Su Nuo Has a Problem

Wang Sheng recalled the imposing aura Zhu Shen had released earlier and shook his head. "The senior is so powerful, he certainly wouldn't be afraid of him. But you are a Grandmaster, here to teach at the academy. If you get into a conflict with a student's parent, it won't look good for your reputation."

Zhu Shen glanced at Wang Sheng; the boy's concerns were reasonable. However, he was not Yu Xiaogang, and he did not care about reputation.

"Wang Sheng, come here." Zhu Shen beckoned.

Wang Sheng stepped forward, and Zhu Shen placed a hand on his shoulder, a sliver of soul power probing into his body. A moment later, Zhu Shen withdrew his soul power and nodded.

"Your War Tiger martial soul is a beast-type, leaning toward strength and speed. Fifteen levels of soul power is not bad for your age, but your foundation is poorly laid. There are several blockages in your meridians; there must be something wrong with your cultivation method."

Wang Sheng's eyes widened. "How did you know, Senior?"

"I can see it," Zhu Shen said. "Starting tomorrow, you will cultivate with Tang San. I will teach you the correct way to circulate soul power."

Wang Sheng stood frozen, taking a long time to react before dropping to his knees with a thud. "Senior! Are... are you really willing to teach me?"

"Get up, get up. Don't go kneeling at every turn." Zhu Shen pulled him to his feet. "But I'll say this plainly: my training is very strict. If you can't handle the hardship, you'd better quit now."

"I can handle hardship!" Wang Sheng patted his chest in assurance. "As long as I can become stronger, I can endure anything!"

Zhu Shen smiled.

"Alright, go get Tang San settled in the dormitory first. I'm going to have a word with the Dean."

"Understood, Senior!"

Zhu Shen turned and walked toward the teaching building, but after a few steps, he looked back. "Oh, and Wang Sheng."

"Does the Senior have any other instructions?"

"Don't call me Senior from now on. Call me Teacher."

Wang Sheng's eyes reddened, and he nodded heavily. "Yes, Teacher!"

Zhu Shen waved his hand and strode away.

On the top floor of the teaching building, in the Dean's office.

Su Nuo sat behind his desk, holding a file with a deep frown. On the desk in front of him lay a dark red metal badge.

"Yu Xiaogang..." Su Nuo muttered to himself. "Martial soul evolution, soul power breakthrough, change in appearance... what on earth have you been through?"

He flipped open the file, which recorded Yu Xiaogang's life. Level 29, Luo Sanpao martial soul, castaway of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, a master of theory, a failure in actual combat. This was the consensus of the soul master world regarding Yu Xiaogang.

But the man he had seen today completely overturned that impression.

A soul ring configuration of two purples and two blacks, a golden dragon martial soul he had never seen before, and that heart-stopping dragon might.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A knock sounded at the door.

Su Nuo quickly swept the metal badge into a drawer and composed his expression. "Come in."

Zhu Shen pushed the door open and sat down across from Su Nuo.

"Dean, I would like to talk to you about Tang San."

Su Nuo nodded. "Go ahead."

"Tang San is my newly accepted disciple. His martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, he has innate full soul power, and he has already absorbed a soul ring. I want him to enroll at Notting Academy, and I also wish to teach here."

"Teach?" Su Nuo raised an eyebrow. "What does the Grandmaster wish to teach?"

"Soul master theory, as well as actual combat," Zhu Shen said. "I looked at the academy's curriculum; the theory classes are too sparse, and the combat classes are even more perfunctory. The students' foundations are weak; at this rate, it will be difficult for them to achieve any major breakthroughs."

Su Nuo was silent for a moment. "What the Grandmaster says is indeed reasonable, but the academy has limited funding and limited faculty. The improvements you propose all require money."

Zhu Shen smiled. "Is the Dean worried that I will cause trouble?"

Su Nuo did not deny it. "The Grandmaster just arrived at the academy today and already injured Teacher Wang, and scared off the son of Councilor Xiao. Councilor Xiao is a local tyrant in Nuoding City. If he files a complaint with the City Lord, I, as the Dean, will have a hard time explaining it."

