Chapter 178: A Plethora of Talent
After touring Canaan Academy, Ye Guyi finally led Furina and her group to the headmaster's office.
Not long before, Feng Chuixue had informed Ye Guyi that he had already selected the students who would participate in the Continental Youth Soul Master Competition. Coincidentally, with Furina back today, they could take a look at these children's caliber together.
Feng Chuixue had long since noticed Furina and her group's movements and had been waiting outside the headmaster's office all along. He intended to let Furina personally review this batch of competitors he had selected for the Water God Church and Canaan Academy.
Although Canaan Academy had been established for less than two years, had few students, and truly outstanding students were rarer than phoenix feathers or qilin horns.
But Furina had said that the Water God Church must participate in this Continental Youth Soul Master Competition, no matter what. They weren't asking to break into the top eight, but at the very least, they must not end up at the very bottom. They had to show their faces before the entire continent and build up their reputation.
Since it was the Pope's command, Feng Chuixue was determined to accomplish it with all his might.
Besides, this requirement was actually not excessive—just building a reputation was a thing relatively easy to achieve.
Because both Furina and Feng Chuixue were well aware that Canaan Academy had been established for far too short a time and didn't have the accumulated honors of Shrek weighing behind it. If they lost, they lost—as long as they didn't lose too disgracefully and didn't end up dead last, it would be considered a success.
If there had been any worries before, Feng Chuixue was now fully confident.
Ye Guyi had slain a Titled Douluo-level evil soul master, directly advancing to Soul King, and on top of that, her martial soul had evolved into the Six-Winged Blazing Seraph, with its attribute transforming toward ultimate light—this alone was enough to shock the entire arena.
Add to that the support of the soul tools developed by the Scientific Research Department, they could bring more high-grade soul tools with them and still win. After all, the Continental Youth Soul Master Competition permitted the use of soul tools. Besides flight distance restrictions and the prohibition on killing, there were practically no limitations.
If any negative public opinion did emerge, there was no need to worry either. The Water God Church had already secured control over the main channels of public opinion around the Star Luo Empire; just having the Intelligence Department's people step in to manage it would suffice.
When Furina and the others, led by Ye Guyi, arrived at the entrance of the headmaster's office on the top floor of the teaching building, they saw Feng Chuixue already standing there, clearly having waited for quite some time.
"Your Holiness! Huo Yuhao, Miss Ye Guyi, and friends of Her Holiness, welcome!" Feng Chuixue smiled and made a gesture of invitation, smoothly pushing open the door to the headmaster's office. "I have been waiting for some time. Please, come in quickly!"
"Alright." Furina naturally did not stand on ceremony and led Huo Yuhao and the others into the office together.
Inside the office, six young boys and girls were waiting. Seeing Furina and the group enter, they all rose to their feet, their gazes falling in unison upon Furina, curiously sizing her up and down.
"So this is Her Holiness the Pope? She looks so young..." a black-haired boy murmured quietly.
"The rumors always said she was very young, that she only looks a few years older than us in appearance," someone beside him responded in a low voice.
"Oh, I thought that was just made up."
"Alright, alright, keep your voices down. The headmaster has come in."
Feng Chuixue walked in, cleared his throat, and introduced: "Your Holiness, these children are the most outstanding students I have selected, and they will be the competitors participating in the upcoming Continental Youth Soul Master Competition."
He turned to the six and said gently, "Introduce yourselves to Her Holiness."
Furina waved a hand and revealed an amiable smile: "No need to be so formal. You can call me Pope Sister, Sister Furina, or Furina-jie—whichever rolls off the tongue most easily."
A youth with ink-black hair and eyes as bright as blazing fire was the first to step forward. He flashed a wide grin, revealing two little tiger teeth: "Then I won't stand on ceremony! Hello, Furina-jie! My name is Xiao Huohuo. I'm eleven years old this year. My martial soul is Flame. I'm an Assault-type soul master, soul power rank 32!"
As he spoke, his chin tilted up slightly, carrying the unique brashness and confidence of youth, but without any off-putting arrogance. Instead, it exuded a youthful spirit that made people want to laugh.
Furina nodded with a smile: "Not bad, your soul power is quite high."
"Ha ha, just luck, just luck!" Xiao Huohuo scratched his head, his mouth speaking modestly, but his eyes clearly writing: "But of course."
Furina's smile remained unchanged, but inwardly she grumbled: Xiao Huohuo? You might as well just change your name to Xiao Yan. Your martial soul is fire—should I get you a copy of the Flame Mantra to cultivate?
Next, a youth of utterly plain features and a steady, composed temperament stepped forward. His appearance was so ordinary that he would disappear in a crowd, but his eyes were exceptionally calm and still, like the depths of an unfathomably deep ancient well.
"I greet Pope Sister." His voice was neither loud nor soft, neither hurried nor slow. "My name is Han Li. My martial soul is the Palm Vase. My soul power is rank 31. I suppose I am a Control-type soul master."
Furina's heart grumbled once more: No way, Han Li too? Next, is it going to be Ye the Heaven Emperor and Huang the Desolate Emperor?
Maintaining her composure outwardly, she asked with curiosity, "Why do you say 'I suppose' a Control-type soul master?"
Han Li pondered for a moment, as if organizing his words: "How should I put it... the soul skills my Palm Vase acquires after absorbing soul beasts are not quite the same as ordinary martial souls. For example, my first soul ring was absorbed from a hundred-year Heavenly Thunder Bamboo soul beast; the soul skill is 'Green Bamboo Thunder Sword'—it can summon a sword of the thunder attribute. My second soul ring summons a swarm of Gold-Devouring Beetles, which are quite effective in terms of control."
