Isabella stared at Qian Jin in stunned silence for a few seconds, then nodded gently, "I didn't expect your reason for requesting leave to be this. Very well then." "Principal, I request leave too," Duan Feng Buer said to Isabella with a smiling gaze. "My courses haven't been scheduled yet anyway..."

Isabella sighed when she saw Fen Tu Kuang Ge and Cekefulite, who hadn't spoken but clearly harbored the same idea of taking leave. What a peculiar group of young people. They had finally managed to join the War College, yet they wanted leave simply because Qian Jin requested it. If they were Qian Jin's retainers, that would be understandable, but judging by their interactions, they were all equals; there was none of that centuries-old retainer dynamic ingrained in the academy. "Principal..." Isabella’s narrowed eyes suddenly widened, and her heart, which had just calmed, grew instantly tense as she looked at Bi Luo, who was speaking. Whether it was a Nine-Headed Serpent lineage warrior or a descendant of the Fen Tu family, if they wanted leave, fine. But Bi Luo...

Isabella was truly frightened. She had been anticipating the arrival of this genius mage from the very beginning. Now that she had finally arrived, if she left the academy and was poached by some other institution through any means necessary, who would she turn to?

His Majesty, the current Emperor of the Zhence Dynasty? Isabella offered a wry smile. Although the current Emperor was a wise ruler, even His Majesty would find it difficult to intervene in a matter of snatching students; after all, everyone was cultivating talent for the Dynasty.

"Bi Luo..." Isabella quickly stood up and grasped Bi Luo’s hands, her face etched with nervousness. "I am truly delighted that you came to the War College. I also promised that I would agree to any request you made. But you’ve barely arrived and are immediately asking for leave... I truly cannot bear to let you go."

Bi Luo lowered her head slightly, pulling her magical hat, which concealed her stunningly beautiful face, down very, very low. Her silence clearly indicated that she genuinely wished to take leave. Isabella was about to speak another word of persuasion when she suddenly noticed that the gazes of Duan Feng Buer and the others were all focused intently on Qian Jin.

Could it be? A question flashed through Isabella’s mind. Could it be that the one who might persuade Bi Luo not to take leave was this warrior named Qian Jin? Was that possible? The most prodigious Grand Mage in the history of the Zhence Dynasty would actually heed Qian Jin’s advice? Forget it! She had to take a gamble!

"Qian Jin..." Isabella appeared somewhat troubled, her eyes filling with a look of appeal. At this moment, she possessed none of the powerful aura she displayed upon her arrival; instead, she resembled a delicate, appealing, and charming little kitten seeking help. "Help me persuade Bi Luo..."

The same face, yet capable of conveying two completely different temperaments. Qian Jin couldn't help but admire her; this female principal was more bewitching than any demoness of the Demon Race! Under the gaze of such eyes, an ordinary man might willingly commit suicide, and he might even find reasons to do so.

Qian Jin glanced at Bi Luo beside him. Indeed, among their group, no one could offer Bi Luo guidance in magic. The resources they possessed were undoubtedly far inferior to those of the War College. Leaving the academy would not benefit Bi Luo’s future development in the slightest.

"Bi Luo, perhaps you should stay at the academy for a while and see," Qian Jin said softly, trying to persuade her. "If you truly feel it isn't helping you much, you can ask Uncle Mu Gui for assistance later; have him take you with the Ten Flow Warriors to catch up with us."

Bi Luo remained still with her head down for several seconds. Her large black magical hat slowly nodded twice. Isabella felt the great weight on her heart finally lift, and her eyes inadvertently flickered towards Qian Jin.

"Principal, if there’s nothing else..." Qian Jin turned his head toward the direction of the principal's office door. "Then we will take our leave now."

Isabella nodded, resting her chin in her hands as she gazed at Qian Jin’s retreating back, replaying every detail since his confrontation with Mosuokunsa.

"No! His burst of Dou Qi was definitely not merely the Second War of Demon Subduing, otherwise, he couldn't have repelled me in that instant!" Isabella repeatedly tapped the desk with her fingers, creating a dong-dong sound. "And that Dou Technique he used—it seemed capable of slicing the earth itself! My Butterfly Powder Gold Palm is an advanced Dou Technique; even if it truly shifted between reality and illusion, it shouldn't have been shattered so completely and easily... Could that set of Dou Techniques of his be..."

