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Seeing Chu Chengzhou nod, Xiao Chentian felt an uncomfortable pang in his chest.
In terms of official standing within the Tian Dou Empire, Principal Su Nan was indeed inferior to his uncle, the city lord. After all, his uncle was a hereditary baron of the Tian Dou Empire, with taxation and military authority over the entire Nuoding City, which was part of the Xiao family's fiefdom. Meanwhile, Su Nan was merely an honorary baron, unable to pass down his title.
Originally, given Su Nan's strength, he could have claimed a viscount title upon joining the Tian Dou Empire. However, his situation was unique—he only served as the principal of Nuoding Academy. During wartime, he wasn't obligated to unconditionally obey the empire's orders, which is why he held only the rank of baron.
However, when it came to actual power, Su Nan, a four-ringed Soul Elder, clearly surpassed Xiao Chentian's three-ringed Soul Master uncle.
Moreover, Su Nan had been the principal of Nuoding Academy for over twenty years. Though Nuoding City was small, many soul masters had graduated from the academy during that time. Even if they weren't direct teacher-student relationships, these students often relied on the principal and teachers' assistance during their hunts for their first spirit rings upon graduation. Over the years, this had built up significant goodwill.
If Chu Chengzhou really was the principal's grandson, Xiao Chentian, as the city lord's nephew, wouldn't dare provoke him.
"No, no, Principal Su Nan and Teacher Li don't have children—how could they have a grandson? Besides, you don't even share the same surname. Kid, are you trying to fool me?"
Xiao Chentian glared menacingly.
As Xiao Chentian questioned him, the work-study students nearby wanted to step in and vouch for Chu Chengzhou. But at that moment, several teachers appeared at the top of the stairs.
Leading them were Principal Su Nan and Li Wan, the homeroom teacher of the sixth-year graduating class.
"Little Chengzhou, what's going on here?"
Li Wan asked with a smile, addressing her beloved grandson.
Of course, she could already guess what had happened—it was likely just another conflict between the noble-born students and the work-study students. Since her grandson hadn't caused any trouble, she didn't press further.
"Grandma, it's nothing—we're about to eat!"
Glancing at Xiao Chentian, who was now doing his best to blend into the background while focusing on his meal, Chu Chengzhou saw no need to tattle. Dropping his grandfather's name had already intimidated the other side. Unless it failed, there was no need to escalate things.
Besides, complaining probably wouldn't help much. Before any real harm was done, minor squabbles like this wouldn't justify the principal and teachers stepping in to punish Xiao Chentian.
"Mm, Little Chengzhou, remember to get along well with your classmates. If your allowance runs low, just ask your grandparents."
Gently patting Chu Chengzhou's head, Li Wan added a final reminder.
"I know~!"
The second-floor cafeteria, though called a private dining area, wasn't excessively expensive.
A lavish meal for over ten people cost only one silver soul coin and thirty copper coins.
The exchange rate between gold, silver, and copper coins in the world of Douluo wasn't the chaotic 1:10:100 ratio described in the original work. Instead, one gold soul coin equaled 100 silver soul coins, which equaled 10,000 copper coins.
After all, work-study students earned 10 copper coins per day just by cleaning. Nuoding Academy couldn't possibly be so extravagant that ten days of cleaning would earn the equivalent of several months' living expenses for an average family, right?
After lunch, Chu Chengzhou returned to Dormitory Seven for a blissful nap before heading to the academy's library to study knowledge about spirit beasts.
Thanks to memories from his previous life and his grandmother's early education, Chu Chengzhou could read books despite the differences between the writing system of Douluo Continent and modern society.
Though detailed knowledge of spirit beasts wouldn't be particularly useful right away, it would broaden his horizons and help him plan which types of spirit beasts to hunt for each spirit ring.
"I'm a pickled fish, sour, weak, and useless~. I'm a yellow-braised chicken, yellow, suffocating, and lame."
Humming a little tune, Chu Chengzhou strolled toward the library with his short legs.
Details of Meditation, How to Correctly Attach Spirit Rings, How to Become a Soul Master, Detailed Explanations of Martial Souls, The Wind Spirit Douluo Fell in Love with Me...
Standing in front of the bookshelves, Chu Chengzhou browsed for books containing information about common spirit beasts on the continent.
The first few books seemed normal enough, but what on earth was The Wind Spirit Douluo Fell in Love with Me?
Rolling his eyes, Chu Chengzhou ignored it. A quick glance was enough; he had no intention of opening it.
What good novels could the natives of Douluo write? Most were probably low-quality wish-fulfillment stories, likely penned by some mediocre female author.
Soon, Chu Chengzhou spotted a book titled Illustrated Record of Spirit Beasts.
"This is the one!"
Just from the title, it was clear the book contained detailed information about various spirit beasts.
Standing on tiptoe, Chu Chengzhou pulled the book from the shelf. However, perhaps because he was too short, another book fell from the shelf as he did so.
"Huh~ Yu Xiaogang's The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls?"
Picking up the fallen book, Chu Chengzhou immediately recognized the bold title and author's name on the cover.
"He tui~ What crap is this?"
Spitting disdainfully, Chu Chengzhou prepared to put it back on the shelf.
This book was arguably the most famous on the entire Douluo Continent. Chu Chengzhou had read it before, but Yu Xiaogang's writings were either nonsensical or full of obvious, useless conclusions—completely worthless.
"Kid, you haven't even flipped through it yet. How dare you slander this book?"
Suddenly, an annoyed voice came from behind him.
Turning around, Chu Chengzhou saw a slightly emaciated middle-aged man with a crew cut resembling a labor camp inmate, his face exuding a sense of despair as he glared at him.
'Yu Xiaogang?'
At first glance, Chu Chengzhou recognized him immediately.
He had never met Yu Xiaogang in person, but his appearance matched the anime version from his previous life almost exactly. Moreover, in Nuoding Academy, there was only one person who looked this dispirited—Yu Xiaogang.
"I've already read this book before!"
Glancing at Yu Xiaogang, Chu Chengzhou said indifferently as he placed the book back on the shelf.
"Then how dare you slander it?"
Though he didn't understand what "crap" meant, Yu Xiaogang could tell that this kid held his magnum opus in complete disdain.
"Hey~ You're really something, aren't you? Disliking this book is my freedom—you can't force me to like it, can you?"
"Hmph~ Even if you don't like it, you still can't slander it!"
Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly, irritation rising in his heart.
True, it was someone's freedom to dislike his work, and he didn't intend to force anyone to like it. But how dare this brat slander his hard work?
Today, if this little punk doesn't explain himself properly, this master isn't letting him off!
The Spirit Hall may have been powerful, and he might not have been able to resist Qian Xunji back then—but surely today he could handle this little punk, right?
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