Admission

Dawn had only just broken, and a faint fish-belly white was rising in the eastern sky. Yet on the country road of Cheng Family Village, a small, thin figure was already running.

"Puff... puff... puff..."

Cheng Xiao panted heavily. Since inheriting the power of Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch, this was already his third month of training.

Nourished by Shadow Power, his physical condition had improved greatly. Otherwise, expecting a six-year-old body to train like this would have been nothing but a dream.

No matter how strong his willpower was, a weak body was still a weak body. Overdrawing his body's potential too early in order to break through so-called limits was no different from destroying his own foundation.

But with the nourishment of Shadow Power, Cheng Xiao could clearly feel that his body had become lighter than before, and he had grown much stronger as well. Every time he finished training, he only needed to go home and sleep soundly, and by the next day, his body had more or less recovered.

That was also the fundamental reason Cheng Xiao had been able to keep training continuously for three months.

After running twenty kilometers, Cheng Xiao stopped. Looking at the sun that had already risen, a smile appeared on his face.

Training was undoubtedly dull and tedious, yet Cheng Xiao had vaguely become addicted to it. He could feel that every time he completed his training, his body improved a little.

And that feeling of physical improvement was precisely what motivated Cheng Xiao to persevere.

After all, even Sung Jin-woo, the second-generation Shadow Monarch, had advanced step by step. He had merely moved a little faster...

When he returned home, Cheng Xiao immediately spotted the breakfast his grandfather had prepared: a steaming bowl of plain congee, a peeled egg, and a palm-sized flatbread.

There had originally been no eggs at home, but after Cheng Xiao began getting up early to train, eggs gradually started appearing in the household.

"Xiao, after breakfast, take a bath. Grandpa will take you to the Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City to study. Our village has a work-study student slot, and it happens to be yours," Grandpa Cheng said with a smile.

"Thank you, Grandpa." Cheng Xiao smiled and slowly began eating breakfast.

After spending several years together, the grandfather and grandson had become extremely close. They could truly be called a real grandfather and grandson.

After eating, Cheng Xiao first took a bath, then changed into the new clothes his grandfather had bought for him in Nuoding City a few days ago. Though he did not know how much they had cost, Cheng Xiao loved them dearly, because they had been bought by the grandfather who had raised him.

As they walked along the road, Cheng Xiao tightly held his grandfather's hand. Perhaps because they were about to part, or perhaps for some other reason, he never loosened his grip.

Cheng Family Village was not far from Nuoding City. If they set out in the morning, they would arrive around the afternoon.

Looking at the sturdy city walls in the distance, Cheng Xiao and his grandfather underwent an inspection before entering Nuoding City.

"Xiao, once Grandpa takes you to the academy, I'll head back. Study well at the academy by yourself. When something happens, think things through. You've been smart since you were little, so Grandpa won't say too much."

Cheng Xiao nodded, his eyes reddening slightly. Though he was a transmigrator, he had still felt the warmth of family here.

Grandpa rubbed Cheng Xiao's head. "All right, a man shouldn't always be shedding tears. Tears are precious. Other than for those you love and those who love you, you mustn't cry so casually."

At that, Cheng Xiao sniffled. "Grandpa, I'm not crying. I just can't bear to leave you."

Hearing that, Grandpa laughed. Hand in hand, the two asked passersby for directions and found the Soul Master Elementary Academy located in western Nuoding City.

From afar, Cheng Xiao immediately saw the four words "Nuoding Academy" hanging above the stone archway. It looked exceptionally grand.

Cheng Xiao was somewhat surprised. As a transmigrator, seeing an academy from this world with his own eyes was truly... rather shocking.

Even an elementary academy was this impressive. That alone was enough to prove just how important Soul Masters were on Douluo Continent.

As he approached the entrance, Cheng Xiao discovered that he was not the only one reporting in today. The old man and little boy in front of him had arrived even earlier than he had.

"Are you two also work-study students here to register?" At that moment, the gatekeeper noticed the plainly dressed pair and asked.

