Arrival in Eastsea City!

Eastsea City, Soul Guidance Train Terminal.

With a low whistle, the silver-white steel serpent slowly pulled into the platform.

The doors opened, and a bustling crowd instantly poured out, carrying the coastal metropolis's distinctive salty sea breeze and metallic engine-oil scent.

"Wow! Big brother, look at that! That building is so tall!"

The moment he stepped off the platform, Tang Wulin was like a country bumpkin entering a grand estate. He craned his neck and repeatedly exclaimed as he pointed at the metal skyscrapers piercing the clouds in the distance.

"So this is Eastsea City? It has to be dozens of times bigger than our Aolai City!"

The sight before them truly was astounding.

Soul Tool Screens everywhere played the latest Mecha advertisements. The sky held not only seagulls, but also low-altitude aircraft weaving through the air. Every now and then, they could even spot one or two civilian Mechas lumbering through dedicated passageways.

Tang Linyuan carried a simple bag, yet his expression was unusually calm.

His gaze swept over the steel forest. There was no amazement in his dark eyes, only the indifference of someone who had seen it all before.

"It's nothing but prosperity piled up from metal."

Tang Linyuan spoke blandly. "It's still far inferior to Heaven Dou City."

"Oh..." Tang Wulin promptly shut his mouth, but his large, darting eyes still betrayed the excitement in his heart.

Just then, a flashy yellow soul-guidance sports car pulled up beside the VIP passage at the exit with a piercing engine roar, executing a beautiful drifting turn.

The window rolled down, revealing half the profile of a cold and arrogant young man.

The youth looked about their age, yet he wore expensive designer sportswear. His expression was haughty, as though he looked down on the crowded masses around him.

"Tch. Country bumpkins."

The youth glanced at Tang Wulin, who was still looking around, then snorted softly, rolled up the window, and ordered the driver to leave.

Xie Xie from the original story was still that rich young master who looked down on everyone.

However, just as the yellow sports car was about to pull away—

Rumble—!

An even lower, heavier engine roar, like that of some deep-sea beast, instantly drowned out the yellow sports car's growl.

A pitch-black heavy soul-guidance sedan, over six meters long with blade-sharp lines, steadily stopped before the Tang brothers like a moving fortress.

On its front was a golden hammer emblem gleaming beneath the sunlight—the exclusive vehicle of a Saint Craftsman of the Blacksmith Association.

The yellow sports car that had just begun moving had no choice but to slam on the brakes and give way. Xie Xie, the cold and proud youth inside, froze as he stared at the behemoth that was clearly more than three tiers above his family's car, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"This is... a military-grade armored chassis? A Blacksmith Association vehicle?"

Before he could react, a middle-aged driver in a crisp uniform had already stepped out quickly. Wearing white gloves, he respectfully opened the rear door and bowed to the black-haired youth dressed in plain work clothes.

"Young Master Tang, Young Master Wulin, the president sent me to pick you up."

"Mhm, thank you for the trouble."

Tang Linyuan nodded slightly. Without even glancing at the yellow sports car beside them, he walked straight into the spacious rear seat, which was large enough to lie down and sleep in.

Tang Wulin curiously touched the leather seat as well before following him inside.

The door closed.

The black beast sped away, leaving Xie Xie with nothing but exhaust fumes in his face and profound self-doubt.

Inside the car.

"Young Master Tang, the president has reserved a private room at the Eastsea Grand Hotel to welcome you both," the driver asked respectfully. "Would you like to go to the hotel first, or the Blacksmith Association first?"

"Eastsea Academy first."

Tang Linyuan leaned against the seat with his eyes closed, his voice calm.

"The academy?" The driver was taken aback. "But the president..."

"I'll explain it to my master-uncle. We'll register first."

Tang Linyuan's decision allowed no argument.

Tang Wulin was somewhat puzzled. "Big brother, shouldn't we visit Teacher Mu Chen first? And didn't Principal Lin from Red Mountain Academy say that since you're already a Soul Elder, we don't need to fulfill that promise anymore?"

Indeed, before their departure, Principal Lin of Red Mountain Academy had nearly slipped off his chair in shock upon learning that Tang Linyuan had broken through to rank thirty at only nine years old.

