Little Spear God!

"Wow! So this is Heaven Dou Imperial Academy!" Ning Rongrong looked up at the imposing gates before her and could not help exclaiming. "It's even grander than I imagined!"

The gates of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy were thirty meters wide and fifteen meters tall, built entirely from white marble. They were carved with exquisite reliefs of soaring dragons, spreading phoenixes, and all manner of soul beasts.

Above the gates hung a golden plaque bearing the six bold characters: "Heaven Dou Imperial Academy." The calligraphy was powerful and imposing.

It was also Lin Ming's first time seeing such magnificent academy gates. He secretly sighed to himself. As expected of the empire's foremost institution. The entrance alone is enough to intimidate people.

The moment the two reached the gates, they were stopped by a guard.

"Stop! Who are you? Do you have entry permits?" The guard was a burly middle-aged man. Though he looked rough and brawny, his attitude was fairly polite.

Lin Ming said nothing and simply revealed the token at his waist.

The guard's expression changed instantly upon seeing it. "An inner sect token from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? You are...?"

"Lin Ming, a new student," Lin Ming said calmly. "This is Ning Rongrong, the eldest daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We're here to enroll."

The guard hurriedly stepped aside, his attitude turning exceedingly respectful. "So you are honored guests of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! Please, come in! I'll notify the academic director at once!"

Before long, the academic director personally came out to greet them. He was an elderly man in his fifties, with graying hair and gold-rimmed glasses. He looked refined and scholarly, but the fluctuations of soul power around him had clearly reached the level of a Soul Emperor.

"Oh my, Miss Ning has honored us with her presence. Forgive me for failing to welcome you properly!" The academic director wore a broad smile, his enthusiasm almost excessive.

"Sect Master Ning informed us in advance. Both of your enrollment procedures have already been completed. Come, come, I'll take you to see your residence."

Led by the academic director, Lin Ming and Ning Rongrong crossed the spacious campus and arrived at a quiet area. Far from the teaching district, it was serene and shaded by lush trees, with elegant little villas scattered throughout.

"This area is specially prepared by the academy for distinguished students." The academic director pointed at a two-story villa.

"This will be your residence. There are six rooms in total upstairs and downstairs, along with a private cultivation room and reception hall. Are you satisfied with it?"

Lin Ming entered the villa and looked around. The decor was exquisite, the furniture complete, and the windows bright and spotless. There was even a private courtyard planted with several osmanthus trees, their faint fragrance drifting through the air.

"Not bad." Lin Ming nodded. "Thank you, Director."

"Not at all, not at all!" The academic director waved his hands repeatedly. "If either of you needs anything, just let us know. The academy will do its utmost to accommodate you. I'll take my leave now and let you rest."

After the academic director left, Ning Rongrong immediately ran excitedly through the villa, inspecting every room. In the end, she chose the innermost room on the third floor, the one with a balcony, as her bedroom.

"Lin Ming! You should live next door to me!" Ning Rongrong called down to Lin Ming from the balcony.

Just as Lin Ming was about to agree, Ning Fengzhi's instructions before their departure suddenly echoed in his mind:

"Lin Ming, although you and Rongrong are already engaged, you are both still young. It would not be appropriate for you to live together. I have already arranged for the academic director to prepare two neighboring villas for you. You will live in the one on the left, and Rongrong will live in the one on the right. Remember, do not cross the line!"

Lin Ming sighed helplessly and told Ning Rongrong about the arrangement.

The moment Ning Rongrong heard it, she became unhappy. "Why is Father like this? We're already engaged. What's wrong with living together?"

"The Sect Master is doing it for your own good," Lin Ming consoled her. "Besides, there's only a wall between us. We can see each other whenever we want."

Ning Rongrong pouted, looking thoroughly displeased, but there was nothing she could do. She obediently moved into the villa next door.

Early the next morning, Lin Ming and Ning Rongrong officially completed their enrollment procedures and became members of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Ning Rongrong's arrival quickly caused quite a stir throughout the academy.

The eldest daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi's cherished pearl, a twelve-year-old three-ring Soul Elder with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul—those distinctions combined to make her an instant focal point of the academy.

At first sight of Ning Rongrong, many male students were drawn to her delicate, adorable appearance and lively, cheerful personality. Coupled with her distinguished background, she became the object of countless people's pursuit.

"Have you heard? The eldest daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has come to our academy!"

"Really? That's Ning Rongrong! If I could marry her, I'd never have to worry for the rest of my life!"

"You? Why don't you take a look at yourself first? Do you really think she'd be interested in you?"

"What if she is? Maybe I'm exactly her type?"

Similar discussions rose and fell across the campus.

Lin Ming also drew the attention of many people because he was often seen walking together with Ning Rongrong.

However, most people did not connect him with Ning Rongrong. Instead, they took him for her personal guard.

"Brother, you're Miss Ning's guard, right?" A seemingly carefree male student stopped Lin Ming and asked with a wink.

"You're with Miss Ning every day, so you must know her well, right? Could you help me deliver a love letter?"

Lin Ming: "...?"

"Me too, me too!" Another male student hurried over. "Brother, as long as you give this letter to Miss Ning, these ten gold soul coins are yours!"

Lin Ming looked at the group of boys eagerly competing to hand Ning Rongrong love letters, and his whole mood soured.

Digging under my wall? They're trying to steal my fiancée right in front of me?

He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to beat every last one of them up. Forcing a smile onto his face, he said, "You want to pursue Ning Rongrong?"

Everyone nodded repeatedly.

Lin Ming's smile did not change, but his tone turned cold. "Simple. Defeat me first."

Those words quickly spread throughout Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

"Have you heard? Ning Rongrong's guard made an announcement. Anyone who wants to pursue Ning Rongrong has to get past him first!"

"Hah, he's just a guard. How dare he act so arrogantly?"

"I heard his name is Lin Ming. He looks only twelve or thirteen. How strong could he possibly be?"

"Let's go meet him! Let him know Heaven Dou Imperial Academy isn't a place where he can run wild!"

And so, wave after wave of challengers came for Lin Ming.

Then, wave after wave were knocked down by a single strike of Lin Ming's spear.

On the first day, five challengers came, all two-ring Great Soul Masters. Lin Ming took one down with one spear each, ending the battle in five seconds—an average of one per second.

On the second day, ten challengers came, including three three-ring Soul Elders. Lin Ming still defeated each with a single spear strike, ending the battle in ten seconds.

The third day, the fourth day...

After one week, no fewer than fifty people had challenged Lin Ming, yet not one of them had been able to withstand a single strike from his spear.

The title "Little Spear God" spread like wildfire.

Lin Ming's reputation soared rapidly throughout Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. He went from an unknown "guard" to the famed Little Spear God, known by everyone.

And his actions successfully caught someone's attention.