Under the scrutinizing gaze of the seniors in the Soul Device Department, Jiang Ming steeled himself and pulled out the metal block he had been experimenting with for several days.
He couldn't help it—his curiosity was just too strong.
On the way to Shrek Academy, he had solved a few problems on his own, but some of the finer details were still unclear.
The reference books were useful, yes, but they could only answer part of the questions.
The senior from the Soul Device Department frowned at the metal block Jiang Ming placed on the table, suppressing the urge to smack him, and studied the engraved patterns.
First glance… a simple pattern like this? Anyone who's read a book would understand it…
Second glance… hmmm, this pattern… there's something here!
Third glance…
The senior's brows furrowed tightly, his eyes growing serious. Carefully, he picked up the metal block, examining it meticulously.
After a few minutes, he shook his head, looking at Jiang Ming with a hint of impatience.
"I have to say, little brother… you really enjoy testing us, don't you? Bringing a core formation of a fourth-level Soul Device to ask us questions—thank you for thinking so highly of us!"
With a snap, he slapped the metal block back into Jiang Ming's hands.
"Go on, go register at the Martial Soul Department. If you wait too long, you'll have to stand in a long line."
He waved his hand, urging Jiang Ming to leave quickly.
Are you kidding me—a fourth-level Soul Device?!
These seniors were only second- and third-year students in the Soul Device Department. They could barely handle a third-level Soul Device; a fourth-level one was on par with the Martial Soul Department's "Soul Masters"!
And a Soul Master of that level could almost graduate from the Outer Academy without issue.
If they could fully understand a fourth-level Soul Device core formation, would they still be stuck registering freshmen? No, they'd be moving straight to the Inner Academy!
Hearing the senior's words, Jiang Ming blinked, realizing that these seniors couldn't solve his problem.
But it's only a fourth-level Soul Device—and this is Shrek Academy!
Jiang Ming felt a twinge of disappointment. He had expected this place to answer his questions, but now it seemed best to register at the Martial Soul Department first and take care of business.
With that in mind, he glanced at the gray Soul Device Department building nearby, memorizing its location for future reference.
If the students can't help, the teachers surely can.Two departments for the price of one tuition—what a steal!
After Jiang Ming left, the third-year seniors, still reeling from the shock of his skill, continued registering new students at the Soul Device Department.
Once a student was registered and given a uniform and dorm key, they were left with idle time again.
"Hey, Xuan, do you think that Martial Soul kid just now… could he really already be a fourth-level Soul Master?"
Bored, they discussed the incident.
The moment the question was raised, the other three looked at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Are you serious? You're from the Soul Device Department, and you don't even know what a fourth-level Soul Master is? That's a twelve-year-old freshman! The Sun and Moon Empire itself rarely sees talents like this!"
The one called Xuan shook his head in disbelief.
If the kid truly had this level of talent with Soul Devices, why would he register for the Martial Soul Department? Did his Martial Soul potential surpass his Soul Device talent?
Impossible!
Meanwhile, Jiang Ming arrived at the freshman building of the Martial Soul Department.
This building was far more colorful than the Soul Device Department—painted in white, yellow, purple, and black. The white building was designated for freshmen.
By the time Jiang Ming reached the registration desk, some students had already begun registering.
Fortunately, he hadn't wasted much time at the Soul Device Department, so he didn't wait long. Soon, he had his uniform and dorm key.
Following the senior's guidance, he learned that the dormitory was just behind the teaching building, a short distance away.
As he walked toward the dorm, Jiang Ming noticed a bulletin board with several notices. Out of curiosity, he approached and read them.
The board listed the head teachers for each class.
Class 1's head teacher is Zhou Yi?
Jiang Ming silently noted the name and continued toward the dormitory.
He wasn't particularly concerned about who his head teacher was—he didn't know anyone yet and would simply follow the arrangements.
Soon, Jiang Ming arrived at the dorm building.
The dorm was a bit extravagant—a six-story building painted in four different colors, with four doors corresponding to the four colors, each representing a different grade's students.
Simple enough to understand.
As a freshman, Jiang Ming's dorm was in the white zone.
Approaching the white door, he noticed an elderly man.
The old man wore simple clothes, his face lined with wrinkles, eyes half-closed, reclining in a chair, enjoying the sunlight streaming between the buildings.
This… is the dorm manager?
Jiang Ming's eyes lit up. He jogged over, examining the old man.
He's… so old!
Jiang Ming frowned, puzzled that Shrek Academy would appoint someone so elderly as a dorm supervisor.
Even in his previous life, the dorm manager was an old man, but only in his sixties or seventies—a relatively spry senior.
Jiang Ming worried that this old man might accidentally pass away while resting.
"Dorm manager, sir?"
He spoke softly, unsure if the old man was asleep.
The old man seemed to hear him, slowly opening his eyes.
Jiang Ming instinctively looked into them. For a brief moment, it was as if he gazed into an ocean of radiant energy—the vastness nearly overwhelming his mind.
But in the next blink, the old man's eyes returned to their dim state, looking exactly like an elderly man weathered by life.
Was that… a hallucination?
Jiang Ming looked again, but the eyes remained calm and aged, filled with the weight of decades.
"Is there something you need?"
The dorm manager's voice was hoarse and low.
"Oh, dorm manager, I'm a freshman. Should I register here?"
In his previous life, freshmen had to register with the dorm manager.
"No need. Just show me your dorm key and badge."
The old man slowly extended his hand. Jiang Ming quickly placed both items into his withered palm.
At the same time, Jiang Ming kept observing him.
He refused to believe what he saw was a hallucination.
His body was healthy, his senses sharp, and his chances of imagining something were extremely low.
Yet the dorm manager appeared completely normal.
Jiang Ming frowned, narrowing his eyes, and cautiously asked:
"Old man… are you really that powerful?"