Entrance Examination

After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, Long Chen returned home and packed a few things.

The next morning, he and Ye Tianming rode in a carriage along the broad road toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy, twenty kilometers outside Heaven Dou City.

On the way, Ye Tianming told Long Chen about Heaven Dou Royal Academy and the things he needed to keep in mind.

As the carriage rolled along, the outline of Heaven Dou Royal Academy gradually came into view.

Long Chen and Ye Tianming got out and entered the campus together.

"Xiao Chen, Teacher Liu and I have already spoken. We'll go find him first, then see Lingling."

"Okay."

"That girl Lingling will be thrilled to hear you've come to the Royal Academy too."

"Mm. Now that I'm here, Lingling won't be so lonely."

Long Chen followed Ye Tianming to the Teaching Building, where they found Liu Zhicheng.

Liu Zhicheng was delighted to see them.

"Brother Tianming, you're finally here."

"Zhicheng, I'm bringing Xiao Chen here to enroll."

"That's wonderful!"

As they spoke, Liu Zhicheng's gaze fell on Long Chen.

Ever since he'd first met Long Chen a few years ago, he'd sensed there was something special about him.

Seeing him again now only confirmed what he'd suspected.

The aura emanating from Long Chen was far stronger than that of other Soul Masters his age.

"Hello, Teacher Liu."

Long Chen greeted Liu Zhicheng politely.

Liu Zhicheng smiled.

"Xiao Chen, you're now a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. By the way, what's your Soul Power Level?"

"I just obtained my third Soul Ring with Uncle Ye in the Star Dou Forest. My Soul Power is Thirty-second Rank now."

"Thirty-second Rank?!"

Liu Zhicheng was clearly stunned by Long Chen's words.

He couldn't believe that the young boy standing before him, who was barely into his teens, had already reached the Battle Soul Elder level.

According to Heaven Dou Royal Academy's ranking system, students with Soul Power at or above level thirty were classified as Tiandou Rank—the highest rank.

In other words, Long Chen would enter the academy as a Tiandou Rank Student and receive instruction from Tiandou Rank teachers.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy currently had around five hundred students, but fewer than fifty were Tiandou Rank.

Once he enrolled, Long Chen would undoubtedly be the youngest Tiandou Rank Student.

Ye Tianming nodded to Liu Zhicheng, then looked at Long Chen with a smile.

"Xiao Chen, wait outside for a moment. Teacher Liu and I need to talk alone."

"Okay."

Long Chen went outside to wait.

Ye Tianming and Liu Zhicheng spoke privately for a while.

Only then did Liu Zhicheng understand why Ye Tianming hadn't brought Long Chen to the Royal Academy earlier.

"Brother Tianming, Xiao Chen is a rare genius, and his future is limitless. No wonder you were so cautious and waited until now to bring him to the academy. Don't worry. With me here, nothing will happen to him."

"Mm. I trust you, of course. That's why I brought him here."

"With Xiao Chen's talent, he won't be able to hide his strength. Once the three members of the Teaching Committee learn about him, they'll be delighted too. How about I take you to meet them?"

"Sounds good."

When Ye Tianming had enrolled Ye Lingling, he'd already met the academy's three committee members.

All three were respected elders of the academy, and they were humble men. Ye Tianming had a good impression of them.

Liu Zhicheng went to the Teaching Committee and briefly explained the reason for their visit to the three members.

When they learned that Ye Tianming had brought a young student with Thirty-second Rank Soul Power, the three were both surprised and delighted.

Liu Zhicheng stepped out of the Teaching Committee's office and smiled.

"Brother Tianming, Xiao Chen, the three committee members are waiting for you inside. Come on in."

Ye Tianming and Long Chen exchanged smiles, then followed Liu Zhicheng into the Teaching Committee's office.

Three elderly men stood inside.

Ye Tianming crossed his hands over his shoulders, bowed slightly, and greeted them respectfully.

"Greetings, seniors."

One of the elders laughed heartily and strode over, lowering Ye Tianming's hands from his shoulders.

"Tianming, we're old acquaintances. There's no need to be so formal."

The speaker was Meng Shenji, the head of the Teaching Committee. His Martial Soul was the Black Demon, and he was an eighty-fifth-level Control System War Soul Douluo.

Meng Shenji was very thin, with white hair and beard, but he looked vigorous and ruddy.

His voice was somewhat high-pitched, yet he seemed warm and approachable.

The elder standing to Meng Shenji's left was a portly man named Bai Baoshan. His Martial Soul was the Heavenly Star Furnace, and he was an eighty-fourth-level Defense System War Soul Douluo.

Bai Baoshan wore a gentle smile, making him seem like an easygoing man.

The third man was more ordinary in build, neither fat nor thin, with an unremarkable appearance.

He was Zhilin, the third member of the Teaching Committee. His Martial Soul was the Azure Sky Vine, and he was an eighty-second-level Control System War Soul Douluo.

Based on what I know about the story of Douluo Continent, I know who the three of them are and what their Martial Souls are. I just don't know their exact Soul Power levels right now.

I guess that at this point in time, all three of them should be above level eighty.

Meng Shenji continued:

"Tianming, five years ago, you brought us a Nine Heart Begonia Soul Master. With her powerful healing ability and potential, she'll soon become a member of the academy's new School Team.

"Now you've brought us another Tiandou Rank Student.

"Teacher Liu tells me the boy is not yet eleven, yet his Soul Power has already reached Thirty-second Rank. There's no doubt he'll become a member of the academy's new School Team as well.

"You've brought us two exceptionally talented students at once. On behalf of the academy, let me thank you."

Ye Tianming smiled modestly.

"You're too kind, senior. The Royal Academy has the best cultivation resources and teachers in the empire. It's my honor to send them here to study. The Soul Master Competition hasn't even ended yet. Is the academy already putting together a new School Team?"

"Mm. Though the current Royal Academy School Team is stronger overall than the teams from the previous two competitions, it still isn't strong enough. The new team we're about to form looks promising, though. Besides Lingling, there are two other students with considerable strength and potential."

"I heard Lingling mention them. They must be the direct disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Poison Douluo's granddaughter, right?"

"That's right."

A hint of satisfaction showed in Meng Shenji's eyes as he spoke.

Zhilin, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up.

"Brother Tianming, although we're old acquaintances, the academy has its rules. Students who enroll partway through the year must take a Soul Power test. I trust you, of course, and I trust Teacher Liu as well. But I'm curious—how did this boy reach Thirty-second Rank at such a young age?"

"Through diligent cultivation, naturally. Though Xiao Chen has never studied at the academy, he's worked just as hard as any student."

Ye Tianming knew that Zhilin doubted Long Chen's actual strength and wanted to test him.

He nodded to Long Chen, then turned to Zhilin.

"Senior, let's follow the academy's rules. Go ahead."