Guidance?
Li Yuan almost laughed in anger.
Listen to your "guidance"?
And then?
Sacrifice my own potential to absorb some "optimal spirit rings" specifically designed to serve the "team," especially to coordinate with Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Spirit?
For some ethereal "team honor" and the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, sacrifice a precious spirit ring slot?
Isn't that something only a fool would do?
Academy competitions are only temporary, but spirit rings stay with a Spirit Master for a lifetime.
Could one stay in the academy for a lifetime?
When everyone goes their separate ways after graduation, who will care about the team?
It's fine for support system Spirit Masters, since they rely on companions anyway, but what about other systems?
You should know that most Spirit Masters only have a few Spirit abilities in their life; missing one powerful ability that suits them means one less chance of winning in a life-and-death duel!
Seeing Li Yuan remain silent for a long time, Yu Xiaogang became a bit impatient and urged, "Li Yuan, this is a rare opportunity. Have you made up your mind? Shrek is not a place just anyone can enter."
"F*ck you! Grandmaster, you should just go and ruin someone else's life, I won't be accompanying you."
After Li Yuan coldly cursed, he stood up on the spot and was about to leave.
Dean Chen Gang was stunned and hurriedly called out to him, his Face full of confusion: "Xiao Yuan, what are you doing? Why did you start cursing out of nowhere?"
In his impression, Li Yuan, a student who came from a bitter background but was exceptionally talented and usually gentle and polite, had never lost his composure like this.
Li Yuan turned around, his tone softening slightly: "Dean, you were deceived by him; I don't blame you."
Then, his gaze turned cold as he looked straight at Yu Xiaogang, slammed the table, and questioned him mercilessly:
"But, Yu Xiaogang!"
"You're using a trashy place that doesn't even have the basic configuration of a mimicked cultivation environment for an advanced Spirit Master academy to trick us. Do you really take us for fools?"
Yu Xiaogang was shaken back half a step by his sudden burst of sharp Aura, his Face as pale as a ghost, as he stammered, "You... what nonsense are you talking about! How could you possibly know Shrek doesn't have a mimicked environment? Where... where did you hear such rumors?"
Li Yuan sneered, "If you don't want people to know, don't do it! Your reputation as 'Grandmaster Yu' probably isn't as'secretive' among the upper echelons of the Spirit Master's world as you think it is, right?"
Dean Chen Gang also completely understood now, looking at his old friend of many years in disbelief.
He never expected Yu Xiaogang to be so audacious.
To dare to deceive him even on such a major matter that could easily ruin someone's future.
You should know, the two of them have been close friends for decades!
He questioned with grief and indignation, "Xiaogang, is this true? Shrek Academy... doesn't even have a mimicked environment? You! You are leading students astray..."
Yu Xiaogang's Face turned pale and then flushed with shame as he lowered his head, but he still tried to defend himself: "Shrek's environment is a bit poor and remote, but the faculty strength is truly powerful. The Spirit Saint dean and Spirit Emperor teachers I told you about are all absolutely true."
"That's still not acceptable!"
Dean Chen Gang rarely got angry, but he interrupted him: "Faculty strength is indeed important, but a mimicked environment, cultivation resources, and academy foundation are the roots of an advanced academy's development and the cornerstone of a student's future growth."
"Xiaogang, you are a theoretical Grandmaster after all; don't you understand these principles?"
Yu Xiaogang was left speechless, and only after a long while did he whisper, "I... I also thought that with so many powerful teachers leading the team, it would be more convenient for them to obtain the most suitable spirit rings..."
Hearing this, Li Yuan sneered in his heart: "Convenient? I'm afraid it's only convenient for your Disciple, Tang San, right?"
As for the rest of them, they were just incidental 'team accessories,' and could also help prove your theories along the way.
Looking at Yu Xiaogang's helpless and flushed, embarrassed state, Chen Gang ultimately softened his heart.
Decades of friendship made him unable to bear criticizing him any further, and he sighed: "Forget it, let this matter end here. Xiaogang, you... take care of yourself."
He thought his tolerance would lead to his old friend's reflection.
Little did he know that in Yu Xiaogang's heart, what welled up at this moment was not guilt, but resentment.
Resentment toward Chen Gang for not giving him Face, resentment toward Li Yuan for exposing him in public, and resentment toward everyone for not understanding his "well-intentioned efforts."
Li Yuan saw this and didn't bother to say more, bowing slightly to Dean Chen Gang: "Dean, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
Until he turned and left the office, he didn't even bother to give Yu Xiaogang in the corner another glance... Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
To enjoy today's big gossip, Ning Rongrong specifically woke up early today; usually, she sleeps until noon.
But she held her Brick and waited for a long time without seeing Li Yuan appear, and she immediately became distressed.
There were quite a few people with the same idea, and many in the group were keeping watch.
