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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While events continued to unfold in the outside world and Tenshin's body remained in the academy's infirmary, his consciousness resided within the Celestial Library. Seated on a couch, he reflected on the consequences of his actions.
During the final battle of the competition, he had successfully achieved his goal—partially revealing his power and demonstrating that his martial soul now had combat applications. However, he knew that not everyone would see this as a positive development, particularly Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and possibly even Tang Hao.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Tenshin summoned the Celestial Book in its diary function and began writing:
[Earlier today, the academy held its annual competition for second-year students and above. In this event, participants randomly draw a wooden token with a number, pairing them against the student with the matching number in a tournament-style battle.]
[Up until the final match against Tang San, I relied solely on a wooden training spear. This was a deliberate choice—to create the illusion that my primary combat style revolves around spear techniques. That way, when I finally revealed that my martial soul, the Celestial Book, now has combat applications, the impact on the observers was minimal.]
[The most crucial detail is that I never revealed my true first soul ability. As a result, everyone now believes my ability is related to illusions.]
[Additionally, throughout the entire fight, I allowed the poison from Tang San's Blue Silver Grass to infiltrate my body. However, even I hadn't anticipated the poison to be so weak. Due to the conflict between the Blue Silver Grass's poison-type first soul ring and its innate attributes—resilience and vitality—the poison's potency was significantly diminished.]
[To maintain the illusion of being severely affected, I had to use my soul power to evenly distribute the poison throughout my body. Combined with my performance, this created the impression that, without my spear—which broke midway through the fight—I only won through sheer luck and clever tactics.]
[In the end, I successfully solidified my image as a spear-wielding prodigy, a highly intelligent and strategic fighter, and a lucky individual. At the same time, I ensured that my true abilities remained hidden—the fire and demonic (evil) elements incorporated into my martial soul, as well as my self-created soul abilities.]
As the heroines read the latest diary entry, a sense of unease settled over them. They weren't surprised that Tenshin made it to the finals without using his martial soul—by now, they had a solid understanding of his impressive capabilities. His strategic mind and hidden strengths were clear to them, and they had even grown to appreciate his cautious approach in keeping his true abilities concealed. Tang San was the only opponent in their eyes to Tenshin. After all, according to Tenshin, Tang San is the 'son of luck' in this world.
However, the manipulation of his image left them feeling conflicted. While they could admire his cunning, but it was his decision to deliberately allow the poison to spread throughout his body that truly disturbed them. They had followed his journey long enough to understand the depth of his intellect and his desire for control, but to see him take such extreme measures—endangering his own well-being—just to maintain an illusion felt reckless.
Over the years, their initial curiosity had blossomed into a form of affection and concern. Tenshin had become more than just an enigmatic figure in a diary to them; they had come to understand his internal struggles and the weight he carried. Seeing him go to such lengths to avoid revealing his true potential made them worry for him. They were torn between respecting his calculated approach and feeling deeply uneasy about his self-destructive tendencies in the pursuit of secrecy.
[Considering how extensively I spread the poison throughout my body, if I were truly affected, I'd be unconscious for about a week. I'll take advantage of this time in the Celestial Library to finish reading the books I previously scanned but haven't yet studied.]
[Once I wake up, I'll decide how to handle the aftermath. I'm certain Yu Xiaogang didn't appreciate my performance—nor my victory over Tang San in the competition. Ever since taking Tang San as his disciple, he has been shaping him while consistently underestimating me—both due to my martial soul's former lack of combat applications and my so-called "refusal" to become his disciple.]
[On top of that, I outright rejected his soul ring advice on my first day at the academy and nearly caused him to lose Tang San as a disciple.]
[As for Tang San, the situation is straightforward. I, someone he dismissed as nothing more than an ignorant child, defeated him. He's a reincarnated soul, born with innate full soul power and twin martial souls. Meanwhile, I've developed something akin to the "intention" that likely existed in his past life.]
[Knowing his personality, he'll either see me as a future threat that must be eliminated or rationalize his defeat—blaming it on his lack of information and his underestimation of my abilities.]
