Douluo: A Fake God in Peerless

The academy's enrollment period was drawing to a close, and the dormitory buildings were already filled with many new students. Although the elevators could accommodate thirty students at a time, the sheer number of people meant that queues were inevitable.

Su Luoheng glanced at his dormitory key; his room was on the fifteenth floor.

If he took the stairs, it would take about five minutes, but waiting for the elevator...

Su Luoheng's gaze wandered between the elevator lobby and the stairwell.

After a moment of thought, he finally walked toward the end of the line. He decided to experience how the "elevators" of the Douluo Continent differed from those of his past life.

This was absolutely not because he didn't want to climb the stairs!

Listening to the clamor and laughter, and watching the new students waiting for the elevator, Su Luoheng felt a momentary lapse in focus. The familiar scene stirred memories of the past: in a trance, the setting shifted, and he felt as if he were back on his old campus.

It's all in the past...

However, his eyes soon regained their clarity.

Everything from his previous life had ended with his death; now, this was a brand-new beginning.

Soul Master, Soul Engineer.

He would face new challenges in a brand-new world!

At this moment, Su Luoheng's thoughts cleared, and he completely let go of the memories of his past.

The sky gradually darkened as night fell.

With the last candidate leaving the academy, the third-to-last day of enrollment at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy came to an end, and the heavy gates closed once more.

The Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy was always kept locked, but the gates had been opened two hours early specifically for the enrollment process.

Information on all the successful new students was being compiled and integrated at the admissions office.

Every teacher in the admissions office was busy; besides registering the students' information, they were also responsible for identifying and highlighting those with exceptional talent. The Dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy was also in the office, tasked with collecting information on these priority students to report upward.

The Dean, Lin Jiayi, was the same Level 8 Soul Engineer who had been present during the morning's enrollment.

"Twelve years old, Level 1 Soul Engineer, hmm, not bad."

"Eleven years old, Level 17 soul power, also not bad."

"Oh? This one is interesting~"

"..."

The teacher responsible for screening the priority student files suddenly froze. A moment later, he gasped, rubbed his eyes, and looked again, only to be left dumbfounded.

"Su Luoheng..."

"Nine years old, seventeen... Level 17 soul power? And... a Level 1 Soul Engineer?"

"Good heavens, how is this possible!"

He couldn't help but exclaim aloud.

As soon as he spoke, the entire office fell silent. All the teachers cast looks of shock, and even the Dean, Lin Jiayi, saw his pupils constrict sharply!

"What?"

"Is he really nine years old?"

"..."

Lin Jiayi pressed his hand down to signal for silence, then said in a deep voice, "Teacher Wang, are you certain you didn't misread it?"

"Dean Lin, y-you look!"

The excited Teacher Wang trotted over, his hands trembling as he held the file out to Lin Jiayi.

Looking at the information in the teacher's hand, Lin Jiayi raised an eyebrow. Although he had been expecting something, he was still surprised. "Nine years old, Level 17 Soul Master, a Level 1 Soul Engineer, and he hasn't even taken any medicinal pills!"

"Yes."

Teacher Wang swallowed hard; even now, he found it difficult to believe.

Hearing Dean Lin's description, the other teachers looked at each other in stunned silence.

A nine-year-old with Level 17 soul power was barely understandable, but becoming a Level 1 Soul Engineer was no easy feat. How long had it been since their Sun Moon Royal Academy had recruited such a genius?

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Jiayi suddenly asked, "Who was responsible for testing this student?"

Teacher Wang shook his head and explained, "To save time, the test sheets from all the examining teachers were gathered together. Now, no one can tell who was responsible for this test."

"..."

Hearing this, Lin Jiayi frowned slightly.

Just as he was about to say something, the office door was pushed open from the outside. An elderly man with a goatee walked in—it was the very teacher who had examined Su Luoheng that morning!

Seeing this man, Lin Jiayi wore a look of surprise.

He stood up and walked to the door to greet him. "Teacher Ran, what brings you here?"

"Teacher Ran."

"Teacher Ran."

"..."

The other teachers rose one after another to greet him, their words filled with genuine respect. It was clear this reverence came from the heart, distinct from the deference a low-level soul master might show a superior; it seemed this old man held a position of no small significance within the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

"What is it?"

Teacher Ran swept a glance over him and raised an eyebrow. "Am I not allowed to come here?"

"Of course not, you are welcome here anytime!"

Lin Jiayi hurriedly shook his head, offering a wry smile as he gestured to the pile of new student files spread across his desk. "But as you can see, we are currently busy sorting through these records and truly have no time. Once the enrollment is finished, I will accompany you to a tavern for a couple of drinks."

"Enough of that. You should pay back the drinks you owe me first," Teacher Ran retorted, exposing his past debts without a hint of mercy.

"Teacher Ran..." Lin Jiayi offered a sheepish smile.

"I won't take up much of your time. There is a matter that truly requires your help."

"Please speak, Teacher. As long as it is within my power, I will handle it."

Lin Jiayi patted his chest in assurance, though he felt a spark of curiosity. What could this old man possibly need my help with?

Teacher Ran did not dawdle, cutting straight to the point.

