All rights reserved to the respective authors.
"Dialogue": Represented in double quotes for conversations between characters.
'Thoughts': Represented in single quotation marks, indicating the characters' internal reflections.
[Diary]: Represented in square brackets, used for messages intended for the heroines or entries written by Tenshin.
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The interior of Nuoding Academy was mainly divided into four areas: the main school building, a sports ground, a dormitory located to the east of the sports ground, and a library at the center.
Even though it was only a primary Soul Master academy, Nuoding Academy's rules and regulations were extremely strict. Regardless of how close a student's home was to the academy, all students were required to stay in the dormitories and adhere to the academy's unified management system.
Additionally, the faculty at the academy generally consisted of instructors at the level of Spirit Grandmaster, around level 25, with spirit ring configurations of one white and one yellow.
As for the dean, although he was a level 42 Spirit Ancestor, his spirit ring configuration was white, yellow, yellow, and purple, indicating that the age of his rings was not particularly high.
Listening to Yu Xiaogang's monotonous introduction, Tenshin's mood gradually sank.
Even the combination of the first two Spirit Rings of each one of them didn't amount to the equivalent of a 400-year-old Spirit Ring configuration. So, how could someone with that level of strength possibly fight a powerful 400+ year-old Spirit Beast? Even if a few instructors teamed up to fight it, would they be willing to risk their lives and spend so much time in the perilous Spirit Forest just to help me hunt one?
As for the dean, I'm just a civilian Soul Master with innate level 7 spirit power, and my martial soul doesn't have any combat applications. Is it even possible for me to ask for his help?
I obviously can't rely on my status to invite him, and I can't afford to pay him now or in the near future.
As for asking Yu Xiaogang for help or to invite someone on my behalf, that's even more unlikely. He wouldn't stand a chance against a century-old soul beast, let alone care enough to help me.
'Looks like I'll have to find a way to obtain my first spirit ring on my own, Tenshin sighed silently. My current spirit power is still only at level 8, and there's some time before I reach level 10. During this period, I need to read as much as possible from the academy library and focus on forging to become a blacksmith as soon as possible, so I can craft my spear.'
'I also can't use the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique in the blacksmith workshop just yet. The circle of professions is very small, and if Tang San found out, the consequences would be unimaginable. Even if Tang San didn't know, Tang Hao would likely discover it, and that would be even worse for me.'
'But it doesn't matter. Just based on my spear technique, some experience with swords, my martial arts knowledge from my past life, and slightly incorporating the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique into my forging, I'll definitely be better than most blacksmiths. The only thing I'm lacking is practice, which I can gradually build up in the blacksmith workshop.
Tenshin's thoughts were racing. Although he had learned the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer Technique and was currently incorporating it into his spear technique, he was only now planning to use it for forging.
It was true that he had watched Tang Hao and his son hammering iron and understood the technique in theory, and he had practiced it a bit. But knowing how to do it and doing it perfectly were two different things.
He could only enter the blacksmith workshop and slowly build up his skills and experience.
'In addition, with a spear in hand, and at that time, with my sensory skill to avoid risks and search for Soul beasts, coupled with a body reinforced by soul power and the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track technique, along with well-placed spear attacks, it should be enough to plot the death of a suitable hundred-year-old spirit beast. In the worst case, I hope I can manage to recreate the Rasengan by then,' Tenshin seriously considered.
'No, no, there's still a problem, Tenshin's gaze flickered slightly. For a Soul Master to enter the Spirit Forest to hunt Soul beasts, they first need to go to the Spirit Hall for strength certification, confirming that they genuinely need to hunt for a Spirit Ring. Additionally, they need endorsements from three nobles. Only then will they be issued a warrant.'
'I probably can't get past the Spirit Hall's certification. I'll have to wait until I can officially enter the Spirit Forest.'
'Of course, that's the normal route. I could also try borrowing a warrant from Yu Xiaogang through Tang San or directly asking the dean for one.' After a glance at Yu Xiaogang, Tenshin's mind painted a vivid scenario:
"Why do you want to go by yourself? Wouldn't it be better to let an academy teacher help you hunt one?"
