Chapter 12: Choice of Academy
"Soul Master Academy?"
"Yes."
"Back when you awakened your martial soul, we taught you personally for better education."
"Over the past three years, your mother and I have laid a solid foundation for you, Xiao Luoheng. Now, whether it's in the field of soul masters or soul engineers, staying at home would no longer yield much progress. Only by entering an advanced soul master academy can you maximize your potential."
"And it just so happens that it's the enrollment season for the major soul master academies. With your level of soul power, you are eligible to apply to any academy on the continent. Even if you want to go to Shrek Academy, your father could get you an invitation letter from the city lord."
"You don't need to give me an answer right now."
As he spoke, Su Junran handed a notebook to Su Luoheng. "This is a summary of the characteristics of various advanced academies that I have compiled. The choice of which academy to attend is up to you, and we will support whatever decision you make."
"Okay."
There was a gleam of anticipation in Su Luoheng's eyes. He had always longed to go to a soul master academy.
...
...
Back in his room, Su Luoheng opened the information his father had compiled about the academies.
He quickly skimmed through it. There were about a dozen advanced soul master academies listed, including Dou Ling Royal Academy, Star Luo Royal Academy, Imperial Academy, Shrek Academy, Sun and Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Diao Soul Master Academy, and others.
Without exception, all of these were well-established academies, renowned throughout the Douluo Continent.
They had produced countless powerful individuals for the continent.
Every academy listed by Su Junran had its own strengths in terms of student training.
However, the most prestigious ones were undoubtedly Shrek Academy and the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
These two were the best in training soul masters and soul engineers, respectively, far ahead of all other advanced soul master academies in their respective fields.
Other academies lagged behind in terms of education quality and faculty strength compared to these two, like a red flower surrounded by green leaves.
Even though his talent would ensure preferential treatment in any of those academies, Su Luoheng had enough confidence in his abilities. He believed he could receive core attention even in those top two academies.
Moreover, most academies had a certain resistance to soul devices.
Therefore, after much consideration, Su Luoheng's top choices were still Shrek Academy and the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
After going through the detailed introductions of these two academies several times, Su Luoheng found himself unable to make a decision.
Shrek Academy had several issues.
For example, the "death numbers" in its inner courtyard, its double standards, and cheating in the Soul Master Tournaments.
But after ten thousand years of development, Shrek Academy now has a strong faculty and is the most authoritative academy in soul master education on the continent. For any qualified soul master, Shrek Academy is the first choice.
It holds a significant position on the continent, even surpassing the power of the Spirit Hall from ten thousand years ago.
However, Shrek Academy also inherited the traditional soul master bias against soul devices.
Most of the elders and students at Shrek Academy believed that soul engineers could only gain a temporary advantage and that once a soul master reached the rank of Soul Saint, a soul engineer would stand no chance in a one-on-one fight.
In their view:
Soul engineers are inferior to soul masters → Learning about soul devices is useless → Becoming a soul engineer is a waste of time and effort.
As the Sea God Pavilion Master, Mu En only decided to establish a soul engineering department but never explicitly expressed his own stance or attitude.
So, although Shrek Academy has a Soul Engineering Department, its status and treatment are far inferior to the Martial Soul Department. If Su Luoheng chooses to go to Shrek Academy, his talent in soul devices will inevitably be restricted.
On the other hand, the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy is the opposite: they rely too much on the assistance provided by soul devices and downplay the cultivation of the soul master's own strength.
Although the higher-ups at the Sun and Moon Royal Academy have realized this flaw and are trying to correct it, they still cannot catch up with Shrek Academy in soul master training anytime soon. If he goes to the Sun and Moon Academy, his soul master training will also be affected.
Shrek Academy is weak in soul engineering training.
The Sun and Moon Royal Academy is weak in soul master training.
Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and Su Luoheng is unsure which academy to choose.
"Shrek, or Sun and Moon?"
Su Luoheng rested his chin on his hands, muttering softly.
Suddenly, he thought of something and took a coin out of his pocket.
Back on his previous life, when he encountered difficult choices, he would decide by flipping a coin, a habit he kept even after crossing over to the Douluo Continent.
"Heads for Shrek, tails for Sun and Moon."
Su Luoheng silently recited this a few times in his heart, then flicked his finger and tossed the coin into the air.
His gaze followed the coin as it rose and fell.
The coin flipped in the air and finally landed on the table with a crisp "ding," covered by Su Luoheng's hand.
Sun and Moon or Shrek?
Su Luoheng slowly moved his hand away, revealing the coin—tails up.
"Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy…"
Su Luoheng put the coin away, repeating the name in his heart.
The Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy is undeniably the number one soul engineering academy on the Douluo Continent, home to the Illustrious Virtue Hall, a holy land that every soul engineer aspires to.
Going to Sun and Moon might not enhance his soul master abilities much, but his talent would undoubtedly be fully utilized.
The soul devices representing the continent's top level can only be accessed there, and given the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's attitude towards talent, as long as he shows enough potential, he will undoubtedly receive attention.
But, as always, gains come with losses.
Since he had already left the decision to the coin, there was no need to hesitate any longer.
Regarding the future at the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Su Luoheng had a hunch it would be a good choice.
Having made up his mind, he felt at ease and, instead of meditating, chose to lie down in bed and sleep.
At the same time.
Su Junran and Ye Lan were also guessing Little Luoheng's choice.
"Junran, where do you think our son will go?"
Su Junran did not hesitate and confidently said, "It's either Shrek Academy or the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. The possibility of other soul master academies is very low."
"So which one do you think is more likely?" Ye Lan asked curiously.
"I'm not sure about that." Su Junran shrugged and countered, "Which soul master academy would you like Luoheng to go to?"
"If it were up to me, I'd prefer Sun and Moon; Luoheng's talent would definitely be better utilized there. But... Shrek Academy is still too famous, especially since you mentioned it earlier."
Thinking of this, Ye Lan suddenly looked at Su Junran with a hint of reproach in her eyes. "Did you do that on purpose? Did you want our son to go to Shrek?"
In response, Su Junran just smiled without denying it.
Annoyed, Ye Lan glared at him and punched him a few more times, still dissatisfied.
"Lan'er."
"Hmm?"
"Actually, I also want our son to go to Sun and Moon; it's safer there than in the Heaven Soul Empire."
"Junran, you still want to..."
"Lan'er, you know me."
"I'll go with you when the time comes."
"Alright."
"…"
Ye Lan leaned gently into Su Junran's embrace, a subtle emotion flickering in her phoenix eyes.