Qi Residence.
The steward brought word.
The Crown Prince had come to visit.
Qi Dao immediately stopped cultivating and went to the reception hall.
At the sight of Xue Qinghe, Qi Dao bowed slightly. "Your Highness, what brings you here?"
Xue Qinghe smiled warmly. "Nothing in particular. I just came to see whether you're settling in here."
Qi Dao cupped his fists. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm very comfortable here."
Xue Qinghe waved a hand.
"Come now, A Dao. When it's just the two of us, there's no need to stand on ceremony. Call me Brother Xue, and we'll speak as brothers."
After reading everything in Qi Dao's file, Xue Qinghe had raised her estimation of him to the highest level.
Someone like him must be kept firmly in hand. I have to win his loyalty.
Qi Dao had his suspicions.
If Xue Qinghe had suddenly become warmer toward him, she had probably learned more about him.
If he was right, the account of his years in Notting City had already reached her.
But Qi Dao had no reason to reject Xue Qinghe's friendly overture.
"Brother Xue!" Qi Dao answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Hahahaha!" Xue Qinghe was delighted. This would be her first step toward winning Qi Dao over completely.
After they exchanged pleasantries, Xue Qinghe continued, "A Dao, you're only eleven this year, aren't you?"
"I won't be twelve for another six months," Qi Dao replied.
Xue Qinghe nodded. "Most people your age are still attending a junior Soul Master Academy. Why not spend some time studying at an academy?"
Qi Dao's heart stirred at her words.
Almost everyone who crossed over to Douluo sought one particular opportunity.
The Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Immortal Herbs could increase a person's potential, and Qi Dao was naturally interested.
But he knew only of the few mentioned in the original story.
According to the original story, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was a neutral, supreme-grade medicinal herb. Eating it sent energy through the limbs and blood through the eight meridians, allowing one to cultivate the Indestructible Vajra Body.
There were also the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot. Taking those two Immortal Herbs together could make one impervious to both ice and fire while tempering the body.
That was precisely what Qi Dao valued.
The Heart Sword State had always been his trump card.
Yet it placed an enormous strain on his body, and he could never sustain it for long.
If he could take those three Immortal Herbs, they would be a tremendous help.
And the most direct path to the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was undoubtedly through Dugu Yan.
That was why Xue Qinghe's suggestion that he study at an academy had caught his interest.
This was an opportunity.
"Would I be studying at Heaven Dou Academy?" Qi Dao asked.
"Of course!" Xue Qinghe said with a smile.
"You've probably heard of Heaven Dou Academy. It's the finest academy in the Heaven Dou Empire, with the best simulated environments and teachers."
"The Three Education Commissioners, in particular, are highly respected, and every one of them is a Soul Douluo."
"What do you think? Would you like to go?"
"Yes. I've been wanting to join an academy and continue my studies," Qi Dao said with a nod.
"Then leave the arrangements to me."
A month later, at the Education Committee of Heaven Dou Academy.
Xue Qinghe personally brought Qi Dao there.
The Three Education Commissioners came out to welcome them.
Xue Qinghe introduced him with a smile. "Commissioners, this is my young friend Qi Dao. He's an eleven-year-old, rank twenty-two Soul Grandmaster."
The Three Education Commissioners' eyes lit up.
Rank twenty-two at eleven?
His Highness has brought us a fine prospect.
Even at Heaven Dou Academy, that talent would place him among the very best.
Xue Qinghe then introduced each commissioner to Qi Dao.
The chief commissioner was Meng Shenji, a rank eighty-five control-type Soul Douluo.
The second commissioner was Bai Baoshan, a rank eighty-four defense-type Soul Douluo.
The third commissioner was Zhi Lin, a rank eighty-two control-type Soul Douluo.
Once the introductions were over, the three commissioners smiled kindly at Qi Dao.
Xue Qinghe continued, "Commissioners, I'm sorry for the trouble, but I'll be leaving Qi Dao in your care."
"Rest assured, Your Highness. I'll place him in our best class," Meng Shenji said with a smile. "There are students there every bit as talented as he is. I'm sure they'll have plenty to talk about."
Xue Qinghe smiled and nodded.
Several geniuses had emerged at Heaven Dou Academy this year: Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling...
She knew of them all. Their talent was passable, but none could compare with Qi Dao.
She looked at Qi Dao and said with a faint smile, "A Dao, focus on your studies at Heaven Dou Academy. If anything comes up, you can contact me at any time."
The Three Education Commissioners exchanged surprised looks.
They had assumed Qi Dao was a genius the Crown Prince had recently recruited. But wasn't Her Highness treating him a little too well?
After Xue Qinghe left, the slightly thin Zhi Lin said to Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan, "I'll take the boy to Zhou Huan."
Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan nodded.
Zhou Huan was the finest of the Heavenly Subtlety Grade teachers, and he also taught its most outstanding students.
Zhi Lin turned to Qi Dao and said gently, "Come with me, child."
Qi Dao followed him at once.
Before long, they arrived at a private office.
That was how lavish Heaven Dou Academy was: every teacher had an office of his own.
The office door stood open, and Zhi Lin led Qi Dao straight inside.
A young teacher who looked to be in his early thirties sat in the office.
When he saw that the visitor was Zhi Lin, he started and immediately rose to his feet.
"Commissioner Zhi Lin, what brings you here? Is something the matter?"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Qi Dao beside Zhi Lin, and a guess formed in his mind.
"I'm here to bring you a student, Teacher Zhou," Zhi Lin said with a smile.
He gestured to Qi Dao. "This is Qi Dao. He's an eleven-year-old, rank twenty-two Soul Grandmaster. His Martial Soul is the Peerless Sword."
Zhou Huan's eyes lit up.
An eleven-year-old, rank twenty-two Soul Grandmaster! Aside from Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng, who've moved up to Heavenly Ultimate Grade, perhaps only that girl Ye Lingling can match his talent.
Ye Lingling is only nine, and support-type Soul Masters cultivate more slowly, so she's only rank eighteen.
But by the time she's eleven, her Soul Power certainly won't be any lower than Qi Dao's is now.
(The original story never stated Ye Lingling's exact age, but she is generally considered to have been sixteen when she first appeared, with greater talent than Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan.)
Zhou Huan patted his chest. "Rest assured, Commissioner Zhi Lin. I'll do everything I can to teach this child well."
Zhi Lin gave a satisfied smile.
The next day, Zhou Huan brought Qi Dao to the Heavenly Subtlety Grade training ground and introduced the class as they walked.
His class was Heavenly Subtlety Class One, with only twenty-four students.
Though small, it held the most talented students in the grade.
Soon, the members of Heavenly Subtlety Class One arrived one after another, casting curious looks at Qi Dao beside Zhou Huan.
Zhou Huan stepped before them and said, "This is Qi Dao, the newest member of Heavenly Subtlety Class One."
Then he turned to Qi Dao.
"Qi Dao, introduce yourself to everyone."
Qi Dao nodded and stepped forward.
"My name is Qi Dao. My Martial Soul is the Peerless Sword, and I'm a rank twenty-two Soul Grandmaster!"
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