"What? You want to hunt a hundred-year-old spirit beast? Child, that's too dangerous. As the dean, I must be responsible for my students. I can't bear that weight—I can't watch you march to your death. Child, don't be overly ambitious. It's enough for a civilian Soul Master to absorb a spirit ring from a few decades-old Soul beasts for their first ring."
'Civilian family, huh... Even the qualification to pursue a dream is lacking.' He couldn't help but think of Xiao Chenyu from the original story. Even the city lord's son's first spirit ring was a ten-year spirit ring. Then, he recalled the academy instructors with all white rings. In a small city like Nuoding City, under such general circumstances, in the perception of the civilian class, absorbing a hundred-year spirit ring as a first spirit ring seemed like an extravagant hope.
The dean and Yu Xiaogang's potential refusal to issue a warrant suddenly seemed perfectly reasonable.
'It's alright to have no money and no power, but if everything has to depend on oneself... No wonder quite a few people team up outside the Spirit Forest to hunt Soul beasts. The instructors at the Primary Soul Master Academy, with their limited numbers and strength, won't take big risks to hunt the optimal-age spirit rings for a student with average talent. And if you don't have the background to find someone to help, you can only rely on yourself.'
'In the canon timeline, Yu Xiaogang seemed to look down on the groups of Soul Masters who teamed up, but it's unclear what qualifications he had to look down on them. If not for his family background, coupled with his connections to Flender and Liu Erlong, he—who couldn't even defeat a hundred-year-old spirit beast—would never have obtained the optimal age for his first two spirit rings.'
Glancing at Yu Xiaogang out of the corner of his eye, Tenshin secretly sighed, 'It seems I'll have to get the warrant through the channels of the Spirit Hall.'
'Ah, what a pain in the arse.'
With Yu Xiaogang's explanation along the way, the three of them quickly arrived at the academy's office. The instructor who specialized in receiving new students on the ground floor was an elderly man in his sixties, sitting at a long table and pretending to be asleep. On either side of him were younger instructors in their thirties.
Yu Xiaogang placed two certificates on the table and looked toward the old man sitting at the center.
"Director Su, these are the work-study students sent by Holy Spirit Village this year. Please help them with their registration."
"Two?" Director Su opened his eyes with a start, his face showing some surprise as he looked at the two certificates in front of him. When he looked up, his face broke into a smile. "Grandmaster, I never thought you would come. A rare guest, indeed. Would you like to sit for a while?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head, then glanced at Tang San. "Xiao San, register yourself here. These teachers will guide you on what to do and tell you how to get to the dormitory. I still have things to do, but I'll find you later."
"Okay, goodbye, Master." Tang San nodded respectfully.
"See you later, Master," Tenshin echoed.
Under the guidance of the instructors, the two quickly completed their registration. Of course, the process was a little unpleasant. After reviewing Tang San's martial soul information and hearing that he had already worshiped Yu Xiaogang, the behavior of the instructors caused Tang San's face to visibly show displeasure.
After getting their school uniforms, the two of them followed the instructions and headed toward the dormitory.
"Tenshin, why didn't you worship Grandmaster with me just now?" After walking a short distance out of the faculty building, Tang San suddenly turned his head to look at Tenshin, his gaze carrying a trace of scrutiny, but his face was plastered with a smile. "I think you're quite gifted when it comes to learning theoretical knowledge."
Didn't you see that Yu Xiaogang never gave a damn about me from the start? Besides, once I can implant an 'eye,' if you learn it, it's the same as if I had learned it myself. So why should I beg and worship him when he looks down on me? Most importantly, he gave me a suggestion with the intention of using me as an experiment, and I have no desire to kneel before him at all.
Tenshin turned his head to the side, looking at Tang San—the "experience bag" he still hadn't finished exploiting for all it was worth. Although many of Yu Xiaogang's theories were complete nonsense, the spirit beast identification knowledge he had acquired from the Spirit Hall was indeed very useful. In that regard, he could be considered an encyclopedia of Soul beasts.
Tenshin said with his best innocent smile, "Didn't your father or Grandpa Jack tell you not to trust strangers so easily at the academy? Grandpa only let us meet with Grandmaster because he thinks Grandmaster is a teacher at the academy. Didn't Grandmaster just say he wasn't a teacher here? He also mentioned that he's just a guest staying at his friend's academy. Old Jack always said that people should be ambitious, and when they grow up, they have to rely on their own labor to support themselves. Living off friends... that doesn't sound too good to me."
