Arrival

Time flew by, and before long, the day Su Ming and Tang San were to leave the village for school arrived.

Old Jack had successfully secured a Work-Study Student slot from another village for Su Ming.

That village also had one exclusive Work-Study Student slot each year, rather than sharing one with other villages.

As it happened, no children with Soul Power had awakened there that year.

So Old Jack, who was well-liked by everyone, had easily borrowed the slot.

"Little San, Little Ming. Hurry and get in the carriage. We're setting off."

"Okay, Grandpa."

At the entrance of Holy Soul Village, Old Jack called the two children onto the carriage.

For villagers who spent all year working in the fields, the distance from Holy Soul Village to Nuoding City was not very far.

They only needed to bring some dry provisions, and they could arrive after half a day's walk.

"Hold on tight." With that, Old Jack drove his family's carriage forward.

The main reason Su Ming and Tang San were taking the carriage was for convenience and comfort.

Why walk when they had the means not to?

Besides that, there were several baskets of medicinal herbs in the carriage.

Once they reached Nuoding City, Old Jack planned to sell them at a medicine shop.

Ever since Su Ming had come into his life, Old Jack had begun working hard as well.

With Old Jack's diligence and Su Ming's occasional ideas,

the conditions in Old Jack's household had gradually improved considerably.

Now, they even had a carriage of their own.

"Once you get to the academy, you must study hard. After becoming Soul Masters, don't spend your Soul Master stipends carelessly. Otherwise, when you want to attend an intermediate academy in the future, you won't even be able to afford the tuition..."

Old Jack had lived for several decades, after all, and knew quite a bit about matters concerning Soul Masters.

Especially after gaining such an outstanding grandson as Su Ming, while he began looking forward to Su Ming becoming a Soul Master in the future, he also became far more attentive to matters concerning Soul Masters.

And so, Old Jack spoke a great deal along the way.

There was concern, worry, and comfort...

Su Ming and Tang San listened quietly, firmly committing his words to heart.

It looks like I need to figure out a way to make money as soon as possible.

Unlike Su Ming, who was not worried about anything, Tang San had already begun considering how to earn money.

With money, he would be able to do many things.

He could buy gifts for his father and Brother Ming, make the hidden weapons from his previous life, and prepare for attending an intermediate academy in the future.

Ever since their conversation that night had ended, although they had not yet settled on an early-stage growth plan, Su Ming had still taught Tang San some knowledge about Martial Souls and Soul Masters.

This not only gave Tang San a clear understanding of his own talent, but also made him realize that every part of the Soul Master path required money.

Without money, things would be difficult!

Once I'm settled at school, I'll find work at a Blacksmith's Shop.

After thinking for a moment, Tang San felt that the sooner he handled this matter, the better.

Along the way, Old Jack had also subtly asked whether Tang San had brought enough money.

Su Ming, standing beside them, cooperatively helped press the matter.

Faced with Old Jack and Su Ming's concern, Tang San felt warmth in his heart.

Although he had almost no money on him, he still lied and said he had enough, telling them not to worry.

Tang San knew that Old Jack was rather well-off.

But Old Jack had already taken care of him more than enough over the years, and he remembered all the kindness Old Jack and Su Ming had shown him.

If he was capable, he did not want to keep troubling them.

Before coming here, he had learned a special forging method from his father and had even forged his first creation since arriving in this world—a Sleeve Arrow.

Tang San wholeheartedly agreed with his father's suggestion that he become an apprentice at a Blacksmith's Shop to cover his tuition and food expenses.

Earning money, practicing his forging method, and making hidden weapons.

He could do all three at a Blacksmith's Shop. It was perfect.

Amid their occasional conversations, the carriage finally arrived at the gates of Nuoding City.

After being inspected by the city guards, the carriage slowly entered Nuoding City and headed toward Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

Although it was Old Jack's first time at Nuoding Academy, he had asked around beforehand and did not take a wrong turn along the way.

"Once you've finished registering, I'll sell the herbs and return to the village."

After Old Jack got down from the carriage, Su Ming and Tang San followed close behind.

Although Nuoding Academy was only a junior academy, the grandeur of its gates alone was enough to show how highly the continent valued Soul Masters.

Old Jack's usual clothes were already considered rather respectable in the village, but once he arrived in Nuoding City, he still looked like a country bumpkin.

To keep his grandson and Little San from being looked down upon,

Old Jack had specially changed into a new outfit that day, and Su Ming and Tang San were dressed in brand-new clothes as well.

Naturally, Tang San's new clothes had been prepared for him by Old Jack before they came.

Tang San had initially tried to refuse, but after Su Ming and Old Jack persuaded him, he accepted their kindness.

"You must be here to register for school, right?"

With the carriage as well, the guard at the entrance did not look down on Su Ming's group. Instead, he greeted them warmly.

Children who might become Soul Masters in the future were not people a mere gate guard like him could afford to offend.

If Old Jack and the others had been dressed as they usually were, the guard at the entrance would not have treated them this way.

"These are the two children's Martial Soul certificates." As he spoke, Old Jack took the two Martial Soul certificates from his robes and handed them to the gate guard.

"Blue Silver Grass, Qi, and both have Innate Full Soul Power."

Looking at the two certificates, the guard could hardly believe it.

A Waste Martial Soul could actually possess Soul Power, and it was even Innate Full Soul Power.

And what kind of Martial Soul was this Qi Martial Soul? He had never heard of it before, yet it also had Innate Full Soul Power.

Were country children this ridiculous nowadays?

Besides the Martial Soul and Soul Power, the certificates also listed the place of awakening.

Although Tang San and Su Ming were country children and Work-Study Students, their attire showed that they were not ordinary people.

Whatever. I'm just a gate guard. Though he was deeply puzzled, he still let Su Ming and Tang San enter.

Even if something really went wrong, it would not be the responsibility of a mere gate guard like him.

After all, these certificates had been issued by a Spirit Hall deacon.

"Little Ming, Little San, study hard. By the next time Grandpa comes to see you, you must have become Soul Masters."

With that, Old Jack climbed onto the carriage, preparing to sell the medicinal herbs.

"Goodbye, Grandpa."

"Take care, Grandpa."

After watching the carriage drive away, Su Ming and Tang San entered the academy.

"Brother Ming, what are you looking for?" As they went inside, Tang San noticed that Su Ming seemed to be searching for something.

"Nothing. Let's go." With that, the two officially went to register.

The person Su Ming had been looking for was Yu Xiaogang.

In the original story, this was supposed to be the scene of Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's first meeting.

After Yu Xiaogang stepped in to resolve the situation, he would fill Tang San's head with nonsense, then trick him into becoming his disciple.

Because they had arrived early today, Yu Xiaogang was nowhere to be seen.

This meant that his altered plot would not cause the world's will to correct the original storyline.

Now he could truly cut loose!