"So luxurious."
Like most buildings in Spirit City, Spirit Hall Academy was grand and magnificent. Its imposing air was nothing a small city like Nuoding City could compare with.
"Little one, are you lost?"
The academy's gatekeeper watched Lu Yuan look around outside the entrance and finally approach him, then asked the question.
"Hello, sir. I'm here to enroll at Spirit City Academy."
"Huh?"
The gatekeeper gaped in surprise.
"Little one, don't try to fool me. Spirit City Academy is the finest institution on the Douluo Continent. Everyone admitted here is carefully selected and brought in to register by designated personnel."
"Why would you come to register alone? Tell me, are you trying to sneak into Spirit City Academy for a look? Don't worry, our academy opens to visitors regularly. You'll have plenty of chances to see it."
As expected of an academy right under the Pontiff's nose, even its gatekeeper was far better-mannered than the one at Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy.
Although he thought Lu Yuan was playing a trick on him, the gatekeeper still spoke to him kindly.
"I can't explain this to you."
Lu Yuan could not be bothered to explain anything further to the gatekeeper. He simply took out the handwritten letter Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan had given him and handed it over.
"Take a look for yourself."
"Hmm?"
Utterly bewildered, the gatekeeper took Lu Yuan's letter and opened it. The changes in his expression were quite a spectacle.
First came concentration, then surprise, and finally fear.
"Th-this... sir, I need to consult the Academic Affairs Office Director first. Please wait here for a moment, and don't wander off."
Even the gatekeeper's voice began to tremble, yet he still remembered to worry about the safety of an eight-year-old child like Lu Yuan in the empty plaza outside Spirit Hall Academy.
After warning him, he hurried into the academy, nearly stumbling and falling along the way.
Before long, a potbellied man in an expensive suit, his hair slicked back, came out with the gatekeeper. Presumably, he was one of Spirit Hall Academy's academic affairs directors.
He looked at Lu Yuan and said respectfully:
"Please come with me, young friend. I'll take you to register at the academy."
"All right." Lu Yuan nodded and followed the director inside. Only then did the gatekeeper beside them release a long breath and wipe the sweat from his forehead, terrified that he might have slighted Lu Yuan.
"Please don't take offense, young friend. We finished enrolling this year's new students at Spirit City Academy several days ago. We didn't account for His Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo inviting you to study here, which is why the gatekeeper misunderstood. My sincere apologies."
Hearing this, Lu Yuan smiled awkwardly.
Absorbing the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone and the Blue Silver Emperor's second soul ring had delayed him. Otherwise, he should have reached Spirit Hall Academy in time to register normally.
"It's fine, Director. There's no need to call me 'young friend,' either. You can call me a student, or just use my name, Lu Yuan."
"Well... all right."
Lu Yuan had a rough idea why the director treated him so respectfully. It was most likely because of Chrysanthemum Douluo.
He probably thinks I'm a disciple Chrysanthemum Douluo has taken a liking to.
As Lu Yuan muttered inwardly, the director spoke again.
"By the way, the academy's opening ceremony is underway right now. I'll take you there first. You might still catch some important remarks."
"So you're still holding the opening ceremony."
Understanding dawned on Lu Yuan. He had barely seen anyone since arriving at Spirit Hall Academy. The students here should have been lively and energetic, brimming with youthful vigor. It should not have been so quiet.
"Oh, and His Holiness the Pope is at the ceremony with Their Excellencies Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. You'll be able to see them there as well."
"What!"
Bibi Dong was there too.
Lu Yuan stopped in his tracks. He had not expected to meet three Titled Douluos so soon after entering Spirit City.
Considering that Bibi Dong's disciple Hu Liena had already been studying in Spirit City for five years, it was hardly surprising that she would attend an opening ceremony Hu Liena was participating in. She had always treated Hu Liena as a daughter, caring for her in Qian Renxue's place and pouring her motherly affection into her.
After all, Spirit Hall Academy's students were the cream of the crop among their peers. Bibi Dong could also take the opportunity to make an appearance before these talented soul masters, showing her care and regard for them.
"Lu Yuan, what's wrong?"
Seeing Lu Yuan stop in place, the director thought something had happened to him.
"N-no, nothing. Let's go to the opening ceremony."
Lu Yuan put away his stunned expression, relaxed his rigid body, and continued following the director.
I'm already here.
Lu Yuan figured that since he had already arrived in Spirit City, he would have to meet Bibi Dong, Yue Guan, and Gui Mei sooner or later.
If he kept putting it off, or made it obvious that he was desperately trying to conceal his thoughts, he would have a hard time explaining himself when they finally met.
Spirit Hall Academy's Grand Auditorium was a sea of people. Teachers and students were arranged by year and class, listening to the various leaders take the stage to speak.
It was much like the school opening ceremonies Lu Yuan had attended on Blue Star in his previous life, except that the material about studying had been replaced with soul master cultivation.
Since Lu Yuan had arrived several days late, the director could not easily assign him a seat and could only have him sit in the back row.
After sitting down, Lu Yuan looked toward Spirit Hall Academy's opening ceremony, and a sudden gleam flashed in his eyes.
His gaze and attention instantly focused on the trio seated at the center of the stage: naturally, Bibi Dong in her magnificent pinkish-purple robes, with her two guardians, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, at either side.
"Hmm?"
Bibi Dong possessed two Spider Emperor martial souls. Her spider sense was exceptionally keen, and she immediately noticed that some small fry in the audience had dared to stare straight at her.
Drawn in by Bibi Dong's beauty, Lu Yuan had not even had time to marvel before hurriedly looking away.
However, Bibi Dong, whose strength surpassed his by an immense margin, had already noticed everything. A slight smile curved her lips.
This little thing has some nerve. But... why does he seem a little familiar? Hmm!
As a Super Douluo, Bibi Dong had an excellent memory. In the next instant, she recalled everything related to Lu Yuan.
Isn't he the soul master who awakened an external martial soul just like Brother Xiao Gang, with only rank 0.5 innate soul power, yet reached rank 10 in just a year?
Wait, something's not right.
Bibi Dong stared at Lu Yuan, her brows drawing together slightly, as though she had detected something about him.
"Yue Guan, bring that child over to see me."
Bibi Dong ordered Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, pointing at Lu Yuan.
"Yes, Your Holiness. Hmm?"
After receiving the order, Chrysanthemum Douluo looked toward Lu Yuan and froze.
Wasn't this boy Lu Yuan, whom Bibi Dong had ordered him to personally invite to Spirit Hall Academy a year ago?
After the two reached an agreement, Chrysanthemum Douluo had returned to Spirit City. Fortunately, Bibi Dong had been busy with official affairs and never brought the matter up again. Chrysanthemum Douluo had thought she had already forgotten Lu Yuan.
Just a few days ago, after Spirit Hall Academy's new students had finished registering, Chrysanthemum Douluo had visited the academy for a look, only to find no sign of Lu Yuan. He had been angry, vaguely feeling that Lu Yuan had gone against his instructions.
Still, Chrysanthemum Douluo had not been in a hurry to detonate the soul power inside Lu Yuan. He had wanted to wait a few more days, thinking that perhaps something had delayed the little fellow. He had never expected Lu Yuan to suddenly appear right under Bibi Dong's nose today.
Watching Chrysanthemum Douluo go to fetch Lu Yuan, Bibi Dong's beautiful lips curved into a faint, wicked smile.
Lu Yuan, is it? I'll have a good look at how a boy with barely half a rank of innate soul power managed to become a Soul Grandmaster whose soul power approached the Soul Elder level at just eight years old.