"It seems that Master knows quite a lot and is quite capable. But this is only our first meeting, and it doesn't feel right to worship someone as a master before getting to know him, right? Besides, doesn't the academy already have many teachers to teach us? And a library full of information?" Tenshin said, maintaining his internal thoughts.
I'm afraid this brat doesn't believe in the Master... no, probably he's just being arrogant. After all, he hasn't seen much of the world. Tang San instantly felt choked, torn between feeling justified and feeling like these words were indirectly scolding him.
Opening his mouth, he hesitated, then sighed inwardly. This stupid… he really doesn't know what he's talking about.
But after a moment of thought, Why am I even arguing with a little kid? Tenshin may have a sharp mind, but he lacks life experience. What could he possibly understand?
With that, he nodded indifferently and stopped talking.
Tenshin secretly felt pleased, smiled shyly, and no longer said anything.
The academy's dormitory consists of a single building, making it easy to find. Both students and teachers live in the same building. When the two arrived, following the instructions of the instructor assigned to guide the new students on the ground floor, they quickly located the seventh dormitory, specifically designated for work-study students.
As soon as they reached Qisha, the dormitory assigned to him by Notting College, the distinct atmosphere of the work-study students' quarters became apparent. The worn-out wooden door creaked slightly as they approached, and before they even stepped inside, a chaotic clamor spilled into the hallway—a mix of laughter, shouting, and the occasional sound of furniture scraping against the floor.
The door was open, and Tang San, who was walking ahead, led the way in, with Tenshin following closely behind, looking around. It was an extremely spacious room, estimated to cover nearly three hundred square meters. Inside, fifty beds were neatly arranged, most of them empty. Only the eleven beds at the front had bedding arranged, while seven or eight children, not very young, sat around one of the beds, talking.
As soon as Tenshin and Tang San entered, they immediately attracted the attention of the others in Qisha.
"You must be this year's work-study students," a lanky boy stepped forward, sizing them up condescendingly. He pointed to Tang San. "Let's have a fight!"
Fortunately, I chose to walk at the back, which saved me a lot of trouble. Tenshin, who had been standing at the rear, silently stepped aside, quietly watching as Wang Sheng was quickly subdued by Tang San, just as he had read about in the novel.
It was only after everyone turned their attention toward them that Wang Sheng cautiously looked at Tang San. "Xiao San, you're so powerful. I definitely can't beat you, so you should be the dormitory boss."
"Alright then, I won't let the students in this dorm get bullied," Tang San nodded.
At least for now, it seemed like Tang San still had a sense of justice, Tenshin sighed.
At that moment, a clear shout suddenly came from outside the door. "Is this the seventh dormitory?"
Xiao Wu? Tenshin and the others immediately turned around to look.
A little girl dressed in pink stood playfully in the doorway. Her long black hair was combed into a scorpion braid that hung past her waist and hips. Her slightly baby-fat face, white and rosy, resembled a ripe peach, and her large eyes fluttered with curiosity.
As soon as she entered, Tenshin seemed to remember something. He abruptly looked toward the top of Tang San's head, as if searching for something.
"Our academy dormitory accommodates both males and females?" Tang San froze for a moment, turning his head to look at Wang Sheng.
After a flurry of introductions, Tang San and Xiao Wu inevitably fought, and in the end, just like in the original work, Xiao Wu became the head of the dormitory.
"Are there any new work-study students here?" While the crowd was talking, a shout came once again from outside the door.
Eyes turned in unison, and they saw a young male instructor in his thirties with light orange hair, holding bedding in his hands. Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Tenshin stepped forward. The instructor then gazed at the three and asked faintly, "Which one of you is Tang San?"
"I am." Tang San raised his hand.
"My name is Mo Tian. You can call me Teacher Mo. Tang San, this is the bedding the Grandmaster gave to you."
Seeing this, Tenshin suddenly remembered something. It's still around noon. I'll go out to see the city, gather information, and buy bedding later.
