Enrollment

Meng Shenji waved a hand, signaling for them to sit, then looked toward the young female teacher at the podium.

"Teacher Qin, these two are new students. I'll leave them to you."

Teacher Qin was a woman in her twenties, with delicate features and a gentle temperament. Judging by the fluctuations of her Soul Power, she was likely a four-ring Soul Ancestor.

She smiled and nodded. "Rest assured, Dean."

After offering a few more instructions, Meng Shenji left.

Teacher Qin looked at Gu Ci and Dugu Yan, curiosity and kindness in her eyes. "You two, please introduce yourselves."

Gu Ci nodded, carried Zi Dian forward, and said calmly, "Gu Ci, six years old. Martial Soul: Mystic Thunder Tiger. Level 11 Power Attack Battle Spirit Master."

The moment he finished speaking, low gasps rose throughout the classroom.

"Level 11? At six years old?"

"Mystic Thunder Tiger? Is he from the Gu Family of Thunder Tiger Marquis Manor?"

"I heard Marquis Gu Xiao is a seven-ring Soul Saint. Reaching Soul Douluo is practically guaranteed for him!"

Dugu Yan stepped forward as well and said in a clear voice, "Dugu Yan, six years old. Martial Soul: Jade Scale Snake. Level 11 Control System Battle Spirit Master."

The classroom fell completely silent.

Jade Scale Snake? Dugu?

There were plenty of Spirit Masters named Dugu throughout the Heaven Dou Empire, but only one family possessed the Jade Scale Snake Martial Soul—

Poison Douluo Dugu Bo!

"Is she Poison Douluo's granddaughter?"

"My heavens, a descendant of a Titled Douluo!"

"Level 11 at six years old? Her talent is incredible!"

The students whispered among themselves, and the looks they gave the two of them changed.

Some were envious, some curious, and some carried faint hostility.

Teacher Qin coughed lightly to suppress the discussion and pointed to two empty seats in the middle of the classroom. "You two can sit there for now."

Gu Ci and Dugu Yan walked over and took their seats.

Zi Dian leaped out of his arms, sprawled across the desk, and continued yawning lazily.

Ice Fire slid down from Dugu Yan's wrist, coiled around the corner of the desk, and flicked its tongue as it surveyed the surroundings.

The students around them wore all sorts of expressions as they looked at the two "pets."

Teacher Qin began the lesson.

"Today, we'll first get an understanding of everyone's cultivation progress."

She picked up the roster. "Starting from the first row, report your Martial Soul, Soul Power Level, and whether you have obtained a Spirit Ring."

The first to stand in the front row was a round-faced boy, who scratched his head somewhat sheepishly.

"Wang Lin. Martial Soul: Blazing Monkey. Level 6 Innate Soul Power, currently Level 9. I haven't obtained a Spirit Ring yet."

A wave of good-natured laughter rose in the classroom.

The second was a tall, thin boy. His voice was loud and clear. "Li Cheng. Martial Soul: Green Wind Eagle. Level 6 Innate Soul Power, Level 9. I haven't obtained a Spirit Ring either."

The third to stand was a girl with a ponytail. "Zhao Yue'er. Martial Soul: Silver Moon Fox. Level 7 Innate Soul Power, Level 10. I haven't obtained a Spirit Ring yet. My family has recently been searching for a suitable one."

One student after another stood up. Their Martial Souls came in all varieties, their Innate Soul Power ranged from Level 6 to Level 7, and their cultivation levels were all between Level 8 and Level 10.

But without exception, none of them had obtained their First Spirit Ring.

Then, the eighth student stood. He was a richly dressed boy who spoke with a hint of pride.

"Lu Ming. Martial Soul: Gale Wolf. Level 7 Innate Soul Power, Level 11. I've already obtained my First Spirit Ring—a Century Spirit Ring."

A burst of surprised cries rang out in the classroom.

"A Century Spirit Ring!"

"Lu Ming? Isn't he the son of Lord Lu, the Minister of Revenue?"

"Level 7 Innate Soul Power and a Century Spirit Ring—that's already quite impressive!"

After Lu Ming finished introducing himself, he deliberately turned around to glance at Gu Ci as he sat down, his gaze carrying a trace of scrutiny and provocation.

