All rights reserved to the respective authors.
"Dialogue": Represented in double quotes for conversations between characters.
'Thoughts': Represented in single quotation marks, indicating the characters' internal reflections.
[Diary]: Represented in square brackets, used for messages intended for the heroines or entries written by Tenshin.
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Nuoding City
After passing through the gates of Nuoding City, Tang San and Old Jack began their search for a place to eat. They had left Holy Spirit Village early that morning and had not yet had breakfast. Along the way, Old Jack took the opportunity to ask for directions to Nuoding Academy. Although he had visited the city several times before, his knowledge was limited to the commercial areas—shops where he occasionally bought or sold goods for the village.
Old Jack's trips to the city had become more frequent in recent years due to the village's development. The village was investing in improvements and infrastructure, often requiring materials from the city. However, Nuoding was still a large and complex city—one of the three largest in Fasinuo Province, part of the Heaven Dou Empire. Without a good understanding of the layout, it was easy to get lost.
As the two walked ahead, Tenshin observed everything around him attentively, taking a bite of one of the sandwiches he had prepared before leaving the house. He had even offered one to the others, but they both refused—one because he didn't want to take advantage, and the other simply because he didn't want to.
Although it wasn't his first time in the city—he had accompanied Old Jack on several trips over the past three years, sometimes as company and other times to buy books—this visit felt different. Now, Tenshin paid attention to every detail. From that moment on, Nuoding would theoretically be his new home for the next six years, with the right to return to the village only during the New Year holidays.
In addition to exploring the city, he was also on the lookout for potential part-time work opportunities. He had saved 5 silver coins over the years by doing odd jobs in the village—delivering goods, running errands, and helping the locals. Some of this money had come as rewards for ideas that boosted the village's development, such as the rotation system for farmland, the installation of basic plumbing, and the teaching of composting techniques.
To understand the value of this amount, it was important to know the monetary system of the Douluo Continent: one spirit gold coin was worth 10 silver coins, and each silver coin was worth 100 copper coins. With that, a single gold coin could sustain a modest family of three for months.
Tenshin was aware that Nuoding Academy offered a small stipend to students in the work-study program. In exchange for doing household chores, they received enough to cover basic meals and essentials. However, for someone coming from a modern environment, a diet based solely on bread and porridge was far from ideal.
What's more, a soul master required an even richer and more balanced diet to sustain their progress. Tenshin, in particular, consumed more energy than others his age due to the intensity of his training. Therefore, the academy's stipend would not be enough, especially with the inevitable expenses that would arise over time.
He knew that with the coins he had, he could support himself for a long time. Still, he made sure to plan ahead. Out of all the possibilities, working in a blacksmith shop seemed the most viable—and most interesting—choice.
There were several reasons for this. First, blacksmithing had always fascinated him. Even in his previous life, he would spend hours watching videos of blacksmiths and craftsmen. Second, many works of fiction he had read—including the Douluo Dalu sequels—highlighted the value of blacksmithing, especially when mastered well. Gaining experience in this field, even if it was basic, seemed like a smart choice.
Last but not least, there was the physical effort involved. With a new routine full of classes, studies, and work, maintaining regular physical training would be a challenge. So, working in a blacksmith shop offered a double benefit: a source of income and a way to exercise, all at the same time.
As they walked through the town, Tenshin took the opportunity to gather information about the local blacksmith shops. But he didn't stop there—he also asked about restaurants, clothing stores, and other establishments that might offer job opportunities if his main plan didn't work out.
After some time, the group finally found a place where Tang San and Old Jack could have breakfast. Since the break promised to last a while, Tenshin took the opportunity to summon his diary and record everything—after all, this would also earn him some LP. Sitting quietly, with the notebook in hand, he began to write:
[We've arrived at Nuoding City! Right now, we're at a small restaurant, where Tang San and Grandpa Jack are having breakfast. We left too early and didn't have time to eat before leaving. Fortunately, I had prepared some sandwiches for the road. I tried to offer them some, but they both refused.]
[That aside, as I walked through the city, I remembered a "small" detail that I had completely forgotten: Xiao Wu.]
