Different Choices (1)
Her Soul Ring configuration was one yellow and one purple. Her Second Soul Ring came from a 1,200-year-old Phantom Soft Bone Rabbit, granting her the Second Soul Skill Charm.
Empowered by a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, Charm had tremendous mental penetrating power. An ordinary Soul Grandmaster caught in its gaze would instantly lose focus. Combined with her Waist Bow and soft techniques, her explosive power at close range was terrifying.
Standing together, the two were as well matched as a golden boy and jade girl, and had long been recognized as a couple at the academy.
Tang San had likewise reached the peak of a level twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster.
His Soul Ring configuration was two yellow rings. His Second Soul Ring came from a six-hundred-year-old Ghost Vine. Its Soul Skill, Parasite, could hide Blue Silver Grass seeds inside an enemy, then erupt into Entanglement at a critical moment, giving him a strange and unpredictable means of control.
Judging by Soul Ring age alone, he was far inferior to Lin Chen, but his combat ability was not weak in the slightest.
Over the past five years, his Mysterious Heaven Skill had broken through to the third level. He had mastered Mysterious Jade Hand, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, while his Hidden Weapon techniques had reached the realm of the divine.
No one dared underestimate Tang San because of the color of his Soul Rings. Everyone knew that this quiet youth had far too many lethal moves up his sleeve.
On the day of the graduation assessment, Nuoding Academy's main training ground was a sea of people.
Lin Chen took first place without any suspense. He did not even use his second Soul Skill, sweeping aside every opponent with Chaos Shield and his basic Soul Power alone.
Tang San had to settle for second place, with Xiao Wu in third.
The top three places had all been claimed by three twelve-year-olds, each with the strength to fight above their rank. The academy's teachers watched with both gratification and emotion.
After the assessment, Yu Xiaogang sought Tang San out alone.
Under the setting sun, the master of theory looked at his most accomplished disciple and spoke solemnly. "Tang San, Nuoding Academy has nothing more to teach you. With your talent, staying here will only hold back your future."
Tang San bowed slightly. "Please guide me, teacher."
"I'll write you a letter of recommendation. Go to Shrek Academy in Suotuo City," Yu Xiaogang said gravely. "They only accept monsters there, not ordinary people. It may look shabby, but it hides crouching tigers and hidden dragons. Only there can you travel farther along your path."
"Shrek Academy..." Tang San repeated the name silently, then nodded solemnly. "I will follow your arrangements, teacher."
He knew his teacher would not harm him. Nuoding's world was too small, and he too wanted to see what the wider world was like.
Elsewhere, Lin Chen and Xiao Wu sat on the roof of Dorm Seven, watching the setting sun in the distance.
"Brother Lin Chen, where are we going after we graduate?" Xiao Wu asked casually, swinging her legs. "Should we go take a look at that Shrek place too?"
"No." Lin Chen shook his head, his voice calm. "Shrek is Tang San's path, not ours."
He could not have been more familiar with Shrek. Flender loved money, its teaching staff was limited, and Spirit Hall constrained it at every turn.
If he followed Tang San down the Shrek route, he would either become a supporting character or have to compete with him for opportunities at every turn, with trouble never ending.
The path he wanted was a wider one, a path of his own.
As they spoke, a clamor rose from below the dormitory building.
Wang Sheng ran up and said respectfully, "Sister Xiao Wu, Brother Lin Chen, a teacher from Heaven Dou Royal Academy has come to the academy. He says he wants to see you."
The corners of Lin Chen's mouth rose slightly.
He was here.
In the reception room, a middle-aged man in a Heaven Dou Empire court uniform sat upright, sipping tea. He had a refined bearing, and a silver badge engraved with the emblem of Heaven Dou Royal Academy hung at his waist. He was Teacher Sun, an admissions officer from Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
When Lin Chen and Xiao Wu entered, Teacher Sun immediately rose to his feet, a warm smile on his face. "You must be young friend Lin Chen? You truly are a gifted young man, just as they say. And this must be Miss Xiao Wu. Your talent is exceptional too."
"You're too kind, Teacher Sun." Lin Chen nodded slightly and pulled Xiao Wu down to sit with him. "May I ask what brings you all this way, teacher?"
"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance." Teacher Sun got straight to the point. "On the orders of the academy's management committee, I came especially to invite you both to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy. With your talents, only the resources and opportunities of Heaven Dou Royal Academy are worthy of your futures."
The terms he offered were exceptionally generous: they would receive the treatment of core disciples upon admission, a monthly cultivation allowance of a hundred gold coins, free access to cultivation rooms and the cultivation technique pavilion, Soul Ring acquisition arranged by the academy, and regular instruction from Titled Douluo-level mentors. After graduation, they could directly take up posts in the Heaven Dou Empire's military or Spirit Hall's main hall.
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up as she listened, and she quietly tugged at Lin Chen's sleeve. Heaven Dou Royal Academy was one of the continent's finest advanced Soul Master academies, a legendary institution for nobles, who knew how many times better than Nuoding Academy.
Lin Chen, however, did not immediately agree. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, weighing the offer to himself.
He knew very well that Heaven Dou Royal Academy had the empire behind it, abundant resources, and extensive connections. It could provide him with the status and foundation he needed most. For now, he had foreknowledge and talent, but no sect to support him and no network of connections. Making his way alone was far too inefficient.
By entering Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he could use the empire's resources to rapidly increase his strength while avoiding Tang San's main storyline at Shrek and secretly developing his own forces. When he graduated, the day of his true rise would arrive.
The only trouble was that Spirit Hall had also infiltrated Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and Qian Renxue was currently lying low in Heaven Dou, disguised as Xue Qinghe.
But in Lin Chen's view, that was not necessarily a bad thing.
Making contact with Qian Renxue early was better than meeting her as an enemy on the battlefield someday.
"We accept the terms." Lin Chen raised his head, his voice firm. "Xiao Wu and I are willing to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Teacher Sun was overjoyed. "Good! Wonderful! Heaven Dou is fortunate to have you both join us! I'll have someone make proper arrangements for the start of term. Pack your belongings, and you can set out for Heaven Dou City whenever you're ready."
After seeing Teacher Sun off, Xiao Wu excitedly hugged Lin Chen's arm. "Brother Lin Chen, are we really going to Heaven Dou City? I hear it's huge, and there are so many delicious things to eat!"
"Of course. Heaven Dou City is a bustling place. Once we reach Heaven Dou, our stage will truly open."
Three days later, Nuoding Academy held a simple graduation ceremony. The students packed their belongings and set off on their different paths. Everyone from Dorm Seven gathered together, and Wang Sheng and the others saw Lin Chen and Xiao Wu off with reddened eyes.
"Brother Lin Chen, Sister Xiao Wu, don't forget us when you make it big someday."
Xiao Wu waved her fist. "Don't worry! If anyone dares bully you, just tell them you're with me, Sister Xiao Wu!"
As she spoke, Tang San walked over with his luggage. He wore simple cloth clothes, with a bundle on his back and Yu Xiaogang's letter of recommendation clutched in his hand. Clearly, he was about to leave as well.
"Lin Chen, Xiao Wu." Tang San stopped, his gaze falling on Lin Chen. "I'm going to Shrek Academy."