Chapter 3: No Need for the Spirit Hall to Worry
Upon hearing Xiao Han's words, Dean Zhao and the other teachers were stunned.
Since the founding of Tianshui Academy, it had never admitted male students.
Although Xiao Han possessed innate full soul power, a once-in-a-century genius with unlimited potential, he still did not meet the admission criteria of Tianshui Academy.
"Xiao Han, what nonsense are you saying? Go play for now," said Lin Zhi Ruo, breaking the awkward silence.
"I was just joking, hehe."
Xiao Han grabbed Shui Yue'er's hand.
"Yue'er, come, I'll take you to find your sister."
"You know my sister?"
"Of course. Your sister is Shui Bing'er, right?"
After Xiao Han left, calm returned to the scene, and the martial soul awakening ceremony resumed.
---
Meanwhile…
Shui Bing'er was cultivating in the Ice Pavilion. Suddenly, her heartbeat accelerated as if she had broken through some inner barrier.
"I did it! I finally broke through level ten! I can go hunt a soul beast and get my first soul ring!"
Normally, people need an adjustment period after awakening their martial soul. They gradually learn a suitable cultivation method, so significant progress in the first year is rare.
Shui Bing'er's Ice Phoenix martial soul was extremely powerful, but she couldn't control it right after awakening. She had spent over half a year adjusting to its power.
Thanks to her talent, she advanced one level in just three to four months.
"Big sister!"
"Yue'er? How did you find me here?"
"Xiao Han brought me."
Shui Bing'er had only met Xiao Han once, just the day before.
"Why are you back at the academy again? Aren't you afraid your mom will beat you? And why didn't you go to the Spirit Hall for your awakening?"
"Big sister, Xiao Han already awakened his martial soul. It's the Perfect Ice Bow and Arrow, and he has innate full soul power!"
"What? Innate full soul power?"
Shui Bing'er looked at Xiao Han, stunned.
Their conversation caught others' attention.
Yu Hairou and Gu Qingbo walked over.
"Xiao Han, is it true you have innate full soul power?"
"Yep. Dean Zhao tested me himself."
"So, you awakened your martial soul here at our academy?"
"Exactly. I'm still in my girl's disguise—my mom caught me and gave me a beating for it."
"Hah, serves you right."
Everyone laughed.
Gu Qingbo suddenly said,
"Who would've thought Xiao Han would have innate full soul power? Too bad he's not a girl. Otherwise, we could've kept him here."
"Yeah, if Dean Lin sends him away, we might never see him again."
"What's worse is if we encounter a strong opponent with the same ice attributes like Xiao Han in the Soul Master Tournament… we'll be helpless."
Xiao Han grinned smugly.
"Don't worry, big sisters. If I ever become your opponent, I'll go easy on you."
"Tch, as if."
Gu Qingbo turned to Shui Bing'er.
"Bing'er, who's this?"
"My little sister, Shui Yue'er. Oh right, Yue'er, what's your martial soul? What level is your soul power?"
"Crystal Dolphin martial soul, level 7. I'll be able to study with you all."
"Not bad, welcome to the academy!"
Shui Yue'er was delighted.
"Big sister, what's your soul power now? Did you reach level 10?"
"Yes, just today."
"Congratulations, Bing'er," said Yu Hairou.
Yu Hairou was a power-attack type soul master. She was nine years old. Since awakening her Coral Barracuda martial soul, she had studied at Tianshui Academy for three years and was now at level 14.
"Bing'er and Xiao Han are both level 10. That means you two can now go obtain your first soul rings."
"Mm."
Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er exchanged a smile. Soon, they would acquire their first soul rings.
---
Elsewhere…
After the martial soul awakening ceremony, Dean Zhao gathered the academy leadership in the meeting room.
"As you may know, Xiao Han awakened an unusual martial soul today and has innate full soul power. All of you have watched Xiao Han grow up. He wants to stay at our academy. What are your thoughts?"
Everyone began discussing.
"I agree. An ice-attribute soul master with innate full soul power is a once-in-a-century talent. He might one day become a legend of our academy."
"But our academy has never admitted a male student."
"Rules are dead, people are alive. Can't we make a one-time exception?"
"Across the Douluo Continent, no academy has better resources for developing ice-attribute soul masters than Tianshui Academy—except maybe the Spirit Hall Academy."
"News of Xiao Han's innate full soul power has probably already spread. The Spirit Hall division will likely try to recruit him soon. Under Bibi Dong's rule, the Spirit Hall is not what it used to be. I don't want to see Xiao Han taken by them."
"Sigh… it's such a shame he's a boy."
Throughout the heated discussion, Lin Zhi Ruo remained silent.
Dean Zhao suddenly asked,
"Zhi Ruo, what do you think?"
Lin Zhi Ruo was conflicted.
What she said to Xiao Han before was out of anger. Of course, she wanted to keep him close—but she also didn't want to break the academy's rules for him.
If Xiao Han weren't her adopted son, she would've agreed to keep him.
"I'll go with whatever the Dean decides," she said.
Dean Zhao thought for a moment and suggested:
"How about we make Xiao Han an honorary student? He can stay and study here."
"Can he join the academy's tournament team? Participate in the Soul Master Tournament?"
"Yes, but only as a substitute."
"Dean Zhao's idea sounds good. I agree."
"Same here."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Dean Zhao was pleased.
"Then it's settled."
As a veteran academy, Tianshui had always shown solid strength in the Soul Master Tournament but had never made it into the top three.
The most recent tournament just ended. As expected, Spirit Hall Academy won the championship.
Thunder and Godwind, two other elemental academies, once again ranked ahead of Tianshui.
With talents like Xiao Han and Shui Bing'er, the academy leaders were hopeful that they could break through in the next ten years.
They even began to see hope in surpassing the Thunder and Godwind Academies.
---
Just as the meeting ended…
The bishop of the Tianshui branch of the Spirit Hall personally came to visit.
Children with innate full soul power were top-priority recruits for Spirit Hall Academy.
"Dean Zhao, I heard a boy awakened the Perfect Ice Bow and Arrow martial soul during today's ceremony—and that he has innate full soul power. If we train him at Spirit Hall Academy, he will surely become great. Where is he?"
"Sorry, we've decided to keep him ourselves."
"What? Doesn't Tianshui Academy only admit girls?"
"For him, we've made an excep
tion. He'll be enrolled as an honorary student, so no need for Spirit Hall to worry."
(End of Chapter)