Time was like a wild donkey: once it started running, it never stopped.
One morning, after Zhang Yang got up and washed, he headed downstairs and saw that his three roommates were already awake, sitting around the dining table and eating breakfast.
"Up?"
"Mm."
After exchanging a lukewarm greeting, Zhang Yang came over and sat down at the table.
A plate had been set out in front of Zhang Yang. The plate cover hadn't even been lifted, yet the rich aroma had already filled his nostrils.
Zhang Yang's breakfast today consisted of three meat buns, two vegetable dishes, one meat dish, and a bowl of soy milk.
There was one more person at the table, but the other three had no intention of getting chummy with Zhang Yang. They continued eating and drinking as before, chatting away without a pause.
The three roommates were all in the same year as Zhang Yang and were considered average students in their class.
Their Innate Soul Power levels were seven, eight, and seven. After two and a half years of study, they had each obtained Soul Rings and reached levels twelve, thirteen, and twelve.
Compared to the little first-years at Heding City Academy, the students at Spirit Hall Academy were indeed more mature overall. They spoke and acted with a certain air of experience, and seemed much steadier.
Of course, even so, Zhang Yang still wasn't close to any of them.
After all, no matter how talented they were, it would be difficult for them to keep up with Zhang Yang.
Because at 23:14:18 last night, Zhang Yang had extracted 8.7 million chubby fellows on the "Haagen-Dazs City—Classified" map, and, while he was at it, raised his Martial Soul level to 30.
An eight-and-a-half-year-old Soul Elder—such a terrifying pace had never been seen anywhere on the continent.
In the Soul Master World, there were two accepted truths. First, one's achievements before the age of twenty determined one's future accomplishments.
Second, level thirty was a very important threshold. Once you crossed it, the road ahead was limitless.
And an eight-and-a-half-year-old level-thirty Soul Elder represented a height that others could only look up to.
Don't be fooled by how Zhang Yang was sitting and eating with his three roommates, looking perfectly friendly.
A thick wall had long since risen between them.
After breakfast, Zhang Yang pulled on a thick coat and trudged through the snow and bitter cold to the classroom building.
When class ended, the other students prepared to return to their dorms and change into their training clothes before heading to the indoor training grounds for the day's combat class.
Zhang Yang, meanwhile, went to the front of the classroom and addressed Teacher Dewey, who was organizing his lesson materials. "Teacher Dewey, there's something I need to tell you."
Teacher Dewey paused, pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses with his right hand, then asked, "What is it?"
The students who hadn't left the classroom also stopped and pricked up their ears, eager to hear what their class's aloof genius had gotten up to this time.
"Teacher, I broke through to level 30 last night."
"What?"
Not only Dewey, but all the other students as well, stared at Zhang Yang in shock.
Come on, bro, did you cheat?
"Already? You only broke through to level 29 at the beginning of last month. How long has it been? Fifty days?" Dewey exclaimed.
"That's right. But for me, taking fifty days to gain one level is already very slow."
Zhang Yang said something that sounded downright cruel to everyone else, his expression completely serious. "I've never cultivated this slowly before."
Zhang Yang's words were genuinely irritating. Even the usually mild-mannered Teacher Dewey couldn't help but retort, "Don't worry. After level fifty, your cultivation speed will slow down even more."
Level fifty was a major hurdle. Every Soul Master's cultivation speed slowed dramatically after crossing it.
That was what Dewey said, but in his eyes, along with surprise and shock, there was also a touch of wistfulness.
Zhang Yang's breakthrough to level 30 meant more than just setting out to hunt for a Soul Ring. It also meant his career as a Soul Master had entered a new stage.
At that moment, Teacher Dewey couldn't help feeling as if a child were leaving home to make his way in the world alone.
"I'll report this to the Education Committee right away. Don't attend your next classes; go back to the dorm first."
After making arrangements for Zhang Yang, Dewey hurried out of the classroom.
After watching Dewey leave, Zhang Yang also walked out, leaving behind a classroom full of students whispering among themselves.
Dewey hurried to the Education Committee and reported to the committee members that Zhang Yang had reached level 30.
Faced with this sudden news, the committee members exchanged glances.
"A genius really can't be judged by ordinary standards."
After a long round of marveling over how each generation surpassed the last, the committee members prepared to follow procedure and report the matter to the Pope Palace.
It was clear that the arrangements for Zhang Yang were no longer something a few Soul Douluo on the Education Committee could decide.
After all, at Spirit Hall Academy, Soul Power was tested every month.
Here, your cultivation speed was just like your mathematical talent: there was no way to hide it.
Fifteen months earlier, when Zhang Yang had broken through to level 20, the Pope Palace had already issued an order: any major decision concerning Zhang Yang's future had to be approved by the Pope Palace before it could be carried out.
In that sense, Zhang Yang was really only enrolled at Spirit Hall Academy in name.
The relationship between the academy and him was no longer one of subordination.
After dismissing Dewey, the committee members briefly discussed the matter. Then one of them stood up, left the Education Committee, and headed straight for the Pope Palace in Spirit City.
In front of Douluo Hall, two guards in white fitted uniforms stopped a committee member dressed in a red robe.
"Stop. This is the Pope Palace. Unauthorized persons are forbidden to approach."
The palace guards were elite Soul Masters who had to be at least level 51 Soul Kings to qualify.
"Please announce me. I'm Sheldon, a committee member of Spirit Hall Academy. I have an urgent matter and need to see His Holiness the Pope."
Seeing the red robe worn only by red-robed cardinals, the two palace guards exchanged a glance. One of them immediately turned and entered the Pope Palace.
Before long, that same guard came back out with a Holy Emperor Warrior dressed in golden armor.
The Holy Emperor Warriors were a group of Soul Masters who served at the Pope's side. Their minimum required Soul Power level was sixty-one.
After entering the Pope Palace, committee member Sheldon followed the Holy Emperor Warrior around two turns before stopping in front of a three-meter-high door.
Two Holy Emperor Warriors stood guard at the door.
After another report was made by the Holy Emperor Warrior, committee member Sheldon finally entered the reception room and met Bibi Dong.
"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope."
Committee member Sheldon bowed respectfully.
"Rise," Bibi Dong said casually. "Sheldon, you said it was urgent. What is it?"
"Your Holiness the Pope, according to Zhang Yang's teacher, Dewey, Zhang Yang broke through to level 30 last night."
"Level 30? So soon?" Bibi Dong was also quite surprised. "It hasn't even been fifty days since his last level-up, has it?"
"Exactly fifty days."
Bibi Dong's brows furrowed slightly.
It was too fast. Zhang Yang's cultivation speed was so fast that even Bibi Dong found it troublesome.
After a long pause, Bibi Dong finally nodded and said, "Since he's reached level 30, have him go to Star Dou Forest to hunt for a Soul Ring. Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan will accompany him. Go make the arrangements."
"Have Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan accompany him?"
The committee member was taken aback.
Before you continue