Teacher

"Hehe." Fang Ling grinned as he stopped in front of them.

"Teacher, Shimu, I'm Fang Ling—the one who showed you the Spirit Hall certificate just now."

Seeing that both of them were still completely stunned, he hurriedly explained.

"Director Ou said he was introducing me to Teacher Tianyang as your disciple."

"Oh..."

Lin Tianyang patted Fang Ling's head and turned his gaze toward Director Ou. "Director Ou, you...?"

Director Ou smiled faintly. "Didn't you always say you wanted a combat genius as your disciple?"

"Fang Ling is a genuine genius. Though his techniques are still somewhat unrefined and his attacks a little too ruthless, he has an exceptional innate combat sense and extremely fast reactions."

"His prosthetic leg doesn't hinder his movement at all. He's remarkably agile—a truly excellent prospect."

"Good!" Lin Tianyang was overjoyed upon hearing this and immediately said, "I trust your judgment."

"Then I'll take him as my disciple."

"You get back to your work. It's getting late, so I'll take him to eat first and find him somewhere to stay."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the couple led Fang Ling toward the cafeteria.

While eating in the cafeteria, the two introduced themselves to him.

Teacher Lin Tianyang spoke first. "Lin Tianyang, martial soul: Flowing Wind Blade. Twenty-eight years old, currently a Level Forty-six assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor."

The gentle and beautiful Shimu followed, rubbing Fang Ling's cheek as a soft smile appeared on her face.

"My name is Shu Manyun. I'm twenty-six, my martial soul is Emerald Flower, and I'm a Level Thirty-two Healing Soul Elder."

"Little Fang Ling, introduce yourself."

Fang Ling was not afraid either and spoke loudly.

"My name is Fang Ling. I'm from Fasinuo Province, Notting Academy. I used to be a beggar, and I'm nine years old this year."

"My martial soul is Sickle. I have one Hundred Year Spirit Ring, and my soul skill increases Nerve Reflex by twenty percent."

"A beggar?" Lin Tianyang was somewhat surprised.

Shu Manyun pinched Fang Ling's cheek, a flash of heartache crossing her face. "When did your leg break?"

Fang Ling had prepared answers for all sorts of questions. "Before my martial soul awakened, I think. I don't remember very clearly."

"Did you kill that Fallen Spirit Master all by yourself?"

Lin Tianyang was especially concerned about the fact that Fang Ling had killed a one-ring Fallen Spirit Master despite being of a lower rank.

"Of course!"

Pride filled Fang Ling's face.

"I used the forest's complicated terrain, along with the obstruction of all those vines and branches, to kill him easily."

Lin Tianyang even stopped eating. After pondering briefly, he asked, "Did you ever have a teacher before? Have you learned combat techniques or methods of that sort?"

"No. I developed all my techniques myself."

Fang Ling shook his head. "Ever since I enrolled, I trained alone in the muddy forest for over a year before I started seeing results."

"I killed that Fallen Spirit Master not long after I first began seeing results."

A year?

Lin Tianyang was even more shocked. This youth, whom Director Ou called a true combat genius, had only trained by himself for a year?

What kind of talent was that?

Fang Ling did not know what they were thinking. Seeing their shocked expressions, he secretly rejoiced and said, "It was just that after training for another year or so, I couldn't feel much improvement. So I thought of coming to an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy that specialized in combat for systematic study."

Shimu attentively placed some food onto Fang Ling's plate. "What kept you going through all that training?"

Fang Ling pondered for a moment. "Mm... that feeling, I guess?"

"I used to be a beggar. I know the hardship of having no control over my own life, so I want to take control of my fate and become the strongest in the world."

"I want to stand at the pinnacle of this world!"

"My Innate Soul Power is only Level One, but I refuse to accept my fate. I believe in myself!"

"As long as I train, train, and then pursue it tirelessly, fighting with perseverance, I'll definitely make it!"

A persona. This was the persona he needed to create in order to improve quickly.

Fang Ling's powerful words made Lin Tianyang feel ashamed of himself.

If I had such lofty ambitions too, if I had known from childhood to cultivate diligently, then I would surely be in a completely different place now.

Shimu glanced at her husband. "Aren't you afraid of hardship and exhaustion? Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?"