"Bedding? That seems to be a problem." Looking at the bedding in Tang San's hand, Xiao Wu froze for a moment.
"Let's share a bed," Xiao Wu suddenly suggested.
After a long pause, she added, "What's wrong? I don't care. What are you afraid of? Are you worried that I'll push you down?"
Faced with Xiao Wu's bold and unrestrained questions, and under the shocked gazes of Tenshin and the others, Tang San chose to share the bed, just like in the original story. He flushed and obediently moved the two beds together, dividing them with a line and sharing a quilt with Xiao Wu.
Great! If you tell me that this rabbit is pure, I won't believe you even if you kill me. Tenshin, who had witnessed the entire process of the two pulling the beds together while observing Xiao Wu's expressions and movements, thought to himself. There is indeed a difference between reading about something and experiencing it firsthand.
Xiao Wu's unrestrained and free-spirited demeanor was definitely not as innocent as it seemed—there was a wild willfulness about her.
Tang San, the ultimate old hikikomori, thinks it's okay.
"Tenshin, you don't seem to have any bedding. Why don't you squeeze in with me?" Wang Sheng turned his head and said sincerely.
"Brother Wang Sheng, there's no need. I have some money to buy bedding, so I'll just go out and get it later," Tenshin said politely.
"It's okay, you're in luck. The school has just started, and there are people selling bedding right around the gate of the academy." Wang Sheng nodded, then looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu. "It's time for lunch. Tang San, Boss Xiao Wu, let's go together."
After seeing Tang San's initial refusal, followed by his agreement once Wang Sheng mentioned it would be his treat, Tenshin smiled and said, "You guys can go. I still have some dry food in my bag. I'll eat that and then go buy bedding."
Wang Sheng looked at Tenshin's simple clothes, nodded slightly, and then led Tang San and the others out of the dormitory.
Seeing everyone leave, Tenshin invoked the Celestial Book in its diary function.
[We finally arrived at the work-study student dormitory, which was also the dormitory where Tang San and Xiao Wu stayed in the original work. There's a rule in this dormitory: newcomers must challenge the current dormitory leader, and if they win, they become the new leader.]
[Fortunately, when Tang San and I arrived, I decided to enter after him. Thanks to that, I didn't participate in that tradition. After all, for now, I want to increase my power in silence. If I had participated, I probably shouldn't have, as revealing even a small part of my power could attract unwanted attention.]
[After Tang San finished his fight and became the dormitory leader, Xiao Wu arrived at the dorm.]
[When she arrived, a memory from my past life surfaced—a report I had once read: It was said that female rabbits have two wombs and can reproduce as early as three to four months old. They give birth to six to ten babies per litter and can be pregnant four to six times a year. It's unknown whether rabbit Soul beasts in this world are just as... prolific. Soul beasts, in general, require 10,000 years to develop intelligence comparable to humans. That is to say...]
[Back then, I had stumbled upon a discussion online where netizens debated the reproductive abilities of rabbits, prompting me to look it up. When I recalled that information, my gaze instinctively flickered toward Xiao Wu, who stood in the doorway. An inexplicable shiver ran down my spine.]
[In that moment, I couldn't help but turn my head to look at the top of Tang San's head, only to feel as if there were countless green hats stacked on top of it.]
The heroines with more experience understood and agreed with Tenshin's decision to remain low-key, recognizing the wisdom in not revealing his power at that moment. It was a move grounded in caution and strategic thinking, something they could all relate to.
However, when they read the part of the report, their reactions were mixed. Some were completely stunned by the content, immediately grasping the unsettling implications, while others simply couldn't comprehend it at all. The bizarre connection between Xiao Wu and the information about rabbits left them confused, and the realization that Tenshin had made the connection caused him to glance toward Tang San, as if seeing something others had not.
Of course, Tang Yuehua didn't find the content of the report amusing at all. The way Tenshin described her nephew and Xiao Wu gave the impression that they would be a couple in the original timeline. If that was the case, it meant Xiao Wu would not be as pure as she had appeared, especially given the nature of her relationship with Tang San.
[Leave it alone, otherwise I won't be able to get that image out of my head.]
Having written all this, Tenshin casually ate some dry food, changed into his school uniform, and left the dormitory with the money.