Wind Sand Town

"Little Dragon, I know you've been clever since you were a child. This time, the village's Work-Study Student spot is yours. That place isn't like our broken village—don't get into conflicts with anyone there. Cultivating your Martial Soul is your only way out."

Eggplant Village's old village chief tirelessly lectured Xu Wenlong, passing on his wisdom, and Xu Wenlong listened patiently.

Early in the morning, the two of them boarded a carriage borrowed from a neighboring village and set off on the road to the town.

Along the way, there was nothing but sand, and gusts of wind would occasionally whip up the sand into whirlwinds of various sizes.

Xu Wenlong had grown accustomed to the endless yellow sand. Years of experience had long since gotten him used to this European medieval-style life without Wi-Fi or electronics. The only consolation was that, unlike the real Middle Ages, food shortages weren't an issue here.

Although Douluo Continent had a European medieval backdrop and an organization like Martial Soul Hall that resembled the Church, the existence of Soul Masters and Soul Power changed things.

Support-type Soul Masters could conjure food out of thin air using their Soul Power, while ordinary folks could use their own Martial Souls to farm and plant more efficiently.

As for meat, the habitats of soul beasts on Douluo Continent were everywhere. It wasn't until Douluo IV that they became endangered—even Douluo II, ten thousand years later, only worried about it. Just think about that.

Besides, many Food-type Soul Masters had Martial Souls that produced meat-based food. Clearly, Soul Power was the primary productive force on Douluo Continent!

Lost in thought, the carriage arrived at the town that governed Eggplant Village—Wind Sand Town!

This was Xu Wenlong's first time in Wind Sand Town. It gave him the same feeling as watching those foreign medieval movies and TV shows.

But the difference was that, thanks to Soul Masters and Soul Power, even Wind Sand Town—a place that didn't even rank in the Heaven Dou Empire—could still rival the medieval cities in Xu Wenlong's memory.

The carriage slowly joined the line of people waiting to enter Wind Sand Town.

Since people from nearby villages came to Wind Sand Town every day, and the town wasn't large, it always felt bustling. But in reality, Wind Sand Town wasn't developed.

Still, it was a town with a Martial Soul Hall garrison—Eggplant Village couldn't compare.

After waiting in line for a long time, Xu Wenlong and the village chief finally entered.

Just as Xu Wenlong had imagined, the entire city wall of Wind Sand Town wasn't very big. Without guns or cannons, there was no need to build the walls too thick.

As for whether Soul Masters would attack—are you kidding? This is the floor tile of fantasy worlds, after all.

To be honest, if not for the fact that Titled Douluo could fly, Xu Wenlong wondered if even a Titled Douluo would have to tank the city wall to break through Wind Sand Town.

Compared to the thick, ancient city walls of his past life, Wind Sand Town's walls looked flimsy. So entering was just a brief moment of darkness.

Then, what appeared before Xu Wenlong was a city that felt like a European medieval town but with some extra elements mixed in.

At least he didn't have to worry about stepping in filth on the streets.

Also, thanks to the existence of Martial Souls, people could wear clothes made of more than just sackcloth—it had a bit of that Japanese light novel feel.

But compared to the people of Wind Sand Town, Xu Wenlong and the village chief probably seemed more backward.

The carriage moved slowly, and Xu Wenlong looked around curiously.

After all, TV was TV, and anime was anime. Actually coming to a world completely different from his past life was bound to spark curiosity.

Xu Wenlong's eyes were full of wonder.

The residents of Wind Sand Town only occasionally glanced at the villagers from the town's satellite villages or other newcomers passing through.

After all, plenty of people came to Wind Sand Town every day—some from far away, but most were from the satellite villages, here to buy supplies or sell things.

Eventually, the carriage reached its destination. What came into Xu Wenlong's view was an academy with three or four small buildings.

The sign above the gate read: "Wind Sand Town Junior Soul Master Academy"!

Of course, at Wind Sand Town's Junior Soul Master Academy, those who qualified could attend. Becoming a Soul Master—reaching Soul Power Level 10—was basically enough to graduate.

After that, they'd need to go to an intermediate academy, or wait a few years like Tang San and Xiao Wu, who were nearly Level 30 and went straight to a major academy.

After all, an academy's level didn't just represent teaching quality—it also determined the highest level students could cultivate there.

At this Junior Soul Master Academy, most were Soul Grand Masters, with the occasional Soul Elder. The principal or the town mayor might be a Soul Ancestor or higher.

The teachers' levels dictated the level students could stay at.

You couldn't expect a Grandmaster who didn't even know about soul shock from absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring to teach properly, right?

Take the strongest academy in the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Almost everyone there was either rich or noble—only those with high backgrounds or extraordinary talent could attend.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy's principal was usually a Soul Douluo. So even if you reached Soul Ancestor and could graduate, you could still apply to continue training. The principals were happy to see that, since they had rich experience from Soul Ancestor to Soul Douluo to guide you.

And if you became famous, it would bring even more renown to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Xu Wenlong followed the old village chief as he handed a token to the guard at Wind Sand Town Junior Soul Master Academy.

"Hello, I'm the village chief of Eggplant Village. This is the only student from our village this year qualified to attend your esteemed academy. Here's the Work-Study Student token approved by Martial Soul Hall."

The old village chief tremblingly handed over the token. Since every village had a quota, people from various villages brought eligible students to register every year, and the guards were used to it.

"Mm, okay. He can go in. As for you, turn back the way you came!"

The guard pointed at Xu Wenlong, indicating he could enter, but the village chief couldn't.

Though the guards here weren't as outrageous as the one in Notting City, they still carried some arrogance.

The old village chief was used to it. Leaning on his cane, he said to Xu Wenlong, "Little Dragon, study hard at the academy. I'll head back to the village now. Take good care of yourself here alone!"

The old village chief, trembling on his cane, turned around and carefully climbed onto the carriage before it drove away.

"Old village chief, take care on the road!"

Xu Wenlong didn't know what else to say at the moment, so he just waved at the old village chief.

Xu Wenlong watched as the old village chief nodded at him, then drove the horse-drawn cart off into the distance.

Among the crowd, the old village chief's figure gradually faded away until it was gone.

"Alright, next up is..."

Xu Wenlong turned his head and looked toward Wind Sand Town Junior Soul Master Academy, thinking.

Xu Wenlong's eyes were filled with hope.