Chapter 5: First Encounter with Tang San

The teacher must be frantically flipping through materials right now.

At least today, he won't be wandering out for no reason.

After all, on the Douluo Continent without a search function, looking up information is a very arduous task.

Below the dormitory building, Xiao Xian silently walked toward the academy gate.

Nording Academy is enclosed by iron fences; a broad road leads from the gate straight into the interior, flanked by tall trees, whose shade is very cool.

Aside from entering and exiting the academy, few people come here.

Xiao Xian summoned Xiao Jue on that road and began running back and forth.

His body hasn't fully developed, so he can't do high‑intensity exercise yet; he can only run.

Before reaching Level 10, he often trained with Xiao Jue on this road, and the teachers, students, even the gatekeepers of the academy had long become accustomed to it.

Huff—huff—!

In the blink of an eye, three hours passed.

Xiao Xian found a corner, sat under the shade, drenched in rain‑like sweat. Xiao Jue lay beside him, panting wildly.

When the rest was nearly over, Xiao Xian brushed his waist, conjuring a towel out of thin air, then produced a Water Sac and a small basin.

After a quick wipe, Xiao Xian brushed his side again, pulling out a simple tent; once set up, he slipped inside, swiftly changing into a dry white Nording Academy uniform, while his waist still bore a belt inlaid with many jade pieces.

That belt, of course, is the famed "Twenty-four Bridge Bright Moon Night", later Tang San's Storage Soul Guide Device.

Only because Xiao Xian took on a master early, the Master had already given it to him.

With twenty‑four cubic units of storage, he had no idea how many odds and ends he jammed inside.

"Let's check the time; it's almost time—Shi Tang will start serving soon."

Xiao Xian tidied the items on the ground while quietly glancing at the academy gate, now about a hundred meters away—neither far nor near.

Another ten‑some minutes passed.

At the Nording Academy gate, an old man and a child appeared. The elder's clothes were clean but exuded a rustic vibe. The child was dark‑skinned and thin, his garments covered in patches of all sizes.

Soon after, the two clashed with a gatekeeper.

"Even Shenghun Village, I think Beggar Village is about the same!"

The gatekeeper's voice drifted over from afar.

"Shenghun Village, just as expected, the Tang Divine King," Xiao Xian felt a stir in his heart, slowly stood, and walked over with Xiao Jue.

"You stinky brat, you're looking for death!" In a brief moment, the gatekeeper was knocked down by Tang San; enraged, he scrambled up, ready to charge at Tang San.

"Stop!"

Xiao Xian, already close, shouted decisively.

At the same time, his right hand slapped, and a suction force emerged from his palm.

Caught off guard, the gatekeeper only felt a pulling force from behind, his feet stepping back several paces, then a small palm pressed against his lower back.

"Fortunately nothing went seriously wrong."

Xiao Xian whispered silently in his mind, while subtly glancing at Old Jack and Tang San.

At the instant the gatekeeper intended to rush forward, Tang San's left hand lifted slightly.

But at that moment, his left hand had already dropped, and he looked at Xiao Xian with a surprised gaze.

Obviously, he had seen the gatekeeper's abnormal backward retreat.

"Xiao… Boss Xiao?!" The gatekeeper, seeing Xiao Xian behind him, felt his anger vanish instantly, "Have you finished training?"

"Yes." Xiao Xian nodded, not looking at the gatekeeper, and politely said to Old Jack, "Grandpa, could I see the Spirit Hall's certificate?"

Xiao Jue had already followed up, standing beside Xiao Xian, his yellow soul ring gently floating.

Xiao Xian glanced down at it, gestured, and Xiao Jue transformed into violet light, merging into him.

Old Jack, seeing this, subconsciously swallowed.

That purple‑furred big dog is actually this child's martial soul, and that yellow halo…

As the village chief, he recognized the Soul Master's soul ring: yellow, a Hundred-Year Soul Ring; the child looks only seven or eight…

He hurriedly handed the certificate in his hand to Xiao Xian.

