Douluo: The Gate to Heaven

As dawn broke.

Tuoba Wukong slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a stream of grayish-brown air. The dizziness and pain had dissipated, and his entire body was brimming with inexhaustible strength. He looked at his fair, newly grown hands and murmured, "Am I not dead?"

"Alright, if you're not dead, get up. I've been watching over you all night, and you don't even know how to be considerate of an old man." Qian Duoduo's voice came from beside him. Fan Yu and Zhou Yi had already left.

"Senior, it was you, it was you who saved me?" Upon seeing the person who spoke, Tuoba Wukong was startled and said gratefully.

Given his age and qualifications, he didn't actually meet the admission standards for Shrek Academy. It was only through the recommendation of this old man he met by chance while wandering the mainland that he was able to join Shrek Academy.

Qian Duoduo said with a hint of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and regret), "It wasn't me who saved you, but you who saved yourself. Your first soul ring was a thousand-year soul ring, and it was even the most suitable space attribute soul ring for you. You actually succeeded! I don't know whether to say you're brave or lucky!"

Tuoba Wukong smiled bitterly, "It's not that I'm brave, but I'm going to die anyway, so I might as well try anything. What's the difference between dying from an explosion and dying from poisoning? At least I have a chance to survive if I take the risk, and didn't I win the gamble? I'm a Soul Master now."

As Tuoba Wukong thought of this, his voice couldn't help but tremble with emotion. Seven years had passed since he came to this world, and he had finally absorbed his first soul ring, officially becoming a soul master.

Upon hearing this, Qian Duoduo looked somewhat embarrassed and said, "Although you turned misfortune into blessing this time, it is indeed due to the academy's mismanagement that you, an outer court disciple, encountered a thousand-year-old Purple Sky Sable within the academy. Don't worry, I will get justice for you, and at least you won't have to worry about your second and third soul rings."

Tuoba Wukong is a space-type soul master. Space-type soul beasts are not only rare, but each one is known for its power and strangeness. With Tuoba Wukong's own strength, it would be difficult for him to obtain a space-type soul ring that suits him.

With this experience as an excuse, he could apply for compensation from the academy's spirit beast area, at least for the spirit beasts that would give him the next two spirit rings. After all, the spirit beast area had such a big problem, it would be impossible not to suffer some losses.

Tuoba Wukong's first spirit ring was a thousand years old, and his second and third will definitely be thousand years old as well. Two thousand-year-old space attribute spirit beasts would be priceless even if placed in Shrek Academy.

Hearing that Shrek Academy would compensate him with two space-type soul beasts, Tuoba Wukong's resentment dissipated considerably. Although he didn't say it out loud, it was impossible for him not to feel resentment towards the academy after inexplicably encountering a thousand-year-old purple sable within the academy.

He knew that space-type soul beasts were rare and troublesome. Shrek Academy compensated him with two space-type soul beasts, so that he wouldn't have to risk searching for soul beasts alone to become his second and third soul rings when he became a Soul Master.

Seeing that Tuoba Wukong's resentment had dissipated considerably, Qian Duoduo also breathed a sigh of relief. He truly valued this young man who possessed unprecedented talent in the Soul Guidance Department. Given time, this young man would surely become a pillar of the Soul Guidance Department, or even someone who would change the Soul Guidance Department of Shrek Academy. Therefore, he did not want the other party to have any resistance or rejection towards Shrek Academy.

If it were an ordinary student, why would the dean of the Soul Guidance Department of Shrek Academy need to personally come and say these things? He could simply send one of the teachers to say them.

"By the way, what skill did your first spirit ring give you? A first spirit ring with a thousand-year spatial attribute, I really can't tell what kind of skill it will give you, kid?" Qian Duoduo relaxed and asked curiously.

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Wukong focused his mind, sensed his own martial soul, and said uncertainly, "My first soul skill seems to be able to open a door to other places, but it seems that my current soul power is not enough, and I can only open a crack."

As he spoke, seemingly to prove he wasn't lying, a silver portal appeared behind Tuoba Wukong. The portal opened slightly, and a wisp of abundant spiritual energy seeped out from the crack.

After absorbing this wisp of energy, Tuoba Wukong immediately felt refreshed and invigorated. Every cell in his body seemed to be cheering with joy, and his newly broken-through soul power seemed to have increased slightly.

This……

Tuoba Wukong was greatly shocked, but his expression remained blank, successfully concealing his inner shock.

You should know that in the past, if he wanted to make even the slightest improvement, he would have to practice arduously for at least one or two days.

Upon hearing Tuoba Wukong's explanation, Qian Duoduo also focused her attention on Tuoba Wukong's martial soul. Sensing the barely perceptible crack on Tuoba Wukong's martial soul, she found it quite strange and asked in a low voice, "Could it be that your current soul power is too low to push away your martial soul? Besides this, do you have any other sensations?"