[Earlier, I was concerned about Tang Hao, but now I doubt he'll intervene. After all, this was merely Tang San losing a match in a basic soul master academy competition. He would likely see this loss as a valuable lesson—a necessary setback after two years without facing any real challenges.]
The heroines, upon reading Tenshin's latest entry, experienced a mix of concern and disbelief. While they understood his caution regarding Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, they were conflicted about how far his suspicions extended. His reasoning made sense, considering the personalities of those involved, yet the intensity of his distrust left them uneasy. The fact that he expected such a reaction from Tang San and Yu Xiaogang indicated how much of a threat he felt from them—despite this being a mere academy competition.
Tang Yuehua, in particular, found herself torn. For two years, she had read Tenshin's words, but this entry forced her to confront uncomfortable truths about her own family. The mention of Tang Hao and Tang San in such a negative light clashed with her loyalty and love for them. Despite everything she had learned about Tenshin, she couldn't fully bring herself to believe his perspective, especially since it painted her brother and nephew in such an unfavorable light. Her mind wavered between the growing respect she had for Tenshin and the conflicting emotions tied to her family's honor. She was not yet ready to accept that they could be as ruthless as Tenshin suggested.
[Although I don't know exactly what the future holds, I already have some ideas about how to start establishing a foothold in the continent. I could use the knowledge and theories from my past life to improve the lives of the people in this world—perhaps even making some of them publicly available…]
[However, achieving this alone is unlikely. The nobles and those in power wouldn't allow it. Many of these ideas would disrupt—or even completely reshape—the socioeconomic structure of the continent…]
[Perhaps the best approach would be to offer some of these innovations to Spirit Hall as a gesture of goodwill. If I can negotiate for them to act as intermediaries, I might be able to introduce these changes without directly exposing myself to the ruling elite. That might be a place to start.]
Bibi Dong, though initially surprised by his boldness, felt a strange sense of admiration for Tenshin's vision. His idea to introduce innovations through Spirit Hall was a wise one, aligning with her own ambitions to expand the organization's influence. She saw this as a potential turning point that could strengthen Spirit Hall. Still, she was intrigued by how he intended to navigate the obstacles ahead, and the thought of him using his intelligence to outmaneuver the elite sparked a sense of excitement. She couldn't help but feel anticipation at the prospect of working alongside someone so capable.
Qian Renxue shared similar sentiments. Her curiosity was piqued, and the idea of Tenshin collaborating with Spirit Hall stirred a sense of hope within her. If Tenshin could bring new ideas and methods, he could potentially revolutionize Spirit Hall from the inside.
After finishing his entry, Tenshin closed the diary and continued reading the scanned books.
A Week Later
Tenshin began to stir in the hospital bed, his eyelids fluttering as he slowly regained consciousness. After spending an entire week with his mind immersed in the Celestial Library, his body had remained in the academy's infirmary.
'Hmm... my body feels lighter,' was the first thought that crossed his mind as he awoke.
The door creaked open, and one of the academy's teachers stepped inside. The teacher showed no surprise at seeing him awake, his expression calm and composed.
"So, you're finally awake," the teacher remarked casually, walking toward the bed. He observed Tenshin closely before asking, "Do you feel any discomfort? We administered the antidote for the Datura Snake poison, but given how deeply it spread, there may still be some lingering effects."
"I don't feel any discomfort," Tenshin replied without hesitation, his voice steady.
The teacher's gaze lingered on him for a moment before he gave a small nod. "Very well. You're free to leave, but avoid strenuous activities for now."
Later, Tenshin stood alone on the mountain behind Nuoding Academy—his usual training ground. The crisp breeze carried the scent of wild grass as he assessed his physical condition after a week of inactivity. The familiar silence enveloped him.
'Everything seems normal...' Tenshin thought. 'That sensation of lightness must have been from finally getting proper rest after nearly two years of nonstop training.'
He muttered softly to himself, "Even with soul power used for recovery after training, it only heals the body... it doesn't provide the rest it truly needs."
With a resigned sigh, he lay down on a soft bed of silvery-blue grass, gazing up at the drifting clouds with amber eyes.
