Heaven Dou Royal Academy

"Good afternoon, Grandpa Zhang."

"Oh, Su Ling? You're here to see Deacon Su Yuntao, aren't you?"

"Yes. School's on break, so I came to see Uncle Su Yuntao."

The man Su Ling called Grandpa Zhang was a white-haired elder, a rank-nineteen Soul Master whose martial soul was a hunting dog.

Thanks to his connection with Su Yuntao, Su Ling was on good terms with several staff members at the Branch Hall.

"Ling? What brings you here?"

As it happened, Su Yuntao had little to do that day and had left work early, running into Su Ling at the entrance.

"Uncle Su, look at this."

As he spoke, a yellow soul ring rose from beneath Su Ling's feet.

"This... is this a hundred-year soul ring?"

Although hundred-year soul rings were hardly rare, he did not think Su Ling could obtain one without Spirit Hall's help.

After all, most of Nuoding Academy's teachers were weak, and they generally had to head out in groups to reliably hunt for a hundred-year soul ring.

Clearly, Su Ling, a new student with no backing, could not receive that sort of treatment.

"Wait!"

Su Yuntao seemed to have thought of something crucial. He remembered that Su Ling's innate soul power had been rank four.

He had reached rank ten in just six months?

Even someone with innate full soul power could not match that speed.

Of course, what Su Yuntao did not know was that Su Ling had already reached rank twenty and simply had yet to obtain a soul ring.

"Not bad, kid. Your soul power's rising so quickly."

Su Yuntao patted Su Ling's shoulder approvingly and pulled him into the Branch Hall.

"This is Spirit Hall's reward for outstanding students in financial hardship." A heavy money pouch was placed in Su Ling's hands. He roughly weighed it and estimated that it held a full hundred coins.

Holy shit?

Since when had Spirit Hall's policies become this generous?

"You already meet Nuoding Academy's graduation requirements. Would you like to enroll directly in Spirit Hall Academy? Your current rank has already surpassed those with rank-six or rank-seven innate soul power. I'm sure Spirit Hall Academy would be more than willing to accept you."

Spirit Hall Academy?

Seeing Su Ling hesitate, Su Yuntao did not ask why. His instructions from above were to win Su Ling over as much as possible and encourage him to think more favorably of Spirit Hall.

"Don't like Spirit Hall Academy's atmosphere? Then which academy would you like to attend? I can write you a recommendation."

Although this was only a small Branch Hall, most academies were still willing to show Spirit Hall some respect.

Just as Su Ling was considering which academy he actually wanted to attend, he said, "Skywater Academy?"

For some reason, the moment that name came to mind, it slipped out of his mouth.

"Skywater Academy? No, that won't do."

Having known Su Ling for over six months, Su Yuntao's jaw dropped at his answer. He would never have guessed that this normally proper young fellow actually wanted to attend an all-girls academy.

"Damn it, so close."

Shui Bing'er hugged Shui Yue'er's thigh and complained.

"Hmph, he really doesn't know what's good for him. How is our Spirit Hall Academy any worse than Skywater Academy?"

Hu Liena spoke as she massaged Bibi Dong's shoulders.

Bibi Dong's expression barely changed as she lifted her cup and took a sip of tea.

"Nana, no matter which academy Su Ling attends, you must follow him. I want you to destroy Spirit Hall at any cost!" she said in the Grandmaster's voice.

Hu Liena: ???

"Teacher, what are you saying?"

That gave Hu Liena quite a fright. She was supposed to destroy Spirit Hall?

Bibi Dong did not know why her tongue had suddenly slipped either. She had simply felt that saying it would be amusing. "I want you to recruit Su Ling at any cost, even if you have to offer him your body!"

Once she said it, Bibi Dong felt somewhat regretful. After all these years, she had long since come to regard Hu Liena as her own daughter. How could she bear to use Hu Liena as bait?