Gu Ci's expression did not change. He pretended not to see it.

Soon, it was Dugu Yan's turn.

The little girl stood up and said brightly, "Dugu Yan. Martial Soul: Jade Scale Snake. Level 8 Innate Soul Power, Level 11. I've already obtained my First Spirit Ring."

Whoosh—

The classroom erupted completely.

"Level 8 Innate Soul Power!"

"One level higher than Lu Ming!"

"Jade Scale Snake—that's Poison Douluo's inherited Martial Soul! Maybe Dugu Yan will become a great figure like His Excellency Dugu in the future!"

"She has a Century Spirit Ring too!"

Lu Ming's smile froze on his face, and disbelief flashed through his eyes.

Level 8 Innate Soul Power was an exceptionally rare talent even in the entire Heaven Dou Empire!

Next came Gu Ci's turn.

Gu Ci stood and said calmly, "Gu Ci. Martial Soul: Mystic Thunder Tiger. Level 8 Innate Soul Power, Level 11. I've already obtained my First Spirit Ring—a Century Spirit Ring."

The classroom erupted in surprise for the third time, and this time it was even more intense than before.

Another genius with Level 8 Innate Soul Power!

Two geniuses with Level 8 Innate Soul Power had appeared in the same class at once!

Lu Ming's expression changed completely.

He looked at Dugu Yan, then at Gu Ci. His lips moved, but he could not say a word.

With Level 7 Innate Soul Power and a Century Spirit Ring, he had thought he would stand above everyone else in this class.

But first there had been Dugu Yan, and now Gu Ci had appeared as well. Both were Level 8, and both outclassed him...

Teacher Qin was stunned too. It took her quite a while to recover before she smiled. "Good, good, good! Our class has gained two little geniuses!"

"Level 8 Innate Soul Power is rare even in the entire history of the Academy."

The students applauded one after another, their gazes toward Gu Ci and Dugu Yan becoming even more fervent.

Lu Ming clapped stiffly along with them and forced out a smile, but anyone could see how ugly that smile was.

After class, the students immediately crowded around them.

"Gu Ci, how did you cultivate to Level 8 Innate Soul Power?"

"Dugu Yan, did Senior Poison Douluo give you some heavenly treasures to eat?"

The two were surrounded in the middle as questions flew at them from every direction.

Lu Ming stood outside the crowd, his face dark.

Two lackeys followed beside him and quietly asked.

"Young master, should we..."

Lu Ming shot them a vicious glare, then turned and left.

"Are you idiots? Neither of those two is someone we can afford to provoke. Put away those dirty little schemes!"

Gu Ci caught sight of his retreating figure from the corner of his eye, and the corner of his lips curled slightly.

Zi Dian lay on his shoulder and glanced in that direction, letting out a low rumble from its throat as though it were saying: That's it?

Gu Ci gently patted it and said quietly, "Keep a low profile."

The day's lessons soon ended. Gu Ci and Dugu Yan did not encounter any brainless minor villains trying to humiliate them.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the classroom windows and cast a golden glow across the floor.

As usual, Gu Ci and Dugu Yan arrived at the classroom early. Strictly speaking, it would not have mattered if they skipped class, but they still needed to learn some theoretical knowledge.

The Marquis Manor's knowledge was not bad, but it had not been specifically researched and organized. Compared with the Academy's theoretical system, it was not inferior, but it was certainly more scattered.

Zi Dian lay on Gu Ci's desk basking in the sun, while Ice Fire dozed around Dugu Yan's wrist. The two Soul Spirits continued disguising themselves as ordinary pets.

The students arrived one after another, and the classroom gradually grew lively.

The shock Gu Ci and Dugu Yan had caused yesterday had yet to fade. The appearance of two students with Level 8 Innate Soul Power had made the entire class remember their names.

When Lu Ming entered, his expression still did not look very good. This time, however, he had learned his lesson. He no longer cast hostile looks in their direction and simply sat obediently in his seat.

"I heard more new students are coming today," someone whispered.

"I heard that too. They seem to have been specially admitted, and none of their backgrounds are simple."

"More? Two Level 8s just arrived yesterday. What kind of big shots could be coming today?"

As they spoke, the classroom door was pushed open. Teacher Qin walked in, followed by five figures.