Chapter 5: The Gates of Nuoding
The journey to Nuoding City was a quiet one, the dusty road stretching through fields and sparse woods, the Star Dou Forest's shadow fading behind us. Tang San walked with a steady stride, his expression calm but focused, while Old Jack led the way, his steps slower but filled with pride. I kept pace, my mind buzzing with the Attribute Collection System's potential. My body felt stronger, sharper, thanks to three months of collecting attributes from Tang San's Chaos Cloaked Hammer practice and the village kids' games. My status window was a quiet testament to my growth:
*Status Window:*
- *Name*: Fang Shen
- *Age*: 6 years, 3 months, 15 days
- *Race*: Human
- *Strength*: 2.0
- *Speed*: 1.6
- *Endurance*: 2.0
- *Mental Power*: 2.1
- *Soul Power*: 5.8 (Level 5.8; 1.0 represents Level 1)
- *Martial Souls*: Blue Silver Grass (Grade: King, Awakened); Clear Sky Hammer (Hidden, Awakened)
- *Soul Ring*: None
- *Techniques*: Mysterious Heaven Technique, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Purple Demon Eyes, Chaos Cloaked Hammer
The Clear Sky Hammer remained my hidden ace, locked away to avoid Tang Hao's notice. My King-grade Blue Silver Grass, vibrant and potent, was my public face, ready to carry me through Nuoding Academy's challenges. The Chaos Cloaked Hammer Technique, collected from Tang San's forge work, had sharpened my strength and precision, its principles sinking into my muscles with each practice swing in the orphanage hut.
Nuoding City came into view by midday, its stone walls modest but imposing to a village boy like me. The academy's gates loomed ahead, flanked by two guards in crisp uniforms, their spears glinting in the sun. Old Jack straightened his back, clutching our martial soul certificates, his face beaming with pride. Tang San and I followed, our patched clothes a stark contrast to the city's bustle.
As we approached, one of the guards—a stocky man with a sneer—stepped forward, raising a hand. "Hold it. Where do you think you're going, old man?"
Old Jack bowed slightly, his voice respectful. "Good sir, these boys are here for Nuoding Academy's admission. I have their martial soul certificates."
The guard's eyes narrowed, flicking over our worn clothes and Old Jack's weathered face. "Certificates? From some backwater village? Let's see them."
Old Jack handed over the scrolls, but the guard barely glanced at them before scoffing. "Level 10, innate full soul power? Blue Silver Grass? And Level 5 with some fancy grass? You expect me to believe this?" He tossed the certificates back, one falling to the dirt. "Get lost, old man. Don't waste our time with fakes."
Old Jack's face reddened, his hands trembling as he bent to retrieve the scroll. "Sir, these are from Spirit Hall! Su Yuntao himself—"
"Spirit Hall?" the guard interrupted, laughing. "Some low-rank lackey probably fudged the numbers for a bribe. Village brats don't get Level 10, and Blue Silver Grass is trash. Beat it!"
I felt a spark of anger, but I kept my face neutral, glancing at Tang San. His eyes had hardened, a flicker of cold resolve I recognized from my old world's knowledge of *Douluo Dalu*. He stepped forward, his voice calm but edged. "The certificates are real. Let us through."
The guard sneered, stepping closer to Tang San. "You talking back, kid? Want a lesson in respect?" He raised a hand, as if to shove Tang San, but stopped when Tang San's gaze didn't waver. There was something in his eyes—a quiet danger that made the guard hesitate.
The system chimed: *Ding! Detected: Mental Power +0.1. Do you want to pick up? Yes/No.*
"Yes," I whispered, feeling my thoughts sharpen. My mental power ticked to 2.2. Tang San's intensity, even in this small moment, was feeding the system. I stepped forward, keeping my tone light to defuse the tension. "Sir, we just want to enroll. The certificates are legit. Why not let the academy decide?"
The guard turned his sneer on me. "Another mouthy brat. You think you're special with your Level 5 grass? Scram, both of you, and take your old man with you."
Old Jack's shoulders slumped, his pride crumbling. Tang San's fists clenched, and I knew he was seconds from acting. In the novel, he'd taught this guard a lesson with his Tang Sect skills, a subtle but sharp display of power. I could see it coming—the way his stance shifted, his body coiling like a spring.
Before the guard could push further, Tang San moved. His footwork was a blur, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track carrying him around the guard in an instant. A flick of his wrist sent a pebble flying, striking the guard's knee with a soft *thwack*. The man yelped, stumbling, his spear clattering to the ground. Tang San stood still, his expression unchanged, as if nothing had happened.
The second guard rushed forward, but Tang San raised a hand. "We don't want trouble. Check the certificates with the academy. They're real."
The system chimed again: *Ding! Detected: Agility +0.2. Do you want to pick up? Yes/No.*
"Yes," I murmured, my speed ticking to 1.8. Tang San's move had been a perfect blend of precision and restraint, and the system had caught its essence.
The first guard, red-faced and limping, grabbed the certificates from Old Jack's hands and stormed toward the gatehouse, muttering curses. The second guard glared but waved us to wait. Moments later, a teacher emerged—a middle-aged man in a scholar's robe, his expression skeptical but curious. He examined the certificates, his eyes widening at Tang San's Level 10 and my Level 5.
"They're genuine," he said, glancing at the guard with disapproval. "Let them through. The academy will handle their admission."
Old Jack's face lit up, his pride restored. The guard muttered an apology, avoiding Tang San's eyes. I caught Tang San's glance, a silent acknowledgment passing between us. He'd acted to defend Old Jack's honor, but he'd also shown me how far his skills reached. I'd need to keep up.
As we followed the teacher through the gates, the system chimed once more: *Ding! Detected: Soul Power +0.1. Do you want to pick up? Yes/No.*
"Yes," I whispered, my soul power inching to 5.9. Nuoding Academy stretched before us, its courtyards and training fields alive with students. Tang San would soon hunt his first soul ring, his path to greatness unfolding. I'd be there, my King-grade Blue Silver Grass as my mask, the Clear Sky Hammer hidden in my soul, collecting every spark of his brilliance. The guard's lesson was just the beginning—Fang Shen, host of the Attribute Collection System, was ready to carve his own legend in the Douluo Continent's vast shadow.