Admission

"Grandmaster's showy entrance was gone..."

When the gatekeeper let them through, Shi Quan chuckled to himself and glanced back. Sure enough, Grandmaster behind them had apparently heard the gatekeeper's words, and his pace had noticeably quickened as he strode toward them.

Just as Shi Quan had expected, Grandmaster, returning to Notting Academy, happened to overhear the gatekeeper in a daze. Though he had not heard clearly, he caught the key words: Blue Silver Grass, Innate Full Soul Power.

How could a man who styled himself as the continent's foremost authority on Soul Master theory fail to understand what those words meant? Knowing he had encountered a genius, of course he hurried over to pick up a bargain.

At the gates.

"Thanks, brother."

Shi Jian nodded with a smile, pulled the carriage aside beside the archway and tied it up. He and Li Meili efficiently slung the things from the carriage onto their backs. Just as they were about to enter Notting Academy together, they heard the gatekeeper at the entrance bowing and scraping toward someone behind them. "Grandmaster, you're back."

Behind them stood the hastily arriving Grandmaster.

Seeing the gatekeeper behave like that, everyone instinctively turned to look.

Before them was a lean man in his forties or fifties. His short black hair was parted three-seven, and his features were utterly ordinary. With his hands clasped behind his back, his half-lidded eyes carried a trace of laziness and despondency, giving him the weathered look of a man whose ambitions had gone unfulfilled.

Sheesh, looking that kidney-deficient, he ought to stock up on some kidney tonic. Shi Quan inwardly mocked with a laugh.

Though Grandmaster had lost his chance for a showy entrance, the gatekeeper's fawning manner still demonstrated his standing within the academy.

"Are you all new students?" Grandmaster ignored the gatekeeper, his clouded gaze sweeping over Shi Quan and Tang San.

"Yes, Grandmaster." Shi Jian and the others hurriedly answered respectfully.

"Come with me." Grandmaster gave a slight nod and led them into Notting Academy. Having just entered the academy, he spoke again. "Could you two show me your Spirit Soul Certificates once more?"

"Of course."

Shi Jian and Old Jack quickly handed the certificates in their hands to Grandmaster.

Doesn't he just want to see which one is the overlooked genius?

Shi Quan continued mocking inwardly. Sure enough, after reading the Spirit Soul Certificates, he could clearly sense that Grandmaster's gaze toward Tang San had become noticeably warmer. As for him, Grandmaster still put on a token show of courtesy and simply nodded at him.

However, perhaps because there were too many people around, Grandmaster did not say anything. He merely held their Spirit Soul Certificates and put on an inscrutable expression.

Notting Junior Soul Master Academy was not as large as it appeared from the outside. It was mainly divided into several areas: the main teaching building, the Sports Field, and the dormitory building east of the Sports Field.

Led by Grandmaster, they soon arrived at the registration office.

The person specifically responsible for receiving new students was a teacher who looked to be over sixty, assisted by two young teachers under thirty.

Grandmaster placed the two certificates on the desk and said to the older teacher, "Director Su, two Work-Study Students enrolled at the academy this year. I ran into them at the gate, so I brought them over."

Director Su beamed. "I see. Grandmaster, would you like to sit for a while?"

Grandmaster shook his head. "No need. I still have some matters to deal with."

Before leaving, Grandmaster gave Tang San and Old Jack beside him another look. Seeing that neither of them had any luggage, he had already made up his mind.

"Hello, Director Su. I'm Little Shi from Stone Family Village. I wonder if you still remember me. I came to the academy before to deliver some sculptures I made."

As soon as Grandmaster left, Shi Jian leaned forward and greeted Director Su with a smile.

"Little Shi?" Director Su thought for a moment, then smiled. "Oh, I remember now. So it's you? Is this your son?"

"Yes, yes." Shi Jian nodded repeatedly.

"Shi Quan, right?" Director Su glanced at the Spirit Soul Certificate in his hand and gave Shi Quan a slight nod.

Shi Quan respectfully said, "Hello, Director Su."

"Mm. Innate First Rank? Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass?" Director Su studied the certificate in his hand. When he saw the words Blue Silver Grass, surprise was evident on his face. He sighed. "What a pity."

"Little Shi, your family shouldn't be that poor, should it? Work-Study Students have their tuition waived, but their treatment is somewhat worse than that of ordinary students."

