Junior Soul Master Academy

Just one meter. The leaf flew only one meter before it could no longer maintain its spinning momentum, because it was no longer hard. Once it left Tang San's fingers, the internal force from the Mysterious Heaven Skill naturally vanished as well.

"My skill is still too weak." Tang San shook his head helplessly and rose to his feet. It was time to go back. Today, he would be leaving the village. He had no idea when he would next be able to come to this mountaintop.

With the tip of his foot touching the ground and strength surging through his calf, Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and headed down the mountain.

The familiar fragrance of porridge greeted him. This was the last time he would cook for his father before leaving, so Tang San naturally did not slack off. He checked the firewood beneath the stove and added some more water to the porridge. That way, when his father woke up, he would still be able to have hot porridge.

Old Jack had already arrived. Perhaps because they were going to Nuoding City, Old Jack had deliberately put on a new set of clothes today, making him look even more vigorous.

"Little San, let's go. Your lazy father won't be getting up." Jack called out to Tang San.

Tang San made a shushing gesture at Jack. "Grandpa, keep your voice down. Father hates it most when people disturb his sleep." As he spoke, he pulled a piece of spent charcoal from the stove and wrote several lines on the ground. Then, after casting one last reluctant glance at his father's door, he slung his bundle over his back and quietly left with Jack.

Tang San did not know much of this world's writing. He had only picked some up while occasionally watching the village schoolteacher teach the children their characters. Still, thanks to the foundation from his previous life, he had mastered some basic words.

The curtain was lifted, and a tall figure emerged from the inner room. There was not the slightest trace of sleepiness in Tang Hao's eyes. When he reached the doorway, he could still vaguely see Old Jack and Tang San's thin figures.

Tang Hao remained standing there without moving. Even after Tang San and Village Chief Jack had completely disappeared from sight, he still stood there blankly for a long while.

As if recalling something, Tang Hao suddenly turned and walked back into the blacksmith shop, looking at the words Tang San had left for him on the ground.

They were two very simple sentences: "Father, Grandpa Jack and I have left. Take good care of yourself, and drink less. The porridge is in the pot. Don't forget to eat it."

His gaze shifted from the words on the ground to the iron pot nearby. Tang Hao rushed over, swept the lid off the pot in one motion, and lifted the iron pot directly with both hands.

Because Tang San had just added water, the porridge in the pot had not yet come back to a boil. Yet Tang Hao paid it no mind, raising the iron pot to his mouth and pouring it down his throat. He gulped it down in great mouthfuls, and at some point, a hazy sheen of moisture had appeared in his eyes.

As they walked along the road, Tang San silently followed beside Old Jack, turning back from time to time to look in the direction of the village.

"Little San, do you hate to leave the village, or do you hate to leave that drunkard father of yours and that adorable little sister?" Jack stroked Tang San's head and smiled.

"A little of both," Tang San answered softly. Tang San realized that whenever the word "little sister" was mentioned, his heart always felt sour. Was this what it felt like to like someone?

Jack smiled faintly. "Compared to my useless grandsons, you are far more sensible. How wonderful it would be if you were my grandson. That drunkard Tang Hao is truly lucky. Don't overthink it. The world outside is vast. At the academy, you'll meet many friends and learn many things. Once you earn the title of Soul Master, the state will give you a monthly stipend. By then, your family's life can improve as well."

After all, Tang San had lived two lives. Hearing Jack's words, his emotions gradually returned to normal. Unable to suppress his longing for the outside world, he asked, "Grandpa Jack, can you tell me about the academy? What kind of place is it?"

Jack smiled. "An academy is naturally a place for learning. Although I never attended one myself, I know quite a bit about them. Our village has one work-study student slot every year, but no work-study student has gone to study for many years now. Work-study students receive many benefits: tuition and lodging are waived, and they only need to pay for their meals. You can earn food by doing simple jobs at the academy, such as cleaning classrooms. Overall, studying as a work-study student is practically free. If you have to pay to study, it isn't something poor people like us can afford."

Tang San said, "Father told me to find work at a blacksmith shop after I arrive at the academy."

"Work at a blacksmith shop? What kind of joke is that? I think Tang Hao has truly gone mad." Old Jack spoke irritably. "How old are you? You're probably not even as tall as a forging hammer. What blacksmith shop would take an apprentice like you? Besides, blacksmithing is an undervalued profession to begin with, and working there would not earn much. You only need to study hard at the academy."

"Still, if you can achieve something at the academy, that drunkard father of yours should save up some money for you. The Intermediate Soul Master Academy won't have work-study student slots. It takes quite a bit of money to study there. A Soul Master's stipend alone is far from enough."

Since Tang San possessed Innate Full Soul Power, Old Jack already regarded him as a Soul Master.

Tang San looked at Jack in confusion. "There's also an Intermediate Soul Master Academy? What's the difference between it and a Junior Soul Master Academy? They're both academies, so shouldn't they both teach knowledge about Soul Masters?"

Old Jack patiently explained, "Of course they're different. Junior Soul Master Academies teach basic things, along with some general courses. They only accept children whose martial souls have just awakened. The program lasts six years. Once they reach twelve, if they show no particular promise, they will simply become ordinary Soul Masters. But if they have good potential, most people choose to continue their studies at an Intermediate Soul Master Academy, studying until they are eighteen. Intermediate Soul Master Academies teach more advanced material, but the difficulty also increases greatly. If you cannot meet the academy's requirements, you will not be able to graduate successfully. That is different from a Junior Soul Master Academy."