According to the original description, Dugu Bo did not recognize the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, nor did he even recognize the Immortal Herbs and rare treasures growing on its edges. However, the two extreme spiritual energies emitted by the spring water could suppress the backlash of the Bi Lin Snake Venom within Dugu Bo's body, making his cultivation much easier.
Therefore, Dugu Bo had long since designated the area around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well as his territory and regarded it as a treasure land.
Of course, he had to protect what belonged to him. For this, Dugu Bo set up a formation of Bi Lin Snake Venom in the area near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Even a Spirit Douluo-level powerhouse who trespassed into the venomous array would instantly turn into pus if they were not careful.
Lü Buliang's spirit power was only at level thirty-five. As a Spirit Elder, and someone who didn't understand poison, how could he dare to trespass into the venomous array set up by Dugu Bo? Having just arrived in a fantasy World, without a powerful faction as his backing, how could he provoke Dugu Bo?
Since he dared not provoke Dugu Bo, he would start with his granddaughter, Dugu Yan.
Joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy, becoming Dugu Yan's teammate, and building a good relationship with Dugu Yan would not only allow him to inquire about Dugu Bo's whereabouts but also gain a clearer understanding of knowledge related to Bi Lin Snake Venom.
Secondly, Heaven Dou Royal Academy was the Soul Master Academy with the most abundant cultivation resources. Joining the Academy would provide better resources for rapid growth.
This was also the reason why Lü Buliang, as a commoner, insisted on going to a noble Academy.
Today happened to be the day the Academy was recruiting new students.
Along the way, Lü Buliang found out that Heaven Dou Royal Academy had two conditions for recruiting students.
The first was that they must be of noble birth.
The second was to hold a certificate for an outstanding student issued by a high-ranking official of the Academy.
Lü Buliang met neither of these conditions, so this trip could only be a gamble, to see if he could encounter the Three Education Committee Members mentioned in the original work.
The chief Committee Member, Meng Shenji, the second Committee Member, Bai Baoshan, and the third Committee Member, Zhi Lin.
If he could meet one of the three, Lü Buliang was confident that with his unique Shadow Spirit, he would definitely gain their favor and obtain the title of outstanding student.
Lü Buliang thought of a plan: to cause a ruckus at the Academy gate to draw out the Three Education Committee Members, thus avoiding the troublesome registration process and directly meeting and talking with the most authoritative people.
When the Three Education Committee Members saw his abilities, they might even directly grant him the qualification of an outstanding student.
His gaze swept over the queue beside him, and Lü Buliang immediately dismissed the idea of causing a ruckus at the Academy gate. He had no money, no power, and no strength. Most of the people coming and going here were from noble families. Causing trouble here, not to mention whether it would attract the attention of the Three Education Committee Members, would certainly first draw the hostility of many nobles.
If he encountered a noble with considerable strength, then he would be finished.
After weighing the pros and cons, Lü Buliang put away the superior attitude of a Transcender. Not all outstanding talents were equivalent to having a death-exemption token.
At this moment, what he needed was stable development time and a place. His current strength was not enough to possess the capital for arrogance.
He found a line and obediently queued up. After about an hour, it was finally Lü Buliang's turn to register.
Lü Buliang stepped forward, came before the middle-aged Teacher responsible for handling student registrations, smiled slightly, and politely said, "Hello, Teacher. My name is Lü Buliang, and I'm here to register."
After hearing the newcomer's introduction, the middle-aged Teacher's first glance fell on his attire.
After a thorough look, the middle-aged Teacher's lazy expression suddenly became a bit serious. "Looking at your attire, you don't seem to be a noble. You should have understood the Academy's recruitment conditions before coming to register, right?"
"I have," Lü Buliang replied. "I am a commoner."
"A commoner?" The middle-aged Teacher was puzzled. "So, you have a certificate for an outstanding student? Which Teacher in the Academy gave it to you?"
"I don't have a certificate," Lü Buliang said truthfully. "But my Spirit is very rare on the Continent, belonging to an extremely special existence. Such a unique Spirit should qualify me to be an outstanding student."
The middle-aged Teacher frowned. "What is your Spirit?"
Lü Buliang smiled. "Shadow."
"Shadow? Your Spirit is your own shadow? Such precedents are indeed rare on the Continent." The middle-aged Teacher stroked his chin, thoughtfully saying, "Shadow is not a natural element, but a natural phenomenon. Elements can become Spirits, but can phenomena also become Spirits? Compared to other Spirits, what is unique about your Shadow Spirit?"
