Seeking Guidance

After Xiao Wu and Tang San finished buying their bedding, the three of them walked back toward Nuoding Academy.

Ma Xiunuo had told them about this shortcut. It could save at least half the time compared to the main road they had taken before.

As they neared the academy, the three suddenly heard a clanging sound.

The sound was extremely familiar to Tang San. He turned to look beside the road, and a blacksmith shop came into view.

"Huh? A blacksmith shop. Xiao San, I remember you learned smithing from Uncle Tang Hao. Want to go in and take a look?" Chen Feng suggested.

"But we're carrying bedding. It wouldn't be convenient," Tang San said.

"It's fine. Give me the bedding, and I'll take it back for you. I need to find Grandmaster after I get back anyway, to see how things are going with the letter he wrote asking his friend for help. Go take a look at the blacksmith shop first. If I'm not there when you return, come find me at Grandmaster's place with Xiao Wu." As Chen Feng spoke, he held out his hand to Tang San.

Tang San thought about it and felt that it would work. He had wanted to check whether the blacksmith shop had any job opportunities. Relying on the subsidy alone was not a long-term solution.

One Gold Soul Coin a month was certainly enough for food and daily expenses, but doing anything else would be difficult.

Tang San still remembered the goal he shared with Chen Feng. Research always cost money, so he had to plan for the future.

After handing the bedding to Chen Feng, Tang San ran toward the blacksmith shop while Chen Feng and Xiao Wu continued back to Nuoding Academy.

When they reached the dormitory, Chen Feng placed the bedding on the bed and ran toward Grandmaster's room. Xiao Wu, following what Chen Feng had said earlier, began setting up her bed by the south-facing wall.

When Grandmaster had returned to Nuoding Academy before, he had told Chen Feng and the others where he lived and said they could come to him if they needed anything. Now, Chen Feng wanted to see whether Flender had replied.

Arriving at Grandmaster's door, Chen Feng knocked. Before long, Grandmaster opened it.

"Xiao Feng? Why are you here?" Grandmaster asked after stepping aside to let Chen Feng in.

"I came to see whether your friend replied. After all, I was the one who proposed this treatment plan for Luo Sanpao," Chen Feng answered.

"So that's why. Don't worry, Flender has already replied. Oh, Flender is that friend of mine."

Grandmaster closed the door, walked over to a chair, and sat down.

"I originally thought Flender would come to speak with me first, but instead, he wrote that he would go directly to Death Desert to help me find a Fire Attribute dragon-type Soul Beast. Once he obtains its blood, he'll come find me."

"Your friend is really loyal," Chen Feng said with a sigh. "Death Desert is north of Nuoding City. If your friend's trip goes smoothly, he should arrive within the next few days."

Grandmaster nodded, his expression complicated. "Yes, Flender truly is loyal. I'm the one who has distanced myself from him these past years."

"Why did you distance yourself from him?" Chen Feng asked curiously.

Although he knew the whole story well, it would have seemed strange if he did not ask after the conversation had reached this point.

Grandmaster fell silent for a moment. "Because of some... complicated emotional issues."

Chen Feng nodded and did not press further, changing the subject instead.

"Grandmaster, I actually came for one more thing this time."

"Go ahead." Grandmaster picked up his cup, took a sip of water, and spoke.

"I would like to ask you to teach me about the different types of Soul Beasts and how to determine their age," Chen Feng said, looking at Grandmaster.

Such knowledge was closely guarded by the major powers. If he wanted to study a complete Soul Beast encyclopedia, he would probably have to join one of those great factions.

But in his heart, Chen Feng did not want some old man hanging over his head unless he had no other choice.

So the only place where he could learn how to identify Soul Beasts was here with Grandmaster.

"Alright." Grandmaster set down his cup and agreed without hesitation. "As long as you want to learn, I'll teach you."

Chen Feng froze for a moment, clearly not expecting Grandmaster to agree so quickly. But he soon recovered, stood up, and bowed.

"Thank you, Grandmaster."

"No need to be so polite. With your academic talent, if you joined a major faction, learning this sort of knowledge would be easy," Grandmaster said.

"But the Soul Beast encyclopedias kept by each major faction are probably different, and they clearly have no intention of sharing them with outsiders. Every one of them just hoards what they have," Chen Feng sighed.

"Yes. They all keep that knowledge locked away tightly. Ordinary people can only search through books at their local Spirit Hall, and even the encyclopedias they find there are incomplete." A mocking smile appeared on Grandmaster's face.

He had proposed the Ten Core Competitiveness Theory of the Spirit World partly to prove himself, but also to spread the knowledge that the major powers had kept hidden, allowing more people to learn it.

Looking at Grandmaster's mocking expression, an idea suddenly surfaced in Chen Feng's mind. What if he simply had Grandmaster compile a Complete Encyclopedia of Soul Beast Species?

But after considering it carefully, he ultimately dismissed the thought.

If such a book were truly completed, it would only further hasten the extinction of Soul Beast species. That did not align with Chen Feng's hopes.

So he said nothing and instead earnestly sought Grandmaster's guidance on matters related to Soul Beasts.

He did not stop studying until Tang San and Xiao Wu came looking for him.

"Come on, Xiao Feng, let's go fight." Xiao Wu spoke with an excited expression.

"Fight?" Grandmaster looked at Chen Feng in confusion.

"A spar. It's a spar! Not a fight. We just want to get familiar with the First Spirit Skills we each obtained," Chen Feng hurriedly explained.

"Oh..." Grandmaster nodded. "Sparring between Spirit Masters is indeed unavoidable. Only with ample real combat experience can one handle all kinds of situations. Would you mind if I watched your spar?"

The three exchanged glances and all shook their heads. "We don't mind."

The four arrived at a Small Grove, and Xiao Wu was the first to step forward. "Which one of you is going first?"

"I will." Tang San stepped forward.

It had been a long time since he had fought anyone, and he wanted to refresh his martial skills as well.

"Then let's begin!" The instant Xiao Wu finished speaking, she raised her knee, lifted her leg, and delivered a side kick.

Tang San tilted his head aside to evade it. Just as he was about to reach out and grab Xiao Wu's leg, he caught sight of her extending a finger toward him from the corner of his eye.

He immediately used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade Xiao Wu's Moonlight Ray while searching for an opportunity to counterattack.

Watching the two figures exchange blows, Chen Feng could not help baring his teeth.

Good lord, no wonder they were both cheating. How was an ordinary person supposed to fight them?

Their unarmed combat skills had already been formidable. Now, Tang San had the continuous support of his First Spirit Ring, while Xiao Wu possessed a means of releasing energy at range. It truly was a battle between immortals.

As for Chen Feng, this little nobody could only stand by and watch.