Chapter Seven: Entering the Junior Academy

After spending some time cultivating and stabilizing his soul power at their temporary lodging, Xiao Yu calculated that the academy's new enrollment period was approaching. Led by Miao, he quickly arrived at the Kaise province, and the two headed straight for their destination: the Mirror Soul Master Academy.

As for Huihuo, whom he had summoned not long ago, in the world of Dou One, especially in its early background, a Soul Douluo would attract far too much attention. Therefore, Xiao Yu instructed him to remain hidden in the shadows. With Miao, a Soul Saint, accompanying him openly, that was sufficient. The cultivation level of a Soul Saint was enough to deter the reckless, yet not enough to draw the notice of major powers. Looking at the original Shrek Academy, Flender and the others were all independent soul masters, and Zhao Wuji was even wanted by the Martial Soul Hall, yet there was no sign that the Martial Soul Hall targeted them or advertised their academy. This suggests that the level of Soul Saint among independent soul masters was within their tolerance, not enough for them to invest heavily to recruit or destroy.

...

It was the time for new enrollments. By the time Xiao Yu arrived at the academy gates, a long line had already formed at the registration area, with roughly a hundred people by his estimate. No wonder it ranked among the purple-tier soul master academies; an academy with a Soul King presiding was nothing to the great sects, but for commoners, it was an existence to be revered.

The queue moved forward slowly; some left dejectedly with their parents, while others, accompanied by their parents, were ushered into the academy by staff.

"Register here, fill in your basic information."

It took nearly half an hour before Xiao Yu's turn came. The registration teacher, somewhat mechanically, handed him a form and tapped the table, saying, "Answer honestly, no falsifications."

Despite this, Xiao Yu played a little trick: though he had just turned six, he wrote seven on the form, and lowered his innate soul power to level seven. He wasn’t worried about being found out; to the academy, falsification usually meant exaggerating one's talent, not underreporting it as he had done.

Even though Xiao Yu had toned down his information, it still caught the teacher’s eye. The teacher scrutinized Xiao Yu, then said, "Young man, let me remind you, the information must be filled out truthfully. Don’t exaggerate for pride. You still have time to change it."

Xiao Yu smiled slightly. "Teacher, I guarantee I haven’t exaggerated in the slightest—I truly haven’t. I’m willing to accept any test."

The teacher nodded at this. "Good. Then release your martial soul."

"Yes!"

Xiao Yu nodded politely and immediately activated his soul power. The Apostle of the Underworld martial soul possessed him, and a yellow century soul ring ascended.

"This martial soul..."

The teacher couldn’t help but stand up. In the moment Xiao Yu’s martial soul appeared, he clearly felt a wave of fear resonate from his own martial soul. As a soul master at level thirty-plus, to be affected by someone twenty levels lower meant this child’s martial soul far surpassed his own in quality.

"Alright, retract your martial soul," the teacher hurriedly waved. Xiao Yu quickly withdrew it; committed to keeping a low profile, he didn’t want too many to witness his martial soul.

"Follow me," the teacher beckoned his assistant to cover for him, then personally led Xiao Yu into the academy, Miao following unhurriedly behind.

Soon, the teacher brought them to the central teaching building and arranged for them to wait in an empty conference room. "Xiao Yu and your guardian, please wait here. I need to discuss class placement with the dean."

"Alright," Xiao Yu replied, and Miao nodded gently.

The teacher left the conference room and headed straight to the principal’s office to report the situation to the Mirror Academy’s principal.

"Innate soul power level seven, seven years old, level thirteen, first soul ring is a century ring, martial soul preliminarily judged as top-tier," the principal, Gao Huan—a fifty-sixth level Soul King—was taken aback by the report.

"Yes, Principal," the teacher nodded. "Therefore, I recommend this child be admitted directly to Elite Class Two. While it bends the rules, I believe his talent merits an exception."

Mirror Academy, unlike Notting Academy, had higher teaching standards and correspondingly stricter requirements for students. Before Tang San and Xiao Wu enrolled at Notting, a student with even a ten-year soul ring was already the top expert, but at Mirror Academy, that wouldn’t qualify.

Besides ordinary classes, Mirror Academy had two elite classes: Elite Class One and Elite Class Two. To enter Elite Class Two, a student must study for a year and advance their soul power past level ten. Elite Class One required soul power surpassing level twenty.

In fact, Elite Class One students had all met graduation requirements, but some stayed because they were children of the academy's upper ranks, to bolster the academy’s prestige, or because they were not old enough and wanted to raise their soul power further before moving on to intermediate or advanced academies for a higher status.

In the principal’s office, besides the principal, were Vice Principal Yao Liang and Director of Instruction Gao Jue, both Soul Sects above level forty-five.

"I agree with Teacher Chen’s suggestion," Director Gao Jue spoke up. "This child’s talent is enough for the academy to make an exception."

"I disagree," Vice Principal Yao Liang shook his head and spoke loudly. "The academy has its rules. Without rules, there is no order. No one can be an exception!"

Yao Liang’s words appeared righteous, but he had his own motives. His grandson was currently in Elite Class Two; with each new student, resources for his grandson shrank. Moreover, this child’s talent surpassed his grandson’s, so future resource allocation might favor the newcomer. If the child stayed in ordinary class for a year, the resources there couldn’t compare to those in the elite class. With a year’s gap, perhaps his grandson could outpace him, and even if the child joined the elite class later, he wouldn’t threaten his grandson’s position.

Director Gao Jue saw through Yao Liang’s scheme, felt contempt, and firmly maintained his stance, engaging in a heated debate with Yao Liang.