Faced with Xue Qinghe's request, a strange glint flashed in Lin Mu's eyes as he quietly analyzed the pros and cons.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy, being a noble academy, was inaccessible to ordinary people. Having the status of a senior instructor would indeed save him a lot of trouble.
Since he had nothing better to do anyway, it wouldn't hurt to hold an honorary position.
Of course, there were downsides. Once he agreed to Xue Qinghe's request, he would inevitably be labeled as part of the Crown Prince's faction.
It would be equivalent to him standing on the side of the Heaven Dou Empire.
However, Lin Mu was well aware that this "Xue Qinghe" was not the real Xue Qinghe, but Qian Renxue in disguise.
Precisely because of this, even if he sided with the Heaven Dou Empire, he didn't need to worry about the Spirit Hall secretly causing trouble.
Once Lin Mu made up his mind, he immediately cupped his hands towards Xue Qinghe and said, "I am honored that Your Highness holds me in such high regard. In that case, I shall not decline the offer. However, I have always been unrestrained and dislike the rigid rules and regulations within an academy."
"That is a minor issue. For someone as exceptionally talented as yourself to be willing to serve as a teacher at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is already a great honor. Qinghe will naturally arrange these trivial matters properly."
Xue Qinghe smiled slightly, a trace of barely detectable delight flashing deep in his eyes.
He never expected it to go so smoothly. But this was far from enough. A man more outstanding than herself must be firmly grasped in her hands.
"For you to agree to this is truly fortunate for Heaven Dou. To be frank, Qinghe felt an immediate sense of closeness upon meeting you today. We are of similar age. How about we address each other as brothers?"
Xue Qinghe looked at Lin Mu with an earnest expression, his tone even carrying a sense of speaking from the heart.
Seeing this, Lin Mu frowned slightly. Even if this woman wanted to win him over, there was no need to be this hasty.
"I thank Your Highness for your favor. However, I am but a commoner. I truly dare not presume to address Your Highness as a brother."
Lin Mu cupped his hands, politely declining.
Hearing this answer, Xue Qinghe was completely unfazed. He smiled and said, "With Brother Lin's natural talent, I believe His Majesty would be willing to bestow a noble title. Then it wouldn't be a problem."
Hearing this, Lin Mu's gaze sharpened. This woman appeared amiable on the surface, but was actually overbearing to the core, leaving no room for refusal.
"I thank Your Highness again for your kindness. I am a person most timid and afraid of trouble. Let's spare me such troublesome matters."
Lin Mu waved his hand, refusing once more.
Regarding promotion to nobility, Lin Mu felt not the slightest interest. After all, a title as insignificant as a sesame seed was useless; it would only mean being looked down upon by others for no reason.
Being rejected repeatedly, a flash of coldness flickered deep in Xue Qinghe's eyes. On the surface, however, his smile remained unchanged as he said gently:
"It's fine. People have their own aspirations. When Brother Lin thinks it over, it won't be too late to obtain a title later."
Even though Lin Mu hadn't agreed, Xue Qinghe still did not change his form of address.
As for this, Lin Mu was indifferent now. Calling a woman 'brother' wasn't a big problem anyway; it wasn't him who would lose out.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, it's getting late. I shall take my leave first."
Lin Mu rose to bid farewell. Rather than exchanging hollow pleasantries with Xue Qinghe here, it was better to return and cultivate.
"Brother Lin, let me see you out."
"No need. I know the way."
Lin Mu bluntly refused once more.
Being rejected again, Xue Qinghe's smile stiffened.
A rare trace of annoyance flashed in his eyes. Does this guy not understand etiquette and politeness at all?
Watching Lin Mu's departing back, the smile on Xue Qinghe's face gradually faded. Curiosity and a touch of coldness flickered in his eyes.
Initially, he hadn't believed what Tang Yuehua said. How could there possibly be a Soul Sage in his early twenties in this world?
Now the facts were right before his eyes. This guy's talent was indeed above his own.
The only thing that troubled him was that this guy seemed to have no interest in power or status.
On the surface, he maintained respect, but in reality, it gave him a feeling of being given the cold shoulder.
Apart from agreeing to be a senior instructor, he hadn't agreed to a single other request.
However, the more it was like this, the more it stirred his competitive spirit.
As long as he was human, he surely had needs. Since a noble title didn't work, next time he could try sending a beautiful woman.
Under Xue Qinghe's arrangements, the matter of Tang San and Xiao Wu's enrollment was basically settled. They only needed to undergo the final soul power test.
Early that morning, Lin Mu took Tang San and Xiao Wu to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
As soon as the three arrived at the school gate, a middle-aged teacher proactively came forward to greet them.
Clearly, Xue Qinghe had made special arrangements.
The middle-aged teacher led the three to a classroom, then took out a testing crystal, saying:
"This is a level 40 testing crystal. Please test your levels separately, and then you can register for enrollment."
"I'll go first!"
Xiao Wu stepped forward eagerly, placing her hand on the testing crystal ball. Then she infused soul power, and the crystal ball instantly lit up with a dazzling glow.
"Level 31!"
Sun Buyu's eyes were filled with astonishment. A Soul Elder at age twelve, even within the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, no one had achieved that.
No wonder the Crown Prince attached such importance. They were indeed exceedingly rare geniuses.
Taking a deep breath, Sun Buyu barely suppressed the shock in his heart.
He took out paper and pen to record: "Xiao Wu, age twelve, martial soul: Soft Boned Rabbit, level 31, Power Attack System Battle Soul Elder."
After the test was completed, Xiao Wu bounced back to Tang San's side, a hint of pride on her face.
Seeing this, a strange glint flashed in Lin Mu's eyes.
If Xiao Wu hadn't been so playful and carefree, her cultivation would absolutely not be limited to level 31.
As for the third soul ring, she had secretly condensed it before leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, using the excuse of encountering a heavily injured thousand-year Soft Boned Rabbit.
Regarding this, Lin Mu turned a blind eye.
Next, it was Tang San's turn. He took a step forward, calmly placing his hand on the crystal ball.
The next moment, the testing crystal burst forth with a dazzling light, even more intense than when Xiao Wu tested.
"Level 34?"
Sun Buyu's pupils trembled violently. His brain simply short-circuited.
Cultivating to level 31 by age twelve was still within the acceptable range, but level 34 completely exceeded comprehension.
From martial soul awakening until now, it had only been six years of cultivation.
That was equivalent to increasing four soul power levels per year, completely overturning conventional understanding.
"Wait, his martial soul seems to be... Blue Silver Grass?"
Sun Buyu glanced at the registered information.
After double-checking it was indeed the Blue Silver Grass martial soul, he was utterly bewildered.
Wasn't Blue Silver Grass universally acknowledged as a trash martial soul?
But this Tang San was clearly a monster. Even those geniuses with top-tier martial souls couldn't compare.
In reality, most soul masters had fallen into a misconception: they believed the strength of a martial soul represented the level of talent.
Actually, innate soul power determined the level of talent. The martial soul could only represent the level of strength.
However, because the martial soul to some extent influenced innate soul power, it led the world to believe that the stronger the martial soul, the greater the talent, and the weaker the martial soul, the lesser the talent.