After completing the enrollment paperwork, Bishop Sanders led Zhang Yang to the supply office, where he picked up his dorm key and a bulging backpack.
It was stuffed with everything the academy provided, including uniforms, activity clothes, spare underwear, boots, and all sorts of other things.
"From now on, this is your dorm. The staff already cleaned up your room for you."
With Bishop Sanders accompanying him, Zhang Yang stepped into the dormitory and looked around.
His dormitory was actually a tastefully decorated three-story villa shared by four people.
The first floor opened into a large common living room that also served as a dining room.
On either side of the living room were two symmetrical suites, each with a bedroom, sitting room, bathroom, and study—fully equipped with every convenience.
The second floor likewise had two suites, as well as a large terrace shared by two people.
The third floor contained a fully equipped kitchen and another terrace, where the four roommates could cook and then dine while enjoying the view.
Zhang Yang's suite was on the second floor. Standing on the terrace and gazing into the distance, he saw the neatly arranged buildings surrounded by carefully tended greenery. He couldn't help feeling the ease and rustic charm of someone who, after long confinement in a cage, had finally returned to nature.
After changing into his uniform and getting settled, Zhang Yang was just about to leave with Sanders when they ran right into a middle-aged man.
"Teacher Dewey? What a coincidence. I was just about to take Zhang Yang to see you."
Sanders stepped aside, revealing Zhang Yang behind him. "Zhang Yang, this is Teacher Dewey, a purple-robed bishop of Spirit Hall and a senior teacher of general studies."
"Starting today, Teacher Dewey will be your mentor. He'll be responsible not only for your general education but also for looking after you at the academy."
Zhang Yang immediately bowed in greeting. "Hello, Teacher Dewey."
Teacher Dewey had short blond hair parted down the middle. His gold-rimmed glasses couldn't conceal his sharp, hawklike gaze. His face was clean-shaven, and the mustache above his lip was thick but meticulously groomed.
A faint scent of dragon's-blood incense drifted through the air. It was the fragrance Teacher Dewey used to keep himself alert.
"Mm." Teacher Dewey nodded. "From today on, I'll be your mentor. If you have any problems at school, you can come to me. Understood?"
"Yes, Teacher Dewey." Zhang Yang nodded.
"Mm." Teacher Dewey nodded, then looked at Sanders. "Teacher Sanders, I'll take over from here."
"Then I'll leave him in your hands, Teacher Dewey." Sanders nodded, then smiled and bid them both farewell.
Teacher Dewey continued showing Zhang Yang around the campus. After Sanders left, however, he didn't take a break; he went straight to the Education Committee.
At the Education Committee, one of its members, dressed in a luxurious red robe, listened to Sanders's report and waved him away.
The committee member then left Spirit Hall Academy and headed straight for nearby Spirit City.
Spirit City, Pope Palace.
After hearing the report from the Spirit Hall Academy committee member, Pope Bibi Dong, dressed in a black robe edged with gold and wearing the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown, nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good. Have him begin with general studies. Keep an eye on his cultivation progress and make sure to record it."
The committee member accepted her instructions, bowed, and took his leave. Before long, Bibi Dong was alone in the room.
Holding the Pope Scepter, Bibi Dong casually set the report on the armrest, unable to hide her smug satisfaction.
"Xiao Gang, Xiao Gang, let's see whether your disciple is more gifted or the youngsters of Spirit Hall are better."
In September, a confidential letter was sent from the Nuoding City Martial Soul Branch and delivered to Spirit City through secure channels.
"A Blue Silver Grass Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power absorbed the Soul Ring of a hundred-year-old Datura Snake and broke through to level thirteen in one fell swoop, becoming a Soul Master. He has been registered with the Nuoding City Martial Soul Branch."
Furthermore:
"This Blue Silver Grass Soul Master, named Tang San, is taught by the very Grandmaster who proposed the 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul' theory and was later expelled from Spirit Hall: Yu Xiaogang."
"Yu Xiaogang?" Bibi Dong's delicate brows drew together slightly. Her gaze lingered on the name for a long while before shifting back to the beginning of the letter.
"Innate Full Soul Power? Blue Silver Grass?"
As someone with Innate Full Soul Power herself, Bibi Dong sensed that something about this didn't quite add up.
But Bibi Dong was no match for a master of Martial Soul Theory like Yu Xiaogang.
From a few words alone, Yu Xiaogang could tell that Tang San had a Second Martial Soul. Bibi Dong could only feel that something seemed off.
Learning that the Grandmaster had taken on such a talented disciple left Bibi Dong with complicated feelings.
Although Qian Xunji had torn the two of them apart, they had gone on to live similar lives.
After their breakup, Yu Xiaogang had another failed romance. The woman he loved turned out to be his cousin. Who could possibly bear such an outcome?
By contrast, Bibi Dong had suffered a complete defeat when it came to family.
Six years ago, Qian Xunji led a team to ambush Tang Hao and Ah Yin, but failed. He returned to Spirit City gravely wounded, where Bibi Dong ambushed and killed him. That incident made Qian Renxue deeply hate Bibi Dong.
After her failure in matters of family, Bibi Dong had subconsciously begun searching for a replacement for Qian Renxue.
That was when Hu Liena entered Bibi Dong's sight.
An orphan, she had the Beast Martial Soul Demon Fox and Innate Soul Power of level nine. Her talent was exceptional.
At first glance, she was almost a mirror image of Bibi Dong.
So Bibi Dong took Hu Liena as her disciple and devoted herself to raising her.
Hu Liena was only twelve, yet her Soul Power had already reached level twenty-eight. She was truly gifted.
But after learning that Yu Xiaogang had taken on a child with Innate Full Soul Power as his disciple, Bibi Dong suddenly felt the urge to compare the youngsters.
That was only natural.
It wasn't just because Bibi Dong had reached an age when such thoughts came easily. Powerful Soul Masters were naturally fiercely competitive; otherwise, they could never have cultivated to such a level.
As her direct disciple, Hu Liena could enjoy the finest resources on the continent. But Tang San was no slouch either.
Tang San's teacher was among the foremost authorities on Martial Soul research across the continent.
Moreover, Tang San had Innate Full Soul Power.
By that measure, Bibi Dong felt the comparison was quite fair.
Having made up her mind, Bibi Dong gave the order for the Nuoding City Martial Soul Branch to keep an eye on Tang San's progress and submit a report every three months.
Of course, Bibi Dong dressed the order up in a grand and respectable justification.
"As the Grandmaster's disciple, Tang San bears the responsibility of putting the 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul' theory into practice, making him an extremely valuable subject for study."
The Nuoding City Martial Soul Branch naturally didn't dare neglect the Pope's decree. In December, the first routine observation report arrived.
And close on its heels came a report from the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Temple about Zhang Yang's talent.
Bibi Dong was delighted when she saw it.
They were the same age. One had Innate Full Soul Power; the other had a cultivation speed so astonishing it defied reason.
Now there was someone even better suited than Hu Liena to compare against Tang San.
So Bibi Dong went along with the suggestion from the Heaven Dou City Martial Soul Temple, pretending to agree as she ordered Spirit Hall Academy to admit Zhang Yang and keep him under continuous observation.
Now that Zhang Yang had enrolled and was right under Bibi Dong's nose, this contest from afar could officially begin.
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