"Come, Student Xie Xie, let me personally escort you to the classroom."
"Hahaha... Teacher, you're far too polite." An awkward smile flashed across Xie Xie's face.
Being treated like royalty was something he was getting used to, but the teacher's name—Su Yangtao—made him think of that legendary "God-level" tool from history who had awakened the first Tang San. Was every "Su" in the education department destined to be a fanboy for geniuses?
"Classmates, pay attention! This is our new transfer, Xie Xie," Su Yangtao announced, his voice booming with pride as they entered the room. "His Martial Soul is the Time-Space Dragon King. He is an elite genius with Innate Full Soul Power. Everyone, please make him feel welcome!"
"Hello, everyone," Xie Xie said simply, his voice cool and composed.
The classroom fell into a deafening silence before erupting into hushed whispers. The six-year-olds stared at him with mouths agape. Dragon King? Innate Full Soul Power? To these children, Xie Xie might as well have been a mythical creature.
"Xie Xie, take the seat next to Zhang Yangzi for now," the teacher said, pointing to a sharp-eyed, short-haired boy in the front row.
Xie Xie nodded and took his place.
"Hey, I'm Zhang Yangzi. And this thin guy to my right is my childhood friend, Wang Jinxi," the boy whispered the moment the teacher turned to the blackboard. "We both have Level 9 Innate Soul Power. Teacher Su said you're Innate Full... You missed the first few days of school; have you already become a one-ring Spirit Master?"
Xie Xie glanced at them. A sense of familiarity surged in his mind. The Dark Eagle Dragons of Donghai Class One. In the original timeline, these two were the backbone of the academy, possessing a rare Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Their talent was easily on par with the main cast.
"Yes," Xie Xie replied calmly. "I'm already Rank 12."
"Rank 12?!" Zhang Yangzi choked, his face a mix of awe and envy. He had thought his Level 9 was the peak of Donghai City's talent, but compared to a true prodigy, he was already falling behind. "Man... I hope I can catch up to that speed soon."
"Hey, Xie Xie!" A green-haired boy leaned forward from the back seat, poking Xie Xie's shoulder with a grin. "My name is Wei Xiaofeng. Interested in joining our Donghai F3? Well, I guess we'd have to rename it the Donghai F4 now."
"Oh?" Xie Xie chuckled. "And who are the current members of this... F3?"
"Obviously me, Zhang Yangzi, and Jinxi," Wei Xiaofeng said, puffing out his chest.
"Ignore him," Zhang Yangzi snapped, looking disdainful. "Wei Xiaofeng picks fights every day just so he can call us a 'group.' It's incredibly childish."
"Exactly," Wang Jinxi added weakly. It was hard to believe this frail-looking boy possessed the brutal Bone Dragon King Martial Soul.
"What! It's cool!" Wei Xiaofeng argued, crossing his arms.
Xie Xie laughed softly, watching them bicker. He felt like a grandfather watching toddlers play in a sandbox—then he remembered he was technically six years old too. He sighed internally.
Meanwhile, at the Xie Villa.
Na'er sat on the sofa, her amethyst eyes wide and pleading as she looked at Jiang Yun. "Auntie... can I really not go to school with Brother Xie Xie?"
"Na'er, be good," Jiang Yun said gently, stroking the girl's silver hair. "You aren't six yet. You haven't even had your Spirit Awakening. A Spirit Master Academy is for those who already have their souls awakened."
"Spi...rit?" Na'er tilted her head, looking utterly lost. "What is that?"
Jiang Yun froze. She was stunned that a child didn't even know the most basic concept of their world. Those parents of hers really were monsters, she thought, her heart breaking for the girl. She spent the rest of the afternoon patiently explaining the concept of Martial Souls and the Douluo Continent.
That afternoon, Xie Xie returned home. Seeing his mother alone in the living room, he looked around. "Where's Na'er?"
"She was bored and couldn't understand the TV, so I told her some stories until she fell asleep," Jiang Yun said. "Son, it's heart-wrenching. She didn't even know what a Spirit was. Her parents must have been incredibly negligent."
Xie Xie nodded. He knew it wasn't negligence; Na'er—or rather, the Silver Dragon King—simply had no context for human society yet.
"How was your first day?" Jiang Yun asked, changing the subject.
"Not bad. I met some interesting classmates—Zhang Yangzi and his group. They have decent potential. Though the teacher is a bit... over-eager," Xie Xie noted. He realized he needed to push himself even harder. In the original story, he reached Rank 18 by age nine. As a transmigrator with a System, hitting Rank 20 or higher before then was his new baseline.
"Were there any cute girls?" Jiang Yun teased, blinking rapidly.
"Just boys," Xie Xie said, his face falling.
"Too bad. Oh! I almost forgot," Jiang Yun said, her expression turning serious but excited. "Your Uncle Xu is bringing Little Sister Xiaoyan over for dinner tonight. They've been on business in Tianhai City for a month and just got back today."
Xie Xie's heart skipped a beat. Xu Xiaoyan.
The future "Goddess of the Starry Sky" and the ultimate control-system Spirit Master. Their families were long-time allies, and their mothers were best friends. They had grown up together; she was his legitimate Childhood Sweetheart.
Wait, Xie Xie thought, a strange realization dawning on him. If Xiaoyan is the childhood friend, and Na'er is the 'girl who fell from the sky'...
Before he could finish the thought, the front door swung open.
His father entered, accompanied by a refined couple. And darting out from behind them was a energetic little girl with bright, intelligent eyes.
"Brother Xie Xie—!"
"I'm back!"
She rushed toward him like a whirlwind, her face lit up with a pure, infectious joy.