Reckless Youth Is Wasted Youth

Standing behind Jiang Yuheng was a tall, white-haired middle-aged man. His gaze was solemn, and he wore simple cloth garments. His broad arms were bare, giving him the imposing presence of a mountain standing firm.

Yet the thing that least matched the middle-aged man's attire was the Rank 8 Soul Engineer badge pinned to his chest.

Young, white-haired, steady in bearing, and wearing a Rank 8 Soul Engineer badge—throughout Shrek Academy, only Fan Yu matched all of those details.

The other students and teachers immediately hurried over to greet him. "Teacher Fan Yu, why did you come here personally?"

Fan Yu slowly said, "I heard that our Soul Engineering Department had produced a genius. As the Vice Dean, how could I not come to welcome him in person?"

He had witnessed Jiang Yuheng's entire process of crafting the Soul Tool.

If he had to evaluate it, there was only one word for it: flawless.

His techniques were exceptionally professional. Whether it was the engraving of the Core Array or the final assembly of the components, there was nothing to fault. Calling him a monster would not have been an exaggeration.

Hearing how they addressed him, Jiang Yuheng knew his judgment had been correct. He immediately rose and respectfully said, "Greetings, Teacher."

"No need to be so formal!" Fan Yu was extremely warm, and the appreciation in his eyes was impossible to hide. "Jiang Yuheng, that's your name, right?"

Jiang Yuheng nodded.

Fan Yu patted him on the shoulder. "Not bad. You really are impressive. On behalf of the Soul Engineering Department, I welcome you to join us!"

Faced with Fan Yu's enthusiastic invitation, Jiang Yuheng did not hesitate to decline. "Teacher Fan Yu, I'm sorry, but I came here to enroll in the Martial Soul Department."

Fan Yu was deeply puzzled. "Why?"

With talent as exceptional as Jiang Yuheng's, if he were properly nurtured, he would surely become Shrek's first Level 9—or perhaps even Level 10—Soul Engineer in the future!

"My Martial Soul talent surpasses my Soul Engineer talent. Besides, my family doesn't really permit me to cultivate as a Soul Engineer," Jiang Yuheng said.

Nonsense. There was no way he could reveal the real reason.

Besides, if he truly joined the Soul Engineering Department, the Extreme Single Soldier project would inevitably fall onto him. When that happened, he would be busy to death. How would he have time to pursue Dong'er?

"What did you say?!"

Upon hearing those words, Fan Yu and the Martial Soul Department teachers handling enrollment at the entrance were all stunned.

What did he mean, his Martial Soul talent was greater than his Soul Engineer talent?

Jiang Yuheng did not waste words. He immediately released the phantom of the Frost Dragon. Then, those deep, shadowy Eyes slowly emerged behind it. The icy power it released instantly froze the street outside the academy gates into Ice Silk.

Seeing this, the teacher in charge of Martial Soul Department enrollment widened his eyes in disbelief. He then quickly stepped before Jiang Yuheng and said excitedly:

"Kid, your Martial Soul has the Extreme Ice Attribute, doesn't it?!"

It was no wonder the teacher was so excited. An ordinary Ice Attribute Martial Soul could only freeze an area spanning a few dozen meters at most.

Extreme Ice was different. Not only did its wielder's Ice Attribute reach the utmost limit, it also ignored the range limitations of freezing control. In other words, so long as your Mental Power was strong enough, freezing a thousand miles was not just an empty phrase.

Jiang Yuheng explained, "Teacher, I'm sorry, but my Martial Soul does not have the Extreme Ice Attribute. Its freezing range is simply larger because its attribute is rather special."

The Martial Soul Department teacher said, "Kid, do you think the teachers at Shrek Academy are all illiterate?"

"Extreme Ice Attribute Martial Souls may be rare, but our academy has not gone so far as to have never admitted one. I remember its traits perfectly. There's no way I'm mistaken."

Jiang Yuheng looked helpless as he extended his hand. "My Martial Soul truly does not have the Extreme Ice Attribute. If you don't believe me, take a look."

Seeing that he was still being so insistent, the teacher placed his hand on Jiang Yuheng's arm and used Soul Power to examine his age, Martial Soul attribute, and Soul Power Level.

"Hm?" The examination ended quickly, and a clear flash of astonishment appeared on the teacher's face. "It really isn't an Extreme Ice Martial Soul!"

