"Teacher, this junior is Zhuang Zhou." Yang Yunhai was the first to speak, giving his actual age before continuing, "My Martial Soul is a Tree, soul rank 39 plant-type dual cultivation soul master, specializing in both control and healing. I'm very interested in Soul Tools, and I've come to enroll in your academy for further study."
The middle-aged man was immediately taken aback. At that age, with such soul power, he was practically a little monster!
Not to mention, he was accompanied by two unknown Titled Douluo.
His expression instantly softened, turning kindly as he smiled. "It's our honor to have Student Zhuang enroll in our Sun Moon Imperial Academy. I am Jian Hongchen, the dean of the academy. Welcome. Come, uncle will personally take you in to register and assign you to a class."
'Jian Hongchen? What relation does he have to Ming Hongchen?' Yang Yunhai thought, cupping his hands slightly. "Then I'll trouble Dean."
"It's my duty." Jian Hongchen smiled, turned, and led the way. Yang Yunhai followed closely behind.
'Who am I? Where am I?' The gate guard stood frozen, stunned for a long moment before finally returning to the guard booth.
Inside the academy, as they walked, Jian Hongchen suddenly asked, "Student Zhuang, may I know who your teacher is?"
"With your teacher and uncle both being of such cultivation, by rights they should be able to teach you about Soul Tools. Why send you here to study?"
"My family is near the Langhua Plateau, but I cannot say exactly where." Yang Yunhai replied calmly. "As for my teacher and uncle, they don't like Soul Tools. They think studying them will only waste cultivation time."
"So, those two old men don't know anything about them."
"I personally believe one should explore new things. They couldn't argue me out of it, so they sent me here."
"I see." Jian Hongchen nodded. Indeed, on the Sun Moon Continent, some soul masters still resisted Soul Tools, believing they distracted from cultivation and created dependency that could hinder mental focus and advancement, especially after soul rank 95.
Even his own father, Ming Hongchen, agreed with this view. He often said his mind was too cluttered, lacking the purity required to reach the peak of cultivation. Stuck at rank 97 for many years, perhaps that was the reason.
So, he had always warned him not to get too absorbed in Soul Tool technology.
"Student Zhuang, your teacher's words are correct. At your age and rank, your future is limitless. You may study Soul Tools to hone your focus and control, but never become obsessed, or you will waste your golden cultivation years." His tone was earnest.
"Otherwise, you'll lose more than you gain."
"Dean, your words are exactly what my teacher told me." Yang Yunhai smiled. "I'll be careful."
"That's good." Jian Hongchen nodded with a smile.
Soon, they arrived at an office on the first floor of the academic affairs building. Inside sat a female instructor, about 30 years old, with black hair and eyes, delicate features, pale complexion, and an icy aura. She wore a dark gray fitted uniform with a short skirt slit at the sides, her long legs wrapped in black stockings, exuding a cold, commanding charm.
A classic aloof strong woman.
"Instructor Yi Lin, this is the new transfer student Zhuang Zhou. He will be placed in your Class One." Jian Hongchen spoke.
'Pulling strings?' Yi Lin frowned slightly.
As if expecting this, Jian Hongchen turned to Yang Yunhai.
"Student Zhuang, release your Martial Soul so Instructor Yi Lin can see."
Yang Yunhai nodded, stepped forward, and summoned his Martial Soul. Golden light shimmered as a miniature green tree appeared, with three soul rings — yellow, yellow, purple — rhythmically pulsing beneath his feet. He introduced himself: "Martial Soul: Tree. Specialties: control and healing. Soul rank 39."
Jian Hongchen subtly hinted at his age.
Yi Lin's eyes widened in shock. She rose to her feet, her expression solemn. "Student Zhuang Zhou, can you tell me about your soul skills?"
Yang Yunhai nodded. "First soul skill: Growth. It accelerates the growth of branches and roots. It can attack, control, or defend."
He demonstrated, channeling his soul power to make branches grow into a wall, roots lash, and vines bind.
'Such precise control! One skill extending into so many applications…' Both Jian Hongchen and Yi Lin were astonished.
