Li Changsheng slowly walked out of the Sea God Awakening Hall and headed toward the window below, where Martial Soul certificates were issued.
Compared to ten thousand years ago, newly awakened Soul Masters still had to collect a certificate for their Martial Soul.
It might be a hassle elsewhere, but in God Soul Village, it was very convenient.
As soon as you awakened your Martial Soul in the Sea God Awakening Hall, your certificate was already being issued at the other window.
A Martial Soul certificate was essential for enrolling in a Junior Soul Master Academy.
It was the equivalent of an ID card in his previous life.
Li Changsheng walked slowly down the long staircase.
He certainly didn't have time to admire the scenery from up high.
He was thinking about everything that had just happened, as well as his plans for the future.
"The next sign-in location is Shrek Pre-Academy. So that means I'm supposed to enroll there. Hmm, I've heard you have to take an entrance exam..."
Li Changsheng's original goal had been to enroll in Shrek Pre-Academy.
Even though Nuoding City, not far from God Soul Village, had a Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy with a history stretching back ten thousand years.
Over the past ten thousand years, Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy had developed rapidly.
After all, in a sense, a god had once emerged from their academy!
But it was only a junior academy. Its faculty was nowhere near the same level as Shrek Pre-Academy's.
Besides, he had heard that Pre-Academy trained its students much like Shrek Academy did, using actual combat as the standard.
Li Changsheng needed powerful Soul Masters to help him hunt Soul Beasts.
At the same time, he needed to grow through battle.
A Soul Master who never fought and relied on meditation alone would probably need hundreds, even thousands of years to become a Titled Douluo.
"Pre-Academy..."
Li Changsheng murmured and looked toward the certificate window not far below.
"Once I get back and take a look at my Second Martial Soul, I'll get ready to head to Shrek Pre-Academy for the entrance exam."
Shrek Pre-Academy was different from ordinary Junior Soul Master Academies.
It had no holidays. Students who wanted to enroll had to head there to sign up as soon as they awakened their Martial Souls.
Naturally, they signed up at the place where their Martial Souls were awakened.
But they still had to meet the requirements.
The most stringent requirement was Innate Soul Power of at least level eight.
With a hint of anticipation, Li Changsheng reached the certificate window.
There were already many people waiting in line.
Li Changsheng joined the end of the queue.
"Dad, I'm applying to Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy!"
"Good. If you pass the exam, you can go."
There were plenty of conversations like that around him.
These days, there were no special admissions. You had to meet the requirements yourself before you could enroll.
Still, Li Changsheng remembered that, at one point, God Soul Village had received an exam-free admission slot for Shrek Academy. He thought they might still have one now, but nobody could make use of it. After all, not a single genius had come out of God Soul Village in ten thousand years.
When Li Changsheng was almost at the front, he spotted a familiar figure.
It was Li Zishuo!
He was leaning over the window with his Martial Soul certificate in hand, apparently discussing something with the staff member.
Li Changsheng considered it for a moment.
Li Zishuo had Innate Soul Power at level six, and his Martial Soul was the Exquisite Chessboard. Among tool-type Martial Souls, it was definitely top-tier.
He had seen his wife use the Martial Soul Avatar of the Exquisite Chessboard. Its control extended hundreds of meters, and she could attack with chess pieces, shift positions, and change her methods of attack in ways that were frighteningly unpredictable. Once you were caught on her chessboard, you were suppressed at every turn.
"With his talent, he'll have no problem getting into Nuoding Junior Academy. Maybe he'll even be the one to use God Soul Village's exam-free admission slot for Shrek Academy..."
Li Changsheng quickly reached that conclusion.
That's right. In his judgment, Li Zishuo might not have the greatest talent of all, but he was definitely superior to everyone in God Soul Village over the past thousand years.
Soon, it was Li Changsheng's turn.
The staff member issuing the certificates was a beautiful woman with a sweet voice.
