The maid quickly brought in a paper box and slowly opened it in front of Bibi Dong.
Inside the box were seven or eight round, yellowish-brown treats, neatly arranged. Black sesame seeds were sprinkled on top of them, though their appearance wasn't exactly appetizing.
The maid said respectfully, "Your Holiness, your disciple said he made these himself. He calls them 'cookies,' and they're a special gift to show his respect for you."
"Cookies?"
It was Bibi Dong's first time hearing of such a food. As she looked at the misshapen little things, a faint smile appeared on her beautiful face.
She could imagine how difficult it must have been for little Li Chang'an with his small frame to make these cookies. She could also sense the seriousness and sincerity behind his gesture.
"How long had it been..."
How long since someone had shown her such heartfelt care?
Bibi Dong picked up a cookie with her slender, fair fingers and gently brought it to her small lips. Taking a bite slowly, she closed her eyes and began to savor the taste.
Surprisingly… it was quite good.
"You may leave the box here," Bibi Dong said calmly with her eyes still closed.
"Yes, Your Holiness."
The maid bowed respectfully. She understood that Her Holiness intended to eat all the cookies—clearly, this disciple had won great favor in her eyes.
———
Spirit Hall Academy – Elite Class
Classes in the Elite Class weren't conducted in a rigid schedule but were tailored to suit each student's individual needs. That said, for the first three years, the mornings were dedicated to public courses.
In these classes, instructors taught topics like the use of martial spirits, the various types of soul beasts, the history of the continent, and so on. Afternoons were reserved for corresponding training and martial spirit guidance.
At this moment, Li Chang'an was listening intently to the lecture, occasionally twirling his pen, completely unfazed by the many eyes watching him.
After all, he was the personal disciple of the Pope herself, and he was a rare Twin Spirit wielder. With those two titles combined, his status in the Elite Class was virtually untouchable.
There would probably be challengers in the future, but for now, no one dared to provoke him before figuring out what kind of person he was.
What surprised Li Chang'an even more was that the classes weren't boring at all. The pace was moderate, not overwhelming—in fact, compared to the exam-focused education from his previous life, this was child's play.
So, with nothing better to do, he listened to the lecture while occasionally glancing at his senior sister, Hu Liena. After observing her for a bit, he nodded to himself. Hu Liena was around ten years old, but her figure was already developing well. In a few years, she was bound to become a stunning vixen.
After a few glances at Hu Liena, he subtly turned to look at Qian Renxue. Again, he nodded inwardly—another beauty, but of the cold and aloof variety.
And if Li Chang'an's guess was right, in another two or three years, Qian Renxue would be heading to the Heaven Dou Empire to pull off a classic "swapping the crown prince" operation.
'Sigh… poor girl.'
The morning classes ended with Li Chang'an's mind wandering here and there. Next came lunchtime.
After lunch and a short rest, the afternoon lessons would begin, so regardless of how far they lived, students of Spirit Hall Academy all ate on campus.
What delighted Li Chang'an the most was that meals at the academy were completely free—not a single copper soul coin was required. More than that, the food was nutritious, well-balanced, and high quality.
This was the pride of Spirit Hall Academy.
This was the grandeur of the continent's number one academy!
Li Chang'an ate his fragrant meal alone, mentally giving the academy a big thumbs-up.
Just then, he noticed a small, familiar figure sitting at a nearby table. Wasn't that the same Mu Xi he had seen yesterday?
Originally, Li Chang'an planned to just glance at her and move on. But then he recalled her downcast peach blossom eyes from yesterday and suddenly changed his mind.
Carrying his tray, he swaggered over and sat down at Mu Xi's table without a second thought.
His sudden appearance startled Mu Xi, who had been quietly eating. She looked up at him timidly for a moment before lowering her head again, continuing to eat silently.
She was an orphan. Being accepted into Spirit Hall Academy due to her martial spirit was already a heaven-sent blessing. Naturally, she had no intention of comparing herself to someone like Li Chang'an, a child of destiny.
But as fate would have it, while Mu Xi wanted to avoid him, Li Chang'an was intent on getting close.
"Hey, hey, look at your plate—it's all vegetables. That's not nutritious at all. Try this chicken leg."
As he spoke, Li Chang'an casually picked up the chicken leg from his tray and placed it into Mu Xi's bowl, acting as if they were already best friends.
"Th-thank you… but I don't eat meat," she said in a soft, timid voice, her head still lowered, half of her face hidden behind her hair.
Li Chang'an smirked and shook his head, "We already met yesterday, didn't we? You not eating it—are you looking down on me or what?"
"N-no! I didn't mean that!"
"Then eat it."
"…Okay… Thank you."
Mu Xi was only six years old. How could she possibly outmatch someone as slick and shameless as Li Chang'an? Helplessly, she lowered her head and silently gnawed on the chicken leg.
Li Chang'an wasn't planning to push things too far today. He just wanted to make her acquaintance—nothing more. So once he finished eating, he casually stood up and left, even leaving his tray and utensils for Mu Xi to clean up.
After lunch, with nowhere in particular to go and still some time left before class, Li Chang'an decided to explore the academy a bit.
He had to admit, Spirit Hall Academy was in many ways a comprehensive institution. It included both Junior and Senior Soul Master programs, so it wasn't unusual to see both young children and youths in their twenties on campus.
In fact, Li Chang'an's good looks were causing a bit of a stir—quite a few senior girls were glancing back at him repeatedly, much to his dismay.
"Li Chang'an."
Just as he was feeling troubled about his irresistible charm, a sultry voice called out from behind.
Turning his head, he saw Hu Liena approaching, clad in a bright red school uniform and wearing stylish little leather boots.
Hu Liena was naturally seductive—her charm couldn't be hidden even under the modest school uniform. A few years older than Li Chang'an, she radiated youthful vitality as well.
"Senior Sister," Li Chang'an called sweetly, relying on his young age to act a little cute. His eyes crinkled as he smiled, which only made Hu Liena want to pinch his cheeks.
"Junior Brother, have you eaten yet? If not, let me treat you—
I haven't eaten either."
Hu Liena flipped her hair and asked in a soft, alluring tone.
Without a moment's hesitation, Li Chang'an nodded eagerly:
"Not yet, Senior Sister! I couldn't even find the cafeteria—I'm starving!"
"Then let's go eat together," Hu Liena said, happy to use the opportunity to build rapport.
"Okay! Thank you, Senior Sister!"
Li Chang'an beamed innocently at her, full of youthful charm.