Yi Lin stopped at the doorway, placed her hand on the handle, and pushed the door open.
"Zhuang Zhou, this will be your room from now on."
Yang Yunhai lifted his gaze and looked around. A 1.8-meter-wide soft bed big enough to embrace two women on either side, a large desk, a private washroom, and a row of wardrobes by the door. Everything was here, and everything was exquisite. He was very satisfied and nodded.
"Thank you for your trouble, Teacher Yi Lin."
"It's nothing." Yi Lin smiled faintly and handed him the key. "Zhuang Zhou, take your time familiarizing yourself with the environment. If you need anything, come to the Academic Affairs Office and find me."
"Alright." Yang Yunhai replied politely, taking the key from her hand and watching the beautiful instructor sway her slender waist as she walked away.
The door shut with a bang. He restored his true face and rubbed the muscles of his cheeks with both hands to ease the slight discomfort.
After a quick tidy-up, he grew used to the process, altered his face again, changed into the school uniform, and left the room.
It was noon, time to eat. He decided to head to the cafeteria for a meal while also familiarizing himself with the campus.
Walking out of the dormitory area, the academy had just let out for lunch. Groups of students strolled along the paths in twos and threes. With his deliberately reduced seven-point looks, he didn't attract much attention and smoothly made it to the cafeteria. After eating, he wandered through the flower-filled campus like a street idler.
Meanwhile, in a detached building at the back of the academy—
"At such a young age, to have achieved so much… truly extraordinary." After listening to his son Jian Hongchen's report, Ming Hongchen sighed. "His teacher must be a master in Martial Soul development. If I have the chance, I would love to meet and exchange insights."
"Such dedication to refining one's Martial Soul is something even we should learn from."
"There will be a chance. Since those two Titled Douluo are willing to send the child here, it means they've already begun to accept soul tool cultivation. As long as the boy gains knowledge here without neglecting his cultivation, I believe they'll eventually come forth themselves." Xu Fengya, seated nearby, added, "Such people—if they rejoin the Soul Master world—it will be a great fortune for the Empire."
Even if they didn't take part in politics, giving lectures to students, helping when necessary, or simply existing as silent guardians would still be a formidable deterrent.
To have no sword is one thing, but to have a sword and never use it—that's an entirely different weight.
He turned toward his son. "Jian'er, could you tell the approximate cultivation level of that Titled Douluo?"
"This…" Jian Hongchen looked a little embarrassed. "That senior's aura was completely restrained. I couldn't sense a thing."
"But judging by his appearance, he seemed only in his thirties. His strength must be formidable."
"If that's the case, then both of those Titled Douluo must be at least rank 95." Xu Fengya's face grew solemn.
"Of course, it could also be that their soul power control is simply on another level." Thinking of Zhuang Zhou's extraordinary Martial Soul control at such a young age, he amended his words. 'If the child is already like this, what more of his teacher and uncle?'
"No matter what, since the two Titled Douluo chose to send him here, it means they trust our academy. Jian'er, make sure to watch over this boy and ensure he isn't wronged." Ming Hongchen instructed.
Though the academy professed equality between noble and commoner soul masters, with so many students, there were always a few black sheep—nobles flaunting their backgrounds. The instructors often turned a blind eye to such minor bullying.
Even as a Titled Douluo, Ming Hongchen couldn't control everything.
"I understand, Father." Jian Hongchen nodded. "I've already arranged for Teacher Yi Lin to place him in Xue'er's dormitory. I feel that with his Martial Soul control ability, Xue'er and the others could learn a lot just by being around him."
"I only hope Minghui and Mingjing can balance her. Xue'er's stubborn personality… sigh…" Ming Hongchen rubbed his forehead, clearly troubled.
'That's on you, old man.' Jian Hongchen thought silently.
Generational gaps in education should not be underestimated!
"I'll talk to Xue'er later," Ming Hongchen decided aloud.
Xu Fengya nodded.
…
Two hours later, Yang Yunhai strolled his way into the academy library.
Signs indicated that aside from the top floor, all other sections were open. He went straight to the first floor, heading into the soul tool section, and began flipping through books.