"Everything I've achieved today is thanks to you and Spirit Hall nurturing me, Teacher. If all you ask now is for me to sacrifice myself for Spirit Hall, I, Hu Liena, won't hesitate for a second!"

Having said that, Hu Liena wore a resolute expression, looking ready to calmly face her death.

Bibi Dong's words caught in her throat. Even she could not tell whether Hu Liena wanted to throw herself at him or truly intended to sacrifice herself for Spirit Hall.

"Would we still have a chance if we joined Skywater Academy now?"

Dugu Yan wanted to get close to Su Ling too. She was still counting on him to save her grandfather.

But Su Ling could not complete the task Xue Ke had issued, leaving everyone unable to issue any tasks for several months.

"Yanyan, I have a great idea!" Seeing her best friend so anxious, Ye Lingling decided to play the harebrained strategist.

"What is it? What is it?"

"Once Su Ling comes to Heaven Dou City, you do this, then that, and finally that."

After hearing Ye Lingling's plan, Dugu Yan's face flushed.

She had never imagined that Ye Lingling had so many tricks up her sleeve.

After exchanging a great many pleasantries with Su Yuntao, Su Ling received a recommendation letter for Heaven Dou Royal Academy from him.

After all, sending someone with a stone martial soul off to an Elemental Academy was somewhat unreasonable.

Su Ling also asked for two recommendation letters for Xiao Wu and Tang Xiaosan.

"Take these three letters to the Branch Hall in Heaven Dou City and have the cardinal there take you to enroll."

Ultimately, they were only a Branch Hall in a small border city. With the Heaven Dou Imperial Family behind it, Heaven Dou Royal Academy might not take them seriously.

But the Branch Hall in Heaven Dou City was different. A White-Clad Cardinal presided there-a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse!

Although this meant missing Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong,

it was not a major problem. Without Tang San, Shrek was ultimately just a third-rate academy that wasted its students' potential. Once Shrek truly seemed to offer no future, action would surely be taken to transfer Ning Rongrong to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, he only needed to play the hero and rescue the beauty on a dark, windy night.

"Su Ling? Su Ling?"

Seeing Su Ling standing motionless and drooling, Su Yuntao hurriedly snapped him out of it.

"Here are some herbs I bought to nourish the body. Take them back to Old Village Chief Jack."

"Thank you, Uncle Su!"

The way I see it, Su Yuntao has what it takes to become a god!

It was already late.

Su Ling did not linger at Su Yuntao's place. He hired a carriage and left Nuoding City that very night.

Star Dou Great Forest

"Your name is Xiao Wu, correct?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Wu, who had returned home happily skipping along to visit her family, discovered Da Ming and Er Ming sitting stiffly upright at the Lake of Life.

A white-haired woman sat in a large tree nearby.

Feeling the strange sensation deep within her bloodline, Xiao Wu had more or less confirmed the other party's identity.

This sense of submission was not the weak submitting to the strong, but submission born of her bloodline. Even if the woman said she wanted spicy rabbit head, Xiao Wu could not summon the slightest thought of resistance.

"How much do you know about Su Ling?"

The Silver-Haired Girl asked coldly. Though she had not dressed herself up and wore only a faint layer of thin gauze, her perfect appearance and figure were still enough to set hearts racing.

Even Xiao Wu admitted she could not compare.

"She said a few things introducing Su Ling." After hearing Xiao Wu's account, the great Ferocious Beasts all stared at her in disbelief.

Seriously? We asked for information, and you're telling us about your romance?

"Useless!"

Di Tian was deeply dissatisfied with Xiao Wu. She had been away for only six months and had already been stolen away by a human. In the future, she might even side with the humans against soul beasts.

"I'll ask you just one question. Is it true that you can remain free after becoming that Su Ling's soul ring?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Wu answered shakily. In truth, he had never mentioned it either, but she knew that if she said she did not know, Di Tian would turn her into spicy rabbit head for Gu Yuena to eat the very next second.

Bi Ji stroked a little fox in her arms, a glimmer flashing through her eyes.