Nuoding Academy

Time flew like an arrow; the sun and moon sped by like a shuttle.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed since Zu Zong awakened his Martial Soul.

Fasnuo Province, Nuoding City—Nuoding Academy welcomed the new school term.

Old Tom from Emperor Soul Village and Old Jack from Holy Soul Village each brought along the greatest genius their villages had seen in a century, eagerly heading to Nuoding Academy to enroll.

Although Tang San still gritted his teeth whenever he saw Zu Zong along the way, wishing he could beat him senseless on the spot, he held back to avoid another incident like last time.

Tang San could endure it, but Zu Zong would not. Since gaining strength, Zu Zong had clearly become bolder and far more confident, teasing Tang San without restraint.

"Xiao San! I heard you cried after I saw Grandmaster Su Yuntao off last time!"

"Xiao San! What happened to your face? Why does it look like there's a handprint on it? Good thing it isn't too obvious, or that already-average face of yours wouldn't even count as average anymore."

"Xiao San! I heard Er Ya from next door say your old man slapped you after you went home. Is that true?"

"Could the handprint on your face have been left by your old man? Uncle Tang was way too vicious! It's been three months and it still hasn't faded. When he gets old, I'll pull out his oxygen tube for you."

"Xiao San, why is your face red? And why are you baring your teeth? Did your rabies flare up again?"

"Xiao San. Xiao San."

Tang San: I'll endure it. I'll endure it. Once we reach Nuoding Academy, I'll make you pay! Ah... I can't take it anymore!

Tang San died! (Of course, that was a lie.)

Near noon, the four of them finally arrived in Nuoding City.

Old Jack took Tang San to Spirit Hall in Nuoding City to apologize to Su Yuntao.

The gift was five Big White Radishes weighing ten jin each—Old Jack's Martial Soul.

Old Tom and Zu Zong had no reason to go with them, so they arrived at Nuoding Academy first.

Sure enough, just like in the original story, the gatekeeper wanted a little extra payment.

Zu Zong did not hesitate in the slightest. His Sharingan flashed briefly as he met the gatekeeper's gaze.

The gatekeeper was merely an ordinary man. How could he possibly resist Zu Zong's Illusion Technique? He immediately welcomed Zu Zong and Old Tom into Nuoding Academy with utmost respect.

The gatekeeper cupped his fists and said, "Oh my! I was wondering why you looked so familiar. So it's the renowned, legendary village chief of Emperor Soul Village, bringing Emperor Soul Village's once-in-a-century—no, once-in-a-millennium—genius to visit our Nuoding Academy! What an honor, what an honor!"

The gatekeeper had looked ready to make trouble earlier, and Old Tom had already prepared himself to be looked down upon or even pay money to avoid disaster. He never expected Emperor Soul Village's reputation to have spread all the way here!

Hm! So Emperor Soul Village really had produced a Soul Emperor!

Old Tom copied the gesture and cupped his fists in return. "You flatter me, you flatter me. This is my brat—no! This is Zu Zong's Martial Soul certificate. Please have a look." As he spoke, he handed over a standard document.

Old Tom: Damn it, I bit my tongue. I'm too used to calling him that. We're outside now; I can't keep calling the brat a brat. (Zu Zong: Didn't you just call me that again?)

The gatekeeper accepted the Martial Soul certificate Old Tom handed over. Without even looking at it, he respectfully passed it straight to Zu Zong, then said to Old Tom, "Why wouldn't I trust you, sir? Just let this little genius take the certificate inside. Someone will guide him through enrollment."

Considering that outsiders were not allowed into Nuoding Academy and that there were many teachers inside, Zu Zong bid Old Tom farewell at the entrance. Before leaving, he told him to check beneath his pillow, where Zu Zong had left several dozen Gold Soul Coins for him.

By the way, Zu Zong had also added a little extra Illusion Technique to the gatekeeper's illusion.

—That afternoon, after Old Jack spent several hours begging Su Yuntao for forgiveness as though pleading to the gods and worshipping his ancestors, even forcing the proud Tang San to kowtow three times, and offering five Big White Radishes weighing ten jin each as an apology, Grandmaster Su Yuntao finally forgave Tang San and returned his Martial Soul certificate.

