Xu Jiujiu moved with graceful steps, walking up to Xu Yun. She extended a slender, jade-like finger and precisely pinched Xu Yun's delicate ear, applying slight pressure.
"Ouch, ow, ow! Aunt, spare me!"
Xu Yun immediately let out an exaggerated wail, standing on her tiptoes to try and alleviate the pain, her small Face crumpled like a steamed bun.
"Aunt, easy! Give... give me some Face, my little brothers are all watching."
"Face?"
Xu Jiujiu was so angered by her words that she laughed, but the force in her hand did not diminish.
"You still know how to ask for Face? Look at you, you don't look like an Empire princess at all! Instead of focusing on Cultivating the Profound Truth of the Star Crown Spirit, all you know is wielding weapons, forming gangs, and leading a bunch of brats to dominate the Academy. Dignified? Elegant? I see you haven't learned a single bit of it. My Imperial Brother truly spoiled you rotten."
The more she spoke, the more her head ached. Seeing the stubbornness in Xu Yun's eyes—despite the pain, she still refused to yield—only made Xu Jiujiu angrier.
Seeing that her aunt seemed genuinely upset, unlike her usual simple lectures, Xu Yun felt a little scared. She quickly shot frantic glances at Caelus, who was watching nearby, her small eyes screaming, "Help me! Say something for me."
Caelus looked at Xu Yun's pitiful yet playful appearance and shook his head helplessly.
He knew that if Xu Yun was truly disciplined severely today, the girl would definitely find ways to harass him later. For the sake of future peace, he had to play the role of the good guy.
He lightly coughed, stepped forward, and said:
"Elder Sister Jiu Jiu, let it go. Xiao Yun is still young; it's normal for her to be lively and active. Besides, her talent is not bad, and she has her own opinions. In the future, she might forge a path that belongs to her."
Hearing Caelus speak up for her, Xu Yun immediately shot him a look that said, "That's the spirit."
Xu Jiujiu glanced at Caelus, then looked at her niece, who was watching her expectantly. The anger in her heart had actually subsided by more than half.
She was never truly angry; she was just disappointed that her niece wasn't living up to her potential.
As her aunt, she knew Xu Yun's personality better than anyone.
She released her grip on Xu Yun's ear and glared at her exasperatedly:
"This time, I'll spare you for Caelus's Face. If there's a next time, I'll lock you up for a month of confinement."
"Thank you, Aunt! You're the best."
Feeling as if she had received a great pardon, Xu Yun quickly rubbed her reddened ear and sidled up to her aunt with a cheeky smile.
Xu Jiujiu ignored her attempts to curry favor. Her expression turned serious as she scanned Xu Yun, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, and even Dai Luoli, instructing them in a deep voice:
"Listen up, all of you. Star Luo City hasn't been peaceful lately. After school, you must honestly stay within the Academy grounds. You are not allowed to leave without an accompanying teacher, and definitely do not go to remote or deserted places. Do you understand?"
"Not peaceful?"
Xu Yun blinked curiously.
"Aunt, did some Evil Soul Master sneak in?"
Lan Susu and the others also showed confused expressions.
Xu Jiujiu did not explain in detail, only stating gravely: "Don't ask so many questions. Just remember what I said. Some matters are not for you to inquire about right now."
Caelus, standing nearby, understood instantly.
He could sense that, not long ago, a unique Death Qi belonging to a Nirvana Corpse had flashed briefly within Star Luo City, though it quickly concealed itself.
Clearly, a Nirvana Corpse had revived in the city, failed to completely control its desire for Life Qi, and attacked a living person, thus exposing its tracks.
Over the past two years, Caelus could vaguely feel that the "myriad karma true blood" had been activated several more times.
Although the bizarre incidents concerning "the dead reviving and attacking the living" were extremely rare and mostly treated as special Evil Soul Master cases, their nature—violating the natural order of life and death—eventually alerted and prompted investigations from several top powers.
After all, not every revived Nirvana Corpse possessed the formidable strength and quickly restored sanity of someone like Spirit Kite Douluo.
Many weaker Nirvana Corpse often couldn't resist their instincts, causing greater disturbances, and it was not uncommon for them to be suppressed or eliminated by powerful Soul Master passing by.
It was only because their numbers were still few that they had not yet formed a wave sweeping across the continent.
But for a top power like the Star Luo Empire, any unknown factor that could potentially overturn the current order had to be viewed with extreme caution.
Their greatest fear was the revival of powerful Titled Douluo-level beings, similar to Spirit Kite Douluo, who possessed great strength in life.
That would introduce enormous, unpredictable variables to the balance of power on the continent.
Seeing that her aunt refused to elaborate, Xu Yun, although curious, understood the seriousness of the matter and obediently replied:
"We understand, Aunt. We will be careful from now on."
After safely dropping off Caelus and the few crestfallen youngsters at the Academy entrance, Xu Jiujiu departed in her carriage.
In truth, her visit to Caelus today wasn't driven by any urgent matter that absolutely needed to be discussed; rather, it was because she happened to have a rare period of free time.
Ever since she decided to invest heavily in Caelus two years ago, Xu Jiujiu knew that maintaining a relationship, especially one intended to be solid and reliable, could not rely solely on providing resources and exchanging benefits.
Relationships needed to be maintained with effort.
She greatly valued the potential Caelus displayed, along with his maturity and wisdom that belied his age. This importance prompted her to actively seek him out whenever she had time.
Sometimes, she would discuss insights and difficulties regarding Soul Master Cultivation with him, sharing ancient knowledge collected by the royal family.
At other times, she acted as a sparring partner, personally engaging with him to hone his skills through actual combat, while also more directly sensing the progress of his strength.
More often than not, however, it was like today: setting aside their identities and Cultivation, simply traveling together, wandering the streets and alleys of Star Luo City, sampling food, and chatting casually.
All of this stemmed from the teachings of her elder brother, the Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei:
"Jiu Jiu, you must remember that if you want to truly win someone over and have him serve you and the Empire, relying solely on binding him through benefits and expecting repayment for favors is far from enough. Benefits can be repaid, and favors will eventually be exhausted. Only emotional connection is the strongest and most inseparable bond. It will not fade with the passage of time; instead, like fine aged wine, it will become increasingly rich."
Xu Jiawei once used Shrek Academy as an example to analyze this for her:
"Look at Shrek. Why has it stood firm for ten thousand years? In terms of resources, it might not surpass the Empire's royal family. In terms of direct favors bestowed, it doesn't offer bottomless expenditure either."
"But it possesses peak strength, complete Legacy, and profound foundations. More importantly, it has woven a vast, invisible net using 'Glory' and 'Emotion'."
"Everyone who graduates from Shrek, no matter where they are or what position they hold, generally harbors a strong sense of belonging and a desire to protect the Academy."
"It is precisely because of this that, when facing the aggressive invasion of the Sun Moon Empire back then, Shrek was able to call out, gathering supporters from everywhere—amassing over a hundred Titled Douluo—and becoming the critical force that turned the tide of the war. The root of this rallying power lies in that emotional connection that transcends mere interests."