's too powerful."
Angel, Mu Qingxue, and Li Suyan, the three teachers, were also Spirit Saints. Their seventh spirit rings were only around 35,000 years, and they greatly admired Su Lin for being able to obtain a 42,000-year spirit ring for her seventh ring.
"Xiao Chen Didi's first spirit ring surpassed the limit, and Teacher Su Lin also broke through to Spirit Saint; it's truly a double blessing!"
Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, and the others were the happiest, their joyful and excited appearance like a group of beautiful butterflies dancing gracefully.
"Xiao Chen Didi, let us see your first Spirit Ability!"
Some students were very curious about Ye Liangchen's first Spirit Ability, their true purpose being to see Xiao Jiahuo's beautiful Life Goddess. Girls are always drawn to beautiful things.
"Swish, swish…"
Just then, the old Dean, Shui Lingfeng, quickly arrived beside Ye Liangchen from a distance and instructed everyone to disperse.
"You Little girl should go to class. Xiao Chen has been traveling extensively and is tired; don't disturb him anymore."
"Yes, Dean Grandma."
As soon as Shui Lingfeng spoke, everyone else dispersed, after all, this Elder's temper was very strange.
"Dean Grandma! We're back." Ye Liangchen greeted Shui Lingfeng.
"It's been almost two months, Grandma missed you so much."
Shui Lingfeng hugged Ye Liangchen and asked about his well-being for a while.
"Did anything happen on your trip?" Shui Lingfeng asked her two daughters and Su Lin.
"Mother! This trip to Star Dou Forest was quite fruitful, but we encountered some bigger issues concerning Xiao Chen…"
"Let's talk inside. I also received an important piece of news, also about Xiao Chen."
Shui Lingfeng interrupted Lan Xiaodie, took Ye Liangchen's hand, and walked towards the Academy's office building.
The Lan Xiaodie sisters and Su Lin immediately followed, guessing in their hearts if Xiao Jiahuo's identity had been exposed.
When they arrived in the office building's main hall, Lan Xiaodie quickly asked, "Mother, what happened?"
"News came from the City Lord's Mansion, just a few days ago, Santos, the Red-robed Bishop of Tianshui City Spirit Hall, sent people to investigate a six-year-old boy with innate full spirit power. It's clearly an investigation into Xiao Chen."
"Daughter, did you expose your identities outside?"
When Shui Lingfeng spoke of this, she was very worried about Ye Liangchen's safety.
"What? Spirit Hall is investigating Xiao Chen? Could it be that Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo guessed our identities?" The Lan Xiaodie sisters were instantly startled.
"Senior Sister, we were wearing cloaks and masks at the time, and we didn't even release our Spirits, so they couldn't have recognized us."
Su Lin felt that since there was no conflict with Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo at that time, the other party couldn't have recognized them.
"What exactly happened?"
Shui Lingfeng heard that they had also encountered Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, it must be that the other party felt Ye Liangchen's strength.
"Mother, at that time, there were three young people from Spirit Hall. One 10-year-old Little girl praised Xiao Chen for being handsome, and another 13-year-old red-haired boy got anxious, saying he wanted to challenge Xiao Chen. This led to the appearance of Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo, two Titled Douluo…"
The Lan Xiaodie sisters told their mother the entire story of encountering the three geniuses from Spirit Hall in Hunting Soul Town.
"So that's how it is. What kind of people does Spirit Hall raise? A quasi-Spirit Elder bullying a level 10 Spirit Master, how can they be so shameless?"
"I suppose Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo guessed you were from Tianshui Academy based on the strength of the three of you."
"Spirit Hall, for the geniuses on the continent, will try to win them over if possible. If not, they will find ways to suppress or eliminate them."
"I wonder how Bibi Dong will treat Xiao Chen after discovering his talent? I hope she can consider her acquaintance with Liu Ruyan and not make things difficult for Xiao Chen!"
Shui Lingfeng felt helpless recalling Bibi Dong's ruthless methods.
"Mother, there's no need to worry about Xiao Chen's safety. This time in Star Dou Forest, we met two super Titled Douluo. They are willing to protect Xiao Chen. Although we don't know their origins, they might be related to God, and they bear no ill will towards Xiao Chen."
Lan Xiaodie spoke of encountering Ditian and Bi Ji, which greatly surprised Shui Lingfeng.
"Is this true?"
"Mother, it's true. Xiao Chen's future enemies also include God."
Lan Xiaodie also mentioned that Asura God used Tang Hao to kill Ye Liangchen's parents. After all, Ditian and the others knew about God, so they shouldn't be lying to everyone.
Ye Liangchen took out the Silver Dragon King's reverse scale and explained to Shui Lingfeng, "Dean Grandma, Ditian said that when I encounter danger, I just need to activate the reverse scale with spirit power, and he will come out to help me solve the trouble."
"So that's how it is! No matter what happens in the future, we will face it together."
Shui Lingfeng looked at Ye Liangchen's small figure, and thinking that his enemies even included God, she lovingly hugged Xiao Jiahuo.
Ye Liangchen thought for a moment. As for Bibi Dong's attention to him, it wasn't a huge problem. Anyway, he couldn't possibly join Spirit Hall. If the other party dared to force him, he would directly summon Ditian to beat them up.
With Ditian's current strength, even if Qian Daoliu came, he wouldn't be afraid.
However, Ye Liangchen still hoped that those powerful figures wouldn't come looking for trouble with him, otherwise, if Ditian made a move, it would cause a huge commotion, and the teachers and students of Tianshui Academy would also be implicated.