Martial Soul Academy was the highest institution directly affiliated with Spirit Hall. Even in the evening, it was still bustling with people. A long line stretched ahead, filled with young Soul Masters carrying their dreams.
Jiang Nannan sighed softly. "There are so many people. Looks like we'll be waiting a long time."
Ye Guyi smiled. "No need. Rules are meant to constrain ordinary people. In Spirit Hall, the strong protect the weak and bear greater responsibilities, so it's only right that they have a few reasonable privileges."
Chen Doudou strongly agreed.
After all, unlike the Three Great Empires, which relied on ordinary people to train as soldiers and serve as cannon fodder on the front lines,
Spirit Hall had always sent the strong charging into battle, while the weak handled logistics and transportation.
The strong faced greater risks and suffered more casualties, so it was only normal for them to enjoy a few privileges under reasonable rules.
Ye Guyi led Chen Doudou and Jiang Nannan through the bustling crowd toward the registration window.
Just as they were about to reach it, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.
"What the hell? You're nothing but a Body Martial Soul with half a point of innate Soul Power. Are you blind? How dare you bump into me!"
A coarse voice rang out, accompanied by the sound of shoving.
Ye Guyi furrowed her brows and quickened her pace.
Chen Doudou and Jiang Nannan also curiously craned their necks to see.
A burly upperclassman was glaring viciously as he shoved a frail child.
The child wore old clothes covered in patches and was as skinny as a bean sprout. His face was pale, but his eyes were bright. He bit his lip hard, refusing to cry.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I really didn't do it on purpose."
The frail child bowed again and again, apologizing in a voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"Cut the crap! You bump into me and think you can just walk away?"
The burly student grabbed the child by the collar and raised his fist as if to strike.
Chen Doudou couldn't stand watching any longer.
Before he could say a word, his figure flashed forward, moving so quickly that only an afterimage remained.
The next moment, he appeared beside the burly student and kicked him in the knee.
"Ow!"
The student released the child in pain and stumbled to the ground, grimacing.
Chen Doudou stared coldly at him. "You need to know what you should and shouldn't do. Bullying your own people in Spirit Hall isn't something to brag about."
The student was already irritated at being kicked to the ground and was about to lash out. But then he glanced up and saw Ye Guyi behind Chen Doudou. He immediately lost his nerve, scrambled to his feet, and ran off without looking back.
Only then did Chen Doudou turn away. He helped the frail child up and asked gently, "Are you all right? What's your name? If this happens again, just go straight to a teacher."
The child timidly looked up. A faint glimmer now shone in his once-dull eyes.
"H-hello. My name is Huo Yuhao."
Chen Doudou froze.
Huh?
Huo Yuhao? How had he ended up at Spirit Hall?
Then a thought occurred to him.
Right, this was still the era when Spirit Hall existed. If Huo Yuhao had awakened his Soul Power, there was a good chance he would come to Spirit Hall.
After all, there were hardly any other forces besides Spirit Hall that would awaken Martial Souls for free.
Noticing Chen Doudou's odd reaction, Ye Guyi asked quietly, "Doudou, do you know him?"
"No. Guyi, let's go."
Chen Doudou shook his head and said no more.
Huo Yuhao watched them leave, his small hands clutching the hem of his clothes. Gratitude quietly filled his eyes.
Mom, I think... I've seen the light.
Academic Affairs Office.
Ye Guyi brought the two of them to the dean's office.
When Dean of Academic Affairs Wang Yan learned that the Pope had arranged everything, he immediately set aside his work and welcomed them warmly.
"Come, come, have a seat. Since His Holiness the Pope arranged this, I won't say much more. You two, please introduce yourselves."
Wang Yan greeted them with a smile.
Chen Doudou and Jiang Nannan exchanged a glance, then each released their Martial Soul.
