Nuoding Academy

Time flew by like an arrow, and the months passed swiftly. Three months had already gone by since Zuzong awakened his martial soul.

In the province of Fasinuo, Nuoding City, Nuoding Academy welcomed a new school term.

Old Tom from Emperor Spirit Village, along with Old Jack from Holy Spirit Village, each brought their villages' once-in-a-century talents to Nuoding Academy to enroll them with great excitement.

Along the way, even though Tang San still gritted his teeth whenever he saw Zuzong, wishing he could give him a good beating, he held back to avoid a repeat of the previous incident.

While Tang San held back, Zuzong did not. Now that he had gained strength, his confidence had grown significantly, and he taunted Tang San mercilessly.

"Little San! I heard that you cried after I sent Master Su Yuntao away last time!"

"Little San! What happened to your face? It looks like there's a palm mark on it. Good thing it's not too obvious, or your already ordinary face wouldn't even qualify as ordinary."

"Little San! I heard from Second Sister next door that you got a slap from your dad when you went back. Is that true?"

"Could the palm mark on your face be from your dad? Uncle Tang is really harsh! It's been three months, and it still hasn't faded. When he's old, I'll help you pull his oxygen tube."

"Little San, why is your face turning red and baring your teeth? Could it be a rabies relapse?"

"Little San... Little San..."

Tang San: "I will endure, I will endure, but once we reach Nuoding Academy, I'll make you regret this! Ah... I can't take it anymore!"

Tang San collapsed! (Of course, not really.)

As noon approached, the four of them finally arrived in Nuoding City.

Old Jack took Tang San to the Nuoding City Spirit Hall to apologize to Su Yuntao.

Gift: Five large radishes weighing ten pounds each — Old Jack's martial soul.

Old Tom and Zuzong had no reason to go with them, so they went to Nuoding Academy first.

As expected, just like in the original story, the gatekeeper asked for a bribe.

Zuzong didn't hesitate. His Sharingan flashed briefly, and he made eye contact with the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper was just an ordinary person and couldn't resist Zuzong's illusion technique. Immediately, he respectfully welcomed Zuzong and Old Tom into Nuoding Academy.

The gatekeeper clasped his hands together and said, "Oh my! No wonder you look so familiar! It turns out the illustrious and renowned village chief of Emperor Spirit Village has come, bringing with him a once-in-a-millennium genius. Welcome to our Nuoding Academy! What an honor!"

Earlier, the gatekeeper had been looking for trouble, so Old Tom had already prepared himself to be looked down upon or even to pay a bribe to avoid disaster. He hadn't expected Emperor Spirit Village's reputation to have reached here!

Hmm! It seems the rumor that Emperor Spirit Village produced a Soul Emperor is true!

Old Tom mimicked the gatekeeper's gesture and returned the greeting, "You're too kind, you're too kind. Here is my family's... oh, no! Here's Zuzong's martial soul certificate. Please take a look." He handed over a standardised document.

Old Tom thought, "Damn it, I bit my tongue. I'm so used to calling him that. I can't call him 'brat' out here."

The gatekeeper took the martial soul certificate from Old Tom and, without even glancing at it, respectfully handed it to Zuzong. He then said to Old Tom, "How could I not trust you? You can just give this young genius the martial soul certificate to bring inside. Someone will guide him through the registration process."

Since Nuoding Academy did not allow outsiders, and there were many teachers inside, Zuzong bid farewell to Old Tom at the gate. Before leaving, he even told Old Tom to check under his pillow, where Zuzong had left dozens of gold soul coins for him.

By the way, Zuzong also added a small illusion within the gatekeeper's mind.

—In the afternoon, after a few hours of Old Jack pleading to Su Yuntao like he was worshipping a deity, even the proud Tang San was forced by Old Jack to kowtow three times, along with the five large radishes as a peace offering. Master Su Yuntao finally forgave Tang San and returned his martial soul certificate.

Old Jack led Tang San to Nuoding Academy, holding his hand, the old and the young walking together.

Without the humiliation from the original story, the gatekeeper was very enthusiastic this time. He not only politely sent off Old Jack but also offered to take Tang San to the registration area, significantly lifting their spirits.

Tang San couldn't help but think, "It seems that there are still many good people in this world!"

At the same time, Tang San felt resentment toward Su Yuntao for not distinguishing right from wrong and decided to beat him up for revenge after graduation.

The gatekeeper led Tang San by the hand through many twists and turns (in reality, they just circled Nuoding Academy four or five times). Because Tang San had developed a good impression of the gatekeeper earlier, he didn't suspect anything fishy.

An hour later, the gatekeeper took Tang San to a small, pitch-black classroom. He lit a small candle and told Tang San that a teacher would be coming soon, then left.

Tang San did not doubt him and waited there until three in the morning, but no one came. Tears of regret streamed down Tang San's face once more.

He knew he had been tricked again.

Of course, this is a story for later.

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After registering, Zuzong became a working student and was assigned to Dorm Seven. He had no choice as he had left the remaining gold soul coins with Old Tom and was almost out of money for food.

Zuzong planned to spend a few years in Nuoding City, learning the basic theories.

Though he was tempted by the beauties of the Spirit Hall (tsk! How shameless), he realized that even if he joined the Spirit Hall now, unless he revealed his twin martial souls, the chance of being taken seriously was low, let alone meeting those beauties.

It's important to note that few people know about the Blue Silver Emperor. Most believe that a mutated Blue Silver Grass, even with innate full soul power, can't be very strong.

Zuzong had no intention of revealing his twin martial souls so soon and becoming a target. Stealthy development was the key.

Walking into Dorm Seven, Zuzong looked around.

Alright! The hundred-thousand-year-old rabbit hadn't arrived yet. Good! If any sparks flew between him and this old rabbit, he wouldn't be able to harm her anymore. Who would hurt their own wife? That's not human; that's an animal.

Even in his past life, Zuzong didn't have a favorable opinion of the old rabbit! So out of sight, out of mind.

The specific reasons? Let the readers figure it out themselves!

"Hey, newbie, take my punch first. Martial Soul Possession—Battle Tiger!"

Without any surprises, Wang Sheng attacked Zuzong.

Zuzong couldn't be bothered to counter, shook his head slightly, and replied, "Next time, don't make a sound before you attack."

With that, he immediately subjected Wang Sheng to a 360-degree mid-air gymnastics routine plus free-fall motion.

In just a few blinks of an eye, Wang Sheng was slammed to the ground, falling hard enough to "bloom his butt."

Luckily, Zuzong used his foot to brace Wang Sheng's head; otherwise, it would have been more than just a "butt bloom."

Seeing Zuzong's prowess in defeating him with one move while he was in martial soul possession, Wang Sheng rubbed his aching rear and pleaded, "Boss, from now on, you are the boss of Dorm Seven!"

And so, Zuzong became the new boss of Dorm Seven.

That night, while everyone else was away, Zuzong took out the quilt he had stolen from the system space earlier and laid it on his bed.

After eating dinner, Zuzong sat cross-legged on his bed and began cultivating. The next day, he planned to borrow an order from Su Yuntao to enter the Soul Beast Forest to acquire his first soul ring.

Meanwhile, things were not going well for Tang San. It was already dark, and due to what happened at noon, Tang San was so angry that he didn't have lunch. As for the rations he brought with him—the gatekeeper said he was hungry and took them!

At this moment, Tang San was cold and hungry. Even with the protection of "Mysterious Heaven Skill," his stomach was growling.

Until three in the morning, someone finally opened the door of the small classroom.

Tang San shed tears once again.

"Finally, a teacher has come!..."