"And what is the Dean's meaning?"

"My meaning is that the Grandmaster can stay at the academy for now, and Tang San's enrollment is no problem. As for the teaching position, let's wait until the heat dies down."

Zhu Shen looked into Su Nuo's eyes.

He heard the evasion in the old man's words, as well as a hint of probing.

This Dean was problematic.

"Since the Dean is in a difficult position, I will not force it," Zhu Shen stood up. "Please handle the arrangements for Tang San's enrollment."

"Of course, of course," Su Nuo said with a full smile. "Rest assured, Grandmaster, I will have someone handle it right away."

Zhu Shen nodded and turned to leave the office.

Walking out of the teaching building, Zhu Shen's expression darkened.

This Su Nuo gave him a very wrong feeling. A five-ring Soul King hiding in a small academy in Nuoding City as a Dean was not normal to begin with. Furthermore, he had sensed a faint, cold aura within Su Nuo's soul power fluctuations just now.

That aura was somewhat similar to the three Evil Soul Masters he had encountered in the Soul Hunting Forest earlier.

"System, is Su Nuo an Evil Soul Master?"

[Scanning... Scan complete. Target: Su Nuo. Soul power level: 51. Martial soul: Shadow Bat. Traces of evil energy detected in the body.]

Zhu Shen narrowed his eyes.

As expected, there was a problem.

However, now was not the time to tear off the mask. Su Nuo was a five-ring Spirit King; although his current strength allowed him to fight Spirit Ancestors above his level, he would still struggle against a Spirit King. Moreover, Tang San was still young, and he could not be dragged into this.

He had to remain steady and wait until his strength improved before doing anything else.

Zhu Shen returned to the work-study student dormitory area and saw Tang San and Wang Sheng standing at the entrance talking from a distance. Tang San's expression remained as calm as ever, while Wang Sheng was full of excitement, gesturing wildly as he spoke.

"Teacher!" Seeing Zhu Shen return, Wang Sheng immediately went up to greet him. "The dormitory has been arranged; it's the innermost room on the second floor. Although it's a bit small, it's quite clean."

"Thank you for your hard work." Zhu Shen nodded. "Tomorrow morning at six, the two of you are to gather at the open space behind the building to begin training."

"Yes!" Wang Sheng replied loudly.

Tang San also nodded. "This disciple understands."

Zhu Shen looked at Wang Sheng again. "Wang Sheng, go and call the other work-study students as well. Anyone who is willing to come may join. My training doesn't charge a fee, but the requirements are very strict. Anyone who can't take it can quit at any time."

Wang Sheng's eyes lit up. "Teacher, you are going to teach all the work-study students?"

"Correct," Zhu Shen said. "Since the academy doesn't value you, I will teach you."

Wang Sheng was so excited he nearly jumped, agreeing repeatedly before turning and running off to find the other work-study students.

Watching Wang Sheng's retreating back, Tang San said softly, "Teacher, do you think there is a problem with this academy?"

Zhu Shen glanced at Tang San.

"I've discovered a few things, but it's hard to say for sure right now." Zhu Shen patted him on the shoulder. "Your task right now is to cultivate well; leave the other matters to your teacher."

Tang San nodded and did not ask further.

Night fell, and Nuoding City gradually quieted down.

Zhu Shen sat in his room, fiddling with the reward the system had just issued.

Congratulations to the host for completing the new environment task: Establish initial prestige within the academy. Reward obtained: One ten-year Lone Bamboo torso bone.

Adding this to the previous three, he now had four pieces of the Lone Bamboo Soul Bone. He was only three pieces away from completing the Lone Bamboo Set.

Zhu Shen put the soul bone away, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his spirit power.

Earlier today in Su Nuo's office, he had vaguely sensed a trace of evil energy within the man. This indicated that the infiltration of the Evil God Temple was deeper than he had imagined; even a small place like Nuoding City had their eyes and ears.