Just as Grandpa Cheng was about to speak, Cheng Xiao said, "Hello, this is my martial soul certificate. Master Su Yuntao, a Spirit Hall deacon, personally stamped it for me."

With that, Cheng Xiao handed over the martial soul certificate.

Seeing their plain clothes, the gatekeeper had originally been about to mock them. After all, no work-study students had attended Nuoding Academy for several years, yet two had suddenly appeared at once, both from small villages. He could not help feeling suspicious.

Of course, he did not doubt the certificate issued by Spirit Hall. Rather, he intended to use this chance to squeeze out some money. Parents bringing their children to school would generally offer something, especially commoner families without connections. They were his primary targets.

Cheng Xiao naturally understood this, which was why he immediately mentioned the name of the Spirit Hall deacon and deliberately emphasized that Master Su Yuntao had personally stamped it.

Nuoding City was merely a small place. As a Spirit Hall deacon, Cheng Xiao did not believe the gatekeeper before him had never heard of Su Yuntao.

Sure enough, upon hearing Su Yuntao's name, the gatekeeper restrained his desire to ridicule them. He took Cheng Xiao's martial soul certificate and looked it over. "Martial soul: Shadow Soldier. Innate... Full Soul Power?"

"Innate Full Soul Power!"

The gatekeeper cried out in alarm. The way he looked at Cheng Xiao changed, and even his voice trembled noticeably.

"May I go in now?" Cheng Xiao asked with a beaming smile.

"Y-yes." The gatekeeper even stammered as he hurriedly opened the iron gate for Cheng Xiao, his face filled with fawning eagerness.

Seeing Cheng Xiao enter the academy, Grandpa Cheng smiled as well. He glanced at Old Jack and Tang San, who had been stopped outside the gate, said nothing, and slowly left.

"You're deliberately making things difficult for us!" An angry voice rang out at that moment.

The gatekeeper was first taken aback, then turned impatiently toward Old Jack, who had spoken. "Why haven't you two beggars left yet? Do you want me to invite you to get lost?"

"Why can he go in, then?" Tang San, standing beside Old Jack, spoke. His expression was calm as he looked at the gatekeeper. "If you think my martial soul certificate is fake, what makes you think his is real?"

"Or are you deliberately making things difficult for us just because my martial soul is Blue Silver Grass?"

Though Tang San was young, he had been a Tang Sect disciple in his previous life. He would never be stingy with his tools when dealing with someone who looked down on others, such as the Silent Sleeve Arrow concealed beneath the sleeve on his left arm.

As a Tang Sect disciple, he remembered the general principles of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record with absolute clarity: [Once you determine that your opponent is an enemy, if they have a reason to die, show no mercy. Otherwise, you will only bring trouble upon yourself.]

In Tang San's eyes, the gatekeeper's different treatment of them was outright contempt. They were both work-study students, so why was Cheng Xiao's martial soul certificate genuine while his was fake? Combined with the man's harsh manner, he had already given himself a reason to die.

If not for the fact that the gatekeeper had not laid a hand on Old Jack, there would definitely have been a short arrow lodged in his throat.

Tang San was absolutely confident that no one present would discover that he had fired it. Without evidence, who could prove that he had killed the man?

"Damn it, brat, you're asking for death!" Having been rendered speechless by a child, the gatekeeper was furious. He raised his hand, preparing to slap Tang San across the face.

Seeing that the gatekeeper intended to attack, a cold glint flashed through Tang San's eyes. He raised his left hand, aiming the Silent Sleeve Arrow at the gatekeeper's throat.

"What is going on here?" Just as Tang San was about to kill the gatekeeper, a somewhat hoarse voice rang out. It stopped the gatekeeper's actions and also prevented Tang San from shooting him.

Hearing the voice, Cheng Xiao, who had entered the gate but had not left, looked behind Tang San. A middle-aged man of average height and slightly thin build was slowly walking over.