Working Is Out of the Question

"What? You want to undergo a Soul Power Advancement Assessment? Have you already obtained a Soul Ring?"

Ma Xiunuo spoke in shock. It had only been five days since Ye Hao awakened his Martial Soul and came here for a Soul Power assessment.

The nearest Soul Beast Forest was the Soul Hunting Forest on the outskirts, which was Empire-Raised. Other than those with tokens issued by Spirit Hall, no one else could enter.

Many people had come to the branch hall to collect tokens over the past few days, but Ma Xiunuo had never seen Ye Hao. Perhaps someone else had temporarily borrowed one for him.

Although Ye Hao had Innate Full Soul Power and did not need to cultivate afterward, he could directly obtain his first Soul Ring.

Ma Xiunuo was certain that Ye Hao's Soul Ring was a ten-year one. Nuoding City had only so much Soul Master strength; dealing with a Hundred-Year Soul Beast would take considerable manpower and effort.

No one would hunt a Hundred-Year Soul Beast for a new student. The risk was simply too great.

(Grandmaster: Are you talking about me?)

Ye Hao followed Ma Xiunuo. When they arrived before a huge arched doorway, Ma Xiunuo stepped forward and pushed it open.

"This is the Martial Soul Advancement Assessment Lab."

It was an exceptionally spacious room, covering more than two hundred square meters. Enormous floor-to-ceiling windows provided ample light, and one could even see the distant scenery of the academy.

Ma Xiunuo led Ye Hao to a Black Stone the size of a fist set into the wall. It was similar to the one Su Yuntao had used to awaken Ye Hao's Martial Soul, except their sizes differed—one large, one small.

"Ye Hao, place your hand on it and release your Martial Soul and Soul Ring."

As soon as Ma Xiunuo finished speaking, Ye Hao stepped forward, gathered his breath, and raised his right hand. The instant his palm touched the stone, a yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring slowly rose beneath his feet. The phantom of the Death Spider Emperor behind him made Ma Xiunuo hold his breath for a moment, as though someone had gripped his throat and left him unable to breathe.

"A... a Hundred-Year Soul Ring."

Ma Xiunuo calmed himself and examined Ye Hao anew, his eyes filled with both gratification and complicated emotion. He walked to the Yellow Crystal Ball beside the desk.

Watching a faint glimmer shine within the crystal ball, Ma Xiunuo paused before saying, "Ye Hao, Martial Soul: Death Demon Spider. Soul Power Level 12. First Soul Ring: Hundred-Year."

"By the way, Ye Hao, can you tell me what kind of Soul Beast your first Soul Ring came from?" Ma Xiunuo asked in confusion. If his first Soul Ring was already a Hundred-Year one, then following the normal progression, Ye Hao's next Soul Ring would undoubtedly also be Hundred-Year.

Every time a Soul Master broke through, they urgently needed to obtain a Soul Ring suited to them. The required Soul Ring age would gradually rise, and on that foundation, the color of the Soul Ring would also undergo earth-shaking changes.

"A Hundred-Year Death Demon Spider. I was just a tiny bit lucky."

Ma Xiunuo: "..."

Just a tiny bit lucky?

With a Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul and a first Soul Ring taken from a Death Demon Spider, it was like the Empress's ninth Soul Ring coming from a hundred-thousand-year Death Spider Emperor. Was that merely a tiny bit lucky?

Calling you heaven's son would not be an exaggeration!

Ye Hao's first Martial Soul was the Death Spider Emperor, but Ma Xiunuo had mistakenly identified it as the Death Demon Spider.

Ma Xiunuo took out a Medal and registered Ye Hao's information. This Medal was valid throughout the continent and could be used at any Spirit Hall on Douluo Continent.

"From this day forward, you are an honored Soul Master of the Heaven Dou Empire. Welcome to the ranks of Soul Masters. From now on, you can use this Medal to receive a subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin every month. Once you become a Soul Grandmaster like us, that monthly amount will become ten Gold Soul Coins. Keep working hard."

Ye Hao accepted the Medal, thanked Ma Xiunuo, and left the Branch Martial Soul Hall alone.

From beginning to end, Ma Xiunuo never mentioned inviting Ye Hao to join Spirit Hall.

Ma Xiunuo knew perfectly well that Ye Hao's personal information had already been reported. Joining Spirit Hall was only a matter of time.

Watching Ye Hao's departing back, Ma Xiunuo let out a heavy sigh. Youth was wonderful—

(Letter: I'm still gathering dust in the corner...)

Ye Hao walked through the bustling streets with a relaxed body and mind. The one Gold Soul Coin in his pocket made him feel a little lightheaded. Having money truly felt different.

The School Uniform of Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy was particularly conspicuous. Those who could enter a Soul Master Academy were undoubtedly Soul Masters, a profession revered by everyone across the continent.

There were many people on the continent. Everyone could awaken a Martial Soul, but not everyone possessed Soul Power.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

"Clang, clang, clang..."

As he passed a blacksmith shop, the sound of hammering caught Ye Hao's attention.

Inside, a small, thin figure was fiercely hammering a block of iron with a Forging Hammer larger than himself. He wore gray clothes with an apron tied around his waist. Sweat poured down his forehead, and the scorching heat had flushed his little face red, yet his gaze remained resolute, fixed on the large iron block before him.

As the Hammer continued to fall, the iron block in the boy's hands visibly began to change, gradually taking the shape he wanted.

"San!"

Ye Hao called out, and Tang San, who was focused on hammering iron, froze slightly.

That's right, Tang San was a Work-Study Student. The academy's meager funds were simply not enough to support his continued life at the academy. Moreover, Tang San and Xiao Wu had become quite close. They slept together at night and played together in their spare time, like conjoined twins.

Xiao Wu's expenses were already considerable, and most of Tang San's money went toward her. Thus, Tang San recalled what that man had said before leaving.

"If you have no money, go work at a blacksmith shop."

And so, this scene came to be.

Tang San used the towel draped over his shoulder to wipe the sweat from his face and looked at Ye Hao, who had suddenly appeared.

"What are you doing here?"

Tang San asked in confusion.

Ye Hao glanced at the Forging Hammer in Tang San's hand, which was larger than a person. He stepped forward, casually took the Hammer, and gave it a few experimental swings.

Under Tang San's gaze, the iron block before them flattened in an instant, becoming a thin iron pancake.

Tang San: (Д)

Everyone: ∑(O_O;)

Ye Hao: (..)

Ye Hao released the Forging Hammer and looked at his hands. When had his strength become so great?

(System: Hurry up and praise me!)

(Ye Hao: Get lost!)

The blacksmith shop owner's eyes lit up. "Little brother, I could tell at a glance that you're no ordinary person. Come hammer iron with us. One Silver Soul Coin a day—what do you think?"

Kids these days were all such freaks, weren't they? Tang San was like this, and so was this child who had suddenly appeared.

Faced with the blacksmith shop owner's invitation, Ye Hao immediately said, "Working is out of the question. I'll never work a day in my life."