Lin Jiayi's Hesitation [Please Recommend, Invest, and Bookmark]

The academy's enrollment period was nearly over, and the dormitories already housed quite a few new students. Although the elevators could carry thirty students at a time, there were simply too many of them, and lines had formed.

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

It would take about five minutes to climb the stairs, but if he waited for the elevator...

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

After a moment's thought, he walked to the end of the line. He decided to see how the elevators on Douluo Continent differed from the ones in his previous life.

It definitely wasn't because he wanted to avoid climbing the stairs!

Listening to the chatter and laughter around him, watching the new students line up for the elevator,

Su Luoheng suddenly lost himself in the moment. The familiar scene stirred memories from long ago. In a daze, the surroundings seemed to change, and he felt as if he were back on his old campus.

"It's all in the past..."

But soon, his gaze cleared.

Everything that had happened before had ended with his life. Now, a whole new beginning awaited him.

Soul Engineers, Soul Masters.

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

At that moment, Su Luoheng's thoughts flowed freely, and he finally let go of his memories of the past.

Dusk fell, and night descended.

As the last examinee left the academy, the third-to-last day of enrollment at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy came to an end. The heavy gates closed once more.

The Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy always closed its gates; enrollment had simply started two hours earlier than usual.

Information on the successful applicants was gradually collected and consolidated at the admissions office.

All the admissions teachers were busy. Besides registering the new students' information, they also selected the talented ones for special records. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy's director of instruction was there as well, responsible for gathering information on promising new students and submitting it.

The director of instruction, Lin Jiayi, was the Level 8 Soul Engineer who had overseen enrollment that morning.

"Twelve years old, a Level 1 Soul Engineer. Not bad."

"Eleven years old, Soul Power at level seventeen. Not bad either."

"Oh? This one's interesting."

"..."

The teacher responsible for screening the promising new students' files suddenly froze. A moment later, he sucked in a sharp breath and rubbed his eyes. When he looked again, he was still dumbfounded.

"Su Luoheng..."

"Nine years old, s-seventeen levels of Soul Power? And he's... a Level 1 Soul Engineer?"

"My heavens, how is that possible?!"

He couldn't help exclaiming.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire office fell silent. All the teachers turned to him in shock, and even Director Lin's pupils contracted sharply!

"What?"

"He's really only nine?"

"..."

Lin Jiayi raised a hand to quiet everyone, then asked in a low voice, "Teacher Wang, are you sure you read that correctly?"

"Director Lin, you... you should take a look!"

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

Looking at the information in the teacher's hands, Lin Jiayi raised his eyebrows. He had already suspected as much, but he was still astonished. "Nine years old, seventeen levels of Soul Power, a Level 1 Soul Engineer—and he's never even taken any pills!"

"Yes."

Teacher Wang swallowed. Even now, he could hardly believe it.

After hearing Director Lin's description, the other teachers exchanged stunned looks.

Nine years old and seventeen levels of Soul Power was just barely understandable. But becoming a Level 1 Soul Engineer was no easy feat. How long had it been since the Sun Moon Royal Academy had recruited a genius like this?

After a moment's thought, Lin Jiayi suddenly asked, "Which teacher tested this student?"

Teacher Wang shook his head and explained, "To save time, all the examiners' test sheets were collected together. There's no way to tell who conducted this test now."

"..."

At that, Lin Jiayi furrowed his brows.

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

Lin Jiayi looked surprised when he saw him.

He rose and went to greet him at the door. "Teacher Ran, what brings you here?"

"Elder Ran."

"Elder Ran."

"..."

The other teachers also stood to greet him, their words full of respect. It was clear that their deference came from the heart. This wasn't the usual respect a low-level Soul Engineer showed a high-level one; the old man seemed to hold a fairly high position at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

"What?" Elder Ran glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. "Am I not allowed to come by?"

"Of course you are. You're always welcome here!"

Lin Jiayi hurriedly shook his head, then gestured toward the piles of new-student files on the desk with a wry smile. "It's just that, as you can see, we're busy sorting through the new students' information and really don't have the time right now. Once enrollment is over, I'll take you to a tavern and treat you to a couple of drinks."

"Enough. Pay back the drinks you already owe me first." Elder Ran glanced at him, mercilessly bringing up old debts.

"Teacher Ran..." Lin Jiayi gave an awkward smile.

"I won't take up much of your time. There's something only you can help me with."

"Just say the word, Teacher. If it's something I can do, I'll do it."

Chapter 25: Lin Jiayi's Hesitation [Please Recommend, Invest, and Bookmark]

At that, Lin Jiayi patted his chest in assurance, though he was curious too. What could this old gentleman possibly need my help with?

Elder Ran wasted no time and got straight to the point.

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

"Teacher Ran, why have you suddenly decided to teach students this year?"

