Douluo: The Celestial Book

All rights reserved to the respective authors.

"Dialogue": Represented in double quotes for conversations between characters.

'Thoughts': Represented in single quotation marks, indicating the characters' internal reflections.

[Diary]: Represented in square brackets, used for messages intended for the heroines or entries written by Tenshin.

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Tenshin glanced back at the soldier at the entrance and tightened his grip on the bundle pressed against his chest. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Inside that small bundle were nearly a hundred copper soul coins he had painstakingly collected over the past three years. According to the Douluo Continent's exchange rates—a single gold soul coin was equivalent to 10 silver coins, which in turn equaled 100 copper soul coins—this stash represented a considerable sum. In fact, the purchasing power of one gold soul coin was enough to support a modest family of three for several months. Doing the math, Tenshin realized that even his modest collection of copper coins amounted to a small fortune.

He knew that without the two certificates, the soldiers might have seized his money under some unfounded pretext. The three of them were dressed plainly, blending in with the ordinary crowd. To an onlooker, they appeared to be easily overpowered—just a group of poor working-study students. Although Nuoding Academy allowed working students to earn modest food expenses by helping with chores, cultivating soul power required more than a daily meal of buns and porridge. With these coins, Tenshin believed he could alleviate a few months of hardship. And if they proved insufficient, he planned to find new ways to secure more funds once enrolled in the academy.

'There are so many people in the academy, and there are nobles. I hope I can pick up more.' To be honest, if someone could explain this unbelievable luck, Tenshin would find it easier to accept.

'Once you're inside, you'll be safe...' Tenshin continued in his private reflection. 'Money is scarce, so I'll have to find a job. I really don't want to bother Old Jack for help again.' His resolve was as firm as the determination shining in his eyes.

"Xiao San, Tenshin, Grandpa will send you both to the academy and then return to the village. You must listen to your teachers and not leave without permission. When the semester ends, come back to the village. It'll be New Year's Eve soon," Old Jack instructed as he prepared to depart.

As the trio passed through the city gate, Old Jack's words lingered in the cool morning air.

"Grandpa Jack, are you leaving so soon?" Tang San asked, his voice tinged with worry. It was his first time venturing out on his own, and his wide eyes revealed a mix of nervousness and excitement.

"...???" Tenshin's expression twitched. 'You didn't step out in all twenty-nine years of your previous life, did you? Are you seriously nervous about your first day at school?'

"Hotels are too expensive for poor folk like us," Old Jack explained with a wry smile. "Xiao San, you must live up to your potential. When Grandpa sees you next time, I hope you'll have become a soul master. Then you can go to Spirit Hall to receive monthly subsidies. With that money, you and your father won't have to live so miserably anymore."

Turning to Tenshin, he added, "And little Tenshin, you must do your best, too."

"I will, Grandpa," Tenshin replied quickly, his eyes shining with determination.

Nuoding City Junior Spirit Master Academy was located in the western part of the city. Since Old Jack only knew the general direction, the trio had to ask several passersby before finally arriving at the academy's main entrance.

In front of them stood a massive archway, built of solid rock and spanning twenty meters in width and over ten meters in height. Below it, two finely crafted iron gates gleamed in the sunlight—a dark, shiny testament to the building's regal design.

Through the narrow gap between the gates, they could glimpse the inner avenue: a wide, winding path flanked by lush, secluded trees. Above, the delicate outlines of several elegant roofs peeked through the greenery, adding to the majestic atmosphere. Atop the archway, four large, golden characters proudly displayed the name "Nuoding Academy."

Before the trio could approach the towering entrance, a young man in the academy's uniform stepped forward, blocking their path with a sneer. "What are you staring at? Do you think this place is meant for country bumpkins like you?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain.

Old Jack tried to lead Tang San and Tenshin toward the enrollment area, but the guard swiftly intercepted them. "Hold it right there! Nuoding Academy doesn't admit just anyone," he declared, his eyes scanning the two plainly dressed youths. His expression grew even more contemptuous when he noticed the documents Old Jack held.

"Work-study certificates from your village, huh?" the guard mocked as he flipped through the papers. "I thought the academy only accepted one work-study student per village." He scrutinized Tenshin's certificate, which indicated a tool-type martial spirit with innate soul power at level seven—believable enough.

However, his scowl deepened as he examined Tang San's certificate, which noted a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul paired with complete innate spiritual power. "Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul with complete innate spiritual power? That's impossible! What's the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice tinged with suspicion and thinly veiled jealousy.

Old Jack's face tightened momentarily, but he maintained a calm, respectful smile. "These certificates were personally issued by Deacon Su Yuntao of the Spirit Hall," he explained. "Our village was fortunate this year to produce two exceptional talents. I even secured an additional certificate, hoping that Nuoding Academy might consider opening another work-study spot."

