First Arrival in Heaven Dou

A year passed in the blink of an eye.

Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.

On the Soul Arena stage, the host introduced the contestants from both sides according to the rules.

"This match will be two versus two! To my right is the Ox-Horse Combination from our very own Heaven Dou City! The Ox-Horse Combination has achieved an impressive three-match winning streak today. Can they keep it going?"

"And to my left is the Five-Three Combination from out of town! Though both of them are wearing masks, we can still see that these two Soul Grand Masters are very young!"

"Will the Ox-Horse Combination continue their unstoppable advance, or will the talented visiting Five-Three Combination make a stunning debut? Let us wait and see! The match begins!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the referee left the stage, and the match officially began!

In the spectator stands of the Great Soul Arena, Xu Linjiu sat quietly, waiting for the match to end.

That was right. The Five-Three Combination currently competing on the stage was none other than Tang San and Xiao Wu.

After a year of arduous training, both of their Soul Power had broken through level twenty, and they had successfully advanced to the Soul Grandmaster realm.

As Soul Grand Masters, a remote little town like Notting City naturally could no longer provide the conditions needed to help them further.

Thus, Xu Linjiu arranged for Tang San and Xiao Wu to graduate early, intending to take them away from Notting City to study at a higher Soul Master Academy.

Their information in the Pokédex Martial Soul had also improved considerably compared to a year ago.

[Tang San]

[Attribute: Grass, Steel]

[Level: Lv.24]

[Abilities: Overgrow, Keen Eye, Tough Claws, Technician]

[Skills: Calm Mind, Agility, Mega Drain, Iron Defense, Seed Bomb, Grass Mixer]

[Xiao Wu]

[Attribute: Fighting, Fairy]

[Level: Lv.21]

[Abilities: Limber, Scrappy]

[Skills: Low Kick, Circle Throw, Charm, Captivate, Angel's Kiss, High Jump Kick]

The match soon ended with the Five-Three Combination's victory.

At the same time, a new notification popped up on the Pokédex screen.

[Daily Mission: Complete one battle]

[Mission Status: Completed]

[Mission Reward: Random Skill/Item Lottery Ticket Fragment ×1 (Selectable)]

Pressing the option for a Skill Lottery Ticket Fragment, Xu Linjiu rose and headed toward the Great Soul Arena exit to wait for the two after their match.

He had unlocked this daily mission after successfully advancing to [Poké Ball Rank Trainer], but he had never had the chance to complete it.

It was only after Xiao Wu and Tang San broke through to Soul Grandmaster and became able to participate in Great Soul Arena matches that this daily mission finally became useful.

On their journey from Notting City to Heaven Dou City, whenever Xu Linjiu's group passed through a city, he would arrange for the two of them to enter matches at its Great Soul Arena.

On one hand, it trained Xiao Wu and Tang San's adaptability when facing different Soul Masters. On the other, it completed the daily mission. Killing two birds with one stone—what could be better?

"This system learned from Pinduoduo, didn't it? It takes thirty fragments just to combine one complete exchange ticket!"

Looking at the twenty-six fragments in his system storage, Xu Linjiu was speechless.

About five minutes later, Tang San and Xiao Wu emerged from the Great Soul Arena.

"How did it feel?" Xu Linjiu asked with a smile.

"Just so-so."

Xiao Wu shrugged. "Soul Masters in big cities don't seem like much either. Nothing special."

Tang San nodded as well. "Their soul rings are of better quality, but they aren't particularly strong."

Xu Linjiu patted both their heads. "The opponents you met today were only ordinary people. If you still couldn't beat them after my teaching, I'd really have to question my own judgment."

"Alright, that's enough Soul Arena fighting for today. Next, it's time to handle some proper business."

With that, he straightened up and strode forward.

Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, then hurried after him.

However, contrary to what they had expected, Xu Linjiu did not lead them toward the more bustling city center. Instead, he passed through the streets and alleys and returned to Heaven Dou City's gates.

Once they left Heaven Dou City, Xu Linjiu's Soul Power rippled gently. Pink Psychic silently wrapped around Tang San and Xiao Wu's waists.

Then, the three figures shot into the air and sped away from the city.

Xiao Wu held back her confusion all the way. Only after even the outline of the city walls had completely vanished behind them did she finally ask Xu Linjiu.

"Uncle, didn't you say you were taking us to a higher Soul Master Academy? Why are we getting more and more remote? If we keep flying ahead, we'll be entering the mountains!"

Though Tang San said nothing, he also turned to look at his teacher, his eyes filled with the same confusion.

Xu Linjiu did not turn around. His voice drifted back from ahead. "You'll know when we get there."

After flying for roughly the time it took to burn an incense stick, the three slowly descended from the air.

The view before them suddenly opened up, revealing a towering mountain rising from the ground.

The entire mountain, from its foot to its peak, was covered by a vast complex of buildings. The academy encompassed the whole mountain, the surrounding forest, and the lake at its base.

Xiao Wu stared up at the mountain and took a long while to squeeze out a sentence. "Uncle, Heaven Dou Royal Academy is built on a mountain?"

"Otherwise, why do you think it's called a Royal Academy?"

Xu Linjiu smiled and tapped her forehead. "The whole mountain belongs to the academy. Teaching buildings, training grounds, dormitories, mimic cultivation grounds, and all kinds of specialized Martial Soul research rooms—how else could they all fit?"

"Mimic cultivation grounds? What are those?" Xiao Wu blinked and pressed on.

"You'll understand once you use them."

Tang San gazed at the towering mountain and asked softly, "Teacher, are we going in to register now?"

"Let's go."

With a wave of Xu Linjiu's hand, the three headed toward the main gate at the foot of the mountain.

Two guards in standard leather armor stood on either side of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's main gate.

Seeing the three approach, the lead guard raised a hand to stop them. "Please halt. Ahead lies Heaven Dou Royal Academy territory. Those who are not academy students, faculty, or specially authorized personnel may not enter."

"Oh, I am..."

Xu Linjiu had just begun speaking and was about to take out his identification from his storage Soul Tool when a delighted voice suddenly rang out from behind the guards.

"Excuse me... are you Senior Xu Linjiu?"

Hearing the voice, Xu Linjiu paused and looked up, discovering a young girl around fifteen or sixteen years old.

Dressed in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy uniform, the girl slowly walked toward Xu Linjiu's group.

"I didn't expect to see you at the academy, Senior Xu!"

The girl had a gentle temperament and wore a black veil over her face. Though her surprise at Xu Linjiu's appearance was obvious, she still kept a certain distance.

"May I ask who you are?"

"Ah, my apologies, Senior Xu. I forgot to introduce myself when we first met. I'm your junior, Ye Lingling."

Hearing the name Ye Lingling, Xu Linjiu froze slightly.

So it was her—the inheritor of the Nine-Hearted Begonia, the greatest healing Martial Soul in the world!

"But we shouldn't have met before. How do you know me?"

"Senior Xu's great name is known not only to me. I'm afraid there are very few people in the entire academy who haven't heard of you!" Ye Lingling said with a smile.