Training Beyond the Sect? Encountering Tang San at Nuoding Academy

Training Beyond the Sect? Encountering Tang San at Nuoding Academy

The morning mist of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect always carried the crisp freshness of refined glazed tile. The milky-white glazed roof tiles across thousands of acres of pavilions shimmered with golden edges in the dawn light, while a seven-story glazed tower carved from azure crystal ore stood quietly at the end of the bluestone path. Dew still clung to the bronze rings of the vermilion gate. As Lin Che tied the tassel on his sword before a bronze mirror, the Azure Water Sword trembled faintly within its sheath, its azure glow complementing the glazed reflections between the window lattices. Jiang Zhu had embroidered the sword tassel herself. Tiny fragments of glazed tile were hidden within the cloud patterns woven from blue thread, bought with the sect rewards she had saved for half a month.

"Brother Lin Che, Elder Gu Rong is waiting for you at the Soul Gathering Hall." Jiang Zhu's voice drifted over from the corridor, fresh and clear as morning dew. She wore a pale green dress, and the pouch at her waist was stuffed full. The silver-green Healing Scepter inside quivered happily—she had secretly wrapped it in new velvet cloth the night before, and its vine-like patterns flickered in and out beneath the morning light. When Lin Che turned around, he happened to see the glazed flower-petal hair ornament by her temple. He had bought it three years ago with the reward from his first completed sect mission, and it now swayed gently with her footsteps.

The two crossed a path lined with exotic flowers. On the glazed courtyard before the Soul Gathering Hall, Gu Rong was rubbing three gleaming white jade talismans with his withered fingers. The glazed chips set around the talismans' edges reflected scattered flecks of light, while dense runes flowed with pale golden spiritual power beneath the sun. "On this journey to Nuoding, keep your edge hidden at every step." The old Sect Master's voice was deeper than usual. As he handed over the jade talismans, warm spiritual power spread through Lin Che's body along his meridians the instant his fingertips touched their surfaces. "Spirit Hall's sensing crystals can detect fluctuations within thirty meters. These Soul Concealment Talismans can disguise you as level-fifteen Assault System Soul Masters. Your Dual Martial Souls, in particular, must not be exposed too early."

Jiang Zhu carefully tied a jade talisman around her wrist. The scepter in her pouch suddenly gave a small hop, as though responding to the talisman's spiritual power. "Rest assured, Elder." When she lifted her head, her glazed hair ornament swayed with a faint gleam. "I'll keep an eye on Brother Lin Che and won't cause him any trouble." Gu Rong smiled at the girl's earnest expression and took out a brocade box from his sleeve. "There are three bottles of Spirit Condensing Dew inside. They can neutralize ordinary soul beast venom and may save your lives at a critical moment." Lin Che noticed the Seven Treasure emblem on the box. It was the very same one Gu Rong had used when he adopted him back then, its corners polished bright by years of handling.

When they bade Gu Rong farewell and descended the mountain, the morning mist had yet to disperse. Jiang Zhu kept lowering her head to examine the jade talisman on her wrist, its glazed trim shimmering beneath the sunlight. "How strange. The scepter's aura really has weakened considerably." Lin Che gave a quiet hum, his fingers secretly clasping the Martial Soul mark of the Universe Cauldron. Ever since the System Prompt had stated, "You must intervene in the Child of Destiny's growth path," the miniature jade cauldron had frequently grown hot. At that moment, it was sending a faint sense of guidance through his fingertips. A system panel flashed through his mind.

[Novice Protection Mission: Arrive at Nuoding Academy]
Progress: 90%

[Hidden Mission: First contact with Tang San. Reward: Common Jar ×1]

The mountain path wound on. At noon on the third day, the system suddenly issued a red warning.

[Three miles ahead, a Spirit Hall patrol has been detected. Martial Souls: Nether Wolf ×3. Agility Attack System.]

Lin Che immediately pulled Jiang Zhu into the bushes and protected her behind him. The Soul Concealment Talismans activated at once, and their auras became like wind blending into the forest. Even the fluttering of their clothes turned soundless. Moments later, three Grey Shadows raced past. The yellow-haired man in front had activated Martial Soul Possession, wolf ears and sharp claws gleaming coldly, while the token at his waist bore Spirit Hall's crossed-sword insignia. "I heard that disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have recently left the sect. His Majesty the Pope specifically ordered a thorough investigation," one of them said gruffly. The Nether Wolves kept sniffing the air, yet failed to notice the two people right beside them.

