When she heard how her teacher addressed Jingliu, Ma Xiaotao's eyes flew wide open in astonishment. She turned to look at Yan Shaozhe in disbelief.
She simply couldn't comprehend it—why would her proud, always-imposing teacher suddenly shift his attitude so drastically?
But Yan Shaozhe had no time to acknowledge the questioning gaze she cast. He remained slightly bowed, posture humble, his tone filled with sincerity.
Off to the side, Lu Jingming caught the whole scene, and the corners of his lips curled ever so subtly into a smile.
It had all played out exactly as he intended—he had deliberately allowed Jingliu to reveal her overwhelming strength.
After all, two years had passed, and compared to back then, Jingliu's power had reached entirely new heights.
In Lu Jingming's eyes, the more formidable Jingliu appeared, the greater their advantage in the upcoming negotiations with Shrek Academy. Only then could they maximize what they stood to gain.
"Discuss the terms with him. I'll take action afterward."
Jingliu clearly had no interest in the haggling or political maneuvering. Her voice was calm and cool, her expression detached. She left the words hanging in the air before falling silent once more.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of joy lit up Yan Shaozhe's previously tense expression.
To him, as long as the other party was willing to talk conditions, it meant there was still a chance—still room for negotiation.
Yan Shaozhe's gaze slowly turned toward Lu Jingming. Though the boy still looked youthful, with a frame that hadn't yet grown into its full height, he was, after all, the Lord of Haiyuan City. From the way Jingliu treated him, it was obvious—Lu Jingming was not someone to be dismissed as an ordinary child.
Seeing the attention shift to him, Lu Jingming gave a resigned shrug, then turned to look at Chang Li, who was walking over at a leisurely pace.
"Dean Yan, let me discuss the specifics with you. This way, please."
Chang Li smiled warmly, her steps light and graceful, her tone casual and composed.
Yan Shaozhe narrowed his eyes slightly, then returned her smile. "If you insist, then I shall obey."
He had already steeled himself for a costly price. One glance at Chang Li, and he could tell—this woman, who carried herself like a phoenix, was not going to be easy to handle.
Still, for Ma Xiaotao's sake, as long as the price didn't endanger Shrek Academy, he was prepared to pay it.
Without further hesitation, he turned and followed Chang Li, his pace so unhesitant it was as if he'd already forgotten all about his own student.
Ma Xiaotao watched this unfold and opened her mouth, utterly speechless.
But her mood quickly shifted. She realized this was the perfect chance to reclaim some dignity. Smirking, she turned to Lu Jingming and raised her chin provocatively. "Just standing around is boring. How about a soul duel?"
On the continent of Douluo, soul duels were immensely popular—a direct way for soul masters to spar through real combat.
Many soul masters were regulars at the dueling arenas. On one hand, it allowed them to hone their skills and gain valuable battle experience. On the other, it was a proven method for improving strength over time.
Compared to the life-or-death risks of fighting savage soul beasts, dueling was relatively safe. Most official arenas had powerful individuals maintaining order, and rules strictly forbade killing.
Combatants would typically agree to go easy, stopping short of fatal harm. While occasional accidents did occur, fatal incidents remained rare.
Clearly, Ma Xiaotao had challenged Lu Jingming with one goal—to teach him a lesson, and show him exactly how outmatched he was.
Lu Jingming rolled his eyes. He knew all too well—he was just a Grand Soul Master, while Ma Xiaotao was already a full-fledged Soul Ancestor. Fighting her would be asking for a beating.
Sure, he'd trained swordsmanship under Jingliu since childhood and had reached a certain level of mastery. But real combat wasn't the same as practicing sword forms.
In his past life, he'd been a shut-in. And even in this one, he'd rarely fought others seriously. He had some experience, yes, but he was far from seasoned. Not to mention—he was only eight years old.
"I'll duel you instead."
Just then, a gentle voice broke the tension.
Zhang Lexuan stepped forward with an elegant grace, holding a fluffy pink fox in her arms. Her gaze was steady as it met Ma Xiaotao's, and a faint smile played on her flawless face.
Ma Xiaotao glanced at Lu Jingming, then looked over at Zhang Lexuan. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully before she replied, "Sure. Let's have a little match."
She gave Zhang Lexuan a once-over, thinking to herself that the girl didn't look much older than her. Judging by appearances, her strength likely wasn't that impressive either.
What irked her more was how obviously Zhang Lexuan had been protecting Lu Jingming earlier. For reasons she couldn't explain, it stirred up a strange sense of irritation in her chest. Now, she couldn't wait to beat her soundly in a duel.
The beach stretched wide and open—an ideal location for a soul duel.
Zhang Lexuan gently set down the little pink-furred fox in her arms, allowing it to scurry happily toward a purple-haired girl standing in the distance. Then she turned and faced Ma Xiaotao, taking her position.
The sea breeze swept softly over the sand, brushing through their hair, and tension began to rise in the air.
"You really are Lexuan's little treasure. For your sake, she's even willing to bully someone younger!"
The teasing voice came from the purple-haired girl who now cradled the pink fox in her arms. She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen, close in age to Zhang Lexuan.
Her hair was styled into twin ponytails, cleverly arranged to resemble cat ears, and she wore matching cat-ear hair accessories that enhanced her playful charm. The look was cute and spirited, yet carried a sharp sense of presence.
She wore a flowing dress in hues of violet and white, blending the elegance of Eastern tradition with a touch of modern flair.
The colors complemented one another beautifully, and as the hem of her dress rippled in the breeze, she looked like a painting in motion.
Her outfit was finished with black stockings and high heels—a contrast that somehow added to her allure. The balance between seemingly clashing elements created a harmony that drew the eye and made it hard to look away.
"Hm? Are you jealous, Carving Kitty?" Lu Jingming blinked mischievously, a playful grin tugging at his lips as he deliberately teased her.
"Jealous your head! Mind your manners, brat—you should be calling me Sister Keqing," she huffed, rolling her eyes and pinching his cheek with a mix of annoyance and fondness.
Then, as if rewarding a pet, she gently placed the eager little fox on top of Lu Jingming's head. The creature nestled down obediently, curling up adorably.
Keqing—yes, that Keqing, the character from the hit game Genshin Impact. In the game, she was the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, a calm and capable leader.
In this world, however, she had been summoned into reality by Lu Jingming two years ago. Since then, she had taken charge of planning and overseeing the construction of Haiyuan City.
This stunning cliffside villa? Her handiwork. Well, her role was primarily in architectural design and planning, but the sweeping transformation Haiyuan City had undergone in the past two years owed much to her efforts.