Stealing a Soul Bone, Meeting the Crown Prince, and Entering Heaven Dou Royal Academy

"What a bunch of pests. Still, the corners of Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's lips smelled really nice. Why was there a hint of mint?"

"Relying on just my external soul bone and Spark Lance won't cut it for flying. Improving my flight capabilities in the short term is going to be tough. Let me think... I've got it! The Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Bone!"

With a rushing whoosh, the Spark Lance shot toward Sunset Forest like a supersonic aircraft.

As the sun sank in the west, he arrived at Sunset Forest.

"Why is this place so creepy? Tang Hao actually left his wife in this godforsaken dump? Is he nuts?"

After he walked straight ahead for about an hour, the sound of rushing water echoed through a valley. Ancient trees blotted out the sky, leaving everything dark and damp.

"I remember it being inside this cave!" Once Xiao Ran confirmed that no one was around, he entered the cave a short distance away.

A slender blade of grass lay quietly on the ground.

"Where's the soul bone?"

Xiao Ran searched the entire cave before finally finding a box in a narrow crevice high above.

"Oh, Tang Hao, Tang Hao. Since you can't even protect your own wife, I'll protect her for you."

Xiao Ran eagerly opened the box. Inside lay a right-leg soul bone, glowing a clear, crystalline blue-gold, with starlight flickering slowly within it.

"How beautiful! It's even prettier than my Yin-Yang Butterfly Wings. With this and my butterfly wings, I'll be able to run away even faster."

"I shouldn't linger here." After putting the box into Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night, Xiao Ran erased his tracks on the ground and hurried out.

Just as he was about to leave the forest, light footsteps reached his ears. Two people in splendid clothing approached.

One was an old man with graying hair and beard; the other carried himself with regal elegance.

That person looks so familiar. Holy shit, it's Qian Renxue! No, technically, it's Xue Qinghe right now! Amid Xiao Ran's surprise, a crafty idea began to take shape.

I can use this chance to get into Heaven Dou Royal Academy!

The old man was leading the way and happened to come face-to-face with Xiao Ran.

"Where did you come from, you little brat? What are you doing here?" The old man waved his hand dismissively.

Xiao Ran's clothes were covered in grime from his earlier battles. Even a rat would have given him a wide berth.

At that moment, the young man beside the elder stopped his hand and stepped forward. "Young brother, why are you here alone? Are you hunting soul beasts?"

Xiao Ran pretended not to recognize him. "Sir, I was on my way to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but as I passed this place, my pet cat ran into the forest. I couldn't find it, and I didn't dare venture any deeper, so I came back out."

"Oh, I see. To tell you the truth, young brother, I am Xue Qinghe, crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Ah! G-greetings, Your Highness." Xiao Ran put on another act, bowing his head to Qian Renxue with feigned reverence.

"If you wish to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, there's no need for you to take the entrance tests. I can see that you're talented. Since fate brought us together today, I'll grant you this Crown Prince's Token. With it, you can bypass all entrance assessments and enroll directly."

"Ah? Thank you, Your Highness! I shall do everything in my power to cultivate diligently and serve the empire!" Xiao Ran bowed at a ninety-degree angle.

"Very well, I'll be on my way. If the opportunity arises, we shall meet again," Xue Qinghe said unhurriedly.

"All right, Your Highness! I'll be leaving as well."

"Oh my, could Qian Renxue have fallen for me? Xiao Xue, I like you too." Xiao Ran clearly had romance on the brain, to spout such wishful nonsense.

"Your Highness, why did you help that brat when you don't even know him?" the accompanying elder asked Xue Qinghe in confusion.

Xue Qinghe was thinking ahead. "Elder Wang, that boy doesn't seem ordinary to me. His soul power fluctuations are unusual, and he's already a Soul Elder at such a young age. His future achievements are bound to be extraordinary. If we befriend him now, he might become a great asset to our empire someday."

"Your Highness is wise!" The attendant raised his hands in a respectful salute.

After leaving the forest, Xiao Ran arrived at a nearby town.

"Innkeeper, I'd like a room."

Inside his room, Xiao Ran activated an Isolation Barrier to prevent anyone from disturbing him while he absorbed the soul bone.

As he channeled his soul power, the Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Bone pressed into his right leg, its blue-gold radiance seeping into his body.

It was not until the following morning that Xiao Ran awoke from a pleasant dream.

"Mmm..." Xiao Ran gave a leisurely stretch.

"As expected of a hundred thousand year soul bone. My physical strength and spiritual power probably rival a Soul King's now."

Most importantly, this soul bone could let Xiao Ran fly! It also possessed the ability "Wildfire cannot burn it all away; the spring breeze brings it back to life," granting exceptionally powerful healing.

System notification

Congratulations, host, on obtaining the Blue Silver Grass Right Leg Soul Bone. Loading into the Ultraman universe... Loading complete. Congratulations, host, on receiving one random card draw. Please confirm whether you wish to draw.

"Draw!"

...Card draw complete. Congratulations, host, on obtaining Ultraman Tiga's beam technique—Zeperion Ray.

"Badass. Nice, very nice. I'm satisfied."

The scene shifted, and Xiao Ran was already soaring through the air.

Chinese people could fly!

"Hahaha! My Ginga can finally fly! Now this is what an Ultraman should be! Let's go!"

"Destination: Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"

After only a short flight, Xiao Ran arrived at the Heaven Dou Empire's foremost institution—Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

A plaque bearing golden lettering hung over its towering stone gates. Stone griffins stood on either side, and guards waited at the entrance.

"Whoa! This is worlds better than that pile of dog shit, Shrek. Even the plaque is made of gold! I must have been blind to go to Shrek."

Taking in the academy's grandeur, Xiao Ran could not wait another moment.

He sprinted toward the academy gates.

"Where did this little punk come from? You've got the nerve to try to enter dressed like that? Get lost! Don't disturb us while we're on duty." A guard glanced at Xiao Ran and began cursing at him.

"Sir Guard, don't you think it's a little ridiculous for a mere academy guard to be this arrogant?" Xiao Ran demanded, hands on his hips.

"Ridiculous? You're the ridiculous one! I can't be bothered to waste my breath on you. Get lost, or I'll beat you until you crawl away!"

"Sigh. I didn't want to reveal my identity, but you just had to force me. Here, take a look at this. Let it blind those twenty-four-karat titanium-alloy eyes of yours, you dog." Xiao Ran produced the Crown Prince's Token.

"Th-this is... the Crown Prince's Token?" The guard rubbed his eyes to make sure he had not mistaken it.

"Haha... Sir, you're the real authority here. Let's talk this over calmly. I'll let you in right away."

"Good work. Where's your Education Committee hall?"

"Go straight ahead. There's a large hall right in the center. That's the one." The guard hurriedly pointed the way, nodding and bowing.

Upon reaching the central Education Committee hall, Xiao Ran used the token to pass inside without any obstruction.

Three elderly men sat in the center of the hall.

Center: Meng Shenji (Chief of the Education Committee, Rank 86 Soul Douluo)

Left: Bai Baoshan (Rank 85 Soul Douluo)

Right: Zhi Lin (Rank 83 Soul Douluo)