Foundational knowledge—civilian, offensive, defensive soul tools—everything was present.
'The library categorizes soul tool books by difficulty. The lower the floor, the more basic. The top floor should hold blueprints of unconventional soul tools—likely forbidden, destructive types. Without authorization, they're off-limits.'
'Most likely large-scale destructive soul tools.' He guessed.
'But it doesn't matter. My main objective here is civilian soul tools that improve basic productivity.'
For the Douluo Continent after unification, this was crucial. With peace would come population growth, and efficiency in production would be needed more than anything.
And, of course, promoting them could even harvest faith power.
As for attack soul tools, they wouldn't reach god-slaying levels anytime soon. This world might be leaky, but it still allowed cultivation to godhood. Priorities mattered. The rest could wait until he became a god himself.
With that thought, he focused and memorized the texts.
Time slipped by quickly. Evening approached.
Yang Yunhai closed the book, left the library, jogged to the cafeteria for dinner, and then returned to his dormitory.
At the villa door, the key turned with a creak. He pushed the door open.
"Who are you?" a voice called out.
Yang Yunhai looked up. A red-haired, red-eyed young man sat on the sofa, looking slightly handsome, his eyes filled with suspicion.
'An academy student? But why does he have the key to my dorm? A new roommate? But Teacher Yi Lin didn't mention… Old students I know. New students? Enrollment already ended. Must be an insertion like me.' Xu Minghui was already making his guesses.
"Who is it?" Footsteps echoed from upstairs.
Yang Yunhai glanced up—two girls leaned over the railing.
One with wine-red hair and blue eyes, tied in a ponytail, curvy and stunning, exuding the aura of a proud queen. The other… he had to admit, she caught his eyes immediately. A doll-faced girl with white hair and red eyes, figure astonishing despite her petite 1.6-meter frame. Gentle and delicate, the type to cry with misty eyes after a punch.
'Why is someone so small so… excessive?'
'But it won't shake my dao heart.' He smiled warmly. "Hello, I am—"
Before he could finish, the red-haired beauty vaulted over the railing, her martial soul—a Crimson-Eyed Ice Toad—manifesting behind her. Four soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, black—lit up at her feet. The third ring shone, summoning five diamond-shaped ice mirrors around her. They locked on and fired down toward him.
"If you want to stay in our dorm, you'll have to prove your strength!" Her voice rang out, full of arrogance.
"Take it easy, sis!" Xu Minghui called nervously but still backed away to avoid crossfire.
'Is she crazy?' Yang Yunhai was startled. 'She's definitely got a screw loose.'
Without hesitation, two sharp, pale-yellow roots from his disguised Tree Martial Soul shot upward.
When dealing with someone like this, the best solution was a decisive show of strength.
He recognized her Martial Soul from the manifestation—Crimson-Eyed Ice Toad—and understood the soul skill's effect.
"Hmph." She snorted, her first soul ring flashing. "Ice Toad Venom!" A frosty mist tinged with faint red poured out, dropping the temperature sharply.
But in the same moment, her figure twisted into one of the ice mirrors and lunged.
Swish, swish, swish!
The roots struck faster, piercing through the mist. Her face paled as her arms were bound mid-step before she could dive back into the mirror.
Leaves fused into thick branches, forming a shield to block the venomous mist.
"You brat, let me go!"
Roots coiled around her waist and legs, binding her like a zongzi. Her face flushed crimson with humiliation as she struggled wildly, but a root gag silenced her before she could spit more venom.
Xu Minghui and the girl upstairs both froze.
In the blink of an eye, their normally untouchable "royal sister" had been strung up like a helpless bundle.
The icy poison had spread around, but the golden-haired boy stood unscathed.
'Soul Ancestor losing to a Soul Elder, even with a sneak attack?!' Xu Minghui was stunned. He hurried forward. "Brother, please let my sister down. She just wanted to test your strength. She meant no harm."
