Chapter 21: Enrolling in Heaven Dou Imperial Academy - Douluo's spirit bead sword

Chapter 21: Enrolling in Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Half a day later, the carriage arrived outside Heaven Dou City. The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was built on a mountain just beyond the city outskirts. As the crown prince, Xue Qing He needed no prior notice or approval to enter the academy; no one dared obstruct her. "Xiao Tian, I'm now taking you to meet the three academic advisors of the Imperial Academy. Be sure to mind your manners; they're all Soul Douluos above the eightieth level," Xue Qing He reminded him. "Got it, Big Brother Xue. This place is truly vast and extravagantly luxurious, even more so than our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!" Tian Lin couldn't help but marvel. His admiration was genuine. The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy spanned an area nearly equivalent to half of Seven Treasures City, yet it was merely an academy. The luxury was beyond measure. "Of course it is. Students here are all of noble birth and can't endure hardship," Xue Qing He remarked, her tone dripping with disdain when mentioning the word "noble." Perhaps the Heaven Dou emperor had established this academy to cultivate talent for the empire, but now, the atmosphere had changed. The nobles lived in such opulence that they completely neglected the rigors of cultivation. Even if their level was forcibly elevated through family resources, their combat abilities were pitifully weak. Xue Qing He was well aware of this situation but had no desire to change it. After all, her true allegiance lay with the Spirit Hall, and the Heaven Dou Empire was, to her, an enemy. The weaker the enemy, the better. However, Tian Lin was different. She admonished, "Xiao Tian, you mustn't follow their ways. Sword Douluo has instructed me to watch over you. You wouldn’t want your legs broken and to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair, would you?" Recalling his master's terrifying wrath, Tian Lin nodded hurriedly. Xue Qing He found the sight of the frightened Tian Lin irresistibly adorable and was determined to recruit him into the Spirit Hall. At just seven years old, Tian Lin's mind was not yet fully developed, making it the ideal time to sway him to her side. This was the reason she worked so hard to bring him closer. Once his affection for her maxed out, she wouldn't have to worry about him refusing to follow her. But she was unaware that hidden within Tian Lin's seven-year-old body was the soul of a young man, not so easily influenced. Though Tian Lin harbored no grand ideal of saving the world, he wasn't someone prone to betrayal. Since joining the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, he never once considered turning his back on them. Thus, despite Xue Qing He's schemes, they were ultimately destined to fail. As they spoke, they arrived at the academic office, the habitat and training area for the academy's three highest-ranking advisors. Hearing of Xue Qing He's arrival, they promptly came out to greet her. The three of them were quite distinctive: one was as thin as a bamboo pole yet very tall, another as round as a barrel but as short as a winter melon, and only the elder in the center appeared relatively normal. "Your Highness, what brings you here?" the elder in the center approached and inquired. "Meng Shen Ji, I'm here to enroll my junior brother and hope you can arrange it," Xue Qing He replied, holding Tian Lin's hand. "Xiao Tian, allow me to introduce you. This is Meng Shen Ji, the chief of the academy's advisory board, Wuhun Black Demon, an eighty-sixth level, eight-ring control system Battle Soul Douluo." "Next is Vice Chief Bai Bao Shan, Wuhun Heavenly Star Furnace, an eighty-fifth level, eight-ring defense system Battle Soul Douluo." "And finally, this is the third advisor, Zhi Lin, Wuhun Sky-Blue Vine, an eighty-third level, eight-ring control system Battle Soul Douluo." Xue Qing He gestured toward each of the three, then said to Tian Lin, "Go ahead, Xiao Tian, greet the advisors." "Greetings, esteemed advisors!" Tian Lin politely bowed to the three of them. The three advisors were somewhat taken aback; was this child really enrolling in their Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? "Your Highness, although our academy does not restrict the age for enrollment, focusing instead on status and level, isn't your junior brother a bit too young?" Meng Shen Ji hesitated. The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy wasn't a nursery. To enroll, one had to meet two criteria: being of noble status and having reached level fifteen soul power before age twelve. This was five levels lower than the admission requirements of Shrek Academy, which, given the resources available to noble families, wasn't particularly difficult. Yet generally, that would be around the age of eleven or twelve. The child before them looked perhaps six or seven at best. Xue Qing He smiled lightly, pulling Tian Lin forward, "Xiao Tian, tell the advisors how old you are and what level you're at." "Esteemed advisors, I am seven years old, currently at level eighteen, with the Wuhun Town's Demon Sword, a strong attack system one-ring Battle Soul Master!" Tian Lin stepped forward and announced. "What, seven years old and level eighteen?" Meng Shen Ji looked at Tian Lin as though he were some kind of monster. He must have started cultivating in the womb! "So, Advisor Meng, my junior brother's level meets the requirements, correct? As for his noble status, there's no need for concern. He is the personal disciple of Sword Douluo, entirely meeting the academy's criteria." A disciple of a Title Douluo held a status far above that of any city lord or duke. "Yes, more than meets! So, you're the esteemed disciple of Sword Douluo. The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy welcomes your admission." Meng Shen Ji regained his composure, immediately approving Tian Lin's enrollment. Refusing such a prodigy would indeed be foolish. "Then, I leave my junior brother in the hands of you three advisors. Please take care of him. Affairs in the Eastern Palace are numerous, and I must attend to them," Xue Qing He, as the crown prince, couldn’t always be by Tian Lin's side. "Rest assured, Your Highness, we will look after this child," the three advisors solemnly assured. Satisfied, Xue Qing He departed but not before instructing Tian Lin to seek her help at the palace should any trouble arise at the academy. The three advisors took Tian Lin to the advisory board's lounge and summoned a teacher. Not long after, a teacher, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old with a pleasant appearance, walked in, "Greetings, esteemed advisors, did you call for me?" "Yes, Teacher Zhou Yan. A new student has joined the academy today, and we plan to place him in your class," Meng Shen Ji stated. Zhou Yan glanced around. Apart from the three advisors and a small child, she saw no one else befitting the age for admission, and uncertainly questioned, "Esteemed advisors, you don't mean this child, do you?" Noting Zhou Yan's expression mirroring their earlier reaction, the three advisors burst into laughter. Bai Bao Shan explained, "Zhou Yan, don't underestimate this child. He's seven years old with a level of eighteen, a once-in-a-century talent." "You're now at level forty-eight and the most outstanding among Tianwei-level teachers. That's why we've decided to entrust him to your care. Cherish this opportunity." Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan's eyes widened as she stared at Tian Lin like a rare treasure. A seven-year-old at level eighteen—what a concept, the makings of a Title Douluo! If this child truly became a Title Douluo someday, she’d have the honor of having taught a future Title Douluo. That would surely be a highlight in her teaching career. Overjoyed, Zhou Yan expressed, "Thank you, esteemed advisors. I will make sure to teach this child well."