Nuoding Academy

Three months later.

On the road to Nuoding City, three clouds floated about a meter above the ground, with one person sitting on each.

They were Old Jack, the village chief of Saint Soul Village, leading Su Ming and Tang San, who had awakened Innate Soul Power this year, to register at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

Walking was slow, and after three months of training, Su Ming had learned to control his Martial Soul with ease.

It was the day the academy opened. Old Jack had woken Su Ming early that morning. After packing his luggage, Su Ming had gone with Old Jack to Tang San's house to call for him.

Once they'd left the village and carried their luggage for a while, Su Ming summoned his Martial Soul and released three clouds. He controlled them to carry the three of them through the air toward Nuoding City.

Thinking back on the past three months of practice, Su Ming could only sigh over how hard it had been. His first Soul Skill required him to gain the ability to control his Martial Soul freely.

After a few days of practice, he'd learned to stand on his Martial Soul and fly around freely. But when he tried using Soul Power to increase the wind element, he misjudged it the first time and put in too much. He sped up, then thumped straight into the ground. What a fall.

Fortunately, he'd had the foresight to stay close to the ground. Along with his strengthened body and his Martial Soul's healing ability, that meant he hadn't been hurt.

After three months of practice, he could use it skillfully while standing on it. And since flying normally with his Martial Soul used very little Soul Power, he decided to fly all the way there to arrive sooner.

After an hour of flight, the three of them soon reached the gates of Nuoding City.

Su Ming dismissed his Martial Soul. They joined the queue with the crowd, passed the inspection, and went inside.

Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy stood in the west of Nuoding City. Old Jack asked passersby for directions several times before finally reaching the academy gates.

From a distance, they could see a tall archway built of solid stone. Below it stood two sturdy iron gates, black and imposing. One glance was enough to tell they were made of refined iron.

Four large characters were written above the archway: "Nuoding Academy."

As the three approached the gate, the young man on guard asked, "What are you doing here? Do you know what place this is?"

Seeing the guard, Old Jack hurriedly handed over the certificates he held.

"These are the two children from Saint Soul Village who awakened Innate Soul Power this year. One has a cloud for a Martial Soul, and the other has Blue Silver Grass."

Hearing there were two of them, the guard was dubious, but still took the certificates.

"One has Innate Soul Power at level six, and the other has Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power. How is that possible?"

"I've been a gate guard here for years, and I've never seen Blue Silver Grass with Soul Power. And you're saying this one has Innate Full Soul Power?"

The young guard was reluctant to believe that Blue Silver Grass could possess Soul Power, let alone full Soul Power. Perhaps because he'd seen the other certificate, belonging to someone with Innate Soul Power at level six, he didn't give Old Jack a hard time as he had in the original story. He showed none of the contempt and hostility toward the old country bumpkin, either.

"All right, go on in," the guard said, handing back the certificates.

After taking them, Su Ming and Tang San were about to say goodbye to Old Jack when they heard someone call from behind.

"Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, Innate Full Soul Power?" A somewhat dispirited middle-aged man ran over, looking a little excited. Without even greeting them, he snatched the certificates from the two of them.

He opened the first certificate. "Su Ming—Martial Soul: Cloud; Innate Soul Power: Level 6." Seeing that he had only level-six Soul Power, Yu Xiao Gang showed a trace of disdain, then quickly hid it.

Su Ming knew who the middle-aged man was as soon as he came running over. When he saw him snatch the certificates away, Su Ming fixed his gaze on his face, wanting to see if it was really him—and what expression he'd wear.

Just as the online commenters in his previous life had guessed, he was arrogant and disdainful, not even bothering to hide his expression.

After seeing that the first certificate wasn't the person he was looking for, Yu Xiao Gang glanced it over and tossed it straight into Su Ming's arms, his face full of disgust.

He opened the other one. When he saw "Tang San—Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass; Innate Full Soul Power," a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He turned to Old Jack with a kindly expression. "Old sir, leave these two children to me."

Old Jack hesitated at the sudden appearance of the middle-aged man. Seeing this, the guard offered an explanation. "This is the academy's 'Master.' He's a good friend of the Dean. You can safely leave the two children with him. Master will take good care of them."

Yu Xiao Gang acted as if he hadn't heard the guard's sarcasm. He gave the guard a look that said, "You're doing well. I think highly of you," then nodded.

After hearing the guard's explanation, Old Jack hesitated no longer. "Then thank you, Master."

Once Old Jack had stopped hesitating, Yu Xiao Gang took Tang San by the hand and went into the academy, ignoring everyone else.

"Grandpa Jack, I'll head into the academy now. Take your time going back. I'll return when I'm on break."

Old Jack patted Su Ming's head. "Good boy. I will. Go on in."

After Grandpa Jack left, Su Ming turned and ran into the academy, quickly catching up with Tang San and Yu Xiao Gang. He followed behind them, wanting to see how Yu Xiao Gang would sweet-talk Tang San.

They hadn't gone far when Yu Xiao Gang turned and pointed at Su Ming. "The new student registration office is in that building ahead. Go there by yourself." His expression said he was ordering a servant around: Don't bother me. I have things to do. Stop following me.

Hearing Yu Xiao Gang's words, Su Ming froze. This Master sure changed his tune fast. But he soon figured it out: Yu Xiao Gang was afraid Su Ming would interrupt his big plan to sweet-talk Tang San.

"Go there by yourself." Yu Xiao Gang waved Su Ming away, then turned back to Tang San with a broad smile. "As for you, Tang San, I have something else to discuss with you."

Thinking this over, Su Ming stopped bothering them. Since Yu Xiao Gang wasn't going to be nice to him, Su Ming had no reason to be nice either. He headed straight for the registration office.

He would have liked to pick Yu Xiao Gang's brain for some rare Soul Beast knowledge, but one look at his expression made it clear he looked down on him.

That half-level Soul Power swine actually looked down on a cloud Martial Soul with Innate Soul Power at level six. Hmph.

Since trying to get on good terms with "Gutsy" wasn't going to work, he'd just learn from him in secret. He couldn't deny that Yu Xiao Gang did have some knowledge in this area.

The new student registration office was on the first floor of the teaching building. A middle-aged man and two young teachers were assigned to receive new students.

Su Ming carried his luggage to the registration office and handed his certificate to the middle-aged teacher. The teacher took it and said,

"My surname is Su. Just call me Director Su."

"Hello, Director Su. My name is Su Ming. I'm from Saint Soul Village. My Martial Soul is a cloud, and my Innate Soul Power is level six."

Hearing that Su Ming had a cloud Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power at level six, Director Su hurriedly opened the certificate he hadn't checked yet. Once he saw it was genuine, he smiled warmly at Su Ming.

"Innate Soul Power at level six. That's a very good talent."

In a small place like Nuoding City, where Soul Masters usually awakened with only level one to three Soul Power, Innate Soul Power at level six was already considered a genius.

Director Su quickly finished Su Ming's enrollment paperwork.

"All right, I've registered you. Your dormitory is Dorm Seven. You can go settle in. The opening ceremony is in a few days, and a teacher will let you know when it's time."

Su Ming also received a standard Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy uniform. Its white fabric looked very clean.

As soon as Director Su finished speaking, another person came in. It was Tang San, who had already become Yu Xiao Gang's disciple. Yu Xiao Gang hadn't followed him inside. Perhaps he knew everyone mocked him for the title of "Master."

Thinking about it now, Tang San was a Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power but a useless Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. He was practically made to be a tool for proving Yu Xiao Gang's theories.

Su Ming didn't even greet Tang San. Holding his uniform and luggage, he headed straight for the dormitory.