At the academy gates.
"Zhuqing, there's something I've never dared to tell you," Yang Yunhai suddenly turned his head to look at Zhu Zhuqing.
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing also turned her gaze toward him.
"Actually… back then, it was me who accidentally shocked you unconscious," Yang Yunhai said, a little embarrassed.
Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment. She looked at Yang Yunhai, not angry, just waiting for him to explain.
"Ahem… my Martial Soul is a variant, and it carries a lightning attribute. That day, I was standing in the river above the waterfall, using lightning to fish for dinner. Suddenly, I heard a loud splash below. I thought I had struck a big fish thrashing around, or maybe a soul beast that came down to drink water." Yang Yunhai lowered his voice. "But when I went over and looked down…"
"And then, it became what it was."
Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed faintly, rare for her, and she instinctively lowered her head, lips pressed together without a word. Her expression was unreadable, but clearly her heart was in turmoil.
For a moment, Yang Yunhai didn't know what to say. After a long silence, he carefully called, "Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuqing still didn't speak. Though her head was slightly lowered, her face had already regained calm.
Just then, faint footsteps came from behind the academy gates.
"Someone's coming," Yang Yunhai immediately lifted his head, looking toward the source of the sound.
Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes as well, her expression tranquil.
From a distance, three elders and a young man approached, the gate guard trailing behind them.
Their steps were steady, and soon they stood before the two.
"Junior Yang Yunhai greets the honored seniors," Yang Yunhai placed his hand over his chest and bowed slightly, offering the proper courtesy of a younger soul master before elders.
Then he straightened and turned a little, motioning to Zhu Zhuqing. "This is Zhu Zhuqing, my companion."
"Zhu Zhuqing greets the honored seniors," she said softly, curtsying slightly.
'Zhu Zhuqing.' The three Education Committee members' eyes flickered subtly.
Chairman Meng Shenji was the first to recover, stroking his beard with a hearty laugh. "Welcome, welcome! It is an honor for Heaven Dou Royal Academy that the two of you would choose to enroll here. No need for formality—treat this place as your home from now on."
"I am the chairman of the Education Committee, Meng Shenji. This is Vice Chairman Bai Baoshan, and the third seat, Zhi Lin. And this—" he turned toward "Xue Qinghe," smiling, "—is His Highness the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou Empire, the First Prince, Xue Qinghe."
"I greet Your Highness," Yang Yunhai bowed at once, and Zhu Zhuqing followed.
"No need for ceremony. To meet young talents like Brother Yang and Miss Zhu is an honor for me as well," Qian Renxue, in disguise, said warmly.
"Indeed," Meng Shenji added with a smile. "For you to cultivate Blue Silver Grass to such a level at such an age… I must confess, I feel ashamed. This is the first time I've ever heard of Blue Silver Grass achieving such speed in cultivation."
Yang Yunhai's eyes flickered as he chuckled. "Just some fortunate encounters."
"To be honest, half a month ago, my soul power was only rank 21."
"What!?" The three committee members, the gate guard, and even Zhu Zhuqing were all visibly shocked.
'Not bad. He knows when to seize the moment.' Qian Renxue's eyes gleamed slightly.
"It's nothing that can't be said. I don't think I'll ever stumble on such luck a second time." Yang Yunhai shrugged, then swept his eyes over the gathered elders and the Crown Prince. "Three honored seniors, Your Highness, the story is long. If you'd like to hear it, why not sit down inside? To be honest, I also came today with a personal request."
"Of course, of course," Meng Shenji chuckled. "Come, let's all go inside first. We can speak at ease."
Thus, Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing followed them into the academy.
Before long, they reached the Education Committee office, where Yang Yunhai began recounting his tale.
He started with what they were most curious about—entering the mountain, finding the bamboo shoot, drinking its water, and breaking through to rank 27.
Then he spoke of leaving the mountain, asking directions, and arriving at the border.
When it came to his rapid breakthrough to rank 30, he changed the details, saying he had used his Martial Soul's lightning attribute to stimulate his muscles and speed the absorption of the bamboo shoot's medicinal power. After that, his Martial Soul unexpectedly evolved, his body transformed, and he awakened a special perception ability, enabling him to enter Star Dou Forest alone to hunt a soul beast. He downplayed the details, lowering the soul beast's cultivation to about 1500 years.
When explaining the hunt, he specifically described his soul skills, their effects, and the soul ring sources.
For his first ring, he repeated the story he had once told the Nuoding Academy headmaster. For the second, he claimed to have used his first skill and lightning attribute to wear down the beast from a distance, adjusting the year count to just over 600 years—aligning himself with Tang San's level.
As for the mountain's general location, he had already woven in the version that Salas advised.
'With this version, if anyone investigates, they'll likely conclude my first ring was hunted by Spirit Hall for me, but it was low quality, which left me dissatisfied. That explains why I've never joined Spirit Hall since, and why I hunted my second ring alone,' Yang Yunhai thought to himself.
On the other side, the three Education Committee members were marveling.
"Incredible. Who would have thought such a wondrous plant exists in this world?"
"Junior Yang, your luck is truly enviable."
"Indeed, enviable…"
The story was too detailed and consistent to disbelieve. After all, gaining nine ranks in a matter of days, and even evolving a Martial Soul, could never be explained by his second skill's absorption ability. It could only be explained by consuming some heavenly treasure.
"Just good fortune," Yang Yunhai said modestly.
"Haha, there's no need for modesty," Meng Shenji laughed heartily.
Regardless, the fact remained—Yang Yunhai had reached Soul Elder at such a young age, and his Martial Soul had evolved. His talent was undeniable, enough to warrant key cultivation. And with him came Zhu Zhuqing—a two-for-one deal.
Smiling broadly, Meng Shenji asked, "Then Yang, tell us your request. So long as it is within my power, I will do my best to fulfill it."
"Senior jests," Yang Yunhai smiled and bowed. "I have only one request—that my companion and I be allowed to join Heaven Dou Battle Team's first squad. And—"
His gaze sharpened, voice ringing clear. "I request to challenge the team's captain, Yu Tianheng, in single combat."
(End of Chapter)
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