Good heavens, even this has been replicated! But since the adventures of the Nuo Nuo have already appeared, I suppose... Is it within reason?
Furina nodded thoughtfully. "I see. The first soul skill leans toward Assault, the second leans toward Control. Your martial soul could indeed follow a versatile, all-around path. But exactly how it develops will depend on your own choices."
"Mm." Han Li inclined his head slightly and stepped back.
Following him, a black-haired young girl with a somewhat sinister, bewitching aura walked up. An indescribable, unplaceable enchantment lingered between her brows, the corner of her lips slightly curled with a trace of a faint, elusive smile.
"Hello, Furina-jie. I'm Gu Yue Fangyuan. Everyone calls me Fangyuan." Her voice was languid and alluring. "My martial soul is the Spring Autumn Cicada, Control-type, soul power rank 29—a rare time attribute."
Furina's gaze focused slightly. She responded with a smile: "Mm, hello, Fangyuan. A time attribute—that truly is rare. If developed well, you'll surely become a major force in the future."
Inside her heart, however, she was cursing wildly: Damn, even old demon Fang Yuan is here! Although in a gender-bent version! Fine, fine, what other surprises are coming next?!
"It's finally my turn!"
A youth with fiery red hair, his entire being radiating scorching heat, suddenly jumped out and struck a pose he believed to be extremely cool—one hand on his hip, the other pointing forward, chin lifted at a forty-five-degree angle.
"Furina-jie, my name is Huo Linfei! My martial soul is the Fire Qilin, soul power rank 30, haven't obtained a soul ring yet, Assault-type!"
His eyes blazed with surging fighting spirit, as if he might rush out to battle for three hundred rounds at any second.
The corner of Furina's mouth twitched faintly: Good heavens, another one. I've seen so much now that nothing surprises me anymore.
"Mm, not bad." She still maintained a properly polite smile on her face.
Huo Linfei withdrew contentedly. A young girl with long, pink hair, dressed in an exquisite miko outfit, stepped forward with graceful, swaying steps. Her figure was slender and alluring; every movement exuded charm and elegance, the corners of her eyes and brows carrying traces of a subtle, elusive smile.
"This humble maiden presents herself." She gave a slight bow, her voice soft but carrying a strange, bewitching power. "My name is Yae Guuji. My martial soul is the Thunder Demon Fox, soul power rank 31, Agility-type soul master."
She raised her head, her fox-like eyes curving into two crescent moons as she looked at Furina with a smile.
Furina couldn't help but blurt out: "Yae Miko? You're here too? How is your Excellency the Shogun doing?"
Yae Guuji, hearing this, covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, a sly glint flashing in her eyes: "Pope Sister jests. My name is Yae Guuji, not some Miko, and my family has no Shogun either."
She blinked, her tone carrying a hint of playful mischief: "However, if Pope Sister wishes to become acquainted with a 'Shogun,' I could perhaps help with an introduction—of course, that would require extra payment."
Furina coughed awkwardly: "Alright, I mistook you for someone else."
She muttered in her heart: This tone of speech, how is it exactly the same as Yae Miko's? Who would believe there's no connection?!
Feng Chuixue watched from the side with a completely accustomed expression. He still remembered when he had reported his martial soul's name as "Blue Poison Beast"—Furina had worn that exact same shocked expression.
The last to step forward was a girl who appeared somewhat shy. She wore her hair in two pigtails, her clothes simple but clean, her hands nervously twisting together.
"Hello, Furina-jie..." Her voice was small and soft. "I'm Bai Luo. My martial soul is Lemon. I'm a Food-type Support-type soul master. My soul power is rank 28..."
After speaking, she shyly glanced up at Furina, then quickly lowered her head again, the tips of her ears reddening slightly.
Furina revealed a gentle, warm smile and said softly, "Mm-mm, hello, Bai Luo. A Food-type soul master is a treasure in any team. Do your best, okay?"
Bai Luo nodded forcefully, her eyes sparkling, two blushes rising on her cheeks.
Furina swept her gaze over the six, her eyes filled with praise. "Your talents are all quite good. I was worried we wouldn't be able to assemble a full soul master team at the three-ring level."
Feng Chuixue, standing at the side, chimed in with a smile: "Her Holiness jests. With the pills and techniques you have provided, and with the Water God Church's reputation, not only can we recruit students of decent quality, we can also help them rapidly improve their cultivation. Only, the time has been far too short. This time, winning the championship is certainly out of the question, but contending for the top eight is still no problem."
Furina waved a hand dismissively, her tone gentle but resolute: "It's fine. Don't feel any psychological pressure. Just do your best."
She looked toward the six pairs of young, expectant eyes, her voice carrying encouragement: "I believe in all of you."
The six exchanged glances and responded in unison: "Yes!"
Their voices were bright and full of youthful vigor.
Looking at this group of young boys and girls, Furina sighed inwardly with emotion: This little bunch truly all have quite the origins. Although in a sense, they're all "visitors from another world," since they've come to my territory, they're my people now.
The Continental Youth Soul Master Competition, huh...
The corner of her lips curved upward slightly.
Then let this little bunch go and give the entire continent a pleasant surprise.
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I started a new translation and I would be very happy if you decided to check out my new translation for a rather rare fandom. It's a crossover based on Mondaiji (Problem Children Are Coming from Another World, Aren't They?)
Mondaiji: Am I A Dragon Species? https://www.webnovel.com/book/36661423108025005