Soul Land: Heartbreak Makes Me Stronger

At the grand and elegant gates of Skywater Academy, Qin Jian stood fearlessly before two fierce-looking female guards.

"I'm here by invitation. Surely, I don't fall under your prohibited category?" he said calmly.

"By invitation?"

Many onlookers exchanged glances, even the silver-haired girl seemed surprised.

While Skywater Academy often held inter-academy exchanges, such invitations usually involved groups of people. Seeing someone arrive alone with such a claim was unprecedented.

"Which teacher invited you? And why are you here at Skywater Academy?"

The female guards remained vigilant, their expressions laced with suspicion.

"I don't know the teacher's name..."

Qin Jian shrugged. "But I was invited to join Skywater Academy."

"To join Skywater Academy?!"

His words sparked a wave of astonishment, followed by derisive looks from the crowd.

"This guy must be insane! He's practically asking to be beaten up. The temper of those two guards isn't great; I might have to step in and persuade them not to kill him..."

The silver-haired girl moved a few steps closer to the gate.

"Skywater Academy has never admitted male students. Are you trying to deceive us?!"

The two guards were visibly enraged, raising their longswords to strike Qin Jian.

"Hold on!"

Qin Jian frowned and shouted, but he couldn't stop their impending attacks.

The crowd's attention focused on the scene, their eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"Please, Aunties, hold back!"

The silver-haired girl also rushed forward.

"Buzz!"

Just then, a radiant yellow soul ring emerged beneath Qin Jian's feet.

"First Soul Skill: Bewitching Sword!"

A pink glow flashed in his eyes, and the guards' gazes momentarily dulled for a second before they regained clarity.

"Swish!"

Though brief, that one-second pause was enough for Qin Jian to retreat several steps, skillfully avoiding their swords.

He furrowed his brows. Their soul power is much higher than mine, and they're in an active state of release. My first soul skill, which can typically stun women for three seconds, only worked for one second on them...

He wasn't satisfied with the result, but the surrounding crowd was utterly stunned.

After all, these two female guards were Soul Kings with a formidable soul power of rank 50. For them to fail in landing a strike on a young boy was nothing short of astonishing!

The guards exchanged glances, their hostility somewhat diminished.

"That's quite a practical soul skill. Impressive..."

One of them remarked before turning to the silver-haired girl. "Xue Wu, you told us to hold back. Do you know him?"

"Xue Wu? Skywater Academy's Xue Wu? Isn't she the one who can assist Shui Bing'er in summoning the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul?"

Qin Jian's heart stirred.

"Huh?"

Xue Wu blinked and quickly waved her hands. "No, no, I don't know him. I just didn't want you to go too hard on him. After all, he didn't do anything to disrespect our academy—unlike that guy last time who disguised himself as a woman..."

"Fine, we'll let it slide this time, for Xue Wu's sake."

One of the guards impatiently waved her hand. "But don't try anything funny again. We won't let any men enter. Now, leave!"

Qin Jian shook his head and said, "Perhaps you should take a look at this first. I'm not trying to sneak in."

"You're still at it? Keep pushing, and you'll be lucky to leave here in one piece!" Xue Wu frowned at him.

"Thanks for your concern, but I'm not lying..."

Qin Jian retrieved a delicate ice jade token from his spatial glove. "Look, this was given to me by her."

Both Xue Wu and the guards momentarily froze upon seeing the token. Then, their eyes widened in disbelief.

"A special student invitation token?!"

"And it's an Ice Jade Token, exclusive to the academy's higher-ups!" Xue Wu exclaimed.

"Where did you get this?" one guard demanded, stepping closer to inspect the token. Her gaze lingered on the back, where the name "Qin Jian" was engraved.

"Just like I said, a female teacher gave it to me," Qin Jian replied. "It happened when she invited me at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."

"At the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy... Was it Bing'er during the soul hunt expedition?"

Xue Wu's eyes widened again. "You're the Qin Jian that Instructor Zhining mentioned? The one who defeated soul beasts in the 25-30 rank range with only rank 20 soul power? The direct disciple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo?"

Did she really have to hype me up like that...

Qin Jian's lips twitched. "If you're talking about those 'Qin Jians,' they're probably all me..."

"So, Xue Wu, are you saying this young man was personally invited by Instructor Zhining?"

The guards' expressions turned serious.

"If he's the Qin Jian I've heard about, then yes. Instructor Zhining did invite him during her visit to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy," Xue Wu confirmed, nodding.

She couldn't help but study Qin Jian again, trying to discern what made him so extraordinary that her most respected instructor would personally extend an invitation.

Was it his Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect background or his status as Sword Douluo's direct disciple?

"In that case, I'll go confirm this with Instructor Zhining."

One of the guards grew solemn and approached Qin Jian. "Please hand over your Ice Jade Token temporarily. I'll verify your claims. Apologies for our earlier hostility."

Qin Jian nodded and handed over the token without hesitation.

The guard took the token and quickly disappeared into the academy.

The commotion at the gate had drawn the attention of many students. The news that a boy might join Skywater Academy was too sensational to ignore, and the crowd continued to grow.

When Instructor Yan Zhining finally appeared at the gate, nearly a hundred people had gathered to watch.

"Instructor Zhining, you've come personally?"

Xue Wu's usually calm demeanor gave way to astonishment.

"Haha, I put in so much effort to invite him. Of course, I have to welcome him personally!"

Yan Zhining stood with one hand on her hip, grinning broadly.

"Qin Jian, out of the Five Elemental Academies, you've chosen Skywater Academy?"

Her words caused an uproar among the onlookers.

"Instructor Zhining personally invited him? She's one of our academy's top leaders!"

"The Five Elemental Academies... Did this Qin Jian receive offers from all of them?"

"Who is he? And why is our all-female academy admitting a boy?"

Ignoring the growing chatter, Yan Zhining grabbed Qin Jian's arm and pulled him along. "Come on, let me handle your enrollment and housing arrangements..."

The crowd was left dumbfounded.

Never before had they seen Yan Zhining so enthusiastic about anyone—except perhaps when Shui Bing'er had enrolled.

"Here, take your Ice Jade Token. It's your proof of identity."

Qin Jian nodded, accepting the token from her.

"Instructor Zhining, are you really letting a boy join the academy? Didn't I hear that Instructor Xiao Jing argued with you about this?"

Xue Wu quickly followed, her words perking up the ears of everyone around her...

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