Bibi Dong Herself?

Unlike those Soul Master Academies that liked to cluster in bustling cities, Heaven Dou Royal Academy had chosen a rather unusual location.

It stood directly in the suburbs twenty li outside Heaven Dou City, having forcibly claimed an entire vast mountain range blessed with natural beauty.

Backed by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's mountain of gold, calling this place a paradise on earth would not be an exaggeration.

Crystal-clear lakes reflected the sunset on the horizon, while strange flowers and exotic plants blanketed the mountainsides, swaying in the breeze.

Though the academy had the ironclad rule that "non-nobles were not allowed inside," and housed quite a few spoiled second-generation wastrels who simply coasted through life,

there was no denying it.

With the Imperial Family pouring resources into it, its facilities and Mimicry Cultivation Environment were unquestionably the best in the entire empire.

No other academy could compete with it financially.

Moreover, the foothills were merely an outer display for appearances. The true core inner academy was hidden behind the rear mountain of this thousand-meter-tall main peak.

Looking up at the towering mountain before him, Lin Nuo could not help clicking his tongue inwardly.

This is a true advanced Soul Master academy. Compared to it, that Shrek Academy is nothing but trash.

"Little friend Lin Nuo, Heaven Dou Royal Academy has barely over seven hundred students in total,

yet the Imperial Family has lavishly created a full set of Mimicry Cultivation Environments tailored for them, covering every known Martial Soul attribute."

As they climbed the mountain path paved with white jade, Salas diligently served as their guide at the side.

"With your talent, if you can make use of this environment, your Soul Power cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds."

They continued up the mountain path. When their view suddenly opened up, an enormous academy complex covering a vast area and filled with elegant buildings finally came into sight.

"Restricted grounds of the Royal Academy ahead! Halt!"

However, just as the two were about to enter the rear mountain gates, several fully armed guards in iron armor blocked their path with cold expressions amid the clanging of armor plates.

The Soul Power fluctuations on these men were not particularly strong, but the gleaming Swan Emblem on their chests was intimidating enough.

Lin Nuo's gaze shifted slightly as he reached a conclusion.

These had to be the Imperial Guards directly under the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

Before Lin Nuo could speak, Salas skillfully put on the airs of a superior and snorted coldly.

"Are you blind?!

I am Salas, Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall!

Today, under His Highness the Crown Prince's orders, I have escorted a genius valued by His Highness to enroll at the academy.

What? Do you dare obstruct the Crown Prince's command as well?"

Salas immediately used the old guard's favorite approach.

First, slap on an accusation, then throw mud around,

and then he directly smacked the recommendation letter bearing Xue Qinghe's personal seal onto the face of the lead guard.

The titles alone left the Imperial Guards' heads buzzing.

Looking at the genuine heir-apparent seal on the envelope, then at the swaggering Platinum Bishop, the guards' minds instantly began running wild.

Since when had their beloved His Highness the Crown Prince become so close to Spirit Hall?

Wait!

Judging by this, could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince had used extraordinary means to poach someone from this Platinum Bishop and recruit a peerless genius for the empire?!

Heaven bless our Heaven Dou Empire!

"So it is Lord Bishop and the genius valued by His Highness the Crown Prince!

This subordinate failed to recognize such distinguished guests. Please forgive my offense!"

Having figured it out, the captain of the guards immediately performed a complete one-eighty, respectfully holding the recommendation letter in both hands as he returned it to Lin Nuo.

"Please, both of you, come in at once. I will take you to handle your enrollment."

Just as the guards eagerly prepared to clear the way ahead, a figure hurried out from the academy gates and stopped them directly.

The newcomer wore the high-ranking robes of an academy instructor. His tone was polite, yet carried a hint of urgency.

"Bishop Salas, and little friend Lin Nuo, you must be tired from your journey."

"His Highness the Crown Prince and the academy's three Education Committee Members have been waiting at the Academic Affairs Office for some time.

Please, both of you, come with me directly."

Salas and Lin Nuo naturally had no objections. They nodded slightly and followed the teacher.

Before long, the two arrived at the main peak hall at the highest point of Heaven Dou Royal Academy by way of the quiet mountain path.

"His Highness the Crown Prince, esteemed Education Committee Members, I have brought them."

The instructor who had led them there respectfully announced their arrival, then tactfully withdrew at once and closed the doors behind him.

Inside the spacious hall, Heaven Dou Royal Academy's three Education Committee Members had been waiting for some time.

All three were genuine Spirit Douluo-level experts. At this moment, they were exceedingly curious about this "peerless genius" whom even His Highness the Crown Prince could not stop praising.

It had to be said that these three Education Committee Members had originally been Soul Masters from Spirit Hall in their early years. Yet after being drawn in day after day by the Heaven Dou Empire's high positions and generous salaries, their loyalties had gradually shifted toward the Imperial Family.

This had originally been an open secret that everyone understood but no one would openly mention.

However, the instant the doors opened and the three Education Committee Members saw Lin Nuo's face, their pupils contracted sharply, and they nearly wet themselves on the spot.

Holy shit! Why had the Pope personally come here?!

Was Spirit Hall planning to settle old scores in Heaven Dou City and purge its traitors?!

As for the "His Highness the Crown Prince" seated in the place of honor, the turmoil in her heart was like a category-ten tsunami.

Qian Renxue was completely falling apart!

Before coming here, she had repeatedly tried to prepare herself mentally, using thoughts like "the world is vast and full of strange things" and "perhaps it is merely a coincidence" to deceive herself.

But the instant she truly saw Lin Nuo, every last fantasy was mercilessly crushed to pieces!

As Bibi Dong's biological daughter, Qian Renxue had inherited at most seventy percent of that woman's bearing in her appearance.

But this boy before her?

He was practically a miniature version of Bibi Dong herself!

Even that cool, aloof air between his brows was exactly the same!

Damn it! That damned woman!!

Qian Renxue roared inwardly, grinding her molars so hard they nearly sparked.

Still, her excellent upbringing allowed her to forcibly suppress the impulse to flip the table on the spot.

Outwardly, "Xue Qinghe" still maintained that refined, gentle, and impeccably pleasant smile.

Naturally, Salas had no idea how much inner drama was unfolding among the people in the hall.

He stepped forward, stroked his beard, and spoke with a face full of pride.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, esteemed Education Committee Members.

Today, I have safely delivered this child Lin Nuo into your hands."

"Also, on the way here, I took him to Sunset Forest and helped him obtain his second Soul Ring.

He is now a level-twenty-five Soul Grandmaster."

After a brief pause, Salas curled his lips into a smug smile and dropped another bombshell. "Furthermore, his second Soul Ring is a thousand-year level ring absorbed beyond his rank!"

"Gasp—"

The moment his words fell, a chorus of sharp inhalations rang out through the vast hall.

The three Education Committee Members looked at one another, while even Qian Renxue's eye twitched.

A level-twenty-five Soul Grandmaster not even nine years old?

And his second Soul Ring was a thousand-year level ring?!

Could such a monstrously terrifying genius truly exist in this world?!