Heaven Dou City, the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire!
It was the political heart and seat of power of the entire empire.
It was also one of the two largest cities on the entire continent.
Its prosperity was easy to imagine.
Towering outer walls, stern guards, magnificent buildings, bustling streets, and surging crowds!
Every one of them proclaimed the city's might and splendor.
If the world outside resembled an ancient dynasty...
Then this place felt more like a modern metropolis.
Though there were no skyscrapers, grand houses and private courtyards were everywhere.
"Pah, pah, pah. No matter the world or the era, the strong always devour the weak~"
Looking at the scene before him, Lin Mo could not help sighing.
He felt more and more that the Spirit Hall's practice of awakening Martial Souls for commoners was meaningful.
At the very least, it gave ordinary people at the bottom a chance to climb upward.
That much deserved recognition.
"Hey, student! Wait a moment!"
Just as Lin Mo was looking around, a call came from up ahead.
He instinctively turned toward it and saw a young man with short brown hair.
The man wore an expensive uniform and clearly was no ordinary person.
"Are you calling me?"
Lin Mo tilted his head and asked in confusion.
I don't think I know this man, do I?
"Of course. You're a student at Shrek Academy, aren't you?"
The young man approached and asked with a smile.
At the same time, he pointed at the badge on Lin Mo's chest.
A lifelike monster was engraved on it.
It was the academy badge Flender had given him.
He had told Lin Mo to remember to spread Shrek Academy's mighty reputation whenever he went out!
"More or less. Is there something you need? Just so we're clear, I don't have any money."
After a moment's hesitation, Lin Mo nodded in acknowledgment.
He was afraid the man before him had come to demand money.
After all, Shrek Academy owed quite a few debts.
Meanwhile, the boy did not forget to activate his innate Martial Soul.
He intended to see just who this man was and what he had on him.
[Target: Qin Ming] [Fifth Soul Ring: Obtain an eleven-thousand-year Grassland Red Wolf Soul Ring!!] [Fourth Soul Ring: Obtain a four-thousand-five-hundred-year Silver Wolf Soul Ring!!] [Teacher's uniform: Obtain one Heaven Dou Royal Academy teacher's uniform!]
The instant Lin Mo saw the man's name, he remembered who he was.
Wasn't he one of Shrek Academy's early graduates?
But come to think of it, why did even a teacher's uniform show up?
Do I need something like that?
Without hesitation, he chose the Soul Ring!!
While Lin Mo was copying the card, Qin Ming had already begun explaining:
"The academy is still the same as ever, huh? Don't worry. I'm not here to ask for money."
At the same time, he took a badge out of his coat.
The same monster design was engraved on it.
It was another Shrek Academy badge.
"Because I was a student at Shrek Academy too, though I graduated a long time ago. You can call me Senior Qin Ming."
Qin Ming introduced himself with a smile.
His warm, friendly expression felt like a gentle spring breeze.
"So you're a senior! Is there something you need?"
Lin Mo nodded and asked, still perfectly polite.
After all, surely there was a reason he had suddenly stopped him?
"Nothing much. I just wanted to take a little of your time and ask how the academy has been lately."
Qin Ming put his badge away and got straight to the point.
After all, he had not returned to the academy in several years.
Now that he had finally run into a junior, he naturally wanted to chat a little longer.
"That's no problem, but are we going to talk here?"
Lin Mo glanced at the pedestrians coming and going along the street and asked hesitantly.
Perhaps because both of them were quite good-looking, they soon attracted the attention of quite a few noblewomen.
Several were even whispering among themselves, looking eager to make a move.
Worst of all, most of their gazes were focused on him!!
You could get zapped for this, you know?
"Sorry, sorry. That was thoughtless of me."
Qin Ming also realized the problem and apologized.
He noticed that several nearby noblewomen were already walking toward them.
So he hurriedly offered an invitation:
"Let's go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I'm a teacher there now, so I can show you around while we're at it."
Lin Mo nodded as well, accepting his kind offer.
Soon, the two of them hurried away.
It would be troublesome if those hungry noblewomen latched onto them.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The academy was not inside Heaven Dou City.
Instead, like Shrek Academy, it stood outside the city.
The difference was that one was in a small village.
While the other occupied an auspicious site nestled between mountains and water.
Their size, surroundings, facilities, and everything else were as far apart as heaven and earth.
Following Qin Ming to the school gates, Lin Mo saw several students.
Their pale-yellow uniforms were neat and identical.
Their bearing, however, differed enormously; some strutted with their noses in the air, while others were cultured and refined.
"This place only admits children with noble titles, so differences in temperament are inevitable."
Qin Ming explained as he led the way.
An excellent living environment could nurture outstanding talent.
But it could also breed spoiled wastrels.
That was an unavoidable phenomenon.
Lin Mo did not dwell on it and simply nodded.
After all, he was only here to look around and take in some different scenery.
After quite some time, the two entered the academy, proceeding without anyone stopping them.
After all, Qin Ming's status as a teacher spoke for itself.
Still, they encountered more and more students along the way.
Everyone's gaze landed on Lin Mo.
Their eyes were filled with curiosity.
Some of the girls, in particular, began whispering among themselves.
"Who is he? He doesn't look like a student from our academy."
"No idea. Teacher Qin Ming must have brought him here for something, right?"
"Could he be a new transfer student? He's so handsome~ Even more handsome than Teacher Qin Ming. Those crimson-gold eyes are making me feel a little hot all over~"
"You're just getting horny! He's already gone, and you're still swooning?"
Seeing the girls' reactions, Qin Ming shook his head helplessly.
It seemed this junior of his really was quite charming.
He had originally intended to show him around the school.
Now, it seemed Lin Mo had become the attraction everyone was viewing instead.
To avoid any awkwardness, Qin Ming led Lin Mo toward some of the academy's smaller paths.
Once there were fewer students around, the two slowed down and began chatting.
Their conversation mainly revolved around Shrek Academy's recent situation.
"Oh? It's Teacher Qin Ming."
"Teacher Qin Ming."
While the two were chatting, two girls approached from ahead.
One had short purple hair, emerald-green eyes, and a tall figure, with a cold, alluring, almost uncanny air.
The other also had short hair, though hers was silver-blue, and she carried a cool, mysterious sense of distance.
Unlike the other female students, they were not afraid to approach and greet him.
Instead, they came forward confidently to say hello.
Clearly, they were Qin Ming's students.
Before you continue