Enrollment (Part 2)

Enrollment (Part 2)

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was located twenty li outside Heaven Dou City. Built within the mountains, the entire mountain, from its foot to its peak, lay within the academy's grounds, containing numerous cultivation grounds and various facilities.

The academy's main campus was located around the mountainside, where facilities such as the library, cafeteria, and classrooms were situated. The residences for the academy staff and mentors were elsewhere.

The room where Chen Ming had spoken with Qin Ming was located at the foot of the mountain, while the place where the three Education Committee Members currently were was near the mountain peak. Even for Soul Masters, the distance between them was not short.

The road leading to the peak consisted of steps paved with rocks carved by craftsmen. Every stone bore images of Soul Beasts, and each brick was worth several months of income for an ordinary household. Most people would marvel at the sight for quite some time. Even Chen Ming could not help inwardly complaining about just how much money had been wasted.

After Martial Soul Possession, their physical abilities rose dramatically. Driven by Soul Power, the two flashed across the steps like afterimages.

Qin Ming was an Agility Attack System Soul King. Mere steps could not possibly tire him. If not for his concern for Chen Ming beside him, he had no idea how far ahead he would have run by now.

As they climbed, Qin Ming secretly spared some attention to observe Chen Ming's condition.

"Twenty-third-rank Soul Grandmaster. His Soul Power cannot be considered deep, after all. Exploding at this pace will not only consume Soul Power rapidly, but also place an extreme burden on his stamina. Once either begins to weaken, the other's consumption will multiply as well. If he still pushes on in one burst, he could easily exhaust himself..."

Watching Chen Ming's speed and the Soul Power surging around him, Qin Ming silently calculated in his heart.

"Looks like Xiao Ming still lacks experience, though it is not really a problem."

Thinking this, Qin Ming did not speak up to correct him. After all, he still did not know Chen Ming's exact condition and was merely making a preliminary judgment. He needed to use this climb to observe Chen Ming more closely.

Soon, a quarter of an hour passed. Chen Ming's expression remained unchanged, and his running speed showed no sign of slowing. Qin Ming could not help nodding.

"His endurance is good, and his physical condition is excellent. He may lack experience, but his physical training is clearly quite solid."

After another quarter of an hour, Chen Ming's breathing became slightly hurried, but his pace remained steady. Qin Ming was inwardly startled.

"The Jade Scorpion is not a Martial Soul known for endurance. Yet Xiao Ming has such stamina? Incredible. Could this be the enhancement brought by a Thousand Year Soul Ring? Or was he born with such unusual traits, allowing him to absorb a Thousand Year Soul Ring as his Second Soul Ring?"

Another quarter of an hour passed, and Qin Ming and Chen Ming had climbed to a point where they could see the room occupied by the three Education Committee Members.

Chen Ming's cheeks were slightly flushed, and faint sweat beaded his forehead, yet there was still no sign of fatigue on his face. His speed did not lessen in the slightest. Even his previously hurried breathing had somehow been adjusted, becoming steady and rhythmic once more.

At this point, Qin Ming had nothing left to say.

Training or talent? Qin Ming only felt that Chen Ming's stamina was more beastly than a beast's, already at the level of a complete monster.

When he himself had been at rank twenty-three, he might have been faster than Chen Ming, but he would have been fortunate to possess even a third of Chen Ming's endurance. Over such a height, even if he conserved his strength, he would have needed to rest at least once.

The stamina Chen Ming displayed was already nearly comparable to Qin Ming's when he had been close to rank forty.

More importantly, during the climb, Qin Ming discovered that Chen Ming's Soul Power consumption rate simply defied common sense.

For an ordinary Soul Master, using one portion of Soul Power to produce one portion of effect was already excellent. Using one portion of Soul Power as two was genius-level. Across the continent, countless Soul Masters could not even produce half a portion of effect from one portion of Soul Power.

But Chen Ming? He was outright using one portion of Soul Power as five or six, and coupled with his own Soul Power recovery speed, he had practically reduced his consumption to the minimum. His Soul Power might even remain more abundant than his physical strength.

Though it was somewhat presumptuous, Qin Ming had already begun to wonder whether Chen Ming was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that had shapeshifted and infiltrated the human world.

After all, by common sense, a Soul Master should not possess such talent.

Before long, the two arrived at the destination of their trip: a rather inconspicuous-looking house.

The house truly was unremarkable. It had only two floors, its stone was ordinary and common, and there were no decorations or carvings on it. Only a few flowers and plants grew in front of the house.

In Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where even the bricks bore Soul Beast carvings, this house looked as plain as a warehouse used to store things. Given the style of carving even the stones, it might have looked even less conspicuous than a warehouse.

"Xiao Ming, this is where the three Education Committee Members usually work. Once you go inside, make sure you leave a good first impression on them. The three Education Committee Members are powerful Soul Douluo, pillars of our Heaven Dou Empire and renowned experts across the continent."

"Each of the three Education Committee Members is worth an army of thousands. It is said that together, they even possess strength capable of rivaling a Titled Douluo. You must watch your words and behavior."

Qin Ming was not particularly socially adept. The way he spoke made him sound less like a teacher and more like an old mother. Someone with a bad temper would probably find him unbearably nagging. However, Chen Ming could understand the goodwill in his words.

Though they had not known each other for long, Qin Ming had given Chen Ming a good first impression. He was a relatively gentle and responsible teacher.

"Thank you, Teacher Qin. I'll be careful." Chen Ming wiped the sweat from his forehead, calmed himself, then nodded at Qin Ming and replied with a smile.

Seeing Chen Ming's response, Qin Ming nodded in satisfaction. He stepped forward a few paces and knocked on the door.

"Education Committee Members, this is Qin Ming. While inspecting this year's new students, I discovered a promising prospect, so I brought him here directly. I ask the three of you to take a look at this student."

"Qin Ming, come in." A deep voice came from inside the house. Along with a Soul Power Fluctuation, the door was opened from within through the air.

Before entering the room, Chen Ming smelled a familiar fragrance in the air. It was a scent he had often smelled in the basement before—the odor produced when lamp oil made from deep-sea whale-type Soul Beast fat was burned.

Qin Ming led Chen Ming inside, and the room's furnishings came into view. A row of cabinets stood in the spacious room, displaying all manner of materials obtained from Soul Beasts. The walls on both sides were hung with various unknown calligraphy and paintings.

At the center of the room was a broad round table. Three old men sat around it, with dishes of every kind spread across its surface and jars of wine placed by their feet. Of the three old men, two had already flushed red from drinking, while the third reeked of alcohol. Yet their eyes remained bright, without the slightest hint of drunkenness.