When they noticed that the diary had been updated again on the same day, the heroines were surprised. During the past month, Tenshin had rarely done so—except on the first day, when he revealed a flood of shocking information. Since then, the updates had been limited to a single daily entry, usually at the end of the day, containing only a cursory summary of his experiences.
This lack of detail frustrated them. He never explained what he had discovered, theorized, or accomplished. His entries remained vague, almost cryptic, as if he were purposely hiding something.
So, when new updates appeared outside of the usual time and quantity, the heroines' curiosity soared. Had something happened? But when they saw that the first entry only talked about their arrival in Nuoding City, their excitement dissipated. A mixture of discouragement and disappointment took hold of them.
Still, they continued reading—who knows, maybe this time Tenshin would reveal some useful… or even spicy information? Curious, the bearers of the diary copies skipped ahead to the next entries. When they found the passage where Tenshin mentioned that he had forgotten a detail, their attention was immediately piqued.
But… who was this "Xiao Wu"? And why had Tenshin given her so much importance?
[She's going to enroll in Nuoding Academy as a working student. That in itself wouldn't be a problem. The real complicating factor is that Xiao Wu is a soul beast—more precisely, a Soft-Bone Rabbit with a hundred thousand years of cultivation, recently transformed into a human.]
[Before I get into why I find this a problem beyond the fact that she's a soul beast, I need to be honest: I don't like her character. And I have reasons. Several, actually, but I'll focus on the main ones.]
Upon discovering that Xiao Wu was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast—a Soft-Bone Rabbit in human form—the heroines were taken aback. They immediately understood why Tenshin had made such a big deal about "forgetting" her. Still, the more knowledgeable ones began to question his uneasiness. After all, when a soul beast became human, it had to start its cultivation from scratch. So why was he so concerned?
Soon after, Tenshin made his reasons clear—and this only increased their curiosity. Especially since, a month ago, when commenting on Tang San, Tang Hao, and Ah Yin, Tenshin had been incredibly accurate in his analysis. Even with a bit of emotion mixed in, his arguments had been solid and revealing. Now, with Xiao Wu, perhaps it would be another one of those times.
[First, the point that bothers me the most: she only joined human society recently. Anyone else in her situation would have chosen to stay in a remote village for a while, learning human customs. But not her. She kept her old ways, the same principles as a soul beast.]
[Because of this, she doesn't understand—nor behave—like a six-year-old child. From her first appearance in the novel, it's clear that she doesn't have the common sense that even the other work-study students demonstrate: children without much education or knowledge, but with common sense. It's clear how unprepared she is to live among humans. Her comments and attitudes are out of place.]
[And this lack of awareness had consequences. Many strange and suspicious things happened around her without her noticing. A glaring example: Xiao Wu, a girl, spent six years in a dormitory full of boys, sharing the same bunk bed as Tang San. It was possible to overlook it when they were 6 to 9 years old, but from the age of 10 onwards, it was a different story. And this went unnoticed, as if it were normal.]
Upon reading this, many of them frowned at the first point Tenshin made—and they had to admit: he was right. If they were in Xiao Wu's shoes, they would also have tried to learn as little as possible about the human world before diving into it. It would be enough to understand the basics, common sense. On the mainland, even children from isolated villages have a basic understanding of how to live together. Why not her?
There was unanimous outrage when they read about Xiao Wu's six-year stay at Nuoding Academy. In different parts of the continent, the heroines expressed their shock in different ways, but they all thought the same thing: This is not done! For them, there was no excuse. Even if the differences between boys and girls became more pronounced later on, the minimum separation should have been guaranteed—especially considering that Xiao Wu was not just any student, but a genius with complete innate soul power.
If she had been in any other academy, especially among the great powers, she would have been treated with care and prestige. Bibi Dong, reading the diary with a frown, was particularly irritated. If she hadn't known Xiao Wu's identity—and even now she did—she couldn't understand what the Nuoding teachers were thinking. 'If the Spirit Hall had a girl with complete innate soul power, she would have been groomed for the future from day one!' Even Hu Liena, their most promising student, had ninth-level innate soul power—and that was already a source of pride.
And then came the final blow: Xiao Wu had shared the same bunk bed as Tang San for six years. Neither of the heroines could ignore the parallels between Tang Hao and Ah Yin. The memories of that story intersected with the current situation, and they felt that something was very wrong and suspicious.
[The second point has to do with her goals. In the original story, Xiao Wu should have been filled with hatred for Bibi Dong, right? After her transformation, she should have focused on training to reach the Title Douluo level as soon as possible in order to avenge her mother.]
[But what did Xiao Wu do in the original timeline?]
[She spent six years in Nuoding Academy sleeping beside Tang San and even became his "sister," while gradually developing romantic feelings for him.]
[As a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form, after six years, her spirit power was still at level 29, the same as Tang San. Of course, both of them possessed complete innate soul power, but Tang San was stuck at level 29 due to external limitations, such as having to divide his time between blacksmithing, cultivation, and lessons with his master, while Xiao Wu was different!]
[Xiao Wu, being a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form, had immense potential. With dedicated cultivation, she could have easily surpassed Tang San before reaching the Title Douluo level!]
[This is evident when the other members of Shrek's Seven Monsters consumed immortal herbs to enhance their talents and received significant increases in power. Xiao Wu, however, did not consume any immortal herbs, but was still able to keep up with them!]
[This proves that Xiao Wu has neglected her cultivation. Could this really be the same Xiao Wu who should seek revenge for her mother? Instead, she seems to have focused on her romantic relationship with Tang San and forgotten about revenge!]
The heroines absorbed each line intently. The revelation that Xiao Wu's goal was to avenge her mother—who had been killed by Bibi Dong—sent a momentary silence. There was shock, of course, but no overreaction: they all understood how the world of soul masters worked. The cycle between humans and soul beasts was brutal, yes, but in order to advance, every soul master must acquire soul rings by killing soul beasts.
What really surprised them was the execution of the revenge plan. Reading that Xiao Wu had slept beside Tang San, become his "sister," and then fallen in love, all while neglecting her cultivation, caused them increasing frustration. Each of them, in their own corner, thought: "So much wasted talent."
Tenshin was right. She was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast—her cultivation speed should naturally be higher than that of humans. If she had stayed focused, she would have easily surpassed Tang San and would have been much closer to her revenge. But no. She chose to indulge in adolescent feelings and a peaceful life with a boy. After six years, she remained on the same level as him.
It was such a waste that even the most understanding people were left feeling uneasy. Some shook their heads, some sighed, and some simply made a mental note: Xiao Wu, who was supposed to seek revenge, seemed to have completely forgotten why she was here.
After a while without new entries, they realized that there would be no more updates for the time being. With no new entries to analyze, each of them returned to their own activities—still thinking about what they had read.
Spirit City, Spirit Hall
In the Pope's room, Bibi Dong calmly held the copy of the diary in her hands. What made her pause was not just Tenshin's criticism, but the revelation in particular: Xiao Wu was a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast—a Soft-Boned Rabbit in human form—and was seeking revenge against her.
The thought made her eyes turn cold and sharp. For a moment, Bibi Dong considered eliminating Xiao Wu. Any potential threat needed to be dealt with firmly.
But then her eyes returned to the open page of the diary. Tenshin's tone when describing Xiao Wu was not one of caution, but of frustration—of seeing so much talent wasted. This made Bibi Dong give up on the idea. There was no fear in her eyes, only silent contempt. 'She wouldn't dare attack me.' Even if she tried, it would be futile: the disparity in power was abysmal. Xiao Wu, no matter how much raw potential she had, was not even a shadow of what Bibi Dong was—an imposing Titled Douluo.
If it ever became necessary, she would take care of it herself. Bibi Dong made the copy of the diary disappear. And she was certain of one thing: if Xiao Wu dared to make a false move, she would not have a second chance.
What about sending someone to capture her? Bibi Dong didn't even consider it.
Although Tenshin hadn't said it directly, the clues were too clear to ignore: Xiao Wu had shared the same bunk bed as Tang San for six years. If Tang Hao, a cunning and ruthless man, knew this and still didn't kill her… then it was clear: he was protecting her. Preparing her as the future soul ring for his son.