Hearing the result, everyone else was visibly stunned. Freezing a hundred miles, extreme chill—weren't those precisely the traits of an Extreme Ice Martial Soul?

Then why had the examination revealed that it was not?

The enrollment teachers scratched their heads repeatedly, unable to explain the strange phenomenon before them.

"Teachers, may I enroll in the Martial Soul Department now?" Jiang Yuheng asked.

"Of course you can. Your age and Soul Power both meet our enrollment requirements. It's just..."

The enrollment teacher hesitated for a moment before continuing, "It's just that your talent with Soul Tools is clearly even more outstanding. Are you sure you wish to join the Martial Soul Department?"

After hearing this, Fan Yu also urged him to think it over carefully. If Jiang Yuheng joined now, he would immediately grant Jiang Yuheng the status of a core disciple of the Soul Tool Department and guarantee that he would become a peak Rank 8 Soul Engineer within ten years.

The conditions were good, but they still did not meet Jiang Yuheng's expectations.

He was a transmigrator, and his talent was plain for all to see. If he was going to do something, he would do it to the best of his ability. Since he was outstanding in both areas, why couldn't he cultivate both Martial Souls and Soul Engineering?

Jiang Yuheng immediately voiced his idea. Such a bold declaration startled Fan Yu and the Soul Engineering Department teachers.

From the day Shrek Academy established the Soul Engineering Department until now, not a single student had ever been able to cultivate both Martial Souls and Soul Engineering.

The reasons were simple.

First, no student had ever possessed talent exceptional enough to reach such a level. Second, there had never been a precedent.

Jiang Yuheng smiled after hearing that. "Teacher Fan Yu, teachers, forgive me for saying something presumptuous."

"In my hometown, there is a saying: reckless youth is wasted youth. Since I dare to make this request, I naturally have considerable confidence in it."

"Since everything has its first precedent, why can't I become that precedent?"

The moment his words fell, a dignified yet kindly voice rang in everyone's minds.

"Hahaha, well said—reckless youth is wasted youth. Kid, you've got some nerve. This old man likes you."

"Still, since you dared to boast so boldly, I'll let you give it a try. If you can pass the Freshman Assessment, I'll agree to let you cultivate both your Martial Soul and Soul Tools. How about it?"

Jiang Yuheng immediately agreed. "Please keep your word, Senior. It's a deal!"

Though he did not know why, anyone at Shrek Academy who called himself "Old man" had to be a highly ranked elder or pavilion master from Sea God's Pavilion.

In the original story, only Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi and Dragon God Douluo Mu En referred to themselves that way.

"Don't worry. Old man always keeps his word. Take him through new student enrollment. Skip the testing."

"Remember, keep his matter confidential."

Upon hearing the voice, the teachers handling admissions immediately responded respectfully, "Yes."

Right afterward, they processed Jiang Yuheng's enrollment procedures. He did not even need to undergo a Martial Soul test.

After receiving the key to Dormitory 108, two sets of school uniforms, and a white Freshman Badge, Jiang Yuheng followed the roadside signs and quickly left the Freshman Teaching Building.

"Little Brother Yuheng, I've been waiting for you for a long time." Bei Bei stood some distance away and waved at him.

Jiang Yuheng asked, "Brother Bei, why did you come here to wait for me?"

According to the original story, shouldn't he have been explaining the various buildings of Shrek Academy to Huo Yuhao right now? Why had he come to wait for him instead?

"Huo Yuhao said he could find his own way to the New Student Dormitory. Someone was worried about you, so I came over to wait." Bei Bei explained.

Jiang Yuheng smiled. "That kid. Thanks, Brother Bei."

"If anyone should be thanking someone, it's me thanking you for helping our Tang Sect with such a huge favor." As Bei Bei spoke, he told him where the dormitory was, which teaching buildings and floors he would have classes in later, as well as the location of the cafeteria.

As for the other scenic spots, Shrek's signposts all had directions for them. He only needed to follow the signs.

Before long, the two arrived at a Notice Board. Since some time had passed, far fewer new students were gathered around it now.

The notice was simple. It merely listed the homeroom teacher for each new student class.

Jiang Yuheng and Huo Yuhao had both been assigned to Class 1 of New Students, and their homeroom teacher was named—Zhou Yi.