Ning Rongrong's delicate face bloomed into a radiant smile as she said replied:
"Dean, don't worry. As long as I speak up, Ye Tian will definitely agree."
Her confident tone stemmed from absolute faith in her own beauty.
After all, the first time Ye Tian saw her, he had been struck dumb.
Ning Rongrong believed that with just a word from her, Ye Tian would surely comply.
She reached up to smooth her flowing hair, then stepped gracefully before Ye Tian.
Though inwardly reluctant, her face was all smiles, her voice dripping with sweetness:
"Ye Tian, for my sake, let's forget about the money, alright?"
The moment these words left her lips, Ye Tian nearly laughed aloud.
He couldn't fathom where Ning Rongrong found such audacity.
How dare she say such a thing?
For your sake? Was her face worth a million gold spirit coins?
But Ye Tian kept these thoughts to himself.
As the saying goes, one shouldn't strike a smiling face.
With Ning Rongrong all sweetness now, outright rebuking her would only make him seem rude.
"My pills are worth this price."
"Miss Rongrong, if you wish to care for your junior at Shrek Academy, why not pay the fee yourself?"
"Surely the wealthy Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can spare a mere million gold coins."
Ye Tian's tone was light, as if discussing something trivial.
Yet Ning Rongrong's face turned ashen.
Her hands trembled almost imperceptibly.
Ye Tian had actually refused her?!
Ning Rongrong refused to believe Ye Tian possessed any pill worth a million gold coins!
To her, this was pure bragging!
Even for the affluent Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a million gold coins would be a painful sacrifice.
While she pitied the injured junior, she couldn't possibly pay such an exorbitant sum.
As a member of her clan, the collective interests must come first.
Seeing the anger flashing in Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes, Xiao Wu's rabbit ears twitched in alarm. She knew Rongrong was furious.
Quickly stepping between them, Xiao Wu took Ning Rongrong's hand to defuse the tension:
"Don't be angry, Rongrong. Ye Tian isn't lying—his pills truly are worth that much."
"Not long ago, I took one of his pills and reached level 74."
To convince her, Xiao Wu used herself as proof.
"What?! You're already a Spirit Sage?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in disbelief.
Among the Shrek Seven Devils, Xiao Wu had always been the least talented.
Even Ning Rongrong, backed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources, hadn't broken through to Spirit Sage yet.
Yet Xiao Wu had reached level 74?!
This was utterly astonishing!
In the Spirit master world, becoming a Spirit Sage was a monumental threshold.
Some Spirit masters spent their entire lives stuck at Spirit Emperor, never crossing that divide.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had many such examples.
Precisely because she knew how difficult this breakthrough was—ten times harder than advancing to Spirit Emperor—Ning Rongrong was stunned.
Her gaze turned fervent as she stared at Ye Tian: "What kind of pill was that? Do you have any more?"
In that moment, the injured junior was completely forgotten.
Ning Rongrong's entire focus was on obtaining Ye Tian's miraculous pills.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had an open secret—their direct descendants could never become Titled Douluos.
Yet Ning Rongrong was the clan's rare genius, reaching Spirit Emperor before twenty.
If she could become a Spirit Sage by twenty-five, she'd have enough time to tackle their martial Spirit's limitations.
Success could elevate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to the continent's foremost faction.
This temptation was too great for Ning Rongrong and her clan to ignore.
She couldn't let this chance slip away.
This wasn't just for herself—it was for her clan's future for centuries to come!
"No." Ye Tian's reply was blunt, his tone edged with impatience.
He didn't need the money, nor was he interested in dealing with Ning Rongrong.
Weak and exhausted, all he wanted was to rest and prepare for the surgery in three days.
When Ye Tian dismissed her so directly, Ning Rongrong froze.
He'd refused her again.
His curt response bordered on disdain.
Even if he didn't have that legendary pill anymore, surely he had lesser variants.
Yet Ye Tian said nothing, simply turning to leave.
Ning Rongrong instinctively touched her face—had she forgotten to dress up today?
Was that why Ye Tian found her unappealing?
For the first time, she felt utterly lost.
Watching this unfold, Xiao Wu paled as Ye Tian walked away.
She realized her mistake—she never should have mentioned Ye Tian gifting her the pill.
She understood the principle that treasure invites trouble.
At least dozens of students had heard her words.
Behind those students lay dozens of powerful families.
Among so many factions, greed was inevitable.
And Ye Tian wasn't even a Spirit master.
Her thoughtless words had placed him in grave danger.
One misstep could spell disaster!
"Ye Tian, wait for me!"
Ignoring the crowd's stares, Xiao Wu ran after Ye Tian, supporting his shoulder with an apologetic look:
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned the pills."
"It's fine."
Ye Tian shook his head with a faint smile.
He wouldn't be staying at Shrek Academy long anyway.
Once he found Qian Renxue, his safety would be guaranteed.
Behind them, Ning Rongrong watched Xiao Wu supporting Ye Tian, her expression complex.
Now she understood why Xiao Wu and Ye Tian were together.
With his alchemical skills, Ye Tian was truly worthy of Xiao Wu.
At this realization, Ning Rongrong's aversion toward Ye Tian faded.
Her previous dislike stemmed from believing Ye Tian would hinder Xiao Wu's future.
"...This will be hard on Tang San."
Ning Rongrong murmured to herself.
Then her eyes gleamed with determination.
Tang San was her dear friend after all.
For his sake, she would personally intervene to separate Xiao Wu and Ye Tian!
She acknowledged Ye Tian's talents.
But that didn't excuse him meddling in Tang San and Xiao Wu's relationship!
"Are you saying without this Ye Tian, Shrek Academy can't heal its own students?!"
