Out in the World, It's All About Influence and Connections

Before Zhang Zhao could finish, Xiao Qiang silenced him with just one phrase: "My teacher, Jing Hongchen."

His father's positions as Imperial Censor and Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices were already extremely high-ranking. In Xiao Qiang's previous life, such an office could practically be considered the equivalent of a vice head of state. But Jing Hongchen was on an entirely different level, among the very top even on a national scale.

As someone comparable to Xuan Zi, Jing Hongchen was the Sun Moon Empire's second greatest pillar. Even the crown prince and the emperor had to address him as Hall Master Hongchen and show him immense respect.

The moment Zhang Zhao heard the words "my teacher, Jing Hongchen," the anger in his chest abruptly stalled.

Though still doubtful, Zhang Zhao's tone became visibly more cautious. "May I ask, since you say Hall Master Hongchen is your teacher, would it be convenient for you to show me some proof?"

Xiao Qiang took out the token representing his identity as Jing Hongchen's disciple. Xiao Qiang handed it over with one hand, while Zhang Zhao lowered his head and accepted it with both hands.

After taking a look, Zhang Zhao returned it with both hands. His face immediately broke into a fawning smile.

"For someone as distinguished as Hall Master Hongchen to accept you as a disciple—one must know that he chooses disciples only once in ten thousand. I never expected you to be such an exceptional talent. Please forgive my disrespect."

"It's nothing. I need you to deliver something for me to Bai Qingshan, the vice principal of East Sea Junior Soul Master Academy. The sooner it arrives, the better."

As he spoke, Xiao Qiang took out a Storage Soul Tool and handed it over. Zhang Zhao accepted it with both hands, then solemnly declared, "Please rest assured, sir. I'll personally deliver this to the Soul Guide Department. I guarantee there won't be the slightest problem."

"Mm. There's also a Soul Communication Device inside that can transmit over long distances. Once you've delivered it, remember to have him contact me to confirm."

"Yes, I'll remember. Do you have any other instructions?"

"No. Just get it there as quickly as possible."

After giving his instructions, Xiao Qiang walked out of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Transport Group.

Watching Zhang Zhao drive swiftly out of Mingdu City before rapidly taking to the skies, he thought, I hope he gets there quickly. Uncle Bai's life probably won't be easy during this time.

Eastsea City of the Sun Moon Empire, inside East Sea Junior Soul Master Academy.

"You want to draw your salary in advance again? Bai Qingshan, I'm not trying to criticize you, but isn't this a bit excessive?" Zhao Yuanbu, the principal of East Sea Junior Soul Master Academy, said as he tapped the desk.

Bai Qingshan stood across from the desk, facing a principal more than twenty years younger than himself. With an embarrassed smile, he said, "Principal, this is the last time. Just this once. Please make an exception for me again."

"Make an exception? Over the past two years, which month haven't you asked me to make an exception for you? And honestly, Xiao Qiang isn't even your son. Why are you working so hard to help him? If you weren't a food-type Soul Master and a Rank 4 Soul Engineer, I'm afraid helping him would have left you unable even to afford food."

Bai Qingshan remained silent. Listening to the principal, he felt like cursing. Why had he helped Xiao Qiang so much? Wasn't it all because of this principal?

Bai Qingshan had been born with only Rank 2 Soul Power and became a Soul Master at the age of ten. He first studied at East Sea Junior Soul Master Academy, then returned after graduation to become a teacher there.

He had endured for nearly thirty years. At last, his seniority was sufficient, and his Soul Power had reached Rank 40. After obtaining his soul ring, he successfully became a Soul Ancestor. He had merely been waiting for the previous principal to retire so he could take over the position.

But what happened?

Zhao Yuanbu had no sense of fair play. Relying on his status as the grandson of the Zhao Family's First Elder, despite never having taught for a single day and having no connection whatsoever to East Sea Junior Soul Master Academy, he had suddenly been parachuted in to take over from the previous principal.

Bai Qingshan had already become vice principal and was on the verge of succeeding to the principal's position, only for this newcomer to push him right back down into the vice principal's seat.

At that moment, he learned that out in the world, it was all about influence and connections.

Without influence or connections, if he wasn't the one being kept in the vice principal's position, who would be?

Yet Bai Qingshan was merely a commoner. He could not even find a family faction with any real influence.

And then, Xiao Qiang came along.

Xiao Qiang proposed a plan to him: Bai Qingshan would provide Xiao Qiang with cultivation resources until he turned fourteen, and by the time Xiao Qiang reached his twenties, he would have more or less grown strong enough. Then, Xiao Qiang could become Bai Qingshan's backing.

Considering that he likely would not reach Rank 50 in this lifetime, along with Xiao Qiang's innate Rank 5 Soul Power and the strength of the Body Spirit he had heard about—

Having just learned the lesson that making it in the world required influence and connections, Bai Qingshan hesitated only briefly before choosing to help Xiao Qiang and accept his proposal.

At the time, he believed he had nothing left to lose. No matter how bad things got, they could not get much worse. It was only in the past two years, after selling everything in his home that could be sold for the cultivation resources Xiao Qiang needed and piling up a mountain of debt, that he learned things could, in fact, get worse.

Fortunately, by the time his money had nearly run out, only two years remained until Xiao Qiang turned fourteen. Otherwise, Bai Qingshan had no idea how he would have supported such a money-devouring beast.

"I really have to say, whatever he asks for, you give it to him. You're such a stubborn old fool. If you'd just said your means were limited and lowered the grade of the resources you gave him, you wouldn't have ended up in this state. Those clothes of yours—I think you were wearing them the first time I met you. How many years has it been since you changed them? You've sold your house and your family's shops too, haven't you? And your Soul Tools as well. You've emptied your family fortune and run up a mountain of debt for a brat who doesn't share even a drop of blood with you. Was it really necessary?"

"And you're a four-ring Soul Master and a Rank 4 Soul Engineer too. Do you even know how much the resources he asks for actually cost? With only half the resources he demanded, I added three servants to my Zhao Family. Yet a dignified Rank 4 Soul Engineer like you let him squeeze you dry. What a disgrace."

Zhao Yuanbu lit a cigar and continued. As both the principal and a member of Eastsea City's Zhao Family, he had actually been the first person Xiao Qiang approached for resources. But because Xiao Qiang had demanded too much, he had refused without hesitation.

Bai Qingshan shook his head. "There's one thing Xiao Qiang said that I agree with. You can't raise a phoenix on chicken feed. Expecting enormous returns while treating the cost as negligible was never very realistic to begin with."

Zhao Yuanbu sneered. "You're really expecting him to repay you with something? Stop fooling yourself. Even if he does make something of himself one day, how many years will you have left by then? Soul Masters do live longer than ordinary people, but you're already over fifty, aren't you? Even if he gives you something, you probably won't be able to use it."

"Face reality. He can't give you anything. He may not even be planning to give you anything at all. If he gives you any truly valuable thing within ten years..."

As he spoke, Zhao Yuanbu tapped the desk in front of him.

"I'll eat this desk."