[Heaven Dou's Richest Little Rich Girl: Do you guys know where the Group Owner went? Didn't we agree to talk about the big gossip today? I've got my melon seeds, peanuts, juice, and snacks all ready! (Anxious cat head emoji)]
[Big Sister with a Vicious Heart: 666, Young Miss Ning is indeed well-prepared! Hearing you say that makes me crave some too; I'm going to get some melon seeds now. But why is the Group Owner still not here? Did he oversleep?]
[Big Cat in the Dark Night: Maybe he was delayed by something unexpected. Let's wait a bit longer.]
[The Yandere Maniac Beauty of the Spirit Hall: Heh, how hilarious. It's obvious he was talking nonsense yesterday and couldn't back it up. Now he's too ashamed to show his Face and has run away. (Middle finger mocking emoji)]
[Little Fox Who Likes Teacher the Most: Teacher is right! He definitely ran away! Lululu~ Are those two busybodies in the group getting anxious now? (Sarcastic voice message)]
[Loves Eating Carrots: Impossible! Bibi Dong, you bad woman, stop talking nonsense! The Group Owner isn't that kind of person; he must have something else to do.]
[The Single Married Woman Who Runs the Academy: Exactly, Bibi Dong, you better shut up. No one will think you're mute if you don't speak!]
[The Yandere Maniac Beauty of the Spirit Hall: Hohoho, keep being stubborn. Once I catch your 'omnipotent' Group Owner, you two won't be far from your end. (Sneering emoji)]
Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong's mood today was exceptionally bright.
In her view, there was only one possibility for Li Yuan's failure to appear in the group so far.
The shocking remarks he fabricated yesterday couldn't be justified, and now, fearing exposure, he simply slipped away.
She leaned lazily against the soft couch, her fingertips lightly tapping the "Brick," a hint of cat-and-mouse playfulness in her purple eyes.
However, her good mood did not last long.
Who would have thought that at this moment, Li Yuan finally appeared.
[Li Yuan: Sorry, sorry, everyone. I was handling some personal matters this morning and got delayed. (Cupped fist.jpg)]
[Ice and Snow Smart: It's okay, it's good that Group Owner Brother is here. We're not in a hurry. (Gentle.jpg)]
Li Yuan's appearance was like a reassuring pill, making the few people in the group who were eagerly waiting (except for a certain mother and daughter) breathe a sigh of relief.
[Child Without Parents: Can we start now?]
[Li Yuan: Alright, let's start now. Everyone, are the melon seeds, peanuts, and small stools ready?]
[Heaven Dou's Richest Little Rich Girl: Hehe, of course they are! (Shows off by taking a photo of a table full of snacks)]
Immediately below the photo, a series of "+1" and drooling emojis followed. Clearly, the sense of ritual for observing the drama had to be maximized.
[Li Yuan: First, we need to clarify one thing. Do you know where the current 'Holy Maiden' of Spirit Hall came from?]
Li Yuan threw out a heavyweight topic right at the start, precisely hooking everyone's curiosity. To make a story engaging, the opening must be explosive enough—this is what's called "throwing a hook."
[Heaven Dou's Richest Little Rich Girl: Ah? Does Spirit Hall have a 'Holy Maiden'? (Look of confusion)]
[Loves Eating Carrots: Uh... I don't know either, hehe... (Scratching head)]
[Big Cat in the Dark Night: I know, the current Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall is Hu Liena, but what does that have to do with what you're talking about today?]
[Little Fox Who Likes Teacher the Most: Ah? Me? Me? (Suddenly being named, a bit flustered)]
[Li Yuan: Is it possible that the one I'm talking about isn't the current public Holy Maiden, Hu Liena, but the true, internally designated future successor of Spirit Hall—the real Holy Maiden hidden under the shadows of glory and power?]
[Li Yuan: She is the only granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, the High Priest of Spirit Hall and one of the current three super Douluos—Qian Renxue!]
As soon as this was said, the group fell silent for a few seconds.
Clearly, this information was too explosive, and they needed time to digest it.
[Big Sister with a Vicious Heart: For real? The granddaughter of a super Douluo? A hidden Holy Maiden?!]
[Li Yuan: Of course it's true. Not only that, Qian Renxue's origin can be called 'mind-blowing.' But to be honest, with a mother like that... she's also quite pitiful.]
[Child Without Parents:???]
[Child Without Parents: How is my origin mind-blowing? Isn't it just my dad giving a shiver and then my mom giving birth to me? Isn't everyone's origin like that? (Righteous yet confused)]
Heaven Dou City, Crown Princes Mansion.
Qian Renxue looked at the message she sent and frowned slightly.
She felt there was nothing wrong with what she said.
Isn't the birth of life always such a process?
What is this Group Owner being so mysterious about?
Li Yuan held his forehead; what the hell was that "shiver."
He felt his sense of morality and his sense of humor in intense combat.
No, no, I must hold back; I can't laugh at an orphan.
Otherwise, my Karma will be gone.
[Child Without Parents: You better explain yourself clearly! Otherwise, you are slandering me! I won't let you off! (Crossing arms in anger)]