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Huo Wu took them to the only academy in Tian Dou City that actively recruits common soul masters: the Blue Tyrant Academy.
While it admits common students, it doesn't exclude noble ones either. After all, being located in the prime real estate of Tian Dou City, maintaining the academy's livelihood requires substantial financial support.
The relationship between the Blue Tyrant Academy's principal and the Blue Tyrant Dragon family seems to be strained. Officially, they cannot rely on the support of the Blue Tyrant Dragon family and must find ways to generate income.
The gatekeeper of the Blue Tyrant Academy recognized Huo Wu and chatted with her for a few moments before letting them in.
Observing this scene, Tang San inwardly remarked, "Indeed, no matter where you go, connections are crucial. They can save you a lot of trouble."
The Blue Tyrant Academy's campus was quite spacious, similar in size to the four major elemental academies, though its style wasn't as distinct, resembling the environment of the Nuoding Academy.
Tang San could understand this. After all, Liu Erlong was currently in a state of decadence, with little energy to manage the entire academy. Most of the time, it should be other teachers in the academy taking care of things.
And Liu Erlong?
Most of the time, she should be just a "high-level thug." If someone comes to cause trouble or challenge the academy, she would intervene and give them a beating.
Honestly, it's only because of the existence of extraordinary powers in this world that one could say strength is respected. Otherwise, with Liu Erlong's personality and methods, could she really become the principal?
However, Liu Erlong also paid attention to the talented students of the academy. For the Spirit Master Tournament, she had retained several students whose strength had already reached the graduation standard, such as Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, Jiang Zhu, Tai Long, and others.
After all, the Soul Master Tournament is a "real-life job-hunting show." As long as the students in the academy perform well, they can be selected by major forces on the continent, become nobles, promote the academy's reputation, recruit more students, and thus, strengthen and support the academy.
Moreover, Tang San had once proposed a theory, or suggestion: to diversify the combat arenas, thus showcasing the different values of different soul masters, which had led many underestimated soul masters to be given more opportunities.
This also made many soul masters admire Tang San even more.
"The students of the Blue Tyrant Academy are considerably weaker compared to those of other academies."
Tang San's perception was sharp, sensing the soul power fluctuations emitted by the students they encountered along the way. He shook his head inwardly, "Although I can establish myself in this academy, where more than eighty percent of the students are commoners, and even gain the admiration of the students by revealing my identity, dealing with Liu Erlong, who is lovesick, would be troublesome."
"Moreover, Yu Xiaogang might also come here. Given Liu Erlong's almost pathological infatuation with Yu Xiaogang, she definitely wouldn't favor me. I don't want to be constrained by him."
"More importantly, the martial soul records left in such academies are definitely not as abundant as those in the Tian Dou Royal Academy."
Following Huo Wu, after a brief tour of the Blue Tyrant Academy, Tang San and the others headed to their final destination: the Tian Dou Royal Academy!
At this time, the Tian Dou Royal Academy had not yet begun its new round of enrollment, but since Huo Wu was a student there, she naturally could enter and directly brought Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Guang Ling into the inner courtyard.
The Tian Dou Royal Academy was built within a forested mountain area, but unlike those wild forests, the trees in this area had been pruned, and there were no weeds on the ground, making it extremely flat.
"No wonder it's called a royal academy; they have the resources to directly beautify a mountain forest." Tang San surveyed the environment around him and couldn't help but sigh.
"Of course, otherwise how could it be called 'royal'?" Huo Wu walked and introduced various training environments of the Tian Dou Royal Academy. "Here, there are various simulated training environments suitable for most soul masters on the continent, but—"
At this point, Huo Wu paused, looking at the groups of three to five nobles not far away, a hint of disgust appearing in her eyes, "Most of the students here are offspring of nobles and aristocrats. Although their martial souls aren't bad due to their ancestors, and their talent for cultivation is decent, the comfortable environment makes them less diligent; they are mostly just idle heirs."
Tang San felt he could understand this.
After all, cultivating soul power is an extremely tedious process. These children are born into noble families, with countless resources at their disposal. From a young age, they can enjoy the best treatment without having to exert themselves like common soul masters do in their training.
Perhaps in the eyes of these idle heirs, the purpose of common soul masters' diligent cultivation is merely to obtain wealth, status, or beauty. But for those born into nobility, they naturally possess these things from birth. So why bother with rigorous training? Their sole goal in cultivation might be to find satisfaction in the spiritual realm, namely, to excel in the Spirit Master Tournament and gain the adoration of the masses.
When material conditions are satisfied, there's a need for spiritual fulfillment, which is quite natural.
However—
This world is not peaceful.
Power is essential. Truth lies within the reach of power. Otherwise, it's just rough paper, too weak even to wipe one's bottom.
Ten minutes later, Huo Wu led Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Guang Ling up a hill where a building resembling a church stood.
According to Huo Wu, that was the office of the three academic commissioners of the Tian Dou Royal Academy.
"Tian Dou Royal Academy has three academic commissioners, all at the level of Titled Douluo. Meng Shenji, with his Martial Soul Dream God's Machine, is at level eighty-five, a Spirit Master specializing in mental control and also capable of long-range offensive attacks. Zhi Lin, with his Martial Soul Sky Blue Vine, is at level eighty-three, specializing in physical control. Bai Baoshan, with his Martial Soul Starry Sky Furnace, is a dual-defense Spirit Master proficient in both physical and energy defense."
Listening to Huo Wu's introduction, Tang San was particularly interested in the name "Meng Shenji" and asked, "What is the Black Devil Martial Soul?"
"Um... it's like a human-shaped black shadow, similar to what I had with the Fire Shadow before, but Meng Shenji's Martial Soul attribute is mental, with a bit of darkness." Huo Wu recounted what she knew. "You think Meng Shenji's Martial Soul situation might be similar to mine?"
"It's possible, but since he's already a Titled Douluo, I reckon his Black Devil Martial Soul has already stabilized and can't be changed through soul rings anymore. Unless he reaches level ninety in the future and absorbs a hundred-thousand-year soul ring with a dark attribute," Tang San speculated, "or perhaps he obtains some heaven-and-earth treasure that, when consumed, reveals his Martial Soul's true form."
"A hundred-thousand-year soul beast? And it needs to be of the dark attribute? Looks like Meng Shenji doesn't have a chance."
At this point, Huo Wu had already reached the front gate and knocked on it.
Thud, thud, thud!
"Come in."
An old voice emanated from within the door.
"Commissioners, it's me."
Huo Wu opened the door and smiled at the three old men sitting in the lobby, sorting through documents.
"Oh, it's Xiao Wu." Meng Shenji's face revealed a hint of a smile.
Meng Shenji had a fondness for geniuses like Huo Wu. Not only did her presence represent closer cooperation between the Huo Clan and Tian Dou, but the girl before him was an undisputed prodigy!
Huo Wu, also known affectionately by acquaintances as Xiao Wu, but for the sake of distinction, it's better to continue referring to her as Huo Wu from now on.
(End of Chapter)