Skywater Academy, true to its name, featured an artificial lake that stretched as far as the eye could see upon entry. The lake bottom was embedded with massive luminous pearls, making it shimmer even in the sunlight-scarce Northern Territory.
The surrounding buildings were constructed from the unique Cold Rain Stone of the Extreme North Ice Plains, glowing with an icy blue sheen under the lights, like translucent jade.
Chen Yi walked on the path paved with cold stone bricks, where fine water gleamed occasionally from the gaps.
No wonder they say Skywater Academy's scenery is unparalleled on the continent—it truly gives a sense of an otherworldly paradise.
Teacher Li smiled as she introduced to Chen Yi: "The academy was personally selected by the founding dean. To secure this location, the founding dean single-handedly defeated thirteen Soul Saints with her sword, shocking the Northern Territory. Later, she established Skywater City here as the foundation, and through generations of expansion by predecessors, it reached its current scale."
She pointed to a semicircular building faintly visible in the water mist in the distance.
"That place is called Skywater Platform. It's the academy's student square and the soul fighting arena used for training. Most of the academy's students train there."
"Little Yi, if you find it boring, Auntie will take you there later to have a look," Teacher Li said with an aunt-like smile on her face.
"Our Skywater Academy students are something countless people on the continent dream of seeing but never get to. You can feast your eyes all at once."
Chen Yi felt very awkward hearing this. Though his body was only seven, his mental age was nearly forty, and he had no interest in those underdeveloped little girls.
Seeing Chen Yi lower his head without speaking, Teacher Li's mischievous side grew. She ruffled his loose hair and said while rubbing: "Oh, don't be so shy. You're far worse than your father in this regard. Back then, your dad acted like he was the king of the world in front of us—that arrogance is what hooked your mom."
When Chen Zhen came to Skywater Academy, he had just completed his silver-level second awakening not long ago and was only half a step from Soul Douluo. He was at the peak of his youthful vigor, and it was this bold temperament that caught Mu Xi's eye, leading her to choose him.
Mu Xi was called an enchantress in her youth, naturally fearless of heaven and earth, whipping nobles with thorns as a common pastime.
Compared to his parents, Chen Yi seemed too steady, which made Teacher Li laugh while also finding it a bit boring.
"Let me tell you, the girls at our Skywater Academy are famously easy to get along with. If they see a little brother like you, they'll be thrilled beyond words!"
The more Chen Yi listened, the more embarrassed he became. He quickly cast a pleading glance at Mu Xi, who was watching the show, but she turned her head away, pretending not to see his resentful little eyes.
Chen Yi was helpless and could only act clueless, responding with "Mm" or "Oh," basically giving non-answers.
But what Chen Yi didn't know was that Skywater Academy, being in the isolated Skywater City year-round, left Teacher Li bored out of her mind.
Seeing Chen Yi's impervious demeanor ignited her playful spirit.
"Alright, Ya'er, if you keep playing like this, not just this little guy, even this old lady can't take it!"
The three turned toward the voice. Two figures stood quietly. One was in her thirties, with elegant features and a slender, well-proportioned figure. Her water-blue long hair was tied in a married woman's bun, like a neighborly aunt.
The most striking was the woman in front of her, seemingly over fifty, with faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. But her aura clearly showed she had long held a high position.
What shocked Chen Yi most was the faint sword intent he sensed from this old woman. It was subtle—if not for his mental strength surging after absorbing his third soul ring, nearing the tangible-yet-intangible realm, he wouldn't have detected that strand of sword intent.
This was undoubtedly a rare swordsmanship expert in the world, almost on par with Hong Yue from a year ago. Back then, Hong Yue had said that in terms of swordsmanship alone, only the old monster from the Spirit Hall and Sword Douluo Chen Xin from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could surpass her on the entire Douluo Continent. Even the Wind Sword Douluo from the Wind Sword Sect wouldn't dare claim certain victory over her.
The old woman's identity was obvious: the former dean of Skywater Academy, known as the Blue Sky Sword, Qing Yun.
Seeing the old woman, Mu Xi's eyes reddened, and she lightly stepped forward, throwing herself at her.
"Teacher!"
Qing Yun embraced Mu Xi, her eyes moist, arms tightly circling her, pressing Mu Xi's face to her shoulder. Her voice trembled softly: "Silly girl, Teacher is right here. Where could I run off to?"
Feeling the trembling body in her arms and the hands clutching her clothes tightly, Qing Yun sighed softly.
"It's good you're back. It's good you're back!"
Her disciple had been gone for nine years. It was impossible not to worry, but what could she do?
The Body Sect's base was secretive; even external members might not find it, let alone them.
Watching this scene, the woman beside them smiled warmly.
These years, Teacher had missed her junior sister dearly.
After a while, Qing Yun gently patted Mu Xi's back and said to the disciple in her arms: "Get up now. Look, your senior sisters are going to laugh at you."
Mu Xi got up embarrassedly. She just remembered that not only were her senior sisters here, but also her clever little son. Even so, she muttered defiantly: "Who dares laugh at me?"
Though she said that, Mu Xi quickly straightened her clothes and turned to the woman beside her: "Senior Sister, I'm back!"
The woman was Shui Qingmei, the current dean of Skywater Academy, who had been as famous as Mu Xi back in the day.
"Junior Sister, long time no see. You're still as beautiful as ever." Shui Qingmei tucked Mu Xi's long hair, sighing.
Back then, she had wanted a stable life and married early. Junior Sister was lively and restless, even tiring out Teacher a bit.
She had thought Junior Sister would inherit the dean's position and bring glory to Skywater. But not long after, Teacher brought back a man and planned to betroth Junior Sister to him. The man's demeanor suited Mu Xi perfectly, and they quickly married and left.
She could only reluctantly take over as dean.
In the blink of an eye, nearly ten years had passed.
"Of course, I'm the flower of the Northern Territory!" Facing her senior sister's praise, Mu Xi accepted it all, just like Chen Yi did in front of his parents.
Shui Qingmei smiled at Mu Xi, then looked at Chen Yi: "This is you and Chen Zhen's son?"
"Yes, yes."
Mu Xi finally remembered her son behind her. She turned, pulled him over to Qing Yun and Shui Qingmei, and introduced him proudly: "This is my son, Chen Yi, an unparalleled genius!"
"Greetings, Martial Aunt, Grand Martial Aunt!"
Shui Qingmei nodded secretly at Chen Yi's extraordinary demeanor. At their level, appearance was the shallowest thing. Nobles had the best looks, but many were gold on the outside and rotten inside. As for the obvious boast of unparalleled genius, she automatically ignored it, seeing it as just Junior Sister's bias toward her son.
"Not bad!"
Qing Yun's eyes narrowed the moment she saw Chen Yi.
Shui Qingmei, not at that realm, couldn't see it, but to her, this child's aura faintly showed a trend of merging with heaven and earth, not far from the legendary state of unity with nature.
Super Douluo potential!
After scrutinizing Chen Yi for a moment, Qing Yun couldn't help praising: "What a fine child. With time, his future is limitless!"
Mu Xi smiled even brighter at that. Shui Qingmei and Teacher Li nearby began seriously observing Chen Yi, wondering what made him worthy of such high praise from the old dean.
Before the two could observe much longer, Qing Yun smiled at the mother and son: "Alright, since you're back, don't stand outside. Come in and sit!"
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