This was clearly an extremely socially anxious and shy girl, so nervous she didn't even know how to speak anymore.
"I... I'll be going first," Ye Lingling whispered, seemingly unable to withstand the silent atmosphere, and prepared to walk around them to leave.
"Ah, okay, go ahead and get to your business," Dugu Yan hurriedly said.
Ye Lingling kept her head down, quickened her pace, and walked past Li Yifei.
In Li Yifei's perception, that beautiful girl named Ye Lingling had a racing heart, and every step she took was cautious.
It wasn't until she turned the corner and completely disappeared from his sight that her tense body slightly relaxed.
Social anxiety masquerading as coldness.
Interesting.
"She... she just has that kind of personality, don't mind her," Dugu Yan explained with some embarrassment.
Li Yifei remained noncommittal.
"Let's go, to the library."
"Oh, okay!"
Dugu Yan quickly pulled her thoughts back and led Li Yifei through several tree-lined paths. Soon, a magnificent domed building appeared before them.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy Library.
This place could be called one of the temples of knowledge for the entire Heaven Dou Empire, and even the entire continent.
With that highest-level authorization library card, the two entered the library's interior without any obstacles.
Towering bookshelves reached straight to the ceiling, the air was filled with a mix of old paper and ink, and it was so quiet that one could only hear their own breathing.
Li Yifei's arrival didn't cause any stir.
He casually found a quiet corner by the window and sat down, waving his hand at Dugu Yan beside him.
"Alright, you go ahead and get busy, I'll be staying here for a while."
"Ah? Yi Fei Brother, should I stay with you?" Dugu Yan said subconsciously.
"No need, go do your thing. What you need most right now is to adapt to your evolved Spirit."
Li Yifei's refusal was very direct.
Dugu Yan felt a bit lost, but still nodded obediently: "Then... okay, Yi Fei Brother, if you need anything, come find me at the Heaven Dou Team anytime."
After saying that, she left, looking back every few steps.
The entire reading area returned to silence once more.
Li Yifei leaned against the back of the chair and slowly closed his eyes.
He didn't flip through any books, but simply raised his wrist.
On that black watch, the screen lit up silently, emitting an invisible fan-shaped beam of light that noiselessly swept across the thousands of bookshelves around him.
High Intelligence began to work, ignoring physical barriers, transforming the text and images of every ancient book into a data stream that poured into the watch's database like a bursting flood.
Scanning, organizing, categorizing, eliminating errors, building models.
And finally, a simulation trial run to deduce and confirm the probability of feasibility.
This was a massive project that required some time to process.
In the intervals of waiting for the data processing, Li Yifei familiarized himself with the abilities of his two Spirits.
Meanwhile, he split off a thread of his mind and sank into the Chat Group in his head.
Glancing at the group chat's upgrade progress bar, it had already reached seventy-five percent; it was estimated that the upgrade would be completed within today.
The group was still lively.
Not knowing who started it, the topic turned to him.
[A Little Wild Goose: Yi Fei Brother has already started seclusion to read books; he said he'll be reading for a long time.]
[Worlds Number One Princess: Reading? Does Yi Fei Brother still need to read books? I thought he knew everything!]
[Bunny is So Cute: Yi Fei Brother needs to learn too.]
[Little Ice Cube: Where is Yi Fei Brother reading? Our Heaven Water Academy's library collection is also very rich. When will Yi Fei Brother come to our Heaven Water City to take a look?]
Shui Binger's invitation carried a bit of a young girl's shyness and expectation.
Before Li Yifei could reply, another avatar popped up.
[Is Jade Not Jade: Our Blue Tyrant Academy is right in Heaven Dou City. After the little brother finishes reading the collection at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he can stop by our Blue Tyrant Academy.]
Liu Erlong's words seemed much more direct.
[Worlds Number One Princess: Finish reading? A normal person couldn't finish reading the collection at Heaven Dou Royal Academy in a lifetime, right?]
Ning Rongrong's sharp retort.
[Is Jade Not Jade: Even if one can't finish in a lifetime, can't one change locations to change the mood?]
Liu Erlong's thought carried a hint of indifference.
[Is Jade Not Jade: Although our Blue Tyrant Academy can't compare to the Royal Academy, we also have some very interesting rare copies, and... as the Dean, I welcome little brother Yi Fei to come for a deep exchange anytime.]
These suggestive words made the atmosphere in the group instantly become somewhat subtle.
Ning Rongrong was the first to react, her shocked thoughts exploding directly in the group.
[Worlds Number One Princess: No way, Aunty! You don't want your Master anymore?]
[Worlds Number One Princess: In broad daylight, you actually want to make a move on my Yi Fei Brother?]
[Worlds Number One Princess: Don't fight us for Yi Fei Brother! Go find your Master quickly!]
One stone stirred a thousand waves.
[Little Fox Demon: Exactly! Aunty, you can't do this!]
[A Little Wild Goose: Go find your Master!]
[Little Ice Cube: Go find your Master.]
[Bunny is So Cute: Go find your... Grandmaster.]
The group was indignant, their formation uniform.
Li Yifei looked at the messages in the group, and with a thought, he replied.
[Li Yifei: Thank you for your kindness. After I finish the matters at hand, I will visit Blue Tyrant Academy.]
His reply was polite but distant, skillfully avoiding the suggestion of a "deep exchange."
This gave Liu Erlong a soft rebuff, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
...
At the same time, Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.
Inside a luxurious study, a figure sat quietly in the main seat.
He wore the light-gold casual robes of the Crown Prince, with a slender build. His appearance was not particularly outstanding, but his temperament was gentle, making people feel very favorable toward him.
With neat short golden hair and a smile that was always just right on his face, he was extremely approachable.
It was precisely the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.
At this moment, Xue Qinghe's consciousness was similarly immersed in that turbulent Chat Group.
Her attention was locked onto only a few key words.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Library, Li Yifei.
He was right there.
An uncontrollable impulse rose from the bottom of her heart.
Go see him!
Go confirm what kind of existence this man was—the one who had stirred her fate and given her a glimmer of hope!
Once this thought appeared, it could no longer be suppressed.
Xue Qinghe slowly stood up.
In that instant, the gentle and refined aura belonging to the Crown Prince quietly faded from her body, replaced by an unquestionable majesty originating from the depths of her Bloodline.
She walked to the study door and instructed the guards outside in a voice devoid of any emotion.
"Prepare the carriage. I am going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy."