Nuoding City was a whirlwind of sights and sounds, a stark contrast to the quiet simplicity of Green Willow Village. Carriages rumbled down cobblestone streets, vendors hawked their wares in booming voices, and a constant stream of people flowed through the bustling thoroughfares. Xiao Wu, her eyes wide with wonder, practically bounced with excitement. Xuan Yan, despite his past life's experience with modern cities, found himself equally captivated by the unique charm of this Douluo Dalu urban center.
They followed the elder's directions, navigating the lively streets until they reached their destination: Nuoding Academy. It wasn't a grand, imposing structure like the Spirit Hall, but a series of sturdy, well-maintained buildings surrounded by a high wall. A large wooden gate, guarded by a stern-looking man in a simple uniform, marked the entrance.
"Wow! It's even bigger than I imagined!" Xiao Wu exclaimed, pulling on Xuan Yan's sleeve.
Xuan Yan smiled, a genuine warmth spreading through him. He was excited too. This was where the real journey began.
They approached the gate. The guard, a burly man with a grizzled beard, eyed them suspiciously. "What do you two want? This is Nuoding Academy. Only students and faculty are allowed."
Xuan Yan stepped forward, holding out the elder's recommendation letter. "We're here to enroll. I have a recommendation from Elder Li of Green Willow Village."
The guard took the letter, his eyebrows rising slightly as he read the contents. His expression shifted from suspicion to surprise, then to a hint of respect. "Twin Martial Spirits… full innate soul power… this is… impressive." He looked at Xuan Yan with new eyes, then glanced at Xiao Wu. "And you, little girl?"
"I'm Xiao Wu! I'm here to enroll too!" she announced proudly, puffing out her chest.
The guard chuckled. "Alright, alright. Come in. The registration office is the first building on your left." He opened the gate, allowing them to pass.
As they walked through the academy grounds, Xuan Yan's 'Eyes of Heaven' subtly scanned their surroundings. He noticed several other children, some older, some younger, practicing various forms of cultivation or simply playing. He could sense faint soul power fluctuations from some of them, indicating they were already Spirit Masters or close to it.
They found the registration office, a small, unassuming building. Inside, a middle-aged woman with a kind face sat behind a desk, organizing stacks of papers.
"Good afternoon," Xuan Yan said, politely. "We're here to enroll." He handed her the recommendation letter.
The woman took the letter, her eyes widening as she read it. Her gaze immediately sharpened when she looked at Xuan Yan. "Twin Martial Spirits and full innate soul power? This is truly remarkable! I haven't seen such talent in years." She then looked at Xiao Wu. "And what about you, little one? What's your Martial Spirit and soul power?"
Xiao Wu proudly declared, "I have a Rabbit Martial Spirit, and I have innate soul power of level three!"
The woman nodded, a pleasant smile on her face. "A Rabbit Martial Spirit with level three innate soul power is also quite good, especially for a support-type spirit. Welcome to Nuoding Academy, both of you." She pulled out two forms. "Fill these out, please."
Xuan Yan and Xiao Wu diligently filled out the forms, providing their names, ages, and Martial Spirits. Once completed, the woman reviewed them.
"Alright, Xuan Yan, Xiao Wu. You're officially enrolled. You'll both be in the Elementary Spirit Master Class. Your dormitories are separate, boys on the west side, girls on the east. You'll find your room numbers on these slips." She handed them two small pieces of paper. "Classes begin tomorrow morning. For now, you can settle into your dorms."
Xuan Yan had expected to be placed in a higher class, given his unique circumstances, but he understood the academy's standard procedure. He also knew that the Elementary Class was where he would likely encounter Tang San. This was an opportunity to observe and interact with the original protagonist, and perhaps even subtly guide events.
"Thank you," Xuan Yan said, taking his slip.
"Come on, Xuan Yan! Let's go see our rooms!" Xiao Wu chirped, already eager to explore.
They walked together, Xuan Yan guiding Xiao Wu towards the girls' dormitory first. As they approached the building, they saw several other girls, some older, some younger, chatting and laughing.
"Well, this is your stop, Xiao Wu," Xuan Yan said. "I'll see you tomorrow in class."
"Okay! See you, Xuan Yan!" Xiao Wu waved brightly before disappearing into the dormitory.
Xuan Yan then made his way to the boys' dormitory. It was a large, two-story building. He found his room number, 7, on the second floor. He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The room was simple, containing two wooden beds, two small desks, and two wardrobes. One bed was already occupied, its occupant nowhere in sight. On the other bed, a young boy sat quietly, his head bowed, seemingly engrossed in something.
