Chapter 45: What Status?

  Transtor: Krukist

  “Warn Shuitian? Are you mad, or am I?” Someo up, snapping, “I don’t meddle in your mess, but don’t drag it into the Dining Pavilion.”

  “If not for your ’s petty nonsense, would the rest of us six Houses be in this hole? Everyone knows Heavenly Cloud Academy’s the kingdom’s genius cradle—everyone wants a piece. Things were fine before your antics pushed us here, splitting even a measly Dining Pavilion seven ways.”

  The speaker, a rep, glowered. “If we sit quiet, what—let Shuitian’s ckey lord over us?”

  *Crash.* The hall door swung open, sunlight spilling in. Situ g strode forward, nodding to the Situ rep, who returned a smile.

  Sweeping his gaze, Situ g saw seven grim faces—worry etched deep. “I’ve looked into this new Vice Head,” he said slowly, outlining Lin Yu’s roots.

  Jaws dropped. The rep blurted, “You’re saying this Lin Yu isn’t Shuitian’s man?”

  Situ g hen shook his head. “Lin Yu and Shuitian had no prior ties, but digging deeper, his father, Lin Chaodong, ects them.”

  Pausing, he pressed, “ Shuitian wants the Pavilion in his grip—that’s intolerable. But he’s at his peak now. Hard resistas us on the back foot, so…”

  A youth stepped from behind him—proud, arrogant, eyeing the room with impatience. “My sed disciple, He Wu,” Situ g said. “He’ll join the Pavilio him handle Lin Yu. Just lend a hand when needed.”

  The Situ rep nodded—no qualms there. The other six hesitated but agreed. Aeen-year-old like Lin Yu? They’d lose face g directly—best let He Wu, same age, cut him down.

  He Wu scoffed, “A Spirit Chef with no training? One punch, he’s dead.”

  Muscur and t, he loomed like a giant in the light. The room rexed—*this time, it’s in the bag.*

  …

  Lin Yu, oblivious, rode on, unaware a plot simmered back at the Academy. He bantered with Han Ya.

  Her mix-up handed him an out—he’d rolled with it, owning the “Spirit-Dev Physique” bel. Truth was, his seven twisted meridians had doomed him without the puter crossing over too.

  It craved spiritual essence, easy to misread. Better to py along than expin. Smiling, he asked, “At the Academy, I’m her student nor mentor. Think I peek into that famous library?”

  Lin Ling’er had raved about it—tons of teiques and skills. A goldmine for him. “With enough Spirit Stones or essence sources, I’d be unstoppable,” he mused. His puter mimicked the Spirit-Devourer’s hunger—anything with essence fed it.

  Han Ya faltered. The library’s wealth was vast, but opeions held basics—Sed or Third-Grade staff s them. Lin Yu, though? Her keen eye pegged him: a First-Grade newbie now, not the unranked kid from m. Those tomes could still boost him. She got his thirst but couldn’t it—the library was for mentors and students.

  Lin Ling’er’s eyes gleamed. She’d seen Lin Yu “master” the Heavenly Cloud Body F Art in under fifteen minutes—freakish talent. “Master, he , right? He’s Vice Head of the Dining Pavilion—one of the four brahat’s like… a leader, no?”

  The Academy’s four branches: Medical Pavilion, Armory Pavilion, Punishment Pavilion, and soon Lin Yu’s Dining Pavilion. In her mind, Medical and Armory heads strutted at monthly exams, Elders bowing low. Vice Head wasn’t far off—surely he could match them and waltz into the library.

  Han Ya’s head throbbed. True, there were four branches, but Medical, Armory, and Punishment were Academy-run. The Dining Pavilion? A cage trapping Seven House reps—seven deas, not ting the Head, Shuitian’s top disciple. It couldn’t rival the others, yet this Vice Head was Shuitian’s pibsp;

  She puzzled—what’s Lin Yu’s real standing?

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