First Meeting with Tang San

Ao Tian nodded slightly and gave a soft "Mm."

He sized up the Youth before him. He looked to be in his twenties, around six feet tall, strong and sturdy, with a somewhat handsome face.

"You're Su Yuntao?" Ao Tian asked, his tone like that of a superior questioning a subordinate.

Su Yuntao had already prepared himself mentally and answered respectfully, "Yes, Young Master Ao."

The previous night, Palace Mistress Li had personally summoned Su Yuntao and instructed him to escort an important figure from the Papal Palace to Nuoding Academy today.

Furthermore, Palace Mistress Li had speculated that Young Master Ao's true age might not be six, and that his strength was unfathomable. She had warned Su Yuntao not to offend Young Master Ao under any circumstances.

Therefore, Su Yuntao did not dare relax in Ao Tian's presence and behaved with utmost respect.

"Young Master Ao, I'll take you to breakfast first, then we'll head to Nuoding Academy. This way, please."

"Alright."

After breakfast, Su Yuntao called for a carriage and personally drove Ao Tian toward Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

"Su Yuntao, I heard you're pursuing Sisi?"

Ao Tian's voice came from inside the carriage.

Su Yuntao hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yes."

He did not know why Young Master Ao was asking this, but he answered honestly anyway.

It was no secret. Everyone in the Nuoding City Branch Hall knew about it.

"I asked Sisi last night. She doesn't like you. She merely thinks you have some value, so she hasn't rejected you for the time being."

"Young Master Ao, you must be joking." Su Yuntao forced a smile, though his expression had turned somewhat unpleasant.

"Palace Mistress Li was there last night as well. If you don't believe me, you can ask her."

The smile vanished from Su Yuntao's face. He fell silent, his chest tight and miserable.

A small, fair hand extended from the carriage, a thumb-sized white bead resting on its palm.

"This is a Spirit Energy Bead. Keep it on you, and it will increase your cultivation speed. With your aptitude, breaking through to Soul Elder in this lifetime would be extremely difficult. With this bead, you can at least become a Soul King above rank fifty."

Su Yuntao was stunned. He hurriedly said, "Young Master Ao, I can't accept this. It's far too precious."

As he spoke, he pushed Ao Tian's hand back, but his eyes lingered longingly on the bead overflowing with spirit energy.

"Take it!" Ao Tian commanded.

Su Yuntao involuntarily opened his hand, and the bead fell into his palm.

"This is a reward from me, for taking me to Nuoding Academy. With it, you won't have to endure other people's scorn in Spirit Hall anymore. You'll have every chance of becoming a Branch Hall Master, perhaps even a Sub-Branch Hall Master of a higher rank."

Su Yuntao clenched the Spirit Energy Bead tightly, drew a deep breath, and suppressed the excitement in his heart. "Thank you, Young Master Ao. If you ever need anything in the future, Su Yuntao will climb mountains of blades and plunge into seas of fire for you without hesitation."

Ao Tian gave a soft grunt. He simply thought Su Yuntao was a decent Young Man, so he gave him a small reward.

The place where he had once slept could be called the area with the densest spirit energy on this Planet. To him, something like a Spirit Energy Bead was insignificant.

"Some women have little ability but enormous ambitions. Take care of yourself." Ao Tian gave him another warning.

"I understand, Young Master Ao," Su Yuntao replied.

Neither spoke again. Half an hour later, they finally arrived before Nuoding Academy.

"Young Master Ao, we're here." Su Yuntao got down from the carriage and pulled open the curtain.

Ao Tian stepped out.

Nuoding Academy's gate was built quite impressively. The arched entrance, twenty meters wide and over ten meters tall, was constructed entirely from sturdy stone.

Above the arch were four large characters: Nuoding Academy.

Beneath the arch stood two massive black iron gates. A Gatekeeper Youth was dozing in a corner beside the entrance.

"Let's go in," Su Yuntao said.

