An Invitation from Suotuo City, Dorm Seven's Unwillingness

Wang Sheng's voice had barely faded.

Xiao Wu frowned first.

"A teacher from Suotuo City, why would he ask for me by name?"

Wang Sheng caught his breath and lowered his voice.

"I don't know. He went straight to the Dean's office the moment he arrived, and not long after, the Dean personally accompanied him out."

"He's waiting at the academy entrance right now."

Su Chen raised his hand to button his cuffs.

"Let's go."

Xiao Wu followed by his side.

The two crossed the path through the dormitory area.

The wind blew diagonally out of the woods, carrying the scent of grass and damp earth.

Xiao Wu tilted her head to look at him.

"It's not going to be more trouble, is it?"

"Doesn't look like it."

Su Chen's pace was unhurried.

"Being able to have the Dean personally accompany him means he isn't here to cause a scene, but to negotiate terms."

Xiao Wu blinked.

"Negotiate with you, or with me?"

"Most likely using you as a bargaining chip first."

Su Chen glanced at her.

"The person he really wants to see is me."

Xiao Wu huffed.

"What do you mean, bargaining chip? I'm clearly very strong too."

"Mm."

"That 'mm' of yours sounds incredibly perfunctory."

"Then I'll be more serious."

Su Chen's tone was calm.

"You are indeed not weak, especially in close-quarters grappling. An average level-ten-something Soul Master really might not be able to withstand that set of Soft Technique of yours."

Xiao Wu's footsteps faltered.

She turned her head to look at Su Chen, her eyes brightening.

"Really?"

"Really."

"That's more like it."

The corners of her mouth curled up, then she quickly suppressed it.

"Then if anyone looks down on me later, don't rush to speak; I'll roast him myself."

Su Chen chuckled.

"Fine. I'll let you take the lead."

When the two reached the academy's front courtyard.

A circle of instructors and students had already gathered at the gate.

The Dean stood at the very front, his back even more hunched than usual.

Standing beside him was a man in his thirties.

He had a slender build, wore a dark blue combat suit, and had a palm-wide black short cape draped over his shoulders; his boots were polished clean.

He was not as nervous as the Dean.

He stood very steadily, but his gaze remained fixed on Su Chen and Xiao Wu.

As soon as Su Chen approached.

The Dean hurried up to meet him.

"Your Highness Holy Son, this is Instructor Shen Zhi from the Balak Intermediate Soul Master Academy in Suotuo City."

Shen Zhi stepped forward half a pace, pressed his right hand to his chest, and bowed slightly.

"Greetings, Your Highness Holy Son."

Su Chen looked at him.

"People from Suotuo City, running all the way to Nuoding City to poach talent?"

The Dean's temple twitched.

Shen Zhi, however, did not panic.

He raised his head, his tone blunt.

"Yes."

"Nuoding Academy is too small; it cannot hold a true genius."

"For the Holy Son to remain here any longer is a waste of time."

As the words fell.

The surrounding instructors all wore awkward expressions.

The Dean's smile turned stiff, yet he dared not respond to that remark.

Xiao Wu crossed her arms over her chest and spoke first.

"What about me? Do you think I'm some kind of genius too?"

Shen Zhi looked at her.

"You are."

"A rabbit-type Martial Soul. Your combat judgment is fast, and your explosive power and physical flexibility are both outstanding."

"I have just reviewed the sparring records left in the academy and inquired about the situation in the work-study dormitory."

"You are qualified to enter Suotuo City."

Xiao Wu lifted her chin.

"Sounds alright."

Su Chen said nothing.

Shen Zhi took a parchment scroll from the inner pocket of his cloak and handed it to the Dean, who received it with both hands before carefully presenting it to Su Chen.

"This is a special admission document jointly issued by the Balak Intermediate Soul Master Academy and the Suotuo Martial Soul Branch Hall."

Shen Zhi looked at Su Chen.

"If the Holy Son goes there, the academy will designate a private Mimicry Cultivation Room for you."

"Teachers, resources, and live-combat venues will all be provided at the highest specifications."

"As for Xiao Wu, she may enroll alongside you and enter the special admission class directly."

Upon hearing "special admission class," Xiao Wu's ears twitched.

"Sounds good."

No sooner had she finished speaking than she added another sentence.

"But I have to make one thing clear first."

"After we go, will Su Chen and I still be together?"

The Dean and the surrounding instructors fell silent at once.

Shen Zhi looked at Xiao Wu, then at Su Chen.

He answered quickly.

"Your study schedules will be together. As for living arrangements, they must follow academy rules."

"Male and female dormitories are separate, and noble and commoner dorms are also—"

He stopped halfway through his sentence.

Because Su Chen's gaze had turned cold.

"Nobles and commoners?"

Su Chen took the scroll but did not open it, merely tapping the edge with his fingertips.

"The academies in Suotuo City still play that game?"

Shen Zhi was silent for half a second.

"Those are the old rules."

"And old rules are worth keeping?"

Su Chen's tone was not heavy.

Yet the Dean standing nearby felt a chill run down his back.

Shen Zhi did not shy away.

"If the Holy Son goes there, those rules can be changed."

Su Chen looked at him.

"So, you aren't here to invite."

"You're here to use my name to reform your academy."

Shen Zhi's eyes flickered.

He didn't deny it.

"Fifty-fifty."

"I do need someone who can silence the voices in Suotuo City."

"But I came to see you because you're worth it."

Wind blew in from outside the academy gates.

It made the rolled-up parchment tremble slightly.

Xiao Wu leaned closer to Su Chen, lowering her voice.