Only after the patrol had gone far away did Jiang Zhu let out a breath. Fine sweat had seeped into her palms. "They were so fierce." Lin Che helped straighten the hem of her dress, which had caught on the bushes. When his fingers touched the jade talisman on her wrist, the system suddenly issued another prompt.

[Host has come into contact with support-type spiritual power. Universe Cauldron Martial Soul activity +5%.]

His heart stirred. It seemed these Soul Concealment Talismans could not only hide their auras but also gradually nourish their Martial Souls. Over the next four days, they avoided two more patrols. One was an agility attack squad with Iron Feather Eagle Martial Souls, while the other consisted of Dream Remnant Cat Soul Masters with sensing Martial Souls. Thanks to the Soul Concealment Talismans and Lin Che's advance predictions, they escaped danger every time.

At dusk on the seventh day, the battered wooden sign of Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy finally appeared in sight. Withered vines crawled over the rammed-earth walls, and the eight words "Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy" had been blurred by wind and rain. Only the bronze testing device at the entrance still gave off a dim sheen. The courtyard was packed with children taking their tests. Amid the noise and the clanging of metal, several half-grown boys were fighting over a testing post, sending wood splinters flying everywhere.

"Next, Tang San." The elderly teacher in charge of the test tapped the testing device, and the scratched bronze sphere gleamed coldly in the evening light. Lin Che gazed over at the sound and saw a six-year-old child in patched cloth walking forward. He was thin and frail, his hair tied with a coarse cloth rope. When he raised his right hand, a slender Blue Silver Grass sprouted from his palm. Dirt still clung to its leaves as they trembled faintly in the evening breeze.

"Another useless Martial Soul!" The crowd immediately burst into laughter. "What can Blue Silver Grass do? It's too soft even for kindling!" Several older students even picked up stones and threw them at Tang San's feet, splashing mud onto his clothes. Tang San kept his eyes lowered, his fingertips lightly brushing the Blue Silver Grass. He did not argue. He merely clenched the left hand hidden in his sleeve. Lin Che raised an eyebrow as a system panel instantly appeared.

[Target: Tang San]
[Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass (hidden Clear Sky Hammer)]
[Innate Soul Power: Level 10]
[Status: Enduring]

[Fortune Detection]

The elderly teacher frowned and adjusted the testing device's pointer. The motionless needle suddenly shot violently to the very top with a sharp ding. The old man's eyes widened in shock. He steadied his glasses and checked again and again. "Innate Full Soul Power! What a pity... such talent, paired with a useless Martial Soul." The crowd's laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by disbelieving murmurs. Tang San still kept his gaze down, but the leaves of his Blue Silver Grass quietly straightened a little more.

"Our turn." Lin Che patted Jiang Zhu's shoulder and stepped onto the testing platform first. Before the old teacher could speak, Lin Che slightly raised his right hand. Azure light surged, and the Azure Water Sword abruptly slid half an inch from its sheath. Azure Sword Qi swept out like a living creature, splitting a wooden post as thick as a bowl cleanly in half. The cross-section was smooth as a mirror, and not even a splinter flew out. Before the spectators' cries of alarm could emerge, the bronze sphere on the testing device began trembling violently. Its needle spun madly before finally locking onto a mark far beyond Innate Full Soul Power. Fine cracks even appeared across the sphere's surface.

"D-Dual Martial Souls!" The old teacher staggered back half a step, staring fixedly at Lin Che's left hand. A jade cauldron no larger than a fingernail floated there, pale golden light entwined all over it as it formed a strange resonance with the Azure Water Sword at his waist. The instant the Universe Cauldron appeared, Lin Che felt a pulling force emanate from it. A system prompt sounded.

[The Universe Cauldron is automatically absorbing environmental Soul Power. It can be stored and converted into a defensive shield.]

He calmly withdrew his Martial Souls. From the corner of his eye, he saw the left hand Tang San had concealed in his sleeve twitch slightly, with an almost imperceptible trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.

Just as Jiang Zhu was about to step up for her test, a cry of pain suddenly rang out from the crowd. One of the burly boys who had been fighting over the wooden post deliberately shoved down a smaller companion. The child's forehead struck the stone steps, and blood immediately seeped out as he began crying in pain. The surrounding children either backed away in fear or jeered gleefully. Even the elderly teacher failed to react in time. Jiang Zhu hurried over at once and took the Healing Scepter from her pouch. The silver-green vine patterns lit up in her palm, and the crystal at the top of the scepter refracted a soft glow. She gently pressed it against the child's wound. Pale green motes spread along the injury, and in mere moments, the bleeding stopped and most of the swelling faded.

