Enrolling at Heaven Dou Royal Academy

"Xue Qinghe" bowed in thanks once more, then withdrew from the imperial study.

After returning to the Crown Prince's Palace, Qian Renxue dismissed the attendants, changed out of the crown prince's formal robes, and resumed her original appearance. She then went to the side courtyard and recounted the conversation in the imperial study to Zhao Ming in full detail.

"One thousand gold soul coins every month, and one free item from the Heaven Dou Auction House every year." Qian Renxue smiled. "That old Xue Ye was generous for once."

Zhao Ming did not care much about gold soul coins. He lacked neither food nor clothing at the Crown Prince's Palace, and there were few places where he needed money. One thousand gold soul coins a month was merely a number to him.

But the reward of one free item from the Heaven Dou Auction House each year did pique his interest.

The Heaven Dou Auction House was the empire's largest auction house. Backing it were the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and its resources ran unfathomably deep.

Good things appeared at the auction house from time to time—soul bones, rare medicinal herbs, soul tools that were exceedingly scarce in this era. Although the highest-grade auction items were usually fought over fiercely by every major power, anything he could get for free was naturally worth having.

"Thank you for fighting for this on my behalf, Sister," Zhao Ming said with a smile. He knew that Xue Ye the Great had been so generous largely because Qian Renxue's words in the imperial study had moved the old emperor.

Qian Renxue reached out and ruffled his hair, smiling. "Why be so polite with your sister? Make your preparations. Tomorrow, I'll personally take you to register at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Early the next morning, Qian Renxue disguised herself as Xue Qinghe again and changed into a moon-white set of the crown prince's everyday robes. A white jade pendant hung at her waist, and she looked graceful and refined.

She personally led Zhao Ming onto the carriage from the Crown Prince's Palace, and they headed toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy on the outskirts of Heaven Dou City.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy stood atop a mountain east of Heaven Dou City, and the entire mountain belonged to the academy.

From afar, mist curled around the mountainside, where pavilions and towers could vaguely be seen scattered amid the forest in an orderly arrangement. It was imposing without losing its elegance.

The academy possessed the most comprehensive simulated cultivation environments in the entire Heaven Dou Empire. Forests, deserts, swamps, and snowy plains—all had corresponding cultivation areas within the academy.

Its teaching resources and supporting facilities were also the most complete. Across the entire continent, only Spirit Hall Academy and Star Luo Royal Academy could compare with it.

The academy's nominal headmaster was Xue Ye the Great, while its actual overseer was Prince Xue Xing.

However, Xue Xing could not be bothered to visit the academy in his daily life and rarely meddled in its affairs personally. Most of the academy's routine operations were handled by three education committee members at the Soul Douluo level.

These three committee members had served at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for many years. They were highly respected and were all rather close to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

In fact, most reasonable people in the empire were rather close to and optimistic about Xue Qinghe, the crown prince.

The carriage slowly made its way up the mountain road, passed through a mountain gate carved from white marble, and finally stopped before the academy's main building.

"Xue Qinghe" led Zhao Ming out of the carriage and headed straight for the office where the three committee members were located.

The office door stood open. The three committee members had clearly received word that His Highness the Crown Prince would be personally bringing someone over, and they had been waiting inside for some time.

When they saw Xue Qinghe enter, all three rose together and bowed.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

"Xue Qinghe" smiled slightly, his tone gentle. "There is no need for such formality, esteemed committee members. I have come today to recommend a young genius for enrollment. This is Zhao Ming, a retainer of my residence. He is seven and a half years old and has soul power at level twenty-two."

As she spoke, she stepped aside to reveal Zhao Ming behind her.

The three committee members' gazes fell on Zhao Ming at once, their eyes filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

A level twenty-two Grand Soul Master at seven and a half years old—His Majesty had already told them about this genius yesterday, but seeing him in person still left them secretly astonished.

Qian Renxue took the opportunity to introduce them to Zhao Ming. Pointing at the lead elder, an emaciated old man with white hair and beard, she said, "This is the chief committee member, Meng Shenji, an eighty-sixth-level control-system Soul Douluo. His martial soul is Black Demon, an exceptionally special control-system martial soul. It excels at mental interference and strange restraints, and he enjoys great renown in the Heaven Dou Empire's soul master world."

Meng Shenji stroked his beard and nodded slightly to Zhao Ming, a kind smile in his eyes.

Qian Renxue then pointed to the second committee member. He was a broad, ruddy-faced old man who looked somewhat younger than Meng Shenji, though his temples had already turned gray. "This is the second committee member, Bai Baoshan, an eighty-fifth-level defense-system battle Soul Douluo. His martial soul is the Heavenly Star Furnace, a top-tier defensive tool martial soul. It can form great defensive arrays and possesses tremendous defensive power. With Committee Member Bai here, Heaven Dou Royal Academy is as secure as an impregnable fortress."

Bai Baoshan laughed heartily, his voice booming like a bell. "Your Highness flatters this old man. I have merely done my duty."

Finally, Qian Renxue pointed to the third committee member. He was a thin old man with a scholarly air, dressed in a long green robe. He looked more like a well-read scholar than a powerful soul master. "This is the third committee member, Zhi Lin, an eighty-third-level control-system Soul Douluo. His martial soul is Azure Sky Vine, one of the finest plant-type control martial souls. Its large-scale binding abilities are extremely powerful. It is similar to Blue Silver Grass, but of a higher grade."

Zhi Lin smiled faintly and nodded at Zhao Ming, his gaze carrying a trace of appraisal.

With the introductions complete, it was time for the entrance test. Although Qian Renxue had already reported Zhao Ming's soul power level, academy rules required all new students to undergo personal testing by the three committee members before enrollment, in order to confirm their strength and potential.

Zhao Ming walked to the center of the office, took a deep breath, and activated his soul power. He summoned his Steel Whip martial soul and revealed the soul rings beneath his feet—though naturally, they were soul rings disguised by the Fortune-Gathering Domain.

Two yellow soul rings slowly rotated beneath his feet, and his soul power fluctuations remained steady at the peak of level twenty-two.

The Steel Whip was pitch-black from end to end, gleaming with a cold luster beneath the office lights. Though it was merely a high-grade tool martial soul, the aura it emitted was not the least bit weaker than that of a top-tier tool martial soul.

The three committee members' eyes lingered on Zhao Ming's soul rings for a moment before they exchanged glances. All of them revealed excitement they could not conceal.

"Seven and a half years old, at the peak of level twenty-two, with solid soul power and a stable foundation." Meng Shenji was the first to speak, his tone full of praise. "This old man has taught at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for over forty years and has seen countless geniuses, but one like Zhao Ming is truly rare beyond measure."

Bai Baoshan was so excited that he rose directly to his feet and walked over to Zhao Ming. It was as though he had already seen a future Title Douluo standing before him.

Zhi Lin's gaze softened considerably as well. After all, who would not like a genius?