Yu Xiaogang's Pride

"All right." Ma Xiunuo smiled as he accepted the document, glanced down at it, then turned and walked behind the desk. He took an Order Token from a drawer and a Yellow Crystal Ball from the tabletop before returning to Lin Manshan. "A'man, pour your Soul Power into this."

"Mm." Lin Manshan nodded and placed his right hand on the crystal ball.

Soon, a faint yellow glow lit up.

"You've indeed reached level 10. Here, this is the most basic Order Token. Remember to return it when you're done." Ma Xiunuo held the token out to Lin Manshan, his face full of kindness. "A'man, be careful on the road. I hope that by the next time I see you, you'll already be a First Ring Soul Master."

"Mm-hmm, thank you, Master Ma Xiunuo." Lin Manshan smiled and nodded, took the Order Token and tucked it into his bosom, then gave a slight bow. "Then I won't disturb you any longer."

"Go on." Ma Xiunuo smiled and nodded, watching Lin Manshan leave the room before politely closing the door behind him.

After leaving Spirit Hall, Lin Manshan headed straight for the academy.

He entered through the academy gates and made his way directly to the Academic Affairs Office, knocking on the wooden door to the director's office.

"Come in." A soft call came from inside, and Lin Manshan gently pushed the door open.

"What is it?" Director Su reclined in the chair behind his desk, his eyes half-open.

"Director Su, I'm A'man, a third-year Work-Study Student. I've come to request leave." Lin Manshan stepped forward and gave a slight bow. "My Soul Power has reached level 10, and I'm preparing to head to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain my First Soul Ring."

"A'man?" Director Su immediately recalled the two children Yu Xiaogang had brought into the academy two years ago. One of them had been called A'man and had even defeated Xiao Chenyu. Sitting upright, he looked Lin Manshan over. "I never noticed before, but you've grown so tall."

Could he have asked Yu Xiaogang for help? The academy arranged for Mentors to help Hunt Spirit Beasts, so students did not need to request leave. They only needed to inform their Mentor, who would report it to the Academic Affairs Office. At the end of the month, groups would be organized to head to the Soul Hunting Forest.

He was quite a lucky child. With Yu Xiaogang's help, perhaps he could obtain a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring.

Director Su nodded. "All right, I understand."

"Then I won't disturb you any longer. Goodbye, Director." Lin Manshan gave a slight bow and took his leave.

He had not gone far from the Academic Affairs Office when Yu Xiaogang approached from the other direction.

"A'man?" Looking at Lin Manshan heading toward the Dormitory Building, Yu Xiaogang immediately remembered how Lin Manshan had once criticized him before Tang San for freeloading without ambition, as well as how he had suddenly interjected and interrupted his conversation with Tang San, nearly causing him to miss out on a disciple with Twin Martial Souls. Although Tang San had completely distanced himself from Lin Manshan under his persuasion over the past two years, Yu Xiaogang still could not help but feel a trace of disgust whenever he saw him. At the same time, he was puzzled. The new term has only just begun. What is he doing at the Academic Affairs Office?

"He's just an Ordinary Commoner Spirit Master. Why should I care so much?" Shaking his head, Yu Xiaogang walked straight into the Academic Affairs Office.

After knocking and entering the office, he met Director Su's somewhat puzzled gaze.

"Master, why are you here? Didn't that child named A'man just come to request leave?"

"???" Yu Xiaogang immediately frowned. "What does that have to do with why I'm here?"

He did not ask Yu Xiaogang for help? Director Su's confusion deepened, and he explained, "That child came to request leave just now. He said his Soul Power had broken through level 10 and that he was preparing to head to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain his First Soul Ring. I thought he had asked you for help."

"He did not come to me. Perhaps he has already found someone else to help him." Yu Xiaogang replied indifferently.

He was full of disdain inside. This brat really has developed a competitive streak. He wants to hunt a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring.

But could it really be that easy?

Lin Manshan had been born a Commoner, and his talent was ordinary. He simply was not qualified to have the academy Dean personally help him. As for the academy Mentors, their Spirit Ring configurations were too poor, and they lacked the ability to hunt Hundred-year Spirit Beasts alone. Unless he paid a hefty price to hire several of them—but did Lin Manshan have that kind of money?

