Lu Mingfei starts from Douluo.

Tang San's genuine emotions touched Xiao Wu instantly. Recalling the care Tang San had given her these past few days, his identity, and his actions in protecting her today, all of these made her feel very safe.

What attracts her even more is that they all have a blood feud with the Spirit Hall, especially Tang Hao, who killed the previous Pope of the Spirit Hall for the 100,000-year-old Blue Silver Emperor. Tang San has twin spirits and outstanding talent, so he might be able to help her avenge her mother in the future.

After a long silence, she finally nodded, because she didn't know how long it would take to avenge herself against the Spirit Hall on her own. Moreover, she felt from the bottom of her heart that Tang San hadn't lied. It was indeed a good thing to have two family members who could protect her.

“In that case, let’s rest for one more night and set off for Shrek Academy in Soto City tomorrow.”

Tang Hao got up and jumped to the treetop to guard the injured. Xiao Wu and Tang San exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

"Mistress, thank you and your father."

"Xiao Wu, I will definitely protect you."

Tang Hao listened to their conversation from the treetop, a smile unknown to anyone else on his face.

-

Four days later, in Tiandou City.

As the capital of the Heavenly Dou Empire, this is a magnificent city with walls tens of meters high and ten meters thick. Upon closer inspection, one can occasionally see huge claw marks left on the walls.

Lu Mingfei had read the brief history book of Douluo Continent. More than a thousand years ago, the previous civilization was suddenly destroyed. The humans who survived in the ruins resisted the attacks of soul beasts and rebuilt their cities. Tian Dou City was built at that time.

As Lu Mingfei walked with his backpack, he couldn't help but marvel. He had never traveled before and had only seen photos of such classical architecture on websites.

Before long, he was queuing at the city gate. It was the morning rush hour for people entering the city, and Lu Mingfei waited for quite a while before reaching the city gate.

Seeing that Lu Mingfei was dressed in tattered clothes and carrying a large bundle, the guard immediately thought that he was a vagrant who was planning to enter the city to beg, and asked him questions directly.

What are you going to do in the city?

“I’m enrolling in the Soul Master Academy.” As he spoke, Lu Mingfei took out the badge issued by the Spirit Hall, which proved that he was a Soul Master.

The guard was shocked. He hadn't expected that such a young child was already a Soul Master. Clearly, he couldn't afford to offend him.

Having successfully entered the city, Lu Mingfei first asked for directions and found a bookstore to buy a detailed map of Tiandou City, starting his travel guide.

Tiandou City has a permanent population of over a million, and there are many Soul Master academies of all sizes. Of course, Lu Mingfei wouldn't put all his eggs in one basket; he didn't believe there wasn't a suitable one among so many academies.

Chapter 22 Xue Qinghe

"Did we take the wrong turn?"

Lu Mingfei scratched his head and looked at the map before realizing he had gone to the wrong place. The Heavenly Dou Royal Intermediate Academy was located in the mountains twenty kilometers southeast of the city.

Fortunately, it was still early, and by the time he got there it would be afternoon at the latest. So he quickly bought a few ready-made snacks and hurried out of the city to continue his journey.

Because people awaken their martial souls and break through to higher levels every day, the enrollment period for intermediate and advanced soul master academies is almost all year round. After all, the early stages of a soul master's cultivation are a period of rapid development, and time should not be wasted on the so-called school system.

After stopping and starting several times, Lu Mingfei finally found the right place.

According to the map, the entire mountain is the site of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy. The intermediate academy is located at the foot of the mountain next to the lake, while the advanced academy is located between the mountainside and the summit, somewhat similar to the relationship between a key university and its affiliated middle school.

"They really are rich and powerful!" Lu Mingfei clicked his tongue. He had already seen the sign for the intermediate academy ahead. Compared to it, Notting Academy was indeed like a country landlord's manor.

He suddenly wanted to back out. The tuition at such a luxurious place was probably even more outrageous than at Shilan, and his monthly subsidy of one gold soul coin might not be enough to support him.

He recalled how his uncle used to take him to the lobby of the Regent Hotel in the city center to have tea and chat with friends. Every time his uncle asked the waiter to refill his water, Lu Mingfei could see the waiter flashing a standard smile, but the disdain in the waiter's eyes when he turned his head made him uneasy.