'No harm, my ass. That venom would've left someone bedridden for weeks. She really needed discipline.' Yang Yunhai nodded slightly and lowered the bundle, speaking seriously. "Brother, I think your sister should see a doctor. This cold poison backlash… it shouldn't be causing arrhythmia and violent mood swings."
'So that's why Ming Hongchen was obsessed with poison studies—he had a descendant with this Martial Soul all along.'
Looking at her age, this was likely Ming Hongchen's granddaughter.
The Crimson-Eyed Ice Toad was indeed a powerful but cursed martial soul—ice element with fiery eyes. The alternating forces generated a lethal cold poison. Its backlash often killed its owners young.
Xu Minghui was shaken. 'How did he know about her cold poison backlash? Does he… have a cure?'
Meanwhile, his sister—released but humiliated—glared at Yang Yunhai furiously.
'What's that supposed to mean? Calling me temperamental and unreasonable?' Xue Hongchen fumed.
Xu Minghui quickly sidled up and grabbed Yang Yunhai's arm. "Brother, forgive her. She just had a flare-up recently, plus… well, it's that time of the month. Her mood's not great."
'You think I studied medicine for nothing?' Yang Yunhai glanced at him but only nodded. He bowed slightly to the girl upstairs before speaking to Xu Minghui.
"I'm Zhuang Zhou, newly transferred into the academy. Please take care of me from now on."
Xue Hongchen nearly exploded. 'Did he just ignore me?!'
"Haha, of course!" Xu Minghui tried to ease things over. "They say you don't truly know someone until you've fought them. Consider this a proper introduction."
"I'm Xu Minghui, 18 years old, Martial Soul: Radiant Dragon, soul rank 41."
"This is my cousin Xue Hongchen, 18 as well, Martial Soul: Crimson-Eyed Ice Toad, soul rank 42."
"And upstairs is my younger sister, Xu Mingjing, 16, Martial Soul: Bun, soul rank 36."
'No wonder she's so over the top—her Martial Soul really is a giant bun.' Yang Yunhai nodded calmly. "Zhuang Zhou, Martial Soul: Tree, soul rank 39, this year—"
Xu Minghui's face stiffened, slowly turning in disbelief. "How much?"
Upstairs, Xu Mingjing gaped in shock.
"Don't idolize me, I'm just a legend." Yang Yunhai tilted his chin slightly.
"Brother, how did you cultivate like this?" Xu Minghui pressed.
"Let me give you a saying." Yang Yunhai raised his chin. "With no woman in your heart, draw your blade and become a god!"
"Bear loneliness, endure solitude, focus on cultivation—your soul rank will soar naturally."
"And it has nothing to do with my teacher or uncle both being Titled Douluo." He added with serene detachment.
"Arrogant!" Xue Hongchen muttered. Her father had told her earlier how extraordinary this newcomer was. She hadn't believed it and wanted to subdue him as a little brother. Instead, she had been humiliated.
'No wonder he was placed in our dormitory…' Xu Minghui realized. He quickly flattered him. "Impressive!"
Good, keep talking like that and we'll get along.
Yang Yunhai nodded humbly. "Nothing special, just luck."
"Zhuang, you're too modest." Minghui smiled, thinking he had won him over.
But Yang Yunhai's face suddenly grew solemn. "It's late. I need to return to cultivation. My teacher always said: genius is 99% hard work and 1% talent. My talent is average—I must work harder than anyone."
"Senior sister, Minghui, until tomorrow." He pulled his arm free and strode to his room.
'Is he serious or mocking me?' Xu Minghui was dumbfounded.
'Damn, I forgot to ask if he could treat my sister's cold poison!' He glanced at his cousin—seething with anger yet also confused.
'Why didn't my poison affect him at all?' Xue Hongchen wondered, glaring at his door. "You'll pay sooner or later!"
Upstairs, she turned coldly and left.
Inside his room, Yang Yunhai restored his true face, sat at his desk, and copied down the soul tool knowledge he'd memorized. An hour later, he moved to the bed, sat cross-legged, and cultivated soul power.
By midnight, he summoned Yiner and fell asleep in her embrace.
The night passed quietly.
(End of Chapter)
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