Lin Yan sat down by a window in the library. He had just opened a copy of Overview of Soul Beast Distribution on the Continent when a flurry of rather hurried footsteps caught his attention. They drew closer, sounding particularly jarring in the quiet library, and finally stopped at his table. He looked up to find Wang Sheng.
"Lin Yan! You really are here! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Wang Sheng braced one hand against the edge of the table and the other on his knee, panting slightly. His face was visibly anxious, and fine beads of sweat had even formed at his temples.
Lin Yan closed his book, looking a little surprised. "What's the matter? Why the rush? You've worked up quite a sweat."
"Did you forget? The opening ceremony is today!" Wang Sheng straightened up, his voice urgent. "It's about to start, and all the teachers and students have to assemble. I went to the dorm to find you, but you weren't there, so I thought you might be here. Sure enough! Come on, we'll be late if we wait any longer!"
Only then did Lin Yan remember the opening ceremony.
After getting up that morning, he had been busy exercising, then headed to the library, casting the opening ceremony beyond the highest heavens.
Lin Yan hurriedly stood up, returned the book to its place, and said apologetically, "Sorry, I completely forgot. Let's go."
The two hurried out of the library.
Wang Sheng glanced around, then casually asked as though something had suddenly occurred to him, "By the way, have you seen Tang San? He doesn't seem to be in the dorm either."
Something stirred in Lin Yan's mind. Of course he knew Tang San had taken leave to go obtain a Soul Ring with Yu Xiaogang, but Tang San had never announced it publicly, so it would not be appropriate for him to spread the word on his behalf.
Lin Yan pretended to think for a moment before answering cautiously, "No idea. I did see him leave this morning, but I don't know exactly where he went. We could ask Xiao Wu, though. She should know."
"All right, let's go ask Sister Xiao Wu." Wang Sheng nodded, clearly finding the suggestion reasonable. After all, Xiao Wu and Tang San were close.
Soon, they arrived at the square in the center of campus. Quite a few students had already gathered there, their voices bubbling like a boiling cauldron in the lively bustle. Students from each year stood in areas assigned to their classes, their faces full of the excitement and anticipation of the first day of school.
The residents of Dorm Seven had gathered together, and Xiao Wu's signature scorpion braid stood out in the crowd. She was laughing and chatting with several girls, a lively smile lighting her face.
Wang Sheng walked over to Xiao Wu and asked, "Sister Xiao Wu, where did Tang San go? The opening ceremony is about to start. Why isn't he here yet?"
"Yeah, missing the ceremony on the very first day? The teachers will probably scold him!" Several nearby students from Dorm Seven chimed in, looking worried.
"Tang San? He took leave. Don't worry, everyone." Xiao Wu waved a hand nonchalantly, her voice clear and bright. "He went with Grandmaster Yu to obtain a Soul Ring!"
Her words immediately drew a chorus of envious exclamations from those around her.
"Oh, I see. I'm so envious of Tang San!" a tall, thin boy sighed, his eyes full of longing.
"Yeah, having a good teacher really makes a difference!" a short, plump boy added, a sour note of envy in his voice.
"Exactly. That Grandmaster might not be very strong himself, but he's still a guest elder of the academy!" A boy wearing glasses pushed them up his nose and offered his well-reasoned analysis.
"It sure is nice having someone give you special lessons!" another boy sighed, drawing nods from several others.
"Shh, stop talking. The dean is about to speak!" a girl suddenly reminded them in a hushed voice. Everyone immediately quieted down and turned toward the podium.
The teachers and students of Nuoding Academy had all gathered for the opening ceremony, forming a dense sea of at least three or four hundred people in the square. At the front of the podium stood the dean, an elderly man over fifty. Though his hair had already turned gray, his back was ramrod straight and his gaze sharp, giving him a naturally commanding presence without any show of anger. As a Tool Soul Ancestor, he exuded a powerful presence that others could feel even without deliberately releasing his Soul Power.
Behind the dean stood Director Su, the director of academic affairs, a stern-faced middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Behind their lenses, his eyes swept strictly over the students below. Beside him stood Teacher Mo, Mo Hen, who assigned work to the work-study students, as well as several other subject teachers. They had all been introduced in the academy brochure, which Lin Yan had made a point of reading before coming, so he recognized most of the teachers on the podium.
The dean began his impassioned speech. Through a special Amplifying Soul Tool, his voice carried clearly and loudly across the entire square.
First, he expounded on Nuoding Academy's long history, tracing it back to the hardships and ideals of its founding. Then he reviewed the outstanding results the academy had achieved the previous year. Next, he looked ahead to a bright future, promising that the academy would provide its students with better cultivation resources and surroundings. Finally, he encouraged the students of Nuoding Academy to study diligently and cultivate hard, so that they could become outstanding Soul Masters who would contribute to the continent.
The dean's speech lasted about the time it took an incense stick to burn, with enthusiastic applause erupting from the audience from time to time.
