Jin Yang: Bibi Dong wouldn't turn me into a gift, would she?

Jin Yang was not surprised that Yao Zi was the top student at Plant Academy.

In the original story, Yao Zi had stood head and shoulders above most of Plant Academy's students. Otherwise, she could never have led their team to the Whole Continent Soul Master Tournament.

Unfortunately, Plant Academy had only made a brief appearance at the tournament, serving as little more than an also-ran. They had not even reached the finals.

"If you're the top student at Plant Academy, you must be really strong."

No sooner had Jin Yang finished speaking than Jiang Yan eagerly chimed in. "Of course she is! She's already a level thirty-nine Soul Elder."

"Jiang Yan!"

Jiang Yan nimbly ducked behind Jin Yang.

"Yao Zi! I... what did I say wrong?"

"Have you already broken through to level forty?"

Jiang Yan's eyes lit up as he looked at Yao Zi with admiration written all over his face.

"Not yet." Yao Zi shrugged.

Still, although she had not reached level forty, judging by her expression, it was probably only a matter of time.

"Never mind me. Focus on your cultivation. You might still have a chance to earn one of Plant Academy's places in the Whole Continent Soul Master Tournament two years from now."

Yao Zi spoke with the frustration of someone who wished iron would turn into steel.

"Yao Zi, you know what I'm like... how could I possibly manage that?"

"Where there's a will, there's a way. Don't you agree, Jin Yang?"

Yao Zi turned her gentle gaze back to Jin Yang.

She wondered what martial soul this new junior student had.

There was a warmth about him that made her feel very comfortable.

"Jin Yang, just as my brother said, if you run into any trouble at Plant Academy, you can come to me."

The lovely girl before him patted her chest, brimming with a confidence that made it hard not to believe her.

"Thank you," Jin Yang replied politely.

After chatting a little longer, Jin Yang said goodbye to them both.

Yao Zi called Jiang Yan away to train.

That left Jin Yang wandering the academy alone. Plant Academy was enormous, and walking around by himself always made time seem to drag on endlessly.

Seeing no one nearby, Jin Yang simply released his martial soul.

He clambered onto Sunflower's leaf on his hands and knees, then directed him to move forward.

Although Sunflower was not especially fast, riding him saved effort and was much quicker than walking. It was excellent value.

At this hour, the students at Plant Academy all seemed to have classes or training to attend.

Jin Yang deliberately took the smaller paths. There was no one around, only birdsong and the chirping of insects.

In that peaceful setting, Jin Yang began reflecting on his recent actions and mindset.

He realized he had grown far too full of himself over the past few years, and far too arrogant.

All I did was beat the stuffing out of Tang San, the chosen son of the Douluo Continent plane, for a few years. How did I end up losing all sense of danger?

Tang San suffered at my hands, so Tang Hao will definitely have him take revenge himself.

I've kept bullying Tang San all this time just because Tang Hao hasn't laid a hand on me. I really have been getting arrogant.

How did I get to the point where I don't even take a Titled Douluo seriously?

How could I tell other people about my first soul skill so easily?

His growing strength had indeed sent his confidence soaring. Yet no matter how dramatically his power increased at his current stage, could he possibly compare to a Soul Emperor, a Soul Saint, or even a Soul Douluo or Titled Douluo?

The answer was clearly no.

There was only one path before him now.

He had to join Spirit Hall.

But joining Spirit Hall would not make him entirely safe, either.

After all, Bibi Dong was currently the Pope of Spirit Hall.

Given Bibi Dong's ambitions, Qian Daoliu's oversight and Jin Yang's own value might keep her from subjecting him to torture, but she certainly would not let him have his freedom.

Besides, he was already Yu Xiaogang's mortal enemy.

Spirit Hall had been the one to send Yu Xiaogang back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. With what had happened to Yu Xiaogang, Spirit Hall could hardly escape blame.

Bibi Dong must already know the reason behind it. If she discovered him first...

At that thought, Jin Yang shivered...

Ugh... Bibi Dong wouldn't wrap me up as a gift and send me to Yu Xiaogang, would she?

The only person he could truly turn to now was Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined. Only Qian Daoliu.

A Limit Douluo, the strongest person on the continent.

Other than attaining godhood, he lacked nothing.

As the most powerful figure behind Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu could offer him protection, so long as he became his disciple.

Every crisis he currently faced would then unravel like bamboo beneath a blade.

But how was he supposed to contact Qian Daoliu?

After all, the Douluos of the Worship Hall spent most of their time in seclusion, and their movements were shrouded in mystery.

Should I approach the bishop of Spirit Hall in Plant City?

There was no guarantee that the bishop was not loyal to Bibi Dong.

Should I go myself?

But how could he draw Qian Daoliu's attention without Bibi Dong finding out?

That seemed very difficult, too.

His single-track thinking had led him to a path blocked at both ends.

After considering it for a while, Jin Yang decided to go through Plant Academy. Having existed for so many years, the academy must have some way to contact the previous Pope, or the Pope before him.

With that thought, Jin Yang immediately took action, directing Sunflower to turn around and head for the teaching building.

Roots and stems flailed along the way as Jin Yang barreled back to the foot of the teaching building.

Ye Nanzhu had just returned to his office when he heard a knock at the door.

"Come in."

"Director Ye."

Jin Yang paused, seemingly gathering his words.

"I have a few thoughts about my first soul skill..."

Jin Yang told Ye Nanzhu what he had in mind.

After listening, Ye Nanzhu considered it for a moment. "That could work. The dean was once acquainted with Great Enshrined Qian Daoliu. It may be worth a try."

Seeing that it was feasible, Ye Nanzhu wasted no time and took Jin Yang straight to the dean.

The dean's office seemed steeped in the weariness of old age. The lighting was dim, the furniture worn, and the decorations all around seemed unlike anything found on the Douluo Continent in this era.

Once they entered the dean's office, Ye Nanzhu got straight to the point and explained why they had come.

The thin old man seated behind the desk, his head covered in white hair and his face lined with wrinkles, tapped the desk with his index finger as he pondered.

"That could work. Looking at the time, I'm due to visit the Great Enshrined anyway. How about this? We'll leave in three days. You..."

The dean extended his aged index finger and pointed at Jin Yang.

"Dean, my name is Jin Yang."

"Good, Jin Yang. Don't be anxious. We'll give it a try this time, but there's no guarantee we'll succeed.

Becoming the Great Enshrined's disciple is no easy matter. Still, even getting a chance to appear before Qian Daoliu and become a familiar face would be worthwhile.

Whether we succeed or not, our academy will continue to keep your first soul skill strictly confidential. You can rest assured of that.

From the moment you enrolled, you became a part of Plant Academy. That will not change now, nor will it change in the future.

Plants are like that. In the end, they must sink their roots deep into the earth, and Plant Academy is willing to be the soil that receives those roots."

A gentle light flickered in the dean's dim, yellowed eyes, like the last tender leaf growing on a withered tree.

"I understand, Dean."

After hearing the dean's words.

The unease Jin Yang felt over his first soul skill eased considerably.

Since the dean had said that, he could afford to wait another couple of days.

Only those two people knew about his soul skill.

Both seemed trustworthy.