"What?" Shi Jian's expression changed slightly upon hearing that. Li Meili, in particular, revealed reluctance and heartache. He had only known that Work-Study Students could have their tuition waived, thinking that saving a little was better than nothing. He had not expected there to be differences in treatment between Work-Study Students and ordinary students.

Shi Jian quickly said, "Director Su, then can I pay the tuition now and transfer Xiao Quan into an ordinary student?"

"Yes. Then you will need to pay one Gold Soul Coin." Director Su nodded.

One Gold Soul Coin was enough to cover several months of living expenses for an ordinary family of three. The tuition was undeniably expensive, but so that Shi Quan could live more comfortably at the academy, Shi Jian and Li Meili did not hesitate at all. They immediately took out one Gold Soul Coin from their money pouch.

Fortunately, they had prepared thoroughly before coming to Notting City. Otherwise, they truly would not have been able to casually produce a Gold Soul Coin.

Old Jack could only sigh helplessly at the sight. If he had money, it would not have been impossible for him to subsidize Tang San and make him an ordinary student as well. But one Gold Soul Coin was simply beyond his means.

Once the money was collected, the procedures became simple. Shi Quan's enrollment was soon completed. After receiving his Notting Academy uniform from Director Su and bidding farewell to Old Jack and Tang San, the three headed toward the school dormitory building.

After they had gone some distance, Shi Jian suddenly said, "Xiao Quan, Tang San's Martial Soul is the same as yours. Perhaps you can learn from him in the future."

Shi Quan smiled, understanding what Shi Jian meant. "I know, Dad. Don't worry."

Though he agreed aloud, Shi Quan did not think that way. He would absolutely never follow Tang San's path. Blue Silver Grass was known for its vitality; he would never add any Poison Attribute to it.

Even Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor had nearly been ruined, let alone his own ordinary Blue Silver Grass.

He had long since planned his future direction. To keep his parents from worrying, he naturally had to go along with them a little.

There was only one dormitory building, right beside the academic building, and it was easy to find. There were few people capable of becoming Soul Masters to begin with, much less in a remote city like Notting.

The academy did not have many students or teachers in total. One dormitory building was more than enough to accommodate them all. Students and teachers lived in the same building, which was simple and convenient for management.

The student dormitories occupied the bottom three floors of the dormitory building. There were seven student dorms in total, from Dorm One to Dorm Seven.

Dorm Seven housed all Work-Study Students, while ordinary students were assigned dormitories according to their grade.

The dormitory for Shi Quan's first-year class this year was Dorm Three, on the left side of the second floor. They found it easily.

As soon as they reached the second floor, the three saw the large dormitory on the left marked Dorm Three. A table stood outside its door, and behind the table sat a middle-aged man with his eyes half closed. Hearing movement from the stairway, he opened them a little more and asked Shi Quan's group, "First-year new students?"

"Hello, Teacher. My child is a new student." Shi Jian hurriedly replied with a smile, handing over the certificate Director Su had given them during registration.

The middle-aged man took the certificate and glanced at it. After looking the three of them over, he nodded slightly. "I'm Su Yun, responsible for managing Dorm Three. Just call me Teacher Su. There are still plenty of beds inside. Pick any empty bed and put your things down. Other than students, no one else may stay overnight at the academy."

"Understood, Teacher Su."

Shi Jian and Li Meili nodded at the same time to show that they understood.

Su Yun continued, "Tomorrow is the Opening Ceremony. Classes officially begin the day after tomorrow. First-year students attend Class One on the first floor of the teaching building. Just remember to be on time the morning after tomorrow. If you have any other questions, you can come find me directly."

"I understand, Teacher Su," Shi Quan said with a nod.

Upon entering the dormitory, they found it exceptionally spacious, nearly four hundred square meters. Fifty beds stood inside. They were made of solid wood, with beds above and desks below, and each bed was connected to a wardrobe. The design was simple and practical.

There were not many people in the dormitory, only three children about Shi Quan's age chatting together. When they saw newcomers enter, all three turned curious gazes toward Shi Quan.

Compared with Shi Quan's group, the three children's clothes were clearly much more luxurious. Shi Quan and his parents were dressed no differently from ordinary city folk, but compared with nobles and members of Soul Master families, the difference was obvious at a glance.

