Spirit Pagoda

Ever since obtaining Magic Power, An Ping had been like a child with a new toy, following the Compendium of Cantrips as he tried one simple cantrip after another.

Spells were methods of using Magic Power to simulate the arrangement of elements, or even laws, forming models that could manipulate the corresponding external elements or laws to achieve one's purpose.

Cantrips, as the name implied, were spells like parlor tricks. Though they were still spells, their structures were generally simple and their ability to influence the material world was limited. Most could only make life more convenient, such as the Cleansing Technique and Spring Water Technique.

However, because cantrips had simple structures, they were better suited for Shaman Apprentices to understand what elemental arrangements were, how to construct models according to those arrangements, how different elements could be combined, and what forms they could take.

After several days of tireless effort, An Ping discovered that cantrips were not difficult. Zero-level cantrips such as the Spring Water Technique could basically succeed on his first try. First-level cantrips succeeded after two or three attempts. As for second-level cantrips, his total Magic Power was insufficient. During his only attempt, his Magic Power suddenly ran out halfway through outlining the Spell Model. If he had not severed the connection in time, he might have suffered spell backlash.

Before he knew it, the holiday had ended. With the start of the new semester, Red Mountain Academy became lively once more.

There were no classes on the first day of school. Instead, there was the Opening Ceremony.

The students from the regular classes stood in stark contrast to those from the Soul Master classes. A glance at the student formations showed that the regular classes had at least a thousand students, while the three grades of Soul Master classes combined had only a few dozen.

The academy dean gave a long-winded speech from the podium. He first introduced the academy's history, then spoke about the academy's social significance, before finally offering encouragement to the students.

It was entirely more ceremonial than practical. The children below were not even ten years old at most—how could they understand any of that?

"All right, the homeroom teachers will now take their students back to their classrooms." Hearing this, An Ping breathed a sigh of relief. It was finally over.

Following their homeroom teacher, Lin Ximeng, back to the classroom, Lin Ximeng smilingly took out a small device for testing Soul Power. "I wonder whether you all worked hard on your cultivation during the holiday. Come up one by one and test your Soul Power Levels."

Although this was not their first test, the students below displayed all manner of reactions. Some were worried, some confident, and some whispered among themselves.

"Wan Yunchao."

The first to be called was Little Fatty, Wan Yunchao. He waddled up to the platform, and once there, placed his hand on the testing device.

"Beep. Level seven."

"You've risen another level. You'll soon be able to become a Soul Master. It seems Wan Yunchao didn't slack off during the holiday. Keep it up."

"Mm, I will." Little Fatty looked immensely pleased with himself.

"Tang Wulin."

Tang Wulin walked up and placed his hand on the device.

"Beep. Level five."

"Tang Wulin, you need to keep working hard too."

"Mm." Tang Wulin nodded firmly, then stepped down from the platform.

Several more students went up for testing afterward, and their levels were all around level five.

"An Ping."

An Ping walked up and placed his hand on the device. He distinctly felt a stream of energy being drawn from his dantian, circulating through the hand he had placed on the device before returning to his dantian.

"Beep. Level ten."

"What?"

"How could he be so fast?"

"He's already level ten?"

The moment the device announced the result, the students below erupted in an uproar. They all stared at An Ping on the platform in disbelief.

Lin Ximeng was also somewhat surprised. "I never expected An Ping to reach level ten so quickly. You're the fastest cultivator I've ever seen. You should be able to go to the Spirit Pagoda and apply for a free Spirit Soul. After school, I'll go with you."

"Thank you, Teacher." An Ping thanked Lin Ximeng for her concern, then returned thoughtfully to his seat.

"An Ping, how exactly do you cultivate? You reached level ten so quickly. Can you teach me?" When Lin Ximeng stepped out to take a call, Tang Wulin turned around and asked quietly, his tone somewhat urgent.

Hearing Tang Wulin's question, Little Fatty Wan Yunchao also turned around and stared intently at An Ping. Naturally, An Ping could not reveal his secret to Tang Wulin. "There really isn't any trick to it. Honestly, haven't you noticed that among people with the same Innate Soul Power, your cultivation speed is already considered quite fast?"

Having failed to get the answer he wanted, Tang Wulin turned back around somewhat dejectedly.

Little Fatty patted Tang Wulin's shoulder with his chubby little hand and comforted him in a low voice. "An Ping's right. Your cultivation speed is already very fast. Look at the other three in our class with the same level-three Innate Soul Power as you—they're only level four even now, while you've been level five for months."

Hearing Little Fatty's consolation and thinking about his own situation, Tang Wulin began to feel encouraged again. "Thanks. You're right. I'll work even harder from now on."

When Lin Ximeng mentioned Spirit Souls earlier, An Ping had never seriously considered the matter before, but now he was somewhat tempted. The shaman system was highly inclusive and would not conflict with the Martial Soul cultivation system. It could even promote Soul Power cultivation.

On the other hand, if he possessed all kinds of abilities without any Soul Rings, sooner or later he would attract the attention of people with ulterior motives.

Having figured this out, An Ping no longer hesitated. He decided to visit the Spirit Pagoda after school to see whether he could apply for a Spirit Soul. If not, he could only spend his own money to buy one.

After a while, Lin Ximeng returned from finishing her business and continued the unfinished Soul Power testing.

Finally, after the last person had completed the test, Lin Ximeng recorded the information on a form, put it away, and clapped her hands to signal for the students below to quiet down.

Once the classroom had fallen silent, Lin Ximeng spoke gently. "All right, everyone has worked very hard, so don't slack off in the future either. That's all for today. Classes officially begin tomorrow, so don't be late."

The Spirit Pagoda's Aolai City branch was located in the city center, not far from Red Mountain Academy. In just over ten minutes, Lin Ximeng brought An Ping to the entrance of the Spirit Pagoda branch.

When Lin Ximeng and An Ping arrived, the Spirit Pagoda's main doors were wide open. Looking at the three-story building before them, they stepped inside. After briefly surveying the interior, An Ping saw that aside from a Spirit Receiver in gray robes seated behind the counter directly opposite the entrance, there was no one else.

Aolai City was, after all, merely a small coastal city. The scarcity of Soul Masters in Aolai City could be seen from the number of students in Red Mountain Academy's Soul Master classes. A place like the Spirit Pagoda, which specifically served Soul Masters, naturally did not receive many visitors in normal times.

When the Spirit Receiver saw Lin Ximeng and An Ping enter, he rose from his seat, looked the two of them over, and said, "Hello. What can I do for you?"