Enrollment

A week later, Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing strolled out of the Peace Hotel like two dazzling stars shining amid the bustling streets. Over those seven days, Gu Hengzhi had devoured nourishing foods like a ravenous diner, and his vitality had gradually recovered like a rising tide. Though he was still worlds apart from his peak condition, recovering so much in just seven days was truly astonishing.

As they walked down the street, Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing looked like a perfect pair, drawing everyone's attention. The man was handsome and graceful, like a jade tree standing in the breeze; the woman was breathtakingly beautiful, like a blooming peony. One stood tall and straight as a pine, while the other had a stunning figure, soft as willow and lovely as a flower. People could not help but sigh, "They truly are a match made in heaven!"

Before long, Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing arrived at the gates of Righteous Heaven Academy. The gates were imposing, like towering mountains. The vermilion doors soared into the sky, while the gilded school emblem gleamed brilliantly beneath the sunlight. The four characters, "Righteous Heaven Academy," seemed to dance like dragons and phoenixes, grand and majestic. Stone lions stood on either side with glaring eyes and bared fangs, as if displaying the academy's dignity and solemnity to the world.

The plaza before the gates was packed with people, and the air buzzed with noise. Applicants formed a long queue like a winding dragon stretching from the registration desk all the way to the street corner. Their young faces were filled with nervousness and longing. Some clutched their documents and rubbed them repeatedly, as though they were tickets to their future; others whispered about the assessment, their eyes glittering with curiosity and anticipation. Parents stood nearby, offering constant reminders, their concern like warm winter sunlight—comforting yet steadfast. Senior students in uniform hurried back and forth, their pens scratching across paper as they verified information. The occasional arguments and commotion blended beneath the grand gatehouse into a symphony brimming with hope. The sun grew fiercer, and beads of sweat slid down like glistening pearls, yet not a single person was willing to retreat—because they knew that beyond these gates lay the future they had dreamed of.

As genius Soul Masters who had cultivated beyond level 25 at the age of twelve, Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing naturally qualified for the fast track. According to Righteous Heaven Academy's admissions poster, geniuses like them who reached level 25 by age twelve only needed to undergo a soul power test to enroll easily. Furthermore, if they passed the practical combat test or reached level 31 soul power, they could enroll for free and directly enter the advanced division.

Besides the detailed enrollment requirements, Righteous Heaven Academy's poster also listed generous rewards for gifted students, such as scholarships. At the bottom were the academy's basic rules and motto. Each uplifting line was like a lamp lighting the students' path forward. Unlike Shrek Academy's—those who dared not cause trouble were mediocrities. Pure negativity.

After reading the poster, it was as if lightning had struck their minds, leaving only one sentence: "This is what proper and professional looks like." Enrollment requirements, cash prizes, rewards, school rules, and mottos were all displayed clearly and plainly on the poster at the academy gates, like a beautifully painted scroll. Then there was Shrek Academy—it was practically barren, without a damn thing. It only knew how to fleece poor children. Its enrollment standards were absurdly high, yet it offered no benefits at all. It would scam whoever it could.

Not long afterward, the two successfully registered. A beautiful female instructor greeted them, like a flower blooming in spring, and guided them to the next stage—the practical combat test.

Their opponents in the practical combat test were second-year students from Righteous Heaven Academy's advanced division, all three-ring Soul Elders whose strength could not be underestimated. Gu Hengzhi's opponent was a battle Soul Master with a tiger martial soul. His Soul Rings glowed yellow, yellow, and purple, like the brightest stars in the night sky—a perfect Soul Ring configuration. His strength ranked above average among the second-years. He had come to participate in the freshmen's combat test partly to earn academy points and partly to hone the third Soul Ring he had just acquired.

Originally, he had looked down on this year's freshmen, believing they would be no different from the previous ones and utterly unable to contend with him. Yet fate loved playing tricks on people. His opponent was Gu Hengzhi. Less than a minute after the battle began, Gu Hengzhi unleashed his Great Sun Flame Wheel. That blazing sun was like a burning fireball, instantly swallowing his opponent. Yes, that was right—his opponent was defeated in a single instant. The reason was simple: he had underestimated Gu Hengzhi. Seeing the Great Sun Flame Wheel gradually taking shape, he had done nothing to interrupt Gu Hengzhi's charge-up. Worse still, his arrogance had kept him from even using his third soul skill, and Gu Hengzhi killed him with a single strike.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, she was completely different from her original portrayal. Her soul power had now reached level 29, only one step away from level 30. With such formidable strength, lasting the time it took an incense stick to burn beneath a senior's attacks was effortless for her.

"Hahaha!" A rough male voice sounded from nearby. Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing looked over to see a rugged-faced man. He was not tall, but he was exceptionally muscular, his entire body covered in bulging muscles. He was comparable to those bodybuilders on Blue Star who relied on the Nine Dragons Ascension Drug. He was none other than Tie Hong, vice principal of Righteous Heaven Advanced Soul Master Academy.

"Hahaha!" Vice Principal Tie Hong's bell-like laughter seemed ready to shake the entire academy. His thick, muscular hand, like a small mountain, came down heavily on Gu Hengzhi's shoulder, making Gu Hengzhi frown in pain.

"Not bad, kid!" Vice Principal Tie Hong's eyes shone with excitement like brilliant stars in the night sky. "You've already broken through level 30. You only need one Soul Ring to become a three-ring Soul Elder!" His large hand fell again like an iron hammer onto Gu Hengzhi's shoulder, as if he were trying to pass his joy directly to him.

Seeing Gu Hengzhi's pained expression, a hint of amusement flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's autumn-water eyes, as lovely as a blooming flower. Her cherry lips curved slightly in a smile that was not quite a smile, making hearts flutter.

Seeing Vice Principal Tie Hong, the beautiful instructor beside them hurriedly bowed respectfully. Admiration filled her beautiful face as she softly introduced him to Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing. "This is the vice principal of our Righteous Heaven Academy, Vice Principal Tie Hong. He is an 81st-level Soul Douluo. To be noticed by Vice Principal Tie Hong, your futures are truly bright!"

After hearing the introduction, the two hurriedly bowed respectfully to Tie Hong and said in unison, "Junior Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing greet Vice Principal Tie Hong!" Their voices were clear and pleasant, like orioles leaving the valley.

"Cut out all that nonsense!" Vice Principal Tie Hong waved a hand and said heartily, "As genius students of Righteous Heaven Academy, you naturally deserve rewards. How about I help the two of you hunt Soul Rings? I just won't have time until recruitment is over. And how about having a meal once a week at that place called... Peace Hotel?" His words were like a spring breeze, making people feel incomparably warm.

"Uh..." Gu Hengzhi and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged glances, surprise written across their faces as though they had seen something unbelievable. Their eyes widened as if they might pop out.

"Is that not enough? Then I'll add a thousand-year spirit herb." Tie Hong saw their strange expressions and felt somewhat puzzled, asking tentatively. His voice carried a trace of concern, like that of a kind elder.

"That's not it, Vice Principal..." Gu Hengzhi stepped forward and scratched his head awkwardly as he explained to Tie Hong, "I'm the owner of the Peace Hotel."

After hearing that, Vice Principal Tie Hong first froze, then burst into booming laughter that echoed throughout the academy. He slapped Gu Hengzhi's shoulder hard and said, "So that's how it is! I never expected the restaurant beside the academy with such unbelievably delicious food to actually be your business."