Heaven Dou Royal Academy!
This academy was directly funded by the imperial family of the Heaven Dou Empire, and its dean was none other than the reigning emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Ye.
Of course, Xue Ye did not manage the academy himself. Its Three Education Committee Members normally handled its day-to-day administration.
Chief Meng Shenji, second seat Bai Baoshan, and third seat Zhi Lin.
All three were Eight-Ring Soul Douluos, powerhouses second only to Nine-Ringed Title Douluos.
The moment Dugu Bo brought Lu Chen to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Three Education Committee Members immediately sensed the dangerous aura emanating from Dugu Bo.
The academy square!
Three elderly figures dressed in black robes with golden patterns arrived at the square in just a few flashes.
Upon seeing Dugu Bo, the three politely cupped their hands in greeting:
"Greetings, Your Excellency Green Phosphorus!"
After the greeting, Meng Shenji, who stood at the head of the three, stepped forward. His eyes fixed unblinkingly on Dugu Bo, he asked in a low voice:
"May we ask what brings Your Excellency Green Phosphorus here?"
Naturally, the Three Education Committee Members had their reasons for being so tense!
This was Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Its students were heaven's favored children, the future of the entire Heaven Dou Empire!
A dangerous fellow like Dugu Bo had arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy without so much as a word of warning. If he harbored malicious intentions, he could slaughter all its students in an instant.
Though the chances were slim, the Three Education Committee Members had no choice but to guard against it.
This was their duty!
They were bound by duty to protect the academy!
Dugu Bo glanced at the three. They were Soul Douluos, after all, so he could not deny them due respect. He casually explained:
"I've taken someone as my younger sworn brother. Today, I brought him to visit my granddaughter. There's no need to be nervous. Go about your business and pay us no mind."
Hearing Dugu Bo's explanation, the Three Education Committee Members all relaxed somewhat.
But then their curious gazes turned in unison toward Lu Chen, carrying a measure of scrutiny and thoughtfulness.
Anyone Dugu Bo acknowledged as his younger sworn brother had to be extraordinary.
As Soul Douluos, Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin possessed considerable spiritual strength. Yet when they looked at Lu Chen, they all felt as though they were viewing flowers through mist, unable to see him clearly.
The three immediately understood that Lu Chen was in disguise.
However, just like Dugu Bo, although they could detect his disguise, they could not see the true face beneath it.
Meng Shenji took the initiative to greet him:
"I am Meng Shenji, a control-type Soul Douluo with rank 86 Soul Power and the chief education committee member of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. How should we address you? Anyone who shares a brotherly bond with His Excellency Green Phosphorus must be no ordinary man!"
After he finished, Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin introduced themselves in turn.
Then all three turned their gazes toward Lu Chen.
The Soul Master World was not all fighting and killing. More often, it was about relationships and social courtesies.
Now that all Three Education Committee Members had introduced themselves,
Lu Chen would be slighting them if he said nothing. After all, this was Spirit Master etiquette.
The corner of Lu Chen's mouth twitched as his gaze swept over the Three Education Committee Members. Since they wanted to probe for information about him, he could only reveal a little:
"Lan Chen, a Support System Spirit Emperor with rank 69 Soul Power. Your renowned names have thundered in my ears, and I, too, have heard of you. It is truly a pleasure to meet you today."
Meng Shenji gave Lu Chen a thoughtful look:
"To possess rank 69 Soul Power at such a young age, and as a Support Spirit Master at that! Brother Lan Chen, you truly are young and accomplished."
Lu Chen's disguised appearance was that of a middle-aged man of around thirty.
To possess rank 69 Soul Power at around thirty put him among the very best on the entire continent.
Qin Ming, a teacher at their Heaven Dou Royal Academy, had just broken through to rank 60 Soul Power at around thirty.
That alone had already left them marveling!
They had never expected someone to advance even faster than Qin Ming. At the same age of around thirty, this man already possessed rank 69 Soul Power.
At that moment, Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin all began entertaining other thoughts. Could they win over a genius like him?
