The Clever Child

The prayers had not helped much. Fang Ling's Martial Soul was terrible, merely an ordinary agricultural scythe, while his Soul Power was nothing but a big, bare zero.

Combined with his thin body and missing lower left calf, without the Stats Panel, this could be called the worst possible start.

Yet he had no choice but to walk the path of a Soul Master.

When that time came, he would have to find a way to trek a thousand miles to Heaven Dou City and stake his life against Dugu Bo.

Fortunately, the Stats Panel had appeared in time.

The Gray Progress Bar had bloomed with a captivating radiance when his Martial Soul awakened.

The deep gray was inconspicuous, but to Fang Ling, whose circumstances were so difficult, it was like heavenly music suddenly ringing beside his ears.

It instantly lifted his spirits.

If there hadn't been so many people around just now, he might even have thrown back his head and sung a song.

After waiting a while, Fang Ling calmed himself and began studying his cheat.

The Stats Panel was simple and offered no further details.

There were no Soul Rings or Soul Bones, so he could set those aside for now.

The important things were the plus signs, talents, and points.

He had originally possessed one point. It should have been that little dot created after the Gray Progress Bar filled up.

The Gray Progress Bar was now empty again, increasing at an extremely slow rate.

After Fang Ling had just spent his point on Soul Power, his Soul Power increased by one, while the points column had now become 0 points.

The plus signs beside Soul Power and Martial Soul had both dimmed from their original light gray.

He recalled this detail and mulled it over constantly. Did one point add one level?

Wouldn't that mean he could become a god directly with a hundred points?

It was a beautiful thought, but even thinking with his butt, he knew it was absolutely impossible.

Every time a Soul Master advanced by one Soul Ring, the Soul Power required would increase. The farther one progressed, the harder it became.

More likely—

Before obtaining a Soul Ring and becoming a Soul Master, one point added one level.

Once he became a Soul Master, he would naturally be able to verify this guess.

Based on the information he currently possessed, the Progress Bar needed a year to fill, granting one point.

In other words, he could add one level every year.

Relying solely on the points' automatic growth, it would take ten years to obtain one Soul Ring!

He did not know what would happen afterward. Facing the world's drastic changes, he might die from some inexplicable area-of-effect attack at any moment.

In the end, he had to take control of his own fate.

Aside from cultivating himself, he had to find a way to discover other methods of adding points.

Fang Ling shifted his attention and stared at the talent column.

Naturally, the six words "Martial Soul Innate Specialty" were the most worthy of attention.

There was no need to explain talents. They were a type of passive attribute.

Sharpness and Endurance were both Lv1, and his Martial Soul was also Lv1. Their matching levels made it difficult not to associate them.

As expected, both of these were closely related to the Martial Soul's level and would increase along with it.

Soul Rings would influence the Martial Soul, and choosing a compatible Soul Ring might also have an enhancing effect.

Additional Martial Soul talents would probably also depend on Soul Rings.

Since there were Martial Soul talents, were there also physical and mental talents?

Fang Ling guessed there should be.

Aside from strengthening the Martial Soul, Soul Rings also enhanced a Soul Master's body. Perhaps they could bring physical or mental talents.

Beyond that, might persistent training work as well?

Eating an Immortal Herb should likewise grant corresponding additional talents.

The Fire Immunity and Ice Immunity brought by consuming the Ice and Fire Herbs—if those weren't blatant talents, then what were they?

Unfortunately, even though Fang Ling knew the plot, he still did not dare to seek them out recklessly.

Not to mention that his current strength was insufficient, and the journey was long.

Dugu Bo's eccentric personality and notorious fickleness alone meant that he had to proceed slowly. He could not afford the slightest haste.

Fang Ling was making plans for the future when the flow of people outside gradually thinned until it disappeared entirely.

He could still vaguely hear voices conversing.

Having heard them earlier, he immediately recognized them as Su Yuntao and Si Si.

Su Yuntao said, "Today wasn't very good. There weren't any particularly good Martial Souls. The best was a bat, but its Soul Power was only half a level."

"Although it would develop into a flying Martial Soul later on, its Soul Power Level is too low. It would have trouble even breaking through Level 10."

Si Si argued against him, "But doesn't Notting Academy have a so-called 'Master' who started with Innate Soul Power Level Half and cultivated to Level 29?"

Because he had become famous for his theories and was constantly mocked for freeloading, Gangzi had some renown, at least in Notting City.

"Master... Other people call him Yu Xiaogang. The surname Yu isn't simple. His background might be substantial."

"Don't mention him. They're nothing more than basic Soul Master knowledge, yet he calls it theory. It makes me feel unlucky just listening to it."

Su Yuntao and his female companion Si Si ended their conversation and quickly walked inside.

They saw Fang Ling sitting properly in the room, his posture perfectly straight, as though someone were threatening him.

He looked somewhat foolish, and for some inexplicable reason, it made people feel a little sorry for him.

"Master Su."

When Fang Ling saw the newcomer, he hurriedly propped himself up and stood.

"Mm, it's fine. Sit down."

Su Yuntao waved his hand. He had a fairly good impression of this polite child.

Though he was a beggar with one crippled leg, he possessed a mysterious vitality.

There was light in his eyes, his clothes were clean, and he did not have the foul stench common among other beggars. His bearing was quite unique.

Although he said that, Fang Ling definitely was not going to sit back down.

Su Yuntao did not mind. He took out a notebook and began recording. "Your name is Fang Ling, right?"

"Yes. I didn't have a name, so I chose one for myself."

"Where are you from?"

"Of course..."

"Think before you speak, boy." Su Yuntao interrupted him.

Fang Ling stopped. There was no reason for him to interrupt himself. There had to be a reason for doing so.

What was it?

The Work-Study Student quota!

He vaguely remembered that one could not attend a Soul Master Academy simply by wanting to.

Even the Guard at this Spirit Hall Branch had been envious that Tang San could attend Notting Academy.

Perhaps it was only a matter of money, but he happened to be a dirt-poor beggar with no money for school.

"Did Master Su encounter any children with suitable Martial Souls and Soul Power in the villages outside the city this year?"

The Martial Soul awakenings in the city took place slightly later than those in the villages outside. The question did not seem abrupt.

"This year was even worse than last year. I didn't encounter a single one." A smile appeared on Su Yuntao's face. This was a clever child.

"I came from Barren Stone Village." Fang Ling recalled the nearby villages, and a glint flashed through his eyes.

"Good. Fang Ling, a native of Barren Stone Village, six years old, Martial Soul: Sickle, Innate Soul Power Level One..."

Su Yuntao quickly issued a certificate. "You can use this certificate to register at Notting Academy and become a Work-Study Student there."

"Thank you, Master Su. I will definitely repay today's kindness someday."

Fang Ling etched it deeply into his heart.

"Hehe." Su Yuntao grinned and patted his shoulder. "You don't need to repay me. Cultivate well and cast off your identity as a beggar."

Fang Ling nodded vigorously. He carefully held the certificate in his hand, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Go on. There's only this one, and it won't be replaced if you lose it."

Watching the Little Cripple's retreating figure, Si Si was somewhat curious. "Why did you help him?"

"Perhaps I simply didn't want to see another beggar appear in the world. He's also very lively and full of vigor. There's still hope for him."

Dragging a good family's daughter into the gutter, persuading a prostitute to turn respectable.

Many people had thoughts like these.

Fang Ling's situation was somewhat similar.

Su Yuntao had a good impression of him and did not want the next time he saw him to be after that vitality had vanished, with him still looking like a beggar.