Spirit Hall Academy

"Xiyue, His Holiness the Pope has instructed me to take you to Spirit Hall Academy tomorrow morning. Your luggage is already packed."

Leng Xiyue hummed a little tune all the way back to her residence, only to receive this dreadful news from Javier.

"So soon? Can't we wait a couple of days?" Leng Xiyue felt numb. They really weren't giving her any time to rest.

"This is an order issued personally by His Holiness the Pope. I have no authority to change it," Javier said helplessly.

Over the past few days, Bibi Dong had waited expectantly in the garden every day, asking whether Leng Xiyue had come to seek her guidance. Yet the answer was always that she had gone to read in the Library Hall. Apparently, those dry, tedious books were far more appealing than her teacher, the Pope.

Still, she had seen how absorbed Leng Xiyue was in her studies. Although everything the girl studied seemed like clever but frivolous tricks to her, she could hardly criticize a child for being so enthusiastic. She could only instruct Javier to send Leng Xiyue to Spirit Hall Academy once she finished studying. Aside from the appropriate monthly cultivation resources, no special treatment was to be arranged.

Flowers raised in a greenhouse could not survive in Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall Academy had a comprehensive competitive system, so sending her there to toughen up was undoubtedly the best choice.

Of course, she would still receive plenty of discreet support.

Javier was an excellent judge of people. One look at Leng Xiyue's spirits told him she had probably finished learning what she needed to know. Naturally, he had to carry out His Holiness the Pope's orders to the letter.

"Fine, I'll go." Since she couldn't change it, Leng Xiyue stopped worrying about it. Leaving the Papal Hall also meant she could move around freely, and she could finally reproduce her weapons and equipment.

It was just a shame to leave such a wonderful bed behind. Once she went to Spirit Hall Academy, she would definitely have to live in a dorm.

Early the next morning, Javier woke Leng Xiyue. After breakfast, the two went to see Bibi Dong.

Today, Bibi Dong was actually dressed in her formal ceremonial robes, holding her scepter as she drank tea in the study of her private chambers. She seemed to be waiting for someone to arrive for an audience. When the two entered, she said earnestly, "Xiyue, I hope you'll study hard at Spirit Hall Academy and learn to be independent. Only then can you grow."

"I won't give you any special privileges in terms of status, and no one will know you're my disciple. You'll have to fight for your own standing at Spirit Hall Academy. But don't worry about causing trouble or picking on children from powerful families. I'll settle those matters for you."

"Your weekly living allowance will be deposited directly onto your card. I'll also assign someone to deliver your cultivation resources."

Leng Xiyue was delighted to hear that. Where would the fun be if everyone knew I was Bibi Dong's disciple? On the Douluo Continent, campus life ought to be all about fighting and killing~

"Yes, Master~"

After bidding Bibi Dong farewell, Javier and Leng Xiyue headed down the mountain. A carriage was already waiting outside the Martial Soul General Hall.

Spirit Hall Academy stood within the inner city and occupied an enormous area, almost equivalent to an entire university town. It had every facility one could ask for.

Unlike the dull teaching at other academies, Spirit Hall Academy encouraged students to fight. To that end, it had built an arena to exceptionally high standards. Whether someone simply wanted an opponent, wanted to brawl over love, or had gotten into an argument along the lines of "What are you looking at?" and "So what if I'm looking at you?", settling it in the arena was the best choice.

Spirit Hall Academy was divided into an inner division and an outer division. Students in the inner division generally ranged from Soul Elder to Soul King, while those in the outer division ranged from Soul Scholar to Soul Grandmaster. These could also be regarded as six year levels.

Students at the Soul Ancestor level could choose to graduate directly and start earning money sooner. This was also the choice most commoners made. Students of noble birth generally chose to continue studying at Spirit Hall Academy and graduate upon reaching Soul Emperor.

Each year level had a ranking board. Higher-ranked students received larger allowances, and their achievements were recorded in their files. Their performance during this period would also be considered when positions were assigned in the future. Support- and healing-type Soul Masters also had opportunities to make the rankings, depending on their reputation among their classmates and whether they played a particularly significant role in team battles.

Spirit Hall Academy's daily schedule was also very relaxed. Aside from the nearly two hours of mandatory theory classes each day in the outer division, students were essentially free to do as they pleased. The academy's teachers held open classes during that time, and students could choose to attend those taught by teachers they liked or head to the arena for practical combat. Of course, no one stopped them from going out to have fun or returning to their dorms to sleep, either. But if they failed to meet the standards in the annual comprehensive assessment, there was only one outcome-expulsion.

Listening to Javier's explanation, Leng Xiyue couldn't help looking forward to the academy life ahead. She actually quite liked campus life, especially at a school where strength determined status. That was bound to be as satisfying as it got.

The carriage slowly stopped outside Spirit Hall Academy. Javier handed Leng Xiyue an identification document and a card, then said, "This is your student ID. You can use it as a pass both to enter and leave campus and to visit the outer city. This card is a savings card issued by the Martial Soul Bank. Three thousand Gold Soul Coins will be deposited into it every week as your living allowance. Whether you save it or spend it lavishly is entirely up to you."

Leng Xiyue took them and had a look. The savings card was much like a bank card, while the student ID listed her basic information, class, dorm room number, martial soul, and innate soul power.

However, the innate soul power field read 7. Presumably, they didn't want her attracting too much attention.

"All right, I understand."

After Javier explained a few other matters, Leng Xiyue stepped out of the carriage. Only then did she notice a middle-aged man in a Spirit Hall Academy uniform already standing beside it.

"This is a child from a distant relative's family. Make the arrangements as you see fit."

"Yes, Lord Javier."

As Javier's carriage gradually disappeared into the distance, the middle-aged man turned to Leng Xiyue without any particular expression. After so many years of navigating these circles, he naturally knew what "a distant relative" meant: he could make whatever arrangements he liked.

Therefore, he had no intention of currying favor and simply said, "Follow me, little one."

Leng Xiyue followed him into Spirit Hall Academy. Gazing up at the plaque bearing the large words "Spirit Hall Academy," she felt the corners of her lips lift slightly. A wonderful new life seemed to lie just ahead.

Although the teacher who had come to receive her had no intention of giving her special treatment, he still handled the necessary arrangements quite efficiently. First, he took her to collect a set of bedding and other daily necessities, then found a female teacher to take her to the dorm and get her settled.

All the dorm rooms at Spirit Hall Academy housed two students. They were fairly spacious and had everything they needed. Leng Xiyue was extremely satisfied.

Her roommate seemed to have only just arrived as well. The supplies she had collected hadn't even been unpacked, so she had evidently gone to class first.

However, Leng Xiyue had no time to sort out her things either, because she also had to go to the classroom now. She would have to deal with them when she returned.