When the three saw people entering, they had initially intended to go over, greet them, and get acquainted. But after clearly seeing what Shi Quan's group wore, they exchanged knowing looks, turned their heads away, and continued chatting among themselves.

"Dad, let's take that bed." Shi Quan took one look and had no interest in dealing with them. Instead, he set his eyes on a bed in the corner of the dormitory.

Li Meili frowned slightly as she looked at the bed Shi Quan pointed to. "Xiao Quan, why do you want to sleep there?"

The bed was in the innermost right-hand corner of the dormitory, against both the wall and the window. It was noon, and scattered sunlight fell neatly across it through the window.

Most people preferred choosing beds in the middle, where it was easier to come and go. Yet Shi Quan had chosen the innermost corner, the place most easily overlooked.

Shi Quan explained, "Mom, you know I don't like dealing with people. It'll be quieter there, and it'll be more convenient for reading and studying."

Li Meili paused and looked toward Shi Jian. After thinking briefly, Shi Jian nodded. "It's fine, Meili. Xiao Quan has his own ideas, so let him do as he wishes. It's only a bed. The dormitory is so big, and there are plenty of empty beds. If Xiao Quan finds it uncomfortable later, he can move to another one. It won't be troublesome."

"All right."

After hearing Shi Jian say that, the hesitation on Li Meili's face finally faded somewhat. The two carried their things to the bed and, before long, had made it up for Shi Quan.

After settling the dormitory matters, Shi Quan suggested, "Dad, Mom, it's still early. You have the carriage for the trip back anyway, so let's take a walk around the academy."

As soon as Shi Quan stepped out of the dormitory, he happened to see Grandmaster heading downstairs. Grandmaster carried a set of bedding in his arms, and it looked as though he was going to find Tang San.

Sure enough, after Shi Quan and his parents followed Grandmaster downstairs, they saw him carrying the bedding straight toward Dorm Seven on the first floor.

After leaving the dormitory building, Shi Jian softly sighed. "Looks like that Grandmaster has taken a liking to the child called Tang San."

Shi Quan said proudly, "Dad, what's there to envy? Your son is so smart that I can teach myself and become accomplished. I don't need anyone else to teach me."

"Haha." Shi Jian laughed and took Shi Quan's little hand in his large one. "That's right. Our Xiao Quan doesn't need him."

Meanwhile, in Dorm Seven.

Tang San had just finished his brief tenure as Dorm Seven's boss when Grandmaster entered carrying the bedding.

"Tang San."

Hearing Grandmaster's voice, Tang San hurriedly walked over from beside the bed. "Teacher, what do you need from me?"

"Teacher?" Grandmaster looked down at Tang San. A stiff smile appeared on his face as he said calmly, "This bedding is for you. Also, I am not a teacher at the academy..."

"For me?" Tang San looked at Grandmaster in confusion. He did not step forward, instead raising his head to carefully study the man before him.

With Tang San's wary nature, how could he casually accept something from a stranger? Besides, Grandmaster had said himself that he was not an academy teacher. At most, he was a stranger Tang San had met only twice.

Grandmaster looked at Tang San's wide, fixed eyes, and his stiff smile rose even higher. "A smart child indeed. It seems my persistence was right. Come with me, and I will explain everything to you."

As he spoke, Grandmaster first placed the bedding on an empty bed nearby, signaling Tang San to follow him.

After some brief thought, Tang San still chose to follow Grandmaster out of Dorm Seven. Grandmaster did not take him anywhere else, instead leading him to a room in the corner of the dormitory rooftop. It was Grandmaster's own room.

The moment they entered the room, Grandmaster began using that familiar set of tactics and lines to fool Tang San.

Hearing Grandmaster reveal his Twin Martial Souls, Tang San was naturally shocked and uncertain.

"...I once investigated six hundred and forty-seven people whose Martial Souls were Blue Silver Grass. Of them, sixteen possessed soul power, a probability of less than three percent..."

"Of course, there are exceptions that can grant someone Innate Full Soul Power, and that is a mutated Martial Soul..."

Though the time and place differed, it made no difference to the outcome. Tang San was soon dizzy from Grandmaster's endless theories and data.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

After respectfully kowtowing three times with both knees on the ground, Tang San successfully knelt down and acknowledged him as a father.

Grandmaster froze in surprise. After listening to Tang San's explanation, he became even more fond of the disciple before him. In their hearts, they both regarded the other as a treasure...