When Lin Yao opened his eyes again, an hour had already passed. His absorption speed surprised even Lin Xueli. After all, according to his expectations, absorbing a Soul Ring with a higher-than-normal age should have taken at least a little longer.
Lin Yao stood up and stretched his slightly stiff arms and legs. Then he said to Lin Xueli, "All right, Father. I've finished absorbing it."
Lin Xueli nodded, then said to Lin Yao, "In that case, let's head back. Oh, that little girl called Nan Qiuqiu also said that if you have time next time, you can visit her in Earth Dragon Sect territory and hang out."
Lin Yao nodded. "Maybe next time. After all, I heard the Earth Dragon Sect's leader seems to have the surname Nan too."
Lin Xueli nodded. He had long suspected Nan Qiuqiu's identity, and he wasn't surprised that his son knew about it.
After all, if the son of an academic official knew nothing about the continent, that really would have brought shame on the family.
The journey home went smoothly for Lin Yao and his father, but as soon as they arrived at the mansion, they received a distinguished guest.
"Hello, I'm Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department at Shrek Academy."
In the main hall of the Lin Mansion, a middle-aged man with white hair, wearing a white-collared robe, sat in the guest's seat and introduced himself.
Taking advantage of the protective coloring of his young age, Lin Yao stayed in his seat and kept calm.
But when Lin Xueli heard the visitor introduce himself, he immediately stood up, his face showing a trace of apprehension.
It really couldn't be blamed on him for being spineless. Forget a minor academic official like Lin Xueli—even the emperor of the Dou Ling Empire probably couldn't remain composed when someone like Yan Shaozhe personally came calling.
In the world of Douluo Continent, power determined status. If Shrek Academy wanted to play dirty, wiping out the Lin Mansion would be child's play.
"May I ask what brings you here, Senior?" Lin Xueli asked Yan Shaozhe, bowing at the waist and speaking with some formality.
Yan Shaozhe stood as well, then helped Lin Xueli back into his seat. He continued, "My teacher, Mu En, the Sea God Pavilion Master, saw the scene of your son's Martial Soul Awakening. He has invited your son to study at our academy."
As he spoke, Yan Shaozhe took a letter with gold foil and a wax seal from his robes and placed it in front of Lin Xueli. Then he said evenly, "Though this may sound unpleasant, the teaching standards of the Dou Ling Empire would bury a talent like your son's."
Lin Xueli's expression changed. He had spent his whole life working diligently for the cause of education in the Dou Ling Empire, and now Yan Shaozhe was saying that the entire empire was unworthy of teaching his son.
To some extent, Lin Xueli had to face the truth. But hearing it pointed out was another matter entirely.
Yan Shaozhe's attitude was basically: "I respect you as a person, but I look down on your professional ability."
It was a hard slap in Lin Xueli's face, yet a smile instantly spread across his face.
Then he carefully picked up the recommendation letter, placed it in Lin Yao's hands, and bowed to Yan Shaozhe once more. "My son can be a little headstrong. If he does anything inappropriate at the academy, I hope you'll be patient with him."
Yan Shaozhe smiled, then looked at Lin Yao. Seeing that the little fellow regarded him neither servilely nor arrogantly, he raised his brows, his interest growing. "That's all right. Shrek Academy has the most experience when it comes to nurturing geniuses."
Lin Xueli took a deep breath, then said to Yan Shaozhe, "To be honest, Senior, I don't particularly care how far my son can go. I only hope he leaves in peace and comes home in peace."
A strange glint flashed in Yan Shaozhe's eyes, as if to say, "You've come in and still expect to make it back?" But he nodded all the same. "Of course. We'll do everything we can to ensure every student returns safely."
Nearby, Lin Yao couldn't help curling his lips. He thought of the glorious track record of a certain Douluo who had once led a team.
Hold it in. This isn't the time to laugh. There's no Super Douluo backing my family, and laughing could get me into serious trouble... Didn't some god take an interest in me before? Then I'll laugh as hard as I want!
Yan Shaozhe looked at Lin Yao and asked curiously, "Child, what are you laughing at?"
Lin Yao waved a hand, then said to Yan Shaozhe, "Nothing. I just remembered that there was once a student from Shrek Academy here in Douling City who didn't walk back on his own. They brought him back in a coffin... I think it happened within the last few years."
Yan Shaozhe's expression changed. He gave a light cough, then said solemnly, "That was just an accident. He died while protecting his fellow students. He was a hero who bravely faced the claws of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to protect them."
Lin Yao nodded and didn't press Yan Shaozhe any further. He merely grumbled inwardly, Bravely facing the claws of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—he was a hero, no doubt. But how did he end up running into a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? Don't ask me.
Yan Shaozhe stood up and said to Lin Yao, "In that case, as dean of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, I welcome you to join Shrek Academy. Keep this letter safe. When you're old enough, bring it with you and enroll alongside that year's new students."
Lin Xueli stood up and said with an awkward smile, "My son is still young and doesn't know better. He spoke out of turn. I hope you won't take offense, Dean Yan."
Yan Shaozhe smiled faintly and said to Lin Xueli, "No matter. I feel a strong affinity with this child. He has the bearing of someone destined for great things."
After seeing Yan Shaozhe off, Lin Xueli looked at the recommendation letter on the table with a complicated expression and murmured, "I knew that streak of purple light shooting into the sky during yesterday's Martial Soul Awakening would cause trouble. Sure enough, Shrek Academy has already set its sights on you."
Lin Yao shook his head helplessly, then complained to Lin Xueli, "Setting aside how awful Yan Shaozhe's choice of words was, I mean, I'm only six, and they've already come knocking. Isn't that a bit too eager?"
Lin Xueli gave a wry smile, then said to Lin Yao, "Your talent is dazzling, so they were at least fairly polite. If your talent were only a little dazzling, you'd probably have been taken to Shrek Academy by now. But it's a good thing they value you so highly. At the very least, it shows that you have the potential to join the ranks of true powerhouses..."
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