Nan Li

West of Nuoding City, Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

Outside the towering arched gates of Nuoding Academy stood an old man. Holding the hand of a little boy about six or seven years old, he bowed and greeted the young man stationed at the entrance.

The young man arrogantly asked, "What do you want? Is this a place country folk like you can come to?"

Old Jack had deliberately put on new clothes to bring Tang San here today. His outfit was already considered respectable in Holy Soul Village, but this was Nuoding City. Compared to the city residents' fine attire, Old Jack's clothes looked rather shabby.

Even though the person before him was merely a gatekeeper at a Primary Soul Master Academy, Old Jack could only force a smile. Taking out the certificate Su Yuntao had issued for Tang San, he explained, "This child is the Work-Study Student our village is sending this year. This is the certificate issued by Lord Soul Master."

Although he knew a certificate from a Spirit Hall branch could not possibly be fake, the gatekeeper still mockingly sneered at the two of them. They were obviously from some backwater place. There was not even a drop of profit to squeeze from people like them.

"How ridiculous. A useless Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass, and Innate Full Soul Power..."

Had they been from a wealthy family, even if the gatekeeper saw a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, he would have lavishly praised their Innate Full Soul Power. But people from such a remote village probably had never produced any decent Martial Souls through the generations. Otherwise, one person's success would have elevated the whole family. Why would they still have to humble themselves over a Work-Study Student slot?

"So this is Nuoding Academy?"

A girl who looked about Tang San's age walked up to the gates and stopped. Glancing at the words "Nuoding Academy" above the entrance, she spoke to herself.

The little girl had red hair, half loose and half tied up. Though she was only a child, she wore bracers on both wrists. She was dressed in a fitted red outfit trimmed with gold, with two crimson-gold feather-shaped ornaments strapped to her calves, the tips of the feathers hidden inside her boots.

Behind her followed a person entirely wrapped in a red robe. The figure was tall, and their gender was impossible to discern beneath the robe. Only a pair of sharp eyes was exposed.

The gatekeeper had barely gotten halfway through his mockery before being interrupted. He turned, about to fly into a rage, but when he saw the newcomer's elegant attire—especially the several Crimson Rubies on the girl's wrists, which were clearly worth a fortune—his expression instantly changed. With a flattering smile, he said:

"Yes, this is Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy. Miss, are you here to enroll as well? I'm the gatekeeper here and know the academy best. How about I show you the way?"

The girl ignored him. Her crimson eyes turned toward the boy beside her.

Good. I made it in time.

Those eyes looked him over several times. So this is Tang San, the protagonist from the book.

"Miss..." The gatekeeper was about to speak again when a pressure locked onto him.

The gatekeeper struggled to turn his neck. The instant his gaze met that of the red-robed figure, it felt as though he had fallen into an icy river in winter. He shrank back, trembling all over, and did not dare make another sound.

"Hello, my name is Tang San. You..." Seeing the girl beside him looking at him, Tang San was puzzled, but he still greeted her politely.

"Nan Li." The girl's gaze shifted to the gatekeeper, but her words were directed at Tang San. "I'm Nan Li."

"Is there a problem with his certificate?"

"Huh?" The gatekeeper froze for a moment before he understood. He dared act arrogant before two country bumpkins, but he would never dare put on airs before someone who was clearly wealthy or powerful.

"No, no."

"Then why aren't you letting him in?" The girl before him clearly had no intention of letting him off easily.

"I, I..." The gatekeeper stammered, unable to offer a reason. What was he supposed to say? That he had seen the other party had neither power nor influence, so he had taken the opportunity to put on airs, satisfy his vanity, and flaunt his superiority?

"What's going on here?" Just as the gatekeeper was sweating profusely with anxiety, a somewhat hoarse voice rang out.

The red-robed figure released the pressure pinning down the gatekeeper. He exchanged a glance with the girl, and when she nodded, he turned and left.

The gatekeeper felt as if he had been pardoned. Before he could even catch his breath, he hurriedly greeted the newcomer ingratiatingly. "Master, you're back."

The newcomer was a middle-aged man of average build, with short black hair and an ordinary face.

Master Yu Xiaogang ignored the gatekeeper and instead said to Old Jack and Nan Li, "May I see your certificates?"

The two handed over the certificates issued by Spirit Hall. Yu Xiaogang examined both documents, then looked back and forth at the two children several times without saying anything.

"All right, there's no problem with either certificate." Yu Xiaogang returned them. "Old sir, you may head back now. You two, come into the academy with me."

