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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After leaving the academic building, Tenshin headed straight for the dormitory. His expression remained neutral, but his thoughts were anything but.
'I knew Yu Xiaogang was petty and would try to hinder my development, but I didn't expect him to act this quickly.'
'I "recovered" less than two hours ago, and he's already made his move. If he hadn't been in the room, this might have been somewhat believable. But seriously, what authority does he even have over the academy's management? He's not even a teacher here.'
'"Early graduation"—what a joke. It's nothing more than an excuse to get rid of me while ensuring Tang San remains the academy's undisputed genius. That way, Yu Xiaogang can boost his own reputation as Tang San's master.'
After a brief moment of contemplation, Tenshin muttered, "This might actually be a good opportunity."
In two years, he had already absorbed all the knowledge the academy had to offer—including its restricted books, thanks to his martial soul's scanning ability, the Celestial Book. In that sense, the dean wasn't entirely wrong. Besides, once he left the academy, he wouldn't have to be so cautious around "Voyeur Douluo"—Tang Hao. Honestly, Tenshin had sensed his presence so often through his sensory technique that unless Tang Hao deliberately concealed himself, Tenshin could detect him even without it.
Upon entering the dormitory, Tenshin began gathering his belongings. Despite spending two years at the academy, he didn't have much to pack—just a quilt and a few sets of clothes. As for his most valuable possessions, he stored them in his spirit guide. After all, sharing a room with someone who had already stolen from the sect that raised him meant he wasn't reckless enough to leave anything important behind.
Just then, a voice called from the entrance.
"Tenshin, you're awake! What are you doing?"
It was lunchtime, and most of the students were present—including Tang San and Xiao Wu. Seeing Tenshin packing his things, a boy lying on a nearby bed couldn't help but ask.
"I graduated early."
Tenshin secured his quilt, slung the package over his back, and turned to face his dormmates with a faint smile. Bowing slightly, he said,
"Thank you for your company these past two years. I wish you all success in your studies and happiness at the academy."
With that, he turned and left, leaving behind a dormitory full of surprised faces.
"Hmph, that annoying guy finally left."
Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose, waved her fists, and sneered in satisfaction.
"Ha! He must have been expelled. A book martial soul? Even if it has some combat application now, how far can he really go? Maybe if he had a spear, considering his talent with it, he'd have a chance. But with that martial soul? He'll barely get anywhere."
She had witnessed Tenshin's performance in the competition—something most of the academy had seen. Initially, even she found it impressive, though she was reluctant to admit it. However, after Tang San woke up and shared what he and his master had discussed, she reverted to her usual attitude toward Tenshin.
Meanwhile, Tang San remained silent, his gaze lingering on the dormitory door as he recalled his conversation with his master.
Flashback – Five Days Ago
A day after waking up—two days after the competition ended—Tang San went to Yu Xiaogang's room, eager to hear his master's thoughts on the match.
"Xiao San, what do you think was your biggest mistake in your fight against Tenshin? What led to your defeat?" Yu Xiaogang asked, his back turned to him.
Having already reflected on this, Tang San responded without hesitation, "I underestimated Tenshin because I lacked information about him."
Yu Xiaogang paused briefly before replying, "I won't deny that a lack of information played a role in your loss. No one expected his martial soul to develop a combat application, nor did we anticipate his current level of soul power."
Turning to face Tang San, he shook his head. "But that wasn't your only mistake. The real error happened at the very start of the battle. Ever since I took you as my disciple, I've told you—control system soul masters should never close the distance unless they are absolutely certain of victory. And yet, the moment the fight began, you did exactly that. Tenshin exploited your misstep, and in a single exchange, he paralyzed your left arm."
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened slightly. "With that one move, he seized control of the battle's rhythm. From that point on, it didn't matter if you made the right choices or gained temporary advantages—his ability to dictate the pace ensured he remained in control."
Tang San's expression grew bitter as he absorbed his master's words. He had to admit—his defeat wasn't just due to a lack of information. At least half of the blame lay in his own misjudgment.
Seeing his disciple deep in thought, Yu Xiaogang nodded approvingly before offering reassurance.
"Still, you performed well throughout the competition. As long as you learn from this, there's no need to dwell on it too much."
Then, with a confident smile, he added, "Besides, there's no need to concern yourself with Tenshin. Even if his martial soul has gained offensive capabilities, he's still at a disadvantage compared to other soul masters of similar level and abilities."
"Moreover, your talent far surpasses his. The only reason he managed to close the gap was likely due to a lucky opportunity when he obtained his first soul ring."
Yu Xiaogang's gaze sharpened. "In time, that gap will only grow wider. You possess innate full soul power—an advantage that puts you far ahead of him. But more importantly, you are one of only three known soul masters with twin martial souls in the continent history. While his potential is limited by his martial soul, your path is boundless."
Tang San repeated his master's words in his mind. 'An opportunity… so that's what it was. Hmph, he really was lucky to stumble upon such a chance.'
His eyes gleamed with renewed determination. 'Master is right. We're only at the beginning of the path of a soul master. In the future, the difference between us will be vast. While he remains stagnant, I will continue to advance.'
Flashback Ends
'As the teacher said, talent and martial soul had already determined everything,' Tang San sighed inwardly, though he could barely conceal his happiness by Tenshin's situation. After all, he still resented the humiliation Tenshin had put him through. Shaking his head, he jumped off the bed and turned to Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, I'm heading to the blacksmith shop."