Back then, if his aunt hadn't thought it would be too embarrassing for him to attend a regular public school while he was receiving living expenses from his parents, he probably wouldn't have entered Shilan.

"Forget it, let's just find a civilian academy instead." Lu Mingfei took out a map and prepared to retreat. He was always like this, acting impulsively and then backing out later.

Just then, he suddenly noticed movement behind him—the noisy sound of horses' hooves, seemingly a large group of people.

Lu Mingfei quickly moved to the side of the road. Soon, soldiers dressed in dazzling golden armor appeared from the end of the road, riding tall, snow-white horses.

Hundreds of well-equipped, heavily armored cavalry escorted an incredibly ornate white carriage as it slowly moved forward. Only a high-ranking figure in the Tiandou royal family could mobilize troops to accompany and protect the emperor near Tiandou City.

Lu Mingfei didn't dare to move at all. If he did anything that violated the taboos of this world and was captured as an assassin, that would be too unlucky. The best way was to do nothing. He was just a child and shouldn't be in any danger.

Inside the carriage, the two princes of the Heavenly Dou Empire were sitting face to face, talking.

"Avalanche, remember to study hard when you get to the academy," Xue Qinghe said earnestly.

"Second brother, I understand." Xue Beng nodded, but his little face clearly showed some impatience.

“You’re already 11 years old and only in the 13th grade, and you’re still going out and fooling around with those friends. Old Master Li’s impeachment memorial has already been submitted to Father Emperor’s desk. Father Emperor is very angry this time and has already asked me to pass on a message to the academy teachers to discipline you properly and not let you continue to do whatever you want.” Xue Qinghe’s tone was somewhat stern.

"I understand." Xue Beng looked aggrieved. "I just wanted to invite Li Meng to my brother's birthday party. I don't know why I ended up crying, and I've already apologized."

Xue Qinghe shook his head. "To be so young and already learning to bully men and women, she's definitely doomed."

He leaned out the window and immediately spotted a young boy with black hair and black eyes carrying a huge backpack by the roadside. The only possible reason for him to be walking this road was to go to the Soul Master Academy.

"Put the car up ahead and let that kid come up and chat. We'll give him a ride since we're on the way."

"It's His Highness the Crown Prince." The captain of the guard raised his right hand and gave the order, slowly bringing the convoy to a stop.

Xue Beng also leaned out of the window to take a look. He thought it was a classmate, but it turned out to be a very young, ragged, mud-covered man. He immediately showed a disgusted expression. How could he let such a little beggar get on the bus?

It's filthy.

Lu Mingfei was surprised that even though he had been standing still, the impressive convoy suddenly stopped.

A middle-aged knight dismounted and walked up to him: "Young man, our master invites you to get on the carriage for a chat. He can give you a ride for the rest of the journey."

Lu Mingfei: "???"

"No...no need, I was just about to leave, it's not on my way," Lu Mingfei said, pointing in the opposite direction.

The middle-aged knight smiled and said, "It's alright, we'll be heading back soon, which will definitely be faster than you walking."

"Th...thank you." Lu Mingfei was so speechless he almost cried. What kind of bored big shot was in this car? Could it be some kind of pervert who likes to torture young children?

As a member of the literary society, he was somewhat aware of the extravagant lifestyles of medieval nobles.

The middle-aged knight took the baggage from Lu Mingfei's back with one hand and handed it to his colleague, while checking Lu Mingfei's body for any hidden weapons with the other.

After removing the iron awl from his waist, the knight led Lu Mingfei onto the carriage.

Lu Mingfei lifted the curtain and immediately saw two people sitting in the spacious carriage: a little boy of about ten years old with a smug look on his face, and a young man who looked quite mature.

Both of them were dressed in fine clothes, and it was clear at a glance that they were extremely wealthy.

"My lords, I am Lu Mingfei. I apologize for my rudeness." Lu Mingfei sat in the corner, no longer as flustered as before. These two people were most likely brothers and probably not some kind of pervert.