Xiao Xian took the certificate, glanced at it, then feigned surprise, shouting, "Tang San, martial soul Blue Silver Grass, or Innate Full Soul Power?!"

"Right! I told you that certificate was forged…" the gatekeeper shouted indignantly.

But before the words finished, Xiao Xian waved his hand to cut him off.

Xiao Xian calmly glanced at the gatekeeper, then turned to Old Jack and Tang San, saying, "The certificate is fine; as long as you take any soul ring, you're a Soul Master. Come with me inside."

The gatekeeper, hearing this, froze instantly, a chill creeping down his spine.

He of course understood Xiao Xian's implied meaning.

Soul Master… even another Soul Master is not someone a commoner like him can afford to offend.

He no longer bothered with the gatekeeper.

Xiao Xian returned the certificate and signaled Old Jack and Tang San to follow.

Old Jack hurriedly grabbed Tang San, and together they stepped into the academy.

"Although I cannot represent the academy, I truly apologize to you both," Xiao Xian said while leading them inside.

"No need, no need! We also erred," Old Jack waved his hands repeatedly.

The child, though young, is already a Soul Master. He doesn't want a trivial matter to cause a rift with Tang San.

Tang San was somewhat reticent, saying nothing the whole way, though his gaze at Xiao Xian seemed a bit surprised.

Obviously, the giant dog that can merge with its owner, the floating yellow halo, and the remote suction technique—all sparked his strong interest and curiosity about the Soul Master profession.

Nording Academy isn't large; it has only two buildings—a main teaching hall and a dormitory hall—with a playground sandwiched between them.

The Academic Affairs Office is on the first floor of the main teaching hall.

"Hello, Teacher Su, hello, teachers, this is this year's work‑study student from Shenghun Village," Xiao Xian knocked on the door and led the two inside.

The one in charge of receiving the newcomers was a teacher in his sixties, accompanied by two young teachers serving as assistants.

Teacher Su, seeing Xiao Xian, smiled kindly and said, "Ah, Xiao Xian, I heard you went training first thing in the morning—are you done?"

"Yes, I'm finished," Xiao Xian nodded, and at the same time signaled Old Jack to hand the Spirit Hall's certificate to Teacher Su.

Old Jack looked a bit restrained, but still pulled Tang San forward.

"You should register with Teacher Su; it's very convenient. I have some business, so I'll be off now."

"Goodbye, Teacher Su, goodbye teachers, and goodbye to the old grandpa and this junior," Xiao Xian waved his hand and left calmly.

He exited the academic affairs office.

Xiao Xian's expression remained unchanged as he silently pondered.

"We've made a preliminary acquaintance; nothing seems amiss."

Every move he made today had been meticulously planned, even the scene of Suction the gatehouse onto his hand. After all, he had been preparing for a full year.

Kind, gentle, popular, diligent, and highly gifted.

Tang San's impression of him will, under his guidance, deepen little by little until he completely loses his guard.

"Next, it will be Tang San, Wang Sheng, and Xiao Wu fighting…"

"After that, it'll be my turn."

Xiao Xian returned to the dormitory and sat on his bed to rest for a while.

The work‑study dormitory Qi She, not far from his Er She, let him faintly hear Tang San's knocking and voice; Old Jack didn't follow Tang San, presumably having left after completing registration at the academic affairs office.

Not long after, Xiao Xian heard a faint, almost imperceptible little girl's voice.

A few minutes later, through the Er She window, Xiao Xian saw a familiar teacher, Mo Hen, walking straight toward Qi She.

"Almost done, it's my turn now; I don't know if Tang Hao is following, but the movements must be natural."

Xiao Xian seemed to recall something, smacked his head, leapt off the bed, and dragged a cloth bag from under it.

When he opened it, inside was a whole set of bedding, albeit a bit damp.

Xiao Xian's gaze settled calmly on the bedding, and he lifted it in one grab.

"Now it's up to you."

……