Notting Academy

Biodata

History

Holy Soul Village receives a single work-study student place at Notting Academy each year, though such places commonly go unused. Ao Yin claims the year's placement by defeating Tang San after declining Su Yuntao's invitation and recommendation to attend Spirit Hall Academy, as he wishes to enroll at Notting instead 3 4 6. Village Chief Jack personally escorts him to the academy when term begins three months later 6 9.

Ao Yin and Jack are initially denied entry by three gatekeepers, who dismiss their Spirit Hall-issued enrollment certificate and insult them for their rural appearance. Ao Yin defeats the guards after they threaten Jack 9. Yu Xiaogang verifies the certificate, acknowledges the academy's management failure, and expels all three gatekeepers from employment 10.

Yu Xiaogang then attempts to take Ao Yin as a disciple after recognizing the unusual dragon patterns on his Coiling Dragon Staff. Ao Yin refuses and publicly defeats and humiliates Yu Xiaogang when the latter attempts to demonstrate his own strength 10 11.

Yu Xiaogang subsequently uses his status as the academy's honorary Master to arrange Tang San's enrollment despite Tang San lacking the village's work-study placement. Tang San presents Tang Hao's letter of recommendation and formally becomes Yu Xiaogang's disciple at the academy gate 12 13.

Over the following six years, Ao Yin repeatedly signs in throughout the academy, gaining Soul Power, Soul Ring lifespan increases, currency, and the Appearance-Shifting Art. His first Soul Ring reaches ten thousand years during his first year, his second reaches that age in his third year, and his third Soul Ring similarly reaches ten thousand years by graduation 34. The Appearance-Shifting Art allows Ao Yin to conceal the true age and black coloration of his rings, making his abnormal foundation appear ordinary 34.

By graduation, he is the academy's undisputed top graduate at Level 39, while Xiao Wu and Tang San both reach Level 29 34. Ao Yin and Xiao Wu then leave Notting Academy for Shrek Academy 35. At Shrek's admissions, Ao Yin and Xiao Wu are recorded as twelve-year-old Level 39 and Level 29 students respectively, while Tang San also arrives with Yu Xiaogang to seek admission 40.

Campus

• Main gate — The academy entrance is staffed by gatekeepers; Yu Xiaogang intervenes there during Ao Yin's enrollment dispute, expels the three abusive guards, and later admits Tang San through his own authority 9 10 12 13.
• Seventh Dormitory — The work-study dormitory assigned to Ao Yin. Its residents use strength-based challenges to determine their boss, and it is the site of Ao Yin's first meeting with Xiao Wu 13.
• Cafeteria — A busy dining hall where noble students bully work-study students; Ao Yin later damages the facility during a confrontation and pays 20,000 copper soul coins for the damage. It also serves as one of his sign-in locations 19.
• Infirmary — Headed by Pomegranate, a healing-type Soul Master whose food-type martial soul can treat injuries through medicinal noodles 18.
• Training ground — Site of the confrontation between Seventh Dormitory and Xiao Chenyu's upperclassmen 30 32.

Student Life and Hierarchy

Seventh Dormitory is initially dominated by Wang Sheng until Ao Yin defeats him upon arrival. Xiao Wu also challenges Ao Yin for the dormitory's boss position but loses 13.

Work-study students occupy a low position within the academy and are repeatedly targeted by noble students and upperclassmen. Ao Yin defends Seventh Dormitory in the cafeteria and later confronts Xiao Chenyu's group after they assault its residents 19 30.

Ao Yin publicly identifies himself as a first-year, Level 20 assault-type Battle Soul Master during the challenge against Xiao Chenyu, a sixth-year Level 16 one-ring Soul Master 32. After defeating Xiao Chenyu and more than twenty upperclassmen, Ao Yin ends the long-standing bullying of Seventh Dormitory and becomes recognized as Notting Academy's strongest student 33.

During this confrontation, Ao Yin uses his first Soul Skill, Southern Bright Lihuo, to spread crimson flames across a thirty-meter area, immobilize the surrounding upperclassmen, and defeat them decisively. He deliberately spares them after forcing Xiao Chenyu's faction to apologize to Seventh Dormitory 33.

Xiao Wu declares herself the academy's boss alongside Ao Yin, while Ao Yin prefers others call him “Brother Ao” rather than formally treating him as boss 33.

Associated Individuals

• Ao Yin — Work-study student, Seventh Dormitory boss, and later the academy's top graduate; he defeats Xiao Chenyu's faction and ends its bullying of Seventh Dormitory. By graduation, he is a Level 39 Soul Elder with three concealed ten-thousand-year Soul Rings 13 32 33 34.
• Xiao Wu — Seventh Dormitory student who becomes a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster by graduation; she declares herself boss alongside Ao Yin 13 33 34.
• Tang San — Enrolled through Yu Xiaogang's intervention and initially housed in Seventh Dormitory; he later transfers to Eighth Dormitory after repeated conflicts with Ao Yin 13 17 33.
• Yu Xiaogang — The academy's honorary Master; he verifies Ao Yin's enrollment credentials, expels the abusive gatekeepers, unsuccessfully attempts to take Ao Yin as a disciple, and trains Tang San for six years 10 11 13 33.
• Wang Sheng — Former Seventh Dormitory boss and later a loyal supporter of Ao Yin 13 31.
• Xiao Chenyu — Sixth-year student and former self-proclaimed academy boss; he concedes leadership to Ao Yin after being defeated 32 33.
• Pomegranate — Head of the academy infirmary and a healing-type Soul Master 18.

Trivia

• The academy is described as an Elementary Soul Master Academy; students seeking further advancement may later apply to intermediate academies 33.
• Ao Yin considers Notting Academy's sign-in fortune depleted after six years, citing progressively weaker rewards as a reason to leave for Shrek Academy 34.
• Multiple top intermediate Soul Master Academies attempt to recruit Ao Yin after his graduation, but he rejects every offer 34.