Chapter Nineteen: The Education Committee and the Examination Board

As soon as Chen Ming stepped into the room, he immediately sensed a strong spiritual force probing him. The power was intense and unrestrained, causing Chen Ming to instinctively take a step back.

This seemingly insignificant gesture drew a click of the tongue from a tall, slender elderly man in the room.

“Hey, young one… you can sense my spiritual force?” The gentle-looking old man stood up curiously and took a few steps forward. He examined Chen Ming carefully, as if he had discovered a rare creature.

“I am Meng Shenji, a Douluo Spirit Master with the Soul Combatant cultivation, a member of the teaching committee at the Tian Dou Royal Academy, and my martial soul is the Black Demon. Strictly speaking, I am a spiritual-type Soul Master.” Perhaps fearing that Chen Ming might be startled, Meng Shenji quickly introduced himself.

“You can sense my spiritual force—does that mean your martial soul is spiritual-type?”

Meng Shenji’s assumption was understandable. In this era, spiritual force was an elusive and mysterious power. Most Soul Masters lacked a deep understanding of it; only a handful of high-ranking or spiritual-type Soul Masters truly grasped its nature.

Even some Soul Masters who had reached the title of Douluo still had very limited use of spiritual force. They couldn’t even recognize a transformed 100,000-year-old soul beast right before their eyes, essentially rendering them blind.

Although Meng Shenji wasn’t a title Douluo, he was a seasoned Soul Combatant. Thanks to his spiritual-type martial soul, the Black Demon, he could use spiritual force for detection and similar feats.

The other two committee members, Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin, were also senior high-level Douluos. Yet, their understanding of spiritual force was superficial, and they couldn’t employ it for detection like Meng Shenji.

Only Douluos and title Douluos truly comprehended spiritual force detection; a few Soul Saints could vaguely feel something watching them. Soul Masters below Soul Saint rank generally couldn’t sense it at all.

Spiritual-type martial souls were extremely rare—only about one in ten thousand Soul Masters possessed them. Even at the Tian Dou Royal Academy, the highest institution in the Tian Dou Empire, Meng Shenji was the only pure spiritual-type Soul Master. Fewer than ten others had spiritual attributes, and most of them were teachers.

Given these facts, it was no wonder Meng Shenji was somewhat excited.

“Uh, Commissioner Meng, my martial soul isn’t spiritual-type. It’s the Beast Martial Soul, Jade Scorpion King. I just happen to have a natural talent for spiritual force, making me more sensitive to its perception,” Chen Ming explained.

“No…” Meng Shenji sounded a bit disappointed but not embarrassed. He skillfully shifted the topic.

“Jade Scorpion King, a King-level martial soul. That quality is definitely top-tier. Perhaps your innate talent with spiritual force is why your martial soul evolved into a King-level,” he said.

King-level martial souls were a special classification, superior to ordinary ones but genetically unstable. Essentially, they were a benign mutation, indicating a talent exceeding that of others with similar martial souls.

Take royal-level soul beasts as an example: their offspring naturally had stronger talents than ordinary ones, though not necessarily royal-level themselves. They bore royal or king blood, granting them higher potential and a better chance to become King- or Royal-level soul beasts in the future.

Ordinary soul beasts could also become Kings or Royals through experience and fortune—provided no other King or Royal soul beast dominated their territory.

“Maybe. I’m not exactly sure,” Chen Ming replied, obviously aware of his martial soul’s evolution but unwilling to reveal his secrets so soon.

“Let me introduce you. This is Bai Baoshan, like me a member of the teaching committee and a defensive-type Douluo.”

“Hello, child,” the short, stout old man greeted Chen Ming with a wave, showing no airs of superiority.

“This is Zhi Lin, also a committee member and a control-type Douluo.”

“Hello, child…” The old man, smelling of alcohol, ran a hand through his messy beard and smiled warmly, mentally reviewing the new student files he had read earlier.

“Greetings, esteemed committee members. My name is Chen Ming, from the Chen family of Biluo City in the Tian Dou Empire, a hereditary count family. I am eleven years old. My martial soul is the Jade Scorpion King, my soul power level is twenty-four, and I have two soul rings—one yellow and one purple. I look forward to your guidance,” Chen Ming said.

Noticing that the three committee members addressed him as “child” and asked about his martial soul without knowing his background, Chen Ming guessed they were unfamiliar with his records. To avoid awkwardness, he shared his basic information as he introduced himself.

At first, the three showed little reaction when hearing about his family background, only nodding politely. But when Chen Ming mentioned his soul power and soul rings, a breeze seemed to pass through the room. Suddenly, the three were right beside him, scrutinizing him with suspicion and amazement.

“Teacher Qin, this…” Meng Shenji glanced at Qin Ming with a questioning look.

“No mistake. Committee members, Chen Ming’s information is entirely accurate. His martial soul, soul power, and soul rings all match the records,” Qin Ming confirmed.

Hearing Qin Ming’s assurance, the three committee members couldn’t hide their smiles. Bai Baoshan even patted Chen Ming on the back, expressing his excitement.

Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin had long reached their limits. For years, devoted to education, they had eagerly sought out exceptional talents. Whether teachers or students, they cared deeply. They were among the most dedicated committee members the Tian Dou Royal Academy had seen in centuries.

Now, with the confirmed arrival of an extraordinary genius, their joy could hardly be contained.

“Child, come with us to the back garden. Let us old fellows see what you can do,” Meng Shenji said, taking Chen Ming’s hand and briskly leading him through the back door toward the courtyard behind the house.

Soul Masters moved quickly. After two or three minutes, descending a hillside, they arrived at a special training ground paved with unknown stone.

Although night had fallen, the sky in the Douluo world remained unpolluted. The starlight and moonlight still illuminated the training ground.

Zhi Lin leaned toward Qin Ming and whispered something. Qin Ming nodded knowingly, then created some distance and summoned his martial soul.

Five soul rings—two yellow and three purple—glowed around him as scorching flames enveloped his body, the fire brightening the area further.

“Xiao Ming, summon your martial soul and attack me. Show us your soul skills and strength.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll hold back my power.”