Canghui Academy

"Patriarch Chao, no need to see us off. We can go on our own."

"That's right, Mom. I'll take my cousin there."

Xu Mingxi stood beside Chao Tianxiang and waved goodbye to Chao Grandmother. After this, he would be living at the academy and basically would not be coming back.

Today was the day they had arranged to meet the dean of Canghui Academy. Xu Fangzhuo drove the carriage, taking Xu Mingxi and Chao Tianxiang toward the academy.

Canghui Academy was located in the southern part of Blue Sunshine City. The start of term had already passed, and Xu Mingxi was a transfer student getting in through the back door.

By the time they reached the gate, a teacher was already standing there to welcome them.

Xu Fangzhuo had met this man yesterday. He was Director Pan, who specialized in handling all sorts of miscellaneous affairs at Canghui Academy, a rank 54 control-system battle Soul King with the Crag Vulture Bracelet martial soul.

"Lord Xu, you're here. The dean is already waiting for you in his office. Please, come in."

Xu Mingxi followed Uncle Fangzhuo and nodded in greeting. Chao Yunxiang had already gotten off the carriage before they reached the school and would go look for him after Xu Mingxi enrolled.

Stepping into Canghui Academy for the first time, Xu Mingxi almost fell into a daze, thinking for a moment that he had returned to the university of his previous life.

"Fangzhuo, over here."

An aged voice with a hint of hoarseness pulled Xu Mingxi back to himself. He turned to look and saw an old man with a face full of wrinkles and old-fashioned clothing waving at them.

Xu Fangzhuo went up to him with a smile as well, while Director Pan very tactfully vanished on the spot.

The dean of Canghui Academy was named Wen Liang. He had been the captain of Canghui Academy's school team in Xu Fangzhuo's year.

He was now sixty-two years old, a rank 71 assault-system battle Soul Saint with the Diamond Arm Armor martial soul.

"Zhuo, this must be the junior from your clan. He really doesn't look seventeen."

"Old Wen, that's not what we agreed on yesterday."

"Aiyo, look at this mouth of mine. Don't mind me, don't mind me. This child of yours does look quite young."

The two of them tacitly began talking about their days on the school team, while Xu Mingxi obediently sat to the side, occasionally refilling their tea.

"Zhuo, I trust your character, but the academy has its rules. There are still some procedures we have to go through."

"Of course. I won't make things difficult for you, Old Wen."

At a look from Uncle Fangzhuo, Xu Mingxi stood up at once. The Star Crown Martial Soul appeared, and three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—flickered above him.

"Good. In that case, Mingxi, you'll go to the Star Dou Class.

"They're all little geniuses at the Soul Elder level. You should have some common topics to talk about."

Canghui Academy's class divisions were copied directly from Heaven Dou Royal Academy, though some small adjustments had been made to account for their actual situation.

Ranks fifteen to twenty were Star Micro Level, and ranks twenty to thirty were Star Arrived Level.

Ranks thirty to thirty-five were Star Dou Level, and anyone above rank thirty-five could graduate.

Most of Canghui Academy's students were commoners and members of small to medium-sized clans from nearby. Its student quality could not compare with Heaven Dou Royal Academy at all. Across the entire Star Dou Level, there was only one class.

Xu Mingxi had not really come here to study. The Sect Master merely wanted him to come into contact with the outside world.

At the same time, he could participate in the next Soul Master Competition under Canghui Academy's name. They were not expecting any results; they just wanted him to broaden his horizons.

The dean gave Xu Mingxi a rough introduction to the situation in Star Dou Class.

The homeroom teacher was Yan Feng, a rank 51 agility-attack-system battle Soul King with the Azure Wind Wolf martial soul.

Xu Mingxi also saw a familiar name on the list: Ye Zhiqiu, martial soul Black Tortoise, rank 32 assault-system battle Soul Elder.

"Then I'll take you to class, Student Mingxi. That way, you can get to know everyone."

Xu Mingxi nodded to Uncle Fangzhuo and followed behind the dean toward Star Dou Class.

After bidding farewell to the dean, Xu Fangzhuo returned to the sect to report back. From here on, other people would be responsible for Xu Mingxi's safety and freedom.

Before they even got close to the classroom, Xu Mingxi heard the sound of an argument coming from inside.

"Ye Zhiqiu, you damned turtle, can you get lost already?"

"Tingyu, I really do like you. Can't you give me one chance?"

Looks like life from now on will be pretty lively, Xu Mingxi thought, following behind the dean into the classroom in a mood of watching the show.

"What are you arguing about? What are you arguing about? Ye Zhiqiu, you brat, causing trouble again.

"Harassing a classmate, are you? Your training will be doubled for the next three days. Oh, no, doubled for seven days."

Xu Mingxi suddenly remembered that this Tingyu seemed to have the surname Wen.

Ye Zhiqiu did not dare provoke the dean's temper. If he talked back, it might turn into a month.

"I've brought you all a new classmate. Give him a round of applause."

"Hello, everyone. My name is Xu Mingxi. I'm seventeen this year, a rank 32 control-system Soul Elder, martial soul Star Crown."

