In the days after their martial souls awakened, Holy Soul Village seemed to return to its former peace. But for Lin Kun and Tang San, life had already quietly changed.
Village Chief Old Jack smiled more often now, telling everyone he met that Holy Soul Village had produced two great Spirit Masters. Although one of them only had Innate Level 1 Spirit Power, it was still an extraordinary thing. He became even busier, running around to secure work-study student spots and travel expenses for the two children.
Tang San still went to Tang Hao's blacksmith shop every day, but he clearly spent more time cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Lin Kun's appearance—especially that "unknown book" martial soul and Innate Level 1 Spirit Power—was like a small stone cast into the still lake of his heart, creating the faintest ripple. He vaguely felt that this quiet child from the same village seemed somewhat different from before.
Lin Kun, meanwhile, used his remaining time to desperately train his body and familiarize himself with that weak First-level Spirit Power. He discovered that whenever he focused his thoughts, the ancient Book Spirit would appear in his mind. He could not turn its pages or interact with it. Only the tiny light crystal on its cover occasionally flickered; beyond that, there was nothing unusual. It left him somewhat disappointed, but it was better than nothing.
He had also tried communicating with the system, but aside from issuing missions and countdowns, it basically ignored his questions. It was unbelievably aloof.
The day of departure finally arrived.
Early in the morning, Village Chief Old Jack came to Lin Kun's dilapidated little house. Looking at this child, whose parents had died early and who had always been alone and helpless, his eyes showed affection and reluctance. "Xiao Kun, when you get to Nuoding Academy, you must listen to your teachers and cultivate diligently. In the future... in the future, there will always be a chance for you to make something of yourself." He stroked Lin Kun's dry yellow hair and pressed a small, faded cloth bundle into his hands. "There are a few flatbreads inside for the road. Spend sparingly."
Lin Kun accepted the cloth bundle, still warm from Old Jack's body. Looking into the old man's kind yet clouded eyes, his nose stung slightly. The original owner's memories and emotions surged up at that moment, giving him his first real sense of attachment to this unfamiliar world.
"Thank you, Grandpa Jack. I'll work hard," he said softly, with genuine sincerity.
At the village entrance, Tang San was already waiting. He still wore those clean patched clothes, and beside him stood Tang Hao, who seemed perpetually half-asleep and reeked of alcohol. Tang Hao merely glanced at Lin Kun with muddled eyes and gave no response. After telling Tang San a few obscure things like, "Use the hammer in your left hand to protect the grass in your right," he turned and left.
Old Jack led the two children onto the road to Nuoding City.
The journey was long and dull. Old Jack was advanced in age and did not walk quickly. Tang San was quiet and spent most of his time walking in silence, seemingly cultivating. As for Lin Kun, he kept mentally simulating possible situations in Nuoding Academy's work-study student dormitory as he walked, thinking about how to complete that damned mission.
He had to create an opportunity. How had that accident happened again? It seemed Tang San had used the Tang Sect's ultimate technique, Crane Controlling Dragon, causing Xiao Wu to lose her balance...
"System," he silently asked in his mind, "if Tang San attacks me when the mission is completed, will I be able to protect myself? Or will the system provide assistance?"
During the mission, the system will not directly provide martial assistance. The host must avoid risks independently. Mission rewards will be issued immediately upon completion and may perhaps alleviate the host's crisis, the system replied coldly.
"May perhaps?" Lin Kun's mouth twitched. This system was far too unreliable!
Several days later, the travel-worn trio finally saw the outline of Nuoding City.
Towering city walls, bustling crowds, streets full of carriages and traffic... all of it felt novel to Lin Kun and Tang San, who had come from the countryside—at least on the surface. Familiar with the route, Old Jack led them through the streets to Nuoding Academy of Advanced Spirit Masters.
Its imposing gates, white marble plaque, and the neatly dressed gatekeeper standing outside with a hint of arrogance in his eyes all highlighted the vast difference between this place and Holy Soul Village.
