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Skywater Academy, true to its name, greeted visitors with an endless man-made lake. The bottom of the lake was inlaid with enormous luminous pearls, making the water sparkle even in the rarely sunny northern region.
The surrounding buildings were constructed from 'Cold Rain Stone,' unique to the extreme northern ice plains, shimmering with an ice-blue luster under the lights, like crystal-clear jade.
Chen Yi walked on the path paved with cold stone bricks, with fine trickles of water occasionally seeping from the gaps.
No wonder everyone said Skywater Academy's scenery was unparalleled on the Continent; this view truly gave one a sense of an otherworldly paradise, isolated from the mundane.
Teacher Li smiled and introduced Chen Yi: "The Academy's site was personally chosen by the first Dean. To secure this location, the first Dean back then swept through thirteen Spirit Saints with his Sword, shaking the entire northern region. Later, Skywater City was founded on this basis, and through expansion by successive Seniors, it has reached its current scale."
As she spoke, she pointed to a semicircular building, faintly visible in the water mist in the distance.
"That place is called Skywater Platform. It serves as Skywater Academy's student plaza and the arena for training. Most of the Academy's students train there."
"Little Yi, if you feel bored, your auntie will take you to see it later," Teacher Li's face broke into an aunt-like smile as she continued.
"There are countless people across the Continent who wish to see our Skywater Academy students but can't. I'll let you see your fill then."
Chen Yi felt very awkward listening to this. Although his body was only seven years old, his mental age was already close to forty, and he genuinely had no interest in those undeveloped young girls.
Seeing Chen Yi lower his head and stay silent, Teacher Li's mischievousness grew. She grabbed Chen Yi's loose hair, rubbing it as she said, "Oh, don't be so shy! You're far worse than your father in this regard. Back then, your dad would act as if he was number one in the world in front of us, and that's how he charmed your mother."
When Chen Zhen first arrived at Skywater Academy, he had just completed his second Silver-tier Awakening not long before, and was only a half-step away from becoming a Spirit Douluo. He was in his prime, full of youthful vigor. It was this wild and uninhibited demeanor that caught Mu Xi's eye at the time, leading her to choose him.
Mu Xi, known as a 'Demoness' in her youth, was naturally a fearless individual, often lashing nobles with thorns as a matter of course.
Compared to his two parents, Chen Yi seemed far too composed, which made Teacher Li amused but also a little bored.
"Let me tell you, the girls at our Skywater Academy are famously easy to get along with! If they saw you, this little brother, I don't know how excited they'd be!"
The more Chen Yi listened, the more awkward he felt. He quickly cast a pleading look at Mu Xi, who was watching the show from the side. The latter turned her head away, seemingly not noticing Chen Yi's resentful little eyes.
Chen Yi had no choice but to feign obtuseness, only uttering a few "Hmm"s and "Oh"s, in short, giving evasive answers.
But what Chen Yi didn't know was that Teacher Li, having lived in Skywater City for years, was already bored stiff. Seeing Chen Yi's unyielding demeanor immediately ignited her playful spirit.
"Alright, Ya'er, if you keep playing like this, not just this little fellow, but even an old woman like me can't take it!"
The three looked towards the source of the voice. Two figures stood quietly: one was a woman in her thirties, with an elegant face and a graceful, slender figure. Her long, water-blue hair was styled into a matron's bun, making her seem like an aunt from next door.
Most striking, however, was the older woman in front of her. She appeared to be over fifty, with faint wrinkles visible at the corners of her eyes, but her demeanor clearly spoke of someone long accustomed to a position of authority.
What truly startled Chen Yi was that he sensed a faint, almost imperceptible Sword Intent emanating from this old woman. It was so subtle that if Chen Yi's mental force hadn't greatly increased after absorbing his third spirit ring, bringing him one step away from the formless yet tangible Realm, he wouldn't have even detected that wisp of Sword Intent.
This was undoubtedly a rare Sword Dao master, almost as strong as Hong Yue was a year ago. Senior Martial AuntHong Yue had once said that in terms of Sword Dao alone, only the Old freak from Spirit Hall and Chen Xin of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School on the entire Douluo Continent could surpass her. Even Sword Douluo Feng Jian of the Wind Sword Sect wouldn't dare claim certain victory over her.
