Betting Agreement, Highest Academy

After returning to the academy, the first person to seek out Chen Ming was the Dean.

Although Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy was merely a junior Soul Master Academy, its teaching staff was actually better than that of ordinary junior Soul Master Academies located in similarly remote cities.

All of this was thanks to the academy's Dean, a Power Attack System Battle Spirit Master whose cultivation had reached the Soul Ancestor rank.

Inside the Dean's office, Chen Ming sat in a chair and watched the excited-looking middle-aged man across the desk. His mind raced as he tried to analyze the other man's thoughts.

The Dean looked at Chen Ming and gave him a gentle smile.

"You're very good. Truly very good." The Dean picked up the teapot beside him, poured Chen Ming a cup of tea, then poured one for himself as well.

Looking at Chen Ming, who was completely unlike others his age, the middle-aged man wore a gratified expression.

"I've waited twenty years for an opportunity, yet I never expected three children with such talent to appear at once."

"Don't be afraid. I mean you no harm. The opportunity I'm talking about isn't about hurting any of you. It's the opportunity for Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy to be promoted into an Intermediate Soul Master Academy."

"When I was young, I too was a child from a village near Nuoding City who was fortunate enough to awaken Soul Power. I enrolled in Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy and, through sheer luck, was taken in and trained by the previous Dean."

"After graduating from the junior Soul Master Academy, I went to an Intermediate Soul Master Academy for further study. But my talent was limited. Though I eventually entered an Advanced Soul Master Academy, I was unable to graduate. After finishing my studies, I traveled the continent for several years before finally returning to Nuoding City to take over for my teacher."

"My teacher and I shared the same wish: to elevate Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy into an Intermediate Soul Master Academy. Yet over these decades, either the academy lacked sufficient teaching staff, or there were no outstanding enough students."

"But you, Tang San, and Xiao Wu from the same village—each of you possesses such talent."

"I know you may want to graduate directly and enter an Intermediate Soul Master Academy for further study. But I believe I can offer you an even better opportunity."

"Have you heard of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal academy?"

"That is the highest institution in the Heaven Dou Empire, a place that accepts only the children of nobles," Chen Ming answered truthfully.

"Yes, that's right. But those noble children do not necessarily have to be blood relatives. They can also be people without blood ties who are recommended by nobles. This was originally a privilege used by nobles to recommend their 'adopted sons' or disciples, but it is indeed a reliable path."

"I am the Dean of Nuoding Academy, and I am also a baron with real authority in the Heaven Dou Empire. Though I cannot compare to those great nobles, I do possess such a privilege. However, I can only recommend one person in my lifetime."

"My son did not inherit my talent. His future cultivation will ultimately not surpass mine, so I sent him to another Intermediate Soul Master Academy to study. But you are different. Your talent is sufficient, and your Martial Soul is outstanding enough. Most importantly, you obtained a hundred-year first Spirit Ring through your own abilities. That is an enormous advantage."

The Dean stared fixedly at Chen Ming, his eyes blazing with fervor.

"Do you dare to make a bet? Reach level fifteen before the age of ten. With your talent, I don't think that will be difficult for you. As long as you can do that, I can find a way to put the academy's promotion on the agenda. Then, I'll use my sole recommendation slot to send you to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy!"

"Dean, I don't understand. Why me instead of Tang San or Xiao Wu? The two of them have Innate Full Soul Power. Shouldn't they be more talented than me?" Chen Ming asked.

"Xiao Wu has Innate Full Soul Power, but I secretly had people investigate her. She is not a child from the surrounding area. I suspect she has a family background, but my abilities are insufficient to uncover it. I do not wish to provoke such trouble."

"And more importantly, I cannot say whether she is merely here to play around for a while before leaving, or whether she will honestly remain a normal student."

"As for Tang San... leaving aside the fact that he has already been accepted as a disciple by Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, so he does not need a baron like me worrying over him, even if I truly recommended him... even with Innate Full Soul Power, his Martial Soul is only Blue Silver Grass. A Martial Soul like that would never catch the royal academy's eye."

Back then, the Dean had been willing to take in Yu Xiaogang and let him live here for free because he had been fooled by Yu Xiaogang's title as Grandmaster. He believed Yu Xiaogang was highly capable and wanted to use his knowledge and connections to develop Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy into an Intermediate Soul Master Academy.

Yet even he had not expected that, although Yu Xiaogang lived here for free, Yu Xiaogang did not think highly of him either. The Dean had originally wanted Yu Xiaogang to offer some guidance, but Yu Xiaogang stubbornly refused on the grounds that no one was worthy of his instruction. He never did any work at the academy.

After so many years, the Dean himself had given up on the idea of relying on Yu Xiaogang to help upgrade the academy. In daily life, he simply acted as though Yu Xiaogang did not exist.

"Do you want to make a bet with me? If you are willing, then I dare swear upon my Martial Soul. As long as you reach level fifteen within the academy before turning ten, I will risk my life trying to send you into the royal academy."

"Dean, you truly are an ambitious man." Chen Ming analyzed the Dean's expression and tone for a while, then finally nodded. "But I believe I can do it. I can even do better."

Heaven Dou Royal Academy had two advantages. First, it had abundant teaching resources, and its background was more convenient and flexible than directly joining a faction. Second, it would make it easier to come into contact with Gift-Giving Douluo Dugu Bo, in order to plot for Immortal Herbs.

"Good. Let us seal this with a high five." The Dean smiled and extended his hand.

One large palm and one small palm met in midair, and the agreement was sealed.

Seeing that Chen Ming had accepted his proposal, the Dean no longer concealed anything. "Student Chen Ming, since you are willing to make this bet, I must raise the stakes as well. Do you see the bookshelf in my office? The books on it were collected by my teacher and me at tremendous cost."

"Though I am rather poor and cannot provide you with many cultivation resources, I will still do my best to help you. You may come to my office to read and supplement your theoretical knowledge. If you encounter any problems in cultivation, I can guide you as well."

"The Heavy Armored Earth Dragon Martial Soul can gain a cultivation boost within mineral veins. The academy happens to have a suitable place. Although there are not many minerals inside, and the difficulty of mining exceeds its value, I can have people dig deeper and expand it into a suitable mimetic training ground for you."

"Work hard and cultivate diligently. The academy's promotion depends on the few of you."

The Dean patted Chen Ming on the shoulder in encouragement.

"Thank you, teacher." Chen Ming cupped his fist in his hand and replied to the Dean.

Although the Dean did not truly count as Chen Ming's master, such actions already made him a qualified teacher in Chen Ming's eyes.