In theory, a soul ring with a thousand-year spatial attribute should not provide such a useless first soul skill.

Tuoba Wukong thought for a moment and said, "I feel that my soul power is recovering and increasing much faster."

Qian Duoduo nodded upon hearing this and said, "I see. It seems that your first soul skill is a skill that restores soul power and enhances cultivation speed. Although it is strange that a space-type soul skill would provide such a skill, it is very suitable for you."

An outstanding Soul Master needs strong mental strength, abundant physical strength, but more importantly, Soul Power.

After all, the use of many soul tools requires a considerable amount of soul power. Without the support of soul power, soul tools are just a pile of broken copper and scrap iron. In order to keep their soul power sufficient, many soul masters in the Sun Moon Empire will take the initiative to give up the offensive ability of the soul ring when absorbing soul rings and focus on strengthening their soul power.

Tuoba Wukong's first soul skill accelerates the recovery and enhancement of soul power, which is the most suitable soul ring route for a soul master's development.

Moreover, Qian Duoduo estimated that, as a soul ring with a lifespan of a thousand years, it could be inferred from the fact that the portal only had a crack that opened that Tuoba Wukong's first soul skill should also have a self-enhancement effect, which would increase as his own strength improved.

Although Tuoba Wukong did not obtain a powerful attack or support skill, the ability to accelerate soul power growth and recovery is more suitable for him and better meets Qian Duoduo's expectations.

Shrek Academy is not lacking in powerful Soul Masters; on the contrary, what Shrek lacks are precisely the top Soul Masters on the continent.

Even though Tuoba Wukong's first soul skill was a thousand-year soul skill, which can be said to have set a record in the Douluo Continent, Tuoba Wukong's talent destined him to never become a top-notch soul master. His first soul skill was to enhance soul power, which would actually be of great help to him becoming an excellent soul master.

Qian Duoduo said, "Alright, you must have been terrified yesterday. I've already spoken to Zhou Yi about today's lesson; you don't need to attend. Go back and study your martial soul and soul power carefully. With the blessing of the Thousand-Year Purple Void Sable Soul Ring, your soul power has increased by at least two or three levels. Take good care of yourself and break through to a higher realm as soon as possible. Soul Master is still too low."

Even for a Soul Master, one's own Soul Power is extremely important.

No matter how talented Tuoba Wukong is in soul tool research, he cannot unleash his full potential without a strong foundation of soul power. That is why Qian Duoduo did not immediately recruit Tuoba Wukong into the soul tool department, but instead had him follow Zhou Yi and study among the freshmen of Shrek Academy's outer academy to lay a solid foundation.

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Wukong bowed to Qian Duoduo and said, "Thank you for your concern, senior. Please tell me your name. I will definitely repay your great kindness in the future."

Although he had already guessed Qian Duoduo's identity, Tuoba Wukong still wanted to confirm it himself.

"You'll know in the future, it's no use knowing now. Keep going, little guy, we'll meet again." Qian Duoduo waved and his figure drifted away, heading towards Poseidon Island in the center of Poseidon Lake.

He should go and demand an explanation from Yan Shaozhe. He can decide for himself what to do with two thousand-year-old space-attribute soul beasts. What compensation is this little thing to him, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department? This is a rare opportunity, and he must get as much benefit as possible from Yan Shaozhe.

After Qian Duoduo left, Tuoba Wukong glanced at himself, ragged and covered in blood, gave a bitter smile, and hurried back to his dormitory. He needed to take a shower and change his clothes as soon as possible.

Although I don't have to go to class anymore, I'm still not very comfortable looking like this.

Blood, sweat, and bodily waste were mixed together, making it sticky and emitting a foul stench.

In Shrek Academy's outer dormitory, all rooms are double rooms. His roommate is a withdrawn boy who always seems unapproachable. Although Tuoba Wukong has lived two lives, he is focused on improving himself and has no time to deal with a child. Therefore, the two can only be considered nodding acquaintances at present.

However, the other person is probably in class now.

"You're back?" However, to Tuoba Wukong's surprise, as soon as he returned to the dormitory, he saw a solitary figure waiting there.

"Tu Nan Bu Po, you didn't go to class?" Tuoba Wu Kong was surprised.

Tu Nan Bu Po glanced at Tuoba Wu Kong and said, "I'll go now. Do you need me to ask for leave for you?"

Tuoba Wukong quickly replied, "No need, I've already asked for leave."

Tu Nan Bu Po nodded, picked up his textbooks, and left.

Watching Tu Nan Bu Po's departing figure, Tuoba Wu Kong suddenly laughed and whispered, "Was this guy worried about me, which is why he didn't go to class? This feeling of being cared for isn't so bad."

Tuoba Wukong, who had always been alone, felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Soon, he muttered, "No, no, I smell terrible. I'm a man who's forty or fifty years old across two lifetimes. When did I become so fussy..."

Tuoba Wukong rushed into the bathroom.