Isabella's eyes gradually narrowed as she looked in the direction where Qian Jin had long disappeared outside the door. "A more advanced Dou Technique? Furthermore! He can influence Bi Luo’s decisions. This young man, though quite high-profile just now, still conceals many secrets. Interesting. It seems I need to study him carefully." Study? Walking on the academy streets, Qian Jin silently pondered the course research Isabella had mentioned. This was his first real encounter with a Higher War College; he wondered what kind of curriculum the academy would arrange. Qian Jin glanced sideways at Cekefulite, the only one still following him and the quietest member of their party. He smiled wryly. This half-demon likely couldn't answer his questions either. Duan Feng Buer might have been able to, but this lineage warrior was already freely investigating the courses of other lineage warriors, clearly wanting to find a curriculum suitable for himself.

Perhaps Fen Tu Kuang Ge could offer some insight too? Qian Jin shook his head with a slight, bitter smile. This was truly the case! The two comrades who had the potential to provide answers were wandering around, needing to find the most suitable schedules and instructors. They would probably only gather at the Flowing Torrent Fortress toward evening before heading to Qian Province together. Qian Province! Qian Jin looked up at the sky. The Zhence Dynasty truly possessed great ambition. One of the states in the realm was named after the Qian family's 'Qian,' showing no concern that the Qian family might harbor any signs of rebellion. The bearing of a king is truly the bearing of a king! "Bring Father back! Bring Father back!" Qian Jin clenched his fists tightly. All these years of study were for the sake of bringing his father back, and that day was finally approaching! His father would no longer have to live in the Qian family, in a position akin to a servant despite being a relative.

And Hai Qingxin... Qian Jin chuckled softly. Late at night, under the moonlight, on a long street. Qian Jin gently rubbed his forehead. Although he had a fiancée, walking down the street shoulder-to-shoulder with a man, only to be completely ignored by other women who only engaged in banter with his companion, was truly a blow to one’s self-esteem.

Even knowing that Cekefulite was devastatingly handsome, encountering this situation in reality... Qian Jin felt an indescribable sense of powerlessness. The book mentioned that red flowers need green leaves for contrast, and sometimes beautiful women choose companions of ordinary appearance to highlight their own beauty. Today, he felt he was faring worse than a green leaf; at least a green leaf exists to set off a red flower, while he was completely overlooked!

Qian Jin felt helpless and powerless, yet he kept a watchful eye on Cekefulite beside him. This half-demon was no benevolent soul. Back in the Demon Territory, he had countered pursuits from the Dark Division; now, on Zhence Dynasty soil, knowing his own dealings were somewhat illicit, he dared to drag the city-guard general of Auckland onto the carriage and slay him.

Perhaps only the Gods knew how Cekefulite would react to women who approached him proactively? What if, in a bad mood, he simply strangled the mage with a raised hand...?

"Cekefulite."

The cold yet elegant voice, combined with Cekefulite’s movements, which exuded a profound sense of gentlemanliness, completely mesmerized the approaching female mage, Vivestine. Even the two female mages beside her seemed frozen, struck by a paralysis spell, staring blankly at Cekefulite.

Qian Jin forced his eyelids open hard and shook his head. Coupled with his handsome features, Cekefulite's every gesture and demeanor were so captivating that it was no wonder women would stare blankly; even men’s eyes tended to fixate on him.

Unbelievable, truly unbelievable! Based on Cekefulite’s cold disposition, Qian Jin had considered various possibilities: violent reactions, perhaps killing someone or pushing them aside, or a purely ruthless response of completely ignoring the female mages’ approaches and continuing forward.

A response—and a polite one at that! Every gesture exuded an air of composed dignity, possessing the bearing of a royal descendant spoken of in bardic tales.

"I have just enrolled today," Cekefulite replied, scanning his surroundings. His cold temperament, fused with his inherent gentlemanliness and handsome face, made him dazzlingly striking despite his lack of any smile. (End)