The Teaching Committee sat around the table, steam rising from their cups of tea. Five people. Quiet, focused.
Yin Xuan faced their questions head-on.
"Yin Xuan, did your teachers help you get all your spirit rings at your old academy?" one of the instructors asked.
Another instructor looked baffled. "Don't they know the first spirit ring has to come from a Spirit Beast under four hundred years? That's basic stuff."
Yin Xuan shrugged, spinning his tale. "I've got Innate Full Spirit Power. Just my luck, I stumbled across a thousand-year Spirit Beast on its last legs in the Spirit Beast forest. I finished it off and absorbed the ring right away. I wasn't thinking about rules — just wanted to get my first ring and become a Spirit Master."
Second Instructor sighed, shaking his head. "The fearless really don't know any better, huh."
Chief Instructor leaned in. "So, after absorbing your first thousand-year ring, you decided to grab another thousand-year one as your second ring?"
Yin Xuan nodded. "Exactly."
Third Instructor just muttered, half to himself, "That's a miracle. No wonder you reached level twenty-six so young."
Chief Instructor pressed further. "Having two thousand-year spirit rings — I'm guessing your spirit power didn't just bump to eleven or twenty-one after each, did it?"
Yin Xuan nodded again, staying silent this time. When it came to these details, better to let them guess and keep quiet.
Honestly, in the future, he'd have even bigger surprises in store — those rings could level up again. If they ever saw them turn into ten-thousand-year black rings, they'd be floored.
Xue Qinghe, watching all this, finally spoke up. "So, what do you three think of Yin Xuan? How does he compare to the others?"
At the question, the instructors exchanged looks. Nobody spoke for a moment.
Xue Qinghe grinned. "There's a genius from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan here, plus several top students from big families. One even has a Titled Douluo backing them. This group? They're the cream of the crop at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. But at your age, none of them had your spirit power. The best — from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan — maybe level thirteen or fourteen back then. The difference is pretty obvious."
Chief Instructor agreed. "Your Highness, Yin Xuan's spirit power means he should study with those students."
Xue Qinghe looked directly at Yin Xuan. "Are you willing to join that class with the academy's most talented students?"
Yin Xuan didn't hesitate. "I am."
Perfect. That was exactly what he wanted.
"Good. Instructors, please arrange it. Yin Xuan will join Yu Tianheng and the others."
Xue Qinghe's smile widened. He was clearly excited to see what would happen with Yin Xuan in the mix.
Chief Instructor seemed just as curious. "Let's see what sparks fly," he said.
Xue Qinghe turned to Yin Xuan. "Soon, someone will measure you for uniforms. You'll get two sets. From now on, you're officially a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Yin Xuan bowed his head. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Xue Qinghe walked over, lowered his voice beside Yin Xuan's ear. "You have to perform well. Don't embarrass me."
Yin Xuan answered simply, "I won't."
Xue Qinghe chuckled. "Alright, I'll leave you to it. Instructors, farewell."
The three instructors stood to see him off. "Safe travels, Your Highness."
Yin Xuan watched Xue Qinghe leave, feeling a weight lift inside. For the first time, he had a stable place — a real home base.
At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, everyone — students and teachers — got sorted by three ranks: Tian Wei, Tian Zhi, and Tian Dou. Students under level 25? Tian Wei. Between 25 and 30? Tian Zhi. Over 30? Tian Dou. Teachers followed similar lines: spirit power between 40 and 50 meant Tian Wei, 50 to 60 was Tian Zhi, and above 60 made you Tian Dou.
It wasn't long before Yin Xuan got his uniform. Plus, he received a badge marking him as a Tian Zhi-level student.
Ever since his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul awakened, Yin Xuan honestly looked incredible — rare kind of handsome. And after dying, then coming back with some twisted, dark change, he looked even colder, fiercer. Add that uniform, and he looked like someone straight out of a painting.
Thanks to his spirit power rising and the crazy boost from his blue silver emperor right leg bone, his height shot up fast in just two years. The kid look was gone. He looked older, sharper.
Then a voice cut through the quiet. "Three instructors?"
Yin Xuan looked up.
A guy walked in — tall, sharp features, dressed in white and green with gold details. Looked rich, looked strong.
"Yin Xuan, that's your new teacher, Qin Ming!" Chief Instructor explained. "He's a real star around here. Only thirty, already a level fifty-three Spirit King. Everybody says he might reach Titled Douluo someday."
Yin Xuan finally put a name to the face. So this was Qin Ming.
Qin Ming stepped up, eyes flicking to Yin Xuan, a bit of surprise hidden in his expression.
"Hello, Teacher Qin Ming," Yin Xuan said, steady as ever.
"Hello," Qin Ming replied.
Chief Instructor introduced him. "Qin Ming, this is Yin Xuan. Twenty-sixth level, two-ring Battle Spirit Master, attack type. His Spirit is Shadow Demon Grass. He'll be joining your class."
Qin Ming nodded. "Alright!"
Chief Instructor smiled. "Yin Xuan, go with Qin Ming. Give it your all."
Yin Xuan nodded back.
Qin Ming studied him from up close. After only a couple minutes, he already felt like he could sum up Yin Xuan's personality.
"Follow me," Qin Ming said, smiling.
Yin Xuan bowed to everyone, then went along. Qin Ming glanced at him, mumbling under his breath, "Yin Xuan… not the friendliest-sounding name, is it?" He kept stealing glances, clearly curious.
Yin Xuan caught him. "Do you want to ask something, Teacher Qin Ming?"
Qin Ming waved it off quickly, chuckling. "Nah, nothing."
Soon, they reached Qin Ming's classroom. The place was loud, buzzing with talk — almost enough to shake the building.
But Qin Ming stepped inside, and instantly, silence fell. Everyone got serious, pretending to focus. But when they spotted Yin Xuan, people were surprised. A new face. Someone different.