Just at that moment, outside the academy gates.
"Zhuqing, there's something I've actually never dared to tell you," Yang Yunhai suddenly turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing.
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing turned her head toward him.
"Well… actually, I was the one who accidentally knocked you out with electricity," Yang Yunhai said a little awkwardly.
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment, then just looked at Yang Yunhai. She didn't get angry, as if she were waiting for an explanation.
"Ahem, my martial soul is actually a mutated one with a lightning attribute. At the time, I was fishing with electricity in the river above the waterfall to prepare dinner. Suddenly, I heard a loud splash. I thought I had electrocuted a big fish or maybe some soul beast drinking from below the waterfall." Yang Yunhai spoke in a quiet voice, "Who knew, when I walked over and looked down…"
"And then things turned out the way they did."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's face uncharacteristically turned slightly red. She lowered her head subconsciously and bit her lip, saying nothing, lost in thought.
Clearly, her feelings were complicated.
For a moment, Yang Yunhai didn't know what to say. After a long pause, he cautiously asked, "Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuqing still didn't speak. Although her head remained slightly lowered, her expression had returned to calm.
Just then, light footsteps could be heard approaching in the distance.
"Someone's coming," Yang Yunhai immediately looked up in the direction the sound was coming from, toward the academy gates.
Zhu Zhuqing also looked up, her eyes calm.
From afar, three elderly men and a young man were walking toward them, with the academy gatekeeper following behind.
The footsteps were quick, and they soon arrived.
"Junior Yang Yunhai greets the elders," Yang Yunhai placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly, showing proper etiquette as a junior soul master greeting seniors.
Then he straightened up and slightly turned toward Zhu Zhuqing. "This is Zhu Zhuqing, my companion."
"Zhuqing greets the elders," Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly in greeting after the introduction.
Zhu Zhuqing… the three education committee members exchanged glances with subtle expressions.
The leading elder, Meng Shenji, was the first to react. Stroking his beard, he laughed heartily. "Welcome, welcome! It's our academy's honor to have the two of you enroll at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. No need to be so formal,treat this place as your home."
"I am Meng Shenji, Chairman of the Education Committee. This is Bai Baoshan, the second seat, and Zhi Lin, the third. And this," he turned toward the young man with a warm smile, ",is the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, His Highness Xue Qinghe."
"Greetings, Your Highness," Yang Yunhai bowed immediately, followed closely by Zhu Zhuqing.
"No need for formality. Meeting young talents like Brother Yang and Miss Zhu is an honor for me as well," Xue Qinghe said cheerfully.
"Indeed. For a student your age to cultivate the Blue Silver Grass martial soul to this level… I must admit, I feel rather embarrassed," said Meng Shenji, chuckling. "Honestly, this is the first time I've heard of Blue Silver Grass progressing so quickly."
Yang Yunhai's eyes flickered slightly, but he smiled and shook his head. "I just had some lucky encounters, that's all."
"To be honest, just over half a month ago, my soul power was only at level 21."
"What!?" The three elders and even the gatekeeper were shocked. Zhu Zhuqing also looked surprised.
Not bad,knows how to seize the moment. Xue Qinghe's eyes gleamed faintly.
"It's nothing special. Honestly, I doubt I'll get another stroke of luck like that again," Yang Yunhai shrugged and glanced around at the group. "Honored elders, Your Highness, the story's a long one. If you're interested, why don't we go inside and sit down?"
"Besides, I also came today with a personal request."
Meng Shenji immediately recovered and laughed. "Of course! Come in, let's sit and talk."
So, Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing followed the committee members into the academy.
Soon after, they arrived at the Education Committee office, and Yang Yunhai began telling his story.
He first detailed the part everyone was most curious about: venturing into the mountains, discovering bamboo shoots, and breaking through to level 27 after drinking accumulated spring water.
Then he described leaving the mountains, asking for directions, and hurrying to the border.
When explaining how his soul power quickly reached level 30, he said he used his martial soul's lightning attribute to stimulate his muscles, accelerating the absorption of medicinal energy. He claimed that this led to his martial soul evolving, his body undergoing transformation, and awakening a special sensory ability. He then entered the Star Dou Forest alone to hunt a soul beast. He adjusted the age of the soul beast to 1,500 years for plausibility.
He also described his soul skills, mentioning their effects and the sources of his soul rings.
The first soul ring story matched the one he told the principal of Nuoding Academy. The second ring, he claimed, was obtained by using his first skill and lightning attribute to wear down the beast from a distance. He reduced its age to over 600 years to match what Tang San had achieved.
As for the mountain's location, he seamlessly worked in the version suggested by Salas.
"The first soul ring was from an ordinary hundred-year plant-type soul beast,one of the lower-grade vines. I chose to hunt the second one myself. That should be enough to lead anyone investigating my background to believe that I asked the village chief in Gucao Village to have Spirit Hall help me with the first soul ring. But because the soul beast they found was low-quality and its age was mediocre, I became dissatisfied with Spirit Hall and chose to hunt the second one on my own." Yang Yunhai concluded the story and thought to himself.
On the other side, the three education committee members sighed in admiration.
"Unbelievable. Who knew such wondrous things existed in this world?"
"Student Yang, your luck is truly enviable."
"Indeed… enviable."
Yang Yunhai had explained things so clearly that they had no reason to doubt him. After all, soul power rising from level 21 to level 30 in just a few days, along with physical transformation, martial soul evolution, and an awakened ability, could only be reasonably explained by having consumed a rare heavenly treasure.
"Just lucky," Yang Yunhai said with a modest smile.
"Haha! No need to be so modest," Meng Shenji laughed.
Regardless, it was a fact that Yang Yunhai had reached the Soul Elder level at such a young age. More importantly, his martial soul had evolved and was no longer ordinary Blue Silver Grass,his cultivation talent was now evident. That alone made him worth recruiting.
And it came with a bonus.
Thinking of this, Meng Shenji smiled and said, "Then, Student Yang, let's hear your request. As long as it's within my power, I'll do my best to fulfill it."
"You flatter me, Elder." Yang Yunhai smiled and cupped his hands. "I only have one request,allow me and my companion to join the first team of the Heaven Dou Battle Team. And…"
His eyes flashed as he spoke firmly, "I request a one-on-one challenge with the team captain, Yu Tianheng."
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