After returning to school, Li Xueli was in a very light and pleasant mood. A week or more in the Crystal Stone World had been like a bizarre journey, especially the Three Major Sacred Lands and the ability to travel between two worlds. The experiences left her with endless things to savor, even in her dreams.
“Shen Ning… jade… one cut makes you poor, one cut makes you rich. You can’t cut it like that…”
By the time Li Xueli was smacking her lips and talking in her sleep, the sun had already risen. Another teacher who had returned to the school had also arrived at her office.
It wasn’t officially time to start work yet, but Principal Lü had sent a message saying he wanted to meet her.
“Teacher Yu, I didn’t expect you to be at the Council for so many days. I wonder how the situation is there? How is Xu Chuyao doing?”
Yu Jing opened her mouth to speak but hesitated for a moment. In the end, she said nothing.
‘Wait, shouldn’t this information be confidential?’
“Oh, look at who you’re being so guarded against,” Principal Lü said. “Xu Chuyao is a child who grew up in our school. Besides, she is the only one the school has produced in decades. Can’t I show some concern? Do you think I would harm her?”
Yu Jing thought about it and realized he was right. However, regarding the plans within the Crystal Stone World and Chuyao’s ultimate strategic goals, those had to be kept secret no matter what. So, she filtered her thoughts and spoke about what could be shared.
For instance, she mentioned the situation of the two tigers competing at the Council, and how Xu Chuyao had received the favor of the Old Speaker, landing a seat on the Council for no apparent reason.
Hearing the latter, Principal Lü pondered for a moment before saying sentimentally, “It seems the old leader plans to have Xu Chuyao take over in a few years and ignore those other two.”
Yu Jing was slightly stunned. “How did you know?”
Chuyao had mentioned this viewpoint to her as well, but Yu Jing hadn’t brought it up just now. Furthermore, the “old leader” referred to…
“I just know,” Principal Lü smiled. “The old leader was the founder of the Education Department and served as the first Director. I was his subordinate back then.”
When the Pacification War ended, the Old Speaker was not yet old. As the victor of the war, he was full of vitality and ambition, sweeping across the world.
After winning the world, it was time to govern it. Professional staff were responsible for various departments and internal affairs, so the main problem he considered back then was how to control Spirit Power Users, whose births were random and whose talents were unknown.
Someone gave a suggestion, drawing inspiration from the full-time schools of the Spirit Age, which led to the creation of the Academy System. The Old Speaker personally participated in the establishment of the Education Department and formulated various regulations, sweeping away the disorder of the chaotic period and making the future clear and visible.
The only problem at the time was that the Academy System required many people to maintain it, which meant it needed a vast amount of money. Thus, the task of raising these funds was given to his two most trusted generals.
One was named Wen Shengqing, and the other was Chu Cang. They were collectively known as the Twin Stars of the Pacification War.
The Old Speaker didn’t bother to care about how they specifically did it. Regardless, the task was completed, the academies were established, and everything moved in a positive direction.
“So, you see, the better Xu Chuyao does, the more it proves that the old leader’s Academy System is a success,” Principal Lü analyzed. “Therefore, he will naturally look after her.”
Yu Jing nodded. After the Principal explained it this way, she finally understood why the Old Speaker treated Chuyao so well.
Most of his life had passed, and now that he was old, what he wanted to see most was that everything he had once pushed for was being carried forward and magnified by future generations. That way, his name in the history books would shine even brighter.
After finishing their conversation, Yu Jing left the office building and headed to the old school building to receive the “prisoners.”
***
On the other side.
“Currently, we can capture several hundred every day…”
Shen Ning stopped speaking mid-sentence and tilted her head.
“Xu Chuyao, are you listening?”
“Huh? I… suppose so.”
It seemed she wasn’t really listening.
The young girl was somewhat confused. “Didn’t you call me back to hear the report?”
Today, a door had opened above her head, pulling her back to the mortal world while she was commanding her army. She figured her wife wanted to know the situation on that side, so she had been reporting the progress of the empire’s expansion.
“Ah… right.”
Xu Chuyao was too embarrassed to say that she had actually pulled Shen Ning back to chat on a whim because the Head Teacher was gone and she was too bored being alone.
But since she was already here, they might as well talk, especially since the other girl had already started the conversation.
Xu Chuyao shifted into a comfortable position on the sofa. “The situation on your side is going well, but things here are volatile and treacherous. For some reason, the fires of war at the Council are becoming increasingly white-hot. Everyone is wound tight, and they could break out into a fight at any moment.”
Chuyao truly couldn’t figure it out. According to her original plan, she would spend two years peacefully in school. Since she was already married and the Crown Princess was one of her own, she wouldn’t have to risk her life personally. She would wait until the Crown Princess reached Rank 5 before taking action, sweeping everything aside in one wave to welcome a happy end.
As it turned out, something had gone wrong. Wen Shengqing and Chu Cang were practically at each other’s throats. Once they finished their fight, the next step would definitely be to deal with her.
‘Why is it like this… In my calculations, there were at least two years left. Why are they fighting now?’ Xu Chuyao muttered to herself.
Shen Ning remained silent, merely lowering her head guiltily.
Broken Shadow sighed softly from the side. ‘Alas, it is all our fault for dragging Chuyao down.’
More than two years ago, they had discussed how fate would chase after the girl’s footsteps. Even if it occasionally fell behind, it would usually bite down tightly.
Just like now, fate would not wait for her to be fully geared before it started stirring up trouble.
At that moment, Shen Ning saw her wife wave a small hand.
“Forget it. People are unpredictable, and fate is inconstant. Since they want to fight, then I’ll just settle it all at once!”
It was such a heroic aura that even the greatness of her chest seemed to tremble along with it.
Shen Ning subconsciously asked, “How will you settle it?”
Xu Chuyao glared at her again. “Why are you asking me? Ask yourself! How long have you been at Rank 4? Have you been practicing properly? Have you been thinking of ways to break through?”
“Um…”
Shen Ning felt a subconscious prick of guilt, thinking her wife’s words made some sense.
But on second thought—wait, did it really make sense?
“There is no such logic,” the Sexual Repression doppelganger rolled its eyes. “She has only been at Rank 4 for a few months. Saying that out loud would get someone beaten!”
Among the hundreds of thousands of Spirit Power Users in the world, some were stuck at Rank 2 for years, and others were stuck at Rank 3 for decades. No one ever complained about being stuck at Rank 4, let alone for a ridiculous period of only a few months.
Practicing a single skill took more than a few months.
But Xu Chuyao was simply unreasonable. After they finished chatting, she chased Shen Ning back to the Crystal Stone World, saying, “You are only at the peak of Rank 4 at your age. How can you have the nerve to slack off? Go and work hard for me.”
Afterward, she headed out herself, intending to go to the restaurant for lunch.
“Miss Xu.”
On the way to the restaurant, a short but elderly man walked toward her and called out to the girl.
“Miss Xu.”
“Would you happen to have the time to chat with me for a bit?” Chu Cang asked.