The morning sun slowly rose over Blue Tyrant Academy.
Deep within the academy grounds, beside a quiet pond and outside a simple thatched cottage, a fence enclosed a small garden. Within it, flowers of all kinds bloomed in dazzling competition, forming a scene of tranquil beauty.
A woman in her thirties stood among them, wearing a plain green cloth dress. Her features were as elegant as a painting, her figure full and graceful, her bearing dignified. She was calmly watering the flowers.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps sounded nearby.
"Who's there?!"
Her peaceful moment disturbed, Liu Erlong frowned and turned, her eyes sharp with irritation.
From the forest path, a figure slowly emerged.
Bathed in the morning light, he revealed an exceptionally handsome and youthful face.
"I am Bai Mu, an elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Greetings, Dean Liu."
Bai Mu smiled faintly and took out a token, displaying it calmly.
Liu Erlong froze for a moment—then burst out laughing.
"An elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School? You?"
She sized him up from head to toe, her eyes filled with ridicule.
"Little brat, are you even grown yet?"
"You look barely old enough. Your hair probably hasn't even finished growing, and you dare pretend to be an elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
Although high spirit power could preserve one's youth, Bai Mu looked far too young.
Such a young elder?
Who did he think he was fooling?
"I can't be bothered to prove anything further. Believe it or not—it's up to you."
Bai Mu didn't care about her mockery in the slightest. His gaze swept openly over Liu Erlong.
"Back then, you were the Corner of Power of the Golden Triangle."
"I didn't expect that after all these years, you'd actually become even more charming."
"Hm?"
Liu Erlong's brows knitted together.
She had lived for decades—she'd seen all kinds of people.
But a brat who dared to look at her like this?
That was new.
"Kid, you may be young, but your audacity is impressive."
She sneered as her spirit power surged outward, releasing the pressure of a Spirit Saint.
"Staring at me like that—aren't you afraid I'll gouge your eyes out?"
The pressure was tangible. An ordinary Spirit Master would have been forced to the ground instantly.
But Bai Mu didn't even blink.
"Oh? Is it a crime to look at someone beautiful?"
He spread his hands innocently.
"Where's the logic in that?"
Things were different now. He himself was a Spirit Saint.
Even without Aura Break, he no longer feared pressure of this level.
"Tch…"
Liu Erlong found herself momentarily speechless.
And more troubling—
This kid's strength really did feel abnormal.
Could it be that he only looked young, but was actually some ancient monster who had lived for decades?
Before she could think further, Bai Mu spoke again.
"I'm very interested in your Blue Tyrant Academy."
He went straight to the point.
"Is it for sale?"
"For sale?"
Liu Erlong stared at him, stunned.
Then she laughed—a cold, sharp laugh.
"Don't even think about it!"
She straightened up as terrifying flames ignited around her body.
"Don't think that just because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has money, you can do whatever you want! Not for sale!"
"Even if you represent the Heaven Dou Empire, I won't sell!"
"Tsk, tsk…"
Bai Mu shook his head in mock pity.
"At your age, still so hot-tempered. Be careful—anger ages people fast."
"That mouth of yours!"
Liu Erlong's rage exploded.
"You're courting death!"
Flames erupted violently as her martial soul surged forth. Seven spirit rings lit up beneath her feet.
"What a fierce little Tyrant Dragon," Bai Mu laughed. "Almost makes one want to keep you around…"
Then he abruptly changed the topic.
"I heard that the three of you in the Golden Triangle were very close. Like siblings, even."
At those words, Liu Erlong froze.
Her face flushed deep red.
"Siblings?! Don't make me laugh!!!"
In the next instant, she completely lost control.
Her eyes burned crimson as spirit power erupted like a volcano, scorching the surrounding flowers into ashes.
Like a blazing Female Tyrant Dragon, she charged straight at Bai Mu.
"There you go again—so impatient."
Bai Mu wasn't afraid at all. Instead, he smiled calmly.
As she rushed toward him, he casually activated Protect.
Shua!
A translucent shield rose instantly in front of him.
Bang!
Liu Erlong slammed into it head-on and was thrown back several steps by the rebound.
"Damn it! What kind of spirit ability is this?! Break for me!"
Furious, she slashed wildly with her Dragon Claws, striking the shield again and again.
"Liu Erlong, you're a grown woman—why are you still this irritable?"
"I came all this way as a guest. Can't we talk properly?"
Bai Mu's tone was unhurried, as though he were facing not a raging dragon, but an angry kitten.
"Talk properly?!"
Liu Erlong shouted as she continued attacking.
"You bring up my past like that and expect politeness?"
Bai Mu smiled faintly.
"Then how about we talk about Yu Xiaogang instead?"
"Xiao… Xiaogang?"
Her movements faltered instantly.
The rage in her chest was forcibly suppressed.
She took a deep breath, barely steadying herself.
"What do you want to say? Say it—quickly!"
"I'm saying this, Dean Liu."
Bai Mu looked straight at her, his eyes deep and sharp.
"You wouldn't want Grandmaster to be unable to break through Level 30 for the rest of his life, right?"
"You… what exactly are you implying?"
Liu Erlong swallowed, her voice trembling despite herself.
"If I said I had a way to let Yu Xiaogang break through Level 29," Bai Mu said slowly, deliberately,
"And even allow his spirit to evolve—what price would you be willing to pay?"
He smiled mysteriously.
"…What?"
Liu Erlong was stunned, almost thinking she'd misheard.
"You… say that again."
"Yu Xiaogang. Break through Level 29. Spirit evolution."
Bai Mu enunciated every word clearly.
"I have a way."
"You… you have a way…"
Liu Erlong's heart pounded violently. The flames around her body slowly receded.
Level 29—was Xiaogang's lifelong nightmare.
And Luo San Pao—
That was his deepest humiliation, the root of all the ridicule he endured.
If he could truly break through…
If that useless spirit could really evolve…
"I'll pay!"
She blurted out almost without thinking.
"I'll give you money! A lot of money!"
"One million—no, five million! I'll give you everything I have!"
"Heh."
Bai Mu shook his head lightly.
"I'm not interested in money."
He stepped forward, dismissing Protect as he closed the distance between them.
"I'm only interested in [you]—and the [Blue Tyrant Academy]."
"Impossible!"
Liu Erlong looked up sharply, her guard fully raised.
"Leaving aside whether I'd ever give you the academy—how do I know your method is real?"
"You people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are the shrewdest of all!"
"Who's to say you're not just trying to trick me out of my academy?"
"This place is my life's work!"
At this point, she was only one step away from saying you'd better prove it first.
Unfortunately for her—
She still hadn't fully grasped what Bai Mu was really aiming for.