Where the Dream Began: Eastsea Intermediate Soul Master Academy

At Eastsea Intermediate Academy, Chen Jianshu arrived at the registration desk with his recommendation letter. When he registered his level, it drew repeated exclamations of amazement from everyone.

After enrolling, he soon made his way to his dormitory, room 201. He opened the door and found it full of familiar faces.

Zhang Yangzi, Wang Jinxi, and Wei Xiaofeng all looked over at the sound and were surprised to see Chen Jianshu.

"Jianshu? We all know each other!"

Zhang Yangzi was surprised to find that everyone in the dorm was a classmate he knew.

He had expected to meet plenty of new classmates at Eastsea Intermediate Academy, only to find himself surrounded by people he already knew.

"I didn't expect us to be assigned to the same dorm either."

Chen Jianshu tossed his all-in-one tent onto his bed. Technology was highly advanced these days, and people generally used this kind of all-in-one tent.

Seeing that they all knew one another, the boys who had initially been reserved relaxed, and soon they were chatting animatedly.

"Xiaofeng, what level are you? Did you make any progress over summer break?"

"Of course I did. I'm already level twenty-six. What about you two?"

"I'm level twenty-five."

"I'm level twenty-five too."

"You two are trash!"

"What are you barking like a dog for? Can you even beat Jinxi?"

"Hmph, my level's higher than both of yours."

The dorm immediately grew lively. It looked like things would be noisy there from now on. Then the boys abruptly changed the subject.

"Right, didn't Xie Xie enroll at Eastsea Intermediate Academy too?"

"I think so. Let's look for him later."

All of a sudden, the topic turned to Xie Xie. Back at the junior academy, it had mostly been the few geniuses who hung out together.

The geniuses formed a little group of their own, while the ordinary geniuses formed another. Differences in talent mainly led to things like generation gaps.

"By the way, Jianshu, I think Xu Xiaoyan enrolled at Eastsea Intermediate Academy too. Have you heard from her?"

Wei Xiaofeng turned to ask Chen Jianshu, who had finished making his bed. Back at Eastsea Junior Academy, he was the one who got along best with that scheming Xu Xiaoyan.

"Hm? I think she mentioned it... But I was busy most of the summer, so I barely kept in touch with Xu Xiaoyan."

Chen Jianshu shook his head slightly. Xu Xiaoyan had helped him once in the Turbulent Period Spirit Ascension Platform, and they had kept in touch afterward, though they were only ordinary friends.

"All right. We should get everyone from Eastsea Junior Academy together sometime."

Wei Xiaofeng nodded and suggested they all meet up sometime. While they were chatting, his phone suddenly chimed.

Chen Jianshu picked up his phone and saw a message from Xu Xiaoyan. He opened it immediately.

[Starry Sky]: A Shu, could you pick up a package for me at the Eastsea Academy parcel station? I haven't arrived at the academy yet, and I'm afraid it'll get stolen.

[Wangshu]: I've got nothing to do anyway. Send me the details.

[Starry Sky]: Pickup code: 91-2-1145.

: Thanks!

: [Thank you.jpg]

After replying, he put his phone away and looked up. Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, and Wei Xiaofeng, who had been in front of him just moments ago, had somehow appeared beside him and were peeking at his phone.

His mighty frame jolted, and he jumped in fright. Damn it, why are you all like ghosts?!

"What are you doing?! You scared me to death..."

Chen Jianshu stared at them in bewilderment. Seriously? It's just a message. Is all this necessary?

The three exchanged glances and broke into meaningful smiles. Then Wei Xiaofeng put on a high-pitched voice and said,

"A Shu~ How intimate, A Shu~ Could you pick up a package for me~? I haven't arrived at Eastsea Academy yet, and I'm afraid it'll get stolen~"

He pressed his legs slightly together and struck an affected pose, feeling goosebumps rise all over his own body.

"Sigh~ I've got nothing to do anyway. Send me the details."

Zhang Yangzi sighed and recited Chen Jianshu's reply. Wei Xiaofeng kept up the high-pitched voice, making eyes at him as he continued,

"Thank you, A Shu~ Heart for you~"

Watching Wei Xiaofeng's exaggerated performance, Chen Jianshu put a hand to his forehead. Then, without indulging him any longer, he summoned two purple Soul Rings around himself. His First Soul Skill flashed, and two hundred Iron Swords appeared around them, all aimed at Wei Xiaofeng, who was still striking his coy pose.

"Having fun?"

Chen Jianshu spoke with a half-smile. At the sight of the Iron Swords filling the dorm, all three went rigid. Wang Jinxi immediately lost his nerve.

"I didn't do anything! I won't bother you. I'm leaving!"

He turned and ran as he spoke, blocking the dorm door on his way out. Zhang Yangzi and Wei Xiaofeng immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Zhang Yangzi forced a stiff smile and tried to make peace.

"Um... Jianshu, let me explain..."

Wei Xiaofeng looked at the many Iron Swords, his scalp tingling. The two purple Soul Rings on Chen Jianshu also made his heart pound.

"Jianshu, I just realized you seem to take things pretty seriously."

A few piercing screams rang out from the dorm. A moment later, Chen Jianshu walked out unharmed. Wang Jinxi watched him leave, then peered curiously inside.

Zhang Yangzi and Wei Xiaofeng were sprawled on the floor, with several bumps on their heads. Wang Jinxi broke into a sweat. Luckily, he hadn't joined them in courting death.

Meanwhile, Chen Jianshu went to Eastsea Academy's parcel station to look for Xu Xiaoyan's package.

After a brief search, he soon found it, but something about the package seemed off.

On the parcel shelf, he spotted a roughly 1.9-meter-tall, human-shaped package. It was crudely wrapped in a green bag, its human shape unmistakable.

It had arms and legs. He stared at Xu Xiaoyan's message in disbelief. Did you freaking buy a person? Seriously, dude?

Chen Jianshu checked the code on the package again. Only after confirming it was correct did he establish that it was Xu Xiaoyan's package. At the same time, a question mark appeared in his mind.

What did she buy? Human trafficking is illegal, isn't it? With that thought, he reached out and took it down. It seemed to be a doll, and it felt like one. He immediately understood. So it's just a doll. That scared me.

He really had thought it was human trafficking or something of the sort. He had even thought the world had changed.

He promptly put it into his Storage Soul Tool. Now all that remained was to wait for Xu Xiaoyan to come and collect it herself.

With nothing to do, Chen Jianshu yawned. Then he spotted a familiar figure: the brown-haired Xie Xie slipped into a small grove with a black-haired figure.

Out of curiosity, he immediately followed them. After demonstrating the strength of a two-ring Soul Master, Xie Xie grew somewhat overconfident and kept toying with Tang Wulin.

But when the Light Dragon Dagger lightly touched Tang Wulin, he unleashed a powerful dragon might and sent Xie Xie flying two li with an elbow strike.

P.S. First update for July 17, two thousand characters.