First Meeting Tang San

"Teacher was probably frantically digging through reference materials right now."

"At least for today, he wouldn't be wandering around with nothing to do."

After all, without any search function on Douluo Continent, finding information was an exhausting task.

Below the dormitory building, Xiao Xian silently headed toward the academy gates.

Nuoding Academy was enclosed by iron fencing. A broad road led from the gates straight into the academy, lined on both sides with tall trees whose shade was pleasantly cool.

Other than those entering or leaving the academy, few people came here.

Xiao Xian summoned Xiao Jue on this road and began running back and forth.

His body had not fully developed yet, so he could not handle overly intense exercise. Running was all he could do.

Before reaching level ten, he had often trained here with Xiao Jue. The academy's teachers and students, even the gatekeeper, had long grown used to it.

"Pant... pant...!"

In the blink of an eye, three hours passed.

Xiao Xian found a corner and sat beneath the shade, sweat pouring down his body. Xiao Jue lay beside him, panting furiously as well.

After resting for a while, Xiao Xian brushed a hand over his waist and pulled a towel out of thin air. Then he took out a Water Skin and a small basin.

After wiping himself down, Xiao Xian brushed his hand across his waist again and took out a simple tent. Once he had set it up, he slipped inside and quickly changed into a dry white Nuoding Academy uniform. Around his waist was still a belt inlaid with numerous pieces of jade.

This belt was naturally the famed Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night, Tang San's future Storage Spirit Tool.

However, because Xiao Xian had become Master's disciple earlier, Master had already given it to him.

With twenty-four cubic meters of storage space, he had stuffed who knew how much junk inside.

"Judging by the time, it should be about right. The cafeteria should be serving food soon."

As Xiao Xian gathered the things on the ground, he quietly glanced toward the academy gates. They were about a hundred meters away from him, neither too close nor too far.

Another ten-odd minutes passed.

An old man and a child appeared at Nuoding Academy's gates. The old man's clothes were clean but carried the unmistakable air of the countryside. The child was dark-skinned and thin, his clothes covered in patches of every size.

Before long, the two came into conflict with the gatekeeper.

"Sacred Soul Village? More like Beggar Village!"

The gatekeeper's voice drifted over from afar.

"Sacred Soul Village. So it really was them. God King Tang..." Xiao Xian's heart stirred. He slowly rose to his feet and walked over with Xiao Jue.

"You little brat, you're courting death!" In mere moments, the gatekeeper had been shoved to the ground by Tang San. He climbed up in fury and prepared to charge at Tang San.

"Stop!"

Xiao Xian had already drawn near and shouted decisively.

At the same time, he slapped out with his right hand, and a pulling force emerged from his palm.

Caught off guard, the gatekeeper only felt a force tugging him from behind. His feet staggered several steps backward before a small palm pressed against his lower back.

Good. Nothing went wrong.

Xiao Xian muttered inwardly as he inconspicuously glanced at Old Jack and Tang San.

Just as the gatekeeper had been about to rush forward, Tang San's left hand had lifted slightly.

But now, his left hand had dropped again, and he was looking at Xiao Xian with surprise.

Clearly, he had seen the gatekeeper's unnatural backward stumble.

"B-Boss Xiao?!" The gatekeeper saw Xiao Xian behind him, and his anger instantly vanished. "Have you finished training?"

"Yeah." Xiao Xian nodded. Without looking at the gatekeeper, he politely said to Old Jack, "Grandpa, could I take a look at the Spirit Hall certificate?"

Xiao Jue had caught up by then and stood at Xiao Xian's side, the Yellow Halo around its body gently bobbing.

Xiao Xian lowered his head and glanced at it. With a wave of his hand, Xiao Jue turned into purple light and merged into his body.

Old Jack subconsciously swallowed.

That Purple-haired Big Dog was actually this child's martial soul? And that Yellow Halo...

As a village chief, he recognized a soul master's soul rings. Yellow meant a Hundred-Year Soul Ring. Yet this child looked only seven or eight years old...

He hurriedly handed the certificate in his hand to Xiao Xian.