With Master speaking for them, Old Jack gave Tang San a few parting instructions before leaving.

Yu Xiaogang warned the gatekeeper, then turned to Tang San and Nan Li. "You two, follow me."

As the three walked along, Tang San expressed his gratitude to Master. Master also took the opportunity to make it clear that he was not someone just anyone could address as teacher. Gradually, the conversation turned toward the subject of taking on disciples.

Yu Xiaogang stopped walking and turned to face them. He took a slight breath, calming his excitement at the thought of gaining two genius disciples and having his theories proven.

"Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, Innate Full Soul Power... Tang San, you must have a second Martial Soul. And your second Martial Soul must be exceptionally powerful to provide you with Innate Full Soul Power."

Yu Xiaogang had read both certificates and was extremely satisfied with the children's talents. In his eyes, they were already disciples he had in the bag. Without caring that they were still inside the academy, Yu Xiaogang bluntly exposed Tang San's secret.

"As for Nan Li, Martial Soul Flame Feather Vermilion Bird, Innate Full Soul Power. Although your talent is slightly inferior to Tang San's, it is still outstanding. If I'm not mistaken, your Martial Soul should be a mutated Flame Feather Sparrow Martial Soul, and it may have a chance of transforming into a Flame Feather Sparrow in the future."

Listening to Master's long-winded explanation, Tang San's trust in him grew stronger and stronger.

Nan Li had to admit that Yu Xiaogang did possess some knowledge of Martial Souls, but that was all.

Based on a few guesses, he concluded that Tang San had Twin Martial Souls. Without a second thought, he judged the superiority of the Flame Feather Vermilion Bird and Flame Feather Sparrow. Nan Li found it laughable. Had seeing the prospect of validating his theories made his blood rush to his head, to the point that he could no longer even make the most basic assumptions and analyses?

Nan Li truly looked down on this self-righteous hypocrite. She opened her mouth and interrupted Yu Xiaogang's theoretical lecture.

Originally, I wanted to write a story from Spirit Hall's perspective, but after watching the anime and seeing so many characters I liked disappear later on, I was left dissatisfied and decided to prepare this one instead.

A few reading notes about this story:

(1) Although Nan Li will be opposed to Spirit Hall in the early stages, she will not stay with the protagonist's group. Before the Soul Master Elite Tournament, she will leave the protagonist's group and join the Four Elements Academy.

(2) Some of the opportunities encountered by the protagonist will be used, which will have a certain impact on Tang San. After all, Tang San is not the protagonist of this book. But she definitely will not mindlessly snatch everything. There will be a reasonable explanation for the female lead's special nature.

(3) The original intention is not to break up couples, much less break them up just to pair someone with Nan Li. However, the author may alter the alignments and development of certain characters who clearly could have had better paths, such as Zhu Zhuqing.

(4) The female lead will have a period of growth in the early stages, but Nan Li's personality is passionate, radiant, decisive, and responsible. She does not pretend to be weak only to reveal hidden strength later. Usually, she does not back down—she charges straight in and faces things head-on, though she will not act mindlessly impulsive.

(5*) One rather important point: originally, a male lead was planned, Dong Yun. But after struggling with it for a long time, the character was changed into a girl. One reason is the setting of this story—you can check the synopsis. When you are building a career, where would you find the time to fall in love? The other reason is that the author believes love is precious, but family and friendship are equally precious. The two are sisters who support each other and grow together, as well as comrades who fight side by side to save their people from extinction. Therefore, this story has no couple and no male lead. Important things must be said three times:

No couple, no male lead! No couple, no male lead! No couple, no male lead!

(6) This story draws from both the anime and the Original Work. Any details the Original Work did not explain clearly, or anything that differs slightly in this story, should be treated as personal settings. This is set in the first Douluo era, so there is no need to judge it by the settings from the later Douluo installments.

(7) Different people have different tastes. If you are interested, feel free to give it a read. Writing is for happiness, and reading is for happiness too. Anyone maliciously nitpicking, stirring up arguments, or looking for trouble can get out and never come back!

No bashing or provoking arguments in the comments. Be civil, everyone. Hearts to you all.

The new book, Douluo: I Become the Empress in Spirit Hall, has been released. It debuted on Q Reader. Click my profile page to find it, darlings.

[Shang Yue, Xie Yue and Hu Liena's biological younger sister; Twin Martial Souls; self-created Martial Soul Fusion Skill]

[No couple, no male lead, career-focused; Spirit Hall alignment]

"Good. I made it in time," of course, means she made it in time to mock Yu Xiaogang. òó