When Wang Xiaoming stepped through the door, the sound of Qiu Yue's high heels echoed several times through the hall.
Good grief, this place even has an echo.
Qiu Yue stood in the center of the hall and bowed to the three education committee members.
"Committee members, Wang Xiaoming has arrived."
With that, she stepped aside.
The old man sitting upright on the left was round as Maitreya Buddha, with a kind and benevolent appearance.
When Wang Xiaoming entered, the other two were still sizing him up, but he was the first to rise from his chair. Laughing heartily, he hopped down from it and went straight up to Wang Xiaoming without putting on any airs of a powerhouse.
"Hahaha! You must be Wang Xiaoming, the viscount of our Heaven Dou Empire and the one with Innate Full Soul Power that His Highness the Crown Prince told us about!
"Innate Full Soul Power, excellent, excellent!
"Someone with Innate Full Soul Power, a talent one in ten thousand, has appeared in our Heaven Dou City and come to our Heaven Dou Royal Academy. How wonderful! Heaven blesses our Heaven Dou Empire!
"I am Bai Baoshan, one of the education committee members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
His voice was so loud that Wang Xiaoming felt as if it had shaken the dust from the hall's beams onto his head.
Wang Xiaoming immediately bowed, his manner so respectful that no fault could be found with it.
"Wang Xiaoming greets the three committee members. I am deeply honored to have received the academy's invitation."
"I am Meng Shenji."
The tall, thin old man in the middle stroked his beard and nodded with a smile.
"Zhi Lin."
The stern-faced old man on the right did not smile, but he gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
"Good, good, good! What a sensible young man!"
Bai Baoshan patted Wang Xiaoming on the shoulder so hard that he nearly knocked him half an inch shorter.
He said cheerfully, "Xiaoming, there's no need to be too nervous here. Our Heaven Dou Royal Academy follows a customized education approach for elites, unlike the large classes taught elsewhere.
"Later, you can think about the characteristics of your Martial Soul and the direction you want to develop in. It's fine if you can't decide; we'll assign you a personal tutor who will be responsible for you.
"Before you join the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team, you can study if you want to study, or fight if you want to learn combat. If you need resources, you can apply to us for them without hesitation.
"As long as it benefits you, your tutor will only be responsible for training you and offering advice. They won't interfere too much with your wishes.
"Of course, ordinary students don't actually receive so much preferential treatment. His Highness the Crown Prince arranged all this."
Having said that, the old man gave him a playful wink with his little eyes.
Wang Xiaoming nodded and bowed again.
"Thank you, committee members and Your Highness the Crown Prince, for your kindness. I understand."
No wonder Heaven Dou Royal Academy has never produced many talented people. After hearing Bai Baoshan out, he finally understood. How is this any different from an advanced kindergarten?
Anyone who could persist in cultivating in such a relaxed environment truly had an iron will.
Meng Shenji nodded, looked at Qiu Yue, and instructed her:
"Qiu Yue, now that we've met him, take care of Xiaoming's enrollment paperwork later and choose a dormitory in the best location.
"By the way, the reserve team is training today. If you're interested, Xiaoming, you can ask Qiu Yue to take you to watch. It'll help you fit in sooner."
After hearing the instructions, Wang Xiaoming and Qiu Yue left.
Those old men are pretty easy to talk to.
Today, they had only wanted to meet Wang Xiaoming and get acquainted.
There would be plenty of opportunities to interact in the future, so there was no need to say too much.
Qiu Yue led Wang Xiaoming around the teaching building and past several flowerbeds before stopping on a secluded little slope.
A two-story villa with white walls and red roof tiles stood on the slope.
"Here we are. This will be your dormitory from now on. It was specially reserved for you."
Qiu Yue took out a key and handed it to him, a touch of pride in her voice.
Someone who didn't know better might have thought she had built the house herself.
"It's a detached house with a small courtyard and a study, and it's close to the training grounds.
"Not many students at the academy get this kind of treatment. The three committee members specifically ordered it arranged for you.
"Of course, a few other students have their own dormitories too, but they're in different locations, so you won't disturb one another."
Wang Xiaoming took the key, glanced at the house in front of him, and silently gave the three old men a thumbs-up.
Good grief, how is this a dormitory? It's practically a vacation villa.
When it comes to money, it has to be your... no, our noble academy!
Having seen this place and then thinking back to the original work's description of Shrek... he could really appreciate what people meant when they said a good university was no worse than a junior college.
"Thank you for going to all this trouble, Teacher Qiu Yue. I can take care of the rest myself; I wouldn't dare trouble you for any more help."
He turned and smiled at Qiu Yue, polite but distant.
Qiu Yue did want to stay a little longer. After all, the three committee members had told her to take good care of this precious treasure with Innate Full Soul Power.
But seeing Wang Xiaoming's expression, clearly ready to see her out, she couldn't very well insist on staying. She could only point regretfully at a small gray building in the distance.
"All right, then. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the place.
"My office is over there on the third floor, the second room to the left. Come find me whenever you need anything, and don't hesitate."
"I will, I will."
And so, Qiu Yue left reluctantly, looking back every few steps. Wang Xiaoming watched her disappear around the corner by the flowerbeds before turning to push open the courtyard gate.
The villa was even more spacious inside than it looked from outside.
The first floor had a living room and an open kitchen. The furnishings all had an air of luxury, and there was everything one could need, from a sofa and coffee table to bookcases.
There were four bedrooms on the second floor, two large and two small, all with little balconies. From the balconies, he could see the outline of the distant training grounds, and the view was quite good.
If she didn't have a little one at home, as well as a young lady who could come to stay at any time, he wouldn't have minded living here long-term.
As Wang Xiaoming toured his detached dormitory, a familiar voice came from beside him.
"I left you a surprise in Nuoding City. Don't you want to go take a look?"
Wang Xiaoming whipped his head around.
A face identical to his own was pressed against the glass. Mirror Xiaoming was inside the glass, leaning lazily against the window frame with a wicked smile on his lips.
"What kind of surprise could you leave me? Don't tell me you prepared a loli for me?"
Wang Xiaoming rolled his eyes, not believing this fellow who was black on the inside at all. Without stopping what he was doing, he continued marking the rooms.
He hadn't forgotten how this fellow had mocked him yesterday, saying he had come to the Douluo Continent of Fools.
The corners of Mirror Xiaoming's mouth rose slightly.
"How do you know it isn't?"
Wang Xiaoming: "???"
This guy...
Half believing and half doubting him, Wang Xiaoming opened the map. If there was anything that could be a surprise, aside from a loli, it could only be power.
The latter was clearly more likely than the former.