Successful Enrollment: The New Wave Crashes Down on the Old

Meng Shenji spoke at once, his tone utterly serious. "Your Majesty! This boy is a peerless uncut jade, a talent that outshines both past and present! We must never let a genius of this caliber slip away! Our academy will devote all its resources to nurturing young friend Gan Lin and make sure this once-in-an-age prodigy stays here to continue his studies!"

Bai Baoshan hurriedly chimed in, thumping his chest. "That's right! We absolutely must make him a priority! From today onward, young friend Gan Lin will be our academy's highest-priority core student. Every resource, facility, cultivation manual, and teacher in the academy will be available to him without conditions!"

Zhi Lin nodded beside them and added, "We'll tailor a cultivation plan especially for you. We won't let ordinary students' classes hold back your cultivation."

The three were exceptionally eager, afraid that this peerless genius might turn around and choose another academy, costing them a heaven-sent opportunity.

As soon as they finished speaking, the three education committee members took the lead, escorting the two into the academy and personally handling every enrollment formality for Gan Lin. They worked with remarkable speed, leaving Dugu Bo and Gan Lin nothing to worry about. They registered his name, entered his student records, assigned him Heaven Dou Grade student status, and filed his special training privileges. In just a few moments, everything was complete, and they even placed the jade student token marking him as a core student into Gan Lin's hands themselves.

Once the formalities were complete, the three enthusiastically showed Gan Lin around the academy, introducing all its facilities along the way and doing their utmost to show off its advantages.

Walking beside him, Meng Shenji smiled and patiently explained, "Young friend Gan Lin, our academy has the finest private cultivation chambers in the empire. They contain spirit-gathering formations, and the concentration of Soul Power inside is several times that of the outside world. We also have a constant-temperature Soul Power cultivation secret realm and body-tempering grounds for each attribute, suited to the cultivation of Soul Masters of every attribute. Our library houses tens of thousands of texts on Soul Master theory, practical combat tactics, and insights into the analysis of Soul Skills from across the continent. They're all open to you free of charge, and you can consult them whenever you like."

Bai Baoshan followed up in an especially hearty tone. "The academy provides dedicated Heaven Dou Grade special instructors and combat instructors. Whether it's theory, wilderness training, honing your Soul Skills, or combat techniques, someone will be there to teach you one-on-one. We also have our own Soul Beast training forest, a high-grade spiritual Qi herb garden, and high-grade formations that boost cultivation, all to support your training! If you need anything for your cultivation, just tell us."

Zhi Lin was more attentive to detail and spoke about his living arrangements. "As for your daily needs, we've arranged a top-grade private courtyard for you, with its own entrance and cultivation chamber. Your own board and lodging, monthly cultivation resources, and point subsidies will all be provided free of charge! The academy's Soul Tool room, forge, and medicine-making room are open to you as well. If you need anything, you can tell the academic affairs office at any time, and the whole academy will do everything it can to help."

The three spoke on and on, their voices eager, as if they wished they could lay out every advantage the academy had all at once. Their thoughts and their eyes were filled with the importance they placed on this peerless genius and their hopes for him.

Gan Lin walked along the academy's bluestone path, listening to their enthusiastic introductions, and felt only a quiet helplessness.

These top-grade resources did look lavish, but they were still of little use to him. He had the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, possessed several supreme treasures, and had long since established his own cultivation system.

Sure enough, coming to the academy to study really was a complete waste of time.

But looking at Dugu Bo beside him, who appeared calm and clearly pleased, and the expectant expressions of the three committee members, he swallowed his complaints in the end. He nodded obediently and gave a word of assent.

Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it.

He would treat it as a chance to temper his temperament and experience life among people his own age. That way, he would not let down the care Aunt Ye and Grandpa had put into this.

As they spoke, two slender girls came toward them along the tree-lined path ahead, which was planted with silver firs. One wore a fitted purple outfit, her hair tied high and her features bright and pretty. It was Dugu Yan. The girl beside her wore a plain white dress and had a gentle, quiet air. She was Ye Lingling. The two were walking together toward the teaching building, preparing to attend their morning practical combat class.

Sharp-eyed Dugu Yan spotted her grandfather from afar. She froze for a moment, then hurried over, sounding a little surprised. "Grandpa? What brings you to the academy?"

Before she had finished speaking, her gaze landed on Gan Lin beside Dugu Bo, and her eyes lit up. "Xiaolin? What are you doing here too?"

Ye Lingling followed close behind. When she saw Gan Lin, a gentle smile spread across her cool features, and she gave a slight nod. "Xiaolin."

Dugu Bo snorted and said mildly, "I brought this boy here to enroll. He'll be studying at your academy from now on."

"Really?" Dugu Yan was overjoyed. She reached out to ruffle Gan Lin's hair, her tone hearty. "That's wonderful! You'll be staying at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy from now on, and with your big sister here, no one will dare bully you. If anyone gives you trouble, just tell them my name, Dugu Yan. I guarantee it'll work!"

Ye Lingling gently chimed in beside her, her voice soft and clear. "I... will too."

In their eyes, Gan Lin looked only six years old, at most a young student who had awakened his Martial Soul not long ago. Once he joined the academy, he would inevitably be shunned by the older students. Naturally, they had instinctively thought of looking after him, their hearts set on protecting this well-behaved little brother.

Dugu Bo looked at his granddaughter acting like a big sister in charge, and an amused smile curved his lips. He turned his head and glanced at Gan Lin. "All right, enough talking. Show your Soul Rings to Sister Yanzi and Lingling."

Gan Lin said no more. He focused slightly, and his Soul Power began to circulate quietly. Three Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet and circled steadily around him. The first, deep-hued ring was steady and restrained; light flowed over the black second ring. The third and outermost ring drew the most attention—it was a strange ring of intertwined red and blue, surrounded by the deep halo unique to a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

A level thirty-five Power Attack System Soul Elder, and his Second Soul Ring was already at the ten-thousand-year level!

The air fell silent in an instant.

Dugu Yan's outstretched hand froze in midair, and the smile on her face stiffened completely. She stared wide-eyed at the three Soul Rings, especially that ten-thousand-year halo, utterly dumbfounded. She opened her mouth, but for a long while she could not utter a word. Her cheeks felt slightly hot. Just a moment ago, she had been thumping her chest and promising to protect him, only for his cultivation to be on par with hers and the quality of his Soul Rings far superior. Just who was protecting whom here?

Ye Lingling's eyes widened in astonishment too, her usually calm face full of disbelief. She herself was only a Soul Elder at level thirty-something, and her Third Soul Ring was only of the thousand-year grade. Yet this child before her, only six years old, had not only entered the Soul Elder realm early but also possessed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. With talent like that, let alone among his own generation, even among all the older students in the academy, there were hardly any who could compare with him.

Only the rustle of wind through the leaves remained in the grove. The two girls looked at each other, both silent for a moment.

Watching the scene from the side, Meng Shenji and the other two could not help chuckling under their breath. Bai Baoshan stroked his beard and said cheerfully, "You two little girls, this younger brother Gan Lin of yours is the finest genius our academy has ever seen. From now on, you might well be the ones asking him for guidance."