The people in the classroom looked at Xu Mingxi in surprise and doubt. This new classmate looked way too young.

After hearing Xu Mingxi's introduction, disbelieving chatter broke out below the platform.

"Seventeen? He doesn't look it."

"That's amazing. He's already a Soul Elder at seventeen."

Knock, knock, knock. (Rapping on the blackboard.)

"Quiet. Mingxi is younger than all of you, so none of you are allowed to bully him.

"Tingyu, show him around the academy in a bit."

The moment the dean left, everyone looked at Xu Mingxi curiously.

Ye Zhiqiu even stood up at once and walked over.

"Kid, I'm the boss of this class. From now on, you listen to me. Got it?"

Before Xu Mingxi could speak, Wen Tingyu hurried over to stop him. This was someone her father had personally told her to look after.

"You damned tortoise, you got a death wish? He's under my protection."

"Tingyu, I was just trying to take care of the new classmate."

"I think you're trying to die. Want me to spar with you? Also, call me by my full name from now on."

That tone. That presence. Xu Mingxi's eyes shone; he only wanted to wave a flag and cheer Wen Tingyu on.

After dealing with Ye Zhiqiu, Wen Tingyu turned back and greeted Xu Mingxi.

"Wen Tingyu. Rank thirty-eight assault-type Battle Soul Elder. Martial soul, Diamond Arm Armor."

"And me. Zhou Lingling. Rank thirty-one support-type Soul Elder. Martial soul, Jade Bracelet."

The one speaking from behind was the little follower who had been trailing Wen Tingyu all along.

Xu Mingxi looked around and realized that the entire Star Dou Class only had six people including himself. They couldn't even put together a full competition team.

Wen Tingyu and Zhou Lingling led Xu Mingxi around campus, introducing him to the situation in Star Dou Class.

It turned out that Star Dou Class originally had six people, but one of them had gone home.

The person who had gone home was called Luo Yun, a rank thirty-eight assault-type Battle Soul Elder with the martial soul Starry Tiger.

He was the Third Prince of the Star Luo Kingdom, as well as the strongest person in the class. The only reason he had not graduated yet was to take part in the next Soul Master Competition.

"Mingxi, Luo Yun's actually a pretty good person.

"He's also the captain of our school team. With him around, Ye Zhiqiu doesn't dare cause trouble at all."

But Xu Mingxi was not thinking about that. He was thinking about the Starry Tiger martial soul.

Wasn't that the one he had seen when hunting for his second soul ring? His grandfather had even caught it and taken it home to raise.

The remaining two people in the class were called Yun Ni and Xiong Lie, both rank thirty-one Soul Elders.

One was an agility-attack type with the martial soul Cloud Sky Finch, and the other was an assault type with the martial soul Blazing Fire Bear.

With Xu Mingxi added in, they just happened to form a competition team made entirely of Soul Elders.

And with more than a year left before the next Soul Master Competition, maybe someone might even break through to Soul Ancestor.

Xu Mingxi said goodbye to Wen Tingyu and Zhou Lingling, then went to Star Arrived Class to greet Chao Tianxiang before heading straight back to the dorm.

Uncle Fangzhuo had already found someone to tidy up the dorm for him, and there was even a potted plant placed by the head of the bed.

This was the Gathering Star Grass that Xu Fangzhuo had carried all the way from Starfall Mountain, giving Xu Mingxi, who was out training, something to hold on to.

"Little grass, from now on, it'll be you and me together. We'll definitely be able to climb to that position."

Xu Mingxi was full of confidence in his future. Clear Sky Sect, Spirit Hall—whatever stood in his way, he would beat it all flat.

The next day, Xu Mingxi was beaten flat by someone else, sprawled on the ground and questioning his life.

Looking at Luo Yun opposite him, completely unharmed and barely even sweating, Xu Mingxi simply wanted to cover his face.

Wait, am I really this weak?

"Mingxi, are you all right?"

"Captain, you're way too strong. My Star Net couldn't bind you at all."

Naturally, when Xu Mingxi displayed his soul skills to outsiders, he would not show everything.

His First Soul Skill, Star Flash, could draw in starlight and blind people, though it did not distinguish between friend and foe.

His Second Soul Skill, Star Light Ray, summoned a beam of starlight to deal single-target damage to an enemy.

His Third Soul Skill, Star Net, wove starlight into a net and shot it out to restrain the enemy.

"It's only because my Soul Power is a bit higher, and my martial soul is somewhat special."

Luo Yun was also very surprised. This new classmate's martial soul could actually amplify his own martial soul.

He felt that he could even absorb the starlight the new classmate summoned, and his speed had become more than a level faster.

This discovery made his eyes shine. This new classmate was practically the perfect support for him.

"Captain, you can't bully little brother Mingxi."

"How could I? I never bully people. Isn't that right, Ye Zhiqiu?"

"Brother Luo Yun is right."

"Pfft."

Looking at Ye Zhiqiu, who had almost shrunk into the corner, Xu Mingxi could not help finding it funny too.

Like this, he really did look a little too much like his martial soul.

The whole place was filled with laughter. Only a world where Ye Zhiqiu got hurt had been achieved.