Two Years

After Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, a pair of twin sisters with nearly identical features and aqua-blue hair stood up. Holding hands, they spoke in unison, their voices crisp and pleasant:

"Lan Susu, six years old. Martial Soul: hair. Soul Power: level eight."

"Lan Luoluo, six years old. Martial Soul: also hair. Soul Power: level eight."

A hair Martial Soul? This unusual Martial Soul sparked a few whispered discussions.

Yin Chen listened quietly. When the names and Martial Souls of Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and the Lan sisters were announced, a faint, almost imperceptible ripple finally passed through his calm eyes.

Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo... I never expected Shrek Academy's future elites to become my classmates at this point.

However, he quickly accepted it.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu came from the Star Luo Empire's two foremost ducal families. Being close to his age, it was only natural for them to enter this elite royal academy. Since they had yet to obtain their first Soul Rings, their current Soul Power Levels were their Innate Soul Power.

Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo would later receive a city lord's recommendation to enter Shrek, so they clearly had no weak background within the Star Luo Empire either.

That was the reality of this world. Powerful Martial Souls were often inherited through bloodlines. While talented individuals did occasionally emerge from commoners, the backbone of Soul Masters, especially high-level Soul Masters, mostly came from Soul Master families and major sects.

Here, the theory of bloodlines was an undeniable truth.

Soon, it was Yin Chen's turn at the back of the classroom.

He slowly rose to his feet and spoke calmly beneath the entire class's gaze:

"Yin Chen, six years old. Martial Soul: Archon of Time. Soul Power: level twelve."

The moment the words "level twelve" were spoken, the entire classroom fell into dead silence.

Every child, including Dai Huabin, who had previously worn an arrogant expression, stared with shock and disbelief in their eyes.

Six years old, level twelve?

That meant he not only possessed Innate Full Soul Power, but had already successfully absorbed his first Soul Ring.

Among new students who were generally still struggling to break through level ten, he stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Teacher Zhou Cheng's eyes flashed with an expression of certainty, and he regarded Yin Chen even more highly.

Ignoring the stunned, curious, and even slightly jealous looks around him, Yin Chen calmly sat back down.

He knew that at this academy, within this class gathered with the empire's future nobles and elites, his school life was destined to be anything but peaceful.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye. Along the tree-lined paths of Star Luo Royal Junior Spirit Master Academy, Yin Chen, surrounded by several young girls, had become a fixed part of the scenery.

Yin Chen had grown somewhat taller. He still had his signature short silver-white hair, and his flecks-of-gold eyes remained calm as water. Yet much of his childishness had faded, replaced by a composure and reserve far beyond his years.

The faint Soul Power fluctuations radiating from him had already reached level twenty-four.

Such cultivation speed was nothing short of astonishing throughout the entire junior academy.

At that moment, three young girls were chattering around him.

To his left were the inseparable sisters, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo.

Two years had made the twins even lovelier. Their aqua-blue hair was tied into neat, obedient buns, while their personalities remained as lively and cheerful as two little larks.

They were practically the academy's most popular students. With their adorable appearances and bright personalities, they got along with everyone their age.

Yet the person they clung to most was always Yin Chen.

"Brother Yin Chen, I think I'm starting to get the feel of that Soul Power micro-control technique you taught us yesterday."

Lan Susu excitedly gestured as she spoke.

"Me too, me too! It feels like my control over my hair has become even more precise."

Lan Luoluo hurriedly echoed her. Their two pairs of big eyes sparkled as they looked at Yin Chen, filled with admiration.

On Yin Chen's right stood a young girl dressed in neat, practical clothes. Her short golden hair gave her an exceptionally gallant air.

Her brows and eyes bore a slight resemblance to Xu Jiujiu's. She was Xu Yun, the youngest daughter of the current Star Luo emperor, Xu Jiawei.

As the third direct descendant of the Star Luo Imperial Family to awaken the Star Crown Spirit in recent decades, she had been doted upon greatly. Yet she did not possess the gentle temperament of a princess at all. Instead, she had been a tomboy since childhood.

Xu Yun was a year younger than Yin Chen. Because of her aunt Xu Jiujiu, she had known him long ago.

After Yin Chen enrolled, he swiftly beat most of the proud boys in his own year and even the higher grades into submission with his overwhelming strength and... well, to some extent, Xu Jiujiu's occasional concern. Once he became an untouchable figure at the academy, Xu Yun set her sights on him.

In her words:

"I'm going to join the army and become a great general someday. I need to see how you made those arrogant guys behave so obediently."

Yin Chen was quite helpless about it.

What could he say?

Could he tell this little princess that it was mainly because his fists were hard enough, along with the invisible deterrence created by her aunt, that mighty figure, occasionally dropping by?

Still, for the sake of the little rich girl Xu Jiujiu, he tacitly allowed Xu Yun to follow him. He treated it as letting a curious child experience life and indulge her desire to play the big sister ordering her underlings around.

Sure enough, Xu Yun had her hands on her hips as she gave her assessment in a mature tone:

"Yin Chen, you were still too gentle when you dealt with those upperclassmen who provoked you yesterday. If it were me, I'd make them run a hundred laps around the field."

Her manner prompted a sturdy little boy around their age standing nearby to nod repeatedly, his eyes filled with admiration.

This little boy was Dai Huabin's younger brother, Dai Luoli. For some unknown reason, he had become Xu Yun's number one admirer. He hovered around her all day, fussing over her, serving tea and water, and enjoying every moment of it.

And speaking of Dai Huabin, the direct son of Duke White Tiger, he was undoubtedly Yin Chen's greatest "opponent" over the past two years.

Dai Huabin's talent was equally remarkable. In two years, his Soul Power had also approached level twenty, an absolute top-tier standard.

However, the pride in his heart had been shattered to pieces by Yin Chen over those two years.

Seventeen times in total!

Dai Huabin had challenged Yin Chen seventeen times.

From simple fistfights at first, to using soul skills, and then tactical contests, he had tried everything.

Yet without exception, the result was always the same—defeat.

What Dai Huabin found even harder to accept was that in all seventeen battles, he had not even managed to force out Yin Chen's mysterious first soul skill.

Yin Chen had merely used Wind of Time to control the airflow, along with his talent for Future Sight, his solid Soul Power foundation, and his combat awareness, to dissolve every one of Dai Huabin's attacks before they could take shape.

"Force out his first soul skill."

That had practically become Dai Huabin's obsession over the past two years.

He failed time and again, yet issued challenge after challenge. The unwillingness and stubbornness in his eyes only grew stronger.

Other than attempting a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Zhu Lu, he had nearly exhausted every possible method.