Returning to Academy Life

On his way back to the academy, Wang Xiaofeng stopped by the Spirit Hall where Wang Feng worked to register. It was definitely not because he coveted the monthly subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin.

"It's all your unreliable Old Dad's fault," Wang Feng said angrily. "Now I have to save contribution points for another year before I can obtain my Third Soul Ring."

"Brother Wang Feng, aren't you in a hurry to obtain your Third Soul Ring?" Wang Xiaofeng asked curiously. "Isn't the period before thirty the best age for cultivation? Can you really afford to wait a year?"

Wang Feng waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine. Doesn't Grandmaster's Ten Great Martial Soul Competitiveness say so? When a Soul Master reaches the peak of a major realm, even without hunting a Soul Ring, they can still cultivate normally. The Soul Power accumulated during that time will show itself once they obtain a Soul Ring."

Wang Xiaofeng asked strangely, "Don't you people at Spirit Hall consider those theories nonsense?"

"No." Wang Feng shook his head, indicating that it was all a rumor. "When I studied at Spirit Hall Academy, what I encountered most were Grandmaster's theories. Our teachers all admired him greatly."

"All right, come over and test your Soul Power." Wang Feng led Wang Xiaofeng into a room and smiled. "This is the Martial Soul Laboratory where Spirit Hall conducts advancement assessments."

"First step: summon your Martial Soul and release your Soul Ring." Wang Xiaofeng raised his right hand and focused. Soul Power slowly surged from his palm.

The Green Calabash Martial Soul slowly appeared in his hand. A bright Century Soul Ring rose from beneath Wang Xiaofeng's feet, moving up and down around his body.

"Good kid, it's actually a Century Soul Ring. But... why does this Martial Soul seem no different from when I helped you awaken it?"

Any Martial Soul would be strengthened after absorbing a Soul Ring. For example, Wang Danu's Green Calabash Martial Soul was three times larger than Wang Xiaofeng's Gourd, and its color was much more vivid.

"Maybe the changes happened inside. Never mind that for now—let's test your Soul Power." Wang Feng walked up to Wang Xiaofeng with a yellow Crystal Ball. "Inject your Soul Power into it and let me see what level you've reached. According to theory, you should be at level eleven."

Wang Xiaofeng was a little worried. For some unknown reason, after absorbing the Soul Ring, less than half of his Soul Power had remained, just like during his Martial Soul Awakening. It had only recovered to more than half after two days of cultivation. What if the final test shows that I'm below level ten?

Wang Xiaofeng slowly poured the Soul Power within him into the Crystal Ball in his hand. A hazy yellow glow lit up within it. The light was not particularly strong, but it was exceptionally clear.

"Mm, just as I expected—level eleven." Wang Feng smiled. "All right, your advancement assessment is complete. From now on, you are an honored Soul Master of the Heaven Dou Empire. Welcome to the ranks of Soul Masters. From now on, you can use the badge I'll issue you shortly to collect your monthly subsidy from Spirit Hall. A Soul Master's subsidy is one Gold Soul Coin per month. Once you reach the Great Soul Master level, it will become ten Gold Soul Coins."

"Thanks, Brother Wang Feng." Wang Xiaofeng accepted the Gold Soul Coin and put it in his pocket. Starting today, I'm part of the bourgeoisie too (^~^).

When Wang Xiaofeng left Spirit Hall, he had gained an official badge forged by Spirit Hall. The badge was round, with his name engraved on the back and two intersecting thorns on the front, symbolizing a Soul Master's rank.

By the time Wang Xiaofeng returned to the academy, the sun had already set. He had thought he would not be able to enter today, but when the guard at the entrance saw the Soul Master Badge on his chest, he did not dare make things difficult for him. After registering, Wang Xiaofeng was allowed inside.

Wang Xiaofeng returned to the dormitory covered in dust and travel grime. Seeing that his roommates were already asleep, he casually took a shower, only to become even more awake afterward.

Forget it. I haven't cultivated these past few days while traveling, so I'll make up for it today.

Wang Xiaofeng opened the window, and a ray of moonlight shone over him. Ever since his Martial Soul Awakening, he had accidentally discovered during one cultivation session that it was easier to enter a meditative state under moonlight. Thus, whenever the moon appeared at night, he would meditate beneath its light.

After arriving at the academy, he had a friendly exchange with his roommates and secured a bed by the window. (How could the last person to arrive at the academy get a good bed without using his fists? Blows a kiss.)

Wang Xiaofeng quickly entered meditation beneath the moonlight. He did not notice his Martial Soul slowly appearing before him, while wisps of invisible Moon Essence flowed into the Gourd like tiny streams.

At dawn, Wang Xiaofeng ended his night of meditation. Just as he was about to stretch his limbs, he noticed the Martial Soul floating before him. "Huh? When did I summon my Martial Soul?"

Knowing full well that his Martial Soul was causing trouble again, Wang Xiaofeng felt utterly helpless. I can accept not having a system, but why does my Martial Soul have to enjoy screwing me over too? My life is really hard.

Flips the table in exasperation.

Ever since obtaining his Soul Ring, he had not properly examined his Martial Soul. He might as well take this chance to study it carefully.

Wang Xiaofeng infused Soul Power into the Green Calabash in his hand and carefully sensed the changes in his Martial Soul.

What he sensed shocked Wang Xiaofeng. Within the Green Calabash, there was now a one-cubic-meter space, with four drops of bright silver liquid floating inside.

"Why does my Martial Soul have an internal space now? I've never heard of Slimes having spatial attributes." Wang Xiaofeng's face was full of question marks???

"Brother Feng, it's about time. We should go to class." Seeing Wang Xiaofeng standing there with a dazed expression, a certain little kid could not help reminding him.

But Wang Xiaofeng showed no reaction at all, so he could only drag him off to class.

A dumbfounded Wang Xiaofeng finished class with an equally dumbfounded expression.

"This isn't scientific." It was not until the aroma from the Cafeteria stirred his hunger that Wang Xiaofeng finally came back to his senses.

So my Martial Soul was innately deficient due to a mutation, which was why I only had innate level-five Soul Power. Absorbing the Soul Ring made up for that missing part, so this is what it was originally supposed to look like. Wang Xiaofeng spun a whole theory in his head and felt that it was probably exactly as he thought.

"Then what are those four drops of unknown liquid in the Martial Soul Space?"

"Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle..." His stomach rumbled.

Fine, I'll think about this profound question after eating. Wang Xiaofeng headed toward the Cafeteria.

...After a month of research...

Wang Xiaofeng discovered that silver liquid would only appear in the Martial Soul Space when he meditated beneath the moon. One drop would appear for every two hours of meditation.

Through all sorts of experiments, Wang Xiaofeng discovered that drinking the silver liquid would grant a cultivation speed boost for eight hours that day. Drinking more would not stack the effect. After testing it, he found that his cultivation speed increased by nearly two times.

If it was applied to a wound, it had a slight healing effect. Of course, it could only stop bleeding, and it took effect rather slowly. A one-centimeter-long wound needed half a minute before the bleeding stopped. Still, discovering this use made Wang Xiaofeng very happy. After all, it was free.

Naturally, it also had the insignificant effect of promoting hair growth. (The hair in a certain place on Wang Xiaofeng's body had only just grown out a little.)

Two months later, when the school went on break, Wang Xiaofeng joined some upperclassmen from the academy and headed home together...