The Golden Generation

Han Bing said nothing after hearing that.

After all, Tang San had been born with Innate Full Soul Power and was already at level twenty-nine after graduating from the junior academy. He really had no need to waste time at a junior or intermediate academy.

Gao Lan brought Han Bing to the top floor and said as they walked:

"In the morning, we usually have theory classes, and in the afternoon, practical classes. Lessons start at eight, and there are only five minutes left. Let's hurry!"

As she spoke, Gao Lan led Han Bing into the classroom of Senior Class One.

According to Teacher Gao, there were only three senior classes because hardly anyone on the continent met the requirements for the Advanced Spirit Master Academy.

Each class had only ten students, and every one of them was a genius.

It was said that every student had an Innate Soul Power of at least level seven.

As soon as Gao Lan entered Class One's classroom, the noisy room fell silent.

Han Bing waited at the side for the teacher to make arrangements. He gave the students below a quick look and spotted the Golden Generation from Spirit Hall among them.

Teacher Gao Lan said:

"Class, we have a new student joining Senior Class One today. Come on, introduce yourself!"

Han Bing nodded and briefly introduced himself:

"Hello, everyone. My name is Han Bing. I hope we'll get along!"

When Han Bing said no more, Teacher Gao Lan quickly stepped in to smooth things over, leading the applause as she said:

"Let's give him a warm welcome!"

Only then did the ten students below join in, applauding as they sized Han Bing up. Most of them were fifteen, and each was half again as tall as Han Bing.

Confusion showed in their eyes. Han Bing looked no more than six years old. How had he managed to join the Advanced Spirit Master Academy?

The three students seated at the very back were the Golden Generation, the youngest students in the class.

The one by the window on the far left was Hu Liena. She gave Han Bing a faint smile and looked at him with alluring eyes. She was the youngest in Senior Class One, only ten years old.

Yet her Soul Power had already reached level twenty-one.

The person seated beside her was her older brother, Xie Yue. A year older than Hu Liena, he had level twenty-two Soul Power and was an exceptionally gifted genius.

He immediately raised his hand, voicing the question on everyone's mind.

"Teacher, I have a question!"

"Go ahead, Xie Yue."

"The Advanced Spirit Master Academy requires students to be fifteen years old and at level twenty. Has this little friend Han Bing met those requirements?"

Gao Lan pushed up her glasses and answered calmly:

"No."

The students began whispering among themselves. Xie Yue pressed on:

"Then why was he allowed to join the Advanced Spirit Master Academy?"

The corners of Gao Lan's mouth lifted slightly. Still calm, she replied:

"Because Han Bing was born with Innate Full Soul Power!"

At those words, the students were visibly startled. But Teacher Gao Lan wasn't finished!

"And he has Twin Martial Souls!"

That left all ten students below even more shocked.

"Furthermore, he is the personal disciple of Guang Ling Douluo, the Fifth Elder of Spirit Hall's Worship Hall!"

At this, the students looked at Han Bing differently. The disdain in their eyes had vanished, replaced by awe.

"Now, students, do you think Han Bing is qualified to join the Advanced Spirit Master Academy?"

Not a sound came from the class. Xie Yue nodded repeatedly and murmured, "He is, he is."

Any one of those three qualifications would have been enough.

And he had all three.

Hu Liena smiled knowingly. Interesting!

With no objections, Gao Lan said:

"Han Bing, take the seat by the window at the back. We're starting theory class."

Han Bing nodded and went to the assigned seat, behind Hu Liena.

Gao Lan began the lesson, teaching advanced applications of the compatibility between Soul Power and Martial Souls.

Each lesson lasted an hour, followed by a half-hour break.

The remaining two lessons were about using Soul Power and cultivating it.

"Class dismissed. We'll begin practical training after a half-hour break!"

When the first lesson ended and the class took a break, the new student, Han Bing, naturally became the focus of everyone's attention. They crowded around and asked:

"Han Bing, what are your Twin Martial Souls?"

"Han Bing, how did you catch the Fifth Elder's attention?"

Question after question came from the students.

"Hey, hey, what's the rush? You'll find out what my Martial Soul is and how strong I am during this afternoon's practical class."

"Han Bing, even though you're only a One-Ring Soul Master, we won't go easy on you."

Xie Yue said this as though he'd been eager to spar with Han Bing for a while.

Han Bing smiled without answering. Since this was his first day, he didn't know what the afternoon's practical class would involve.

"Hello, I'm Hu Liena. It's nice to meet you!"

Hu Liena, seated in front of him, held out her hand.

Han Bing shook it, nodded, and simply said:

"Han Bing!"

"Nana, how about teaming up with me for two-on-two this afternoon?"

A tall, dark-skinned student scratched his head as he spoke to Hu Liena.

Hu Liena smiled faintly and replied calmly:

"Same rules as always. You have to beat me one-on-one, come first in one-on-one, or, if I come first, come second. There's no other way."

The dark-skinned student looked disappointed and scratched his head, grumbling:

"Then it'll definitely be either Xie Yue or Yan. Sigh..."

Hu Liena giggled, covering her little mouth. She looked adorable.

Han Bing was now rather curious about the afternoon's practical class. One-on-one, two-on-two—it sounded quite interesting.

Half an hour passed, and the bell rang for the second lesson. Teacher Gao Lan was still there, her expression stern as she said:

"Practical training begins now. Cultivate your Soul Power according to the theory from the first lesson."

The classroom was spacious. Everyone sat cross-legged beside their desks and cultivated Soul Power.

Han Bing did the same, but unlike the others, he infused Haki into his cultivation. His Soul Power slowly flowed outward, carrying an inexplicable force that made others tremble.

The icy-blue Soul Power around him rippled outward like waves.

Everyone in the classroom shuddered, shaken by this strange Soul Power.

Teacher Gao Lan pushed up her glasses and watched Han Bing, sensing his Soul Power as she murmured:

"What overbearing Soul Power!"

She nodded in approval, then said:

"Everyone else, focus and cultivate according to the theory."

The students got down to cultivating in earnest!

The morning passed peacefully. The students seemed to listen closely to Teacher Gao Lan, and some even seemed afraid of her.

That made Han Bing curious about how strong Teacher Gao Lan was.

After the lunch break, lessons began at two in the afternoon.

Han Bing strolled around the academy. The food there was excellent, and because he was the personal disciple of Guang Ling Douluo, the Fifth Elder, he barely needed to spend any Gold Soul Coins on meals.

Now, beneath a large tree, he was secretly cultivating Observation Haki.

He coated his right hand in Armament Haki and punched the tree.

Then he closed his eyes, activated Observation Haki, sensed where the leaves were falling, and dodged them one by one.

He practiced like this for over an hour, until the bell rang for the afternoon classes.