Thunder Academy, Met with Cold Stares

The next morning, outside Quiet West Garden.

Morning light pierced through the layers of lush green canopy at Plant Academy, scattering dappled fragments of light across the ground.

Lin Mo wore a clean moon-white robe, the crest of Plant Academy hanging from his sleeve. He stood tall, with a cool and refined bearing.

Teacher Shen Lin approached Quiet West Garden with a gilded official document in hand. His gaze fell on the boy, his eyes filled with gratification and expectation.

"Lin Mo, are you ready?"

"I'm ready, Teacher Shen." Lin Mo gave a slight nod.

"This trip to Thunder Academy is a crucial step for you to become a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster." Shen Lin solemnly handed the document to Lin Mo, his tone serious.

"This is an official document regarding the resource-sharing agreement between our two academies. With it, we can enter the Soul Hunting Forest raised by Thunder Academy."

At this point, Shen Lin sighed softly, and a trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes.

"Thunder Academy is one of the top Soul Master academies on the Douluo Continent. Its foundation is profound, and it gathers countless geniuses. Our Plant Academy is somewhat inferior."

"Once we arrive, we will inevitably receive some cold looks and face a few difficulties. Your temperament is steady, so be sure to remain calm. There is no need to act rashly or cause trouble. I'll handle everything." Shen Lin gave him this warning in advance.

Lin Mo understood and nodded lightly.

He had long since seen through the rules of the Soul Master world.

Strength reigned supreme, and social ranks were clearly defined.

Weakness itself was a kind of original sin.

Plant Academy was coming to ask for help, so Thunder Academy might not take them too seriously.

"Let's go. We'll take a carriage to Thunder Academy." Shen Lin said no more and led Lin Mo away.

The carriage bearing Plant Academy's flag rolled across the paved streets and through the open lands.

The academies of Elemental City stood apart yet close together, but the gap between them was obvious.

Backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Thunder Academy stood at the very top among academies. It occupied the most expansive territory in the eastern part of the city. Thunderstorms descended there year-round, and it possessed a simulated cultivation area. Its uniquely favorable location had produced countless lightning-type geniuses.

Along the way, Shen Lin introduced Thunder Academy's circumstances to Lin Mo, as well as the situations they might encounter shortly.

The two academies were not far apart, both located within Elemental City.

As their carriage drew near, they could see dark thunderclouds swirling around a distant mountaintop, as if a storm was brewing.

Lin Mo sat in the carriage and looked through the window at the mountain that towered into the clouds, shrouded in dark mist.

Thunder Academy's simulated environment truly suited his cultivation, but he had already weighed the pros and cons. He might be watched and monitored there, whereas Plant Academy was better suited to his current situation.

He was still far too weak. If they decided to flip the table, he would be unable to stop them.

Soon, they arrived at the gates of Thunder Academy. The carriage stopped there to wait.

It was a vast and imposing academy, its buildings towering high with magnificent grandeur.

At the center of the gates, the four gilded characters, "Thunder Academy," were vigorous and domineering, carrying an intimidating thunderous presence of their own.

Compared to the elegant and gentle plaque of Plant Academy, Thunder Academy's sign was simply brimming with sharpness.

This was the holy land sought after by lightning-type Soul Masters.

"As expected of a top academy," Shen Lin murmured.

"It certainly looks impressive," Lin Mo replied.

In the original story, he had rarely paid attention to Thunder Academy. However, judging from the description of Blazing Fire Academy's simulated cultivation area, Thunder Academy should possess similar, if not superior, facilities.

This was also Lin Mo's first time seeing Thunder Academy.

This was scenery beyond the edges of the original story.

Naturally, Shen Lin had no idea what strange thoughts were running through Lin Mo's mind. He straightened his clothes, held the document, and led Lin Mo forward.

At that moment, two Soul Master guards dressed in Thunder Academy's exclusive uniforms were stationed at the entrance.

Their auras were steady and their Soul Power solid. At the very least, they were Soul Grandmasters above Rank 20.

The two men looked down at them with innate arrogance.

"Which academy are you from? What are you doing here?"

"No parking here!"

One of the tall guards spoke indifferently. His gaze swept over the clothes they wore, which did not belong to Thunder Academy, and the disdain in his eyes was undisguised.

To be honest, those questions were clearly deliberate.

Plant Academy's emblem hung from their carriage, yet he still said such things.

Shen Lin stepped forward and handed over the official document.