"Lu? That's a rare surname. I am Xue Qinghe, and this is my younger brother, Xue Beng." Xue Qinghe cupped his hands in greeting and introduced, "Judging from your appearance, young brother Lu doesn't seem to be from Tiandou City. So, are you here to study?"

"Reporting to Lord Xue, I only came to take a look because I heard there was an academy here," Lu Mingfei said.

"Heh, just as expected, a country bumpkin. This is the territory of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy; the junior academies are all in the city." Xue Beng scoffed. A six-year-old beggar thinking about the Royal Academy?

“Avalanche.” Xue Qinghe called out softly, then turned to Lu Mingfei and said, “Avalanche is outspoken, Brother Lu, don’t mind. I have some influence with you, and I can introduce you to a few junior academies on our way back to the city later.”

"No need, I'll go to the intermediate academy." Lu Mingfei smiled awkwardly.

"What?" Avalanche thought he had misheard.

Xue Qinghe's eyes suddenly lit up: "May I ask, how old is Brother Lu this year? And what are your martial spirit and soul power?"

Lu Mingfei licked his lips: "Six years old, eye-type martial soul, soul power level fourteen."

"Huh?" Avalanche's eyes widened. "You're kidding, right?"

"Eyes as a martial soul? I've never heard of such a thing before. Could it be that Brother Lu has innate full soul power?" Xue Qinghe asked. He had already confirmed Lu Mingfei's soul power aura before inviting him to get in the car.

Lu Mingfei nodded. At first, he had thought about just lying to get by, but then he thought that he might have to spend some time in Tiandou City in the future. If he offended the royal family, it would be even more troublesome. Anyway, these things couldn't be hidden after entering the school, so there was nothing wrong with telling the truth.

Xue Beng was dumbfounded. A person with innate full soul power is probably someone that hasn't appeared in the entire Tian Dou City for decades. As for whether Lu Mingfei was lying or being cunning, it's almost impossible. You can find out the truth about such a person just by testing their soul power and feeling their bone age.

Chapter 23 A Twist of Fate

Damn it!

Could it be that a random little beggar you bump into on the street turns out to be a once-in-a-century genius?

"So it turns out that Brother Lu is actually a genius with innate full soul power, and also has an eye-shaped martial soul that I've never heard of before," Xue Qinghe said with a smile.

"You're too kind, Lord Xue. Actually, my eye-based martial soul doesn't have any particularly powerful abilities." Lu Mingfei shook his head and smiled wryly. Some things could be said, but some things had to be kept secret. The genius halo was indeed very useful, but Lu Mingfei knew it was also a huge problem.

His initial plan was to develop stealthily, and being targeted by someone with ulterior motives was clearly not a good thing.

It was obvious that Xue Qinghe was such a scheming person. As a member of the royal family, he was a born political creature, and Lu Mingfei had no desire to get involved in the quagmire of such an important figure.

"Oh?" Xue Qinghe continued to smile: "I am well aware of the rules of the Soul Master world. One should not casually probe the secrets of a Soul Master's Martial Soul. However, if Brother Lu wants to enroll in the Royal Academy, perhaps I can help."

Xue Qinghe spoke tactfully, and Xue Beng, who was standing to the side, did not refute him. He knew that if the other party was truly born with full soul power, the academy's admission rules were nothing.

Lu Mingfei scratched his head, lit up the lowest level of his Golden Eyes for a few seconds, and then immediately turned it off. As for activating his Soul Rings, he was afraid that the guards outside would misunderstand it as an assassination attempt.

"Actually, there's nothing I can't say. My eyes are naturally imbued with a small amount of mental pressure, and my first soul skill comes from a hundred-year-old sunflower, which gives my eyes night vision, allowing me to see further and have greater focus."

Lu Mingfei's words were half true and half false, neither too eye-catching nor too useless, like a chicken rib—tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away.

Moreover, his first soul skill was really a bit too overpowered.

He had read some descriptions of amplification soul skills. Other people's amplification soul skills seemed to be percentage-based enhancements, but his Word of Power: Moment started by doubling his speed, making him a true mechanic monster.

Even if I told people about this kind of soul skill, no one would believe me. It's better to just make up a lie and keep it as a trump card.

Avalanche chuckled, "So it's a support-type reconnaissance martial soul. It might be useful in the military."

