Heaven Dou: First Encounter

Tianhun City.

City gates.

Quan Cangtian, Huo Yuhao, and Xiao Xiao stood at the entrance.

The city walls rose over thirty feet high, built from grayish-white stone bricks. The emblem of the Heaven Dou Empire—a Double-Headed Eagle—was carved upon them, one head facing east and the other west.

The guards stopped them.

"Identity."

Quan Cangtian took a Token from his robes.

It was a black iron plaque engraved with the character "Quan," surrounded by nine coiling dragons.

The guard accepted the Token.

He glanced at it.

Then—

His spine stiffened.

"The Quan Family..."

He raised his head and looked at Quan Cangtian.

A six-year-old child.

But the Token in his hand was genuine.

"Young Patriarch, please enter."

The guard returned the Token, his tone changing from indifference to respect.

Quan Cangtian put the Token away.

He entered the city.

Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao followed behind him.

Inside the city.

The streets were broad, lined with shops and pedestrians. Hawkers' cries, the sounds of carriages and horses, and the clamor of the crowds blended together.

Quan Cangtian did not look around.

He raised his head and glanced into the distance.

In the direction of the Royal Academy.

"Let's go."

Two words.

Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao followed.

Royal Academy.

Registration office.

A middle-aged teacher sat behind a desk, holding a feather pen as he registered students.

Quan Cangtian walked over.

"I'm registering."

The teacher looked up.

He glanced at Quan Cangtian.

A six-year-old child.

"Age?"

"Six."

"Soul Power?"

"Level fifteen."

The teacher's pen paused.

He looked up and examined Quan Cangtian again.

Six years old, level fifteen.

That talent...

"Name?"

"Quan Cangtian."

The teacher lowered his head, ready to register him.

Then—

He took a booklet from the drawer and opened it.

The Quan Family's name was written inside.

He froze for a moment.

"You're from the Quan Family?"

"Yes."

Quan Cangtian took out his Token.

When the teacher saw it, his attitude changed.

His earlier professional manner became respectful.

"Young Patriarch, please wait a moment."

He quickly completed the registration, then rose to his feet.

"Your dormitory has been assigned to Zone C 302."

He looked at Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao.

"And these two are..."

"Attendants."

Quan Cangtian said.

"Huo Yuhao will be registered in the boys' dormitory. Xiao Xiao, in the girls' dormitory."

The teacher nodded.

He registered them swiftly.

"Xiao Xiao's dormitory is in Zone D 205."

Xiao Xiao froze for a moment.

She was going to be separated from the Young Patriarch?

But she said nothing.

Quan Cangtian glanced at her.

"If anything happens, find Huo Yuhao."

Xiao Xiao nodded.

"Yes, Young Patriarch."

Zone C.

Dormitory building.

Quan Cangtian and Huo Yuhao entered the corridor.

Lamps hung from the walls, casting down dim yellow light.

Room 302.

The door was open.

A "young man" stood at the doorway.

She had short pink-blue hair and pink-blue eyes, and was extraordinarily beautiful. Her features were delicate, her skin fair, and she wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled to her elbows.

Wang Dong.

Disguised as a boy.

Tang San's daughter.

The instant Quan Cangtian saw her, he knew.

Memories from his past life.

But he did not expose her.

Wang Dong saw them as well.

She frowned slightly.

"This is Room 302."

"Mm."

Quan Cangtian said.

Wang Dong looked at him.

"You two—"

"We're staying here."

Wang Dong's frown deepened.

"I'm assigned to 302."

"We're new arrivals."

"New arrivals?"

Wang Dong's voice turned a little cold.

"I never heard that Room 302 had any vacant beds."

"It does."

Quan Cangtian took out the dormitory assignment slip.

Wang Dong glanced at it.

The writing on it was real.

She fell silent for two seconds.

Then she turned and walked into the dormitory.

She said nothing more.

But her back looked somewhat stiff.

Quan Cangtian watched her retreating figure.

Tang San's daughter...

Interesting.

Inside the dormitory.

There were four beds.

Two by the window, two by the door.

Wang Dong had already claimed one of the window-side beds.

Quan Cangtian walked over to a bed by the door and set down his bundle.

