Realizing something was amiss, Fang Chang willed a clone of himself to descend upon the Douluo Continent.
The current Douluo Continent had undergone significant changes. A landmass known as the Sun Moon Continent had collided with Douluo many years ago, merging the two into a single, unified continent.
The former territories of the Heaven Dou Empire had split into the Tianhun Empire and the Dou Ling Empire, while the Sun Moon Continent was ruled by a unified Sun Moon Empire.
The political landscape of the continent had shifted dramatically.
Of course, the Spider God Cult still held considerable influence across the four empires of this unified continent. Moreover, the Spider God Academy, founded under the cult's leadership, stood as the foremost advanced Soul Master academy on the entire continent.
Fang Chang's clone now stood at the academy's entrance. Given his current strength, there was likely no one left on this continent capable of discerning his true identity.
"Halt! Kid, where do you think you're going? You dare trespass into Spider God Academy?"
Just as Fang Chang was about to step through the gates, a fat guard blocked his path.
Fang Chang gave the man a once-over. He was dressed in a somewhat decent uniform, with a Soul Power level hovering around Rank 50.
His outfit—red and white with the Spider God Cult's insignia embroidered on the chest—marked him as an academy staff member.
"Ah, right. Sir, I'm here to enroll," Fang Chang said, his voice calm.
At the moment, his body emitted no trace of Soul Power, and his appearance suggested he was in his early twenties—fitting for an older student.
His true self, observing from the Divine Realm, had noticed that the anomalies within the Spider God Cult seemed tied to this academy. Thus, his first move was to investigate here.
"You?" The fat guard pointed at Fang Chang and burst into laughter. "You really don't know the rules of Spider God Academy, do you? We only accept geniuses. The minimum requirement is being under eleven years old with at least Rank 15 Soul Power."
"Can't exceptions be made for older students?" Fang Chang asked. He distinctly remembered that advanced Soul Master academies weren't usually this strict about age.
Back when Tang San and his group participated in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, hadn't there been plenty of participants in their twenties?
"Exceptions can be made… but not for you." The guard's tone was final, leaving no room for argument.
"In the past, the academy has accepted overage students, but only those with absolutely exceptional talent—enough to catch the attention of the higher-ups," the fat man continued.
"At your age, you'd need strength comparable to mine just to have a shot at being considered."
As he spoke, he summoned his Martial Soul—a warty toad—while three yellow and two purple soul rings flickered around him, showcasing his power.
Oh, a Rank 51 Soul King. Fang Chang saw through him instantly.
The man looked to be in his early thirties, though his appearance might have skewed perceptions. He was likely under thirty.
Reaching Soul King at that age indicated decent talent—he was probably a graduate of Spider God Academy himself.
"Well? Scared now?" The guard smirked arrogantly. "Why don't you take a piss and look at yourself in the puddle? With your—"
His words cut off abruptly as his throat tightened. He swallowed hard, staring at Fang Chang in disbelief.
Around Fang Chang's body, five soul rings now hovered—yellow, purple, purple, black, black—a configuration that exceeded the so-called 'optimal' limits.
Moreover, Fang Chang appeared to be only in his early twenties, and his Soul Power felt even stronger than the guard's—likely around Rank 56 or 57.
"Fang Qi, Rank 56 Power-Attack System Battle Soul King. Pleasure to meet you." Fang Chang's voice was light, as if this were nothing special.
Of course, the name was made up on the spot—he couldn't very well announce himself as Fang Chang, could he?
The guard's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. What kind of monster is this?! Even the freaks in the inner academy aren't this terrifying!
Naturally, these soul rings were merely illusions conjured by Fang Chang's divine power, and his Soul Power was even easier to fake.
"So… can I go in now?" Fang Chang grinned.
Entering Spider God Academy was the first step in his investigation. The enemy's strength was undoubtedly formidable—so much so that even from the Divine Realm, he couldn't pinpoint the issue. That was why he had to send a clone down personally.
"Well… I don't actually have the authority to decide that," the guard mumbled, scratching his head. "Let me call someone."
Only then did Fang Chang realize—this fatso was just a gatekeeper.
And yet, he had the audacity to block him like that.
Before long, the guard returned with an older, middle-aged man, standing awkwardly beside him with a flushed face.
"You're Fang Qi?" the man asked, eyeing Fang Chang's five soul rings before frowning slightly. "And your Martial Soul is?"
"Mn." Fang Chang nodded, then raised his right fist. "This is my Martial Soul. Body-Type—Fists."
The middle-aged man's eyes gleamed. A Body-Type Martial Soul! And not just any Body-Type, but one specializing in fists—one of the rarest and most practical variants!
"Follow me." The man couldn't help but nod approvingly, his expression full of admiration.
A fist-based Body-Type Soul King in his early twenties, with soul rings surpassing standard limits—this was a talent that, with minimal training, could immediately compete in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament next year.
And coincidentally, Spider God Academy was still short one Power-Attack System member for their team.
Was the heavens themselves aiding them?
"Listen carefully," the teacher said gravely. "To enter Spider God Academy, you must pass three trials."
"Your Soul Power is already verified, so the first test is waived. Next is a physical assessment—I'll take you there shortly."
He glanced at Fang Chang's fist again. "Though, given your talent, I doubt this will trouble you."
As they walked, Fang Chang noticed the man had fallen silent.
"Teacher, what's the final trial?" he asked.
"Ah! My memory's been slipping lately—always forgetting the unimportant things." The man smacked his forehead. "The last test is nothing to worry about. Just a simple general knowledge quiz."
"You see, Spider God Academy is, at its core, a religious institution. We have to go through the motions—ask a few basic questions about the Spider God Cult's doctrines."
"Oh, is that all?" Fang Chang exhaled in relief. Who in this world knew the Spider God Cult better than him?