First Arrival at Spirit Hall Academy

"This child Xiao Nian has half the charm I had in my prime."

"Pah! You shameless old fool. Xiao Nian isn't like you, his teacher, who chased after Cuihua every day when he was six, practically begging to be someone else's lapdog."

"Hey, you old bastard. Your skin's itching again, isn't it?"

On the way back, the two sworn brothers, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, carried Xu Peinian on their backs and transmitted their voices in secret, bickering without pause.

Two years passed quietly.

In the forest behind the mountain.

Xu Peinian, who had once looked like a child, began to shoot up, growing into a youth resembling a twelve- or thirteen-year-old from his previous life.

The Netherworld Blade in Xu Peinian's hand whistled through the air, each movement of his saber technique smooth and fierce.

Ever since obtaining his first soul ring, a saber technique called the Netherworld Three Forms had appeared in Xu Peinian's mind. The first time he practiced it, he had sensed how extraordinary it was.

But for now, he had only mastered the first form, Netherworld Soul-Luring.

Unlike his first soul skill, Netherworld Demon Slash, which was broad and forceful, the first form, Netherworld Soul-Luring, emphasized striking silently, using nether energy to lock down the soul. Combined with ghostly footwork, it made every move like a ghostly messenger delivering a death notice.

No matter how Xu Peinian practiced the latter two forms, he could only grasp their shape, not their meaning. He could only wait until his strength improved before trying to see whether he could use them.

Now that he had the footwork paired with the first form, Xu Peinian no longer needed to hack and slash like a brute. His movements had become more nimble and elegant, giving him far greater confidence whether killing enemies or fleeing for his life.

"Young Master Xu, it's time."

The familiar Spirit Hall guard at his side gave a quiet reminder.

"Got it. I'm leaving right away," Xu Peinian replied, breathing slightly heavily.

For the past two years, he had set aside time every day to visit Qian Daoliu and his teachers at the Elder Hall. While seeking their guidance, he also took the opportunity to deepen his relationship with them.

It had to be said that everyone in the Elder Hall was an elderly, lonely old man.

Take the Grand Worshiper, Qian Daoliu, for example. His son, Qian Xunji, had been killed by Tang Hao. His granddaughter, Qian Renxue, had gone undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire when she was young. His only "daughter-in-law" in Pope Hall, Bibi Dong, hated his entire family to the bone, making contact between them impossible.

Qian Daoliu had lived alone for more than a decade. Only after Xu Peinian arrived and showed him care every day did the loneliness in his heart find some comfort.

Xu Peinian changed into a clean, fresh set of clothes, then left the back mountain and arrived before the Elder Hall.

"Good afternoon, Grandpa Golden Crocodile."

"Ah, Xiao Nian. You're here to visit us old fogies again?" Golden Crocodile Douluo said with a genial smile.

That was right. Over the past two years, Xu Peinian had relied on his obedient, sensible nature and sweet tongue to build good relationships with every worshiper in the Elder Hall. The seven great worshipers could all be considered both his teachers and elders.

Since his previous life, Xu Peinian had understood one truth: when making one's way in the world, connections and backing mattered.

Just like now, he was a man protected by Spirit Hall's seven great worshipers. At such a young age, he was already one of the best-connected people on the entire continent.

Anyone who wanted to touch him would first have to ask whether the seven worshiper grandpas behind him agreed.

After chatting with Golden Crocodile Douluo for a while, Xu Peinian entered the Elder Hall and went directly to find Qian Daoliu.

He had not come merely to chat today. Qian Daoliu had said he wanted to see him about something.

Xu Peinian pushed the door open and entered. He happened to see Qian Daoliu standing by the window, gazing into the distance, with only his profile facing him.

"Grandpa Qian, what did you want to see me about?" Xu Peinian's voice echoed through the room.

Only then did Qian Daoliu turn around. His expression was stern, unlike his usual gentle demeanor.

"Xiao Nian, Grandpa wants to confirm something with you."

For no reason, a trace of panic arose in Xu Peinian's heart. But on second thought, he had done nothing wrong, so what was there to fear?

"Go ahead, Grandpa Qian."

"Are you sure you want to attend Spirit Hall Academy?" Qian Daoliu asked with a stern face.

??? That was it?

Xu Peinian had thought it was some earth-shattering matter to make the head of the Elder Hall so serious. In the end, it was merely the matter he had mentioned before—wanting to study at Spirit Hall Academy.

"Grandpa Qian, I'm sure."

"You won't reconsider? Are us old men not better teachers than those instructors?" Qian Daoliu asked unwillingly.

Only then did Xu Peinian understand. Qian Daoliu was reluctant to let him leave his side, even though Spirit Hall Academy was only a short distance away at the foot of the Sacred Mountain.

Thinking of how a dignified level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo, the guardian of the Angel God and the Grand Worshiper of Spirit Hall, was treating a child leaving home to study as if facing a great enemy—

Xu Peinian could not help but laugh and cry as he comforted him.

"Don't worry, Grandpa Qian. Even if I go down the mountain to study at Spirit Hall Academy, I'll come back often to see you and all the other grandpas."

Although Xu Peinian had indeed deliberately gotten close to them at first, feelings grew over time. Having been an orphan for several years, he had naturally developed genuine affection during these two years with them.

He truly regarded these lonely old men, feared by the outside world but actually lovable, as his family.

"Ah, Xiao Nian has grown up. He has his own ideas now. Us old fellows can't control him anymore."

After a pause, Qian Daoliu seemed to have aged greatly. He waved his hand tiredly and said,

"Fine, fine. Go. If anyone dares bully you, remember to tell me or the other grandpas."

Qian Daoliu knew that Xu Peinian's strength was already close to that of a Soul Elder. Entering Spirit Hall Academy would naturally pose no problem, so he did not mention its entry requirements.

"Alright, Grandpa Qian. Then I'll be going."

Xu Peinian waved goodbye to the white-clad old man behind the desk, then closed the door behind him and left.

Meanwhile,

Spirit Hall Academy's girls' dormitory.

A beautiful figure sitting cross-legged on a bed slowly opened her seductive fox-like eyes.

The girl did not look very old, only thirteen or fourteen at most, but the curves on her chest were already quite impressive. It was clear just how stunning her figure would become in the future.

"This is... the academy dormitory? Wasn't I fighting with that vixen Qian Renxue?"

Her slightly husky, magnetic voice broke the room's silence. Combined with her hazy gaze, full red lips gently moving, and bewitching appearance, she was utterly enchanting. Any man who saw this scene would surely become captivated.

"Huh? My chest feels much lighter, and my hands have gotten smaller too. Could it be..."

The girl immediately picked up a mirror and examined herself, then froze on the spot.

"I've been reborn?!"

An incredulous murmur escaped her rosy lips. Her unfocused gaze fixed on the floor as though she were trying to process the fact that she had been reborn.

After a moment, having accepted the truth, the seductive girl tucked her orange-yellow hair behind her ear. Her fox-like eyes narrowed into long slits, and her voice became soft and alluring.

"Heaven really is helping me. Qian Renxue, and all those other vixens, this time, don't even think about taking A-Nian from me."

"A-Nian can only be mine!"

As her words fell, a small pink tongue swept across her soft upper lip, and an unhealthy flush rose to her face.