Xuan Yan's 'Eyes of Heaven' immediately focused on the boy. He had short, spiky black hair, and a calm, almost serene aura. More importantly, Xuan Yan could sense a profound, almost boundless, soul power emanating from him, carefully restrained but undeniably present. And then there was the faint, unique energy signature of a twin spirit, one of which was clearly a plant-type, specifically… Blue Silver Grass.
It was him. Tang San.
Xuan Yan felt a thrill of anticipation. This was it. The meeting of two worlds, two protagonists.
Tang San looked up, sensing Xuan Yan's presence. His eyes, dark and intelligent, met Xuan Yan's. There was a hint of surprise in them, as if he hadn't expected a new roommate.
"Hello," Tang San said, his voice calm and polite. "Are you my new roommate?"
"Yes, I am," Xuan Yan replied, a friendly smile on his face. He extended his hand. "My name is Xuan Yan. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Tang San hesitated for a moment, then took Xuan Yan's hand. His grip was firm, surprisingly strong for a boy his age. "Tang San. It's a pleasure to meet you too, Xuan Yan."
As their hands met, Xuan Yan felt a subtle pulse of energy, a brief, almost imperceptible exchange of aura. He knew Tang San was also subtly assessing him, just as he was assessing Tang San.
"I'll take this bed," Xuan Yan said, indicating the empty one. He placed his small bag on the bed and began to unpack his few belongings. He noticed Tang San's gaze lingering on his wooden sword, which he placed on the desk.
"Is that your Martial Spirit?" Tang San asked, his tone curious.
Xuan Yan chuckled. "No, this is just a wooden sword. My Martial Spirits are a bit… different." He didn't elaborate, preferring to keep some mystery for now. He knew Tang San was observant and intelligent; he'd figure it out eventually.
Tang San nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. He didn't press for more information, respecting Xuan Yan's privacy. Instead, he returned to his own activities, which Xuan Yan now saw was a small, intricately carved wooden figure.
Xuan Yan finished unpacking and then sat on his bed, observing Tang San. He knew the original story well. Tang San was a diligent cultivator, a master of hidden weapons, and a kind-hearted individual, but also fiercely protective of those he cared about. He was also incredibly disciplined, constantly practicing his Mysterious Heaven Skill and Purple Demon Eye.
He decided to test the waters. "So, Tang San, have you been cultivating your soul power for long?"
Tang San looked up, a hint of surprise in his eyes that Xuan Yan had brought up cultivation so directly. "Yes, since I was very young. My father taught me some basic methods." He didn't mention the Mysterious Heaven Skill, which was a secret technique.
"That's impressive," Xuan Yan genuinely complimented. "Most children only start after their Martial Spirit Awakening."
Tang San offered a small smile. "I suppose I was just eager to get stronger."
Xuan Yan nodded. "I understand that feeling. The world of Spirit Masters is vast and full of opportunities, but also dangers. It's good to be prepared."
They continued to chat, slowly getting to know each other. Xuan Yan found Tang San to be exactly as he remembered: intelligent, humble, and earnest. He subtly steered the conversation towards general cultivation principles, testing Tang San's knowledge without revealing his own extensive understanding.
As evening approached, the other bed's occupant returned. He was a slightly older boy, with a somewhat arrogant demeanor. He glanced at Xuan Yan, then at Tang San, a sneer on his face.
"So, the new kid's here, huh? And you, Tang San, still hiding in the corner?" the boy scoffed. "Don't think you're special just because you have a bit of soul power. This academy is full of people stronger than you."
Xuan Yan's eyes narrowed. This was Wang Sheng, the bully of the Elementary Class. He remembered him from the original story.
Tang San, true to his character, remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Xuan Yan, however, wasn't one to tolerate bullies. He had his own way of dealing with them. He simply looked at Wang Sheng, his 'Eyes of Heaven' subtly activating, and a faint, almost imperceptible pressure, a fraction of his Haki, emanated from him. It wasn't enough to cause physical harm, but it was enough to make Wang Sheng feel an inexplicable chill, a sudden, unsettling sense of unease.
Wang Sheng, feeling an unidentifiable dread, suddenly found himself unable to meet Xuan Yan's gaze. He felt a shiver run down his spine, as if he had just stepped into a cold, dark place. His arrogance faltered, replaced by a flicker of fear.
"Hmph! Whatever," Wang Sheng mumbled, his voice losing its usual bluster. He quickly went to his bed and lay down, pulling the blanket over his head, trying to shake off the strange feeling.
Xuan Yan smirked. A silent victory. He knew this was just the beginning. Nuoding Academy, with its diverse students and challenges, would be the perfect training ground for him to truly begin his journey as a Transcendent Ancient Divine Beast.