"Huh? That means I've got nothing to do this afternoon," Xiao Wu groaned, her face twisting into a pout. Then, as if struck by inspiration, her eyes gleamed mischievously as she glanced at their dormmates.
"Alright, let's go! Sister Xiao Wu will lead you all on another adventure of heroism!"
'Heroism? More like stirring up trouble…'
The few remaining work-study students exchanged knowing looks, their lips twitching. They knew all too well what she meant—anyone who dared cause trouble in the academy had long since been dealt with by her. But, intimidated by her presence, they obediently got up and followed.
Tang San watched Xiao Wu bounce away, a fond smile creeping onto his face. Shaking his head, he followed her out of the dormitory.
'She's my little sister now. At her age, being energetic and playful isn't a bad thing.'
At the Smithy Entrance
After leaving the academy, Tenshin made his way straight to the smithy without hesitation.
Hearing the door open, Tieshan, who was in the middle of his work, immediately put down his tools and approached. Noticing the quilt draped over Tenshin's back, he stepped forward to help him unload it.
"What happened? Why are you carrying a quilt around?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.
Tenshin smiled. "Uncle Tieshan, I've graduated from the academy."
Tieshan raised an eyebrow in surprise but remained silent as Tenshin continued.
"Uncle, you know this city well. Could you help me find a quiet place to stay? Preferably a house with a yard. I'd like to buy one as a residence and remain in Nuoding City for a while. That way, I can set up a small private forging room at home—train during the day and practice smelting in my free time. Also, I can still help you out by hammering pig iron."
"Speaking of which," Tenshin added, "I'll be focusing more on my cultivation, so I won't be able to work at the shop as often."
Tieshan chuckled and patted Tenshin's shoulder. "That's how it should be. Your training comes first. Besides, we've already taught you everything we can. Practicing forging on your own is a great idea."
"As for the pig iron, if you ever need any, just let me know. I can buy it from you at market price," Tenshin offered.
"Haha, nonsense!" Tieshan laughed. "The iron you've forged over the past two years has built up quite a reputation for us blacksmiths. If you make any finished products, you can sell them directly through Uncle Tie's shop."
"Thank you, Uncle Tieshan," Tenshin said sincerely.
"It's nothing. I'll ask your aunt to help you find a good place. She's got a knack for negotiating house prices," Tieshan reassured him. "Until then, you can stay here at the smithy."
Then, as if remembering something, he added, "By the way, since you've graduated, you won't have to worry about classes anymore. If you ever get the chance, I'd recommend heading to the Gengxin City Blacksmith Association in the Star Luo Empire to get officially certified as a blacksmith. It would be a good step for your future."
And with that, it was decided—Tenshin would temporarily stay at the smithy until he found a place of his own.
That Same Night Inside the small room where Tenshin was staying, his soul power surged, filling the space with an intense energy fluctuation before it stabilized.
Opening his eyes, he smiled. "Level 18. Just two more levels before I can take the next step."
After a brief pause, he added, "I still haven't written in my diary today. Let's fix that."
He then summoned the Celestial Book and began writing.
[Today, I finally "woke up" from my "coma," and a lot has happened.]
[When I regained consciousness, my body felt much lighter. But before I could figure out why, a teacher arrived at the infirmary.]
[After being discharged, I went to my usual training spot and used my mental power to scan the area. I didn't find anything unusual, so I concluded that this feeling of lightness was probably due to the week of rest and inactivity. Since awakening my martial soul, I've been training nonstop. Even when I rest, I continue to train, albeit at a slower pace. Despite channeling soul power to aid my body's recovery, I haven't truly rested in the past two years.]
[It seems my obsession with becoming strong enough to control my fate and alter the canon timeline made me neglect my own well-being.]
[Looking back, even my mind must have been exhausted. Reflecting on some of the decisions I made over the last two years, I realize I was reckless—one of my biggest mistakes being allowing myself to be poisoned.]
[From now on, I'll follow Master Roshi's advice from Dragon Ball: "Move well! Learn well! Play well, eat well, and rest well! Enjoy your life, happily and to the fullest!" I will balance my development with rest and enjoy life to its fullest.]
The heroines read Tenshin's latest diary entry with a mix of relief and cautious optimism. For years, they had watched him push his body to the brink, his relentless training and self-neglect a constant source of worry. Now, as he admits the toll of his obsession and vows to balance his strength with genuine rest, they feel a subtle shift—a glimmer of hope that he may finally value his well-being.
[But that's not all that happened today. About two hours after waking up, I was called to the Dean's office. I could go into detail about all the excuses used, but to summarize: Yu Xiaogang convinced the Dean to grant me early graduation from the academy.]
[Though this means leaving the academy, it also means I'm finally free of 'Voyeur Douluo'—Tang Hao. Now, I'm staying at the blacksmith shop where I work until I find a house to buy. My soul power has advanced to level 18.]
The heroines' reactions were a mix of disbelief, amusement, and cautious skepticism. They knew that Tenshin's so-called "early graduation" was less of an honor and more of an expulsion cleverly disguised with polite words. After two years of following his diary, they remembered his predictions about Yu Xiaogang's potential revenge—but this was just a competition from a basic soul master academy. Although the dean and Yu Xiaogang labeled it a graduation, they knew deep down that it was another subtle power play.
When the term "Voyeur Douluo" appeared, laughter erupted. The thought of Tang Hao, one of the most feared and revered figures, being reduced to such a bizarre nickname was too absurd to ignore. Even Tang Yuehua, who had struggled with conflicting loyalties regarding her brother's actions for the past two years, couldn't help but laugh, despite knowing she shouldn't.