Yu Jin, Your General, Pays His Respects to Young Master

Nuoding Academy was the only junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City, established to train children who possessed Soul Power and might become Soul Masters.

However, children with Soul Power Levels were rare. In order to cultivate as many potential Soul Masters as possible, Nuoding Academy had no choice but to open Work-Study Student slots to the surrounding villages. Even so, they could recruit fewer than a dozen children each year at most.

After all, children with Soul Power were already scarce. Those with especially outstanding talent were either recruited directly by Spirit Hall or drawn in by powerful sects. Nuoding Academy never got a chance at them.

The children who studied at Nuoding Academy were generally local children from relatively well-off families in Nuoding City. Few among them stood out, and they were naturally arrogant and overbearing. Even Spirit Hall and the various sects had no interest in them.

Thus, Nuoding Academy was left to make do with these bland leftovers.

As for the remaining children, most came from small villages. They had neither power nor influence, no background to speak of, and could only come to Nuoding Academy to study. Holy Soul Village was one such place.

At that moment, following the system's guidance, Cao Yan headed straight for the teaching building.

The Academic Affairs Office was on the first floor of the main teaching building. The person specifically responsible for receiving new students was a teacher who looked to be in his sixties, assisted by two young teachers under thirty.

One of them was Director Su, who had just returned after reprimanding Grandmaster.

However, he was currently restless and uneasy. Worry filled his heart. Why hasn't Cao Yan come to register yet? Could he have changed his mind at the last minute?

At that thought, Director Su could not help slamming his fist against the table. Veins bulged on his face as anger filled his expression.

"If it weren't for Grandmaster acting on his own and casually taking in a disciple, that child might have registered successfully already. Now, he has probably regretted it." The more Director Su thought about it, the angrier he became. He even wanted to drag Grandmaster out and beat him up.

Grandmaster was simply the disgrace of Nuoding Academy. Other than freeloading food and drink, he was good for nothing.

"Director Su, is the child you mentioned really that outstanding? Did he truly defeat Grandmaster?" one of the young teachers beside him could not help asking. He had been extremely shocked when he heard the news.

It was not that he did not believe it; he simply found the truth hard to accept.

After all, while Grandmaster was not particularly formidable, he was still a Soul Grandmaster. If he had truly been defeated by a six-year-old child, just how exceptional would that child be?

"Of course. You probably don't know this, but when I arrived at the scene, Grandmaster was lying on the ground like a dog, as limp as if he'd been neutered. Meanwhile, that young friend looked utterly calm. Doesn't that explain everything?" Director Su said with a smile, his face full of excitement.

"Then he truly is a genius—an absolute monster."

"After hearing Director Su describe him, I want to meet this young friend too. But why hasn't he come yet?" the other teacher said with a smile as he looked at Director Su.

"Alas, it's all because of Grandmaster. That young friend had originally come to register, but Grandmaster insisted on taking him as a disciple and deliberately stirred up trouble. I'm afraid the young friend won't be coming after all." Director Su sighed, disappointment on his face.

"What? Grandmaster must have gone mad. Director Su, we cannot let this matter end like this. This is a loss for our academy." Upon hearing that, the young teacher flew into a rage, his expression turning somewhat vicious.

"Exactly. Grandmaster is becoming more and more arrogant. He simply has no regard for the teachers of our academy."

"Of course this cannot be left as it is. Once the dean returns, I will explain the situation to him. A person like Grandmaster does not deserve to remain at the academy," Director Su said angrily, his face somewhat flushed.

Creak. Just as they were arguing, the door was pushed open. A handsome young man then walked in.

"Director Su, what's going on? Why are you all so angry?" Cao Yan walked to the table, looked at Director Su, and smiled calmly.

"Young friend? I thought you disliked our Nuoding Academy and had decided not to come." When Director Su saw Cao Yan, he quickly put on a smile, delight written all over his face.

"How could that be? Being able to study at Nuoding Academy is exactly what this junior wishes for. It is simply that your academy is so grand that I lost my way for a while, which delayed me. I hope Director Su will not blame me," Cao Yan said with a respectful expression.

Though he was a transmigrator, he always remembered his original intentions. He could not disgrace transmigrators either.

"Haha, well said. As expected of a descendant from a Hidden Family, young friend. Your bearing is truly extraordinary." Director Su's smile widened as he patted Cao Yan's shoulder, exceptionally satisfied.

"May I ask, young friend, are you the heroic youth who defeated Grandmaster?" Seeing Cao Yan arrive, the young teacher was also filled with excitement and could not help asking.

"Yes, that was this junior."

"This is truly fortunate for Nuoding Academy. I never expected that we would receive a disciple of a Hidden Family this year."