"I should improve my recovery method... but maybe I should start by simply resting more." His thoughts wandered, and he recalled a familiar phrase from Master Roshi in Dragon Ball: "Move well! Learn well! Play well, eat well, and rest well! Enjoy your life, happily and to the fullest!"
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips—light, yet tinged with self-awareness.
"It seems I've been so focused on getting stronger these last two years that I forgot what it means to enjoy life."
The laughter faded, leaving behind a rare sense of tranquility—an acceptance that perhaps strength alone wasn't the only path worth walking.
Hours passed as Tenshin lay on the grass, savoring a rare moment of peace. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds created a tranquil symphony—until a voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Student Tenshin!"
Tenshin shifted his gaze toward the source of the voice. Standing at the edge of the clearing was a familiar figure—one of the academy's guards. His posture was polite but firm.
"I received a notice asking you to report to the dean's office," the guard informed him.
"The dean?" Tenshin raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled as he pushed himself up from the ground. "What's this about?"
The guard, whom Tenshin recognized as the same man who had blocked him, Old Jack, and Tang San on their first day at the academy, shook his head.
"I wasn't told the reason. Principal Su came to me personally and asked me to deliver the message."
Tenshin nodded thoughtfully. 'Principal Su, huh? Interesting... What could this be about? I just woke up after a week in the infirmary. Could Yu Xiaogang have made his move already? They are close, after all.'
"Alright. Thank you for letting me know."
Without another word, Tenshin dusted himself off and made his way to the academic building, his mind already running through possible reasons behind the unexpected summons.
After a short while, Tenshin arrived at the dean's office. He knocked on the door and, upon receiving a response, entered. Inside, he found only two people: the dean and Yu Xiaogang, who was sitting on the sofa, sipping tea.
"Dean, did you call for me?" Tenshin asked, walking over to the tea table and giving a slight bow.
"Yes," the dean replied with a nod. "First, I'm happy to see that you've recovered. Your performance during the competition was remarkable, especially in the finals."
"But that's not why I called you here," he continued, his tone becoming more serious. "To get to the point, while you were recovering, I had some discussions with Master Yu. Over the past two years, the academy has taught you almost all it can. With your current level of soul power, there's little more we can offer."
"Therefore," the dean continued, "after careful consideration, we've decided to allow you to graduate early. You've already met the graduation requirements with your first soul ring, and with your current level of soul power at 17, you're in compliance with the regulations."
"Frankly, keeping you here any longer would be a waste of your time. It would be better for you to leave and find a more advanced intermediate academy. Now that your martial soul's combat application has been resolved, and with your innate soul power, you have a high chance of entering an intermediate academy, where you can learn more advanced techniques."
Tenshin glanced at Yu Xiaogang from the corner of his eye before nodding. "Understood, student will comply." He bowed slightly to the dean. "Thank you for all the teachings over the past two years."
The dean nodded in acknowledgment, then picked up a piece of paper from the table and handed it over. "This is your graduation certificate. I hope you find a suitable intermediate academy soon and continue your journey on the path of a soul master."
Tenshin nodded, accepting the certificate. "Thank you. I'll take my leave now."
After a final bow, he turned and exited the office, closing the door softly behind him.
Watching Tenshin's polite departure, the dean felt a brief flicker of unease, but it quickly passed. He glanced over at Yu Xiaogang, picked up his tea, and took a sip.
Having been the dean for many years, he was well aware of Yu Xiaogang's past suggestions, many of which were colored by personal grievances. Though the dean had tried to dismiss them, Yu Xiaogang had presented several compelling arguments. The truth was, the academy could no longer offer Tenshin anything of value, so perhaps letting him graduate early was the right choice.
Still, despite Tenshin's impressive talent, he was still at a disadvantage compared to other soul masters. With his martial soul's combat application issue resolved, his abilities were still limited. Moreover, the dean knew that Tenshin had a strained relationship with Tang San and Xiao Wu, who were in the same dormitory. It was also widely known that Tenshin had defeated Tang San in the competition's finals, a point that had not gone unnoticed.
Weighing the pros and cons, the dean saw no harm in accommodating Yu Xiaogang's request. After all, Yu Xiaogang's disciples—Tang San and Xiao Wu—were both innately full of soul power.