Early the next morning, while a thin veil of mist still hung over Spirit City, the guards sent by Bibi Dong hauled Gu Qingshan out of bed.
"Young master, His Holiness the Pope has instructed you to report to Martial Soul Academy today." The guard stood outside the door, his tone respectful.
Gu Qingshan rubbed his eyes and opened the door. He was still wearing rumpled pajamas, and the corner of his mouth was stained with pale blue juice from chewing Blue Silver Leaf before bed the night before.
"What time is it?"
"The first quarter of the Chen hour."
Gu Qingshan fell silent for a moment. Before he'd been transported here, he'd been a textbook night owl, and he still hadn't kicked the habit.
Waking someone up a little after seven in the morning would have gotten you blocked in his old life.
But he couldn't afford to slight Bibi Dong.
He spent the time it took to burn half a stick of incense washing up and changing, then shoved two pieces of Blue Silver Leaf into his mouth for breakfast and followed the guard outside.
Martial Soul Academy occupied a vast area outside Spirit City, its grounds even larger than Spirit Hall's headquarters.
As the carriage passed through the academy gates, Gu Qingshan saw a massive statue: a Six-Winged Angel with its wings spread wide in flight. They said it symbolized the Angel Martial Soul and was also the totem of Spirit Hall.
"Young master, we've arrived." The guard jumped down from the carriage and respectfully opened the curtain.
A line of people was already waiting at the school gate.
At their head stood a middle-aged man, lean and dressed in a deep blue Soul Master robe. A golden badge was pinned to his chest. His hair was meticulously combed, and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on his nose. He looked both rigorous and elegant.
"Welcome to Martial Soul Academy, Gu Qingshan." The man strode down the steps and held out his hand. "I'm Tesla, the academy's principal."
Gu Qingshan shook his hand and nodded politely. "Good morning, Principal."
Tesla's gaze lingered on Gu Qingshan for two seconds, a complicated emotion flickering in his eyes.
The child was six, barely reaching his waist. He wore a well-tailored black robe, his hair casually swept back to reveal a youthful face whose features were already beginning to take shape.
What caught Tesla's attention most were those eyes.
They were far too calm.
A six-year-old's eyes should hold curiosity about the world and a desire to explore it, the carefree innocence unique to children.
But there was something in those eyes that seemed more like an adult's composure and worldly wisdom—even a trace of... appraisal.
Tesla sighed inwardly.
When His Holiness the Pope had personally instructed him to take good care of the child, he hadn't thought much of it.
It was only natural for the Pope to take on a disciple. It wasn't as if this were the first time.
But when he saw Gu Qingshan's records, he'd nearly lost his mind.
Six years old, level fifteen, Innate Full Soul Power, mysterious Thorn Shield Martial Soul, the Pope's personal disciple.
Each keyword alone was enough to make him circle it in red on the file. Put them together, and it was enough to take years off his life.
He'd never seen anyone enter an advanced Soul Master Academy at six.
The usual admission age for an advanced Soul Master Academy was twelve, and the minimum was ten.
In theory, a six-year-old should still be in first grade at a primary academy, nowhere near the threshold of an intermediate one.
"Gu Qingshan, His Holiness the Pope has already told me about your circumstances."
Tesla led Gu Qingshan toward the main building, doing his best to keep his tone light.
"We've arranged for you to join the same class as Hu Liena and the others. All the students of the Golden Generation are in that class. You're close in age, so you can look out for one another."
Close in age.
As Tesla said those four words, he felt a little guilty himself.
Twelve and six—that was a six-year gap. Could that really be called close in age?
But Gu Qingshan didn't seem to mind. He nodded. "All right. Thank you, Principal."
"Also, the academy has assigned you private quarters: a small villa over in the Golden Generation's residential area."
Tesla continued, "It's fully equipped, with a private cultivation room and bathroom. If you need anything special, just let me know."
Anything special.
Tesla meant the poison water.
Bibi Dong had specifically mentioned that Gu Qingshan's cultivation method was rather unusual and that he needed to soak in some... medicinal baths.
She hadn't said what kind of medicinal bath, but Tesla had lived for over fifty years and spent half his life in the Soul Master World. He knew well enough that some Soul Masters did cultivate in unconventional ways.
He didn't want to know the details.
The two arrived at the instructor's office. Tesla pushed open the door, and Gu Qingshan followed him inside.
A woman sat behind the desk.
She looked to be in her early thirties. Her long, slightly wavy hair, a deep chestnut brown, fell over her shoulders. Her features were so delicate they seemed sculpted, and her brows and eyes held the allure of a mature woman. She wore subtle makeup and a thin layer of muted rose lipstick.
What drew the eye most was her figure.
A light blue dress with a slit hugged her full, mature body. The neckline wasn't especially low, but the view within was so striking that the fabric strained in a breathtaking curve.
The slit in the skirt revealed the long lines of her legs as she walked. Now, as she sat in her chair, a glimpse of pale skin could be seen through the opening.
No wonder they called this Douluo Continent. It was full of beautiful women.
With a figure like that, she could have stepped straight out of an anime in his old world.
"Principal."
The woman stood and gave Tesla a slight nod, then turned her gaze to Gu Qingshan.
"So this is the Pope's new disciple?"
"That's right. Gu Qingshan, this is your instructor, Miss Alice."
Alice came around the desk and bent down in front of Gu Qingshan until their eyes were level.
As she bent over, Gu Qingshan got a clear view of the surging splendor within the neckline of her light blue dress.
Gu Qingshan kept a straight face and moved his gaze to Alice's face.
He was six, thank you very much.
Alice studied Gu Qingshan, her beautiful eyes showing a hint of curiosity and scrutiny.
"Don't worry, Principal. I'll take care of him."
"Then I'll leave him in your hands. Gu Qingshan, study hard with Miss Alice. If you need anything, come to me anytime."
Tesla patted Gu Qingshan on the shoulder.
With that, Tesla left the office with a spring in his step, as though he'd just completed some major mission.
Alice sat back down behind her desk and crossed her legs, revealing even more pale skin through the slit in her skirt.
Resting her chin in one hand, she studied Gu Qingshan with keen interest.
"Six years old, level fifteen, Innate Full Soul Power. You're the first student like this I've ever met."
"Come on, I'll take you to class. Your classmates are waiting to meet you."
She stood up and picked up a stack of papers from the desk.
Gu Qingshan followed Alice with steady steps, occasionally chewing a piece of Blue Silver Leaf. He looked so calm, you'd think he was strolling through his own backyard.
When he reached the classroom door, Gu Qingshan stopped. He could hear voices inside.
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