Her long, flowing black hair partly covered her forehead. Without looking up, she asked in a gentle voice:
"Name?"
Li Changsheng promptly replied, "Li Changsheng."
"Li Changsheng? The one with Innate Full Soul Power and the Heavenly Book Martial Soul?" The woman paused. As she filled out the certificate, she raised her striking face and studied Li Changsheng with her long, phoenix-shaped eyes.
Li Changsheng nodded. "If there isn't another Li Changsheng, then that's me."
The woman paused, then smiled and said, "So, little brother, which junior academy are you applying to? How about our Nuoding Junior Academy? I can waive your entrance exam."
Was this woman a teacher?
A trace of doubt flashed through Li Changsheng's mind. Then he shook his head. "No, thanks. I'm applying to Shrek Pre-Academy."
When the woman heard that Li Changsheng wanted to apply to Shrek Pre-Academy, her expression changed slightly.
She acted as if it didn't matter. As she sorted through the certificates, she said to Li Changsheng:
"Little brother, Shrek Pre-Academy may be the best place to go, but it isn't suitable for children like you. Of course, I'm not questioning their teaching. I just hope you'll think it over."
Li Changsheng shook his head. He didn't take offense at what she said.
He had heard a little about it, too. Shrek Pre-Academy had once lost a large number of students in a single incident, prompting the three great empires to jointly pressure them and demand an explanation. Even the main Shrek Academy had punished them. If they hadn't truly made contributions, Shrek Pre-Academy would have vanished into the river of history long ago.
The woman was only looking out for him.
After all, he was a genius with Innate Full Soul Power. It would be a terrible waste if he died in that dreadful place.
"Thanks for the warning, big sister. Pre-Academy has an entrance exam, too. If I fail, then I'll really have to rely on you."
Li Changsheng put on a shy smile as he spoke.
The woman's phoenix-shaped eyes widened, and she stared at Li Changsheng in surprise.
Seeing his bashful, honest expression, she couldn't help but pause again. Then she covered the corner of her mouth, a playful smile flickering across her face, and said, "All right. Then I'll be wishing you fail your exam, little brother."
Then she handed a piece of paper through the window and said to Li Changsheng:
"Meet at the Sea God Awakening Hall three days from now. In previous years, anyone who wanted to take the Pre-Academy exam had to make their own way there. But this year, Pre-Academy has changed its teaching methods. A teacher will personally escort you there for the exam. Even if you don't pass, they'll make a special trip to bring you back."
At those words, several thoughts flashed through Li Changsheng's mind.
Ignoring the complaints of the children and parents waiting behind him, he continued chatting with the woman.
"Are a lot of children taking the Pre-Academy exam?" Li Changsheng asked.
After all, the requirement for taking the exam was Innate Soul Power of at least level eight.
The woman raised her slender fingers and gently pressed her temples. Her soft voice rang out:
"God Soul Village and Spirit Soul City have a lot of outsiders, and plenty of children with Innate Soul Power at level eight or above. They're all rather proud and simply don't want to attend an ordinary Junior Soul Master Academy, so..."
She looked through the records, then said to Li Changsheng:
"Little brother, so far there are ten people taking the Pre-Academy exam. There may be another seven or eight this afternoon, or even more."
"So many children with Innate Soul Power at level eight or above?" Even Li Changsheng was taken aback.
The woman nodded. "That's just God Soul Village. You won't find a situation like this anywhere else."
Li Changsheng nodded to himself. That was true.
After chatting a little longer and learning more about the situation, Li Changsheng took his Martial Soul certificate and left.
After Li Changsheng had walked a few steps away from the queue,
the staff woman called out to him:
"Little brother, don't work too hard!"
Li Changsheng paused. He didn't turn around, only wearing an expression of calm indifference as he walked toward the hotel he had rented.
That was right. Of course he wouldn't work too hard. If he did, wouldn't that tarnish his reputation as a genius?
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