Huo Yuhao went to the other bed by the door.

Wang Dong sat on her own bed with her back to them.

She said nothing.

Quan Cangtian said nothing either.

He sat on the bed and closed his eyes.

Cultivating.

Night fell.

The dormitory quieted down.

Moonlight streamed in through the window and fell across the floor.

Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged on his bed.

His Spirit Eye opened slightly.

A pale golden glow flowed through his pupils.

He began cultivating.

His spiritual power spread outward, sensing everything around him.

Then—

He felt a fluctuation.

It came from Wang Dong's direction.

Huo Yuhao opened his eyes.

He looked toward Wang Dong.

Wang Dong had opened her eyes as well.

Her pink-blue eyes glimmered faintly in the darkness.

The two looked at each other.

Huo Yuhao felt his Spirit Eye resonate with some kind of power within Wang Dong.

It was a very strange feeling.

Like two currents of water meeting in the air.

Wang Dong frowned slightly.

She felt it too.

The Martial Soul within her was stirring.

Light Goddess Butterfly.

It was calling out for something.

Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye?

Wang Dong did not dare release her Martial Soul.

She was afraid of exposing her identity.

Yet the resonance continued.

"Your Martial Soul—"

Wang Dong spoke.

"Yours—"

Huo Yuhao spoke at the same time.

They both stopped.

Wang Dong withdrew her gaze and did not ask again.

Huo Yuhao also withdrew his Spirit Eye and said nothing more.

But they both understood.

That resonance just now had not been an illusion.

Quan Cangtian opened his eyes.

He had seen it.

The exchange of looks between Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.

That resonance.

He knew what it was.

Spirit Eye and Light Goddess Butterfly.

The precursor to Martial Soul Fusion.

He said nothing.

He merely looked out the window.

The moonlight was bright.

Tang San's daughter...

Wang Dong...

Wang Dong lay down.

She closed her eyes.

Her pink-blue eyelashes trembled slightly.

Her mind was filled with the resonance from earlier.

That boy's Martial Soul...

A spiritual attribute.

Very powerful.

And that six-year-old child...

The Quan Family Young Patriarch...

He was no simple person.

Wang Dong turned over.

With her back to Huo Yuhao and Quan Cangtian.

She did not know what would happen next.

But she had a premonition.

The appearance of these three people would change something.

Xiao Xiao was in the girls' dormitory.

Zone D 205.

She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

The Young Patriarch had told her to find Huo Yuhao if she needed anything.

But she did not actually need anything.

She simply felt that...

Following the Young Patriarch was the right thing to do.

Six years old.

Healed Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire.

Entered the Golden Ancient Tree.

Obtained the status of Child of Nature.

And now he had come to Tianhun Royal Academy.

This person...

He was no simple person.

Xiao Xiao closed her eyes.

She cultivated.

There were still things to do tomorrow.

The next morning.

Quan Cangtian opened his eyes.

It was already light outside the window.

Huo Yuhao was awake as well.

Wang Dong was still asleep.

Quan Cangtian stood up.

He walked to the window.

And glanced outside.

Students were already cultivating in the Royal Academy's plaza.

"Get up."

He said softly.

Huo Yuhao got up.

He made his bed.

Wang Dong woke up as well.

She opened her eyes and glanced at Quan Cangtian and Huo Yuhao.

She said nothing.

She sat up and began making her bed.

Three people, in the same dormitory.

Different thoughts.

Different purposes.

But from this day onward, their fates would intertwine.

Quan Cangtian walked out of the dormitory.

Huo Yuhao followed behind him.

Wang Dong came out a little later as well.

She looked at Quan Cangtian's back.

A trace of complicated emotion flashed through her pink-blue eyes.

Then—

She headed in another direction.

She was going to cultivate.

It was not yet time to speak with these people.

Quan Cangtian stopped.

He sensed someone watching him.

He turned around.

It was Wang Dong.

She had already gone far away.

Her short pink-blue hair swayed slightly in the morning light.

Quan Cangtian withdrew his gaze.

"Let's go."

He said softly.

Huo Yuhao nodded.

The two of them headed toward the Cafeteria.

The Cafeteria.

There were many people.

Quan Cangtian found a corner and sat down.

