Heavenly Micro, Heavenly Supreme, Heaven Dou

"Hello, Dai Zhuang. I'm Zhou Pang, the director of instruction."

A middle-aged man sat across from Dai Xuanyu and introduced himself.

At that, Dai Xuanyu quickly stood and replied respectfully, "Hello, Director Zhou."

For now, he was a collateral member of the Star Luo Imperial Family, so a certain degree of respect was only proper.

At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where nearly every student was a noble, Dai Zhuang's status alone would not have earned him such courtesy if he had not been an exchange student from another empire.

This so-called director of instruction would not have been nearly so polite.

After all, the information Dai Xuanyu had gathered showed that Zhou Pang was known at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for his iron face.

"No need to be so formal, Dai Zhuang."

"You exchange students were sent by the Star Luo Empire. You symbolize the friendship between our two nations."

"Besides, you'll be studying at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for at least the next three years. Just think of this place as your home."

"If you run into any trouble, whether in daily life or your studies, come to me. The academy will do its best to resolve it for you."

Zhou Pang spoke with a chuckle, his manner as kindly as could be.

Dai Xuanyu naturally understood what Zhou Pang was trying to say.

You're an exchange student, so your status is special. Our academy will treat you with the utmost courtesy.

If anything goes wrong, tell the academy and we'll settle it privately. Whatever you do, don't let it become a diplomatic incident.

"By the way, the academy provides certain subsidies for exchange students like you."

Zhou Pang went on to explain the benefits available to exchange students:

"Your tuition, accommodation, and uniforms are all free. You'll also receive a monthly food allowance of one hundred Gold Soul Coins..."

"Then I must thank the academy," Dai Xuanyu replied, going along with him.

He already knew all this.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy would provide subsidies for them;

likewise, Star Luo Royal Academy would provide corresponding subsidies for the exchange students sent by Heaven Dou.

Once Zhou Pang had finished explaining the benefits and subsidies,

he finally got down to business and began introducing Heaven Dou Royal Academy's rules and regulations.

After a brief pause, he spoke again:

"Dai Zhuang, let me explain some of the academy's rules and how its staff and students are organized."

"At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, both teachers and students are divided into three levels."

"These levels are determined by their Soul Power."

"New students whose Soul Power Level is below twenty-five are placed at Heavenly Micro Level. Those between level twenty-five and level thirty are at Heavenly Supreme Level. As for those above level thirty, they enter the highest level: Heaven Dou Grade."

"Then, Director Zhou, will I be assigned to a Heavenly Supreme Level class?" Dai Xuanyu asked, though he already knew the answer.

"That's right." Zhou Pang nodded, then added, "But as you know, Heaven Dou Royal Academy only has a little over five hundred students."

"So we don't have many classrooms. The ones we do have are large."

"Apart from the regular lectures for each level, everyone generally cultivates on their own..."

"You, Dai Zhuang, have been assigned to Heavenly Supreme Class One. As it happens, you'll be the only exchange student in that class."

Heaven Dou Royal Academy really is lax.

Even though Dai Xuanyu had known this already, he could not help complaining inwardly.

The arrangement was much like a university in his previous life.

Among the noble students at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, those merely coasting through were undoubtedly far more numerous than those who studied seriously.

After all, some noble children attended Heaven Dou Royal Academy only to make a show of it and build connections.

"Knock, knock-knock..."

Just then, someone knocked on the reception room door.

"Come in, Teacher Qin," Zhou Pang called toward the door. He then explained to Dai Xuanyu, "The teacher coming in is the homeroom teacher of your Heavenly Supreme Class One."

Qin Ming? Dai Xuanyu's expression remained unchanged, though a flicker of surprise passed through his mind.

If none of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's dozens of teachers shared that name,

then this Qin Ming was probably the one who had graduated from Shrek Academy in the original story.

At the same moment, the reception room door opened.

Dai Xuanyu saw the Qin Ming Zhou Pang had mentioned.

He looked to be in his twenties, with ordinary features, plain black hair, and simple, unadorned clothes.

What a coincidence. Dai Xuanyu recognized his face at once.

Compared with his appearance at thirty-four in the original story, Qin Ming was only twenty-six or twenty-seven now.

Truthfully, Dai Xuanyu had not expected such a coincidence.

He had done nothing to influence which class he would enter.

Doing so would have drawn too much attention.

He had meant to let things take their course, only to end up in Qin Ming's class.

Sometimes things simply worked out that way.

"Dai Zhuang, Teacher Qin teaches at our Heavenly Supreme Level."

"At just twenty-six, he's already a level-fifty-five Soul King."

Zhou Pang hurried to introduce Qin Ming, pride filling his voice.

A talent like that had become a teacher at their academy, after all.

While he was at it, Zhou Pang also explained how the academy ranked its teachers.

"Hello, Teacher Qin. I'm Dai Zhuang." Dai Xuanyu rose slightly in greeting.

He knew Qin Ming all too well.

By the time Qin Ming turned thirty-four, he would break through to Soul Emperor and become the second-youngest Soul Emperor on the continent.

In terms of talent, Qin Ming truly was quite good.

Unfortunately, he had taken the wrong path: first getting stuck at Shrek Academy,

then becoming a teacher here, and later leading the Imperial Fighting Team.

Dai Xuanyu kept a respectful expression, but his thoughts had turned to something else.

I wonder if Dugu Yan and the others are in Qin Ming's class now.

If they are, getting close to them will be much easier.

Qin Ming smiled warmly and said, "Hello, Dai Zhuang. Starting today, I'll be your homeroom teacher."

"All right, Teacher Qin. Take Dai Zhuang to settle into his dormitory, then bring him to class," Zhou Pang instructed.

"Come with me, Dai Zhuang."

"All right, Teacher Qin."

And so, with Qin Ming leading the way, Dai Xuanyu first went to the dormitory where he would live for at least the next three years.

Why "at least"?

Because that depended on Dai Xuanyu's progress.

The Star Luo Empire had been vague about how long the exchange would last, saying only that it would be at least three years.

But to the Heaven Dou Empire, that was good news.

All signs suggested that the Star Luo Empire really was changing its ways and preparing to coexist in peace.