Flender fumed as Ye Tian departed.
Scanning the crowd, he declared: "All of you—spread the word! Anyone who can heal Xue Lanlan will receive a reward of... two hundred thousand gold spirit coins!"
He'd initially planned to say one hundred thousand, but after Ye Tian's demand, that seemed paltry.
So he doubled it.
For a single treatment, this was an astronomical sum.
Two hundred thousand gold coins could sustain a family for generations.
Even in pricey Heaven Dou City, it could buy two grand manors.
"Dean, are you serious?"
"That's two hundred thousand—not small change!"
"I wish I knew medicine!"
The auditorium buzzed with chatter after Flender's announcement.
"Hmph! My word is my bond!"
Flender raised his voice: "And three thousand gold coins extra for whoever finds the healer!"
"Reward for finding one too?"
"Dean is amazing!"
This sent the students into a frenzy as they rushed out to spread the word.
Beside Flender, Xue Lanlan's guard gripped his sword and sneered:
"Watch over my lady. I'll report this to Prince Xue Xing—let him decide!"
"Do as you please!" Flender turned away angrily, his pride wounded.
He knew Shrek Academy was in for troubled times.
...
Meanwhile, in Spirit City.
At the Angel Cathedral.
Bibi Dong, resplendent in ceremonial robes and wielding her scepter, ascended the steps to her throne.
Her skin seemed even more luminous than before, her exquisite features appearing almost youthful—like a girl barely past adulthood.
Below the dais, officials from the Pope's Hall and Elder Hall knelt in unison.
"We congratulate Your Holiness on concluding your seclusion!"
Bibi Dong raised a jade-like hand. "Rise."
Her eyes urgently scanned the crowd.
Frowning, she asked: "Where is Ye Tian?"
"He's not here." Hu Liena answered worriedly: "Teacher, wasn't Ye Tian accompanying you in seclusion?"
"I haven't seen him for half a month."
"What?!" Bibi Dong's normally serene face showed rare alarm.
She shot to her feet: "By my order, find Xiao Ye Tian immediately! He must not come to harm!"
"Teacher, please reconsider!"
Hu Liena hurried forward: "My husband isn't a Spirit master. A public search would only expose him to enemies!"
"We must plan carefully!"
Bibi Dong's gaze swept over Hu Liena before she slowly reseated herself.
The news of Ye Tian's disappearance had shaken her profoundly.
To her, even the Pope Palace throne paled in importance compared to Ye Tian.
Blinded by concern, she'd nearly made a grave mistake.
Forcing her voice back to its usual cool detachment, Bibi Dong addressed the hall:
"Xiao Tian is vital to Spirit Hall, hence my urgency."
She waved dismissively: "You needn't involve yourselves in the search. Dismissed."
The officials exchanged puzzled glances.
They'd expected major announcements after Bibi Dong's seclusion.
Instead, Ye Tian's disappearance seemed to overshadow everything.
Yet none dared comment—crossing the absolute authority of the Pope was unthinkable.
As the officials withdrew, soon only core members of the Pope's Hall remained.
Along with Sea Witch and others.
"Pope Bibi Dong, even you don't know Ye Tian's whereabouts?" Sea Witch couldn't help asking.
Having spent much time with Ye Tian, she'd come to see him as a dear friend.
Moreover, protecting Ye Tian was a direct order from Bo Saixi.
If anything happened to him, the consequences would be dire.
Compared to Sea Witch's tact, Zhou Long was more direct.
Stepping forward, he bowed slightly but fixed Bibi Dong with a hard stare:
"Pope Bibi Dong, let me remind you—Young Master Ye Tian is the sole master of the Heavenly Strategy Army."
"Should any harm befall him, I cannot guarantee the army won't... react unpredictably."
"Hmph! No need for the Heavenly Strategy Army. If anything happens to my brother, you're dead, old woman!"
Gu Yuena's soft but icy threat carried even sharper undertones than Zhou Long's.
Bibi Dong's gaze rested briefly on Gu Yuena before replying evenly:
"My heart aches more than yours at Ye Tian's disappearance."
Her composure cracked as she sighed:
"Xiao Tian may have disappeared because of me."
She then explained about the secret chamber and underground river.
"Spirit Hall cannot openly search for him."
"Only the three most loyal knight orders can be trusted with this."
Bibi Dong's eyes were distant with worry.
"My spiritual power is strong—I'll join the search." Sea Witch volunteered.
"So will I."
Gu Yuena's eyes were red-rimmed—without Ye Tian, she couldn't imagine continuing alone.
"I'll lead the Polaris Squad to search the river's end."
Zhou Long clenched his fists, eager to depart.
Before leaving, he shot Bibi Dong a final cold look.
He'd long warned Ye Tian to beware Bibi Dong and Spirit Hall.
But Ye Tian, accustomed to smooth sailing, had been too self-assured to listen.
Now Zhou Long could only pray for Ye Tian's safe return.
If Ye Tian came back unharmed, this would serve as a valuable lesson.
If not... the Army would make Spirit Hall rue the day.
...
Far away in Heaven Dou City, Ye Tian remained oblivious to the turmoil his disappearance had caused.
With Xiao Wu's escort, he returned to his temporary cottage.
"Sorry for revealing your secret."
Xiao Wu's rabbit ears drooped guiltily as she twisted her fingers together.
"I told you, it's fine." Ye Tian smiled faintly. "If you really want to make it up to me, find me some food. I'm starving."
Xiao Wu's expression brightened at his request.
Ye Tian truly didn't hold her slip against her.
Grinning, she quipped:
"Alright! I'll cook whatever you want! Except spicy rabbit heads or milk!"
(End of Chapter)