Enrollment Procedures

The wind in western Nuoding City still carried the chill of early autumn.

Jiang Zhen stood not far from the archway of Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, carrying his neatly packed luggage. He saw two figures being stopped outside the iron gate by the gatekeeper—the stooped Old Jack and the skinny boy in patched coarse cloth.

Jiang Zhen's footsteps paused, and he concealed himself beneath the shade of a tree nearby.

He did not hurry forward. Instead, he looked up and examined the academy: the twenty-meter-wide stone archway was engraved with the four iron characters "Nuoding Academy," the black iron gate gleamed with a cold light, and the ancient trees on both sides of the main road behind the gate blocked out the sky and sun. It was exactly as described in the original work.

Three months ago, after leaving the Soul Hunting Forest, Jiang Zhen had come to Nuoding City and found a secluded inn to stay in.

On one hand, he had been exploring his Martial Soul; on the other, he had cultivated the "Profound Water Clear Mind Art" to minor mastery, and the consumption of Virtual Flow had dropped considerably...

As for his appearance, it had quietly changed during those three months as well. Several light-blue highlights had appeared in his originally black hair, like stream water reflecting the light of the sky;

His eyes had become a clear, pale jade green. When he looked straight ahead, they resembled deep, still water, but when they moved, they carried a watery gleam. His skin had taken on the cold white tone nurtured by years of cultivating a Water Attribute technique, and even his fingertips glimmered with a faint, lustrous sheen.

He was no longer wearing a coarse cloth jacket. Instead, he wore a light-blue Jing Suit, with extremely faint Water Pattern embroidery on the hem and cuffs. The fabric had been bought with Gold Soul Coins from the best cloth shop in Nuoding City. It was light and breathable.

"Can a Golden Phoenix really come out of a grass nest? Even a little village has someone with Soul Power?"

The gatekeeper's sarcastic voice came over and interrupted Jiang Zhen's thoughts.

He looked up and saw Old Jack's face flushed red as he handed over the Martial Soul Proof issued by Su Yuntao, only for the gatekeeper to mock him, claiming that "Blue Silver Grass Innate Full Soul Power" had been forged.

The corner of Jiang Zhen's mouth lifted slightly. As expected, it was just like in the original work—the gatekeeper was trying to take advantage of the opportunity to extort some benefits.

However, he had no interest in meddling in other people's affairs.

Sure enough, before long, Old Jack became so furious that he publicly threatened to report the matter to the Martial Soul Branch Hall. The gatekeeper's expression had only just changed when Tang San suddenly moved.

The skinny figure darted between the two men. He raised his hand, tripped the gatekeeper, shoved him in the stomach, and launched a string of movements so fast they dazzled the eye. With a "plop," the gatekeeper fell onto the ground.

Jiang Zhen watched clearly from beneath the tree's shade, his heart unmoved.

In the memories of his previous life, Tang San's restraint and ruthlessness had already been impossible to conceal from this moment onward. However, in Old Jack and the gatekeeper's eyes, he was merely a "Sensible Child" protecting the village chief.

Just as the gatekeeper was about to climb up and attack, a middle-aged man of average build approached, his eyes carrying a trace of weariness.

He had black short hair with a side part and kept his hands behind his back. He was none other than Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.

The gatekeeper instantly put on an ingratiating smile, while Old Jack hurriedly handed over the proof as well.

Jiang Zhen knew that the famous scene of Tang San acknowledging Grandmaster as his master was about to begin.

He did not continue watching. Instead, he turned and walked toward the Administration Building of the academy.

Compared with watching the "Protagonist Acknowledging Master," he had more important matters to handle—completing his enrollment and obtaining a single dormitory.

The collective dormitories where work-study students lived were messy and cramped. They were not only unfavorable for cultivation but also made it easy to expose his strength. He had no interest in competing with a group of children for beds.

The Administration Building was very quiet. Only a few staff members in gray uniforms were moving about.

Jiang Zhen found the Director's Office in charge of new student enrollment and knocked on the door.

"Come in." An impatient voice came from inside.

Inside the office, a middle-aged man with a protruding belly was bent over the desk, doing accounts. When he looked up and saw Jiang Zhen, his eyes were full of perfunctory indifference. "A new student? Where's your Martial Soul Proof? State your name and village. Once you're done, hurry to the dormitory. There are still people waiting behind you."

