Studying / Technical Academy

One reason this happened was that the teachers had to help more than a dozen students hunt Soul Beasts, and they simply weren't up to the task. For safety's sake, they settled for whatever they could manage. Another reason was that these low-level Soul Master academies had poor educational resources. They only taught a few basic methods for identifying a Soul Beast's age, and didn't even know the maximum age a Soul Ring could have, so they played it safe and hunted Soul Beasts that seemed younger.

Yu Xiaogang had published knowledge that had been practically monopolized, and the only reason no one had killed him was that his father was a Douluo.

Why call it a semi-monopoly?

Because Spirit Hall Academy taught this knowledge; it simply hadn't spread for various reasons.

What was the first thing to do when your powerful backing fell?

A normal person would probably think about how many people they'd offended and how to protect themselves.

Yu Xiaogang was different. He thought about contacting Bibi Dong, to see if he could get a Soul Power Breakthrough Pill and find out what had happened to his father.

Although he was shocked and uneasy, he wasn't overly worried.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan gave him far too much confidence.

Even if his father had gone missing, he still had the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, behind him. The clan's next heir, his nephew Yu Tianheng, was very close to him.

He also had his old friends from the Golden Iron Triangle. They'd fallen out and gone their separate ways, but after so many years of friendship, they wouldn't stand by and do nothing if he got into trouble.

As far as he knew, his former lover Bibi Dong was already a Soul Douluo. At her age, becoming a Titled Douluo in the future was practically a certainty.

With connections like these, Yu Xiaogang could hold his head high and continue his research as the Master.

After seeing off the clansman who'd brought the news, Yu Xiaogang turned and went back to his study.

He still hadn't received a reply to the letter he'd sent. Yu Xiaogang believed he knew Bibi Dong very well.

In the letter, he'd deliberately mentioned the wonderful memories they'd made together in Yelin City: attending the lantern festival, exchanging glances beneath the fireworks, and Yu Xiaogang anxiously searching for Bibi Dong after she'd hidden away in a fit of pique. In the end, they'd released a Kongming lantern together and made a wish.

Back when Bibi Dong had left Spirit Hall with him and they'd traveled together, she'd often said she wanted to visit Yelin City again and relive their sweet date.

Unfortunately, not long after that, Yu Xiaogang met Liu Erlong and Flender. The three of them began traveling together, and he and Bibi Dong never got to be alone again.

Yu Xiaogang thought he understood just how much Bibi Dong loved him. Once she read his letter, she'd surely be unable to resist coming to help him.

But why hadn't she replied?

Had the servants been pretending to obey him, without ever delivering the letter to Bibi Dong?

Or had Pope Qian Xunji forbidden Bibi Dong from contacting him?

At the thought, Yu Xiaogang finally decided to risk a trip to Spirit City.

But then...

"Knock, knock, knock!" Someone rapped on the study door.

A clear yet steady boy's voice sounded from outside. It was Tang San. He asked calmly, "Teacher, are you there?"

"I have a question I'd like to ask you. Do you have time?" Tang San had been brushed off by Yu Xiaogang several times before. He stood quietly outside the door, waiting for an answer.

Because Tang San had always acted like a well-behaved student and a good disciple in front of Yu Xiaogang, Yu Xiaogang wasn't wary of him.

Yu Xiaogang also credited Tang Hao for the first time he'd helped Tang San hunt a Soul Beast and obtain a Soul Ring, getting them out of danger.

Without hesitation, Yu Xiaogang opened the door, already wondering what excuse he could use to send Tang San away this time.

After all, Tang San was a good disciple. He always trusted Yu Xiaogang and never argued with him.

"Xiao San, it's so late. What brings you to see your teacher?" This time, Yu Xiaogang didn't step aside to let Tang San in.

Unlike the dormitory at Nuoding Academy, where Yu Xiaogang lived in very simple quarters and kept all his important belongings in his Space Soul Tool, this study contained many important things.

Tang San looked up and stared at Yu Xiaogang. He raised his hand slightly, aiming his sleeve at him. A glint of cold light flashed in the dark opening of the sleeve.

"Teacher, we've been in Heaven Dou City for nearly half a month. Are we still going to the Mimicry Cultivation Ground you mentioned? If it's not possible, we can go back to Nuoding City!"

Tang San wasn't a real child, and he wasn't stupid. He could tell Yu Xiaogang had been brushing him off lately and no longer put as much effort into teaching him. Yu Xiaogang hadn't followed through or taken any action regarding the Mimicry Cultivation Ground, either.

In private, Tang San had even sneaked out to ask around about it.

The Mimicry Cultivation Ground at Heaven Dou Royal Academy was only for the academy's talented students. It had never been open to outsiders.

Tang San had thought about many things. Yu Xiaogang had lied to him. Why had he brought him to Heaven Dou City?

Was he planning to harm him?

Should he kill Yu Xiaogang?

After hesitating for a long time, Tang San decided to give Yu Xiaogang a chance to explain.

"Xiao San, I'm sorry. Your teacher may not be able to keep the promise I made you." Yu Xiaogang sighed. His stiff, ordinary face managed to force out an expression of sorrow.

"Teacher, did something happen?" Tang San's eyes flickered as he lowered his arm.

"The reason I dared to say I could take you to the Mimicry Cultivation Ground was that my father is the famous Thunder Douluo. With his help, even though you're only a Soul Master, Xiao San, I could get you in."

"Unfortunately..."

Tang San's heart tightened. He looked at Yu Xiaogang and asked urgently, "Unfortunately, what? Teacher, what happened? Just tell me. Maybe I can help."

"Xiao San, I didn't want to tell you and make you worry, but something has happened in my family. My father, the Thunder Douluo, suddenly lost contact with us."

