A Fresh Start at the Academy

"A genius! Did you hear what level he is? Level 37! He's actually level 37! How is that possible?!"

"Look at his Martial Soul. It's so strange!"

"What's strange about it? Isn't it fierce and imposing? I never imagined a plant Martial Soul could look like that. I've never seen anything like it!"

"Could Plant Academy be on the rise?!"

"..."

The crowd buzzed with discussion. Some eyes shone with excitement, while others were full of doubt.

Jin Yang understood their reactions. After all, Sunflower still looked as though he had stepped out of a nightmare.

"Jin Yang, let's go inside. I'll show you around the campus first."

The teacher in charge of testing rose with a smile, left his seat, and walked over to Jin Yang.

Another teacher who had been standing by promptly took his place and began testing the next applicant.

"My name is Xuan Qing. I teach combat theory. Perhaps you'll end up in my class."

Xuan Qing had a gentle manner and spoke at an unhurried pace, like a warm spring breeze.

It was easy to feel at ease around him.

Xuan Qing did not take Jin Yang straight into Plant Academy.

Instead, he first led him over to Ye Nanzhu.

"Director Ye, this is our new student, Jin Yang. His Martial Soul is the Smiling Sunflower, and his Soul Power is level 37."

Ye Nanzhu nodded. "Excellent. He's a genius. If I remember correctly, Yao Zi is still only a Soul Elder, isn't she? Put Jin Yang under your care. Give him more resources and train him well. He's sure to accomplish great things."

"Our Plant Advanced Soul Master Academy will be competing in the continent-wide Soul Master Tournament in two years. Perhaps we can send Jin Yang to try his hand at it then."

In just a few words, Ye Nanzhu had already mapped out Jin Yang's future.

Ye Nanzhu turned to Jin Yang. "My boy, Plant Advanced Soul Master Academy needs geniuses like you. We're honored to have you join us. Welcome to the academy."

"Go on in."

Jin Yang was about to follow Xuan Qing when he remembered the recommendation letter Huisinuo had written for him. He had not yet given it to anyone at Plant Academy. He quickly took the envelope from his Storage Soul Tool and handed it to Ye Nanzhu.

"What's this?"

"It's a recommendation letter. The Spirit Hall bishop who wrote it for me is named Huisinuo. Bishop Huisinuo said it would let me enroll without taking the entrance test."

"Huisinuo? Hasn't he retired?"

Ye Nanzhu did not dwell on it, though. He took the letter.

As he read, Ye Nanzhu said, "My boy, we'd have waived your entrance test even without a recommendation letter."

Ye Nanzhu soon finished reading. He let out a long sigh and carefully put the letter away.

Then he looked back at Jin Yang. "Huisinuo and I are old friends. We both graduated from Plant Advanced Soul Master Academy.

"But I've since advanced to an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo, extending my lifespan. Huisinuo, though... What a pity."

"Even without Huisinuo's recommendation letter, your talent alone would have been enough for us to waive the test and make your training a priority.

"Go on in. You've had a tiring journey these past few days, so get some proper rest first."

At that, Xuan Qing led Jin Yang into Plant Advanced Soul Master Academy.

The academy grounds were vast and open, with greenery everywhere he looked.

The fresh scent of trees filled the air, clearing his head.

Harmless plant Soul Beasts less than a century old could be seen everywhere. Jin Yang even spotted a grove of Lone Bamboo.

Noticing Jin Yang looking at the grove, Xuan Qing explained, "There wasn't any Lone Bamboo there originally. Then a student planted one stalk, and more and more grew until it became this grove. With the teachers and students caring for it together, that first stalk is now over a thousand years old."

Thousand-year Lone Bamboo?

The sight of the grove made Jin Yang think of Tang San.

If Tang San used that thousand-year Lone Bamboo as a Soul Ring, would he really gain a Blue Silver pole-vaulting Soul Skill?

"If you're interested in bamboo shoots, our cafeteria serves dishes made with Lone Bamboo shoots. They're quite good. You should try some."

"Try not to visit the hill behind the school too often, especially alone. Thousand-year Soul Beasts sometimes appear there."

"Our annual tuition is... No, no. With your talent, the academy will waive your tuition."

"Now that you've come to our academy..."

The two talked as they walked.

Xuan Qing showed Jin Yang the teaching buildings, library, cafeteria, and other facilities.

Finally, he took him to the dormitory.

The dorm rooms at Plant Advanced Soul Master Academy housed two students each and stood not far from the teaching buildings.

Even at a leisurely pace, the walk from the dormitory to the teaching buildings took only five minutes.

"Because of your strength, I haven't put you in the freshman dorms. I'm afraid you'll have to make do with a student from last year's intake." Xuan Qing looked apologetic. "But don't worry. Once all the students have enrolled, I'll try to get you a room of your own."

Xuan Qing collected a key from the dorm supervisor, took Jin Yang up to the fifth floor, and stopped outside Room 501. He knocked, but no one answered.

"Our dorm rooms are all doubles. Your roommate isn't here, so he must have gone out. Go ahead and unpack and make your bed. Do you need any help?"

"No, thank you, Teacher Xuan Qing. I can manage. Please get back to your work."

"All right. If you run into any trouble, come find me. My office is on the fourth floor of the teaching building."

With that, Xuan Qing hurried off.

Jin Yang looked around the room and found nothing dirty. The older student living here seemed reasonably tidy.

Jin Yang did not mind sharing, even though he could not have a room to himself.

Perhaps it was because, in his previous life, he had spent so long in four-person and eight-person dorm rooms that dormitory living was in his bones. That was probably why he felt so little about it.

After unpacking, Jin Yang washed up. Rather than meditate in place of sleep, he lay down.

Half a month of jolting travel had left him exhausted. For food, clothing, and every other necessity, he had followed the caravan's arrangements.

Even though his physical endurance was now several times that of an ordinary person, he still felt worn out.

He did not know how much time had passed.

Jin Yang heard a key turning in the dormitory door.

He opened his eyes. A boy of about fifteen or sixteen, with black hair, black eyes, and an ordinary face, pushed the door open. He wore a green school uniform.

The newcomer spotted Jin Yang sitting on the bed and smiled instinctively. "Hello, new roommate. I'm Jiang Yan, a level 33 Soul Master."

"Hello. I'm Jin Yang, a level 37 Soul Master."

"What? Your Soul Power is level 37?"

Jiang Yan cried out in surprise.

After all, Jiang Yan was already among the top students of his year at Plant Advanced Soul Master Academy.

After just one year at the academy, he had reached level 33 Soul Power.

Yet here was someone even stronger, already at level 37 upon enrollment.

"What made you choose Plant Advanced Soul Master Academy? With talent like yours, shouldn't you be going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy or Spirit Hall Academy?!"

Jiang Yan was utterly baffled. He could not understand why someone with such talent would pass up the best schools.

Instead, Jin Yang had come to Plant Advanced Soul Master Academy, a school with nothing to boast about except its deep research into plant Martial Souls.