Goodbye Su Yuntao

After leaving the academy, the first place Fang Ling went was the Spirit Hall Branch in Notting City.

Three years later, he had come here once again.

Gazing at the familiar towering domed building before him, he recalled Su Yuntao's crucial help during the early stages of his cultivation, and warmth still filled his heart.

The guards had not changed much. They were still the same two from three years ago, when his martial soul had awakened.

Although his one-legged appearance gave them a faint sense of familiarity, duty compelled them to stop Fang Ling anyway.

"Kid, this is Spirit Hall. You can't just barge in."

"Hello, I'm a graduate of Notting Academy. I'm here for my Soul Master appraisal."

Fang Ling summoned his Scythe Martial Soul, its bright yellow ring especially eye-catching.

The guards' eyes focused on it, and they were instantly filled with envy. "I see. Go on in, then. Head to the reception hall on the second floor and find Master Su Yuntao."

"Thank you." Fang Ling answered before immediately heading inside.

Sunlight refracted through the crystal windows, spilling across the gilded murals carved with all kinds of martial soul patterns.

The shimmering golden light gave the place a sense of magnificence without losing its ancient simplicity.

Even upon entering again, he could not help but marvel at the grandeur of the dome overhead.

The reception hall was on the second floor. Fang Ling went upstairs, found the place, and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in." A young man's somewhat authoritative voice sounded from within.

Fang Ling pushed the door open and entered.

It was a bright office, and behind the broad desk sat a valiant-looking young man.

He wore a neat Spirit Hall Uniform.

The standard three-sword insignia showed that he was a Battle Spirit Master of the Soul Grandmaster rank.

"You are?" Confusion appeared in Su Yuntao's eyes. He had long since forgotten Fang Ling.

His help had only been a whim. Who would remember a little Soul Master with Innate Level One?

Fang Ling understood that, so he did not mind.

"Master Su Yuntao, I'm here for my Soul Master appraisal. And this severed leg of mine—you helped me before. Do you remember?"

He lifted his prosthetic left leg to show him.

"A severed leg?" Su Yuntao froze for a moment. A flash of recollection crossed his handsome face. "You're that little beggar from three years ago?"

"What was your innate level again?"

"Level One."

"Level One? You became a Soul Master in just three years? You cultivate that fast?"

Su Yuntao was delighted to see that his casual act had helped a little beggar with no future climb out of the mire.

But something about this cultivation level did not seem right.

He looked Fang Ling over twice, his eyes filled with suspicion.

"Of course. I've worked very hard."

Fang Ling could roughly guess what he was doubting, so he directly took out the proof from the Angel Legion Demon Hunting Camp.

"Please take a look. I previously killed a Fallen Spirit Master and encountered people from the Angel Legion Demon Hunting Camp. They inspected me."

"Seven years old, Level Six, Scythe Martial Soul, and you killed a one-ring Fallen Spirit Master above your rank?"

Su Yuntao scanned it twice, his face full of disbelief. His voice rose several octaves, nearly cracking.

He had never even seen the Angel Legion Demon Hunting Camp, only heard its name.

This golden certificate specifically listed Fang Ling's name, academy, cultivation level, as well as the date and location.

Its unique golden lacquer reflected brilliant sunlight. It was definitely not forged.

The more Su Yuntao thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

"You...?"

"Ah!"

The two looked at each other for a while. A wave of gratification rose in Su Yuntao's heart, and he could not help sighing.

"I never expected that the one I casually discovered would turn out to be a genius!"

Three levels in a year. Su Yuntao himself had Innate Level Three Soul Power, yet he had never cultivated that quickly.

After so many years without fighting, he now felt it would be difficult even to defeat someone at the same rank, let alone kill someone above his rank.

He did not even dare imagine it!

Fang Ling smiled brightly.

"Hehe, I still remember your kindness. Once I make it big someday, I'll definitely repay you properly."

"I didn't help you for repayment. If I have to say it, being able to kill a Fallen Spirit Master already counts as repayment."

Su Yuntao shook his head, then stood and gave Fang Ling a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Come with me. I'll assess you as a spirit master."

He led Fang Ling down the corridor toward the place where Fang Ling had first awakened his martial soul.

The same three tall iron doors stood there, all tightly shut.

This time, he pushed open the one on the left.

Beyond it was a spacious room of roughly two hundred square meters.

Huge floor-to-ceiling windows provided ample light.