Clearly not!

Before becoming a Spirit Master, he could not even receive Spirit Hall's subsidy. How much could he possibly earn as an apprentice at a Blacksmith Shop? As for seeking help from outsiders, Yu Xiaogang had never heard of any high-level Spirit Masters in Nuoding City over all these years.

As for Spirit Hall, given Lin Manshan's talent, even if he joined Spirit Hall, he would not receive special training. Besides, the Spirit Masters stationed at Nuoding City's Spirit Hall were equipped about the same as Nuoding Academy's Mentors. They would never take such a risk for an ordinary Spirit Master.

Could he be planning to form a team and hunt them himself? Thinking of that possibility, Yu Xiaogang was even more disdainful. Simply ignorant! Without even a First Soul Ring, what team would take him? He'll probably come running back with his tail between his legs soon enough and accept the academy's help in hunting a Ten-Year Spirit Ring. No talent means no talent. Trying to defy fate and change his destiny is nothing but wishful thinking.

If even a Commoner could change his fate, then what would that make me? As if recalling something, Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. But it lasted only an instant before his expression brightened once more. He continued, "Director Su, I came today to request leave on behalf of my disciple, Tang San."

"Could Tang San's Soul Power have already reached level 20?" Director Su was immediately startled.

"Correct." Yu Xiaogang slightly lifted his chest. A rare smile appeared on his face, and pride shone in his eyes.

At the end of the first term last year, Tang San's Soul Power had already been close to level 17. It was now March, and a full year had passed in between, including two holiday breaks. With no classes in the mornings, Tang San had even more time to cultivate.

Breaking through to level 20 was only natural.

Lin Manshan was older than Tang San, yet one had Soul Power at level 10 while the other was already at level 20. In terms of cultivation difficulty, the first ten levels for a Spirit Master were the easiest to improve, yet Lin Manshan had still taken a full two years to break through.

This was the gap brought by talent—an unbridgeable gap.

"Incredible, truly incredible. Even with a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, he can cultivate so quickly. A great Mentor truly produces outstanding disciples. This old man has really broadened his horizons today. Master, congratulations." Teacher Su congratulated him with a respectful expression.

Yu Xiaogang very much enjoyed this feeling. The hands clasped behind his back trembled slightly, but his expression remained indifferent. "One must not slacken on the path of cultivation. Xiao San still has a long road ahead of him."

"Director Su, now that I've explained the matter, I should be going." With that, he turned and left.

His main purpose today had been to ask the Dean to help Tang San hunt a Spirit Beast. Informing Director Su about the leave was merely incidental, since the office was on the first floor anyway.

"Master's temper is still the same as ever." Teacher Su curled his lips, shook his head, and turned back toward his seat.

Meanwhile, Lin Manshan returned to his Dormitory, picked up the bundle he had packed long ago, and headed straight out.

After leaving the academy, he immediately went to the Post Station by the city gates and spent six Silver Soul Coins to hire a carriage.

The nearest Soul Hunting Forest to Nuoding City lay four hundred li to the northeast. It was a Primary Soul Hunting Forest, where the Spirit Beasts being kept were mostly Ten-Year and Hundred-year Spirit Beasts. Thousand-year Spirit Beasts were extremely rare. It was not particularly far away, but it still could not be reached in a single day on foot. Besides, he had no Soul Tool and was carrying quite a few things. They were not heavy, but such a long journey would still be troublesome.

Renting a carriage was undoubtedly much more convenient.

Once they passed through the city gates, the carriage slowly set off, quickly leaving Nuoding City behind.

The hired carriage had an enclosed wooden frame with curtains, its roof covered by a layer of black hemp cloth. Outsiders could not see inside at all. Lifting the curtain, Lin Manshan surveyed the road ahead. The road was fairly level, so the journey ahead should not be too bumpy.

After greeting the driver, Lin Manshan lowered the curtain, settled himself in his seat, and summoned his Martial Soul.

PS: The time for the protagonist's advancement in the previous chapter was incorrect and has been revised. It is now roughly March after the New Year. The academy has one term per year, and the third term has just begun.