Her voice was gentle, like a babbling spring, making one feel deeply at ease.

"Not afraid!"

"As for getting hurt?"

Fang Ling carefully glanced at Shu Manyun. "I've been injured so many times that the healing Soul Masters at Notting Academy have practically blacklisted me."

"They kept warning me."

"Every time, I promised them properly, and every time, I didn't want to get hurt either. But my body wouldn't listen to me. What could I do?"

He spread his hands to show his helplessness.

This was a problem faced during the early stages of movement technique training. Later, wrapping himself in old padded clothes made things much better.

"Hehe!"

Both of them could not help laughing, though they also felt a little heartache.

In those few simple words lay dozens, perhaps hundreds, of uninterrupted days of training.

After a brief silence, Shimu spoke.

"You little fellow have talent and perseverance, unlike the one beside me."

"Manyun, what kind of thing is that to say?" Lin Tianyang had been lost in thought as well.

But after hearing that, he could not pretend he had not heard it.

"Hehe." Shimu gave two crisp laughs.

Lin Tianyang pulled her over and held her in his arms, hurriedly explaining, "Fang Ling, don't listen to your Shimu's nonsense. Your teacher is talented too—very strong!"

Shimu's mouth was covered, and she mumbled, "I never said you weren't strong. I only said you weren't hardworking enough."

"I'm not hardworking enough?"

The two stared wide-eyed at each other, and Shimu refused to yield in the slightest.

Lin Tianyang sighed and was the first to surrender.

"Fine, I really wasn't as hardworking as little Fang Ling. When I took part in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, I didn't even make it through the Preliminary Competition."

"But could that be my fault?"

"It was the captain who wasn't working hard enough!"

"He was a Soul Ancestor. If he didn't fight with everything he had, was he expecting me, who wasn't even a Soul Elder at the time, to carry the team?"

Fang Ling watched as the topic gradually went off on a tangent.

The two rambled from the Soul Master Competition to embarrassing things they had done as children.

From their conversation, it was clear they had grown up together.

Listening to them expose each other's shortcomings was genuinely amusing.

Fang Ling was engrossed, but he had not slept well since setting out on the road. Now, sleepiness washed over him, and he could only tap the table to remind them, "Teacher, Shimu, I still haven't found a place to stay."

"Oh, right, I forgot." Lin Tianyang, who had been chatting enthusiastically with his wife, smiled awkwardly.

As if trying to make up for it, he hurriedly said, "Come on, come on. I'll take you somewhere nice to stay."

After weaving through the academy, the two led Fang Ling to a cluster of courtyards surrounded by woods.

Instead of communal dormitories like those at Notting Academy, each was an independent little courtyard.

This school was really rich. The students here could live in such nice places?

Fang Ling could hardly believe it, his eyes filled with deep suspicion.

Lin Tianyang seemed to notice his surprise and explained with a smile, "This is the Teacher Dormitory. There are still vacancies."

"The academy isn't short on money. You're my student, and an exceptionally rare combat genius. Watch me get you a room."

Holding his wife's hand, he led Fang Ling to the entrance of a quiet courtyard.

He immediately began pounding hard on the door and shouted, "Manager Wang, come out! Tianyang needs to see you!"

Not long after, a hunched old man came out.

His voice was hoarse as he grumbled and cursed, "I'm not dead yet. Why are you shouting so loudly?"

A bright smile immediately appeared on Lin Tianyang's handsome face. "Manager Wang, hasn't the school term just started?"

"What is it?"

"I found a genius disciple. The Teacher Dormitory never fills up anyway, so help arrange a room for him."

"This is the Teacher Dormitory. You know the academy's rules."

Manager Wang did not reject him outright.

Lin Tianyang took out a bottle of wine from his Soul Tool and handed it over.

"Uncle Wang, help me out. When my dad gets back, I'll talk to him. Fang Ling is a true genius—a Spirit Scholar capable of killing a One-Ring Spirit Master across ranks. He can't be treated like those mediocre people."

Huh?

The teacher had connections?

From their conversation, Fang Ling picked up on something unusual.

Tomorrow is Tuesday. Please remember to keep reading!

Little Octopus offers his sincere thanks here.