Chapter 525 - 525: The Genius Recruitment Target? Mu Xi Challange Xu Xiaoyu!

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--- Chapter 525 ---

"Right, Zixin, how is Xiaoyu? Is that guy still bothering you?" As the group of four arrived at the cafeteria and sat down for breakfast, Mu Xi suddenly brought up the topic.

"Oh? A boy is bothering my disciple?" Xing Lan naturally picked up on the conversation, raising an eyebrow with cool interest.

Ouyang Zixin flustered, waving her hands nervously. "I-It's not like that, Teacher! Xu Xiaoyu is just a classmate of mine. We used to banter around back when Mu Xi was still studying at Eastsea Academy."

"His talent is better than mine, and he always wanted to recruit me into his team. I only refused because I felt my Solitary Bamboo couldn't contribute much to them."

"Xu Xiaoyu... Xu?" Han Yuan mumbled thoughtfully. "Sister Zixin, this classmate of yours... he wouldn't happen to be from Eastsea City's Xu Family, with an Ice Staff as his Martial Soul, right?"

Mu Xi and Ouyang Zixin blinked in total astonishment. Zixin glanced at Mu Xi, her eyes practically asking. 'Did you tell him about this beforehand?'

'Of course not!' Mu Xi rolled her eyes in response.

"That's right! His name is Xu Xiaoyu, and he's from the famous Xu Family of Eastsea City, the ones known for their Ice Staff Martial Soul and Mecha Manufacturing Business," Ouyang Zixin confirmed after a quick thought.

"How did you know about Xiaoyu, Xiao Yuan? I don't think I've ever mentioned him to you," Mu Xi added, her tone filled with curiosity.

Han Yuan smiled faintly. "That's because the genius my Grandpa wanted to recruit is directly related to the Xu Family. In fact, she's Xu Xiaoyu's younger sister."

Ouyang Zixin connected the dots almost instantly. "She... are you talking about Xu Xiaoyu's younger sister, Xu Xiaoyan?"

"Yes. The Spirit Pagoda of Eastsea City recorded that Xu Xiaoyan recently awakened her Martial Soul, a new mutated variant of the Ice Staff known as the Starwheel Ice Staff," Han Yuan replied with a nod. "This martial soul had a powerful potential."

"Not only that, she awakened with Level 10 Full Innate Soul Power and an exceptionally high degree of Spiritual Power."

'Starwheel Ice Staff...' Xing Lan's eyes lit up slightly.

'Hoh... am I about to take on a third disciple?'

'First Xiao Xi, then Xin'er, and now... this Xu Xiaoyan...'

'Wait a minute... isn't this boy just building a harem for himself under the guise of recruitment?'

She turned to gaze at the silver-haired boy beside her in utter disbelief, her lips twitching subtly.

"Level 10 Full Innate Soul Power..." Mu Xi's eyes widened in surprise. "That annoying guy actually has such a genius younger sister?!"

"I had no idea either..." Ouyang Zixin looked just as shocked as Mu Xi.

"Well, it's completely normal that you wouldn't know," Han Yuan chuckled softly, genuinely amused. "She awakened her Martial Soul a few months ago, and my Grandpa asked me personally to invite her to the Youth Genius Training Camp."

"This Youth Genius Training Camp... is it the rumored one organized by the Spirit Pagoda?" Ouyang Zixin couldn't help asking.

"Yes. And my grandfather is serving as the chief instructor, specifically responsible for Spiritual Cultivation," Han Yuan answered with a gentle smile.

Mu Xi leaned closer, whispering directly into Ouyang Zixin's ear, "Xiao Yuan's grandfather is a Level 98 Super Douluo... titled Illusory Brain."

"Hiss..." Ouyang Zixin drew a sharp breath, her mind momentarily short-circuiting.

She realized her initial assumptions about this handsome, calm younger brother were nowhere near enough to match his true background. She was still a country bumpkin, after all.

"Then let me go look for that guy Xiaoyu right after this!" Mu Xi said with a mischievous grin, cracking her knuckles. "I want to see just how much he's grown after a whole year."

"..."

Han Yuan, Xing Lan, and Ouyang Zixin could tell instantly from this girl's expression alone that she had bad intentions. Still, they could only shake their heads in mild amusement and finish their breakfast.

A short while later, the four arrived at the teaching park in the Eastsea Academy, where several young Spirit Masters were gathered, training under the guidance of a female teacher.

"Teacher Luo! I've finally come back to visit!" Mu Xi called out cheerily as they approached.

Ye Yingluo, the homeroom teacher of Elite Class One, Grade Two, turned around. She had taught not only Ouyang Zixin, but also Mu Xi back when they were freshmen.

"Mu Xi? You finally decided to visit?" Ye Yingluo smiled, though her tone remained somewhat aloof.