"Your father is a Titled Douluo. There can't be many people who could threaten him. Do you have any suspects, Teacher?" Tang San calmly analyzed the situation and asked.

Only today had he learned that his teacher was the son of a Titled Douluo. No wonder he was so extraordinary.

Since he'd taken Yu Xiaogang as his teacher, he could make use of his background and resources, so naturally he was concerned.

"Alas!" Yu Xiaogang lowered his eyes and looked toward the bookshelf, avoiding Tang San's gaze. "Although I have no proof, it was most likely someone from Spirit Hall who attacked my father."

Yu Xiaogang said this, but didn't mention why they'd attacked or who had struck first. He only told Tang San the parts that favored him.

Hearing this, Tang San didn't bring up offering help again. He simply comforted Yu Xiaogang. "You don't need to worry, Teacher. Your father is blessed with good fortune. I'm sure he'll be fine."

But inside, he was puzzled. Ever since awakening his Martial Soul, he'd gradually learned about the world and its politics.

He knew Spirit Hall's position and its way of doing things. In his previous world, it would have counted as a reputable, upright organization.

But for some reason, he'd sensed that Yu Xiaogang disliked Spirit Hall.

Now his teacher's father had even clashed directly with Spirit Hall.

Tang San knew in his heart that his own side might be in the wrong. But Yu Xiaogang was his teacher, and they were in the same boat. So Tang San said, "Spirit Hall attacked someone without cause. That's despicable. Teacher, we should gather people to fight them. That might be how we save your father."

Yu Xiaogang's mouth twitched stiffly. Whether in terms of moral standing or strength, they'd be at a disadvantage if they gathered people to fight Spirit Hall.

"Xiao San, I need to think this over. Go back and get some rest." As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang escorted Tang San out.

"All right, Teacher. You should get some rest, too." Tang San took his leave as respectfully as ever.

Watching the door close, Yu Xiaogang's eyes turned dark and unfathomable. So something had happened in his family? That matched what he'd overheard.

Still, something felt off. His teacher was hiding something.

Never mind. He'd let it go for now...

Yu Xiaogang, who had closed the door, had no idea he'd just come within a hair's breadth of death. After sending Tang San away with a lie, he shut the door again and continued thinking about going to find Bibi Dong.

As for Tang San's idea of uniting with others to attack Spirit Hall?

What a joke. The Thunder Douluo had attacked one of Spirit Hall's transport teams and been killed in return. It was hardly something to be proud of. If the truth came out, other forces would learn that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan no longer had a Titled Douluo.

That would only damage the clan's and the sect's standing. It wouldn't accomplish anything else.

Spirit Hall

Qian Xunji looked without the slightest reaction at the blond little girl in front of him, clutching a test paper and crying golden tears.

It was only a primary-school problem about chickens and rabbits in a cage. What was there to cry about? She hadn't even reached high-school geometry, arithmetic sequences, or calculus yet.

"Daddy, am I really stupid?" Whenever Qian Renxue saw her older brothers and sisters getting top marks, she couldn't help doubting herself.

Qian Renxue had been born at just the right time. Her schooling coincided with the beginning of Qian Xunji's educational reforms.

Spirit City had not only Soul Master Academies for Soul Masters, but also Technical Academies for ordinary people who hadn't awakened Soul Power. As the name suggested, these schools taught ordinary people practical skills they could use to make a living. The most popular major was Soul Tool studies, followed by the Pharmacy Academy, which had recently been founded by Bian Que, who also served as its dean...

Because Soul Masters needed to cultivate, Spirit Hall Academy taught less than the Technical Academies. But Qian Xunji had still arranged for them to receive a basic compulsory education.

Although cultural subjects didn't count for many marks and wouldn't affect Qian Renxue's status as a genius, she was determined to come out on top and wanted to rank first.

Then she looked at the math problems and went completely blank!

In practice, the students at Spirit Hall Academy focused more on cultivation and strength. They didn't pay much attention to their cultural grades. As long as they weren't like Yan in the upper grades, a top-tier academic failure, no one cared much about the geniuses' grades.

Qian Renxue was different. She was truly competitive and wanted to come first. Especially since her older brothers and sisters all did so well in their cultural subjects, she couldn't afford to bring shame on her family.

At school, the genius girl made studying look easy. At home, she secretly stayed up late to study and make up for what she didn't know.

"It's so hard, so hard!" Qian Renxue wore an expression of pure agony.

"What's so hard about it? At the Technical Academy, this is the simplest basic knowledge. The lower grades have already finished learning all of it. The only reason students at the intermediate Soul Master Academy are studying it now is because Spirit Hall Academy has more relaxed cultural requirements."

The education system on Douluo Continent was a semi-monopoly.

The curriculum at low-level Soul Master Academies taught little beyond cultivation and basic knowledge about Soul Masters and Soul Beasts.

More advanced subjects, such as Soul Tool crafting and the history of the two empires and the major forces, were taught elsewhere. (They didn't even have records of Sea God Island overseas; only a few major forces knew about it. The existence of gods above level one hundred was also a secret...)

Officials in the two empires were selected through recommendations and inheritance. They were all nobles.

Other trades were passed down through apprenticeships. If someone wanted to become a blacksmith, they had to find a smithy and take a master. They paid an apprenticeship fee, worked for free, and served their master well. Whether they learned any real skills in the end depended on the master's mood. If the master wasn't satisfied, they could spend several years—or even more than a decade—working for nothing, then go back to their hometown and farm. It was difficult for ordinary people to get ahead and live well.

The Technical Academies established by Qian Xunji gave ordinary people another path in life.