Xiaoming, Shrek Academy is the best advanced Soul Master academy on the Douluo Continent. When you get there, you must study diligently! Do you have enough money? Did you bring all your storage Soul Devices? Packed enough clothes? And is there enough food and water?"
At the gates of the city lord's mansion, a beautiful woman in her forties held Jiang Ming's hand tightly, her face full of concern as she went over everything.
Jiang Ming smiled and checked the items in his Soul Devices according to her instructions, even though he had already gone through them last night.
Nearby, the Qingshui City Lord, Nie Heng, looked utterly helpless.
"You've been asking the same questions since morning! You've repeated them at least thirty times already! If you keep going, it'll be noon before we leave."
Hearing her husband, the beautiful woman glared at him, her voice slightly scolding:"Xiaoming is going to Shrek Academy! That's over a thousand miles away from Qingshui City. Don't I get to worry and talk to him a little before he leaves?"
"You!"
Nie Heng could do nothing against his wife. He stepped aside, instructing the carriage driver to drive steadily.
The woman continued her reminders, secretly slipped a bag of gold soul coins into Jiang Ming's hands, and finally, teary-eyed, sent him off in the carriage.
Qingshui City, on the edge of the Tianhun Empire, didn't have the advanced Soul Devices that central cities possessed, so the carriage was the best mode of transport.
Sigh… I just hope this child can adapt to life at Shrek Academy. I've heard their evaluation system is extremely strict!
Before the carriage had gone far, the woman was already worrying about Jiang Ming's future.
Nie Heng twitched at the corner of his mouth, helplessly watching the carriage disappear into the distance.
"Don't worry. With Xiaoming's talent, if he can't stay at Shrek Academy, then no one in the Douluo Continent deserves to. I just hope… he doesn't end up dismantling the academy. That place isn't Qingshui City—even selling the city lord's mansion wouldn't cover the damage!"
Inside the carriage, Jiang Ming's heart was full of both reluctance and anticipation. His face reflected sadness and excitement as he imagined what Shrek Academy would look like ten thousand years from now.
Yes, Jiang Ming was a transmigrator.
Twelve years ago, with a world-shaking cry, he arrived in the world of the Douluo Continent.
At first, he was completely bewildered. After all, he had just finished the college entrance exams in his previous life!
He had resigned himself to failing, but that night, while playing online games and reading novels at home, a fully-loaded dump truck crashed into his house, instantly killing him.
Everything happened so suddenly that the first few months after transmigrating were a blur.
After his transmigration, his life story carried a touch of tragedy.
Jiang Ming's parents were citizens of the Tianhun Empire—soldiers, to be precise. Eleven years ago, they were killed in a war between the Tianhun Empire and the Sun Moon Empire. At that time, Nie Heng, a comrade of Jiang Ming's father, took him in.
Later, Nie Heng was appointed the Lord of Qingshui City for his military achievements.
Because Nie Heng's wife had been injured in the past, the couple had no children. They had always treated Jiang Ming as their own son.
Now, with Shrek Academy recruiting students, Nie Heng had a recommendation spot as the city lord. Jiang Ming's age fit perfectly, so he was recommended directly.
"Master, please drive steadily. I need to handle something in the carriage."
On the way to Shrek Academy, Jiang Ming poked his head out and instructed the driver, slipping a silver soul coin into his hand.
The driver's eyes lit up immediately."Don't worry, Young Master Jiang. This carriage is modified with a soul device shock absorber, plus my driving skills—you won't feel a thing inside, even if you… hehe…"
The driver patted his chest confidently.
But as soon as he spoke, he sensed something was wrong."Uh… sorry, Young Master Jiang. Forget I said that!"
He forced a laugh. The boy in front of him came from the city lord's mansion and was only twelve—not one of the rough customers he usually transported. He couldn't be crude.
"It's fine. Just drive steadily."
Jiang Ming ignored the driver's words. His hand brushed over the storage ring Soul Device on his finger and the storage Soul Device at his waist. He took out books and small metallic blocks that glimmered faintly.
Though only twelve, his mind was fully mature. The driver's crude joke barely registered—compared to the internet in his past life, it was nothing.
"The energy flow here could use some optimization."
Jiang Ming picked up a metal block, frowning, studying the engraved patterns and mentally planning improvements.
After a few seconds, he grabbed a book from a stack beside him and began reading.
Half an hour passed like this.
Closing the book, he suddenly brightened."So that's how it works! How did I not realize it sooner?"
He tapped his temple in mild self-reproach, put down the book, and brushed a gem on his waist Soul Device. A slender, pale-golden knife appeared in his hand.
He gripped it firmly and began carving the metal block.
His hands were steady, his arm strength allowing him to inscribe the patterns exactly as he wished.
The driver hadn't lied—whether it was the shock absorber or his skill, the carriage barely shook, and Jiang Ming was unaffected.
Time passed quietly. Jiang Ming became completely absorbed in carving the Soul Device patterns.
Occasionally he paused for difficult parts or to consult books, but nearly every moment was spent etching patterns onto metal blocks.
In over ten years in this world, Jiang Ming had three major hobbies—researching Soul Devices was one of them.
Perhaps due to finishing the college entrance exams in his previous life, his passion for learning lingered. He instantly loved Soul Devices for their technical challenge—and he had a natural talent for them!
At least in Qingshui City, no one had more aptitude than he did. Even his level-four Soul Master mentor admitted there was little more to teach him.
Jiang Ming particularly enjoyed studying Soul Device weapons—guns, shells, and explosives.
After all, the Douluo world was different from his past life.
For Soul Masters and Soul Master mentors, combat was the main focus.
Wielding Soul Device guns or shells in battle—what could excite a hot-blooded boy more?
Finally, Jiang Ming completed carving another core component of a Soul Device. He smiled as he infused it with soul power.
But in the next instant, his smile froze. Without hesitation, he opened the carriage window and threw the metal block outside.
A few seconds later…BOOM!