Lü Buliang replied, "The Shadow Spirit is an all-rounder Spirit. It can control the enemy's shadow to develop into a control system, it can also provide support to friendly shadows to develop into a support system, and it can also take the path of an agility-attack system Soul Master. My Spirit Ability can control enemies and also assist teammates. On the battlefield, I am a control system Soul Master and also a Support System Soul Master."
"Oh?" The middle-aged Teacher was clearly somewhat interested. "How old are you, what was your innate spirit power, and what level is your spirit power now?"
"Eighteen years old. I am currently a level thirty-five Spirit Elder." Lü Buliang paused for a moment, then added, "Innate level seven spirit power."
"Innate level seven?" The middle-aged Teacher's gaze towards Lü Buliang changed. "Innate level seven spirit power talent is already quite good on the Continent. Starting cultivation at six years old with level seven spirit power, if we calculate an increase of two to three levels of spirit power per year, you should be able to reach level thirty-five spirit power by eighteen. Your talent is not bad."
Upon hearing this, Lü Buliang's heart immediately filled with joy, and he asked, "Then do I meet your criteria for an outstanding student?"
"This…" The middle-aged Teacher's face showed difficulty, and he shook his head. "I can't make that decision. How about you first write your personal information on the data card, and then I'll help you apply to the Academy Committee Members?"
Just then, an abrupt voice sounded, "No need, Teacher Sun, I'll handle him."
Lü Buliang and the middle-aged Teacher simultaneously looked towards the voice.
The speaker was a young Teacher, appearing to be around thirty years old.
When the voice fell, this young Teacher was still in the distance, but when Lü Buliang looked at him, his figure had already appeared before his eyes. His flashing movement brought with it a series of spirit power fluctuations.
After several months of cultivation, Lü Buliang had a very clear understanding of Spirits and Spirit Abilities, which naturally made him much more sensitive in spirit power perception. This surging spirit power aura alone was enough to prove that the young Teacher who appeared before him had considerable strength.
At the very least, he was stronger than any other Teacher or noble present, and seemed to have more authority than the middle-aged Teacher.
"Qin Ming?" The middle-aged Teacher's troubled expression suddenly improved, and he bowed slightly to the young Teacher who had arrived before him. "Teacher Qin, why are you here?"
Qin Ming also returned the appropriate courtesy to the middle-aged Teacher, saying, "Teacher Sun, I apologize for the interruption. I wanted to see the situation of the Academy's new student recruitment this year, so I came."
"Oh." The middle-aged Teacher suddenly understood. "It seems you've come to check the situation for new student registrations the past two years as well. What, have you still not found a student you like?"
Qin Ming shook his head regretfully. "The students who joined the Academy in the past two years are all excellent, but I haven't found the Support System Soul Master I'm looking for."
The middle-aged Teacher asked curiously, "With Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia support, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's first team, led by Yu Tianheng, should already have sufficient team endurance. The Spirits and spirit rings of the other students are also optimally configured. Can such an excellent team still not meet your requirements?"
Qin Ming shook his head again. "There are still three years until the Pan-continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. Learning from the last competition, I realized that having only Ye Lingling as a support system is far from enough for the first team."
"Although the Nine Heart Begonia's healing ability is formidable, it's only for healing. To defeat opponents like Spirit Hall Academy or Star Luo Empire Academy, who have terrifyingly high spirit power, by fighting above our level, we must find a Support System Soul Master who can enhance the team's combat capabilities."
"For two years, I have been searching the Academy for such a Support System Soul Master. Unfortunately, they either have certain flaws in their Spirit, or their Spirit Ability support has side effects, or their spirit power is too low and their talent is not enough to compare with Tian Heng and the others."
"Looking for a suitable Support System Soul Master?" Listening to Qin Ming's explanation, the middle-aged Teacher suddenly saw the light and glanced at Lü Buliang. "So, you're interested in his Shadow Spirit?"
Qin Ming's gaze also fell on Lü Buliang. "Yes. Innate level seven spirit power, reaching level thirty-five at eighteen years old. Lü Buliang and Tian Heng and the others may have a certain talent gap, but if his Spirit Ability support effect benefits the entire team, then this talent gap is not important."