Spirit Academy

Spirit Academy was enormous, covering more than ten thousand mu and encompassing the surrounding mountains. The entire academy was grand and majestic, perfectly integrated with nature. Between the mountains and waters, the environment was refreshing and pleasant.

Spirit Academy had three major divisions: the Spirit Elementary Soul Master Academy, Spirit Intermediate Soul Master Academy, and Spirit Advanced Soul Master Academy. The students admitted here were either highly talented or descendants of families from the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire.

Today was the first day of school, and many students were about to begin a new semester.

Lu Leng stood before the gates of Spirit Academy and could not help marveling at how wealthy Spirit Hall truly was. Even its gates were incomparably imposing. The entire entrance stretched a full hundred meters, built in a Gothic style. At the entrance stood a massive Angel Statue, its arms spread wide as though welcoming everyone.

After entering the academy, Lu Leng followed Hu Liena and quickly made their way to the Academic Affairs Office.

The dean of academic affairs was an old man wearing glasses named Sols, an eighty-eighth-level Soul Douluo.

"Hello, Director Sols. This is my junior brother, Lu Leng. He's here to complete his enrollment procedures," Hu Liena said politely after knocking on the door.

Sols was startled. He looked at Lu Leng. "Junior brother? He's His Holiness the Pope's newly accepted disciple?"

"Yes."

Sols could not help sizing Lu Leng up. He found the boy sharp-featured and outstanding in temperament, radiating a faint confidence from head to toe. After forming his assessment, he nodded. "He's a good prospect. Come, let's test your Soul Power."

"There's no need to test it, right? I'm level twenty-three. Just record it," Lu Leng said.

"Level twenty-three!?"

At those words, the wrinkles on Sols's chrysanthemum-like face seemed to stretch smooth in shock. He turned to Lu Leng and pushed his glasses down with a finger in disbelief, as though trying to get a clearer look at him. "How old are you this year?"

"Six and a half."

"Six and a half!!"

"Level twenty-three!?" Sols was shocked once more. Although Lu Leng's appearance had already prepared him somewhat, hearing it confirmed still left him stunned.

But he immediately realized he had lost his composure. After steadying his emotions, he looked at Lu Leng. "It's not that I don't believe you, but academy rules are academy rules. We still need to test you."

Lu Leng pursed his lips. He obviously didn't believe him.

Sols took out a crystal ball and gestured for Lu Leng to inject his Soul Power into it. Very soon, the crystal ball emitted a dazzling white light. The glare was so intense that it illuminated every corner of the room.

"It really is level twenty-three!"

Sols's mouth fell open. At that moment, he no longer cared whether he was being improper.

"As expected of a disciple valued by His Holiness the Pope. With this talent, no one can compare! I'm afraid there isn't another one like him in all of Douluo Continent."

"Six and a half years old and level twenty-three. You should enroll in Class One of the intermediate academy. What do you think?" Sols asked.

"Director Sols, Teacher's intention is for Lu Leng to enter the Sacred Class," Hu Liena said before Lu Leng could answer.

"The Sacred Class!?" Sols's shock deepened, accompanied by a trace of doubt.

"Yes." Hu Liena nodded.

Only after pondering for a moment did Sols say, "With Lu Leng's talent, entering the Sacred Class is only a matter of time. But entering so early may affect his state of mind. Once his state of mind is damaged, no matter how great his talent is, he may not become a strong expert in the future. This point..."

"Teacher has naturally considered that point. She also believes Lu Leng can overcome it!" Hu Liena declared firmly.

"Since it is His Holiness the Pope's arrangement, I naturally will not defy it." Sols sighed. Though he said that, there was still some concern in his eyes as he looked at Lu Leng.

As he pondered, Sols completed the procedures.

After Lu Leng left the Academic Affairs Office, Sols sighed again.

Next, Hu Liena took Lu Leng around to familiarize him with the surroundings before heading to the dormitories.

"What is the Sacred Class?" Lu Leng could not help asking along the way.

"The Sacred Class, as the name suggests, is the preparatory class for the Holy Son," Hu Liena explained. When she mentioned the Sacred Class, longing appeared in her eyes.

"You're not the Holy Maiden yet?" Lu Leng blurted out in surprise.

"The Holy Maiden?" Hu Liena looked puzzled.

She was curious why Lu Leng thought she was the Holy Maiden.

Lu Leng knew he had misspoken and hurriedly explained, "I mean, with your talent, I'm surprised you aren't the Holy Maiden."

Hu Liena sighed. "Of course I want to become the Holy Maiden, but it's not something you can become just because you want to."

"Whether it is the Holy Maiden or the Holy Son, both are honors of Spirit Hall and the next generation's Pope. Their status is incomparably noble. Although I am Teacher's disciple, I cannot become the Holy Maiden directly just because of that relationship."

"Spirit Hall is immensely powerful and has a well-established system. Everyone wants to seize the positions of Holy Son and Holy Maiden. Without powerful strength, relying solely on connections means that even if you sit in that position, you will be dragged down from it."

"Besides, Teacher's status in Spirit Hall..."

"Forget it. You wouldn't understand even if I told you more." Hu Liena stopped midway and abruptly said no more.

Lu Leng understood. He had let his preconceived assumptions mislead him.

When he had read the novel, Hu Liena had already been twenty-one when she appeared, so she had naturally been the Holy Maiden then. But now, Hu Liena was only twelve.

I thought Hu Liena's status as the Holy Maiden came from Bibi Dong. I didn't expect she earned it through her own strength. No wonder Hu Liena could become one of the Golden Generation and Bibi Dong's most valued disciple.

"Then how can someone become the Holy Son?" Lu Leng asked. Since she was not yet the Holy Maiden, he needed to set his sights on the position of Holy Son.

"The Sacred Class gathers the most talented students in all of Spirit Academy. There is no age limit; only strength matters. To become the Holy Son or Holy Maiden, you must reach the strength of a level-fifty Soul King before the age of twenty, and you must hold first place on Spirit Academy's strength rankings for six consecutive years!" At this point, Hu Liena's eyes were filled with confident light.

But when she looked at Lu Leng, that light instantly went out. This guy is a freak. If he can remain in the Sacred Class, practically no one will be able to compete with him for the position of Holy Son.

Upon hearing the requirements to become the Holy Son, Lu Leng could not help crying out inwardly. For ordinary people, this was far too difficult!

Just reaching Soul King before the age of twenty would eliminate ninety-nine percent of people. One had to know that even the average genius of Douluo Continent would only be a Soul Ancestor at twenty.

Yet such talent would be cherished like treasure in any other sect or family.

But in Spirit Academy's Sacred Class, such talent could only serve as someone else's stepping stone.

And the second requirement was even more demanding.