'Tang Hao is more intriguing than he seems. He's preserving Xiao Wu. A hundred-thousand-year ring doesn't go to waste.' The coldness of his analysis was cutting. Capturing her now might precipitate Tang Hao's plans… or worse, expose other pieces on the board prematurely. No. It was better to observe. Bide your time.
But then something caught his attention. His mind returned to a specific passage in the diary: "…when the other members of Shrek's Seven Monsters consumed immortal herbs…"
Bibi Dong froze. 'Immortal herbs?' She had spent years searching for these precious things, sending soul masters all over the continent, and had found nothing.
But now, a boy named Tang San would find six?
'Where?' she asked, narrowing her eyes. 'How?'
His mind raced. If Tang San really gained access to this resource in the future, it could change the balance of power in the years to come.
Bibi Dong leaned back in her throne, fingers drumming softly on the armrest.
Nuoding City
At this moment, Tenshin, who had just finished writing the diary entries, had his attention drawn to him by Old Jack, who called him and Tang San over. Noticing that both were watching him intently, the elder cleared his throat slightly and began to speak, "Xiao San, Tenshin, I will accompany you to the academy and help you with your registration. After that, I will return to the village. But first, let me give you some advice: obey your teachers, do not leave the school without permission, and above all, be wary of strangers."
Tang San looked up, and his voice came out with an unexpected tone of concern, "Grandpa Jack, are you leaving already?"
'Wait... what?' Tenshin thought, frowning in a mixture of disbelief and surprise. 'Don't tell me... you spent almost thirty years of your past life locked away inside the sect, never leaving... and now you're nervous like a kid on the first day of school?'
The mental comparison was as absurd as it was funny, and Tenshin had trouble holding back his laughter. His lips trembled slightly, and he had to suppress the laugh that threatened to escape involuntarily.
"Xiao San, you must understand," Old Jack replied with a calm smile, "that even with the recent improvements in the village, it still isn't worth staying in a hotel around here. The price isn't worth it, especially since the village is so close to the city."
Then his gaze softened as he continued, "Speaking of which, Xiao San, the next time we meet, you will probably have absorbed your first spirit ring. When that happens, you can register at the Spirit Hall and start receiving your soul master allowance. This will certainly make life easier for you and your father." He received an affirmative nod from Tang San.
Turning to Tenshin, he added, "And the same goes for you, little Tenshin. Strive to become a soul master. That way, you can also secure your own allowance."
"I'll take care of it, Grandpa," Tenshin replied without hesitation, a slight smile on his face. This was already part of his plans. However, he knew that even if he was ready to absorb his first spirit ring, he couldn't do it yet.
After all, on the day of his martial soul's awakening, he had only displayed a seventh-level innate soul power, rather than his true level: ten, also known as complete innate soul power. It would be illogical in the eyes of others for someone with a seventh level to be able to reach level ten in just one month. At most, they would expect him to be on the verge of reaching the eighth level by now.
Satisfied with both of their answers, Old Jack nodded, got up, and went to pay the bill for breakfast. Following the instructions they had received, the trio ended up arriving at the entrance to the academy, located in the western part of the city.
Before them, an elegant stone bridge with ornately carved columns stretched across the majestic complex. The main building, perched high above the ground, dominated the landscape with its pointed towers, gleaming stained glass windows, and blue-gray roofs, contrasting exquisitely with the red and white details of the facades. Sloping ramps and stone walkways connected the various levels of the structure, creating a dynamic and imposing architecture. At the center of the complex, a tall tower topped by a clock and surrounded by delicate spires commanded attention. Around it, meticulously landscaped gardens with lush green trees and ornamental shrubs softened the grandeur of the building without overshadowing its nobility. There was no need for golden arches or flashy inscriptions—the design alone made it clear: this was Nuoding Academy.
The three of them stood there, silently marveling at the scene before them. Compared to the simple Holy Spirit Village—and even the rest of Nuoding City—this academy was something else entirely. Even Tenshin, whose soul had been shaped by modern society, was momentarily stunned. Although the place was nothing like the skyscrapers he had seen in his previous life, the splendor of the academy was undoubtedly impressive.
As they were about to enter to complete the registration process…