"Set off!"
Ao Yin climbed into the battered carriage Old Jack had prepared, heading toward Notting Academy.
On the carriage, he could not help glancing back, feeling somewhat wistful. "These three months really flew by!"
Still, it was time to switch to a new place to check in.
Over the past month, aside from today's unexpected second-tier reward, [Peach Blossom Manual], the check-in rewards had become worse by the day. Several times, he had not even received martial techniques, only a few storage bags and piles of Copper Soul Coins.
Ao Yin touched the [Storage Bag] at his waist. It held a full hundred thousand Copper Soul Coins.
Of course, worldly possessions were important too. These Copper Soul Coins would ensure that Ao Yin would not have to worry about making a living once he entered Notting Academy!
[Remaining check-in attempts: 3!]
During the last few days, as the daily check-in attempts refreshed, Ao Yin had not used them. Instead, he had saved them up.
After registering at Notting Academy, he should also begin searching for suitable Soul Rings. Saving up some check-in attempts beforehand might bring unexpected rewards!
Thinking of Soul Rings, he could not help thinking of Yu Xiaogang. He muttered, "I wonder if Yu Xiaogang will recognize that I have Twin Martial Souls?"
Su Yuntao had issued a Spirit Hall awakening certificate stating that he possessed Innate Full Soul Power. There were quite a few cases of staff-type Martial Souls awakening with Innate Soul Power, but Innate Full Soul Power was exceedingly rare across the entire Douluo Continent.
As a theoretical master of the Martial Soul world, Yu Xiaogang should be able to spot something unusual.
Speaking of which, Yu Xiaogang's family was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects of the Douluo Continent. Their clan Martial Soul was the immensely powerful Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Since both were dragon-type Martial Souls, Ao Yin's awakened [Dark Sacred Dragon] actually had a subtle connection with Yu Xiaogang.
"If he recognizes my Martial Soul as the [Dark Sacred Dragon], I wonder what he'll think?"
Ao Yin smiled faintly. He was truly looking forward to seeing Yu Xiaogang's reaction.
By evening, the two of them finally entered Notting City.
Old Jack was not well-off, so he did not let Ao Yin wander around. Instead, he took him straight to Notting Junior Soul Master Academy.
But just as they reached the academy gate, three burly gatekeepers stepped forward and blocked their way, their faces full of arrogance.
"Stop! Where did these country beggars come from?"
"Is Notting Academy somewhere you can just come begging?"
"Get lost, now!"
Old Jack hurriedly forced a smile and explained, "You misunderstand, gentlemen. We aren't beggars! We're from Holy Soul Village, and I brought this child here to enroll!"
"Enroll?"
The leading young man sneered, his eyes full of contempt. "With you looking this poor, you think you deserve to enter Notting Academy?"
"Nowadays, any stray cat or dog thinks it can squeeze its way inside?"
The guards were clearly growing impatient and moved to drive them away with looks of disgust.
Left with no choice, Old Jack hastily pulled an enrollment certificate from his worn cloth bundle.
"Our Holy Soul Village has a work-study student quota here. This child really is here to enroll. There's proof stamped by Spirit Hall right here!"
The three burly men accepted the certificate with obvious disdain, casually glanced over it, and immediately burst out laughing.
"This is hilarious! A power-attack mutated staff Martial Soul?"
"And Innate Full Soul Power?"
"Hahahaha, it even looks pretty convincing!"
"You ignorant country bumpkins might fool others, but you can't fool us!"
With mocking expressions, the three men threw the certificate issued by Spirit Hall onto the ground and stomped on it.
They snapped, "The academy stopped accepting work-study students long ago! This certificate is either stolen or forged!"
"You two, get the hell out!"
Those twisted accusations instantly made Old Jack tremble with rage.
He was old and weak, and his face immediately flushed red. His breathing turned ragged, and he nearly failed to catch his breath.
The village chief stomped his feet furiously. "You! Open your eyes and look carefully!"
Ao Yin quickly stepped forward and steadily supported the swaying Old Jack, quietly channeling a thread of Soul Power into his body through his palm.
In an instant, Old Jack's chaotic breathing calmed considerably, and his complexion improved as well.
Seeing this, the three watchdogs became even more overbearing, pressing closer step by step.
"A dead beggar still dares talk back?"
"You think a golden phoenix can fly out of a chicken coop? What wishful thinking! You're making fools of yourselves!"
"Old beggar, take your trash and get lost! Keep blocking the way, and don't blame us for getting rough!"
Ao Yin's gaze turned cold, a chill flashing through his eyes.
A few guards watching an academy gate dared to bully others by throwing their weight around?
One of the burly young men was just about to step forward and drive them away.
Ao Yin immediately shielded Village Chief Jack behind him and lashed out with a sideways kick, striking the man in the abdomen. The young man's expression changed slightly. Before he could react, another kick slammed into his stomach!
Ao Yin used [Great Strength Vajra Leg], releasing only a slight burst of tremendous force, and sent the burly young man crashing to the ground!
"Who? Who ambushed me?"
The young man who had just been struck for no reason had veins bulging across his forehead. He looked around, then followed the gazes of the two guards beside him and lowered his head toward the small, patch-covered child before him.
"You little beggar, are you tired of living?"
Ao Yin stood tall, looking down his nose at the three of them as he mocked, "How ridiculous! Old beggar this, little beggar that—what filthy trash are you lot?"
"Keep barking, and I'll take your dog lives!"
Hearing that, the other two burly young men ground their teeth in fury.
"You don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! This is Notting Academy! If we call you beggars, then accept it obediently! You still want to enter Notting Academy? Brothers, throw both of them out!"
Could three hulking men really lose to a little beggar!?
They had only been careless earlier and let this brat ambush them, but there was no way they would swallow such humiliation!
"Get him!"
The man who had been kicked to the ground was already in too much pain to speak. Seeing this, the other two charged at Ao Yin together, intending to seize him!
"Heh, filthy trash. You brought this on yourselves!"
"Staff, come forth—tremendous force!"
"Die!!"
Bang—
In an instant, another dull impact rang out. One burly young man flew backward, sent tumbling atop the others like a human pyramid after Ao Yin flipped him over with a single staff strike. He howled miserably on the ground!
They were merely a few gatekeeping dogs relying on their position to bully others. On the Douluo Continent, strength reigned supreme. So long as one had talent, what did it matter if one beat up a dog?
The last burly young man, who had charged halfway forward, was instantly dumbfounded!!
"It really is a power-attack staff Martial Soul!!"
He was clearly just a child, yet he had conjured a weapon out of thin air and effortlessly knocked down two grown men. He had definitely awakened Innate Soul Power!
Their leader had even been sent flying by a single staff strike. The last burly man was suddenly caught between advancing and retreating!
"I told you to guard the gate, but you insist on acting like dogs. Get lost!!"
Bang—
The final burly young man flew high into the air again, then crashed heavily onto the other two. The men beneath him immediately let out miserable shrieks!
Ao Yin's face was icy as his indifferent gaze swept over the three men, every word cutting to the bone.
"You can't even beat the country beggars you keep talking about. What the hell are you?"
Before you continue