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At the Well of Ice and Fire.
Su Wen opened his eyes, a strange glint flashing through his gaze.
"This Lin Dong... he actually managed to master all four soul skills in just two and a half months?"
This speed—considering the boy's weak control over his three attributes—was perhaps even a bit more exaggerated than Su Wen's own progress back in the day. Of course, Lin Dong had the assistance of Su Wen's Myriad Law Manual, which allowed him to personally experience the sensation of releasing the skills. It was only natural that he would learn faster.
"It seems this Lin Dong is also a genius who was simply shackled by his martial soul's aptitude."
Su Wen mused that if the issue with his martial soul could be resolved, the boy had a significant chance of becoming a Titled Douluo. However, four soul skills were the limit of what Su Wen was willing to provide for free.
"If you want to go further, then come and join my Academy," Su Wen thought to himself. He closed his eyes once more, circulating his soul power to continue his cultivation.
A month later, Su Wen again felt a ripple of movement coming from the copy of the Myriad Law Manual he had bestowed.
"He succeeded already?"
Su Wen was momentarily dazed. Was this Lin Dong actually some sort of monster-tier genius?
"In that case, I'm truly looking forward to it." Su Wen anticipated the day the boy would find his way to Heaven Dou City.
---
Meanwhile, in Qingyang City.
With the successful mastery of the Fire-Style Spear Technique, Lin Dong finally unlocked the sixth page of the Myriad Law Manual.
*Sixth Page: Join the Academy to obtain subsequent soul skills.*
Lin Dong: "???"
What is this?
He flipped through the manual and found that while his soul power could now easily turn the later pages, they were all uniformly blank. There were four soul skills on the first four pages, a task on the fifth, and now a directive on the sixth telling him to join some "Academy" to get the rest.
Lin Dong refused to believe the manual ended at just four skills.
"I must go to this Academy!"
This was his chance to change his fate. More importantly, he had placed all his hopes for fixing his martial soul's defects on the manual. Since the book now demanded he join an Academy to find the solution, he had to follow its guidance.
"The Academy..."
An organization that even his father, a Soul King, had never heard of was surely no ordinary place. Lin Dong approached his father and expressed his firm desire to leave. Lin Xiao, seeing his son's unwavering determination, had no choice but to let him head for Heaven Dou City.
"Brother Wang, I'll have to trouble you to look after Dong'er on the road," Lin Xiao requested, specifically asking an old comrade to protect his son.
Wang Yuan patted his chest and guaranteed, "Don't you trust me? Xiao Dong's safety is a sure thing!"
Wang Yuan was only a Soul Ancestor, but with a rank of 48 and a defense-system martial soul, he was more than capable of escorting Lin Dong.
Half a month later.
Su Wen sensed the fluctuations of the manual he had crafted.
"He's here?"
He halted his cultivation, left the Well of Ice and Fire, and returned to the Academy. By now, the construction was complete. The entire Academy exuded an aura of being one with nature; it was ethereal, tucked away between three mountains, possessing a low-profile yet elegant atmosphere.
Before even reaching the city gates of Heaven Dou, Lin Dong felt the manual in his dantian thrumming, guiding him toward the Triple Illusion Mountains.
"Xiao Dong, where are you going?" Wang Yuan asked, bewildered.
"Uncle Wang, I'm not just running off. Trust me," Lin Dong replied. Concerned, Wang Yuan followed closely behind.
The two arrived at the mountains and followed a small path between two peaks into the central valley. There, an Academy stood tall.
"This is the Academy?" Lin Dong looked at the structure, unable to hide his awe. His admiration for the potential power of this place began to swell.
Wang Yuan was equally confused. He searched his memory for any major faction by this name but came up empty. Hearing Lin Dong's wonder, he asked, "Xiao Dong, have you heard of this place? Just what kind of power is behind this Academy?"
Lin Dong shook his head. "I don't know either, Uncle Wang. But I know this is my opportunity."
Su Wen stepped out from the Academy, his gaze falling squarely on the two men, focusing primarily on Lin Dong. Under Su Wen's stare, Lin Dong felt as if he were being seen through entirely.
Wang Yuan also felt a heavy pressure. This young man... he's incredibly strong!
"Lin Dong, we meet again. It seems you've made your decision," Su Wen said calmly.
Lin Dong took a deep breath, realizing immediately that the person before him was the senior who had merged the Myriad Law Manual into his body.
"I have not forgotten your kindness, Senior. I have come today only to join the Academy and seek a path of cultivation."
"By joining the Academy, your problems can be solved. However, it is a difficult path. You must be prepared," Su Wen warned.
Lin Dong's eyes were resolute. "I have already prepared myself mentally."
"You should think it over more carefully. Your martial soul is too fragile. To complete its transformation, my suggestion is that your first soul ring must be a thousand-year ring," Su Wen stated flatly.
"What?!" Wang Yuan's face paled with shock. He looked at Su Wen, then at the Academy. Is this some kind of scam organization? A thousand-year first ring? How is that possible?
Lin Dong was also shaken. He hadn't expected the senior to propose such a radical path. Conventionally, a thousand-year first ring was impossible. However, his hesitation lasted only a moment before his resolve hardened again.
He thought of the Myriad Law Manual—the book that let him experience the "truth" of soul skills. If the Academy possessed such wonders, they wouldn't set a goal that was truly impossible.
"I am willing!"
"Xiao Dong!" Wang Yuan tried to intervene immediately.
In response, five soul rings manifested one after another around Su Wen's body.
*Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black.*
As the five rings hovered, the sheer pressure of his soul power left Wang Yuan gasping for air. His eyes were filled with pure terror. How... how is this possible?!
Lin Dong swallowed hard, his face a mask of disbelief.
"Nothing is impossible. Since you have joined the Academy, we will formulate a cultivation plan for you. Theoretically, there is hope for you to achieve a thousand-year first ring," Su Wen said casually.
He glanced at Wang Yuan. "Do not let the ages of my soul rings be leaked."
Though he said it aloud, he simultaneously activated a high-level illusion. Wang Yuan's eyes grew hazy, as if he were forgetting exactly what he had just seen. Su Wen even used the illusion to blur the specific details of their arrival at the Academy.
"Uncle Wang!" Lin Dong cried out, worried by Wang Yuan's dazed expression.
"Don't worry, I merely placed him under a minor illusion. I'm not ready for the world to know the colors of my rings just yet."
Su Wen had indulged in a bit of "showing off," then used his illusions to tie up the loose ends. "Your Uncle Wang can stay at the Academy as well, but everything must be done according to our rules."
"Thank you—"
"You may address me as Palace Master."
Though he didn't understand why the "Palace Master" was a Soul King roughly his own age, Lin Dong bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Palace Master!"
(End of Chapter)