"Senior, could I ask for your guidance?"
On the arena, Nana had clearly overheard Lin Xiao's comments and clasped her fists toward him.
"No need. The gap in our strength is too wide," Lin Xiao said, shaking his head. "Even if I held back, the difference in our perspectives and combat experience can't be easily bridged. You wouldn't learn much from fighting me."
Lin Xiao glanced around, said no more, and turned to leave.
"Didn't expect you to be so popular with the junior girls," Shangguan Qing remarked from not far behind, having waited for a while. "Who would've thought that the approachable Senior Lin would actually be…"
Lin Xiao glanced at her, and Shangguan Qing immediately stopped, leaving her sentence unfinished.
"Did you bring the items?"
"The pills are with me," Shangguan Qing said, glancing around at the nearby students and keeping her words vague. "But the materials you wanted are gone."
"Hm?"
Seeing Lin Xiao's puzzled look, Shangguan Qing explained further. "Not just the Common Alliance, even the Alto Chamber of Commerce had all their high-quality locust tree cores bought up."
"You know this stuff is mostly used for soul-related purposes, so demand isn't high. There's not much stock on hand, and I really can't get it for you anytime soon."
"Do you know who bought them?" Lin Xiao asked.
Shangguan Qing shook her head. "I was going to ask you. With so much demand, could it be your people?"
Lin Xiao thought for a moment, uncertain. Locust trees, often called ghost trees, were what he needed for storing residual souls. Few soul masters dealt with souls regularly, and most of them were in the Holy Spirit Sect.
He glanced at Shangguan Qing again. "I'm not sure. There haven't been any related tasks in the sect recently. If it was someone from the sect, it's likely their personal need."
Shangguan Qing nodded thoughtfully at his words. "By the way, though I couldn't get the locust tree cores, I brought some metals with similar properties, along with the pills you wanted."
She handed over a storage soul tool, seemingly intending to give it to Lin Xiao as well. For the Common Alliance, who could craft storage soul tools themselves, they weren't particularly valuable.
"What do you want to know?"
Before Shangguan Qing could say more, Lin Xiao added, "Don't try to dodge with those vague tactics. We both know the situation. If it's a trade, just say what you want to know."
"Am I that impatient for results?" Shangguan Qing complained, then continued, "Alright, let's start with why you came to the academy."
"You're here too, aren't you? Do I need to spell out my reasons?" Lin Xiao countered.
"You never know," Shangguan Qing said with a sudden smile. "You're aware of what kind of business the Common Alliance does. I'm here to invest early."
"You probably know that the Common Alliance's current status comes from Sister Wei'er's maneuvering among the nobles. At the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy, there are plenty of future nobles, so I'm here to build connections early."
"What, are you here for the same reason?"
Lin Xiao didn't doubt her explanation. From their previous encounters, he could tell that, despite appearing like any other peer, Shangguan Qing's every move was carefully calculated. Not only would the inexperienced students at the academy take notice, but even nobles might give her a second glance.
"I'm not like you. I originally came to the academy to study soul tools and use my soul engineer identity to mask my true background."
"So, you're saying you're not the only one from the Holy Spirit Sect sent to the academy?" Shangguan Qing quickly picked up on something in his words.
"Correct, but each disciple is sent in separately, and no one knows the others' identities."
"I see," Shangguan Qing nodded. "You said 'originally.' What about now? Do you have other goals?"
"Now…" Lin Xiao looked at her, lowering his voice slightly. "Don't you think this academy still holds plenty of secrets?"
Shangguan Qing's expression shifted. "What do you know?"
Lin Xiao shook his head. "Mysterious Water Pills aren't worth that price."
"What else do you want? I'll find it for you."
"We'll talk next time. I'll come to you when I need something."
"You—" Shangguan Qing watched Lin Xiao turn to leave, a retort stuck in her throat, but she ultimately held it back. Though she lacked Shangguan Wei'er's finesse, she had already gleaned plenty from their brief exchange.
"What's this? Made the girl upset?"
Lin Xiao hadn't gone far when he ran into Lin Jiayi approaching, accompanied by a tall, middle-aged man with a grim expression.
"Teacher, you saw that?" Lin Xiao said.
"Clear as day," Lin Jiayi said, glancing toward Shangguan Qing. "If I'm not mistaken, that girl's come to you more than once, hasn't she? You brushed off her kindness again?"
"You've misunderstood, Teacher," Lin Xiao said helplessly. He hadn't expected that, even in this world, elders would enjoy making such teasing remarks.
"It's fine. Our academy doesn't forbid these things, and anyone who can get in here must have decent talent."
Lin Xiao didn't respond, simply following beside Lin Jiayi.
Seeing this, Lin Jiayi dropped the teasing and turned to the middle-aged man. "So, you've made up your mind?"
"Yes, Dean Lin," the man nodded. "For years, I've felt I could break through to Level 9 soul engineer, but I've always been missing something. So, I've decided to step away from teaching at the academy for a while and go into seclusion to see if I can make that breakthrough."
"Fair enough," Lin Jiayi sighed lightly. "The academy has approved your request. But if you're leaving, do you need any more materials? If you succeed, it'll be good for the academy too. I can authorize some for you."
"No need, Dean. I already have a plan and bought the materials I need in advance, so I won't trouble the academy."
"Alright then. I wish you the best."
"Thank you, Dean."
"Teacher, who was that?" Lin Xiao's gaze flickered as he watched the man walk away.
"Him?" Lin Jiayi glanced back. "He's also a teacher at the academy, but his soul tools aren't designed for combat, so he's never broken through to Level 9 soul engineer despite all these years. I hope he succeeds this time."
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