Enrolling Again

The moon hung round as a silver plate.

Naruto sat cross-legged on the bed and frowned. The meager Soul Power he drew from the surrounding air seeped into his body as slowly as dripping water.

The meridians inside him had gradually mended and healed, and could now support his cultivation, though its pace was no faster than a tortoise crawling.

But he only wanted to gauge how well his body had recovered. After a brief meditation, Naruto withdrew his consciousness, slowly opened his eyes, and looked around.

In the moonlight streaming in, he saw that the room he occupied was not large, but it was fresh and elegant. It was also right next to the Crown Prince East Palace. Naruto had been unceremoniously given a suite and hadn't dared ask about it, but he figured it couldn't have come cheap.

Not only that, Naruto's gaze fell on the silver-white bracelet on the bedside table.

A Storage Soul Tool, with a storage space of about ten cubic meters. It had sold for roughly a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins at auction.

"So this is what it feels like to live off a rich woman..."

Naruto muttered to himself. Then his brows drew together, he sucked in a sharp breath, and slapped his thigh. "Which cadre could withstand a test like this?"

After speaking, Naruto shook his head with a sigh. But the familiar taunting voice didn't ring in his ears.

Feeling a little unaccustomed to the silence, Naruto called out.

"Dong Trumpet?"

"Big Sis Dong?"

"Tea..."

Naruto's voice cut off abruptly. It wasn't that, after all these years, he had lost the courage to face a Titled Douluo. The main reason was that a phantom figure had suddenly appeared behind him, where there had been nothing a moment ago.

Naruto slowly raised his head.

Bibi Dong's faintly furrowed brows and icy gaze came into view. Her hands, formed from spiritual power, were pinching his cheeks.

This was beyond his control!

It wasn't because he was scared!

"Hmm?"

Bibi Dong gave a muffled grunt.

Naruto hurriedly put on a placating smile. With his cheeks pinched, all he could manage was a string of muffled, indistinct sounds.

"Tea...cher..."

"That's more like it."

The frost on Bibi Dong's lovely face melted away in an instant. After a few brief reproachful words, she finally let go.

After giving her cheap disciple a mild punishment, Bibi Dong turned away. This phantom, composed of nothing but scattered spiritual power, drifted over to the window and gazed through it at the Crown Prince Mansion.

Naruto rubbed his reddened cheeks and cursed inwardly a few times. Then he heard Bibi Dong, leaning against the window, complain, "You should have asked a few more questions."

"Asked more?"

Naruto frowned and turned his head, unable to keep his voice from rising.

"If I'd asked any more, I would've started feeling like a pervert."

Thinking back to their earlier conversation, Bibi Dong had practically forced Naruto to ask whether Qian Renxue hated her. By the time they left, even Xue Qinghe had nearly lost control of his expression.

Naruto hopped off the bed and took a few steps over to lean against the window too.

Bibi Dong, chin resting in her hand, gave Naruto an indignant sidelong glance before turning back to gaze at the Crown Prince Mansion. She was like a stone of longing, and the eyes that usually held such authority now showed a rare tenderness.

She was so biased!

Naruto couldn't help shaking his head, then laughed. His cheap disciple couldn't compare to her own daughter.

"I know you two have been reunited after a long separation, and you're overwhelmed with emotion, but try to be a little more rational!"

"But..."

Bibi Dong shifted restlessly, seeming to grow a little anxious.

Naruto reached out and held Bibi Dong by the shoulders, reassuring her. "We're already in Heaven Dou City, and your Xiao Xue lives right next door. You'll have plenty of chances to see her. Just take it slowly."

After a brief moment of thought, Bibi Dong nodded in agreement.

What Naruto hadn't expected was that Qian Renxue would move so quickly!

Morning.

When Naruto opened the door and looked up to see several people standing outside, his eyes widened. Even Bibi Dong, inside the Sealing Space, reacted the same way, though the emotions in their eyes were worlds apart.

Unlike Bibi Dong's delight, Naruto stared in bewilderment at the several Tiandou Royal Imperial Guards, then at the luxurious carriage behind them.

And at Xue Qinghe, who had poked her head out of the carriage window, smiling brightly.

"Big Brother Xue... What is this?"

Naruto tentatively raised a hand and gestured at the intimidating spectacle before him.

Xue Qinghe's smile didn't fade. She glanced back and gave a look.

The enormous carriage's door opened at once, revealing an even more luxurious interior. Several attendants stepped out and gestured for him to enter.

Leaning against the carriage window, Xue Qinghe lifted her chin. "Come on, Little Ming. Take a walk with your big brother."