A nine-year-old Soul Elder—such potential was utterly terrifying.

As for the so-called debt of gratitude from using the academy-sponsored Soul Spirit Extraction Ticket, Principal Lin had waved his hand and waived it entirely. He had even offered them a scholarship on top of that.

"If others give me an inch of respect, I return them a foot."

Tang Linyuan opened his eyes, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers. "He waived it because he recognized my potential. But whether I go or not is a matter of principle."

"Since I promised to meet the principal named Yu Zhen, then I'll meet him. We'll settle this Causality, and it will be more convenient for us to act within Eastsea Academy in the future."

Half an hour later.

Eastsea Academy, administrative main building.

The black luxury car stopped steadily beneath the building. Its enormous body and the prestigious Blacksmith Association emblem glinted with a cold sheen beneath the sunlight.

Looking at the ancient academy, with its centuries of history and lush trees, Tang Wulin took a deep breath, his eyes filled with anticipation for his new life.

"You two go on in. I'll wait here." The driver had no intention of leaving, his attitude respectful but firm. "These are President Mu Chen's strict orders. This car will be your exclusive vehicle from now on, available whenever you call."

"Thank you."

Tang Linyuan nodded and calmly led Tang Wulin into the administrative main building.

Following the previous directions, they soon found the principal's office on the top floor.

However, just as they reached the end of the corridor, before their hands could touch the heavy redwood door, the conversation inside made them pause slightly.

There was no anticipated shouting or argument. Instead, there was only an aged voice filled with deep helplessness and weariness.

"Wu Zhangkong... you've given me quite a difficult problem this time."

"Teacher Li may not be as strong as you, but he's still a senior teacher in the Advanced Division and a six-ring Soul Emperor. Yet during your spar, you broke three of his ribs. He's still groaning in the infirmary and insists on reporting you to the Federal Education Bureau."

Then, an icy voice that seemed entirely devoid of worldly warmth rang out calmly. It was like the first snow of early winter, chilling to the bone and proud to the extreme.

"Principal, let me correct you. He was the one who offered to instruct me in swordsmanship."

"As a Soul Emperor, he couldn't even withstand my third sword after I suppressed my strength. Keeping such trash in the Advanced Division would only mislead students. I was helping the academy test its teaching standards."

"You..."

The aged voice seemed to choke on his words. After a long while, he finally sighed. "You and that mouth of yours, along with that temper... you offend people far too easily."

"The Advanced Division is outraged. To calm everyone down, and to make that arrogant head of yours wake up a little... you can't remain in the Advanced Division any longer."

"Director Long."

"Yes, Principal." Another somewhat stern middle-aged voice sounded. It was clearly Long Hengxu, the director of academic affairs for the Intermediate Division.

"Assign Wu Zhangkong to your Intermediate Division. Isn't Grade One Class Five still missing a homeroom teacher this year?"

"Huh? Principal, Class Five? That place is full of..." Long Hengxu's voice carried some hesitation.

"What? Is there a problem?"

"No... no problem."

"Wu Zhangkong, starting today, you will teach Grade One Class Five. That class consists entirely of students with the worst aptitude and the most ordinary Martial Souls. Since you look down even on the teachers of the Advanced Division, go temper your character in that worst class. You can return when those teachers have calmed down."

The office fell into brief silence.

Then that icy voice sounded once more, its tone still utterly unmoved, as though being demoted meant nothing to him.

"Whatever."

"As long as no one bothers me while I practice my sword."

In the corridor outside.

Tang Wulin shrank back slightly and whispered.

"Big brother, it seems like we came at a bad time... The teacher inside seems to have beaten up an Advanced Division teacher and gotten demoted by the principal."

"Grade One Class Five..."

A playful curve lifted at the corner of Tang Linyuan's lips, and a sharp glint flashed through his dark eyes.

"Still, since we're already here, how could we turn back?"

Tang Linyuan adjusted his collar. He neither waited for those inside to come out nor avoided the awkward situation.

He raised his hand and, with a composed expression, lightly knocked on the redwood door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The crisp, rhythmic knocking sounded especially clear within the somewhat oppressive atmosphere.