Chapter 25: The First Night at the Academy

Within the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Chen Ming was guided by Qin Ming to an inconspicuous pavilion located halfway up the mountainside.

After instructing Chen Ming to wait there for a moment, Qin Ming, his face faintly flushed, released his soul power and departed quickly. Although his movements were swift and ghost-like, the glow emitted by his fire-attribute soul power made him quite conspicuous in the night. Even if Chen Ming had not actively watched, he could clearly track the other’s trajectory.

Not long after, Qin Ming returned to the pavilion. While his hands remained empty, his demeanor appeared much more composed than before.

With a slight flick of his wrist, a map made from the hide of an unknown spirit beast appeared in his hand. After confirming its contents were correct, he handed it to Chen Ming.

"The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy campus is massive, and it is difficult for newcomers to find their way. Keep this map safe and memorize the main thoroughfares. I will take you around the primary areas tomorrow, and you should be able to navigate the academy on your own by then."

"Many thanks, Teacher Qin Ming."

Chen Ming nodded, opened the map under the moonlight, and browsed it briefly to commit the key areas and main roads to memory.

"It is getting late. Come with me. I just visited the teacher in charge of the freshman dormitories and secured a courtyard for you. It is a bit secluded, but it is situated close to a poison-type mimicry cultivation field that suits your needs."

"Your daily food and clothing will be delivered by servants at scheduled times. If you have any specific requests, such as wanting particular dishes, needing to suspend food deliveries, or requiring additional clothing, just speak directly to the servants who arrive."

"As the premier institution of the Heaven Dou Empire, directly under the royal family, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy possesses abundant resources. Tuition is waived for noble families above the rank of Count and for genius soul masters. If one displays outstanding talent within the academy, they will receive additional subsidies from the royal family."

As he spoke, Qin Ming couldn't help but sigh with a touch of emotion, his mind drifting to his own stumbling beginnings.

Why, despite his deep fondness for Shrek Academy, did he ultimately choose to serve at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy? After years of wandering the continent, Qin Ming had come to understand that one cannot get far without a background and resources.

Though he loved Shrek, he knew that in its rather... er... austere environment, even if he returned to teach, he would be limited by his own innate potential; he would likely reach the Spirit Douluo realm at best and stop there.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was different. It provided not only vast amounts of Gold Soul Coins and resources but also diverse materials and top-tier mimicry cultivation fields that were precious to independent soul masters. Here, he was guaranteed to reach the Spirit Douluo realm, with the future possibility of even touching the realm of a Titled Douluo.

As for noble titles... that was simply a matter of course.

Looking at Chen Ming, Qin Ming wondered if he had possessed such a background and sufficient resources for his own cultivation, could he have gone further than he had now?

"Do not entertain such disrespectful thoughts. I must remember the kindness Shrek showed me." Qin Ming shook his head, casting those thoughts aside. He refocused his attention on Chen Ming and led him toward the courtyard.

After walking for a quarter of an hour away from the main road paved with bricks carved with various spirit beasts, Qin Ming stopped in front of a courtyard.

Although called a small courtyard, it was actually quite spacious. Its layout was similar to the quadrangles Chen Ming had seen in pictures during his past life, and a quick glance suggested it covered about five hundred square meters.

Upon opening the gate, the layout within was fastidious.

Although the courtyard showed no signs of life or artificial lighting, it was impeccably clean. The flowers, trees, and shrubs were beautifully maintained, and there was not a speck of dust or a single fallen leaf on the ground, suggesting it was meticulously cleaned on a regular basis. Every brick and tile shone like new, and even the crevices of the carvings on the walls were devoid of dust.

Had Chen Ming seen this in his past life without context, he might have suspected the place was haunted. But having been reborn into the Douluo Continent, he knew this was standard practice. Human labor was remarkably inexpensive here.

"This courtyard is vacant. You shall stay here for now, Xiao Ming. If you find it uncomfortable, I will arrange another place for you."

"By the way, which room will you choose?"

"The first one on the left," Chen Ming decided after a casual look.

"Very well." Qin Ming unlocked the door and retrieved various items from his storage soul tool to set up the room.

Before long, the room was bright and welcoming. The bed was made with pillows and quilts, and several sets of brand-new school uniforms were stacked at the corner. On the table were dishes prepared from spirit beast materials, and beside the bowls and chopsticks for two sat a jar labeled "Fruit."

"It is late today, so let us just have a simple meal. If you have any further needs, mention them to the person in charge tomorrow."

"I have troubled you, Teacher Qin Ming." Chen Ming had always believed that politeness cost nothing, and he maintained a courteous demeanor toward neutral and friendly parties.

By the light of an oil lamp, the two sat at the table and ate. Although Qin Ming called it a simple meal, the food was quite delicious.

Even though the culinary techniques of the Douluo Continent seemed backward to Chen Ming, the quality of the ingredients was so high that even simple seasoning resulted in unexpected flavors.

Every dish on the table was derived from spirit beasts. While they were not of a high age, they were all considered excellent culinary varieties. Combined with the chef's decent skills, even Chen Ming, who was accustomed to fine food, found his appetite whetted and helped himself to several extra portions.

The jar on the table contained a fruit wine brewed from the fruits of various spirit beasts. Due to the fermentation techniques, it tasted more like a flavored alcoholic beverage from his past life than true wine.

Though made from spirit beast fruits, it offered no special effects. While Qin Ming mentioned that this wine was quite popular in the academy, Chen Ming found the taste mediocre—certainly not as good as the medicinal wines he used to brew at home with various venomous insects to aid his cultivation. However, he did not voice this and spoil the mood.

After a satisfying meal, Qin Ming gathered the bowls, chopsticks, and the wine jar into his storage soul tool. After a brief conversation, he retired to the room next door for the night.

Although Chen Ming felt slightly unsettled by the new environment—it felt as though his cultivation progress was a bit hindered—he couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he lay on the bed.

The place he came from, Biluo City, was riddled with toxins; even the streets could be considered a mimicry cultivation field for poison-attribute soul masters. Having lived in such a place for years, it was only natural that he would feel unaccustomed to a place devoid of poison.

"Forget it, I'll just get some sleep..."

With that, Chen Ming sat up on the bed, crossed his legs, and entered a state of meditation.