Soul Tools Are Only Tools

Two days later, early morning, Shrek Plaza.

All the new students had gathered here, looking expectantly at Du Weilun ahead of them.

The appearance of an Evil Soul Master at the academy had left Du Weilun in a poor mood, but facing the new students, he still forced the corners of his mouth upward and did his best to smile.

"Everyone already knows what happened two days ago. Due to special circumstances, Ji Tongxuan's team's results in the New Student Assessment have been nullified. The recalculated results will be announced shortly. In addition, according to tradition, students who performed exceptionally during the New Student Assessment will be selected as the academy's Core Disciples."

"Of course, aside from those students, some who still fall slightly short will temporarily receive the treatment of Core Disciples and may be promoted later depending on their performance in subsequent examinations."

"Next are the rewards for the top three teams. The nine students from the top three teams in the New Student Assessment will all be selected as Core Disciples. Furthermore, each of them may submit a request to the academy during their time here, and with the academy's assistance, obtain a Soul Ring at the limit of what they can bear."

"Finally, the list of Core Disciples and the specific class assignments..."

As the champion of the New Student Assessment, Wang Nan unsurprisingly became a Core Disciple. He was naturally assigned to Class One, Grade One, which mainly consisted of Assault Type and Control Type students. Their Head Teacher was Sun He, an old acquaintance of Wang Nan's.

After the class assignments were finished, Du Weilun kept Wang Nan behind alone.

"I kept you here because of what happened with Ji Tongxuan during the New Student Assessment." Du Weilun only spoke after the new students had walked away. "Due to the academy's negligence, the referee did not stop the match immediately, allowing you to be attacked by an Evil Soul Master. Therefore, the academy has decided to offer you compensation."

"By the way, your Soul Power is Rank 28, correct?" Though that was what the registration form stated, Wang Nan's performance in the Elimination Round had left Du Weilun somewhat uncertain.

"Yes, Director Du."

"Good. Then the academy will help you obtain your next Soul Ring. Naturally, we will do our best to satisfy your own wishes regarding it. If there truly is no suitable target, the academy will also make reasonable recommendations based on your circumstances. What do you think?"

Wang Nan knew that this Soul Ring was meant to ensure he would not hold the academy accountable in the future. Compared with their brief clash on the Final Match stage that day, this compensation was already sufficient, so he nodded in agreement.

Perhaps because Wang Nan's victory had been too natural and he had not displayed anything particularly outstanding, Du Weilun only mentioned the compensation and did not prepare any additional reward such as a Soul Bone. Wang Nan found that rather regrettable. After all, he had never even seen a Soul Bone in person.

When Wang Nan returned to the dormitory, he saw Gongyang Mo fiddling with a piece of red paper stamped with gold.

"What is that?"

"An invitation to the Treasure Appraisal Fair."

"Oh." Wang Nan answered, then noticed another one on his own desk. "There's one for me too?"

"The person who delivered them said that every year after the New Student Assessment, they specifically hold one for Core Disciples. Of course there's one for you." Gongyang Mo stopped what he was doing and blinked his pretty eyes. "Are you going? If those merchants can deliver invitations into the academy, there might really be something good there."

"There'll definitely be good stuff. It might even have been tailored specifically for us."

"Huh? How do you know?"

"The list of Core Disciples was announced this morning, and the invitations were in our hands before noon." As Wang Nan spoke, he opened his invitation and glanced at it. "Look, even our names were written on them in advance. How could they not have prepared things suited to us?"

Hearing Wang Nan's words, Gongyang Mo quickly understood. With Shrek Academy's influence, even the three great empires were eager to curry favor with it. It was impossible for anyone to plant spies inside the academy. The Gathering Treasures Pavilion, which was holding the Treasure Appraisal Fair, might well have been one of Shrek's own properties.

"So you don't plan on going?"

"How did you get that I don't plan on going? Since there are things suited to us, we should go take a look."

Wang Nan moved as quickly as the Gathering Treasures Pavilion had delivered the invitations. He had only decided at noon to go, and by evening, he was already standing outside the Gathering Treasures Pavilion with Gongyang Mo.

The Gathering Treasures Pavilion stood more than twenty meters tall, its exterior splendidly gilded. Inside were many shops selling all manner of items related to Soul Masters and Soul Engineers, giving it something of the feel of a shopping mall from Wang Nan's memories.

It was currently time for the Treasure Appraisal Fair. Four young women in long dresses stood on each side of the entrance. As soon as Wang Nan and Gongyang Mo arrived, one of them came forward to greet them.

"Are you two Soul Masters here for the Treasure Appraisal Fair?" The young woman stopped before them and bowed slightly. "May I see your invitations?"

"Please follow me." After confirming them, the young woman led Wang Nan and Gongyang Mo into the Gathering Treasures Pavilion.

Fine, Wang Nan had to admit that he was a rather ordinary person too. When he saw the vast expanse of golden decoration inside the Gathering Treasures Pavilion, he could not help taking a few more looks. You could never get tired of looking at something so dazzlingly golden.

"Esteemed VIPs, the Treasure Appraisal Fair is being held on the second floor. Please browse freely. If you find an item you like, please register your purchase on the west side. If you need to buy on credit, you may also be evaluated there. The results of the evaluation will determine the discount and credit limit available to you."

After saying this, the young woman bowed again, took a step back, and stood to one side.

Among all the displays on the second floor, the most eye-catching was undoubtedly the Soul Bone displayed in the center. It appeared to be an arm bone, entirely golden-red in color. Its five slender finger bones pointed upward, each fingertip emitting a faint golden-red glow.

It floated quietly within the display case, silently awaiting the arrival of its destined owner.

Wang Nan only looked at it a few times. Once his curiosity was satisfied, he stopped paying attention to it. It had been placed there only for people to admire. Nine million five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins—even an emperor would need to think long and hard about that.

By comparison, a Flying Soul Tool on the other side was much more worth considering.

"A Soul Tool?" Gongyang Mo sounded surprised.

"What's wrong with Soul Tools?"

Gongyang Mo hesitated before finally speaking. "I don't know whether anyone has told you this, but for us Soul Masters, only the Soul Power we cultivate ourselves is the most dependable and trustworthy. Soul Tools are external objects, after all. We shouldn't rely on them too much."

Wang Nan turned his gaze toward Gongyang Mo and reevaluated his roommate.

He had always known that students of Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department were extremely opposed to Soul Tools, but this was the first time he had felt it so directly.

Unlike the people of this world, Wang Nan retained memories from another world. In his eyes, there was no either-or relationship between Soul Masters and Soul Tools. Soul Tools were no different from the blades, spears, and shields in a warrior's hands, or the hammers and axes in a worker's hands. They were merely tools.