Chapter 450: You're Not Fit to Be a Mentor
Little Uncle's answer was within Saint Yulin's expectations.
She knew Little Uncle wouldn't be interested in the Academy ranking tournament.
"Little Uncle, I'm done chatting, I have to go cultivate!"
After finishing a piece of dried fish, Saint Yulin stood up contentedly.
She gracefully straightened her clothes,
then turned and strolled leisurely toward the island's interior.
Li Meng turned and glanced at the towering ancient tree inside the island.
The Ice Spirit Cave was located at the base of that tree.
The giant tree was called the Giant Spirit Tree.
It was a spirit tree aligned with ice attributes.
The Giant Spirit Tree produced a seed called the "Giant Spirit Fruit."
Giant Spirit Fruits were the main ingredient for making "Holy Spirit Pills."
Holy Spirit Pills increased a user's spiritual power according to their own rank.
The higher the rank, the greater the increase in spiritual power.
If a Ninth Rank powerhouse took a Holy Spirit Pill, they'd gain at least 50,000 spiritual power.
Since Holy Spirit Pills were only effective on first consumption,
most professionals chose to take them upon advancing to Eighth or Ninth Rank.
As top-grade spiritual medicine, Holy Spirit Pills were extremely expensive.
Each one was worth a seven-figure sum in Alliance currency.
Thus, the Giant Spirit Fruit became Dumb Lake Academy's most important financial resource.
As an ice mage, Saint Yulin naturally found the Ice Spirit Cave to be the most suitable place for cultivation.
"Little Junior Brother, isn't my disciple beautiful?"
Just as Saint Yulin's figure disappeared into the forest path,
another figure slowly descended from the sky.
That graceful body spun a few times in midair
before landing beside Li Meng.
Ruoshui sat down on the small stool with a smile.
Li Meng turned his head to look at his Senior Sister.
He scanned her up and down.
"You're injured?"
Although Senior Sister had no visible wounds,
her weakened aura made it clear she was suffering from internal injuries.
In this world, healing magic existed.
Even the most serious external injuries could recover in a short time.
But internal injuries weren't something healing magic could fix.
Ruoshui smiled lightly and shook her head.
"It's nothing serious. I had a fight deep in the demon territory and got a little hurt."
Li Meng understood why Senior Sister went to the demon territory.
It was surely related to the Academy's merit missions.
Dumb Lake Academy had no demon hunting group of its own.
As the Principal, Senior Sister had to personally take action.
Li Meng turned his head back toward the floating bobber on the water.
"If you take injuries like this a few more times, your life will be stuck at Ninth Rank, Fifth Grade."
Ruoshui's eyes flashed with surprise.
How did Little Junior Brother know she was a Ninth Rank, Fifth Grade professional?
She had only broken through two years ago.
Very few people knew this.
Ruoshui wrapped an arm around Little Junior Brother's shoulder.
She leaned in mysteriously to Li Meng's ear.
"Little Junior Brother, be honest, you're not a shapeshifted magical beast, are you?"
Ruoshui had long suspected Little Junior Brother's background.
If he were merely a Second Rank Summoner,
he couldn't possibly have survived at the center lake of the magical beast forest.
Li Meng glanced at Senior Sister out of the corner of his eye.
"What, a shapeshifted beast could fool a Ninth Rank powerhouse?"
Ruoshui awkwardly withdrew her hand.
True enough, no matter how powerful a shapeshifted beast was,
they couldn't fool a Ninth Rank powerhouse.
Even a million-year beast, after transforming, had to start cultivation anew.
Even in human form, they couldn't conceal their roots.
She had always been bothered by how Little Junior Brother appeared alone in the center lake of the magical beast forest.
A mere Second Rank Summoner shouldn't have been able to survive there.
"Little Junior Brother, you're not some scion of a major family, are you? If you are, you have to tell me. I don't want to be accused of kidnapping you. If your family comes after me, I won't be able to explain myself."
That possibility definitely existed.
Maybe Little Junior Brother was being guarded by some Ninth Rank, Fifth Grade powerhouse.
Otherwise, he couldn't possibly survive alone in the center lake.
But thinking carefully, that seemed unlikely too.
Even Ninth Rank, Ninth Grade powerhouses dared not tread lightly into the center lake.
"I have no family, and I'm not a scion of any major family."
Ruoshui wasn't a fool.
It was normal for her to be puzzled about his identity.
Given the circumstances where she found him, suspicion was unavoidable.
But he couldn't possibly tell her the truth about his origins.
"Senior Sister, if my identity bothers you, then I can't be your Little Junior Brother anymore."
If Senior Sister kept probing into his background,
Li Meng would simply leave,
vanishing completely from her life.
Both Senior Sister and Saint Yulin would eventually forget about him.
Looking at the Little Junior Brother beside her, Ruoshui hesitated.
At that moment, Ruoshui had a strong premonition.
If she kept prying into Little Junior Brother's identity,
something very bad would happen.
"Phew!"
Ruoshui took a deep breath.
She laughed heartily and slapped Li Meng's shoulder.
"Alright, alright, alright! Since you call me Senior Sister, I won't ask anymore. Never again!"
Why overthink it?
No matter who Little Junior Brother really was,
he was her Little Junior Brother, handpicked for the teacher.
"Little Junior Brother, that little brat Yulin didn't bully you, did she?"
Although Little Junior Brother held a high seniority,
his age was still young.
Facing an older girl like Yulin, he might suffer losses.
Li Meng pulled out a piece of dried fish and started eating.
"No."
"Give me one, give me one!"
The fragrant smell made Ruoshui crave it.
She shamelessly reached out to ask.
Li Meng placed a piece of dried fish in her hand.
Ruoshui bit off the fish head
and chewed it with delight.
The two of them sat side by side on the dock, munching on dried fish.
The shimmering lake reflected the blue sky.
The breeze gently stirred Ruoshui's hair on her forehead.
"Let me take charge of training the new Inner Academy Seven!"
Ruoshui turned to Little Junior Brother in shock.
"Little Junior Brother, are you sure?"
Little Junior Brother was still young.
Those arrogant little brats probably wouldn't accept him.
But Li Meng's next words nearly made Ruoshui faint from anger.
"Senior Sister, you're not fit to be a mentor."
Of course, Ruoshui understood what Little Junior Brother meant.
Ever since she became Principal of Dumb Lake Academy,
the Academy hadn't established a new demon hunting group in thirty years.
And every batch of Seven had been under her training.
Blaming her wasn't wrong.
Ruoshui looked at Little Junior Brother with a face full of grievance.
Even if it was her fault,
some things were better left unsaid.
If it were anyone else, they'd be frozen into a popsicle by now.
But Little Junior Brother was still a kid.
What could she do?