Chapter 7: line with translation of chapter title

The next day Gu Xuan set off and left the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, heading for the Tian Dou Royal Academy twenty li east of Tian Dou City.

Gu Rong, Chen Xin, Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong stood on the castle watching Gu Xuan leave, each feeling a bit reluctant inside.

Seeing Gu Rong's reluctant face, Chen Xin comforted: "When the sky rains and the mother marries, Xuan'er is partly right; youngsters should go out and see the world, and moreover he's going to an academy, so danger is certainly out of the question."

Gu Rong waved his hand and replied: "I understand, it's just that this brat suddenly left like that; I really am not used to it."

Ning Fengzhi beside them showed a gentle smile and said: "He'll come back when the term ends, and Xiao Xuan has been mature and sharp since childhood, Uncle Gu need not worry."

Ning Rongrong took up the conversation: "Brother Gu Xuan is so strong, going to the academy he'll definitely be the strongest; I want to train hard and then catch up to Brother Gu Xuan."

Everyone hearing this chuckled: "Then Rongrong will have to work twice as hard; your Brother Gu Xuan is a person of firm perseverance, he won't wait for you."

Ning Rongrong, hearing this, turned away haughtily: "I don't want Brother Gu Xuan to wait; I'll chase after him myself."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Sect is not far from Tian Dou City; at most it's a half-day journey, and with Gu Xuan riding the sect's finest carriage, even reaching the Tian Dou Royal Academy takes only half a day.

It's not admission season now, but Gu Xuan's status is not ordinary; holding a recommendation letter from the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, he went straight to the office of the three senior instructors of the Tian Dou Royal Academy.

These three senior instructors are respectively an eighty‑fifth‑rank Control‑system Soul Elder, the academy's chief instructor Meng Shenji, martial soul Black Yao; an eighty‑third‑rank Defense‑system Soul Elder, the academy's vice‑chief Bai Baoshan, martial soul Heavenly Star Furnace; and an eighty‑first‑rank Control‑system Soul Elder, the academy's vice‑chief Zhilin, martial soul Heavenly Green Vine.

These three are outstanding veterans of the Soul Master world, each highly respected and virtuous, paying extra attention to promising junior Soul Masters and actively supporting them.

When Gu Xuan arrived at the office with the recommendation letter, the three instructors were busy handling affairs; upon seeing his letter they couldn't help but break into gentle smiles.

The letter clearly stated Gu Xuan's identity: grandson of Bone Elder Gu Rong, who at only fifteen had already cultivated to the thirty‑third rank Soul Elder, and had come specially to study at the Tian Dou Royal Academy.

This age was naturally fabricated, after all Gu Xuan didn't want to draw too much attention, and given his status the three instructors naturally had no reason to doubt his age.

Fifteen years old and thirty‑third rank—reaching that level at such an age already counts as extraordinary talent; Gu Xuan being able to study at the academy made them delighted beyond words.

Although the Tian Dou Royal Academy is nominally the number one academy of the Tian Dou Empire, in recent years it has become somewhat corrupt; most of those who enroll are nobles or officials' children just gilding their résumés, while genuine talents capable of standing out are few, utterly wasting these excellent resources.

Although the three instructors felt deeply pained and repeatedly memorialized the throne, the honorary president of the Tian Dou Royal Academy is Prince Snowstar, and they have no real authority, so in the end nothing came of it.

All they can do now is seek out more gifted and diligent youths, nurture them further, and use their utmost effort to provide excellent youngsters with convenient and superior teaching conditions.

Currently the Tian Dou Royal Academy has over three hundred students, who are divided into the Tianwei level (ranks 21‑25), the Tianzhi level (ranks 26‑30), and the Tian Dou level (rank 31 and above).

The vast majority are Tianwei and Tianzhi level students, and the nobles' children who are just gilding their résumés basically all belong to these two levels.

The core Tian Dou level students make up only one‑tenth of the total, now just thirty‑four people; even adding Gu Xuan brings it to only thirty‑five, so the academy's claim as the top institute is now in name only.

The only thing left to compete for first place is the superior teaching environment and faculty strength.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's Gu Xuan, paying respects to the three instructors." Gu Xuan bowed his hands to the three instructors and spoke softly.

As the chief instructor, Meng Shenji chuckled while sizing up Gu Xuan, then said: "Little Xuan, may I call you that?"

Gu Xuan nodded: "Of course, it's an honor for the junior."

"Bone Elder senior truly raised a fine child—reaching Soul Elder rank at such a young age and being so courteous; your coming to the Tian Dou Royal Academy is our honor." Meng Shenji said with a smile.

"Instructor Meng Shenji, students come here to study, and it's only proper to show respect to teachers; but your praise overwhelms me, making me feel somewhat flattered." Gu Xuan replied modestly.

"Hahaha!" Bai Baoshan beside Meng Shenji laughed at the words, saying: "Good, little Xuan, I just like kids like you; if you have any academic troubles later, feel free to come find me—I'll tell you everything I know."

Gu Xuan bowed his hands to Bai Baoshan and said: "Then I'll first thank Instructor Bai Baoshan."

After a few words, the three instructors didn't chat further with Gu Xuan, but directly summoned a teacher to take him to arrange his lodging.

Given Gu Xuan's strength, entering the elite Tian Dou level class directly poses no problem, and he also has a chance to compete for a spot on the Royal Battle Team; but since today is his first day at school, they didn't want to tire him out, instead first taking him to a temporary lodging to settle in, as it was already afternoon, Gu Xuan needed a good meal and some rest.

The reason it's temporary lodging is that Gu Xuan hasn't yet confirmed whether he can join the Royal Battle Team; if he does, his lodging would naturally be with the team members, hence this arrangement is temporary.

On the way to the temporary lodging, Gu Xuan chatted with the teacher escorting him and learned that the Royal Battle Team is divided into first and second squads; the first squad currently has no substitutes and only seven members, while the second squad plus substitutes totals twelve; these nineteen are the academy's top tier, the strongest among them being Yu Tianheng, seventeen years old and thirty‑seventh rank.

When Gu Xuan learned of Yu Tianheng's information and the levels of the other first‑squad Royal Battle Team members, he was stunned—already seventeen years old?

Then Gu Xuan realized that, although he had read the original work, he wasn't clear on the exact ages of Yu Tianheng and the others; earlier he had guessed that Du Gu Yan entered the Tian Dou Royal Academy at fifteen because Du Gu Yan broke through to thirtieth rank at that age.

Reckoning it up, Du Gu Yan and Yu Tianheng are the same age, while I am now twelve, meaning Du Gu Yan is five years older than me!

Ma de, this directly puts me two years behind; I don't know whether Du Gu Yan has been snatched away by Yu Tianheng, and if those two have already started dating, then there'd be nothing left for me to do!

It's not that Gu Xuan is a stud; rather, if he could directly win over Du Gu Yan, approaching the Binghuo Liangyi Yan would become much easier, given that connection.

Moreover, he could then use Du Gu Yan to bring Dugu Bo into the sect, since Dugu Bo now has only this precious granddaughter, Du Gu Yan.

No matter the Binghuo Liangyi Yan, Dugu Bo, or Du Gu Yan, Gu Xuan's initial thought was that children make choices, while adults simply take everything and pack it away.

But now… it's possible the plan may change, so Gu Xuan needs to think of a new method.

Gu Xuan is not a stud; if Du Gu Yan were already together with Yu Tianheng, he would naturally not try to split them up, and what he likes is the first time, not countless repetitions.

Please collect and recommend!