Two Soul Rings, one purple and one black, rose beneath Chen Doudou's feet. He gripped the Life Rakshasa Holy Scythe in his right hand, and a gentle aura of life instantly filled the room.
"Chen Doudou, six years old. My Martial Soul is the Life Rakshasa Holy Scythe. I'm a level 28 support-type Soul Master."
Two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, rose beneath Jiang Nannan's feet. A pair of adorable rabbit ears appeared on her head, and her figure grew more slender and graceful.
"Jiang Nannan, eight years old. My Martial Soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit. I'm a level 22 Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master."
"Pfft—"
Wang Yan spat out the mouthful of tea he had just taken.
His eyes widened as if he had seen something unbelievable.
Six years old? Level 28? Was this for real?
Eight years old? Level 22?
These weren't just geniuses. They were monsters among monsters!
Ye Guyi, standing nearby, also widened her eyes. Her heart was rocked by a storm of astonishment.
She could understand if Doudou caught up to her.
After all, Chen Doudou had almost the same hair color as the Holy Pope, Bibi Dong. Add in that scythe Martial Soul, which looked almost identical to the portrait in Pope Palace, and it was hard not to suspect they were mother and child.
But what was Jiang Nannan's explanation?
How could she keep up with Ye Guyi despite having a Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul?
Ye Guyi was ten years old, had Innate Full Soul Power, and was only at level 29.
She couldn't help feeling a hint of crisis. It seemed she would have to train even harder from then on.
As a fanatical researcher of Martial Souls, Wang Yan was so excited at the sight of Chen Doudou's life-filled scythe Martial Soul that his hands trembled. He could hardly wait to study it.
But these were people His Holiness the Pope had arranged for, so he could only put that curiosity aside for now. There would be plenty of time later.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Wang Yan said it three times, his smile practically spilling off his face. "With you joining us, Martial Soul Academy is sure to shine again!"
After completing the paperwork, Ye Guyi took the two of them to their assigned dormitories.
She first settled Jiang Nannan into a clean, tidy single dormitory. It had a kitchen and a private bathroom, and was very close to the teaching area.
Afterward, Ye Guyi took Chen Doudou alone to a detached dormitory behind the academy.
She pushed open the door. Inside, the decor was warm and pink, the furniture was fully furnished, and there was even a faint scent of incense in the air.
"Guyi, why did you bring me here?"
Chen Doudou blinked, looking confused.
"To sleep. What's wrong?"
Ye Guyi answered as if it were obvious, then began taking off her outer clothes.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Chen Doudou hurriedly covered his eyes in alarm. "What are you doing? In broad daylight, are you trying to take advantage of me?"
Ye Guyi covered her mouth and giggled. Her usually cool face showed a rare hint of playfulness. "Doudou, you're so cute."
Then she took off her fitted uniform, revealing a black tank top and athletic shorts, along with her long, slender arms and legs.
Chen Doudou let out a sigh of relief and peeked through his fingers. "You still haven't told me why you brought me here."
"Of course it's to protect you. If you stay by my side, I can protect you better. What's wrong with that?"
Ye Guyi looked at him earnestly. Her clear eyes held not a trace of guile, as if she were stating something perfectly obvious.
"To protect me, you don't have to sleep in the same room as me."
Chen Doudou looked around the whole house.
There were only two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom.
Wouldn't they have to fight over the bathroom every morning?
"That won't do. That's what the teacher said."
Ye Guyi looked at him very seriously, her brows furrowing as if she were trying to figure out why he would object to such a reasonable arrangement.
Chen Doudou sighed. "Can't we change it?"
"No. That's what the teacher said."
Ye Guyi remained completely serious, even a little confused.
If the teacher said it, it must be right. Why didn't little brother Doudou understand?
Was it because he didn't like pink?
But pink was so cozy.
She tilted her head. Her innocent, absentminded look made Chen Doudou give up resisting completely.
He finally understood. Trying to reason with this angel sister was like playing a lute to a cow.
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