Chen Yi's confusion naturally didn't escape Mu Xi's eyes. Soon, Mu Xi told Chen Yi the answer.
"Because the first-generation dean of Skywater Academy and the sect master of the Body Sect at that time were siblings!"
Before Chen Yi could speak, Mu Xi continued: "That sect master and the Skywater Academy dean were both Soul Douluos, and both had reached the high-level Soul Douluo stage. Through their joint efforts, Skywater Academy was born and established a firm foothold in the Northern Territory, growing stronger over time."
"At first, Skywater Academy was just an obscure ordinary advanced soul master academy. Later, as Skywater Academy grew larger, it attracted the envy and covetousness of ambitious wolves, who even made moves against it."
"At that time, the founding dean had already passed away, but there was still some lingering affection with the Body Sect. With the Body Sect's help, the academy overcame the crisis. However, they also realized that in this dog-eat-dog world, Skywater Academy needed its own allies, and the Body Sect was the best choice."
Chen Yi nodded in understanding. It was imaginable how difficult it must have been for a group of women to make such a name for themselves in a place like this. Without allies, it would be impossible to stand alone.
"Therefore, for hundreds of years, there has been a tradition of intermarriage between the Body Sect and Skywater Academy. You might not know, but your Uncle Zhu Changyou's mother is my martial aunt."
Mu Xi's voice continued.
"I see."
From Chen Yi's perspective, it probably wasn't just one-sided effort from the Body Sect; Skywater Academy must have provided plenty of help too.
The Body Sect's external influence was quite ordinary. Without a reliable and strong ally, they'd be blind to the outside world.
Otherwise, with the Body Sect's small number of people, how could they find so many body martial soul possessors?
Chen Yi guessed that the two forces were deeply connected, but he didn't expect it to be this deep. In a sense, they were like branches of the same tree.
As they spoke, the carriage had arrived outside Skywater Academy. After Chen Yi followed Mu Xi off the carriage, what met his eyes was a dense crowd of people. As expected of the top academy in the Northern Territory—one glance showed nothing but heads.
At the same time, the mother and son attracted many gazes.
It couldn't be helped; Mu Xi, as the former dean's disciple at Skywater Academy, was a top-tier beauty. After marrying, she exuded an even more mature charm.
Chen Yi, dressed in luxurious purple robes, had a handsome face with hints of future resolute and dashing features. His black hair cascaded over his shoulders, giving him a carefree and unrestrained air. Plus, the smile on his face added a touch of devilish charm.
This high-attractiveness duo naturally drew the attention of many appearance enthusiasts.
"Wow! Such a cute little brother; he'll definitely be a big handsome guy in the future!"
"Can you not be so boy-crazy? You're supposed to be a famous genius from a junior soul master academy."
"Hmm~, does that beautiful woman look familiar? I feel like I've seen her somewhere."
"You think that pretty woman doesn't look familiar?"
"Idiot, I'm serious!"
Mu Xi ignored the discussions and, holding Chen Yi's hand, walked straight to the front of the line.
Seeing the mother and son skip the queue and head to the front, a girl in a water-blue school uniform spotted the unfamiliar faces and immediately blocked their path.
"You two, if you're here to enroll, please go to the back and queue." She quickly glanced at Chen Yi, realizing she'd said something stupid, and added: "Madam, Skywater Academy does not admit male students. No matter how talented, we can't make exceptions. Please understand."
Skywater Academy had countless proud daughters of heaven. Every year, some second-generation heirs with impressive backgrounds tried to get in for a life like in a kingdom of women, hoping to marry a genius girl and take her home. But without exception, they were all rejected by Skywater Academy.
Some were even thrown out of Skywater City altogether.
Seeing the luxurious clothing of Mu Xi and her son, the girl assumed they were one of those arrogant parents.
Looking at the girl before her, a trace of nostalgia flashed in Mu Xi's eyes. Back in the day, she had also been in charge of maintaining order during enrollment, and she had personally broken the legs of a few idiots.
"Hmm, at fifteen or sixteen years old, having Soul Elder cultivation is quite good!"
"Little girl, you don't recognize me? How many years have you been at Skywater Academy?"
