"No, I haven't." Lin Xiao shook his head.
Lin Jiayi blinked, momentarily stunned—he hadn't expected his guess to be right.
After a short silence, he finally spoke again. "Then please wait a moment. You'll need to take an additional test—this one assesses your aptitude for soul-tool crafting. Be prepared: everyone's talent in this field differs."
He chose his words carefully, softening his tone. If Lin Xiao lacked talent for soul-tool construction, the best he could hope for was to become a control-type soul engineer.
"All right, Director Lin. Shall we begin?" Lin Xiao replied calmly. Whether his results were good or bad made little difference—he only needed to learn enough about soul-tools to conceal his identity as an evil Spirit Master. He had no intention of becoming a renowned engineer.
"Good." Lin Jiayi nodded. "This test differs from the physical one. It evaluates your precision in controlling soul power and your sense of spatial structure—both essential for inscribing core arrays. Follow me."
He led Lin Xiao to a nearby workbench. There were no large machines here, only a fixed metal block etched with incomplete lines. A full design diagram lay beside it.
"This is simple," Lin Jiayi explained. "You only need to focus your soul power into a single point and follow the blueprint to engrave the complete formation on this metal."
He said no more, merely gesturing for Lin Xiao to begin.
Simple indeed. Lin Xiao didn't overthink it. Extending his right index finger, he gathered soul power at the tip. A dark-red glow condensed into a fine, ten-centimeter needle of light.
His martial spirit—the Other Shore Flower—did not enhance his body like a beast spirit would, but countless battles had refined his control over soul power to perfection.
His first spirit skill, Seeds of the Other Shore, allowed him to control dozens of seeds simultaneously, each with pinpoint precision. Compared to that, engraving a small formation was trivial.
His finger moved swiftly. Lin Jiayi's eyes widened as he watched—each line was drawn evenly, the depth and thickness uniform throughout. This level of precision took most first- and second-rank soul engineers years of practice to achieve.
Moments later, Lin Xiao finished the array. Before he could even exhale, Lin Jiayi laid several sheets of paper in front of him.
"Director Lin, what's this?" Lin Xiao asked.
"These are entry-level Academy questions. Try solving them."
Huh? Exams already?
Lin Xiao inwardly sighed, but as soon as he glanced down, his expression eased.
The questions were filled with geometric shapes and spatial diagrams, but they reminded him strongly of the analytic and solid geometry he'd studied in his previous life. Though he'd forgotten some formulas, the logic remained familiar. He completed the entire test with ease.
"You truly haven't studied soul engineering before?" Lin Jiayi asked, scanning the completed sheets before looking up again.
"No," Lin Xiao said simply.
"Hm…" Lin Jiayi rubbed his chin. "You were admitted as a special recruit, but if you know nothing about soul-tools, others may question it."
He paused, then made a decision. "How about this—you won't attend regular classes for now. Study the basics with me privately until you can keep up with the others. How does that sound?"
Lin Xiao glanced at him. He had already sensed that Lin Jiayi's attitude toward him was unusually friendly—but he hadn't expected such an offer.
The Education Director of the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy—someone most nobles would flatter—offering to personally tutor a beginner? Could Lin Jiayi also be connected to the Holy Spirit Church?
"Ahem." Lin Jiayi coughed lightly. "No need to worry. Your results are excellent. You have good talent in crafting soul-tools. Under my guidance, you'll catch up in no time."
"I appreciate that, Director Lin." Lin Xiao immediately understood. Those "entry-level" tests had not been simple—they were meant to measure deeper comprehension.
Still, it made sense. If the Academy's beginner tests were on par with the geometry of his former world, the threshold for becoming a soul engineer would be impossibly high.
"Don't be so formal," Lin Jiayi said with a grin. "From now on, just call me 'Teacher.'"
Both of the other instructors in the room turned their heads at that.
"All right… Teacher," Lin Xiao replied after a brief pause. Having such a backer could only help him.
Given his sensitive identity, having the Education Director personally endorse him would shield him from scrutiny—and from the arrogance of the Academy's many nobles.
"Good. You can return to your dorm for now," Lin Jiayi said, smiling so broadly his cheeks nearly swallowed his eyes. "I'll inform you of your class schedule later."
Lin Xiao had spent far longer inside than the others. When he stepped out, a few students were murmuring impatiently. As the door opened, several curious eyes turned toward him, but he ignored them, walking straight out of the teaching building.
Once the next name was called, their attention quickly drifted elsewhere.
Instead of heading back to the dormitory, Lin Xiao wandered the campus, eventually stopping near the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
Crowds gathered around the grand structure—both new and veteran students alike. For any soul engineer, this was sacred ground. Just as Shrek Academy was the dream of every Spirit Master, the Illustrious Virtue Hall was the pinnacle of soul engineering.
"How did it go?"
A faint, translucent silhouette appeared beside him—the familiar voice of his teacher echoing in his mind.
"Teacher," Lin Xiao said quietly, already expecting this. "Lin Jiayi didn't tell me the exact results, but he offered to take me as his disciple. I assume they were good."
"Excellent. If your talent truly stands out, we may even get you into the Illustrious Virtue Hall itself."
Lin Xiao's eyes flickered. "Teacher, you mean…"
"Today, the elders and I entered the Hall at Jing Hongchen's invitation," the Nightmare Douluo said. "There are secrets hidden within that place—many of them. Now that you're an Academy student, this is your chance to uncover what lies beneath."
Lin Xiao nodded silently.
(End of Chapter)