Martial Soul Hall Academy Junior Soul Master Academy Branch

After getting acquainted with the Worship Hall's offerings, Azure Luan Douluo took Wu Qi away to begin his training.

For a newly initiated Spirit Master, the first things to learn were all basic theory.

Azure Luan Douluo remembered this elementary theory, but asking him to explain it systematically was beyond him—and unrealistic.

Thus, he offered two choices. "For basic theory, you can attend the Martial Soul Hall's junior Spirit Master Academy. Or you can stay by my side, and I'll have Guang Ling take you to study in the hall's library."

Compared to the former, following Guang Ling Douluo would basically mean idling away every day.

The foundational theory of Spirit Masters was critically important, so Wu Qi naturally wanted to study it thoroughly and systematically.

Azure Luan Douluo nodded in satisfaction. "A wise choice. Guang Ling will take you to register at the academy tomorrow. From now on, I'll inspect your progress every so often. Don't disappoint me."

"Remember, this is only your starting point. Although you are ahead of almost everyone else, if such a small achievement is enough to satisfy you, I'll be very disappointed."

Children tended to show off whenever they achieved something.

Azure Luan Douluo did not know Wu Qi's "true age," so he could only remind him of this.

Azure Luan Douluo owned an estate in the city.

Normally, he secluded himself in the Worship Hall to cultivate and rarely returned here.

Under the gardener's meticulous care, the estate was clean and orderly.

As they walked down a path, a little deer hopped out from the flowerbeds.

The little deer was only as large as an adult's palm, with a pair of glowing antlers growing from its head.

"Is this a soul beast?" Wu Qi looked up and asked.

Azure Luan Douluo chuckled, crouching down as he took out a portion of exquisite feed from his Soul Tool.

"In the future, you may also have a chance to get a little fellow like this. But..."

He did not continue. Instead, he handed the Soul Tool to Wu Qi. "I don't have much to give you. Consider this Storage Soul Tool your apprenticeship gift."

The entire Soul Tool was azure in color. The instant his palm touched it, the movement of the surrounding airflow became clearly visible to his eyes.

This was probably more than just a Storage Soul Tool. It was a Soul Tool that would greatly aid the cultivation of wind-attribute Spirit Masters!

"Master, this is far too precious." Wu Qi wanted to return it.

But Azure Luan Douluo gave him no chance.

Picking up the little deer and playing with it in his hands, he smiled as he headed toward the villa at the center of the estate.

Wu Qi knew that this estate would be his home for a long time to come.

But what exactly was the little deer's origin?

Azure Luan Douluo's hesitant expression had stirred his curiosity.

If he had the chance, he would definitely search through the soul beast records to find out where that little fellow came from.

After settling down at the estate, Azure Luan Douluo taught him a more comprehensive meditation cultivation method that evening.

Early the next morning, amid Guang Ling Douluo's repeated yawns, the two arrived at the Martial Soul Hall Academy in the city.

Martial Soul Hall operated many academies across the continent, including junior and intermediate Spirit Master Academies.

However, the one in Spirit City was Martial Soul Hall's only Advanced Spirit Master Academy.

With Wu Qi's current strength, he was only qualified to attend the junior Spirit Master Academy division of Martial Soul Hall Academy.

This was Martial Soul Hall's highest-level academy. Other than geniuses with innate Soul Power of level seven or above, only descendants of the hall's upper echelon could study here.

The academy's management took Guang Ling Douluo's personal arrival very seriously.

Although the school term had already begun, special circumstances called for special measures. Wu Qi's enrollment was quickly processed, and he was assigned to Junior Class One.

Before leaving, Guang Ling Douluo rubbed his eyes. "This old man is going back to catch up on sleep. I'll take you into the city to have fun tonight."

After he left, Wu Qi completed his boarding arrangements under a teacher's guidance.

Spirit Master Academies were all full-time institutions. Although Wu Qi could return to the estate to live, he still chose to stay at the academy for the sake of convenient cultivation.

After all, he was the only person living in that enormous estate, and he was not used to it.

Under the teacher's guidance, he arrived outside the classroom.

Thinking of the little deer in the estate, he could not help asking, "Teacher, do you know of a kind of little deer with a pair of glowing horns on its head?"

"A deer?" The teacher looked startled.

Deer-type Spirit Masters were not well regarded by Spirit Masters. Apart from certain deer-type soul beasts with healing abilities, which were favored by healing-type Spirit Masters, no one paid attention to other kinds of deer.

"Little Wu, I can't think of an answer to your question right now. How about we discuss it with your classmates during a soul beast theory class later?"

The details Wu Qi had given were too vague. Moreover, it was common for soul beasts to undergo major changes between their juvenile and adult forms. He truly did not know how to answer him.

After entering the classroom, Wu Qi introduced himself and was assigned a seat in the front row.

Class One was undoubtedly the elite class. Aside from exceptionally gifted students, the rest were children of the hall's upper echelon.

After the term began, these people had already formed their own little groups. Wu Qi had no interest in that, nor did he want to join any of their cliques.

But just because he did not cause trouble did not mean others would leave him alone.

Ever since enrolling, all he did was study and cultivate.

He lived a simple three-point routine: library, dormitory, classroom.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

That day, trouble came knocking.

"You're Third Grandpa's new disciple, aren't you? You've been in class this long, yet you still haven't come over to acknowledge your boss?"

Over the past month, Wu Qi had been busy absorbing knowledge. Other than the teachers, he knew no one in the class, nor did he care about their backgrounds.

Having suffered from a lack of education in his previous life, he was determined to build a solid theoretical foundation in this one.

"Not interested." Wu Qi turned to leave, only for the lackeys behind the other boy to block his path.

The boy at the front rolled his neck. "I don't mean anything by it. I just want to spar with you. I greatly admire Third Grandpa's strength, and I'd like to see how much of it you've inherited!"

To call Azure Luan Douluo "Third Grandpa" was an intimate form of address. The person before him had to be the descendant of one of the worshippers.

At that thought, Wu Qi finally remembered the person Guang Ling Douluo had mentioned to him at the start of the school year—Qian Gu Changkong.

"Six Grandpa's grandson?" Wu Qi asked.

Qian Gu Changkong put his hands on his hips. "You know a thing or two, at least. But today's spar is unavoidable."

"I only absorbed my Spirit Ring recently. Don't say I'm bullying you—I won't use any spirit skills!"

A spar like this was utterly meaningless.

Having obtained his First Spirit Ring, even without using spirit skills, his strength had undergone a qualitative change from that of a Spirit Soldier.

After all, the enhancement a Spirit Ring gave to a Soul Master's physical abilities could not be overlooked.

This kid had probably used that advantage plenty of times to deal with those classmates who were "poorly trained."

"If you want something exciting, go spar with the upperclassmen. I'll pass." Wu Qi turned and walked away.

Recently, he had been researching information on spirit beasts. He had a feeling that he was getting closer and closer to finding the origin of that Little Deer.

"Stop right there! You're disrespecting me! Or can you only hide beneath the protection of your elders?"

Qian Gu Changkong flew into a rage and pointed at him as he cursed.