The girl was stunned. From the other's words, it seemed she was famous at Skywater Academy. Just as she was about to ask for her identity, a surprised voice rang out.
"You're—Junior Sister Mu? You're back?"
Teacher Li, in charge of enrollment, initially had no intention of intervening in the girl's blocking. But the familiar voice caught her ear, so she stopped and went to check.
Mu Xi turned her head upon hearing this, seeing the faintly silver-glowing hair bun and the mix of shock and joy in the woman's eyes. Her own eyes instantly welled up.
"Sister Li, it's me. I'm back!"
Teacher Li quickly stepped forward, grasping Mu Xi's hand and rubbing her still smooth back with her fingers, her tone filled with surprise and sighs: "We've finally waited for you! When you left with your husband back then, it was nearly ten years. I inquired everywhere but got no news. The old dean wouldn't tell us your whereabouts either. I thought—"
She swallowed the words at her lips. Teacher Li just looked at Mu Xi with reddened eyes.
Mu Xi's nose tingled, and she gripped Teacher Li's hand in return: "These years, I've always wanted to come back, but I never found the opportunity. Now, seeing you again, Sister—it's really good."
"It's good that you're back. The old dean will be thrilled to see you."
As she spoke, Teacher Li patted Mu Xi's hand, wiped her eyes with her right hand, and then looked at Chen Yi beside her, understanding dawning: "Junior Sister, this is your child?"
Mu Xi smiled at that, pulling Chen Yi over to introduce him to Teacher Li: "Yes, this is my son, Chen Yi. He's already seven this year. Thinking it's been almost ten years since I came home, I brought him back to meet everyone."
Then, lowering her head to Chen Yi, she said: "This is your mother's senior sister from the academy. Quick, call her Auntie."
Chen Yi understood. This Auntie Li must be his mother's good sister from Skywater Academy.
"Nephew Chen Yi greets Auntie."
"Good, good, good. I never thought Junior Sister would bring such a big surprise after ten years away."
Teacher Li squatted down and rubbed Chen Yi's little face.
"Right, I'll take you to see the teacher. She and the other sisters will be overjoyed to see you."
With that, she took Mu Xi's hand and walked toward the academy. Passing the girl, she didn't forget to instruct: "Min Min, you continue maintaining order. I'll be back soon."
The girl's cyan eyes reflected the trio's departing backs, her eyes wide in shock. So this really was a senior from Skywater Academy, and on the same level as Teacher Li—that meant she was from the same generation as the dean.
The surrounding onlookers were also astonished. It turned out to be a Skywater Academy graduate bringing her son back to her alma mater.
At that moment, the man who had said Mu Xi looked familiar spoke in shock: "I said she looked so familiar—it's her, the Ice Thorn Enchantress, Mu Xi!"
Hearing the man's words, everyone, including the girl, turned to him, curious about the woman's background.
"Ice Thorn Enchantress"?
That name doesn't sound like a good one!
Seeing the gazes directed at him, the man felt secretly thrilled. Who doesn't crave this feeling of being the center of attention?
Clearing his throat, he said loudly: "It's not strange you don't know. The Ice Thorn Enchantress Mu Xi was a genius soul master whose fame spread throughout the Northern Territory and even the Heaven Dou Empire ten years ago. Her Ice Thorn technique shone brightly in the Soul Master Competition twenty years ago. Countless geniuses were miserably defeated by her. She and another female genius from Skywater Academy at the time—the current dean—were known as the Twin Beauties of the Northern Territory."
Everyone present was shocked.
The dean of Skywater Academy was a peak figure in the Northern Territory, a resounding presence even in the entire Heaven Dou Empire. For that woman to be mentioned alongside her was astonishing.
"Mu Xi had many talented suitors falling at her feet back then, but she dismissed them all. Everyone thought she'd live a solitary life like her teacher, but she married an unknown man and then disappeared from the soul master world. It's been ten years since we've heard any news of her."
A woman who was clearly a local from Skywater City also recalled Mu Xi's background. Back then, the Twin Beauties of the Northern Territory were idols to countless girls like her.
"So amazing!"
The girl clutched her clothes, her eyes sparkling with admiration after hearing Mu Xi's legendary story, her voice trembling with excitement.