Five black stones, each as large as a fist and identical to those used for martial soul awakening, were embedded in the surrounding walls.

The moment Fang Ling entered the room, he felt something unusual.

His Soul Power seemed to pulse faintly in a special rhythm.

It was undoubtedly related to the black stones in the walls.

Su Yuntao moved swiftly. As soon as he entered, he picked up a yellow crystal ball from the table and handed it to Fang Ling.

"Pour your Soul Power into it."

Fang Ling nodded and quickly channeled his Soul Power into it.

A hazy yellow glow lit up within the crystal ball. It was not strong, but it was very clear.

"Twelfth Level?"

Su Yuntao raised an eyebrow.

Advancing directly to Twelfth Level after absorbing a soul ring was not something one saw often.

"I went with the Principal to obtain my soul ring over twenty days ago. I was only Eleventh Level then, but I broke through shortly after returning and resuming my cultivation."

Fang Ling happily told Su Yuntao the breakthrough story he had made up.

Though it was not entirely made up.

Using Points to level up was cultivation too.

Had his Soul Power increased or not?

The Soul Power enhanced through the Stats Panel was flawless, pure, condensed, and solid. There would be no hidden dangers like unstable Soul Power.

It truly lived up to the saying: "Stats Panel products are always premium quality."

After receiving his badge and collecting the money, Fang Ling thanked Su Yuntao again. After borrowing a detailed map of the area around Notting City stored in Spirit Hall, he hurried toward the butcher shop.

It was afternoon.

At this hour, the fatty should still have some meat left unsold.

When Fang Ling reached the shop entrance, he saw him busy at work.

Humming a little tune, he was helping a customer cut up their meat.

Fang Ling did not urge him. He simply stood quietly to one side and waited.

The fatty only noticed Fang Ling after he had finished his work.

He wiped away his sweat, then wiped the grease from his hands onto his clothes. A smile appeared on his face. "Little Brother Fang? Here to hang out again today?"

"Fatty, I'm not here to hang out."

"Hm?" The fatty froze.

Fang Ling felt a little bitter inside and forced a smile. "I've become a spirit master. I'm leaving Notting City to attend the Intermediate Spirit Master Academy."

"Huh? Where?" the fatty asked instinctively.

"The Silves Kingdom."

That far away?

The fatty's mouth fell open. Though he had expected it, he still had not imagined that the day of parting would come so soon.

"I'm treating you, Grandpa Liu, and the others to a feast. Coming?"

"Let's go."

A feast could not really count as repayment, but a farewell meal had to be a good one.

Though the slaughterhouse reeked of blood and smelled unpleasant, it had given Fang Ling the crucial starting resources for his cultivation.

Grandpa Liu and the others had also taken great care of him. He could not simply leave without a word.

"Eat up, everyone! Eat and drink your fill!"

Fang Ling booked several tables of food. Using water in place of wine, he celebrated with everyone.

"A toast to Little Brother Fang becoming a spirit master!"

"Cheers!"

"A toast to the birth of a genius!"

"Cheers!"

Fang Ling had already become a Soul Master. His status stood far above that of ordinary people; he was now someone lofty and exalted.

Yet he had not forgotten those who had come to his aid in the snow, those who had given him crucial help.

The prosperity and clamor faded away, and in the blink of an eye, it was the next morning.

Since he had left the Academy, Fang Ling did not return. Instead, he stayed the night at Grandpa Liu's home.

He was now sitting on the doorstep, quietly gazing up at the sky.

He watched the Cloud Layer gather and disperse, watched the drifting clouds shift, his eyes flickering faintly.

Old Liu walked over with his pipe and sat down beside him. "You're leaving today?"

"Yeah, I'm leaving." Fang Ling's voice was heavy.

"Take care, Fang Ling!"

"You'll definitely become a major figure in the world of Soul Masters."

"You were a beggar, free by nature. Don't let yourself be tied down by anything. Go forward boldly!"

"Hahaha, hahaha, hahaha, of course!"

Fang Ling choked up slightly. At last, the pride of a transmigrator rose within his heart.

With countless ambitions in his chest, he solemnly made a vow to the world.

"Since I came to this world, I will definitely become the strongest Soul Master in it!"

"I will stand at the summit of the world!"

(End of Volume One)

End-of-Volume Notes.

Volume One was over. Soon, we were heading somewhere new.

This little author could only sigh that his writing skill was still lacking.

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