"Young friend, may I ask what your current Soul Power Level is? Could you tell me so that I can register it for you?" Director Su asked, his mind filled with speculation.

Just what level of strength did this young friend possess?

"This junior is unremarkable. I merely possess Innate Full Soul Power and have only reached Level Ten," Cao Yan said, not rashly revealing his true strength.

Though he was already a Peerless Douluo, Nuoding Academy was merely a small place. Even if he told them the truth, they likely would not be able to accept it.

After all, these people would live ordinary lives. They could only look up at such a level; they could neither imagine nor reach it. If he explained it rashly, he might even hurt their pride.

"Innate Full Soul Power? Young friend, you are truly remarkable. No wonder you were able to defeat Grandmaster. Could you extend your hand and allow me to examine you?" Director Su's face was full of shock, his voice trembling slightly.

The two teachers beside him also wore exaggerated expressions, their faces full of disbelief.

Who could have imagined that a genius youth from a Hidden Family, one with Innate Full Soul Power, would join Nuoding Academy?

This was truly a sight rarely seen.

"Of course." Cao Yan smiled and extended his fair hand, placing it in Director Su's hand. He deliberately adjusted his Soul Power Level to Level Ten and was not worried that the other party would notice anything unusual.

After all, as a Peerless Douluo, controlling his own Soul Power Level was not difficult. With a mere thought, he could accomplish it.

Furthermore, as long as Cao Yan had no intention of exposing himself, someone at the other party's level could never discover his true Soul Power.

Director Su gently squeezed Cao Yan's pale hand. As a thread of Soul Power entered it, his expression gradually became solemn. "It truly is Innate Full Soul Power. You are indeed a young hero."

"I never expected that, at such a young age, you would already possess such strength. In my opinion, legends of you will one day be left across the entire continent." Director Su released Cao Yan's hand, his heart growing ever more shaken.

He had only been fortunate enough to see youths with Innate Full Soul Power in books. Yet today, he had been lucky enough to see one in person. How could he not be excited?

"You overpraise me, Director Su. This junior's strength is meager; I cannot be called any sort of hero. You think too highly of me," Cao Yan said indifferently, waving his hand with a calm expression.

He had always kept a low profile and rarely showed off.

"Indeed, young friend, you are truly humble. With a temperament like yours, if you do not achieve greatness in the future, I would find it hard to believe."

"By the way, I have an impertinent request. What is your martial soul, young friend?" Director Su could not help asking. The youth before him was simply too outstanding, and even he could not suppress his curiosity.

The other two teachers also looked on expectantly.

"My martial soul is a Guardian Spirit. Perhaps Director Su has never heard of it. I will summon it for you."

"Wenze, come forth." Cao Yan spoke calmly, clasping his hands together in a strange seal. With a slight thought, he attempted to summon Yu Jin.

After all, this was his first time releasing his martial soul, so he was still somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Immediately afterward, a tall, illusory figure emerged from behind Cao Yan. It stood over three meters tall, holding a long blade in its left hand and a shield in its right. Clad in shoulder armor, it looked imposing and majestic. Merely standing there, it radiated an awe-inspiring presence without displaying any anger.

Yu Jin was broad and powerful, his entire body emitting a chilling aura. He was like a baleful demon that had crawled out of the depths of hell, incomparably domineering.

A trace of intelligence gleamed within his indifferent eyes. When he looked at Cao Yan, his gaze was filled with respect. Though his illusory body seemed ethereal, it was undeniably real, stirring reverence in all who saw it.

"Your general Yu Jin pays his respects to Young Master." Yu Jin slowly walked to Cao Yan's side and spoke humbly, yet he never lowered the blade and shield in his hands.

Such familiar words. As expected of my Guardian Spirit—he was truly imposing.

"Wenze, rise," Cao Yan said, lightly waving his hand.

"Yes, Young Master." Yu Jin slowly rose and stood behind Cao Yan with an impassive expression, ready to receive orders at any time.

"This is... your martial soul, young friend?" Director Su's eyes widened as his body trembled nonstop. His gaze held terror and fear. The moment Yu Jin stepped forth, he felt as insignificant as an ant.

The other two teachers had already been drenched in cold sweat, their entire bodies soaked through.

"Yes, this is my martial soul. It merely possesses its own consciousness, so Director Su need not be alarmed." Cao Yan spoke as he watched the teachers' reactions, finding them somewhat amusing.

"It possesses consciousness?"

"Heavens, this is completely beyond my understanding."

"Young friend, please hurry and put away your divine ability. Your martial soul is simply too powerful. To be honest, ever since you released it, my heart has not stopped trembling." Director Su gave an awkward smile, still deeply shaken.

It was the first time he had ever seen such a martial soul.

Seeing this, Cao Yan smiled helplessly. He focused his mind and recalled the Guardian Spirit into his body.