Rong Taotao let out a long sigh as he walked out of the school clinic. He took a moment to compose himself before pulling out his phone.

He tapped on the screen and sent a message: "Sister-in-law, are you at the Martial Arts Hall?"

A moment later, a reply came from Yang Chunxi: "I’m in my dorm on the third floor. What’s up?"

Rong Taotao: "I need to talk to you about something. In person."

Yang Chunxi: "Come on up."

Since Yang Chunxi was the counselor and academic teacher for the Junior Class’s Soul Class, she had also moved into the Martial Arts Hall a while ago. Her dorm was just on the third floor.

Rong Taotao hurried back, mentally rehearsing what he was going to say. He quickly reached the Martial Arts Hall and arrived at Yang Chunxi’s door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

"Come in." Yang Chunxi’s voice came from behind the door.

Rong Taotao opened the door, only to freeze.

The room had the same layout as Si Huan Nian’s. In the office area directly opposite the door, Yang Chunxi was sitting on a sofa with an old man. Seeing Rong Taotao enter, she smiled and waved him over. "Come, Taotao. Let me introduce you to someone important."

Rong Taotao blinked, his eyes scanning the old man from top to bottom.

The man was gaunt and wizened, with a full head of white hair and a face covered in wrinkles. He looked ancient. His right eye was closed, and from the slight depression of the eyelid, it seemed... he didn’t have a right eye at all.

A long, terrifying scar ran from his right eyebrow down to his cheekbone.

GULP. Rong Taotao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. With such distinct features and appearance, he already knew who this old man was.

’Three Friends of Cold Seasons: Mei Hongyu! Principal Mei!’

The bright smile on Yang Chunxi’s face was a stark contrast to Principal Mei’s solemn, almost lifeless, expression.

Yang Chunxi chuckled. "This is Principal Mei. Greet him. The Principal authorized and arranged everything for the Junior Class. He’s helped and looked after you a lot, in ways you don’t even know."

Rong Taotao stood at attention, his posture proper. "Hello, Principal Mei."

"Hello, Rong Taotao." Mei Hongyu sat on the sofa, both hands resting on a wooden cane. He gave a slight nod. His single remaining eye held a gloomy trace of Death Qi that was chilling to behold.

His voice was exceptionally hoarse, his vocal cords barely producing any sound. Rong Taotao had to lean in and listen carefully just to make out the Principal’s words.

’I wonder... just how many hardships has he endured in his life...’

Every visible scar was perhaps a "medal of honor" earned from decades spent rooted in the lands of the Snow Realm.

"Saving Pine Soul from its crisis deserves some consideration," Principal Mei said, his raspy voice making Rong Taotao cringe.

Yang Chunxi said, "Principal Mei came here personally to see how the Junior Class students are living and studying. He’ll be observing our class this afternoon, so you’d better be on your best behavior."

"Yes, of course," Rong Taotao nodded repeatedly.

"By the way, what did you come to see me for?" Yang Chunxi asked curiously.

"Well..." Rong Taotao faltered. He had wanted to speak with Yang Chunxi privately, but he hadn’t expected to run into the principal on an inspection tour.

Yang Chunxi deftly came to his rescue. "If it’s a problem with your studies or daily life, you can say it directly. If I can’t help you, the Principal can. If it’s a private matter, we can talk later."

The reason Yang Chunxi had asked Rong Taotao to come up was also because Principal Mei had wanted to meet him privately.

At this moment, Rong Taotao wasn’t just Xu Fenghua’s son; he was also the hero who had resolved the crisis at Pine Soul Soul Martial University.

In fact, to all of human Soul Martial Artists, Rong Taotao’s contribution was immense.

This was no joke. Rong Taotao had yet to realize what that Lotus petal inside him truly meant to human Soul Martial Artists, and to Huaxia as a whole.

Rong Taotao hadn’t just obtained the Lotus; the Snow Realm Soul Beasts had also lost a Supreme Treasure.

With one side’s loss being the other’s gain, humanity’s profit was undeniable.

Moreover, in the hands of the Snow Realm Soul Beasts, the Nine-Petaled Lotus wasn’t just a powerful combat tool. More importantly, it was a symbol, an item used to "rally the legions."

Of course, in human hands, the Lotus had no such rallying power. You’d be lucky not to get besieged and slaughtered by Snow Realm Soul Beasts...

Rong Taotao thought for a moment before saying, "It actually is about my studies."

"Oh?" Yang Chunxi raised an eyebrow slightly. "What’s wrong? Are you having trouble cultivating a Soul Skill?"

Rong Taotao pursed his lips, organizing his thoughts. "No, I’ve already learned the Jade Dragon Gift. I... uh, what I mean is, I don’t really fit in with my teammates.

They practice with the spear and sword, while I use the halberd and saber. We can’t really train together.

And because of the Lotus, my Soul Technique level is higher, so the Soul Skills I’m cultivating are different from theirs.

Aside from academic classes, I’m never even with my teammates. I..."

Hearing this, Yang Chunxi found herself in a difficult position.

As a semi-member of the Rong Family, Yang Chunxi was well aware of Rong Taotao’s upbringing.

Yang Chunxi never would have imagined that even in a Junior Class full of geniuses, Rong Taotao would still be the most unique—and even the most outstanding—one. And being unique and outstanding often meant being alone.