"This guy is quite direct."

"More pleasing than Yu Xiaogang."

Su Chen grunted.

"At least he doesn't pretend."

Shen Zhi heard her and wasn't angry.

He raised his hand and took a testing crystal ball from a nearby instructor.

"Holy Son, talking terms is meaningless."

"Although they've heard your name in Suotuo City, not many have actually seen you."

"I want to confirm it myself."

"Of course, it's not doubt, but to shut those mouths when I go back."

Su Chen looked at the crystal ball.

"Ordinary?"

Shen Zhi nodded.

"For the academy's daily tests."

Su Chen smiled.

"Then you might get nothing."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and pressed it down.

The next moment.

The blue light inside the crystal ball surged violently.

One grid.

Two grids.

Three grids.

The light filled the entire sphere in the blink of an eye.

Shen Zhi's pupils contracted.

The Dean's breath hitched.

Before they could see the specific markings, cracks spread across the surface of the testing crystal ball.

Crack.

A crisp sound.

The crystal ball exploded.

Fragments and blue light points scattered together.

The Dean flinched in fright.

The instructors beside him instinctively took half a step back.

Shen Zhi stared at Su Chen.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

"At least level twenty-five."

"How many days have you been enrolled?"

Su Chen withdrew his hand.

"A few days, that's not important."

"What's important is that what you can give me, this place can also give."

"Mimicry Cultivation Rooms, the Martial Soul Hall has them."

"Resources, the Martial Soul Hall doesn't lack them."

"As for a live-combat arena, I can have one whenever I want."

Su Chen placed the document back into the Dean's hands.

"Therefore, this invitation holds no appeal for me."

The calm on Shen Zhi's face finally cracked.

Before coming here, he had imagined many possible responses.

Refusal, acceptance, or stalling.

He just never expected the other party to refuse so bluntly.

Because what Su Chen said was the truth.

The Martial Soul Hall Holy Son lacked nothing that Suotuo City could offer.

Shen Zhi was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Xiao Wu.

"And what about you?"

"Are you interested in going to Suotuo City?"

Xiao Wu didn't even think about it.

"If he isn't going, I'm not going either."

Shen Zhi stared at her.

"Suotuo City is livelier. There are more opponents there, too."

Xiao Wu blinked.

"I still have to be with him."

After saying this, the tips of her ears grew warm, and she immediately added another sentence.

"I mean, we're in the same dormitory now, and our coordination is already smooth."

"Changing places is a hassle."

Su Chen glanced at her.

He didn't expose her.

Shen Zhi let out a long sigh.

"Understood."

He raised a hand to rub his brow, as if discarding all the speeches he had prepared for his arrival.

"Then let me rephrase."

"I am not asking you to transfer."

"I am inviting you to go to Suotuo City in three days to participate in a special recruitment assessment."

Su Chen's eyes flickered slightly.

"An assessment?"

"Correct."

Shen Zhi stood up straight again.

"Over the past two years, a group of young soul masters has emerged in Suotuo City, backed by sects and local nobles."

"They are dissatisfied with the training system of the Martial Soul Hall Academy and have always wanted to make a name for themselves by stepping on the academy's reputation."

"Originally, this matter wouldn't have concerned you."

"But last night, someone in Suotuo City declared that work-study students from Nuoding City and geniuses from small places were not fit for the big stage."

"They even specifically named you."

Xiao Wu exploded the moment she heard this.

"Who has such a foul mouth?"

Shen Zhi glanced at her.

"The youngest son of the Viscount of Balak, Zhou Ling."

"Thirteen years old, level 28, beast martial soul."

"He is also followed by several freelance soul master students from outside the Suotuo City Intermediate Academy."

Xiao Wu snorted.

"Level 28, big deal."

"I wouldn't call it a big deal."

Su Chen spoke indifferently.

"It's just that he's asking for a beating."

Shen Zhi stared at Su Chen, finally seeing the reaction he had wanted on his face.

"So, I didn't come here today just to poach talent."

"I also came to deliver a message."

He paused.

"The arena in Suotuo City has already been set up."

"If you don't go, they will continue to spread this word."

"They can frame it as the Martial Soul Hall Holy Son disdaining to respond, or they can frame it as him not daring to."

The Dean stood to the side, his palms slick with sweat as he listened.

He finally understood.

This wasn't just a simple recruitment attempt.

This was them offering their faces for Su Chen to slap.

Xiao Wu had already stepped forward.

"Go. Why wouldn't you?"

She tilted her head to look at Su Chen.

"I'll go with you."

Su Chen lowered his eyes to look at her.

"Didn't you just say it was a hassle?"

"Fighting isn't a hassle."

Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled.

"Besides, they were the ones who started running their mouths."

Su Chen smiled.

"Fine."

He turned his gaze back to Shen Zhi.

"Three days from now, Suotuo City, I will be there."

Shen Zhi felt a slight weight lift from his chest.

"Good. I will have the venue and the roster prepared in advance."

Just as he finished speaking and prepared to turn away, the sound of urgent hoofbeats suddenly echoed from outside the academy gates.

A Martial Soul Hall Deacon vaulted off his horse and rushed in, practically running.

"Your Highness, Holy Son."

He knelt on one knee, holding up a wax-sealed urgent report with both hands.

"News has just arrived from the western suburbs of Nuoding City."

"Three people died in the Black Market last night, a pharmacy was robbed, and traces of poison powder were left on the ground."

"Someone saw Tang San enter the Old Warehouse Passage of the Soul Hunting Warrant Repository outside the city."