Old Jack held Tang San's hand as the old man and the young boy arrived at Nuoding Academy.

Without the humiliation from the original story, the gatekeeper was exceptionally enthusiastic. Not only did he politely see Old Jack off, he even offered to lead Tang San to the enrollment location. The two of them felt much better.

Tang San could not help thinking, There really are many good people in this world!

At the same time, Tang San resented Su Yuntao for handling matters without distinguishing right from wrong, and he planned to beat him up to vent his anger after graduating.

The gatekeeper led Tang San by the hand through countless twists and turns—though he merely circled Nuoding Academy four or five times. Because of his favorable impression of the gatekeeper, Tang San did not suspect anything was amiss.

An hour later, the gatekeeper brought Tang San to a dark, empty classroom, lit a small candle for him, told him a teacher would arrive shortly, and then left.

Tang San did not suspect a thing. Yet by three in the morning, no one had come, and tears of regret flowed from his eyes once again.

He knew he had been played again.

Of course, that was a story for later.

After completing his enrollment, Zu Zong became a Work-Study Student and was assigned to Dorm Seven—there was no helping it; he had left all his remaining Gold Soul Coins with Old Tom and barely had enough money for food.

Zu Zong planned to lie low in Nuoding City for a few years and learn the fundamentals.

Though he greatly craved the bodies of those beauties in Spirit Hall—ptui! How shameless—but after thinking it over, even if he joined Spirit Hall now, unless he revealed Twin Martial Souls, the chances of receiving much attention would be very low. Meeting any beauties would be even less likely.

After all, very few people recognized the Blue Silver Emperor. Most people would think: How powerful could a mutated Blue Silver Grass be, even with Innate Full Soul Power?

Zu Someone did not want to reveal his Twin Martial Souls so soon and become the target of public scrutiny. Lying low and developing steadily was the proper path.

As he entered Dorm Seven, Zu Zong looked around.

Well! That hundred-thousand-year-old rabbit had not arrived yet. But that was fine. If anything happened between him and that old rabbit, if sparks flew between them, then he would not be able to make a move against her later. Making a move against his own wife—would that still make him human? That would make him a beast.

Even in his previous life, Zu Zong had not held much affection for that old rabbit! Out of sight, out of mind.

As for the various reasons behind that, readers could figure them out themselves!

"Hey, newbie! Take one of my punches first. Martial Soul Possession—War Tiger!"

Without any surprise, Wang Sheng attacked Zu Zong.

Zu Zong could not be bothered to counter move for move. Shaking his head, he replied blandly, "Next time, don't announce your attack before throwing it."

With that, he gave the other boy a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree midair calisthenics routine followed by freefall.

In just a few blinks, Wang Sheng crashed to the ground, landing hard on his backside.

Fortunately, Zu Zong had used his foot to brace Wang Sheng's head. Otherwise, it would not have been as simple as a bruised backside!

Seeing how powerful Zu Zong was, subduing him in one move even while he was using Martial Soul Possession, Wang Sheng rubbed his aching rear, got to his feet, and pleaded!

"Boss, from today onward, you're the boss of Dorm Seven!"

And just like that, Zu Zong became Dorm Seven's new boss.

That night, while everyone else was away, Zu Zong took out the quilt he had stolen earlier from the System Space and spread it over his bed.

After dinner, Zu Zong sat cross-legged on his bed and began cultivating. Tomorrow, he planned to ask Su Yuntao to borrow a permit so he could enter Soul Beast Forest and obtain his first Soul Ring.

Meanwhile, Tang San was having a miserable time. Night had already fallen. Angered by what happened at noon, Tang San had skipped lunch. As for the dried provisions he had brought—the gatekeeper said he was hungry, so Tang San had given them to him!

Tang San was now cold and starving. Even with the Mysterious Heaven Skill protecting him, his stomach still growled with hunger.

Only at three in the morning did someone finally open the door to the small classroom.

Tears flowed from Tang San's eyes again.

"A teacher finally came! Sob, sob."