Huo Yuhao went to get food.

Before long, he returned carrying two breakfasts.

"Young Patriarch."

He placed one serving in front of Quan Cangtian.

Quan Cangtian accepted it.

He began to eat.

Huo Yuhao sat across from him and began eating as well.

Neither of them spoke.

But everyone around them was watching.

A six-year-old child.

A Level 16 youth.

The Quan Family's Young Patriarch.

Many people were whispering among themselves.

"Someone from the Quan Family?"

"That six-year-old child?"

"What level is he?"

"I don't know, but he looks like no ordinary person."

Quan Cangtian ignored them.

He simply ate quietly.

Huo Yuhao said nothing either.

He knew the Young Patriarch did not like drawing attention.

After breakfast.

Quan Cangtian stood up.

"To the classroom."

Today was the first day of school.

There would be a placement test.

Huo Yuhao nodded.

The two walked out of the Cafeteria.

Wang Dong was at the entrance.

She had just finished breakfast and was preparing to go to class.

When she saw Quan Cangtian and Huo Yuhao, she paused.

Then—

She turned around and headed in another direction.

She did not greet them.

Quan Cangtian glanced at her back.

He smiled.

Tang San's daughter...

As expected, she was tsundere.

The classroom.

It was already full.

Quan Cangtian walked in.

Everyone's eyes turned toward him.

A six-year-old child.

The Quan Family's Young Patriarch.

Many people were whispering among themselves.

But Quan Cangtian ignored them.

He walked to the last row and sat down.

Huo Yuhao sat beside him.

Wang Dong entered a little later.

She glanced at Quan Cangtian, then went to sit on the other side.

Three people, in the same classroom.

But far apart.

The teacher walked in.

He was a middle-aged man in a gray robe, with sharp eyes.

"On the first day of school, there will be a placement test."

He said.

"Everyone, gather at the Martial Arts Arena."

Quan Cangtian stood up.

Huo Yuhao followed suit.

Wang Dong stood up as well.

Everyone headed toward the Martial Arts Arena.

The Martial Arts Arena.

It was an empty plaza surrounded by stands.

The students stood in the center.

The teacher stood before them.

"The first test is a Soul Power test."

He said.

"Step forward one at a time."

Quan Cangtian stood at the very back.

He was in no hurry.

The testing began.

The students stepped forward one by one and placed their hands on the Testing Stone.

Their Soul Power levels appeared.

Some were Level 10, some were Level 12, and some were Level 15.

Wang Dong stepped forward.

She placed her hand on the Testing Stone.

Light flared.

Level 19.

A wave of astonished murmurs rose from the crowd.

"Level 19!"

"That 'boy' is so strong!"

Wang Dong withdrew her hand, her expression calm.

She returned to the group without looking at anyone.

Huo Yuhao stepped forward.

He placed his hand on the Testing Stone.

Light flared.

Level 16.

Another wave of astonished murmurs rose around them.

"Level 16!"

"He's strong too!"

Huo Yuhao withdrew his hand and returned to Quan Cangtian's side.

Finally, Quan Cangtian stepped forward.

Everyone watched him.

A six-year-old child.

What level would he be?

Quan Cangtian placed his hand on the Testing Stone.

Light flared.

A pale golden light.

Then—

The number appeared.

Level 15.

The crowd collectively sucked in a breath.

"Level 15!"

"He's only six!"

"The Quan Family's Young Patriarch..."

"As expected of someone so gifted!"

Quan Cangtian withdrew his hand.

His expression remained calm.

He walked back to Huo Yuhao's side.

He did not look at anyone.

The teacher looked at the number on the Testing Stone.

Level 15.

Six years old.

That talent...

He noted down Quan Cangtian's name.

Then the testing continued.

The testing ended.

The teacher announced the class assignments.

"Class One: Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, Quan Cangtian..."

A commotion broke out around them.

"Those three are in the same class?"

"That's far too strong!"

"Class One is going to be unstoppable this year!"

Quan Cangtian stood where he was without speaking.

Huo Yuhao said nothing either.

Wang Dong glanced at Quan Cangtian, then looked away.

Three people, in the same class.

The gears of fate meshed together and began to turn.