The identity of the old woman before him was already clear: the former Dean of Skywater Academy, Spirit Douluo Qingyun, known to the world as "Ling Han."
Seeing the old woman, Mu Xi's eyes reddened. She lightly stepped forward and rushed into her embrace.
"Teacher!"
Qingyun hugged Mu Xi tightly, her eyes moist. Her arms wrapped firmly around the latter, pressing Mu Xi's face into her shoulder, her voice trembling: "Silly girl, Teacher is right here. It's not like I could run away."
Feeling the child's trembling body in her arms, and the hands that clutched her clothes tightly, Qingyun sighed softly.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"
Her Disciple had been gone for nine years. To say she wasn't worried was impossible, but what could she do? The Body Sect's headquarters were mysterious; even its external members might not be able to find it, let alone them.
Watching this scene, the woman beside them also showed a gentle smile. For all these years, Teacher had missed Junior Sister terribly.
After a long while, Qingyun gently patted Mu Xi's back and said to the Disciple in her arms, "Aren't you going to get up? Look, your Senior Sisters are going to laugh at you."
Mu Xi also awkwardly got up. She had just remembered that not only her Senior and Junior Sisters were here, but also her precocious son. Even so, she pouted defiantly, "Who dares to laugh at me?"
Though she said that, Mu Xi's actions were very quick. She tidied her clothes, then looked at the woman beside her and said, "Senior Sister, I'm back!"
The woman was Shui Qingmei, the current Dean of Skywater Academy, a figure whose reputation rivaled Mu Xi's in their younger days.
"Junior Sister, long time no see, you're still as beautiful as ever," Shui Qingmei gently stroked Mu Xi's long hair, saying with emotion.
Back then, she herself had yearned for a stable life and married early. Junior Sister, however, was wild and free-spirited, even making Teacher feel a bit weary. She had initially thought Junior Sister would inherit the position of Dean and bring glory to Skywater Academy. But a few years later, Teacher brought back a man and intended to betroth Junior Sister to him. The man's demeanor and charm perfectly suited Mu Xi's taste, and the two quickly entered into matrimony and traveled far away. She could only reluctantly take over the position of Dean.
In the blink of an eye, almost ten years had passed.
"Of course, I'm the belle of the northern region!" Facing her Senior Sister's praise, Mu Xi fully accepted it, just like Chen Yi in front of his parents.
Shui Qingmei smiled at Mu Xi, then looked at Chen Yi and said, "Is this your and Chen Zhen's son?"
"Yes, yes," Mu Xi finally remembered her son behind her. She turned, came to Chen Yi, pulled him forward, and proudly introduced him to Qingyun and Shui Qingmei.
"This is my son, Chen Yi, an absolute Genius!"
"Greetings, Senior Martial Aunt, Senior!".
Shui Qingmei looked at the extraordinary Chen Yi and secretly nodded. At their Realm, outward appearance was the most superficial thing. In terms of looks, those nobles were top-notch, but many were outwardly splendid but inwardly rotten.
As for the obvious exaggeration of "absolute Genius," she automatically ignored it, believing it to be merely her Junior Sister's doting on her son.
"Not bad!"
Qingyun's eyes narrowed sharply the moment she saw Chen Yi.
Shui Qingmei's Realm was not high enough to discern it, but in Qingyun's view, this child's aura subtly showed a tendency to merge with heaven and earth, already not far from the legendary Realm of 'Heaven and Man United'.
The potential of a Peak Douluo!
After carefully observing Chen Yi for a while, Qingyun couldn't help but praise, "What a fine young lad! Given time, his future is limitless!"
Mu Xi smiled even more broadly upon hearing this. Shui Qingmei and Teacher Li, on the other hand, began to seriously observe Chen Yi, seemingly trying to figure out why he could earn such a high evaluation from the Old Dean (Teacher).
Before the two could observe for long, Qingyun smiled and said to the mother and son, "Alright, since you're back, don't just stand outside. Come in and sit!"