Chapter 27: The Celestial Duel Royal Academy

Xue Qinghe gazed at Ning Xi and her companion with a gentle expression, his tone carrying a sense of entrustment.

"I leave these two children in your care, seniors. I have urgent matters to attend to, so please look after them well. They are not only the future of this academy but also the hope of our Heaven Dou Empire."

After speaking, Xue Qinghe turned to Ning Xi and whispered, "Xiao Xi, study hard and cultivate diligently at the academy. If you encounter any problems, do not hesitate to seek help from these three seniors."

Ning Xi nodded earnestly. "Thank you, Brother Xue. We will take good care of ourselves."

Meng Shenji laughed heartily, his voice bright and open. "Do not worry, Your Highness, we will certainly take good care of these two. Their enrollment procedures are already complete; please wait here for a moment, and a teacher will come shortly to escort them to their dormitories."

Bai Baoshan added with a smile, "Indeed, children, rest assured. Here, you will acquire much knowledge and meet many like-minded friends."

Zhilin looked at Ning Xi and her companion with deep, thoughtful eyes. He said nothing, yet his silence signaled his agreement.

Xue Qinghe nodded in satisfaction and departed. Given that they were brought by Xue Qinghe—and considering their background from one of the three great sects—the academy naturally accorded them significant importance.

Soon, a young and beautiful female teacher arrived to lead Ning Xi and her companion to the dormitories. They would settle in today and begin classes tomorrow.

The Heaven Dou dormitory area was serene, surrounded by lush greenery. The rooms were fully furnished with soft, comfortable beds, neatly arranged desks and chairs, and spacious windows that allowed ample sunlight to stream in. However, due to the separation of genders, Ning Xi and Jun Han were assigned to different quarters.

"My name is Jiang Xue, and I am your homeroom teacher. You may call me Teacher Jiang. I will take you to your dorms first," Jiang Xue said, walking ahead while glancing back at them from time to time.

"You will be living here. That building is the girls' dormitory; you are in room 303. The other building is for boys; you are in room 402. I will come to take you to your classroom tomorrow. For today, you may familiarize yourselves with the academy."

"Also, these two booklets contain information on the layout of the campus, school rules, and so on. Please look through them yourselves," Jiang Xue said, handing four small pamphlets to the two children.

She continued, "Oh, and someone will deliver your uniforms and student cards shortly. Please change into your uniforms tomorrow morning and be sure to wear your student cards."

Upon reaching the dormitory building, Jiang Xue handed them their keys, offered a few more words of instruction, and took her leave.

Ning Xi quickly flipped through the booklet, committing the general information to memory before turning to Jun Han. "Jun Han, I am heading over now. Let's meet at the cafeteria later."

Jun Han nodded obediently. "Understood, Sister Xi."

The dorms were single-occupancy, offering a comfortable environment without disturbances.

At the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the student ranking system is a vital institution. It categorizes students based on their soul power cultivation, martial soul quality, and combat ability.

The ranks are primarily determined by soul power levels. Those with soul power below level 25 are classified as Heaven-Micro level students; those between level 25 and 30 are Heaven-Reach level students; and those exceeding level 30 are the highest-ranking Heaven-Dou level students.

As for the teachers, their ranks are likewise based on soul power. Teachers between levels 40 and 50 are Heaven-Micro level teachers; those between 50 and 60 are Heaven-Reach level teachers; and those above level 60 are Heaven-Dou level teachers.

Academy rules prohibit infighting but encourage students to spar with one another to improve their strength. Such sparring must be reported to a teacher and conducted under their supervision to ensure fairness and safety.

After putting her belongings away in her room, Ning Xi stepped out and headed downstairs, where Jun Han was already waiting.

A faint, subtle smile touched Jun Han's lips. "Let's go. Time to eat."

Ning Xi nodded, and following the map, the two navigated the winding paths until they reached the cafeteria. One had to admit, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was truly vast.

Most of the students here were over ten years old; being the only two young children, they were quite conspicuous, drawing gazes from many of the other students dining there.

"Where did these two kids come from? How did they get into the academy?"

"Could they be the children of one of the teachers?"

"They look so beautiful!"

"That little boy is quite handsome too!"

"Whose children are they? They are simply too good-looking."

Ning Xi, accustomed to such attention, maintained a faint, polite, and distant smile. Their exceptional appearance naturally drew favor.

The cafeteria was already crowded. Suddenly, Xue Ke waved at them and walked over, followed by several teenagers of similar age. Her movements were agile, her aura elegant, her features exquisite, and her manners graceful.

"Little Ning Xi! You’ve come to eat as well?" A glint of excitement sparkled in Xue Ke’s eyes.

Ning Xi looked up at her and nodded. "Sister Xue Ke, you are here too."

"Ke Ke, who are these two children?" A cool, detached voice came from beside Xue Ke.

Following the sound, she saw a girl with short purple hair and emerald-green eyes. She possessed a cold, stunning aura and was dressed in a long, emerald-green gown that swayed gently, as fluid as a mountain spring. Her appearance was beautiful, yet a hint of imperceptible pride lingered in her brow.

Her skin was as white as snow, her posture erect, and her demeanor elegant, making her quite eye-catching. At this moment, her eyes were filled with curiosity as she looked Ning Xi and Jun Han up and down. A flash of admiration passed through her eyes before she returned to her calm, cold exterior.

"Yan Yan, these two are the children I was just telling you about. And they were brought here by my brother," Xue Ke said with a playful smile, winking at Ning Xi.

"Let’s sit down and eat first; we can chat while we dine!" Xue Ke led them to the second floor and into a private room.

She did not forget to introduce them to Ning Xi.

"Little Ning Xi, these are my good friends. Let me introduce them to you. This is Dugu Yan," Xue Ke said, pointing to the purple-haired girl.

"This is Ye Lingling; her martial soul is the Nine-Heart Begonia."

"This is Yu Tianheng; his martial soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."

"These two are Shi Mo and Shi Mu; their martial soul is the Black Tortoise."

"This is Ao Sluo; his martial soul is the Ghost Leopard."

"And the last one is Yu Feng; his martial soul is the Wind Bell Bird. They are all Great Soul Masters above level 25, classified as Heaven-Reach level students."

After introducing everyone, Xue Ke turned to herself with pride. "As for me, my martial soul is the Swan, a soul passed down specifically within our Heaven Dou royal family!"

Upon hearing her last sentence, Dugu Yan helplessly covered her forehead with her hand.

"Since we are in the same academy, we will be your seniors from now on, little junior sister and junior brother."

Shi Mu stared at Ning Xi, instantly captivated by her appearance, and immediately grinned broadly. Shi Mo and Shi Mu were twins, both tall and muscular, though Shi Mo’s presence was more steady and reserved. Shi Mu, in contrast, was the opposite, offering a simple, honest smile at Ning Xi. His guileless, earnest demeanor made a good impression.

Yu Tianheng, handsome with a cold and noble aura, possessed deep, sharp eyes that flickered with a hint of pride. "Greetings to our two junior students. Welcome to Heaven Dou Royal Academy," he said with a slight smile.