The next morning.
Donghai College, New Student Admissions Office.
"Hello."
"Excuse me, is this where we register?"
Tang Luochuan and Tang Wulin, accompanied by their parents, stepped through the gates of the vast campus. Following the directions of a signboard, they walked toward the admissions area, speaking softly.
In front of them stood several youths, boys and girls around seventeen or eighteen years old. Their fresh blue uniforms marked them as upperclassmen at Donghai, probably serving as volunteers for newcomer registration.
"Yes, that's right," one of the senior students stepped forward with a smile. "Parents may leave your children here. We'll take care of guiding the new students from this point onward."
Tang Ziran nodded gratefully. "That's great. Thank you, young lady."
Then, turning toward his sons, his expression softened. He gave Luochuan a meaningful glance. "Luochuan, make sure you get along with your classmates once you're here. And take care of your little brother. Don't let anyone bully him." His tone carried warmth alongside seriousness.
Luochuan's lips curled into a smile. Confident as always, he wasn't worried. In all of East Sea City, talent as high as his was exceedingly rare. After all, how many nine-year-olds could already stand as Great Spirit Masters—and at level 28, no less?
He knew of the Xie family's young master, who was also born with innate full spirit power. Yet even he had only reached level 18 so far, a full realm behind. The gap between them was enormous.
But then his thoughts drifted to his little brother Wulin. Innate spirit power level three… the lowest of the low by comparison. Among the new intake of Donghai College alone, he would stand at the very bottom. After becoming a true Spirit Master, the challenges before him would only multiply.
"I know, Dad."
Luochuan answered with an easy smile. Beside him, Wulin nodded seriously. Though he felt he was already grown and independent, in front of his older brother, he still looked and carried himself unmistakably like a child. Well… maybe just a little kid.
"Come with me," the senior student said warmly.
"What an adorable pair of little brothers," she went on with a bright grin. Her gaze lingered for a beat longer on Luochuan, her eyes seemingly caught by something about him. Then she laughed softly. "My name is Liu Yuxin. I'm a first-year in the Advanced College. If you need anything in the future…" Her smile deepened. "You can always come find me."
The brothers answered politely, "Okay, Senior."
"Are you two from Donghai City originally? Or from somewhere else?"
"We're from Aolai City," Luochuan replied.
"Oh~ Aolai City? That's a lovely place. The scenery over there is beautiful…" Liu Yuxin said conversationally, keeping their spirits calm and relaxed.
She guided them further into the campus until they reached the Intermediate Department's Academic Affairs Office, where a teacher was already waiting.
Donghai College was the crown jewel of East Sea City's educational system. It had two divisions: the Intermediate College and the Advanced College. The intermediate division accepted students with just a recommendation letter from junior colleges across the region. But the Advanced College? That was another matter entirely. To enter, students needed to reach the level of Spirit Master before the age of seventeen—a formidable standard that filtered out nearly everyone. That was what made the advanced division the true sanctuary of elites.
Liu Yuxin herself was one such elite. At just seventeen years old, she stood at level 31 as a Soul Master. Her martial soul—a Recovery Sausage—was highly valued. She was certain to have a bright future here.
"That's the Academic Affairs Office right over there," Liu Yuxin said, pointing ahead. "You'll handle your registration there. This building will be yours for classes from now on. The dorms for your grade are just behind it. And remember, if you need anything, you can always find me in the Advanced College. I'm in Class 1, Grade 1."
She gave Luochuan one last meaningful glance, as though finding something distinctive about him, before bidding them farewell.
"Thank you, Senior."
The brothers inclined their heads in gratitude. After parting from Liu Yuxin, Luochuan didn't linger or say much more. Taking Wulin along, he walked directly up to the teacher awaiting them.
"Hello," he said courteously. "Here's our letter of recommendation."
Together, they handed over their admissions letter from Hongshan College.
"Good," the teacher nodded, flipping through Tang Wulin's file first. "Tang Wulin, student of Hongshan Junior College. Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass. Spirit Master level 12…"
He raised his eyebrows slightly. "Blue Silver Grass? So fast? To cultivate that spirit to level 12 already… impressive. Here's your student ID and your dorm assignment: Room 105." His expression carried a hint of admiration as he passed the card over.
Blue Silver Grass was infamous as one of the weakest martial souls. For someone to grow it this quickly was rare. Perhaps, just perhaps, this boy could become another shining example like the 'Blue Silver King' of Donghai. That girl had shocked the school years ago—at twelve years old she had already cultivated her Blue Silver Grass martial soul all the way to Great Soul Master. That was talent.
"Thank you, Teacher," Wulin said politely, accepting his card.
The teacher then opened the second letter. His gaze fell on the name written there: Tang Luochuan.
"Hm? Is this your biological brother? Both of you are really handsome…" he chuckled to himself at first, but as his eyes reached the bottom of the file, his words abruptly died in his throat.
His face stiffened.
"Tang Luochuan… Hongshan Junior College student. Martial soul: Golden Dragon. Spirit power…" His eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "Level 28 Strong Attack Spirit Master!"
The registration office seemed to grow quiet for a beat.
A twelve-year-old reaching Great Soul Master would already be incredible—unbelievable but possible. Hadn't the first generation of Shrek Academy's Seven Monsters, twenty thousand years ago, achieved similar? With modern cultivation methods, perhaps it was conceivable that someone might match that.
But a nine-year-old? A nine-year-old level 28 Spirit Master?
The teacher could hardly dare believe what he was seeing.
Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself with effort. "Here is your student ID. Dormitory assignment: Room 123." His eyes lingered on Luochuan with a complicated expression before finally passing over the card.
"123," Luochuan said softly. He bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Teacher."
And with that, he and Wulin made their way toward the dormitory building.
When they were gone, silence lingered for a moment in the office. Then the teacher exhaled a long sigh.
"This year's intake… truly terrifying," he muttered under his breath. Even now, shock still lingered in his voice.
A nine-year-old Great Soul Master… Such talent was nearly unthinkable. Even among students preparing to graduate from the intermediate division, most hovered around level 28, if they were exceptional. Yet here was a boy not even in his teens already standing on equal footing.
And the most astonishing part about all of this? He was not the first great talent the teacher had seen that very morning.
"I thought I'd already seen a rarity—a pair of nine-year-olds who had each reached level 21…" the teacher mumbled to himself. "But I never imagined…" His eyes lit grimly. "Three Great Soul Masters in a single year?"
For a fleeting moment, amusement struck him. "If the three of them ended up in the same dorm room… that would truly be something."
Just then, the sound of footsteps reached him.
"Teacher, I'm here to register," a soft, crisp voice said.
The teacher looked up, and his breath caught again.
Standing there was a black-haired girl whose very presence carried an air of grace. Her poise felt out of the ordinary for one so young. She handed over a letter of recommendation.
"Gu Yue, student of the Eastern Junior Soul Master Academy. Martial soul type: Elementalist…" The teacher's eyes went wide yet again.
"Spirit power level 28. Control-type Spirit Master!"