At the very center of the raised platform, the Old Dean of Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy held a lengthy speech in his hands and talked eloquently to the new students below.
"Students, welcome to Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy. Here, you will embark on your own path as Soul Masters. Soul Masters are the noblest profession on the Douluo Continent, and also the one that demands the most perseverance and sweat..."
The Old Dean's voice rang across the entire sports field through the Amplifying Soul Tool, but his same old clichés were so monotonous that they made people drowsy.
The new students below had been excited at first, but after listening for over half an hour, they were all starting to slump and sway. The murmurs of conversation gradually died down, replaced by a wave of listless yawns.
It wasn't just the students. Even the instructors onstage were bored.
The balding instructor named Zhao Dabao stood at the very edge of the platform with his hands behind his back, his mouth hanging wide open as he yawned again and again.
His round beer belly bounced with each yawn, making his impatience plain.
Zhao Dabao had originally been an ordinary Soul Master, with mediocre talent, coasting through the academy and waiting to die.
Ever since he awakened the Invincible Check-in System half a month ago, his whole mindset had changed.
All he could think about now was how to check in and claim rewards. He had no interest in standing here listening to the Old Dean's drivel.
Just as Zhao Dabao was getting so bored he could have fallen asleep, a sudden change occurred.
Through the Eye of Truth, Su Yu clearly saw a dazzling green light flash across the golden panel above Zhao Dabao's head.
Immediately afterward, the information on the panel began refreshing rapidly.
[Today's check-in task has been issued!]
[Check-in location: Check in at the small grove behind the academy.]
[Check-in requirement: Stay at the center of the grove for three minutes to complete the check-in.]
[Check-in reward: One Top-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill.]
[Item description: Top-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill. After taking it, one's Martial Soul aptitude can be greatly improved; it cleanses the meridians and marrow and expels impurities from the body. There is a certain chance it can trigger a beneficial mutation in an ordinary Martial Soul.]
When Su Yu saw this reward, his eyes lit up.
A Top-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill.
This thing was absolutely priceless on the Douluo Continent.
What Soul Masters valued most on the Douluo Continent were Innate Soul Power and Martial Soul aptitude.
Once many people awakened their Martial Souls, their achievements for the rest of their lives were more or less set in stone.
Any treasure that could change a person's Martial Soul aptitude would make even the lofty Titled Douluo green with envy.
This item might not be of much use to him, but it would be useful to Tang Wu.
If he could get his hands on the Marrow Cleansing Pill and give it to Tang Wu, perhaps it could make her Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul evolve directly, freeing her from the limitations of a Trash Martial Soul once and for all.
Zhao Dabao on the platform had naturally seen the system's prompt as well.
His small, drowsy eyes snapped wide open, his eyeballs nearly bulging out.
For an instructor with ordinary talent like him, the allure of a Top-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill was downright fatal.
Once he took that pill, he could undergo a complete transformation and never again have to be an instructor who got pushed around at this lousy junior academy. He might even rise further and become a Titled Douluo, revered by tens of thousands.
Zhao Dabao swallowed hard. He didn't want to wait even a second.
He turned around, clutched his beer belly, and instantly twisted his face into a pained expression, scrunching up every feature.
"Oh, I can't hold it. I can't hold it."
Zhao Dabao lowered his voice and said to the instructor beside him, who wore black-rimmed glasses, "Old Li, my stomach suddenly hurts like crazy. I must've eaten something bad this morning. I need to use the latrine. Cover for me for a bit."
The instructor in black-rimmed glasses frowned. Looking at Zhao Dabao's over-the-top acting, he said with some displeasure, "The dean is still giving his speech, and the opening ceremony isn't over yet. It's not appropriate for you to leave now, is it? If the Dean of Students sees you, he'll definitely dock your pay."
"Everyone has to answer nature's call. How am I supposed to hold it in? I'll take responsibility if anything happens. Dock my pay if you have to!"
Zhao Dabao didn't care in the slightest. Leaving those words behind, he clutched his stomach and hurried down the stairs at the side of the platform, slipping away without even looking back.
Su Yu had been watching Zhao Dabao the whole time.
The moment he saw him sneak off, he immediately turned and gave Xiao Wu a look.
Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast reincarnated into human form, and her battle instincts were incredibly keen.
As soon as she saw Su Yu's look, she understood.
The two said nothing. In perfect unspoken agreement, they took two steps back, preparing to slip out of the line of new students without a sound.
Tang Wu had been holding Su Yu's hand tightly the whole time. Sensing that he was leaving, she immediately grew anxious.
"Brother Yu, where are you going? I want to come too."
Tang Wu lowered her voice and clutched Su Yu's sleeve tightly, her big eyes full of worry.
In this unfamiliar place, Su Yu was the only person she trusted. She didn't want to be apart from him for even a moment.
Su Yu stopped and took Tang Wu's little hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Be good, Xiao San."
Su Yu's voice was soft, but it held a reassuring strength. "We're going to take care of something important. Bringing you along would make us too conspicuous, and someone might notice us. Stay here and behave. Help cover for us. If anyone asks, just say we went to the bathroom."
Tang Wu was still reluctant. She looked at Su Yu, then at Xiao Wu, who was practically quivering with anticipation beside him, and felt a pang of grievance.
Why did Brother Yu bring that annoying rabbit along when he went to take care of things, but not her?
But she had always listened to Su Yu.
Looking at Su Yu's serious expression, Tang Wu could only pout unhappily and nod obediently. "Then come back soon, Brother Yu. I'll wait here and won't go anywhere."
"Don't worry. We'll be back soon."
Su Yu patted her head.
After reassuring Tang Wu, Su Yu and Xiao Wu took advantage of everyone's attention being on the dean atop the platform. They ducked low and slipped silently out of the crowd.
The two left the sports field and hurried along the wall at the academy's edge.
Xiao Wu moved with a lightness like a real rabbit, landing without a sound.
Su Yu didn't have her natural gifts, but thanks to his physique, strengthened by Innate Full Soul Power, he was no slower.
They followed well behind Zhao Dabao, keeping a safe distance that was close enough not to lose him but far enough not to be spotted.
After leaving the sports field, Zhao Dabao didn't head for any latrine. Instead, he jogged straight toward the back hill of the academy.
He ran until he was gasping for breath, the fat on his body bouncing with every step and sweat covering his forehead, but his pace didn't slow at all. His mind was filled with thoughts of that Top-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill.
The back hill of Nuoding Academy was an undeveloped stretch of wasteland, and students and instructors rarely came there.
Zhao Dabao jogged down a weed-choked path and plunged into the dark, quiet grove on the academy's back hill.
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