Liu Yi put away the admission letter and followed the signs to the principal's office.
She gently knocked on the principal's office door.
"Come in," a kind and familiar voice called from inside.
Liu Yi pushed the door open and entered.
Behind the principal's desk, the old woman who had taught Ziyue how to make ice sculptures at the Pet Leisure Plaza was smiling at her.
"Ice Sculpture DIY..." Liu Yi blurted out, then her gaze fell on the vertical nameplate on the desk:
【Principal Shen Zhuwen】
Principal Shen smiled and said, "Indeed."
Ziyue suddenly jumped out of Liu Yi's arms, landing gracefully on the desk, her little paw gently touching the nameplate.
"Bingbing?"
"The little one still remembers me," Principal Shen said, reaching out to pat Ziyue's head.
"So you're Tianqi's Principal," Liu Yi realized with a start.
No wonder when she watched Principal Shen teach Ziyue how to make ice sculptures, it made her think of practicing a pet's control and mastery over its own energy.
Liu Yi then asked, "The admissions office teacher said you had given instructions in advance that if I came, I should come to see you."
"Did you know I would definitely choose Tianqi?"
"Please sit," Principal Shen said, gesturing to the sofa in the reception area. On the coffee table were two frosty drinks.
Liu Yi sat on the soft sofa, and Ziyue jumped onto her lap, her little paw resting on the edge of the coffee table, sniffing the frosty drink.
"Give it a try," Principal Shen said with a smile, pushing a cup closer. "It's a special iceberry drink, very beneficial for Ice-type pets."
Ziyue looked up at Liu Yi, and after getting permission, cautiously licked it. She immediately closed her eyes in delight.
"Bingbing~"
Principal Shen watched Ziyue lick the drink for a moment, then smiled as she answered Liu Yi's question: "I don't have the ability to predict the future, but geniuses often have thoughts different from ordinary people."
"Besides, Ningzhi mentioned you to me yesterday, haha."
Liu Yi paused, "You know Senior Tang?"
"Yes, Ningzhi was a Tianqi student herself," Principal Shen said. "Twelve years ago, Ningzhi competed as a Tianqi student and won the championship in the National High School League."
Principal Shen suddenly changed the subject: "Ningzhi came to see me yesterday because she found an extraordinary talent in the Longwu High School Entrance Tournament."
She winked mischievously: "And when I checked the records, it turned out to be the little girl who learned ice sculpting at my stall!"
Liu Yi slightly curved her lips and said, "Senior Tang is too kind."
"Too kind?" Principal Shen shook her head with a smile. "Just by looking at your Ice Fox's condition, I can tell you've raised her very well. Not to mention your performance in the High School Entrance Tournament, I've seen it all."
"Bingbing!"
Ziyue proudly puffed out her chest, and Liu Yi chuckled as she gently squeezed her ears.
Principal Shen watched their interaction, then suddenly said, "The little one is about to evolve, isn't she?"
Liu Yi's hand, which was pinching Ziyue's ear, paused. "You can tell?"
"Of course," Principal Shen chuckled.
Principal Shen pointed to the tall tower in the center of the campus: "Do you know what that is?"
Liu Yi shook her head.
"That's the Tower of Trials," Principal Shen said, standing up and walking to the window. "The Tower of Trials has 99 floors in total. After enrolling, Tianqi students receive a special pass to challenge it."
She turned and took a card as black as ink from a drawer: "This is my Principal's Authority Card. It will allow you to go directly to the 79th floor."
Liu Yi was puzzled: "The 79th floor?"
"It's just right for you," Principal Shen said, handing over the card. "While your current strength only allows you to observe, you might find unexpected gains."
Principal Shen smiled, "If you find it helpful, you can return the card to me tomorrow evening."
Liu Yi solemnly accepted the card. "Thank you, Principal."
"Go on," Principal Shen said, sitting back in her chair and watching them leave.
...
Liu Yi stood before the Tower of Trials. The tower was entirely black, but it shimmered faintly with gold in the sunlight.
Ziyue crouched on her shoulder, her little paws tightly gripping Liu Yi's collar, the tower's spire reflected in her purple eyes.
"Let's go," Liu Yi said, stepping towards the main entrance at the base of the tower.
Behind the front desk in the lobby sat a staff member, and on the wall behind them hung two large screens.
One was the 【Current Student Leaderboard】, and the other was the 【Past Student Leaderboard】.
The first place on the 【Past Student Leaderboard】 was a name Liu Yi recognized.
【1. Tang Ningzhi — Floor 95】
"Hello," Liu Yi said, approaching the front desk and presenting the Principal's Authority Card. "Principal Shen asked us to visit the 79th floor."
"The 79th floor?" The staff member took the card, confirmed it, and nodded. "Follow me."
The staff member led them into a room, placed the card on a vertical scanner, and then pointed to the circular platform in the center of the room: "Step onto it."
Liu Yi stepped onto the platform with Ziyue, and a flash of white light enveloped them.
When their vision returned, they found themselves in a vast world of ice crystals.
The entire 79th floor seemed carved from ten-thousand-year-old ice, with crystalline ice pillars extending from the floor to the dome, and faint blue ice mist drifting through the air.
"What is this?" The white mist Liu Yi exhaled instantly condensed into frost.
"Bingbing!"
Ziyue suddenly cried out, looking ahead warily.
From within the ice mist, a massive figure slowly emerged.
It was a pure white Arctic Snow Wolf King, about five or six meters long, with crystal-like fur shimmering with light.
With every step, a new layer of frost formed on the ground.
【Arctic Snow Wolf King (Peak stage)】
【Attribute: Ice】
Liu Yi looked at the information that appeared before her: "An Ice-type pet at the Peak stage..."
【Challenger: Tang Ningzhi】
【Pet: Frostwing Dragon (Peak stage)】
【Challenge Result: Success】
Immediately to the left of Liu Yi's vision, another row of information appeared.
Tang Ningzhi stood at one end of the arena, her Frostwing Dragon spreading its wings, vast enough to blot out the sky.
The Arctic Snow Wolf King on the opposite side howled to the sky, and the temperature of the entire space plummeted instantly!
The Arctic Snow Wolf King was the first to use Extreme Cold Storm. A blizzard enveloped the arena, and a raging ice and snow tornado rose from the ground, freezing even the air in its path!
Tang Ningzhi remained unperturbed: "Frostwing Dragon, Ice Crystal Barrier."
The Frostwing Dragon folded its wings, and a crystalline ice wall instantly formed, absorbing the impact of the Extreme Cold Storm head-on.
Liu Yi watched the match with intense focus, and Ziyue didn't even blink, unconsciously beginning to mobilize her Ice-type energy.
Only when this projection ended and switched to the next challenger's projection did Liu Yi realize that a thin layer of frost had formed on her eyelashes.
Could mere projections have such an impact?
Liu Yi gently wiped her eyelashes.
She now understood why Principal Shen said it would be helpful for them.
...
Rate on N.U.
