As soon as Lu Chen and the others entered the mountains, they saw three elderly men waiting on the mountain path.
All three wore black robes embroidered with strange patterns in golden thread, giving them a remarkably solemn appearance.
Lu Chen hurried over with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to meet Meng Shenji and the other two.
Lu Chen, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing greeted them respectfully in unison. "We pay our respects to you, seniors!"
Meng Shenji laughed heartily and placed his aged hands on Lu Chen's shoulders, his eyes full of approval. "You certainly are Jin Nian's grandson! What a fine bearing. Starting today, you are students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
Looking at Meng Shenji's warm enthusiasm, Lu Chen was secretly puzzled. What exactly is the relationship between Grandpa and this Meng Shenji? He's being a little too welcoming, isn't he?
Meng Shenji led the three of them into the mountains.
Lu Chen and Xiao Wu finally got to see what a "royal academy" was like.
The steps climbing up to Heaven Dou Royal Academy were works of art carved from White Marble. Along the way, pavilions and towers with sweeping eaves and elaborate brackets stood beneath gilded roofs that shimmered in the sunlight.
Meng Shenji spoke slowly. "Heaven Dou Royal Academy is known as the First Academy in the Heaven Dou Empire.
"The academy has around five hundred students and more than fifty teachers. Its faculty is the strongest in the Heaven Dou Empire..."
Meng Shenji brought them to Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Education Committee.
He took out three crystal balls used to test Soul Power and handed them to Lu Chen, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Let's test your Soul Power. The academy will provide resources according to your Soul Power Level."
Lu Chen nodded. The three crystal balls lit up with brilliant blue light, instantly bathing the entire room in its glow.
"Level forty-five!"
"Level thirty-two!"
"Level thirty!"
Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin, standing beside Meng Shenji, both exclaimed in shock.
Meng Shenji nodded. "Excellent! Starting today, you three—Lu Chen, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing—are Tiandou Level Students at Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
The students at Heaven Dou Royal Academy were divided into three tiers. New students and those whose strength was below Level Twenty-Five belonged to the first tier, called the Tianwei Level. Those between Level Twenty-Five and Level Thirty belonged to the second tier, the Tianzhi Level. Anyone above Level Thirty entered the highest tier, the Tiandou Level.
Tiandou Level Students could choose a teacher to study under. The academy would also help them hunt Soul Rings up to the sixth ring, and would prioritize them when distributing all kinds of cultivation resources.
Meng Shenji then glanced at Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin and asked calmly, "Do either of you have any objections?"
"None!"
Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin replied in unison.
Although Heaven Dou Royal Academy was known as the First Academy in the Heaven Dou Empire, it had produced few powerful Soul Masters in recent years.
Its standing had steadily declined, and most of its five hundred students were noble children from the empire and its vassal kingdoms. Their character and talent varied greatly.
The arrival of Lu Chen and the others was like a timely rain. How could they possibly object?
Meng Shenji shot the two "eager talent seekers" a glance and asked slowly, "Then, what do you think of the things I prepared for Lu Chen and the others?"
Bai Baoshan's aged face was wreathed in smiles. "Of course, they're perfectly fine!"
Meng Shenji took out three Storage Soul Tools and handed them to the trio. "Inside are uniforms for Tiandou Level Students, as well as tokens granting access to the various Mimicry Training Grounds. With these tokens, you'll have priority access to the Mimicry Training Environments."
Lu Chen took the ring and glanced inside. What a generous gift. There was more than just what Meng Shenji had mentioned—there was also a Gold Soul Card loaded with ten thousand.
A Mimicry Training Ground allowed a Soul Master to cultivate their Martial Soul in an environment best suited to them. The stronger the Martial Soul and the greater its potential, the more they would benefit from cultivating in a Mimicry Training Environment.
This was one of the main reasons Lu Chen had chosen to come to Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy.
Meng Shenji then led the three of them to their accommodations. As Tiandou Level Students, they each had their own dormitory.
However, Meng Shenji had arranged for Lu Chen, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing to live together in a grand villa.
"According to what Jin Nian wrote in his letter, it'll be more convenient for you three to live together."
As Meng Shenji said this, he gave Lu Chen a meaningful look.
Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly changed the subject. "Senior Meng, what's your relationship with my grandfather?"
Meng Shenji answered slowly, "Jin Nian is my junior fellow apprentice. By seniority, you should call me Granduncle."
"Huh?"
Lu Chen and the two girls were all taken aback and exchanged glances.
Meng Shenji continued, "If Jin Nian hadn't been injured while saving me all those years ago, damaging his foundation, he wouldn't have remained stuck at the Soul Ancestor level."
As Meng Shenji spoke, regret and sorrow filled his aged eyes, and his voice grew heavier.
"Settle in and study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Take the day to rest, and choose your teachers tomorrow."
Meng Shenji then turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "As for your third Soul Ring, I'll personally take you to Sunset Forest to obtain it tomorrow."
Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly thanked him. "Thank you, Senior Meng!"
Meng Shenji waved a hand. "Just like Lu Chen, you can call me Granduncle."
At his words, Zhu Zhuqing sneaked a glance at Lu Chen from the corner of her eye. Her cheeks flushed, and she hesitated. "Th-thank you, Granduncle."
Meng Shenji nodded with satisfaction. After reminding the three of them to cultivate diligently, he turned and left.
The villa came with a small courtyard. An open space in the middle was large enough for Lu Chen, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing to spar.
The three quickly chose their rooms. Xiao Wu's and Lu Chen's rooms were right next to each other, while Zhu Zhuqing chose a room across from Lu Chen's.
Meanwhile, deep in the Ice Fire Two Elements Spring in Sunset Forest,
Dugu Bo stared at the letter from Prince Xue Xing, his hands trembling slightly. "That kid... is still alive!"
Dugu Bo hurried over to his granddaughter and placed the letter in front of Dugu Yan. His voice low, he said, "Yan Yan, that kid Lu Chen really is still alive. And his cultivation may well have reached the Soul Ancestor level!"
Dugu Yan read the letter. It said that Heaven Dou Royal Academy had just accepted three new students, one of whom was named Lu Chen. His Martial Soul was the Blood Nether Sword, and his Soul Power Level might be above Level Forty.
To stop First Prince Xue Qinghe's influence from growing stronger, Prince Xue Xing wanted Dugu Bo to drive Lu Chen and the others away.
After Dugu Yan finished reading, the letter slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Tears welled in her eyes.
All these years, whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the scene of Lu Chen being carried off by the Titan Giant Ape.
Two streams of tears slid down her cheeks. Dugu Yan looked at her grandfather and warned him, "Grandpa, if you really drive Lu Chen out of the academy, I'll never speak to you again!"
Dugu Bo gathered a cloud of green mist in his hand and sent it toward the letter and the messenger pigeon perched by the window.
Dugu Bo spoke slowly. "I never received any letter. Lu Chen? Who's Lu Chen?"
Even if Prince Xue Xing had once done him a favor, it couldn't outweigh how much his granddaughter meant to him.
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