Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring?!

Several days later.

As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City's prosperity and grandeur were far beyond what a remote little town like Nuoding City could compare to.

Tang Shuo walked along the broad bluestone streets, watching richly dressed nobles and Soul Masters pass by, his expression calm.

To find Dugu Yan, he first needed to know where she was.

After making some inquiries, Tang Shuo quickly got his answer.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

As the biological granddaughter of the Poison Douluo, Dugu Yan's status was exceedingly noble. She spent nearly all her time cultivating at this highest-ranking Soul Master Academy on the continent and rarely went out.

Trying his luck and hoping to run into her outside was almost impossible.

Tang Shuo raised his head and looked toward the magnificent academy built against the mountain in the distance, resembling a cluster of palaces.

"Looks like I'll have to find a way to sneak in."

He rubbed his chin.

As it happened, Heaven Dou Royal Academy had recently begun recruiting a new batch of students.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Meanwhile.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Education Committee.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in luxurious robes, stared at a list with a deeply troubled expression.

The old man was Bai Baoshan, an eighty-fifth-level defense-type Battle Soul Douluo. His martial soul was the Star Furnace, and he served as the second seat of the academy's Education Committee, holding a position of great prestige.

"Ugh!"

He let out a heavy sigh and slapped the list in his hand onto the table.

"Meng Shenji, come take a look!"

"Look at the sort of trash this is!"

Across from him, another distinguished-looking old man gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Old Bai, what is it this time?"

"Who else but this year's new students?"

Bai Baoshan glared furiously.

"Every one of them is either a duke's son or a marquis's grandson!"

"They're all relying on a bit of family money and squeezing their way into our academy!"

"But look at their talent!"

"Their martial souls awaken flashier than the last, yet their Innate Soul Power is worse than the last!"

"A few days ago, that so-called duke's legitimate son only had level-three Innate Soul Power, and he still dared to apply!"

"If this keeps up, Heaven Dou Royal Academy's reputation for 'accepting only monsters' will become a joke!"

The old man called Meng Shenji sighed as well.

"There's nothing we can do. The royal family has spoken. We can't refuse these noble children."

"Can't refuse them?"

Bai Baoshan's temper flared even further.

"This academy is meant to train the pillars of the empire, not serve as a retirement home where those playboys can gild themselves!"

He slammed the table and rose to his feet.

"No! This absolutely cannot continue!"

Bai Baoshan paced back and forth through the room, his eyes flickering.

"The academy's name cannot be ruined in our hands!"

He suddenly stopped, a resolute gleam flashing through his eyes.

"Pass down my order!"

"Immediately set up a civilian admissions assessment point outside the academy's main gate!"

Meng Shenji froze.

"Old Bai, you mean..."

"My meaning is simple!"

Bai Baoshan's voice was firm and decisive.

"Since the quality of these noble children is so poor, we'll select from among commoners!"

"Tell the teachers responsible for the assessments: this time, they are not to ask about origin or look at background!"

"As long as their talent is exceptional enough, even if they're beggars, Heaven Dou Royal Academy will accept them without exception!"

Outside Heaven Dou Royal Academy's main gate, a small admissions station had appeared.

One table and one chair. Nothing more.

Compared to the magnificent, palace-like academy behind it, it looked distinctly out of place.

An elderly man with white hair and beard sat in the chair with his eyes closed in meditation. It was Bai Baoshan, the second seat of the Education Committee.

He had actually come personally to oversee this civilian recruitment.

However, more than half a day had passed. Many commoner children had come to inquire, yet not a single one had caught his eye.

Either their Soul Power was too low, or their martial souls were too ordinary. None were worth making him want to test them.

It seems finding a hidden gem among commoners isn't so easy either.

Bai Baoshan sighed inwardly.

Just then, a figure walked up to the table.

"Excuse me, is this where you recruit students?"

The voice was clear, carrying a touch of youthful immaturity.

Bai Baoshan slowly opened his eyes and sized up the boy before him.

Black hair, black eyes, and a still-slightly-slender frame.

"Yes."

Bai Baoshan nodded, his tone gentle.

"However, Heaven Dou Royal Academy only accepts true geniuses."

"And there aren't many openings."

He looked at Tang Shuo as though trying to dissuade him.

"Child, you're still young. I'm afraid it'll be difficult for you to pass the assessment."

Tang Shuo smiled.

"How will I know if I don't try?"

"I want to give it a try."

A trace of surprise flashed through Bai Baoshan's eyes.

This child had some courage.

His interest was piqued.

"Fine."

"Since you insist, I'll give you an opportunity."

Bai Baoshan stood up, and an invisible majesty slowly spread from his body.

"The assessment is simple."

"I am an eighty-fifth-level Battle Soul Douluo."

"Now, I'll suppress my Soul Power to the level of a level-forty Soul Ancestor and use my pressure against you."

"As long as you can endure under my pressure for the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

"I'll make an exception and admit you."

The moment he finished speaking, a heavy pressure surged toward Tang Shuo like a tide.

In Bai Baoshan's view, this child probably would not last even a single breath.

A child from a commoner background, even if he had some talent, how strong could he possibly be?

If he could merely stand firm beneath this pressure, it would already prove his exceptional resolve.

However.

The expected sight of the boy turning pale and swaying on the verge of collapse did not appear.

Tang Shuo remained where he was, standing as straight as a pine.

He even had the leisure to grin at Bai Baoshan.

The pressure that could make even Soul Grandmasters struggle to walk felt like no more than a gentle breeze brushing his face.

"Hm?"

Bai Baoshan's eyes flew wide open, filled with shock.

How... was this possible?!

He confirmed again that his Soul Power pressure was genuinely at level forty!

How could a child remain so completely unfazed?

Bai Baoshan was filled with uncertainty. Testing him, he raised the intensity of the pressure another notch.

The pressure suddenly intensified.

Tang Shuo only felt his shoulders sink slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Good lad!"

Bai Baoshan could not help but marvel inwardly.

"He really has some skill!"

He could tell.

With this child's physique and willpower, let alone the time it took an incense stick to burn, he would probably have no trouble enduring for a full day and night.

Bai Baoshan's competitive spirit had been thoroughly stirred.

He wanted to see just where this boy's limit lay!

"Again!"

He shouted inwardly as his Soul Power rose once more!

This time, the intensity of the pressure had already approached level forty-five!

Boom!

The crushing pressure came down like a mountain!

Tang Shuo's body finally reacted.

The next instant.

A deep black ring suddenly rose from beneath his feet!

Demonic and dazzling!