But just then, Dugu Bo spoke:
"Ahem, I still need to take my younger brother to visit my granddaughter. There's no need for you three committee members to accompany us."
With that, Dugu Bo led Lu Chen past the Three Education Committee Members and headed toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy's teaching building.
After the two left!
The Three Education Committee Members exchanged looks, then began discussing in low voices.
Meng Shenji said:
"This man is extraordinary. He looks around thirty, yet already possesses rank 69 Soul Power. Unfortunately, that isn't his true appearance. How could someone who calls His Excellency Green Phosphorus his brother have remained unknown all this time?"
"Lan Chen-have either of you heard that name before?"
Bai Baoshan shook his head and said:
"Never. It's as though he appeared out of thin air. A rank 69 Support Spirit Emperor couldn't possibly have no reputation whatsoever, unless that name is false to begin with and he's deliberately concealing his identity."
Zhi Lin was the last to speak:
"His Martial Soul is far from ordinary. In his presence, my Azure Vine Martial Soul vaguely felt suppressed. A Martial Soul capable of suppressing Azure Vine must be a Plant Martial Soul of the very highest caliber."
After voicing their respective thoughts and adding a little speculation, the three immediately came up with a reason for Lu Chen to conceal his true identity.
A rank 69 Support Spirit Emperor was about to cross the threshold of rank 70 and would soon become a Support Soul Saint.
That was both a good thing and a bad thing!
On the continent today, the Martial Soul hailed as the world's greatest support Martial Soul was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda possessed powerful support effects, it also had a limitation: it could only accommodate seven Spirit Rings, with a ceiling of rank 79 Soul Sage.
That it could still firmly hold its position as the continent's greatest support Martial Soul under such circumstances, with no other support Martial Soul able to challenge its standing,
was thanks to that sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who had spent years suppressing Support Spirit Masters, even killing them.
At this moment, the Three Education Committee Members believed they had figured out why Lu Chen concealed his true identity.
Meng Shenji sighed and said:
"What a pity. Such a dazzling genius, forced to hide his name and identity. That sect master really is far too overbearing."
"If we want to win over this Lan Chen, perhaps only His Majesty can do it. I'll report the situation to His Majesty exactly as it is. As long as His Majesty steps in to mediate, that sect master won't dare push him too far."
"Perhaps then, this Lan Chen will be able to use his real name again."
Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin nodded in wholehearted agreement.
Meanwhile, at the teaching building!
With Dugu Bo making an appearance, Dugu Yan, who had still been in class, was immediately granted a day off by her teacher.
Purple-haired and green-eyed, alluring and brimming with youthful vitality, Dugu Yan walked out of the classroom, hugged Dugu Bo's arm, and said coaxingly:
"Grandpa, how come you have time to visit me today?"
Dugu Bo's face was full of doting affection. Ever since his son and daughter-in-law had died, this granddaughter had become his sole solace.
He had pampered her since childhood, giving Dugu Yan all his tenderness.
Once Dugu Bo confirmed that Lu Chen could neutralize Jade Phosphorus Snake Poison, his first thought had been to have Lu Chen remove the poison from Dugu Yan.
Now, Dugu Bo introduced them:
"Younger brother, this is my granddaughter, Dugu Yan. Just call her Yanyan."
"Yanyan, this is my newly acknowledged younger brother, Lan Chen. You should call him Grandpa Lan Chen."
Lu Chen felt strange about it. He was only ten, while Dugu Yan looked about fifteen or sixteen.
Having fifteen- or sixteen-year-old Dugu Yan call his ten-year-old self Grandpa.
Lu Chen found it utterly ridiculous!
If Dugu Yan discovered the truth someday, she would probably want to kill him.
But at that moment, Lu Chen's mischievous streak got the better of him. He looked at Dugu Yan and said with a smile:
"Yanyan."
Dugu Yan had been spoiled by Dugu Bo since childhood. How could she be willing to call someone Grandpa out of nowhere? She was just about to refuse when she saw the stern look on her grandfather's face.
Somewhat reluctantly, she looked at Lu Chen and called out:
"Grandpa Lan Chen..."