Old title: "The Martial Soul Academy's Newcomer"
A day later, inside the prestigious Spirit Academy, Hu Liena finished helping Chu Tianxiu with his registration. As they walked through the grand campus, she held his hand, a now familiar gesture of seniority and guidance.
"Junior brother, what level is your spirit power now?" she asked.
Chu Tianxiu looked up at her. "Senior Sister, I am almost at level sixteen."
Hu Liena ruffled his hair affectionately. "Then you will soon be a two-ring Great Soul Master! At your age, that is truly outstanding!"
"No way," Chu Tianxiu replied with practiced modesty. "Senior Sister is the amazing one! You are already a two-ring Great Soul Master, and so powerful. I am lucky to learn from you."
Hu Liena blushed slightly at the praise. "Who… who wants your flattery? You have some nerve, teasing your senior sister already." She pinched his cheek playfully, only stopping when he pretended to beg for mercy. Their cheerful bickering continued all the way to her classroom.
Inside, a female Soul Emperor with a refined and graceful demeanor was teaching the elite class about team composition for soul masters.
"Classmates, today we will discuss the standard roles in a four-person soul master team…"
The door opened, and Hu Liena entered, leading Chu Tianxiu. Two boys in the class, Yan and Xie Yue, immediately perked up upon seeing her.
The teacher, Sasha, was momentarily surprised. "Your Highness, weren't you training with His Holiness the Pope today?"
"Teacher Sasha, the teacher asked me to bring my junior brother to class for registration," Hu Liena explained.
Sasha's gaze then fell on the child beside Hu Liena. His handsome, doll-like features immediately evoked a sense of fondness. "Little friend, you must be the Pope's new disciple! Welcome to our class! Let us all give him a warm welcome!"
A sparse, unenthusiastic smattering of applause came from the students. The elite class was filled with prodigies, and none were quick to accept a newcomer, especially one with such a privileged status. Only Hu Liena had previously been taken as a direct disciple by the Pope.
Sasha quickly moved on. "Child, please introduce yourself to the class."
Chu Tianxiu nodded and stepped onto the platform. "My name is Chu Tianxiu. My martial soul is a phantom and the Nine Nether Demon Chains. I am a level sixteen, one-ring Soul Master."
A murmur of surprise regarding his twin martial souls was quickly overshadowed by dismissive thoughts about his spirit power level. They completely overlooked the fact that he had only recently awakened his spirit.
After his introduction, Hu Liena pulled him to a seat, and Xie Yue and Yan quickly surrounded them.
Xie Yue asked, "Little sister, is this your junior brother?"
Hu Liena smiled proudly. "Yes, my little junior brother is a genius."
Yan, seeing her praise him, couldn't help a sarcastic remark. "Tch, his spirit power is so much lower than ours. What is so great about that?"
At that moment, Sasha clapped her hands. "Alright, everyone. Now, please form into four-person soul master teams for practical drills."
The students quickly broke into groups. After a while, only Chu Tianxiu stood alone.
Seeing this, Hu Liena stepped forward. "Junior brother, why do you not team up with the three of us?"
Chu Tianxiu shook his head calmly. "Senior sister, no matter how many sheep gather, they cannot defeat a lion."
His tone carried a quiet, undeniable confidence.
Yan, irritated by his attitude, snorted. "Hmph, do not get eliminated too quickly. It would embarrass His Holiness the Pope." He then pulled Xie Yue and Hu Liena toward the training grounds.
Sasha, seeing Chu Tianxiu alone, approached him. "Tianxiu, why are you not teaming up?"
Chu Tianxiu looked at her with innocent eyes. "Teacher Sasha, if I can defeat them all, would you accompany me for tactical discussions every weekend?"
Sasha, disarmed by his charming face and bold claim, agreed without thinking. "Very well, it is a promise." Though internally, she believed he was surely joking.
When Sasha brought Chu Tianxiu to the training ground, the other teams were already prepared.
Before the matches could be announced, Yan jumped out. "Teacher Sasha, before we begin, I would like to spar with Chu Tianxiu. I will, of course, exercise control."
Hu Liena moved to stop him, but Chu Tianxiu cut in cheerfully. "Okay!"
Seeing his agreement, Sasha allowed it. Everyone stepped back, clearing the field for the two.
Yan immediately summoned his martial soul, the Flame Lord. His first yellow spirit ring lit up. "First Spirit Skill, Lava Claw!"
A wave of magma-like energy shot towards Chu Tianxiu, striking him directly and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Hu Liena gasped and stepped forward, but as the dust settled, Chu Tianxiu stood completely unharmed. The entire audience was stunned. They knew Yan's offensive power was top-tier in the class.
Chu Tianxiu simply rubbed his wrist. "My turn."
He waved his hand, and more than ten Cold Iron Chains shot out, gleaming coldly as they streaked towards Yan. Yan tried desperately to destroy or dodge them, but the chains seemed to have a mind of their own, weaving around his attacks. He wasted his spirit power fruitlessly, soon growing pale and panting heavily.
In a moment of carelessness, one chain entangled his ankle. Then another, and another, until ten chains bound his entire body, leaving only his eyes visible.
Chu Tianxiu raised his hand, and Yan, bound by the chains, was lifted into the air. His spirit power began to drain away through the cold iron, and he could only scream helplessly as his energy faded.
Five minutes later, a completely powerless Yan was deposited on the ground. Sasha, Hu Liena, and the others were speechless. He had not even summoned his martial soul.
Chu Tianxiu glanced across the stunned audience. "You may all come at me together."
This arrogant statement ignited the pride of every elite student present, including Sasha and Hu Liena, who felt he had gone too far.
Chu Tianxiu turned to Sasha. "Teacher Sasha, please use your spirit power to protect Senior Sister."
Unsure of his intentions but trusting his serious tone, Sasha pulled Hu Liena behind her and erected a protective barrier.
A black-robed phantom appeared behind Chu Tianxiu, surrounded by the Nine Nether Demon Chain. Its crimson eyes swept across the arena, and everyone, including Sasha, felt an immense pressure.
Then, a black spirit ring rose beneath Chu Tianxiu's feet.
"First Spirit Skill: Soul Suppression!"