Becoming a Spirit Master, Summoned by the Dean

The next morning, the carriage successfully arrived in Nuoding City. After getting out, Lin Manshan decided to head straight to Spirit Hall for his Spirit Master assessment, then bid the dean farewell and leave.

Yu Xiaogang and his disciple returned to the academy with the dean. The moment they entered the school gates, Yu Xiaogang turned to Tang San with an indulgent look. "Xiao San, go back to the dormitory by yourself first. Arrange your own time this afternoon."

After Tang San bowed and took his leave, Yu Xiaogang looked at the dean again. "What are your thoughts on that child, A'man?"

.

Inside Spirit Hall, Lin Manshan found Ma Xiunuo again. As soon as he entered and Ma Xiunuo saw him, his eyes immediately lit up. "A'man? Have you finished hunting your Spirit Beast?"

He had a very good impression of this child, who came from a commoner background and had suffered such a miserable life, yet had retained his simple, honest nature and remained humble and courteous. He had even worried about him often over the past two days.

Lin Manshan could feel Ma Xiunuo's concern, and warmth rose in his heart. He stepped forward and nodded with a smile. "Mm. I was lucky enough to run into a team of senior students from an intermediate academy who happened to be short on Order Tokens. They helped me hunt it."

"Good, good." Ma Xiunuo rose with a smile, casually picked up the crystal ball from the table, and walked over to Lin Manshan in small steps. His face was kind as he said, "Come, A'man. Let's test your Soul Power first."

"Mm." Lin Manshan nodded, placed his hand on the crystal ball, and slowly poured in his Soul Power. A faint yellow glow immediately flickered to life, clearly visible.

"Th-this... Heavens! You actually have Level 13 Soul Power." Ma Xiunuo's eyes widened in disbelief as he hurriedly asked, "A'man, can you tell me what Spirit Beast you hunted?"

"It was a four-hundred-year Unicorn Beetle. The one I hunted should have been a mutated variety; its shell was golden." Lin Manshan answered truthfully.

"A mutated Unicorn Beetle! No wonder, no wonder." Ma Xiunuo was greatly startled, then smiled in gratification. "A'man, you truly encountered benefactors this time, and your luck was quite good. According to Spirit Hall's records, Unicorn Beetles are Spirit Beasts known for their strength and defense. Their quality is exceptionally high, and there are not many of them in that Soul Hunting Forest. To encounter the best mutated variety there—very impressive."

"Hehe, it was all thanks to those senior students." Lin Manshan smiled, then added, "But Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, after absorbing the Soul Ring, there seems to be a problem with my Martial Soul. Not only did it fail to retain the Soul Ring, it didn't produce a Soul Skill either, and even its appearance changed."

"Something like that can happen?" Ma Xiunuo was immediately dumbfounded. He quickly said, "A'man, summon your Martial Soul."

"Alright." Lin Manshan nodded and summoned his Martial Soul with a wave of his hand. Amid swirling green light, a Great Blade appeared.

"???" Ma Xiunuo was stunned senseless.

"The change is far too drastic, isn't it?" He examined it carefully in astonishment, his brows gradually furrowing. "There really is no Soul Ring. This is the first time I've ever seen such a situation."

"Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, can I still be certified as a Spirit Master?" Lin Manshan withdrew his Martial Soul and could not help asking.

"You have a Martial Soul, you can absorb Soul Rings, and your Soul Power has indeed increased. Of course you can be certified as a Spirit Master."

Ma Xiunuo nodded, then sighed. "However, A'man, if your Martial Soul cannot produce Soul Skills, I'm afraid it will greatly affect your combat ability in the future."

No Soul Ring would have been one thing, but no Soul Skills? Wouldn't that mean he could only fight in close quarters with basic strikes?

"It's fine. As long as my Martial Soul can continue cultivating, that's enough." Lin Manshan smiled indifferently.

"Haha, A'man, you certainly have a good mindset. Hearing you say that puts me at ease." Ma Xiunuo smiled as well, then encouraged him. "A'man, I've heard that powerful Spirit Masters can defeat opponents below their realm even without Soul Skills. As long as you cultivate diligently, I believe you will have the chance to become a powerful Spirit Master in the future and protect a region. A'man, I believe you can do it."

"Mm, I'll keep working hard." Lin Manshan said earnestly.

"That's good!" What people feared most was losing their dreams and motivation. Seeing Lin Manshan's high spirits, Ma Xiunuo felt relieved. He also felt the satisfaction of having done a great good deed and received a positive response. With a smile, he said, "Alright, A'man, your advancement assessment is complete. Congratulations. From today onward, you are an honored Spirit Master of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Wait a moment. I'll have your badge made right away." With that, he turned back to his desk, took a round badge and an unknown machine from a drawer, fiddled with them for a while, then placed the badge inside and pressed down hard. He took it out and walked toward Lin Manshan.

"Here, A'man. This is your exclusive badge. From now on, you can bring this badge to Spirit Hall every month to receive your subsidy. Spirit Masters receive one Gold Soul Coin per month, while Soul Grand Masters receive ten. Also, I'll report the situation with your Martial Soul. If there are similar records above and a suitable solution is sent down, I'll tell you the next time you come."

"Also, A'man, with your Martial Soul in its current condition... to be honest, after graduating from Nuoding City Primary Soul Master Academy, I don't think it will be easy for you to enter an Intermediate Soul Master Academy." Forget other academies—even Spirit Hall Academy might not accept him. Without Soul Skills, how could they teach him? There had never been such a precedent before. Ma Xiunuo sighed inwardly and continued, "A'man, if you truly have nowhere to go in the future, why not join Spirit Hall and become a guard here under me? It would be stable work, and supporting a family would absolutely not be a problem."

"Thank you, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo." Lin Manshan accepted the badge and said politely, "But I'm afraid I can't come to Spirit Hall as a guard. I became an apprentice at the Blacksmith Shop in the city two years ago. If things truly don't work out, I may return to the village and become a blacksmith. The village is short on blacksmiths right now."

Two years ago, Lin Manshan had only been six. At such a young age, he already knew to work while studying. He truly was a hardworking child... Ma Xiunuo smiled and nodded. "Being able to make farm tools for the villagers and protect the village as well, becoming a blacksmith isn't bad."

"Hehe." Lin Manshan smiled, then gave a slight bow. "Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, I'll head back to the academy first."

"Mm, go on." Ma Xiunuo nodded and took a Gold Soul Coin from his robes, handing it to Lin Manshan.

"Goodbye, Grandpa Ma Xiunuo." Lin Manshan accepted it, gave a small salute, then turned and left, gently closing the door behind him.

"Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, huh..."

Listening as the footsteps faded away, Ma Xiunuo could not help smiling. For a child to change his form of address from Master to Grandfather was undoubtedly an expression of closeness and acceptance. "What a kind and simple child."

He straightened his chest and returned to his seat.

Outside the gates of Nuoding Academy.

The moment Lin Manshan approached, the gatekeeper called out to him.

"Student Lin Manshan!"

When Lin Manshan came closer, the gatekeeper said politely, "I received notice for you to go to the Dean's Office."

"The dean wants to see me? Is something the matter?" Lin Manshan was already familiar with the gatekeeper before him. On his first day at the academy, this was the very man who had obstructed Old Jack.

"I don't know." The gatekeeper shook his head.

"Director Su came to see me earlier. He told me to notify you to go to the Dean's Office as soon as I saw you return."

"Alright, thank you for the trouble." Lin Manshan nodded.

He immediately headed toward the Academic Affairs Building.