"Didn't you say... that you've been busy lately?"

Naruto felt uneasy. Xue Qinghe seemed to think back for a moment, then tilted her head, her smile growing warmer.

"Did I say that?"

"Didn't you...?"

The Crown Prince's carriage procession stood out enough in Heaven Dou City, even without any so-called Crown Prince's ceremonial escort.

The city's residents watched as the Crown Prince's entourage wound its way through the streets.

It wasn't what Naruto had worried about earlier: that Secret Chamber Douluo would possess Qian Renxue and do something improper to poor Naruto. Xue Qinghe was simply introducing Naruto to people in various circles, letting them know he was one of her own.

It was just that this time, their itinerary covered a wider area than before, and the people they visited carried greater weight.

Naturally, they met the important officials under Xue Qinghe's command. Naruto even met Prince Xue Xing, and then Xue Ye.

At first, both men were surprised by Naruto's appearance, but they soon realized it couldn't be what they had thought. When they heard that Naruto was a genius with Innate Full Soul Power, they simply assumed Xue Qinghe was showing off.

Prince Xue Xing made a few sarcastic remarks before angrily flinging his sleeves and leaving. Xue Ye, on the other hand, was delighted and bestowed all manner of gifts on him.

Only then did Naruto begin to guess at Qian Renxue's purpose.

The old man on the throne in the distance roared with laughter as Xue Qinghe amused him.

Amid the echoing laughter, Naruto kept every muscle in his body tense, struggling to maintain the court etiquette he'd just learned. His eyes shifted, and he glanced back as inconspicuously as he could. Taking advantage of the fact that Naruto couldn't dodge, Xue Qinghe was rubbing his head.

That made eighteen times already!

How could Naruto enjoy such a heartwarming scene of brotherly affection all by himself? He immediately thought of his dear big sister.

"Dear big sister, this is a great opportunity. Let's switch places!"

"No!"

Bibi Dong, who had been snickering, instantly flew into a rage. How could she take something without earning it? Besides, she couldn't possibly snatch such a lovely moment from him. "Those feelings are meant for you, Little Ming. If I took your place, wouldn't I hurt Xiao Xue?"

"Traitor!"

Naruto cursed. Bibi Dong covered her mouth and giggled. The visits continued, but only one stop remained.

The carriage procession left Heaven Dou City and headed into the suburbs. Many clans and sects were tucked away in the dense forests there. If a sect was large enough, it might even form a satellite city.

Of course, Xue Qinghe wasn't going to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. They had come to the Tiandou Royal Academy in the suburbs.

Amid the range of mountains, countless towering buildings stood along the slopes and peaks. As one of the Tiandou Empire's calling cards, the Tiandou Royal Academy had the most comprehensive collection of Mimicry Cultivation Grounds in the entire empire.

Inside the tallest building at the very center, several teachers with all kinds of expressions crowded around Naruto, clicking their tongues in wonder.

"Twenty-eighth rank? He's really only ten? Innate Full Soul Power is this terrifying?"

"His Martial Soul doesn't look right. Shouldn't it be something like the Death Spider Emperor?"

"Careful! Watch what you say!"

The three old men were practically at death's door, and this was their first time seeing an Innate Full Soul Power genius so young. They grew more and more delighted, and even began talking nonsense.

Seeing Naruto surrounded, Xue Qinghe furrowed her brows.

"Teachers..."

Xue Qinghe raised her voice and reached out. To the three men's surprise, she lifted Naruto out from between them.

"Please, try to calm down a little."

Her words reminded the three that the Crown Prince was still present. They gradually settled down, exchanged glances, and—unlike when they had dealt with Tang San—didn't attempt any tests. They simply nodded their agreement.

"Your Highness, there's naturally no problem with Jiang Naruto joining the academy. Geniuses are always given certain privileges, especially when Your Highness has personally come to see him in."

For someone with Innate Full Soul Power, enrolling at the Tiandou Royal Academy was naturally no problem.

As for the requirement that all students bear a noble title, that was where the three of them had to be flexible. After all, what was to say that a future Titled Douluo wouldn't be a noble?

They settled the enrollment with ease.

Xue Qinghe turned to Naruto beside her, gave his head another pat, and spoke again.

"Thank you for understanding, Teachers. There's one more thing."

The three nodded, indicating that she should continue.

At that, Naruto stepped forward, ignoring the disappointment in Xue Qinghe's eyes and her now-empty hand. He cupped his fists toward the three teachers.

"This junior would like to pay a visit to Senior Ye Renxin."