Jie Long Seventh Institute, Yellow Dragon Temple.
After returning from outside, Fang Li went directly to the audience room. Behind him, Orphelia followed, keeping her head down and remaining silent.
"————"
The Yellow Dragon Temple at night seemed to be swallowed by darkness, with no aura of life detectable.
At this time, even someone with exceptional vision would find themselves in a situation where they couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.
At least, that was the case for Orphelia, who instinctively extended her hand and gently tugged on Fang Li's clothes to follow him without getting lost.
Fang Li, however, walked in without the slightest hesitation.
"Thump thump…"
The sound of a heartbeat rang out clearly.
Only, this time it was not due to poisoning, but because the power of the True Ancestor sleeping within Fang Li's body was active.
In this state, the surrounding darkness seemed to have no effect on Fang Li, allowing him to see the entire audience room as clearly as if it were daytime.
In this grand hall, devoid of any aura of life, a young girl sat on a wide chair at the deepest part.
It was precisely Fan Xinglou.
Fang Li stopped in his tracks and raised his head to look up. Just in time, he met Fan Xinglou's gaze, which seemed to be anticipating something interesting.
Her demeanor was as if she had predicted Fang Li's arrival and had been waiting for him, resting her cheek on one hand and looking down at Fang Li with a meaningful expression.
"You two seem to have had quite a bit of fun, making this old woman feel a bit itchy to join in."
Fan Xinglou's words told Fang Li and Orphelia that their battle was no longer a secret and had already been noticed by various parties.
"You two little ones are really reckless, fighting like that without applying for a duel." Fan Xinglou said with a hint of amusement. "If it weren't for this old woman's slight interference, the security team would have already come knocking to have a chat with you, you know?"
After all, in this academy city, private battles on the surface are prohibited, and only duels are allowed.
Yet Fang Li and Orphelia had engaged in a battle of astonishing scale without applying for a duel, attracting the attention of various parties, which was already a violation.
If not for Fan Xinglou's interference, Fang Li and Orphelia might have indeed been invited for a talk by the security team.
However, Fan Xinglou had intervened.
Of course, not for Fang Li's sake, but for the amusement that Fang Li and Orphelia had brought.
"Naturally, given your current status and abilities, even the security team wouldn't be able to do much to you. It would mostly just be a formality. This old woman merely saved you the trouble."
Fan Xinglou glanced at Orphelia, as if seeing something delightful, and spoke thus.
"After all, you two have something to ask of this old woman, don't you?"
Her confident tone told Fang Li and Orphelia that Fan Xinglou had more or less guessed their purpose for coming.
Understanding this, Orphelia kept her head down, not daring to look at Fan Xinglou.
Compared to the time when she had fearlessly met Fan Xinglou's gaze, it was a completely different demeanor.
Seeing Orphelia like this, Fan Xinglou not only didn't seem displeased, but appeared even more delighted.
"This old woman quite likes you as you are now, 'Lone Poison Strega (Witch)'."
This was Fan Xinglou's genuine feeling.
"This old woman doesn't like dolls. Fighting something like that would be utterly devoid of fun."
Fan Xinglou explained thus.
"As you are now, though not fully restored to being a 'Person', you are at least 'Living'."
As she spoke, Fan Xinglou's gaze burned as she stared intently at Orphelia.
"If it's you as you are now, this old woman would very much like to have a fight with you…"
As always, her unbridled desire for battle gradually ignited from her body.
Noticing this, Orphelia's eyes also flickered slightly.
It was only then that Fang Li spoke.
"Master." Fang Li said indifferently. "This disciple has a request to make."
With these words, the burning fighting intent in Fan Xinglou's eyes faded, and she turned her gaze back to Fang Li.
"Though this old woman can more or less guess what you're about to say, it's better to hear it from your own mouth." Fan Xinglou said with interest. "Tell me, what is it that you, who have always been selfless and never asked this old woman for anything, want me to do for you?"
Under Fan Xinglou's gaze and inquiry, Fang Li spoke without the slightest hesitation.
"I hope Master can help me seize the ownership of Orphelia Landlufen from 'Solnage'."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere around them changed instantly.
This was because the words Fang Li had just uttered were enough to provoke a significant reaction.
Fan Xinglou fell silent, only staring at Fang Li.
Orphelia remained quiet, keeping her head bowed.
Fang Li did not speak, only met Fan Xinglou's gaze.
The air around them gradually became tense.
In this world, the Integrated Enterprise Foundation once had eight members, but now only six remained, each managing a school.
These six Integrated Enterprise Foundations were 'Galaxy', 'Solnage', 'Jie Long', 'Frauenlob', 'EP', and 'W&W'.
'Galaxy' was the operating parent of Seidoukan Academy.
'Solnage' was the operating parent of Rewolf Black Academy.
'Jie Long' was the operating parent of Jie Long Seventh Institute.
'Frauenlob' was the operating parent of Arlequint Research Institute.
'EP' was the operating parent of Saint Galahadworth Academy.
'W&W' was the operating parent of Queenvail Girls' Academy.
The current world was controlled by these six Integrated Enterprise Foundations, which competed against each other.
Orphelia had originally been purchased by 'Frauenlob' for experimentation, but after a research accident, she was transferred to 'Solnage', becoming a student at Rewolf Black Academy.
Thus, Orphelia's ownership currently lay with 'Solnage'.
To free Orphelia from her current fate, it was necessary to seize her ownership from 'Solnage'.
Otherwise, Fang Li would have to challenge the Integrated Enterprise Foundation and confront the powers that controlled the world.
"I am not afraid of the Integrated Enterprise Foundation," Fang Li said with indifference. "However, I am not arrogant enough to think I can challenge such a colossal entity that manipulates the world on my own."
This was the truth.
Therefore, Fang Li wanted Fan Xinglou to take action.
"I hope Master can assist me with this."
Fang Li candidly expressed his thoughts.
"If it's Master, even this kind of matter should be manageable, right?"
(End Of This Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 70 chapters on my patreon, and I've also activated a (date to date) subscription model on my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GGS6395