"Stand farther away next time. Don't let yourself get knocked over." Her voice was soft, like a spring brook. The child froze for a moment, then covered his forehead and quietly thanked her, his eyes full of gratitude. The sight stirred Tang San's previously calm gaze. His father had once said that special support-type Martial Souls were one in ten thousand. This girl's scepter was certainly no ordinary item. What concerned him even more was the jade cauldron in Lin Che's left hand. That peculiar aura made the Soul Power within his body faintly restless.

Tang San instinctively activated the Purple Demon Eyes his father had taught him. Two nearly invisible rays of Golden Light shot from his eyes, piercing toward Lin Che's chest like fine needles. He wanted to see what secrets these Dual Martial Souls held, especially the aura of that jade cauldron, which gave him an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Lin Che was discussing enrollment matters with the elderly teacher when he suddenly sensed a sharp surge of Spiritual Power. It was like a tangible needle tip trying to pierce his Sea of Consciousness. The Universe Cauldron at his waist seemed to have sensed it long ago, suddenly erupting with a ring of Golden Halo that reflected the Spiritual Power straight back along its original path with even greater force.

Tang San felt a violent pain shoot through his brow center, as if a red-hot needle had stabbed into it. He staggered back two steps, his face instantly turning pale. Covering his forehead, he stared at Lin Che in shock. This was the first time he had used the Purple Demon Eyes to probe another person, yet he had been directly rebounded, while the other party seemed completely unharmed. The others were still discussing the Dual Martial Souls, and no one noticed the brief exchange. Only Jiang Zhu sensed something amiss and quietly tugged Lin Che's sleeve.

"Little friend, when looking at others, you should know your bounds." Lin Che slowly turned his head, his gaze calm but carrying invisible pressure. The system prompt was already sounding in his mind.

[Purple Demon Eyes Spiritual Power probe detected. Universe Cauldron automatically triggered defense. Rebound effect activated.]

[Fortune Detection]

[First Fortune Target: Mandala Snake Soul Ring. Coordinates locking...]

Tang San clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms. He watched Lin Che and Jiang Zhu turn away toward the registration desk, then lowered his head to look at the Blue Silver Grass in his palm. The plant regarded as a useless Martial Soul had its leaves drawn taut, as though it too could feel the pressure coming from the other side. The elderly teacher tidied the cracked testing device nearby, muttering to himself, "There are strange things every year, but this year has more than usual... a useless Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power, and a genius with Dual Martial Souls. Nuoding Academy is going to be lively."

The old clerk at the registration desk was busy recording information. When he looked up and saw the two approaching, he quickly piled on a smile. "Please, sit, you two young geniuses. Nuoding Academy is truly honored to welcome a disciple with Dual Martial Souls!" His gaze fell on Jiang Zhu's scepter, and he could not hide the greed in his eyes. Yet when he noticed the Azure Water Sword at Lin Che's waist, he hurriedly looked away. The pressure emanating from that sheath made even him, a level-twenty Soul Master, tremble with fear.

Lin Che took the registration form. Just as the tip of his pen touched the paper, an argument broke out at the academy entrance. Turning his head, he saw Tang San surrounded by several older students. The tall boy at their head had activated Martial Soul Possession, revealing the yellow-brown features of a lone wolf. His sharp claws gleamed beneath the sunlight. "Newcomer, don't you know the rules? Do you think you can touch the testing post?" Tang San clenched his fists as Blue Silver Grass quietly appeared in his palm, faint spikes visible along its leaves.

Lin Che set down his pen, a teasing smile curling at the corner of his mouth. On the system panel, Fortune Detection had locked onto a precise location. The red dot of the Mandala Snake was flashing in the woods west of the academy. He could foresee that this conflict was only the beginning. From today onward, Tang San's fortunes would all become his possessions. Watching the tense scene, Jiang Zhu quietly shifted the Healing Scepter farther out of her pouch. Its silver-green vine patterns glimmered in the dusk, while the glazed trim of the Soul Concealment Talisman around her wrist echoed the distant glazed tower.

The evening wind passed through the decrepit academy gate, sweeping fallen leaves from the ground and dropping them at Lin Che's feet. He lifted his head toward the western horizon. The Azure Water Sword trembled softly in its sheath, as though anticipating the coming clash. Not far away, Tang San stared fixedly at the enemies closing in on him, completely unaware that the course of his fate had quietly shifted the instant he met this young man and young woman.