The guard's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "I've been a concierge at this academy for four years, and I've never heard of a student with innate soul power. And a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul? That's hardly worth celebrating on this continent." His expression turned cold as he continued, "Falsifying a certificate from the Spirit Hall is a serious crime. Are you playing with your life, old man?"

A flash of anger crossed Old Jack's eyes, but he held his composure. "You're clearly trying to stir up trouble. Fine, I'll settle this. Tang San, Tenshin, come with me. We're going to the Spirit Hall to speak with Deacon Su Yuntao directly," he declared, his voice firm and unyielding. Turning sharply, he marched toward the city, his determined strides leaving the guard momentarily speechless.

The young guard stood frozen, his arrogance crumbling as he glanced back at the certificates. His hand trembled slightly as realization set in. "These were issued by the Spirit Hall…" he muttered, a chill of fear creeping up his spine as he grasped the gravity of his actions.

Tang San remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he fixed his eyes on the guard, a quiet confidence radiating from his stance. It was as if his very presence dared the guard to challenge him.

Meanwhile, Tenshin—ever vigilant with his heightened spiritual awareness and keen mental acuity—observed every subtle movement. With a slight flick of his wrist, he summoned his diary and began recording the unfolding events, each detail meticulously noted. In his mind, his admission to the academy was already a certainty. After all, the arrival of Tang San—the so-called "child of destiny"—was inevitable. Who could possibly deny his entry?

Although the self-proclaimed theoretical master Yu Xiaogang had yet to make an appearance, Tenshin felt certain that Tang Hao was already lurking in the shadows, watching everything with quiet interest.

[Who would have thought that Tang San and I would get stopped by the academy's guard? I thought that with my presence, the situation would have played out differently than what happened in the novel.]

Tenshin quickly updated his diary, and almost immediately, the heroines began reading his latest entry.

[If it were just me, I could simply present my certificate and, with the work-study quota, I could enroll without any problems. But then there is Tang San, and because his certificate indicated his innately complete soul power and Blue Silver Grass martial soul, we were blocked.]

[But I still don't know if the guard is crazy, overly zealous, or if there's something else going on behind the scenes, but he didn't recognize the certificate issued by Su Yuntao.]

[Even if Su Yuntao's level isn't particularly high, he has the backing of the Spirit Hall. No one—even a soul master—would dare to disrespect him. But a lowly guard did? What kind of nerve does this guard have?]

The girls were struck with a mixture of disbelief and intrigue. The guard's trembling hands and bold demeanor were completely unexpected. In their experience, a guard at a beginner-level soul master academy would typically be an ordinary person, devoid of spiritual power. So how could someone like him muster the audacity to act so recklessly? They couldn't fathom why he would block them when the academy leaders would surely be the ones to decide their fate. Did he truly believe his actions would go unchallenged?

[As expected, Tang San was staring intently at the guard, his right hand tense. From what I know of him, Tang San is downright murderous. The guard's fate seemed sealed—he looked as if he might just end up killing himself with that look!]

[And if my assumptions are correct, there might be a hidden weapon in Tang San's right sleeve—a sleeve arrow, perhaps intended for self-defense. He likely carries other concealed weapons too, like steel needles, stashed away in his pocket.]

[After all, Tang San was once a member of the Tang Sect in his previous life—a sect renowned for its skill with hidden weapons and poisons. Even though he now finds himself in this strange new world without access to poisons, his family's blacksmithing background means he can quickly craft a simple hidden weapon. It's a skill that comes naturally to him.]

[Sleeve arrows are considered low-level weapons in the Tang Sect. They are simple to make, yet, when used to catch someone off guard, can easily dispatch a soul master of around level 20.]

[At the moment, the guard did not recognize Su Yuntao's certificate. Instead of confronting the guard directly, Tang San casually glanced at Old Jack—and then at me, as if silently acknowledging that we were both now on his radar.]

[In Tang San's eyes, he must be silently questioning whether his talent surpasses mine, wondering why Old Jack would favor me over him as a work-study student.]

[However, he never stopped to think that he himself hid the Clear Sky Hammer martial spirit. Even though he had full innate soul power, his martial spirit was the Blue Silver Grass, which is known as the useless martial spirit.]

[Normal people would think that the potential of the Blue Silver Grass was nonexistent.]

Tang Yuehua, her heart racing with excitement, absorbed the words in Tenshin's diary. As the entries unfolded, her mind raced, piecing together fragments of information. She could hardly contain her growing anticipation. It was the mention of Tang San that truly seized her attention. The revelation about his past life, spent in a sect that specialized in hidden weapons and poisons, completely shifted her perception. How could this be? Was this truly her nephew—or was it someone else entirely?

But then, a sliver of hope flickered in her chest. Could it be that Tang San's previous life had somehow merged with Tenshin's? That maybe the memories of his former existence had been awakened, reshaping his present self? She didn't dare voice the thought fully, but the possibility lingered like a delicate thread of fate.