Entry Test

Song Gongran stopped, looking smugly at the nearly thirty-meter-tall building before him, his tone unable to hide his pride.

"Well, isn't it magnificent? With our current materials, it's actually very hard to build a tower this tall, but one of our academy's teachers had a brilliant idea and used soul beast bones as the construction material."

Hals's reaction wasn't particularly strong, but his words still carried genuine admiration for the clever person who came up with this idea. "Not bad. If I get the chance, I'd really like to meet this clever mind."

Song Gongran chuckled and stroked his beard. "If your onboarding test goes smoothly, you'll have that chance."

Catching the implication in Song Gongran's words, Hals tilted his head. "What, even a teacher personally recruited by the dean still needs to take a test?"

"Haha, of course. Even if I am the dean, I have to follow the rules." Song Gongran raised an eyebrow and turned to look at Hals, assuming he was worried about failing the test. With a mischievous wink, he reached out and patted Hals on the shoulder. "Don't worry, this old man thinks he has a good eye. I've never been wrong about people. In terms of strength, if a thirty-seven-year-old Soul Douluo isn't qualified, then who is?"

"And as for teaching, you might not have experience there, but that's fine. First, you just need to share your cultivation experience. If there's something you don't understand, isn't this old man here? Feel free to come ask anytime."

"Mm."

Hals nodded, suddenly feeling a complex sensation he had never experienced before.

Seeing Hals nod, Song Gongran turned around in satisfaction and walked toward the building, chattering as he went. "You, don't worry so much. The academic affairs office is just always going on about teaching safety. As long as your background checks out, this old man will vouch for you. You'll have no problem at all. How about that?"

"..."

"Thank you, Dean." Hals's voice was low, deliberately laced with a hint of gratitude. He had figured it out—this Song Gongran was a man wholly devoted to teaching, not particularly sensitive to the worldly scheming and intrigue, but his feelings for the academy were genuine and sincere.

Song Gongran said nothing more, just patted Hals on the shoulder again and led him upstairs.

The office building was crowded, with many staff members carrying stacks of files back and forth. But no matter how busy they were, whenever they saw Song Gongran, they would stop and bow respectfully, their faces unconsciously showing a trace of reverence.

Seeing this, Hals silently added another label to Song Gongran in his heart—highly respected.

Along the way, the old man Song Gongran didn't rush. He walked slowly, his wrinkled old face constantly breaking into a smile as he kindly gave instructions to the office staff about their work.

Finally, they reached the top floor, where no more office workers came to "interfere."

Song Gongran strode briskly to an office door, pushed it open with force, and his loud, booming voice echoed throughout the entire floor. "Yu girl, come take a look at the genius I've brought back!"

Pushing through the door, what came into view was a slender, alluring woman standing before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, her back to the office door as she gazed outside.

Hearing the loud noise behind her, she turned around helplessly. "Old man, how many times have I told you to knock before entering my office!"

The woman's face was cool and composed, with a trace of resignation in her eyes.

Hearing her reproachful words, Song Gongran didn't argue. Instead, he chuckled sheepishly and rubbed his hair.

Without sparing Song Gongran another glance, the woman turned her gaze to Hals, who had been standing silently to the side. Her eyes carried a hint of scrutiny as she looked him up and down. Her voice, clear as flowing water, rang out. "So you're the newcomer the old man brought in? He didn't just pick you up off the street, did he?"

Song Gongran's movements froze.

The woman paused, then glared at Song Gongran. "Really? Old man, you're this careless?"

The old man chuckled awkwardly. "Well, I did pick him up off the road, but you have to trust this old man's judgment. He's got the strength and the character. This old man has never been wrong about people!"

The woman nodded. "That's true. The old man's strength is lacking, but his judgment is indeed good."

"Pah! You little Yu girl, sure, this old man's talent might not match yours, but that's no reason to badmouth me like that. Just wait—this time I've brought back a true genius. I'm going to knock that arrogance right out of you!" Song Gongran huffed, his beard bristling, but then he turned and patted Hals, who had been silent all along, on the shoulder.

"Yuhun, it's up to you now. Give this brat a good lesson."

"Uh, sure." Hals felt deeply uncomfortable. Having spent his entire time since joining Spirit Hall training relentlessly and completing missions, when had he ever experienced a scene like this?

Hearing Hals's reply, the woman raised an eyebrow. She wanted to see if this man's confidence was matched by his strength.

Turning around, she swayed her graceful figure and walked ahead. "Follow me."

Song Gongran was still smiling, as if he had great confidence in Hals. Hals remained silent.

As the group walked down the corridor, the woman suddenly seemed to remember something. She stopped and turned to look at Hals, who was silently following behind.

"Would you mind telling me about your hometown and background?" Though it was a question, her tone carried an air of entitlement.

Hals nodded, and a low, hoarse voice came from under his hood. "Sure. My home was in Bitong Village. I left at ten years old to make my way in the world. Whenever I was short on money, I'd rob or hunt down bandits. Not long ago, I returned home and found the entire village slaughtered by a gang of bandits. After taking my revenge, I wandered until I met Dean Song here."

The woman was taken aback again. That tragic? She quickly recovered and nodded. "Old man, take him to the training ground first. I have something to take care of. I'll be right back."

Song Gongran nodded and waved dismissively. "Fine, fine. Go on. I'll take Yuhun over first."

She nodded to both of them, then hurried away with swift steps.

Ignoring the woman, Song Gongran continued walking, chatting casually with Hals. "By the way, Yuhun, why do you always keep your hood up? I've never seen you take it off."

Hals hadn't expected Song Gongran to ask that. He raised a hand to touch his face beneath the hood, his voice flat and emotionless. "I was injured as a child. It disfigured me. I don't want others to see."

"I see," Song Gongran said thoughtfully. "Have you ever considered finding a healing soul master to treat it?"

Hals's voice was very calm. "It can't be treated. And I don't want it treated. It's... a memory."

Song Gongran nodded and said no more.

In silence, the two arrived at the training ground.

Looking at the hundred-square-meter blue-brick training ground before him, Hals felt a faint sense of awe. As expected of a royal academy.

After only a short wait, the woman hurried back.

Without making them wait any longer, she said bluntly, "I had someone check. Your background is clean. I also trust the old man's judgment. So now, all you need to do is prove your strength to me, and I'll arrange your onboarding."

Without hesitation, the woman deftly took out a hair tie, gathered her loose hair, and walked to the center of the training ground on her own.

"Yu Xiaoya, Director of Academic Affairs at Star Luo Royal Academy, seventy-eighth-rank Agility Attack Battle Soul Master, Spirit: Rhythm Spirit Leopard. Please advise!"