At noon.
Mu Rong finished his final set of push-ups and collapsed onto the grass.
His chest heaved violently.
His muscles ached so badly they seemed about to split.
But the pain felt wonderful.
This was what it meant to grow stronger.
A month later.
Life at Ju Yuan City Ghost Academy had become lively.
Old Monk Kesi had deliberately put on a freshly washed, snow-white long gown and was carrying a large bundle of cloth in his hands.
It was all the students' belongings he had gathered.
Tietou Qing stood leisurely before the academy's main gate.
The Ghost Gate was tall and imposing, built from solid stone. Its two doors were painted a deep, glossy black.
"What are you all standing around for? Get inside."
Leaning against the doorframe, Old Monk Kesi spun a copper coin between his fingers. His robes fluttered in the breeze.
That lofty, transcendent air seemed almost to seep out of his nostrils.
Old Monk Kesi immediately put on a fawning smile, his back bent at a ninety-degree angle.
"Good sir, I'm just a humble village man from Ju Yuan City. I've brought my child here to enroll."
As he spoke, he produced that precious martial soul token, its words clearly visible.
The gatekeeper took it and examined it carefully.
"An innate six-star martial soul? This little village really can produce such a talented child?"
He scrutinized the old man and the young boy suspiciously, as though hoping to find some flaw that would expose them as frauds.
Mu Rong stood to one side, his face expressionless.
A fool with a keen eye was a rarity in any world.
There was no need to be angry.
Much less to charge in and beat the old man up like some protagonist.
That kind of treatment was reserved for the main character. Villains usually ended up suffering for it.
And as soon as you took the first step, there was no going back.
"It's true. This really is the martial soul token issued by the Martial Soul Hall."
Old Monk Kesi was drenched in sweat.
"All right, all right. Go on in."
The gatekeeper waved impatiently, then handed the token back to Old Monk Kesi.
Old Monk Kesi accepted it as though he'd received a great treasure, watching Mu Rong walk into the school grounds.
Before leaving, Old Monk Kesi bent down and stuffed the large bundle of clothes into Mu Rong's hands.
"Child, don't get into trouble. Your father's leaving now."
The old man didn't look back. His retreating figure seemed a little desolate.
Mu Rong held the bundle tightly, his fingers gradually tightening.
He owed him this kindness.
A teacher's duty was to nurture.
The newly appointed dean, Cai Bo, was a middle-aged man. When he saw the words "innate six-star" on Mu Rong's token, a smile spread across his chiseled face.
"Wonderful talent!"
The old dean nodded, impressed.
"Exclude the students from the Wu Family. The rest can all be assigned to Seven Stars."
His hands moved quickly.
Seven Stars.
It was a dormitory converted from a warehouse, about fifty square meters in size, with two rows of large bunk beds.
Dust filled the air, and a faint, musty smell hung over the place.
Mu Rong pushed the door open and went inside.
There were already about a dozen people in the dorm. Most wore rough hemp clothes and were busy tidying up their beds.
In a corner, a familiar figure caught his eye.
Ashen-gray hair, a broad back, and hands clumsily working at the foot of a bunk.
Suo Ling.
That kid was here too.
"Hey, isn't that Ling Xi?"
Mu Rong tossed his bundle onto an empty bed without ceremony.
Suo Ling froze.
He turned around.
The figure he hadn't seen for a month appeared before him, and his expression instantly brightened.
"Mu... Mu Rong?"
"What's wrong? You don't recognize me?"
Mu Rong walked over and helped him shake out the blanket he'd rolled up.
Suo Ling swallowed.
"Y-You... you're a student?"
He sounded as if he could hardly believe it.
After all, he'd spent a whole month working as a laborer.
"Didn't you join the Martial Soul Hall?"
Mu Rong asked, baffled.
"How did you end up at this Ju Yuan City Ghost Academy?"
Zhen Li, the Martial Soul Hall's dedicated nurturing palace, was exclusively for geniuses.
Suo Ling scratched his head and sat down heavily on the bed.
"I got eliminated. The Martial Soul Hall's academy was for geniuses; even the minimum requirement was an innate five-star martial soul.
I'm only innately three-star. They said I might count as 'exceptional,' so I had to make do at an ordinary academy. I'd have to pass the entrance exam before I could officially enroll."
That was how it was.
So this was Sui.
Heavenly Sui was a road to immortality. Cross it, and you'd become Heaven's favored child; fail to cross it, and you'd be a Demon King's mount.
"Whatever. Come on."
Mu Rong patted him on the shoulder.
"Stick with me from now on. You'll be fine."
He'd taken in a little brother, and that made it convenient to put the blame on him whenever anything went wrong.
Besides, although that kid seemed naturally gifted, he was originally the "God King" destined to bring the world crashing down. He was quite useful.
"That's great, Mu Rong!"
Suo Ling was so moved he nearly cried.
With an innate six-star martial soul backing him, not even the people at the academy would dare bully him.
Just then.
Someone kicked the dormitory door open.
"Bang!"
The wooden door slammed into the wall, and dust fell from the ceiling.
A tall, muscular boy in a red-and-black school uniform barged in.
Behind him came several lackeys with dark, hairy arms and legs.
"Are you Mu Rong?"
The boy raised his chin. His face was a hodgepodge of features, like a hole in a screen, and he didn't look like anyone from the area.
The dormitory fell silent at once.
The students who had been tidying their beds quickly moved aside, clearly afraid to provoke this rich young master.
Mu Rong stopped arranging his bed.
"What is it?"
The boy looked surprised. He strode up to the bed, loomed over Mu Rong, and pointed at him.
"I heard you're innately six-star? You look like a little girl."
The boy snorted.
"I'm Cai Lin. The lord of Ju Yuan City is my father.
Since you're sharp enough to know what's good for you, stick with me, and I'll make sure you get by just fine at the academy."
Cai Lin?
Mu Rong paused.
The name sounded familiar.
He thought for a moment. Wasn't this the son of the short-tempered bully from the original story—the one who'd picked a fight with the protagonist?
This family's foundations were truly impressive. Father and son were both virtuous in their own way.
"Thanks for the offer."
Mu Rong turned around. His icy-blue eyes fixed calmly on the young master.
"You're rejecting me?"
Cai Lin seemed to think he'd heard a joke. His expression darkened.
"Kid, don't push your luck. Believe me, I can make you disappear from Ju Yuan City without a trace."
The lackeys behind him immediately cracked their knuckles, ready to attack.
The atmosphere in the dormitory grew tense.
Suo Ling's legs trembled, but he still forced himself to stand beside Mu Rong.
"Cai Lin, we're all classmates..."
"Shut up!"
Cai Lin shoved him aside with a fierce push.
Mu Rong watched the scene and smiled.
His smile was chilling.
"You want to make a move?"
Mu Rong raised his right hand.
A tiny ice-blue snake coiled around his fingertip, its tongue flicking in and out, its snow-white fangs gleaming ominously.
The temperature in the dormitory plummeted.
Cai Lin shuddered and instinctively backed away half a step.
"I have an ice-type martial soul. It's special."
Mu Rong explained calmly.
"Since it's an ice-type martial soul, it must be extremely cold. Once it bites you, the venom will freeze your blood solid, and then..."
He paused, then stepped closer.
"That toy of yours might freeze and break off."
A dead silence fell.
Utter silence.
Every man in the room instinctively clasped his legs together.
For the men watching, that was far more terrifying than death.
Cai Lin's face went deathly pale. All his arrogance vanished without a trace.
"You... You dare threaten me!"
His voice was still hard, but his legs were already trembling as he inched toward the door.
"You can try."
Before you continue