When the gatekeeper saw the three of them in patched clothes, looking thoroughly poor—especially Old Jack and the two children—his face immediately showed impatience and contempt.
"Get lost, get lost! Where did these country bumpkins come from? This is an academy for Spirit Masters, not a place for you beggars!"
Old Jack hurried forward, forcing a smile as he took out Spirit Hall's certificate. "Sir, we're not beggars. We're from Holy Soul Village, and we've brought these two children here as work-study students..."
The gatekeeper snatched the certificate away and glanced over it. The mockery on his face grew even stronger. "Holy Soul Village? That village that can't even produce one child with Soul Power every year? Heh, and this year you suddenly have two? One has worthless Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Spirit Power, and the other has an unknown book with Innate Level 1 Spirit Power? You can't even forge something believable! Get out of the way. Don't block the road!"
Old Jack's face reddened with anger as he argued reasonably. Tang San's gaze also turned cold.
Lin Kun stood behind them, his heart churning. The plot from the original story was happening! He knew that Yu Xiaogang would soon appear to resolve the situation. This was the first major turning point in Tang San's fate.
What should he do? Watch quietly? Or do something to leave an impression on Grandmaster ahead of time?
Just as he hesitated, a somewhat hoarse yet unusually magnetic voice sounded from the side. "What happened?"
A middle-aged man walked over. He was of average height and somewhat thin, with short black hair and ordinary features, but his deep eyes carried a hint of laziness and weariness. He held a book in his hand as his gaze swept over both sides of the dispute.
The moment the gatekeeper saw him, his bearing immediately weakened by half. He said respectfully, "Grandmaster, you're back. These country people brought fake certificates and are trying to swindle their way into the academy..."
The man called Grandmaster took the certificate from the gatekeeper and examined it carefully. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes, especially when he saw Tang San's certificate that read, "Innate Full Spirit Power, martial soul Blue Silver Grass."
"The certificate is real," Grandmaster said calmly. Then his gaze shifted to the two children behind Old Jack and finally settled on Tang San. "You are Tang San?"
Tang San nodded.
Grandmaster looked at Lin Kun again. "And you?"
Suppressing the stir in his heart, Lin Kun answered as calmly as possible, "Lin Kun."
Grandmaster's gaze lingered on Lin Kun for an extra second. He seemed somewhat curious about his "unknown book" martial soul, but soon turned his attention back to Tang San. "You two, come in with me. Old sir, you may return home."
Old Jack thanked him profusely and gave the two children a few more instructions before finally leaving reluctantly.
The gatekeeper did not dare say another word.
Grandmaster led Tang San and Lin Kun into the academy. Along the way, Grandmaster mainly spoke with Tang San, asking about his twin martial souls—though Tang San concealed them, Grandmaster seemed to have already guessed—and proposed taking Tang San as his disciple.
After some consideration, and after Grandmaster displayed his profound understanding of martial soul theory, Tang San knelt and acknowledged him as his master.
Lin Kun silently followed behind, watching it all unfold. He was like an observer witnessing the protagonist's halo shine.
Only after accepting a disciple did Grandmaster seem to remember Lin Kun's existence. Turning to him, he said, "Lin Kun, your martial soul is quite special. Although Innate Spirit Power Level One is not high, it does not mean you lack potential. Work-study students have difficult work and studies ahead of them, so you should be prepared. Go register at the Academic Affairs Office first. Someone will then take you to the dormitory."
"Thank you, Grandmaster." Lin Kun bowed respectfully. He knew that Grandmaster would not pay much attention to him right now. He had to rely on himself, and he also had to rely on the system.
After completing the simple enrollment procedures at the Academic Affairs Office, an older work-study student led Tang San and Lin Kun toward their dormitory—the Seventh Dormitory.
The closer they got to the Seventh Dormitory, the faster Lin Kun's heart beat.
The countdown was about to reach zero.
The gears of fate would begin to derail completely from here.
He took a deep breath and clenched his fists, his palms soaked with sweat.
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