"Hello, we are teachers and students from Plant Academy. We have come to your academy under the resource integration agreement between our two schools, seeking entry into the Soul Hunting Forest raised by your academy so that we may select a suitable Hundred-Year Soul Ring with lightning attributes for one of our students."

The two guards casually glanced over the document. They did not carefully inspect the official seal or the treaty's contents at all before tossing it back into Shen Lin's hands.

"Plant Academy? You came to Thunder Academy to hunt Soul Beasts?!"

"How unusual. Your plant-type Martial Souls are delicate and mild. Coming here to compete with us for lightning-type Soul Beast resources seems a little... improper, doesn't it?"

The other guard sneered, his gaze landing directly on the young Lin Mo. He sized him up from head to toe, his eyes full of mockery.

"This is the genius you're cultivating? He looks quite young. Is he hunting his first Soul Ring? If it's just an ordinary Martial Soul, there's really no need to care so much about the type of Soul Beast added. Anything usable will do."

Their words carried a hint of malice beneath their feigned restraint, making them seem utterly hypocritical.

Shen Lin frowned slightly, suppressing his displeasure as he patiently explained.

"My student's Martial Soul is special. Though it is plant-type, it contains lightning attributes. Naturally, choosing a lightning-type Soul Beast would provide greater benefits. Also, he is not hunting his first Soul Ring this time. He is advancing to his second ring."

"Advancing to his second ring?!"

The two guards were briefly stunned.

He did not look that old. He was already Rank 20?!

"If it only carries a trace of lightning attributes, there's really no need to make such a fuss. He could choose a plant-type Soul Beast instead."

"Besides, the lightning-type Soul Beasts in our academy are already scarce and precious. Our own geniuses don't even get enough each year..."

"Fine, go in. We'll take you to the reception room to wait. The academy's instructors are busy with teaching duties, so we'll report this and verify it. As for when the two of you will be received, that will depend on the specific arrangements."

The two guards were somewhat impatient. They waved their hands and reluctantly let them pass.

Shen Lin's expression darkened slightly, but there was nothing he could do.

When under another's roof, one had no choice but to bow one's head.

Led by a student guide, Shen Lin brought Lin Mo into Thunder Academy and arrived at the designated reception room.

The enormous reception room was spacious and luxurious. Its tables and chairs were all finely crafted, and the decor was extravagantly lavish, yet it was completely empty.

Other than the teacher and student, there was not even a receptionist present.

Shen Lin chose a seat by the window.

"Looks like they don't welcome us."

Lin Mo remained calm and gave a quiet hum.

He had expected this already.

Discrimination never came from nowhere. It was confidence born from a gap in strength.

The students of a top academy relied on their arrogance and the powers behind them. They had long grown accustomed to being domineering and overbearing.

Plant Academy's foundation was inferior, so it was normal for others to look down on them.

Time passed little by little.

The morning light grew brighter, and the sun climbed to its peak.

Shen Lin and Lin Mo, teacher and student, were left hanging in the reception room for an entire morning.

Whenever they asked again, the response was always, "We've already informed them," "The instructor will be here soon," or "Please be understanding."

They kept dragging things out, yet no one with authority ever appeared.

During that time, quite a few Thunder Academy students heard the news and deliberately came by to watch. Some regarded them coldly, but more wore expressions of ridicule and mockery.

"Look, those people from Plant Academy are still sitting there."

"This is hilarious. A second-rate academy actually dared to come here and leech off our resources. They really have thick skin."

"So many lightning-type geniuses from our academy are waiting to advance. Hundred-Year lightning Soul Rings are so precious. Why should we give them to outsiders?"

"I heard that kid is a genius from Plant Academy? A plant Martial Soul adding a lightning-attribute Soul Beast? What kind of lunatic is that? If they want to make a gimmick, why not go to the wild Soul Beast Forest instead of coming here to steal our Soul Beast resources?!"

Fragments of discussion drifted into the reception room intermittently, harsh and cutting.

Shen Lin himself was fine, but he was mainly worried that Lin Mo would not be able to endure it.

He glanced at Lin Mo and found that the boy was even calmer than he was. Lin Mo was currently drinking tea and flipping through old newspapers in the reception room.

"What is it?" Lin Mo noticed his gaze and raised his head slightly.

"Nothing. You really can keep your composure," Shen Lin said with a smile.

"You taught me that, Teacher," Lin Mo said.

Shen Lin smiled and nodded.

Knowing something and doing it were two different things.

Many people knew they needed to cultivate diligently because it concerned their futures, yet they still indulged in present pleasures.

With this level of resolve, combined with his innate talent, his future was bound to be extraordinary.

What a pity... sigh.