"Second soul skill: Parasite," Yang Yunhai continued. "It allows roots or trees to grow on any target imbued with my soul power. It can restrain enemies or assist allies. It can also link with the first skill for more combinations."
'One soul skill combining with another? That's unheard of…' Their minds immediately pictured battle scenarios and grew even more shocked.
'His teacher must be a master in Martial Soul development.' Jian Hongchen's excitement grew stronger.
"Third soul skill: Life Return," Yang Yunhai said. "It converts soul power into life energy, transferring it through contact to heal one or multiple allies. The more injured, or the more allies, the more soul power consumed."
"At my current control level, I can heal seven people simultaneously using seven roots. But if their injuries are too severe, two rounds of healing would drain me completely."
"Student Zhuang Zhou, with your cultivation, that is already extraordinary." Jian Hongchen praised warmly, thrilled inside.
Such a prodigy had walked right into the Sun Moon Imperial Academy — he must not be allowed to slip away.
Yi Lin's eyes gleamed. She strode forward, sliced her wrist, and opened a wound.
"Student Zhuang Zhou, please heal me. I want to see the effect."
'You cut yourself in front of me? Can I even refuse?' Yang Yunhai silently complained but nodded. A root extended to her wrist, glowing gold. Before their eyes, the wound closed rapidly.
'Such powerful healing…' Yi Lin's eyes sparkled even brighter.
"Dean, leave this child to me. Don't worry, I will teach him well."
'Teach? He already has teachers…' Jian Hongchen quickly added, "Instructor Yi Lin, his teachers sent him here mainly to study Soul Tools — to cultivate focus and control."
He used lip-reading to hint: 'Both teacher and uncle are Titled Douluo.'
Yi Lin froze, her expression shifting. She nodded solemnly. "That is indeed a wise arrangement, Dean. I understand."
"Then I'll trouble you, Instructor Yi Lin." Jian Hongchen smiled, turned to Yang Yunhai. "Student Zhuang Zhou, once more, welcome to the academy. I hope you will learn much here. For anything, go to Instructor Yi Lin."
'Anything? That sounds like the setup to a certain island-nation drama…' Yang Yunhai thought, suppressing a grin. He smiled politely. "Thank you, Dean."
Jian Hongchen nodded and, after a glance at Yi Lin, excused himself.
As soon as he left, Yi Lin turned back with a faint smile. "Student Zhuang Zhou, please wait here while I register you. Then I'll get your uniform and take you to the dormitory."
"Thank you, Instructor Yi Lin." Yang Yunhai sat obediently.
Before long, they left the building together, heading for the dorms. It was nearly noon; most students were still in class, so the campus was quiet. Yang Yunhai enjoyed the peace while listening to Yi Lin's introductions.
Soon, they reached the dorm area. On the right was an 8-story white stone dormitory building; on the left, landscaped gardens with streams and stand-alone western-style villas — the expensive kind, the kind he could never afford in his past life.
Clearly, this was the dorm system: one side for nobles, the other for commoners — or perhaps divided by talent.
Yi Lin led him straight to the villas.
'So this is the benefit of having Titled Douluo backing…' Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly.
Life was all about background.
Soon, they reached a secluded villa. Yi Lin unlocked the door and stepped inside.
Spacious and luxurious — that was Yang Yunhai's first impression.
"Student Zhuang Zhou, would you like to stay on the first or second floor?" Yi Lin asked.
"The first floor." Yang Yunhai answered without hesitation. His Martial Soul cultivated faster when close to the ground. The villa also had plenty of plants, including Blue Silver Grass.
Yi Lin nodded. "There are already three students living here: Xu Minghui, Xu Mingjing, and Xue Hongchen. One male, two females. The girls stay upstairs, the boy downstairs. They're all in Class One, your future classmates and dormmates. You'll meet them at lunch."
'…They're clearly all from the same family. Am I really suitable to stay here?' Yang Yunhai thought silently.
He had the feeling yet another old fellow was eyeing him up — and by extension, his supposed teacher and uncle.
"Alright." He could only nod slightly.
(End of Chapter)
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