Education Committee Members and Assessment

The moment Chen Ming entered the room, he sensed a wave of Spiritual Power probing him. It was powerful and utterly undisguised. Instinctively, Chen Ming took a step back.

That inconspicuous movement made a tall, thin old man in the room click his tongue.

"Eh, kid... you can sense my Spiritual Power?" The gentle-looking old man rose curiously and took a few steps forward, sizing Chen Ming up and down as though he had discovered some rare creature.

"I am Meng Shenji, a Soul Douluo and an Education Committee Member of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. My Martial Soul is Black Demon. Strictly speaking, I am a Spirit System Soul Master." Seemingly worried that he had frightened Chen Ming, Meng Shenji introduced himself.

"You can sense my Spiritual Power. Is your Martial Soul of the Spirit System?"

Meng Shenji's assumption was understandable. In this era, Spiritual Power was an exceedingly mysterious thing. Soul Masters knew little about it, and only a handful of high-level Soul Masters or Spirit System Soul Masters understood it at all.

Some Soul Masters, even after reaching the rank of Titled Douluo, made extremely limited use of their Spiritual Power. Even if a Shapeshifting Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast stood before them, they might fail to recognize it, practically becoming blind despite having their eyes open.

Meng Shenji was not a Titled Douluo, but he was an experienced Soul Douluo. Thanks to his Spirit System Martial Soul, Black Demon, he could use his Spiritual Power for things such as detection.

The other two Education Committee Members, Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin, were likewise seasoned high-level Soul Douluos. Yet their use of Spiritual Power had only scratched the surface; they were completely incapable of probing others with it.

When Meng Shenji used Spiritual Power to investigate someone, only Soul Douluos and Titled Douluos could understand what it was. A few Soul Saints might sense that something seemed to be watching them. Soul Masters below Soul Saint generally could not feel anything at all.

Spirit System Martial Souls were extraordinarily rare—rare to a ridiculous degree. They made up perhaps one in ten thousand Soul Masters. Even at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the highest institution in the Heaven Dou Empire, Meng Shenji was the only true pure Spirit System Soul Master. There were fewer than ten other Soul Masters with spiritual attributes, most of whom were teachers.

Under such circumstances, it was no wonder Meng Shenji was somewhat excited.

"Um, Committee Member Meng, my Martial Soul is not of the Spirit System. It is the beast Martial Soul, Jade Scorpion King. I was merely born with some talent in Spiritual Power and am more sensitive to it."

"Not so..." Hearing Chen Ming's answer, Meng Shenji was slightly disappointed, but not embarrassed. He deftly changed the subject.

"Jade Scorpion King, a King-level Martial Soul. Its quality is unquestionably top-tier. Perhaps it was precisely because you were born with such extraordinary talent in Spiritual Power that your Martial Soul became a king."

King-level Martial Souls were a special classification. Such Martial Souls surpassed ordinary ones of the same kind, but their inheritance was unstable. In essence, they were a beneficial mutation. Their appearance meant that their owner's talent would certainly exceed that of Soul Masters with similar Martial Souls.

Take Emperor-level Soul Beasts as an example. Their offspring would certainly have greater talent than ordinary members of their kind, but they would not necessarily become emperors themselves. They could only be considered to possess emperor blood or king blood, with greater talent and potential, making them more likely than their peers to become King-level or Emperor-level Soul Beasts in the future.

Ordinary Soul Beasts could also become kings or even emperors through accumulated years and fortuitous encounters, but only if there was no other king or emperor above them.

"Perhaps. I'm not too sure either." How could Chen Ming not know how his Martial Soul had evolved? But he could not possibly reveal his secret upon their first meeting.

"Come, let me introduce you. This is Bai Baoshan. Like me, he is an Education Committee Member, a Defense System Soul Douluo."

"Hello, child." The short, plump old man smiled and waved at Chen Ming, showing none of the bearing of a superior.

"This is Zhi Lin, also an Education Committee Member and a Control System Soul Douluo."

"Hello, child..." The old man reeking of alcohol stroked his somewhat messy beard and revealed a gentle smile, while rapidly recalling the new student files he had read that day.

"Greetings, three Education Committee Members. My name is Chen Ming. I come from the Chen Family of Biluo City in the Heaven Dou Empire. My family holds a hereditary baronial title. I am eleven years old. My Martial Soul is the Jade Scorpion King, my Soul Power Level is twenty-three, and my Soul Rings are one yellow and one purple. I hope for your guidance."

Since the three had called him "child" rather than by name, and Meng Shenji had asked about his Martial Soul, Chen Ming guessed that the three Education Committee Members might not know his information. He therefore simply stated all his basic details while introducing himself, sparing everyone the awkwardness.

At first, the three Education Committee Members showed little reaction upon hearing Chen Ming's background and family, merely nodding kindly. However, when he mentioned his Soul Power and Soul Rings, a breeze swept past. Before Chen Ming knew it, the three had appeared beside him, studying him with uncertain amazement.

"Teacher Qin, this..." Meng Shenji glanced at Qin Ming beside him, his gaze carrying a trace of inquiry.

"That's right, three Education Committee Members. Everything in Chen Ming's information is completely accurate. His Martial Soul, Soul Power, and Soul Rings all perfectly match the description in the file."

Upon hearing Qin Ming's answer, the three Education Committee Members broke into irrepressible smiles. Bai Baoshan even reached out and patted Chen Ming's back to express his excitement.

Bai Baoshan, Zhi Lin, and Meng Shenji had long known that they had reached their limits. For years, they had devoted themselves to education and thirsted for outstanding talent. Whether teachers or students, they gave them the greatest care. They could be called the most conscientious group of Education Committee Members Heaven Dou Royal Academy had seen in centuries.

Now that they had heard a truly exceptional genius had appeared, the three were overjoyed. They could not suppress their excitement no matter how hard they tried.

"Child, come with us to the back courtyard. Let us three old fellows see what you can do."

Meng Shenji took Chen Ming by the hand and quickly led him through the back door toward the courtyard behind the building.

Soul Masters traveled quickly. After walking for roughly two or three minutes and descending a slope, the group arrived at a special training ground paved with some unknown stone.

Though night had fallen, the sky of the Douluo World had not yet been polluted. The radiance of the stars and moon still illuminated the special training ground.

Zhi Lin pulled Qin Ming aside and whispered something into his ear. Qin Ming nodded in understanding, then moved some distance away and summoned his Martial Soul.

Five Soul Rings—two yellow and three purple—circled around him. Blazing flames coiled around his body, making the grounds even brighter.

"Xiao Ming, summon your Martial Soul and attack me. Show me your Soul Skills and your strength."

"Don't worry. I'll hold back."