Director Su spoke next. As the director of academic affairs, he displayed a measure of authority. Unlike the dean's passionate delivery, his voice was steady but stern, like a blunt knife slowly grinding against the students' nerves. He reiterated the academy's disciplinary requirements, explaining its various rules and regulations and the punishments for breaking them in detail.
In short, his central message was: you little brats had better behave yourselves and keep your tails tucked between your legs. School had started, so rein yourselves in, follow the rules, study, and cultivate.
While Director Su spoke, not a crow or sparrow stirred below the podium. Many students did not even dare breathe loudly, afraid of drawing the stern director's attention.
After that, an outstanding student representative took the stage to speak. The scene gave Lin Yan an inexplicable sense of familiarity, just like the opening ceremonies at school in his previous life. The only thing missing was military training.
The student representative was a boy who looked twelve or thirteen, dressed in Nuoding Academy's uniform. He was rather handsome, with a high nose bridge and thin, tightly pressed lips, but arrogance radiated from him. He walked with his chin slightly raised, and his gaze held a measure of disdain as it swept over the students below.
"Hmph, Xiao Chenyu again. He's so annoying!" Wang Sheng muttered discontentedly beside Lin Yan.
"Stop talking. Xiao Chenyu is the little tyrant of Nuoding Academy. Who would dare provoke him?" another student from Dorm Seven warned in a low voice.
"Isn't it just because he has a good..." A third student abruptly fell silent halfway through, because Xiao Chenyu had begun speaking onstage.
Lin Yan studied Xiao Chenyu curiously. He certainly had an extraordinary bearing. It was clear that spending years surrounded by admirers could cultivate such an imposing manner and posture.
Unfortunately, this little tyrant will soon run into Tang San, the chosen son of destiny, Lin Yan thought. Still, as the first Soul Master Tang San defeats, once Tang San becomes a god, this guy can brag that he once fought a god. From a certain perspective, that's an honor too.
For now, Xiao Chenyu was indeed basking in boundless glory. As an outstanding sixth-year student about to graduate, as well as the city lord's son, he could practically walk sideways through Nuoding Academy.
Unfortunately, before long, he would be mercilessly defeated by Tang San, a first-year student who had only just enrolled.
For many years afterward, the story of his defeat at school by a first-year student would probably circulate through the academy, becoming a topic of conversation for his juniors.
Xiao Chenyu's speech was full of confidence-conceit, even.
He recounted his experiences studying at Nuoding Academy and shared his so-called "secrets of success," which amounted to nothing more than tired old advice about cultivating hard and following the rules.
Yet his tone always carried an air of condescension, as though he were already some remarkable Soul Master and everyone below the podium were merely novices in need of his guidance.
Once his speech ended, Xiao Chenyu left the stage to scattered applause. Clearly, he was not as popular among the students as he imagined.
The opening ceremony finally ended after the student representative finished speaking. Once the dean dismissed them, the square immediately grew noisy, and the students began leaving in twos and threes.
After the ceremony, the teachers called all the first-year students into a classroom on the first floor of the teaching building. It was a standard classroom, fully equipped with a lectern, blackboard, desks, and chairs. Diagrams of Soul Beast anatomy and Soul Power circulation hung on the walls.
There were only twenty-odd students in total, leaving the classroom looking somewhat empty.
Once everyone had arrived, the homeroom teacher-a kindly-looking female Soul Master who appeared to be in her thirties-stood at the lectern and briefly explained the academy's rules, including class times, course schedules, and assessment standards. She placed particular emphasis on the time and location of the next day's classes.
"Although Nuoding Academy isn't as strict as an Intermediate Soul Master Academy, a basic education is essential," the teacher said gently, yet seriously. "You're all children who have only recently awakened your Martial Souls. The academy will help you build a solid foundation and prepare for your future path as Soul Masters. Remember, talent is certainly important, but the effort you put in afterward is just as indispensable."
After finishing her explanation, the teacher dismissed them. The students left the classroom one after another, some excitedly discussing what they had seen and heard on their first day, while others hurried back to the dorms to rest.
Lin Yan walked out of the classroom and took a deep breath of fresh air.
It was finally over. His mind was still on the unfinished Overview of Soul Beast Distribution on the Continent, and he considered whether he should return to the library to keep reading.
Wang Sheng caught up from behind and patted Lin Yan's shoulder. "It's finally over! That opening ceremony was exhausting. By the way, are you heading back to the dorm?"
"I might stop by the library first. I haven't finished that book," Lin Yan replied.
"You really are a bookworm!" Wang Sheng laughed, though there was no malice in his tone. "I'll head back to the dorm on my own, then. See you at the dining hall tonight?"
"Sure. See you tonight." Lin Yan nodded, said goodbye to Wang Sheng, and turned toward the library.
Sunlight spilled through the gaps between the leaves onto the bluestone path, forming dappled patterns of light and shadow. Everywhere on campus, uniformed students walked in twos and threes, chatting and laughing.
Life at Nuoding Academy had officially begun.