Chapter 3: You're quite the wild card!
Four days later, Jiang Ming and the coachman rode two sturdy horses respectively on a wide road, looking at Shrek Academy vaguely visible in the distance.
Coachman: "Jiang Shao Ye, we're here! That's Shrek City ahead. Just follow this road for a few more dozen kilometers and you'll reach Shrek Academy!"
The coachman's expression was strange, as if he wanted to cry but couldn't, and as if he wanted to laugh but also couldn't. His whole face looked very conflicted.
"Mm, I see it. It's truly magnificent!"
Jiang Ming looked at the grand building in the distance, breathing in the fresh oxygen exhaled by the surrounding vegetation through photosynthesis, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Shrek Academy, truly seeing it is better than hearing about it a hundred times!
"That... Jiang Shao Ye, since we've reached Shrek Academy, I'll be leaving now."
The coachman glanced at Jiang Ming cautiously and said softly.
In just four short days, Jiang Ming's image had changed several times in his mind.
From the initial gentleness, to the later favored son of heaven, then to madness, and then back to the current gentleness.
Alas, it's hard to describe!
"Ah? You're leaving already? Aren't you going to Shrek City with me to take a look?"
Jiang Ming looked at the coachman with some surprise. They had chatted quite well these past few days, and he thought the coachman would explore Shrek City with him.
"No, no, I have things to do and need to hurry back."
The coachman waved his hands somewhat flusteredly, forcing a very strained smile onto his face.
"You have things to do? Alright then, you go back first. I'll go to Shrek Academy by myself."
Saying this, Jiang Ming dismounted, handed the horse reins to the coachman, and planned to walk the rest of the way.
A few dozen kilometers wasn't far. With his foot speed, he could get there in a little over an hour.
The coachman was somewhat flattered as he took the reins, pushed off with his legs, and turned to leave.
"Oh right, sorry for accidentally blowing up your carriage earlier."
Jiang Ming's apologetic voice sounded from behind. The coachman subconsciously turned his head to look.
Jiang Ming was already sprinting towards Shrek Academy. A small bag arced gracefully through the air and landed steadily in the coachman's hand.
The coachman opened the bag, and inside lay several gold coins.
He put away the small bag and looked at Jiang Ming, who was sprinting towards Shrek Academy, his expression somewhat complex.
They had come by carriage before, but yesterday, when Jiang Ming was researching a spirit tool, another small accident occurred.
A small accident happened when Jiang Ming was engraving a core formation. At the time, he didn't have time to throw the item away, so Jiang Ming directly sprang out of the carriage, jumping off with the coachman.
That was the core formation of a Tier 4 spirit tool! The power was imaginable. Their carriage instantly vanished in an explosion!
It was an exciting experience, at least for the coachman, one he would never forget in his lifetime!
It was precisely because their carriage was blown up that from yesterday until today, they both rode the only two remaining horses from the carriage to get here.
"Good luck to you."
The coachman silently wished Jiang Ming good luck in his heart, then left without looking back.
Even with compensation, he didn't want to stay with Jiang Ming anymore.
After all, who knew if the next explosion would blow him up too?
On the road outside Shrek City, Jiang Ming ran with long strides, leaving shallow imprints on the solid road surface.
"Hoo~ Ha~ Hoo~ Ha..."
Under high-intensity running, Jiang Ming's breathing was steady and rhythmic, neither hurried nor slow. The distance between the shallow imprints left by his feet was also as if measured, completely consistent.
A distance of dozens of miles wasn't long, but for a twelve-year-old boy, the pressure was considerable.
However, this put absolutely no pressure on Jiang Ming.
He had a Spirit that specifically enhanced physical fitness, and coupled with Qingshui City being a border city of the Empire, Nie Heng had taught him to train his body since he was young for self-defense.
Let alone running lightly dressed like this, even wearing iron armor, he would still be at ease.
"Wow, there really are a lot of people coming to Shrek to register!"
Jiang Ming ran along, secretly sighing in his heart.
He ran along the side of the road, maintaining almost the same speed as the carriages on the road, showing no signs of effort.
People inside the passing carriages peered out curiously at Jiang Ming. Seeing that he was a young boy like themselves, they were instantly astonished.
A very luxurious carriage decorated with ice and snow patterns passed by Jiang Ming. A girl like a porcelain doll peered out from inside, casting a curious gaze at Jiang Ming.
Jiang Ming felt the girl's gaze, tilted his head slightly, and smiled. His smile was like sunshine, giving people a very warm feeling.
Seeing Jiang Ming smile at her, Ling Luochen was stunned. A blush appeared on her fair and pretty face, seemingly a little shy.
She retreated into the carriage, her small head filled with Jiang Ming's smile.
She had seen handsome guys before, but this was the first time she had seen someone as handsome as Jiang Ming! And, for some reason, when she saw Jiang Ming, she felt her heart beat much faster.
It was a very strange feeling, a little out of control.
A distance of dozens of miles wasn't long, and Jiang Ming quickly arrived at the East Gate of Shrek City.
Before coming, Nie Heng had already found out everything for him: upon seeing Shrek City, enter through the East Gate, go from there to Shrek Academy, and then go to the New Student Teaching Building to register.
The process was very simple, similar to when he registered for school in his previous life.
Soon, guided by the academy students at the gate, Jiang Ming entered Shrek Academy.
After entering Shrek Academy, Jiang Ming headed straight for the location of the Soul Guidance System.
On the way here, several core formations in his Tier 4 Soul Guidance Cannonball kept having problems, and he still hadn't solved them even now.
As the number one academy on the continent, Shrek Academy should have a Teacher or Senior who could answer his questions about a mere Tier 4 spirit tool.
With the intention of seeking knowledge, Jiang Ming walked towards the gray teaching building on the Soul Guidance System side.
There were only a few people scattered around the New Student Teaching Building of the Soul Guidance System, a few tables, a few chairs, and four people, two men and two women, sitting there, responsible for registration, issuing dormitory keys, and school uniforms respectively.
Jiang Ming walked over with a smile, touched his Storage Ring at his waist, and a gold coin appeared in his hand.
"Hello..."
"Little brother, are you here to register? Come, come, fill out the registration form first. Jasmine, get the little brother a set of school uniforms!"
A Senior wearing a yellow school uniform took out a registration form with a smile, looking very happy.
"Uh, I'm not here to register. I chose the Martial Soul Department side. I came here to ask the Seniors some questions about spirit tools. These questions have been bothering me for days..."
Jiang Ming explained his purpose, then discreetly placed the gold coin in his hand into the Senior's hand.
"Ah?"
The four third-year Seniors from the Soul Guidance System were dumbfounded. He was applying for the Martial Soul Department but came to the Soul Guidance System to ask questions?
Although the rule at Shrek Academy was to decide between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Guidance System after the third year, it was also possible to choose the Soul Guidance System from the beginning. Before the third year, it was very flexible. But after the third year, a clear cultivation direction was required!
The Senior who received Jiang Ming's gold coin looked at the gold coin in his hand with even more disbelief, his mouth twitching involuntarily.
He looked at Jiang Ming, his expression very strange.
"Little brother, you applied for the Martial Soul Department but came to the Soul Guidance System to ask questions. You're quite the wild card!"