Xiao Xian accepted it. After only one glance, he deliberately cried out in surprise, "Tang San, martial soul Blue Silver Grass, and Innate Full Soul Power?!"

"See? I told you this certificate was forged..." the gatekeeper indignantly shouted.

Before he could finish, Xiao Xian waved a hand and cut him off.

Xiao Xian calmly glanced at the gatekeeper, then turned to Old Jack and Tang San. "The certificate is fine. As long as he obtains any soul ring, he'll be a soul master. Come in with me."

The gatekeeper froze upon hearing that, a chill running down his back.

Naturally, he understood Xiao Xian's implication.

A soul master... even the worst soul master was not someone a commoner like him could afford to offend.

Xiao Xian paid no further attention to the gatekeeper.

He returned the certificate and gestured for Old Jack and Tang San to follow him.

Old Jack quickly took Tang San's hand, and the two entered the academy together.

"Although I can't speak for the academy, I'm truly sorry about what happened to you two," Xiao Xian apologized as he led them inside.

"No, no! We were at fault too." Old Jack repeatedly waved his hands.

Although this child looked young, he was already a soul master. Old Jack did not want Xiao San to fall out with him over such a trivial matter.

Tang San was somewhat quiet and did not speak along the way, though the way he looked at Xiao Xian seemed faintly curious.

Clearly, the large dog that could merge with its owner, the floating Yellow Halo, and the special method of drawing someone over from a distance... all had filled him with interest and curiosity about the profession of soul master.

Nuoding Academy was not large. It had only two buildings: a main teaching building and a dormitory building, with the training ground situated between them.

The academic affairs office was on the first floor of the main teaching building.

"Hello, Teacher Su, hello, Teachers. These are this year's Work-Study Students from Sacred Soul Village." Xiao Xian knocked on the door and led the two inside.

The person responsible for receiving new students was a teacher in his sixties, accompanied by two younger teachers serving as assistants.

When Teacher Su saw Xiao Xian, he smiled kindly. "Xiao Xian, is that you? I heard you went training early this morning. Finished already?"

"Yep, I'm done." Xiao Xian nodded, then gestured for Old Jack to hand the Spirit Hall certificate to Teacher Su.

Old Jack looked a little restrained, but he still pulled Tang San forward.

"You can register with Teacher Su. It's very simple. I still have something to do, so I'll be going now."

"Goodbye, Teacher Su, goodbye, Teachers. Goodbye, Grandpa, and goodbye, junior brother." Xiao Xian waved his hand and calmly took his leave.

After leaving the academic affairs office.

Xiao Xian's expression remained unchanged as he silently pondered.

We've made initial contact. Nothing went wrong.

Every action he had taken today had been carefully designed, including the scene of pulling the gatekeeper into his hand. After all, he had spent an entire year preparing for this.

Kind, gentle, well-liked, hardworking, and highly talented.

Under his guidance, Tang San's impression of him would deepen little by little. Until Tang San completely lowered his guard.

"Next will be Tang San fighting Wang Sheng, then Xiao Wu..."

"After that, it'll be my turn."

Xiao Xian returned to his dormitory and sat on his bed to rest for a while.

The work-study student dormitory, Seventh Dormitory, was not far from the Second Dormitory where he stayed. He faintly heard Tang San knocking on the door and speaking. Old Jack had not accompanied Tang San, so he had presumably left after finishing the registration at the academic affairs office.

Before long, Xiao Xian heard the faint voice of a little girl.

A few minutes later, through the window of Second Dormitory, Xiao Xian saw a familiar teacher, Mo Hen, walking straight toward Seventh Dormitory.

"It's about time. My turn now. I wonder whether Tang Hao is following us. My movements have to look natural."

As though he had suddenly remembered something, Xiao Xian slapped his forehead, jumped off the bed, and dragged a cloth sack out from beneath it.

When he opened it, there was a set of bedding inside. However, it was somewhat damp.

Xiao Xian calmly looked at the bedding and picked it up in one armful.

"Now it's up to you."