Jiang Zhen handed over the Martial Soul Proof issued by Su Yuntao and said calmly, "Jiang Zhen, from Xi Nan Village. Innate Full Soul Power, Water Attribute Martial Soul."

"Innate Full Soul Power?" The Director's originally careless gaze instantly brightened. He picked up the proof and examined it carefully before looking Jiang Zhen up and down—the light-blue highlights in his hair, the jade-green eyes, and the light-blue Jing Suit that clearly was not cheap. No matter how he looked at him, Jiang Zhen did not resemble a Country Child.

Could he be a Noble here to experience ordinary life?

The Director immediately began making calculations. His tone softened considerably. "Student, you're quite impressive. You're a fine prospect. We have quad rooms and eight-person rooms in the dormitories. Which do you prefer?"

Jiang Zhen had come prepared. He took a heavy cloth bag from his robe and gently placed it on the desk.

One corner of the bag's opening loosened, revealing the golden Soul Coins inside. They were a small portion of the 10,000 Gold Soul Coins rewarded by the system. He had specifically taken 200 with him.

"Director," Jiang Zhen said in the same steady voice, "there are too many people in the collective dormitories, and I might disturb others when cultivating at night. Could you make an exception and arrange a single dormitory for me? This is a small token of appreciation. I'm sorry to trouble you."

Two hundred Gold Soul Coins was no small sum for the Director of a Junior Academy. An ordinary family only spent a few Gold Soul Coins on living expenses in an entire year.

The Director's eyes remained fixed on the cloth bag, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the tabletop. The smile on his face immediately became obsequious. "Oh my, Student Jiang Zhen, you understand the rules so well. Of course you'll receive special treatment! A prospect with Innate Full Soul Power truly needs a quiet environment for cultivation. As it happens, there's an unused single dormitory on the top floor. It has good lighting and even a small balcony. I'll complete the procedures for you right away!"

He efficiently filled out the Enrollment Registration Form, then wrote a note for the Dormitory Key and handed both to Jiang Zhen with both hands. He even carefully wrapped the Martial Soul Proof in an envelope. "Student Jiang Zhen, keep the key safe. Your dormitory is 301 on the top floor of the East Building. If you need anything, come to me at any time. The academy's resources will certainly be given priority to a fine prospect like you."

"Thank you, Director." Jiang Zhen accepted the key and proof without saying anything further, then turned and left the office. He could feel the Director's gaze clinging to his back. Clearly, the man still wanted to win him over.

With the key in hand, he walked to the East Building. The top floor was indeed very quiet.

Dorm 301 was not large, but it was very tidy. There was one bed, one desk, and one wardrobe. A small balcony stood beside the window, and the sunlight shone in perfectly.

Jiang Zhen put down his luggage and walked onto the balcony. From there, he could clearly see the academy's training ground and the collective dormitories in the distance.

He opened his System Backpack and checked its contents: nine Beginner Spirit Power Pills, the remaining nine thousand-plus Gold Soul Coins, and the "Compendium of Douluo Continent Soul Beasts." Everything was in order.

Just then, a burst of footsteps came from downstairs.

Jiang Zhen looked down and saw Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang pulling Tang San by the hand as they walked toward the Teaching Building.

Tang San held his head high, a respectful expression on his face, while a rare trace of satisfaction appeared at the corner of Grandmaster's mouth.

Jiang Zhen leaned against the balcony railing, his gaze cold.

He raised his hand, and a tiny Water Ball condensed in his palm. The Water Ball reflected the two figures gradually walking away below, then quickly dispersed into the air.

"Nuoding Academy is only the beginning." Jiang Zhen spoke softly to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

In the days ahead, he would cultivate quietly and increase his Soul Power while observing the movements of Tang San and Grandmaster, avoiding unnecessary contact with them.

When the semester ended and Tang San returned to Holy Spirit Village, Tang Hao would go to speak with Yu Xiaogang.

At that time, Jiang Zhen would have a chance to explore the cave where the Blue Silver Emperor was located.

If his luck was good, perhaps the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone would be there too!

A Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Bone! It was something one could encounter but never seek!

At worst, even if he failed to find the Spirit Bone, he could still take Tang San's mother away.

Heh heh~