First Meeting with Yu Tianheng

Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was divided into the junior, intermediate, and advanced divisions.

The junior division primarily admitted Soul Scholars and Soul Masters, and its students were generally younger, around six to twelve years old.

The intermediate division primarily admitted students from the Soul Master to Grand Soul Master levels, between twelve and sixteen years old.

The advanced division admitted Grand Soul Masters with Soul Power above level twenty-five, as well as Soul Elders and even Soul Ancestors.

There was no age limit. As long as one broke through level twenty-five, one could automatically enter the advanced division.

Moreover, there was no mandatory graduation requirement. Students could remain in the advanced division until they were twenty-five.

This was because, after the age of twenty-five, one could no longer participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

Of course, in principle, students could still remain at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy after turning twenty-five, but almost no one did so.

For advanced division students, their sole goal was to participate in the Soul Master Tournament and make a name for themselves.

If they merely stayed in the academy's advanced division for its seemingly abundant cultivation resources, they would never do such a thing.

There was no other reason—it was simply too embarrassing. Most of those who could enter Heaven Dou Imperial Academy were noble children of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Otherwise, they were the children of sects or even wealthy merchants. It could be said that they were either rich or noble, and their families did not lack cultivation resources.

As Qin Ming walked with Ning Chen, he introduced the current situation at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Like the teachers, the students of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy were divided according to talent and cultivation: Sky-Micro Tier, Sky-Ultimate Tier, and the highest rank, Heaven Dou Tier.

Although Ning Chen was still young, his cultivation had already reached level thirty-two, so Qin Ming naturally brought him to the class for Heaven Dou Tier students.

There was only one class of Heaven Dou Tier students. Or rather, a considerable portion of the entire mountain on which Heaven Dou Imperial Academy stood had been designated for Heaven Dou Tier students to study and cultivate.

Though it was only one class, it was actually divided into two groups.

One group was preparing for the next Continental Soul Master Tournament in two years, while the other was preparing for the tournament after that.

Given Ning Chen's age, Qin Ming naturally placed him in the latter group.

Once Qin Ming brought Ning Chen there, he gathered everyone who had not yet begun cultivating and introduced their new classmate.

The Heaven Dou Tier students preparing for the next Soul Master Tournament were undergoing practical combat training with the academy's Heaven Dou Tier instructors at the Great Spirit Arena in Heaven Dou Imperial City. No one knew when they would return.

Everyone cultivating here was preparing for the Continental Soul Master Tournament after the next one.

Qin Ming introduced Ning Chen to his future classmates one by one.

There were not many of them, only around a dozen, and most of the names were familiar.

Qin Ming clapped his hands, calling over the students scattered throughout the training grounds.

More than a dozen boys and girls gradually gathered, their eyes all falling on Ning Chen with curiosity and scrutiny.

Standing beside Ning Chen, Qin Ming introduced them one by one.

They were all Heaven Dou Tier students. Although most of their cultivation was still at the Grand Soul Master realm, they were all quite young. They were unquestionably the best of the best, elites among elites.

Ning Chen looked at one of the boys, who stood tall and carried himself with calm composure.

From Qin Ming's earlier introduction, Ning Chen knew that this was Yu Tianheng, the future captain of the Emperor Team, born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

He possessed the continent's number one beast Martial Soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

He was only fourteen years old, yet his Soul Power had already reached level twenty-three. His talent was exceptional, and aside from Ning Chen, he had the highest cultivation among these students.

There was also a girl with pale green eyes. Though she was still young, she possessed a languid, alluring air.

She was Dugu Yan, the granddaughter of the Poison Douluo. She was twelve years old, her Martial Soul was the Jade-Scaled Snake, and her Soul Power was level twenty-two.

Then there were the two brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Mo, who possessed Black Tortoise Martial Souls. Their Soul Power was comparable to Dugu Yan's, both around level twenty-two.

After them came two agility-attack Grand Soul Masters, Yu Feng and Oslo. Their Martial Souls were the Wind Chime Bird and Ghost Leopard, and both had Soul Power at level twenty-one.

Lastly came Ye Lingling, who possessed the Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul. She was the youngest and had the lowest cultivation, with only level nineteen Soul Power. She was still some distance away from breaking through to level twenty.

Support-type Martial Souls were famously difficult to cultivate on the continent. For Ye Lingling to reach level nineteen Soul Power at the age of eleven was enough to show her extraordinary talent.

The remaining few all had Soul Power above level fifteen, but they were not as outstanding as those before them. Barring unforeseen circumstances, they would only become substitutes in the future.

After everyone had been introduced, Qin Ming introduced Ning Chen to the Heaven Dou Tier students.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly throughout the training grounds. "This is Cao Benqi. He is twelve years old, a level thirty-two Soul Elder, and his Martial Soul is the Starlight Bracer.

"From today onward, he will join the ranks of the Heaven Dou Tier students."

The moment those words were spoken, a low murmur rose across the training grounds.

Twelve years old, level thirty-two.

Even in a place like Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, where geniuses gathered, the combination of those two numbers was enough to cause a stir.

Everyone's gaze upon Ning Chen gained a measure of solemnity and astonishment. Even Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, the most outstanding among them, were no exception.

However, both came from prestigious backgrounds, with Title Douluo-level elders behind them. The surprise on their faces lasted only a few seconds before they concealed it completely.

The others did not possess such composure. Ning Chen could even faintly sense several gazes carrying slight hostility.

Ning Chen could understand it. There were only so many spots in the Continental Soul Master Tournament, and every additional person meant more competition.

It was not difficult to understand why many students who lacked confidence in themselves would feel hostile toward Ning Chen.

But what could that hostility accomplish? The numbers twelve and thirty-two were enough to crush some students' darker thoughts, leaving them unable to reveal them at all.

Qin Ming said a few more words, then nodded to Ning Chen before turning and leaving the training grounds, leaving the remaining time to these young students.

As soon as Qin Ming left, the atmosphere in the training grounds immediately relaxed considerably.

Yu Tianheng was the first to step forward and extend his hand. "Welcome. There aren't many Heaven Dou Tier students in the academy. We'll be cultivating together from now on, so if there's anything you don't understand, we can discuss it together."

Ning Chen also extended his hand and shook his. "Not at all. I should be the one asking for your guidance."

Though Yu Tianheng was a longtime student of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, he did not place himself above Ning Chen, which made Ning Chen nod inwardly in approval.

No wonder he was someone who could rebuild his sect even after suffering the blow of its destruction.

Dugu Yan also stepped forward at this moment. She looked at Ning Chen, her eyes full of curiosity. "Cao Benqi, as far as I remember, there doesn't seem to be a Soul Master family with the surname Cao in Heaven Dou Imperial City."

"I wasn't born into a Soul Master family. Reaching this level was merely a matter of good luck," Ning Chen said.