He was actually slightly relieved. If his older brother had just randomly picked up a peerless genius, he probably wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight.

"Mental pressure?" Xue Qinghe's smile remained unchanged, but he was somewhat shocked. Although it was very weak, he did feel a trace of mental pressure, which was something that ordinary martial souls could not do.

Unlike Xue Beng, he was not ignorant. While amplifying one's own soul skills might make a soul master less suitable for combat in the early stages, it would be extremely suitable in the later stages.

Not to mention that Lu Mingfei was born with full soul power, and his future title is promising.

Even if they really have no means of attack in the future, their abundant soul power and these body-enhancing soul skills will be enough to unleash their combat power.

In particular, Lu Mingfei's eye-shaped martial soul is probably of such high quality that it is no less than that of the three upper sects, and its future potential is definitely limitless!

"Young Master Lu is such a genius, the academy has no reason to refuse him." Xue Qinghe promised with a smile, already thinking about how to win over this genius.

"Then thank you very much, Lady Xue." Lu Mingfei bowed in gratitude.

It must be said that he had a pretty good impression of Xue Qinghe; at the very least, he acted like a gentleman, even though it was obvious at a glance that he was a cunning old fox with extremely high emotional intelligence.

As for the spoiled brat next to him, who seemed to be in an avalanche-like situation, he didn't appear to be a pushover either.

If it weren't for the fact that today was such a coincidence, he would never have wanted to encounter these two troubles.

"From now on, you'll be Xue Beng's classmate. Just call me Brother Xue." Xue Qinghe waved his hand.

Avalanche, standing to the side, snorted coldly and said nothing.

Before they could finish speaking, the caravan had already entered the academy, and naturally no one dared to block the royal caravan's path.

Upon arriving at the Academic Affairs Office, several teachers came out to greet us, and quite a few students were also watching from the vicinity.

Lu Mingfei was sitting by the door, so he was the first to get off the bus, followed by Xue Qinghe and Xue Beng.

Everyone stared at this strange child, who was able to ride in the same carriage as the Crown Prince and the princes of the empire; his identity must be extraordinary.

"Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Prince." All the teachers and students present bowed to Xue Qinghe.

The Crown Prince? Are you kidding me? Lu Mingfei stared wide-eyed, frozen in place.

"I, a useless country bumpkin, turn around and meet the heir to an empire, becoming sworn brothers?" What kind of melodramatic plot is this?

"No need for that, please rise, teachers." Xue Qinghe stepped forward and helped Lin, the director of the Academic Affairs Office, to her feet.

"Director Lin, I've brought you a promising talent this time."

Director Lin of the Academic Affairs Office, dressed in a blue robe and with white hair and beard, is the principal person in charge of college affairs below the College's Academic Committee.

"A promising talent?" Director Lin's snow-white eyebrows twitched slightly, and he immediately looked in Lu Mingfei's direction: "To be able to get His Highness the Crown Prince's recommendation, he must have something special."

"Of course I won't let Director Lin down." Xue Qinghe patted Lu Mingfei's shoulder affectionately and led Xue Beng into the Academic Affairs Office.

Soon, the group sat down in the office, and someone brought them tea.

Xue Qinghe spoke first: "Let me introduce you. This is Director Lin, the academic director of the Heaven Dou Royal Intermediate Academy. He is a Soul Emperor. This is Lu Mingfei, whom I met on the road earlier. He is six years old this year, has full innate soul power, and is an eye-type martial soul. He has already obtained his first soul ring and his soul power is level 14."

"Innate full soul power?" Director Lin almost dropped the teapot he had just picked up and immediately stood up. Their academy hadn't had a student like this in over a hundred years!

His eyes immediately turned to Lu Mingfei with eagerness: "May I check your bone age and soul power?"

Lu Mingfei nodded, stood up, and extended his right hand. Director Lin immediately released his soul power upon touching his hand, and a moment later, he revealed a hearty smile.

Although bone reading usually involves examining the entire body, this was sufficient to confirm it in this situation. Moreover, the fluctuations in Lu Mingfei's soul power confirmed that he was indeed a Soul Master, meaning he was truly a genius with innate full soul power!