Mu Xi placed her hands on her hips and proudly lifted her chin. "I'm back as a super genius now!"

"Mu Xi..." Ouyang Zixin held her forehead, completely speechless.

"Super genius..." Ye Yingluo didn't quite know how to react to the girl's proud statement, but the moment her eyes shifted past Mu Xi to rest on Xing Lan, a sudden, instinctual dread washed over her. She froze on the spot.

Xing Lan offered a calm, polite smile. "My disciple can be a bit loud, but she isn't exaggerating her talent. Teacher Luo, correct? Thank you for taking care of my disciple in the past."

"N-No, Senior, I wouldn't dare take credit..." Ye Yingluo couldn't tell the exact details of Xing Lan's cultivation.

However, the overwhelming pressure coming off her was something she had only ever felt from top-tier instructors at Shrek Academy, the very institution she had failed to enter years ago.

"Besides, I didn't teach Mu Xi much... just standard coursework."

Xing Lan smiled faintly. "Guidance is still guidance. Xiao Xi's foundational understanding of Spirit Master theory came from your classroom, so you certainly contributed to her growth."

With a flick of her wrist, Xing Lan produced a small blue vial and handed it over. "Here. A small token of gratitude for looking after my disciple. This nourishing pill should be more than enough to assist your breakthrough into the Spirit King realm."

"Spirit King..." Ye Yingluo drew a sharp breath, staring at the medicine bottle before bowing deeply with utmost respect. "Thank you for the generous gift, Senior!"

"Hello, Teacher Luo," Ouyang Zixin greeted politely, stepping forward.

"Zixin? Are you..." Ye Yingluo looked surprised to see Ouyang Zixin standing beside Xing Lan as well.

Ouyang Zixin nodded with a quiet, happy smile. "Mhm. I've become Senior's second disciple."

Ye Yingluo sighed softly, a genuine smile gracing her face. "Then it is truly your great fortune, Zixin."

She then turned her eyes back toward Mu Xi. "Though I doubt you two came all the way here just to give me a surprise visit, right?"

"Of course not! I'm looking for Xiaoyu! I want to challenge him!" Mu Xi declared, her energy practically bursting.

"Xiaoyu... He recently broke through to become a Spirit Grandmaster. His soul power should be around Level 21 or 22 now," Ye Yingluo replied. "Are you sure you want to fight him?"

"Absolutely! A Spirit Grandmaster? Please, I could fight Spirit Ancestors if I wanted to!" Mu Xi boasted without an ounce of humility, causing Han Yuan to facepalm beside her.

After all, Mu Xi was drawing her confidence straight from her brutal raid experience fighting high-tier Spirit Beasts inside DND Online.

Going all out, holding her ground against a Spirit King for a few moments wouldn't even be an exaggeration for her current build.

"Is that so... Then I'll call him over." Ye Yingluo was genuinely curious to see just how strong her former student had become.

Not long after, a blue-haired youth holding a snow-white staff topped with a glowing ice crystal strode over, accompanied by a few following classmates. He carried himself with a noticeably arrogant posture.

"Teacher Luo, you called for me?" Xu Xiaoyu asked indifferently.

Ye Yingluo was long accustomed to this young master's prideful persona, though she knew he wasn't genuinely malicious.

"Yes. Mu Xi is back, and she wants to challenge you," She said, gesturing toward the crimson-haired girl.

"Hmm?" Xu Xiaoyu glanced over at Mu Xi. He blinked once, blinked twice, blushed furiously for a fraction of a second, and then blurted out in total shock, "Mu Xi is—who the fuck are you?!"

It was hardly his fault—Mu Xi's current appearance, hair, and posture had transformed so much in just a single year that she looked like an entirely different person.

Mu Xi snorted in return, placing a hand on her waist. "How can you not even recognize me anymore, Xu Xiaoyu?!"

"I came back specifically to teach you a lesson!"

"This obnoxious tone... You really are Mu Xi," Xu Xiaoyu said, speechless for a moment before quickly regaining his cool composure.

He had to admit she looked ridiculously stunning now, but how could an arrogant young master like him fold immediately?

He, Xu Xiaoyu, had his pride!

"You want to challenge me?" He pointed his ice staff directly at her, lifting his chin. "Fine! Show me just how strong you've gotten!"

"Don't expect me to hold back just because you're a girl!"

Mu Xi puffed out her cheeks stubbornly. "Hmph!"

"I should be the one saying that! Don't expect me to hold back just because you're a boy!"

"..." Xu Xiaoyu.

"..." Everyone else.

'Sister, I'm pretty sure that's not how that saying works... You can't just change the subject...' Han Yuan sighed inwardly, watching the showdown unfold as the situation went completely off the rails.