"I want a teaching position for the second-year students this term."

"Teacher Ran, why the sudden interest in taking on students this year?"

A teaching slot was no major issue, and given Teacher Ran's capabilities, he was more than qualified to instruct students at Mingde Hall. What truly surprised Lin Jiayi was that the old man hadn't taken on students for three years; why would he suddenly want to teach a lower-grade class?

"I saw a student during the new student assessment today."

As he spoke, Teacher Ran produced the examination sheet for Su Luoheng. "Here, this Su Luoheng. The child has both talent and character that suit my tastes perfectly. I intend to mentor him personally, so just make sure you place him in my class."

"Su Luoheng?"

Lin Jiayi found the name vaguely familiar.

He leaned in to take a look and had a sudden realization: wasn't this the very same youngster they had just been discussing?

"That's all. I only came for this matter today. You lot continue with your work; I won't disturb you any further."

With that, Teacher Ran walked out of the office.

"Wait, Teacher Ran!"

Regaining his senses, Lin Jiayi hurried after him, not forgetting to call out to his staff, "Continue the review. Just place the priority files on my desk."

"Yes, Director Lin."

A moment later, in the director's office.

After Lin Jiayi invited Teacher Ran to sit, he took a seat on the sofa himself.

"Didn't you have work to attend to?"

"This... it's of no consequence." Lin Jiayi caught the hint of mockery in Teacher Ran's tone, but as an official, his skin was far thicker than the average person's. He let out a few dry laughs and straightened his expression. "Did you personally examine this child, Su Luoheng? Is there truly no issue with the information provided?"

Teacher Ran shot him a look and countered, "You don't even trust me?"

Lin Jiayi laughed dryly and said, "Teacher, I am only being cautious. It is just that this child's talent is rather... unusual."

"Rest assured, I assessed the child myself. There are no problems."

He had checked him personally, especially regarding the use of any pills that might force potential to the surface. He could guarantee that Su Luoheng's physical state was completely sound.

Whether it was his soul master foundation or his soul power, it was all cultivated through his own efforts.

"Yes, yes, of course."

Lin Jiayi nodded with a sycophantic smile, but then changed his tone. "Teacher Ran, do you truly believe this Su Luoheng has such high potential?"

"Of course. Do you have a different opinion?" Teacher Ran asked back.

"I think you might want to observe him a bit longer. While Su Luoheng's talent is excellent for now, no one can say for sure if it is truly exceptional or just a flash in the pan. Think about it—if he turns out to be mediocre after you take him under your wing, it might tarnish your reputation for having a keen eye for talent."

"Don't you agree?"

Lin Jiayi paused, looking at Teacher Ran as if seeking his approval.

"And your point is?"

Teacher Ran narrowed his eyes, taking a calm sip of his tea.

Lin Jiayi suggested with a face full of smiles, "I think it would be better to wait. Once the child reaches the fourth or fifth grade, if his talent hasn't waned, it wouldn't be too late to teach him then."

"Stop right there. I have already decided on this child."

Teacher Ran swept a glance over him, having already seen through his intentions, and let out a cold snort. "Don't think I don't know what you're plotting. You're still a long way off from trying to pull the wool over my eyes, kid."

"Teacher Ran... you've misunderstood me!"

Lin Jiayi hurriedly put on a troubled expression and began to pour out his grievances. "The main thing is that all the teaching positions for the second-year students at our academy have already been filled; there are no vacancies. Besides, you are a Level 7 Soul Engineer, Teacher Ran. You'd be more than qualified to teach students at Mingde Hall. It really is difficult to make arrangements for you to teach the lower grades..."

Director Lin's words were truly sincere and heartfelt; they would move anyone who saw or heard them to tears.

His exquisite acting was so immersive that he could have won an Oscar for it.

"So, if you ask me, why don't you wait a little longer?"

"Let me tell you something: I am determined to have this student." Teacher Ran remained unmoved, his attitude incredibly firm and unyielding.

Seeing this, Lin Jiayi felt helpless. He knew Teacher Ran's stubborn personality—the man was impervious to reason, and once he had his mind set on something, not even eight horses could pull him back. With no other choice, he had to agree.

"Fine, fine, fine... we'll do as you wish."

"That's more like it."

Teacher Ran nodded in satisfaction, stroked his long beard, and said, "To tell you the truth, I intend to take this child as my final disciple."

"A final disciple..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiayi was stunned for a moment before his expression turned to one of astonishment. "Teacher Ran, do you truly value this child that much?"

"This child's... hmm, he is very good."

Teacher Ran nodded slightly, making no attempt to hide his high regard for Su Luoheng.

Seeing that Lin Jiayi hadn't noticed, he breathed a sigh of relief: he had almost spilled his secret just now, but fortunately, he had managed to stop himself in time.

"It's rare to find a student who can earn such high praise from you. Now that you mention it, I've become interested in him as well."

Hearing this, Lin Jiayi's interest was piqued.

One had to know that although Teacher Ran was only a Level 7 Soul Engineer, he had an excellent eye for mentoring disciples. Many of the students he had guided were now Level 7 or 8 Soul Engineers, and he himself had received guidance from Teacher Ran back in the day.