Nuoding Academy

Nuoding City was nothing more than an inconspicuous little city on the remote fringes of Douluo Continent.

Even so, it was still bustling with people coming and going.

The land nurtured its people. In a world centered around cultivation, both the men and women here were, on average, far more attractive than those on Earth.

Many young women had slender waists and lovely faces. But Zhao Ming was not particularly interested. After all, he would soon win over the beautiful Xiao Wu.

Zhao Ming strolled down the streets of Nuoding City by himself, looking here and there.

It felt like taking in the sights of another world!

Nuoding Academy was known to everyone in Nuoding City, because it could train Soul Masters! And Soul Masters, even ordinary ones, were absolutely noble!

After casually asking passersby for Nuoding Academy's location, Zhao Ming headed straight toward it.

Nuoding Academy stood in the western part of Nuoding City.

From afar, Zhao Ming saw a towering archway. It was twenty meters wide and over ten meters tall, built entirely from hard stone. Beneath it stood two iron gates that looked exceedingly thick and sturdy.

"Stop. What are you here for?" As soon as Zhao Ming reached the entrance, a young gatekeeper stopped him.

"I'm here to enroll at Nuoding Academy." Zhao Ming curled his lip.

"Enroll? Where are your supporting documents?" the young man asked mildly. Seeing Zhao Ming's fine clothes, he could not help softening his tone.

However, Zhao Ming frowned. He somehow felt that this scene was strangely familiar.

Then he remembered. Wasn't this the gatekeeper from the original story who had made things difficult for Tang San?

"I don't have a certificate from Spirit Hall, but I have this." Zhao Ming smiled faintly as Soul Power radiated from his body, carrying powerful fluctuations.

"What are you here for if you don't have any documents? I—" Hearing that Zhao Ming lacked Spirit Hall documentation, the young man spoke irritably. But before he could finish, he froze.

The Soul Power fluctuations around Zhao Ming were extremely strong. Though he could not determine Zhao Ming's exact level of Soul Power, he knew that a new student with such intense fluctuations had to be a genius. His background must be extraordinary as well!

"Young Master, I may have spoken somewhat rudely just now. Please don't take it to heart." The gatekeeper looked at Zhao Ming with a smiling face and obvious respect. After working as Nuoding Academy's gatekeeper for so many years, the first thing he had learned was how to read people. He knew Zhao Ming was definitely someone he could not afford to offend.

"It's fine. By the way, what's your name?"

"Young Master, this lowly one is called Li Qi. I'm a gatekeeper here," the young man said flatteringly.

"Li Qi, have you seen someone named Tang San recently?" Zhao Ming asked expectantly. He did not know whether Tang San had arrived yet. He did not want Tang San to get here before him. If that happened, Tang San might get to know Xiao Wu first and perhaps even sleep with her. That was something he did not want to see.

"Tang San? No, I haven't. Is he a friend of yours, Young Master?" Li Qi asked curiously, silently committing the name to memory.

"You're overthinking it. He and I are not friends." Zhao Ming smiled faintly, a trace of disdain appearing in his eyes. Li Qi happened to catch it.

"Rest assured, Young Master. We'll certainly give him a warm welcome," the gatekeeper said sinisterly.

"I didn't say anything." With that, Zhao Ming had already walked away.

Back when he had been reading the novel, Zhao Ming had disliked Tang San for a long time.

Now that he had come to the plane of Douluo Continent, the first thing he would do was beat Tang San up!

Tang San and Grandmaster, this master-disciple pair, were both no good.

It could be said that their eventual success was all due to the love lingering deep in Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong's hearts.

Because of Bibi Dong's love for Grandmaster, she softened her heart time and again. It could be said that her repeated indulgence allowed Grandmaster to forge a weapon that would eventually be turned against her.

Because of Qian Renxue's love for Tang San, after inheriting the Angel God's Divine Position, she had not hardened her heart enough to kill Tang San and had let him go instead, allowing him to obtain the Sea God's Divine Position. In the end, it led to her eternal damnation.

Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue had not failed because Tang San was too strong, nor because Grandmaster was too clever.

They had lost to love.

Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, mother and daughter, had each been completely wrapped around the fingers of Grandmaster and Tang San, master and disciple. What was there left to fight for?

They could have declared the ending right away, yet they insisted on making it seem as though his cultivation had been full of danger. If Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue had not gone easy on them, what the hell were they worth?

To be honest, Tang Dou Dou was not even as good as Xiao Huohuo next door. At least Hun Tiandi had not gone easy on Xiao Huohuo. Before Tang Dou Dou became a god, Qian Renxue had already become the Angel God. If she had not been unable to let go, she could have killed him outright. Don't bring up Guanyin's Tears—it had only lightly injured Qian Renxue, while Tang San had exhausted all his strength at the time. If Qian Renxue had been even a little more ruthless, Tang San would have died long ago.

Tang San had transmigrated with Tang Sect's Compendium of Hidden Weapons and Tang Sect Techniques.

His father was the youngest Titled Douluo in history. His sect was the number one sect in the world. His aunt was the Moon Pavilion Master. He himself possessed the talent of Twin Martial Souls, while his teammates were either from great clans or monstrously gifted. Tang San was a cheat among cheats, yet he still needed his enemies to go easy on him to win.

What use was a protagonist like that? Even Xiao Huohuo next door was more impressive.

But now, he was the protagonist of Douluo Continent! As the saying went, one mountain could not hold two tigers. One world could not hold two protagonists either! In his hands, Tang San could only become a tragedy.

Near the entrance inside Nuoding Academy stood a notice board with a map of the academy drawn on it.

Zhao Ming gave it a quick look. The academy was mainly divided into several areas: the main teaching building, the training field, and the dormitory building east of the training field.

Following the map's directions, Zhao Ming headed toward the teaching building.

The Academic Affairs Office was on the first floor of the main teaching building. The person specifically responsible for receiving new students was a middle-aged teacher who appeared to be in his sixties, assisted by two young teachers under thirty.

Every year, there were not many children in Nuoding City and the surrounding villages who possessed the qualifications to become Soul Masters. Nuoding Academy could only accept forty or fifty children each year.

Thus, the teachers in the admissions office were relatively idle.

The moment Zhao Ming appeared, he drew the attention of all three teachers.

"Teacher, I'm here to enroll." Zhao Ming walked to the desk of the older teacher in the middle and spoke.

"You're here to enroll? Are you alone?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Please present your Spirit Hall certification!" the older teacher said seriously.

"Teacher, I don't have documentation from Spirit Hall. Could I use some other proof instead?"

"No Spirit Hall documentation? Are you kidding? Kid, get out of here. Don't interrupt our work." The young teacher beside him immediately darkened when he heard that Zhao Ming had no supporting documents from Spirit Hall.

After all, in Nuoding City and the surrounding areas, all children of the proper age completed their Martial Soul Awakening at Spirit Hall.

Therefore, every child capable of becoming a Soul Master possessed a certificate from their Martial Soul Awakening. It recorded details such as their Innate Soul Power and Martial Soul.

This was also an important basis for Nuoding Academy's student admissions.

"Although I don't have a Spirit Hall Martial Soul Awakening certificate, I'm already a Soul Master."

Zhao Ming smiled faintly and took a step forward!

Smack!

Waves of energy rippled outward from Zhao Ming!

Soul Master-level Soul Power surged forth, leaving all three of them dumbfounded!

"A Soul Master? Those are Soul Master energy fluctuations. You've already obtained a Soul Ring and become a Soul Master?" After swallowing hard, the three stood up at the same time in shock.

"Child, let me see your hand." The elderly teacher's face was full of delight as he spoke in a trembling voice.

Understanding his meaning, Zhao Ming placed his right hand on the table.

The elderly teacher gently felt Zhao Ming's hand and said excitedly, "A Soul Master! He really is a Soul Master!"

"Director Su, is this real?" the young teacher asked in disbelief.

It was not that he did not believe geniuses existed in this world. He simply could not believe that such a genius would come to their Nuoding Academy!

If a higher-level Soul Master Academy learned of such talent, they would probably beg him to join them!

"It's real. His Bone Age is normal, and his Soul Power carries the fluctuations of an eleventh-level Soul Master."