Chapter 24: Heaven Dou Empire Royal Academy
The Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Academy was located less than twenty kilometers from Heaven Dou City. With such beautiful surroundings, even though Xiao Wu complained out loud, she was secretly delighted at the thought of living here from now on.
More than five years had passed, and they had finally graduated from Nuoding Primary Spirit Master Academy. Given their talent, the academy had planned to recommend them directly to a middle or even senior academy. Many institutions sent them invitations, but Zu Zong rejected them all.
Yu Xiaogang was especially persistent, visiting Zu Zong several times almost every year. His pitch was either trying to recruit Zu Zong as a disciple or persuading him to attend Shrek Academy after graduation.
But becoming a disciple? That was never going to happen—not in this lifetime. Most of his theories were wrong, and the parts that were useful, Zu Zong already knew. Why would he take him as a teacher? More than once, Zu Zong nearly couldn't hold back from dumping him into the waters of the Mother-Child River.
As for Shrek Academy? Aside from the two remaining girls Zu Zong was interested in, the rest of it really held little appeal. The teaching quality was just average. Other than a Soul Sage to help students hunt spirit rings, the academy had basically nothing.
As for its so-called results? Any genius who could reach level 25 before the age of twelve—honestly, even a pig could teach that. It was a good place for major clans and sects to fix the spoiled brat syndrome of young masters and princesses.
Zu Zong wasn't interested in those background-filler academies either. If it were Tianshui Academy, maybe he would've considered it… but unfortunately, they didn't accept male students.
During his six years at Nuoding, a lot had happened.
Zu Zong lived a very fulfilling life. In the mornings, he attended classes. In the afternoons, he trained or used transformation techniques to compete in the Spirit Arena. At night, he cultivated the Nine Yang Divine Art to strengthen his soul power. He was busy every day.
Perhaps due to the rules of the Douluo Continent, no matter what method Zu Zong tried, he couldn't break through the constraints. When he first obtained the Nine Yang Divine Art, he had quickly advanced to the second level in less than a month. But after that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't progress further until he obtained his second spirit ring.
Only then did the Nine Yang Divine Art break into the third level. The fourth level came after acquiring his third spirit ring.
Even after spending a huge number of Hatred Points to travel to the world of Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, the differences in cultivation systems meant he still couldn't surpass the bottleneck. But he did manage to rescue the young Zhou Zhiruo while he was there.
Speaking of Hatred Points, it was necessary to mention the theft system.
After gaining the Nine Yang Divine Art five years ago, Zu Zong had locked horns with Bibi Dong. Six or seven out of ten thefts targeted her, often stealing items like the Moon Fiend Essence. It scared him so much he had to yell "pause" on several occasions.
Other stolen items weren't much help, except for a teleportation technique from Naruto. Most were useless for improving his strength.
What was worth noting, though, was that even though five years had passed, the Fourth Great Ninja War in the Naruto world hadn't ended yet. And oddly enough, Uchiha Itachi had never generated any Hatred Points toward Zu Zong during all that time.
Was Itachi really that noble?
Turns out Zu Zong had overestimated him. Then again, Naruto was one of the big three shonen series that dragged on for decades. Its timeline moved even slower than Douluo Dalu. According to the system, the Five Great Nations had only just formed the Allied Shinobi Forces!
At twelve years old, Zu Zong no longer looked like the young boy he once was. His features were maturing and faintly resembled the previous Blue Silver Emperor.
Years of intense training had forged his physique. Though not bulky, he had lean, explosive muscles beneath his tight outfit.
His soul power had now reached level 37.
His Blue Silver Domain had also evolved to the second stage, unlocking a new ability: All Things of the Forest.
Unlike Tang San in the original story, Zu Zong didn't solely focus on control in the beginning.
He acquired his second spirit ring in his second year at Nuoding Academy. It came from a saber-toothed tiger that was over 1,100 years old.
It granted him the soul skill Blue Silver Blades, which could transform dozens or even hundreds of Blue Silver Emperor vines into blades sharp enough to slice through steel.
These blades could also carry fire poison and had no usage limit—so long as Zu Zong had enough soul power, he could cast them endlessly.
This greatly enhanced his offensive strength. Against opponents of the same rank, they couldn't afford to take even a scratch from this skill.
Unless Zu Zong personally removed the fire poison, even a grazing wound could kill them within hours.
Zu Zong obtained his third spirit ring two years ago. He chose the same spirit beast that Tang San used for his fourth ring in the original story—a Cavern Demon Pearl. Though it had only around 3,000 years of cultivation, it still granted Zu Zong the group control skill Blue Silver Prison.
His version of the skill came with intense heat; if an enemy's body made direct contact, their flesh would be scorched and torn apart.
A ring configuration of yellow, purple, purple, combined with reaching Soul Elder rank at age twelve, was shockingly rare. Fortunately, Zu Zong's Blue Silver Domain had a disguise ability. It could change the color of his rings at will, even hiding one entirely.
Zu Zong fully understood the saying: "A man's wealth is his own ruin." With talent as peerless as his and no major power backing him, just existing made him a target. If others couldn't recruit him, they'd likely try to destroy him.
In outsiders' eyes, he was just a gifted youth who had recently acquired his third ring. With a yellow-yellow-purple ring combo, he seemed extraordinary but not unique—at least not enough to draw dangerous attention.
"Looks like this is the place," Zu Zong said, holding up the map Director Franklin had given them earlier.
Beside him, Xiao Wu pouted. In her mind, she was fuming: I've been talking for so long and this blockhead hasn't listened to a word! Looking at that map... is it prettier than me?!
She blinked her adorable big eyes, puffed out her cheeks, and said, "Hmph! I'm upset. I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore."
Then she squatted on the ground and started acting spoiled, staring right at Zu Zong with a look he knew all too well.
They had built a quiet understanding over the years. Naturally, he crouched down, waved his right hand behind him, and said, "Alright, get on."
"Yay!" Xiao Wu cheered, having successfully played cute again. She jumped and leapt onto his back.
Two years ago, Zu Zong would've never agreed to this. He was the most handsome man in all of Douluo, for heaven's sake—why carry anyone, much less this ten-thousand-year-old rabbit?
Even though the Shapeshifting Pill had removed her beast form and made her fully human, to him, once a rabbit, always a rabbit.
But something had changed after a certain unexpected moment two years ago, when Xiao Wu managed to get her way and climb onto his back. For the first time in ages, Zu Zong felt real comfort. He hadn't expected someone so "small" to have such... softness.
He said no with his mouth, but his body was honest.
After so much cultivation, his back had become stiff and sore. Naturally, it needed something soft and round to relax it a little.
A boy carried a girl on his back, walking with lively, confident steps. Before long, they arrived at the gates of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Halt. Who are you?" A group of ten spirit masters around eighteen or nineteen years old blocked their way.
None of them had summoned their spirits, but their pale yellow uniforms made it clear—they were students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Zu Zong gently set Xiao Wu down and looked around at the group in front of him, thinking, Why does this scene feel so familiar?
(End of chapter)
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