A teaching position was no big deal. Given Elder Ran's abilities, he could easily teach students in Mingde Hall. What truly surprised Lin Jiayi was that Elder Ran hadn't taught students for three years. Why would he suddenly want to teach a lower-year class now?

"I took a liking to one of the students during the entrance exams today."

As he spoke, Elder Ran took out Su Luoheng's test sheet. "Here, this is Su Luoheng. The boy's talented and has a good disposition. He suits my taste. So I've decided to teach him personally. Just put him in my class when the time comes."

"Su Luoheng?"

The name seemed vaguely familiar to Lin Jiayi.

He leaned in for a closer look and suddenly understood. This was the little fellow they'd just been talking about!

"Fine, that's all I came here for today. You all get back to work. I won't bother you any longer."

With that, Elder Ran was already walking out of the office.

"Wait, Teacher Ran!"

Lin Jiayi came to his senses and hurried after him, not forgetting to add, "Keep reviewing the applications. Just put the promising students on my desk."

"Yes, Director Lin."

A short while later, in the director's office.

After inviting Elder Ran to sit down, Lin Jiayi took a seat on the sofa as well.

"Don't you still have work to do?"

"Well... it's not urgent." Lin Jiayi heard the teasing in Elder Ran's voice, but as an official, he had a much thicker skin than most. He chuckled a few times, then turned serious. "Did you personally examine this boy, Su Luoheng? Is the information here really accurate?"

Elder Ran shot him a look. "You don't even trust me?"

Lin Jiayi gave an awkward laugh and said, "Teacher, I'm just being cautious. The main thing is, this boy's talent is quite extraordinary..."

"Don't worry. I examined him myself. There's nothing wrong with it."

He had checked the boy carefully, especially to make sure he hadn't taken any of those pills that squeezed out one's potential. He could vouch that Su Luoheng's physical condition was perfectly fine.

He had cultivated both his Soul Engineer skills and his Soul Power himself.

"Yes, yes." Lin Jiayi nodded with a smile, but then he changed the subject and suddenly asked, "Teacher Ran, do you think Su Luoheng has a lot of potential?"

"Of course. Why, do you see it differently?" Elder Ran countered.

"I think you should wait and see, Teacher Ran. Although Su Luoheng is talented right now, no one can say whether he's truly exceptional or just a flash in the pan. Think about it: what if, after you take him on, the boy turns out to be mediocre? That would tarnish your reputation for recognizing talent."

"Wouldn't you agree?"

Lin Jiayi paused there, looking at Elder Ran as if seeking his opinion.

"And so?" Elder Ran narrowed his eyes and calmly took a sip of tea.

Lin Jiayi wore a broad smile as he advised, "I think you should wait a little longer. When the boy reaches his fourth or fifth year, if his talent is still there, you can teach him then."

"Enough. I've decided I want this student." Elder Ran gave him a look. He'd already seen through Lin Jiayi's intentions, and he snorted. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're not clever enough to fool me."

"Teacher Ran... you've got me all wrong!"

Lin Jiayi hurriedly put on a troubled expression and launched into his complaints. "The main thing is, all the second-year teaching positions at our academy have already been assigned. There aren't any openings. Besides, you're a Level 7 Soul Engineer, Teacher Ran. You'd be more than qualified to teach students in Mingde Hall. It's really hard to arrange for you to teach the lower years..."

Director Lin's words were heartfelt and full of sincerity, enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes and leave them grieving just to hear it.

His performance was so convincing that anyone watching would have felt his pain. If this had been on a stage, it would've earned him an award.

"So I say, why don't you wait a little longer?"

"I'm telling you, I've decided I want this student." Elder Ran didn't budge. His resolve was unshakable and his tone firm.

Lin Jiayi was at a loss. He knew Elder Ran was stubborn and wouldn't be swayed by reason or enticement. Once he made up his mind, even eight horses couldn't drag him back. With no other choice, Lin Jiayi had to agree.

"Fine, fine... we'll do it your way."

"That's more like it."

Elder Ran nodded with satisfaction and stroked his long beard. "To tell you the truth, I plan to take this boy on as my final disciple."

"Your final disciple..."

Lin Jiayi froze, then looked astonished. "Teacher Ran, do you really think that highly of this boy?"

"This boy's... well, he's very good."

Elder Ran nodded slightly, making no attempt to hide how much he admired Su Luoheng.

Seeing that Lin Jiayi hadn't noticed, he breathed a sigh of relief. I almost let the whole story slip. Good thing I stopped myself in time.

"Not many students earn praise like that from you. Now I'm interested in him too."

At that, Lin Jiayi grew curious as well.

After all, although Elder Ran was only a Level 7 Soul Engineer, he had an excellent eye for teaching disciples. Many of the students he had advised were now Level 7 or Level 8 Soul Engineers, and Lin Jiayi himself had received Elder Ran's guidance back in the day.