Ao Tian nodded and followed Su Yuntao forward.

After taking only a few steps, something suddenly stirred within him. "Su Yuntao, I can go in by myself. Go back to Spirit Hall. If I need anything, I'll come find you."

Su Yuntao stopped and turned around. "Young Master Ao, I graduated from here myself. I was even one of the top students here, and I have good relationships with many of the teachers. I can put in a good word for you..."

"No need." Ao Tian raised a hand to stop him. "I can go in alone. Go back."

"Alright. If you need any help in the future, you must come find me so I can repay your great kindness," Su Yuntao said earnestly.

Ao Tian waved a few times. "Go on, go on."

Su Yuntao did not linger. He drove the carriage away from Nuoding Academy.

Ao Tian did not enter Nuoding Academy immediately. Instead, he stood at the edge of the open space before the gate, his gaze fixed on one end of the street outside.

There, an old man and a child were walking this way.

Ao Tian had overheard their conversation just now, which was why he had told Su Yuntao to leave first.

The Old Man had a head full of white hair and a snowy white beard. Leaning on a cane and dressed in brand-new clothes, he looked fairly spirited.

The Child looked to be around six years old. He was thin, with a somewhat sallow complexion, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. Even as he walked, his stance was extremely steady.

Compared to the Old Man, the Child's clothes were rather shabby. They had been washed nearly white and bore several large patches.

The Child had excellent eyesight and spotted the four words "Nuoding Academy" from several hundred meters away.

The two were none other than Old Jack and Tang San from Holy Spirit Village.

How could Ao Tian miss the chance to see the Protagonist of the original story?

He stood inconspicuously at the edge, studying Tang San with his gaze.

He knew there would be a show to watch shortly.

"Grandpa Jack, we're here. Nuoding Academy is right ahead," Tang San said, pointing at Nuoding Academy.

"Oh, is that so? We've finally arrived." Old Jack chuckled.

Before long, Tang San and Old Jack reached the gate of Nuoding Academy, only to be stopped by the Gatekeeper Youth.

Seeing that Old Jack and Tang San looked like Country Bumpkins, the Gatekeeper Youth thought they would be easy to bully and decided to squeeze some money out of them.

Old Jack was a simple, honest countryman. How could he understand the deep schemes of the city?

Especially when the Gatekeeper Youth sarcastically mocked Holy Spirit Village, Old Jack immediately flew into a rage.

Old Jack's lack of tact also provoked the Gatekeeper Youth's anger, and he reached out to shove Old Jack.

At that moment, Tang San made a forceful move.

In his Previous Life, Tang San had been a Tang Sect Outer Disciple. Because of his passion, he had secretly learned several Secret Skills of the inner sect, each one among the finest in the Martial World. Dealing with a gatekeeping Youth was as easy as turning over his hand.

The tall Youth was sent flying by a few moves from the six-year-old Tang San.

"You little brat, you're courting death!" The Youth was enraged. Being knocked down by a Shorty had cost him all his pride and dignity.

He climbed to his feet and charged at Tang San. Fury had already clouded his mind, and he intended to teach Tang San a harsh lesson.

Tang San's eyes gradually turned cold. His left hand lifted slightly, and the safety on the Silent Sleeve Arrow hidden in his sleeve had already been released.

With the slightest movement of his arm muscles, another short arrow would be embedded in the Youth's throat.

Article Three of the Tang Sect Profound Heaven Treasure Record General Principles: Once one determines that the other party is an enemy, if they have earned death, show no mercy. Otherwise, one will only bring trouble upon oneself.

In Tang San's view, with this Youth's harsh nature and his disrespect toward Old Jack, he deserved to die!

What a ruthless kid. Ao Tian watched the scene with a smile, already forming an initial impression of Tang San.

There will be another chapter after noon. Please send some votes. I made some revisions to the previous chapter: the protagonist will enter the academy as a Village Child rather than under Spirit Hall's identity.