What? I Haven't Been Home for Just a Month, and Dad's Gone?

For the past month, Lin Jin had no idea how many good things he had eaten or how many Federal Coins he had blown through.

He only knew that he had eaten very well.

Even Mu Chen, who had initially seemed completely indifferent, could not help but twitch when he watched Lin Jin gorge himself.

He was probably still feeling the pinch.

But the results were obvious.

After just one month, Lin Jin had shot up by half a head, as though he had swallowed some miraculous elixir.

His body was no longer so thin and scrawny, making him look more like a young master from a wealthy family.

In truth, he was a young master from a wealthy family. In a single month, his expenses had not even come close to matching Mu Chen's.

That was the benefit of having a Saint Craftsman teacher who was already skilled at nourishing the body.

At this moment,

Lin Jin had been brought by Mu Chen to the East Sea Spirit Pagoda.

The purpose was simple: to obtain his first Spirit Soul.

Lin Jin's eyes were filled with anticipation.

When in Rome, do as the Romans did. Since he had integrated into this world's power system, he naturally looked forward to becoming a Spirit Master.

He also looked forward to seeing what his first Spirit Soul would look like.

Mu Chen, however, wore a strange expression.

On the afternoon of the day he accepted Lin Jin as his disciple, he had already learned what had happened at Maple Forest Orphanage.

Meng Canglan, Long Huantian, Zhang Zhenpeng, Yu Zhen, and the others had all gone to Maple Forest Orphanage to snatch him away.

Yet Lin Jin, the protagonist of it all, had already run off on his own and become Mu Chen's disciple.

Lin Jin was merely a six-year-old child. Although he was cautious and had his own ideas, he had still left traces behind when he went to the Blacksmith Association.

Thus, on the very next day after Mu Chen accepted Lin Jin as his disciple, Meng Canglan and the others had come knocking to demand him.

But Mu Chen was an Eight-Star Saint Artisan. How could those people dare offend him?

Once he stated that Lin Jin was already his disciple and that his future studies would be arranged accordingly, no one came to bother him again.

After all, neither Battle Armor nor Mecha could do without forging.

Offending an Eight-Star Saint Artisan, especially one who was also the president of the Blacksmith Association, was not worthwhile even if he was merely the president of a branch.

Moreover, joining the Blacksmith Association did not conflict with joining other organizations, just like attending an academy.

Therefore, everyone had chosen to wait and see.

However, over the past month, the number of visitors and orders at the Eastsea City Blacksmith Association had both increased substantially.

Lin Jin knew nothing about any of this.

Mu Chen had not let Lin Jin show his face at all.

At this moment, the master and disciple had just entered the East Sea Spirit Pagoda when someone came forward to greet them.

It was none other than Meng Canglan, the East Sea Spirit Pagoda Master.

Meng Canglan smiled broadly. "President Mu has personally brought his disciple here. It seems you are truly very satisfied with this disciple."

In truth, Meng Canglan was furious.

Such an excellent prospect would be wasted if forging delayed his cultivation.

If Lin Jin had already been in his hands, and if he had been able to send word to Leng Yaozhu, he would have wanted to snatch the boy outright.

Unfortunately, he truly did not dare offend Mu Chen.

As the president of the East Sea Blacksmith Association, nearly eighty percent of Eastsea City's forged Rare Metal products passed through this man's hands.

Though the Blacksmith Association normally kept out of worldly disputes, if it wished to act, it could still exert an enormous influence and choke many industries, even at the cost of drawing public outrage.

"My disciple came from an orphanage and had no one to rely on before. Now that he has become my disciple, as his teacher, I will naturally protect him with my life if necessary."

"Obtaining one's first Spirit Soul is also a major event in life. It is only a short walk, and my legs are not so precious that I cannot accompany him."

Mu Chen spoke calmly, neither pleased nor displeased. Yet his words not only made his stance clear, but also carried a warning.

Anyone who wanted to lay a hand on Lin Jin was welcome to try!

Meng Canglan's pupils contracted slightly. He had originally wanted to exchange a few pleasantries with Lin Jin and build some rapport.

But after hearing those words, he suddenly lost interest.

Meng Canglan had not climbed step by step to the position of East Sea Spirit Pagoda Master by being some fool.

There was still a long road ahead. Mu Chen could not keep Lin Jin tied to his side forever, and Lin Jin would eventually have to attend an academy.

No matter which academy he attended, there would be opportunities to approach and recruit him.

For now, rather than saying more, it would be better to show some goodwill regarding the Spirit Soul and earn some favor.

Being overly clingy would only make him seem inferior.

"Haha, since President Mu has come in person, then as the master of this branch pagoda, I shall accompany you personally as well."

Meng Canglan laughed and gestured ahead. "Please, both of you."

Mu Chen's eyes flickered. He smiled faintly and entered the Spirit Pagoda together with Lin Jin and Meng Canglan.

The East Sea Spirit Pagoda staff all looked at one another, not daring to make a sound.

Yet the news that President Mu had personally brought his disciple to the East Sea Spirit Pagoda to choose a Spirit Soul, with Tower Master Meng Canglan accompanying them in person, shot to the top of the forum's trending topics in no time.

"Holy crap, holy crap! The president and Tower Master are personally accompanying him? That's insane!"

"Damn, could he take me as his disciple too... pfft, I'd even settle for becoming his godson!"

"Heh, you're pretty greedy, kid. Why don't you piss on the ground and take a look at what the hell you look like..."

"Wait, when did my dad take on a disciple? How come I didn't know?"

"Does the person above have no shame? You call him Dad so naturally that anyone who didn't know better would really think the president was your father!"

Mu Xi, who was preparing for the first-year final examinations at the Eastsea Academy Intermediate Division, read some bastard's reply to her on the forum and nearly exploded with anger.

Mu Chen was her dad to begin with!

What did they mean by "would really think"?

What, because finals were approaching and schoolwork was stressful, she had not gone home for just one month, and now her dad was gone?!

She wanted to confront the other person, but after thinking it over, she decided that figuring out when that damned old man had taken on a disciple was the top priority.

So she made a call.

After two beeps, no one answered.

Mu Xi's eyes widened, and she abruptly rose to her feet.

With a clatter, the close friend sitting not far away was startled. "Xi... Xi'er, what are you doing?!"

"Going home!" Mu Xi said viciously.

"Huh?! The exam is tomorrow..."

"I'm not taking it!"

"???"

East Sea Spirit Pagoda.

Spiritual Power Testing Room.

"In ancient times, Spirit Masters advanced by directly hunting Spirit Rings. For Spirit Rings below ten thousand years, they generally only needed to consider compatibility with the Spirit Beast and whether their bodies could withstand it."

"But Spirit Souls require consideration of Spiritual Power."

Meng Canglan explained this basic knowledge as they walked.

Mu Chen knew what Meng Canglan was thinking, but he did not stop him. Why not make use of a free lecturer?

Lin Jin, meanwhile, put on an expression that said, "Wow, so that's how it works?" In truth, he had long understood everything perfectly.

He was very confident in his own Spiritual Power.

That was because his Crimson Lotus had always been tempering his Soul Power, physical body, and Spiritual Power.

It was just that, aside from the time his Martial Soul awakened, the subsequent effects had not been as good.

-----------------

tip:

Regarding Spiritual Power realms, there is something that needs to be clarified here.

In Legend of the Dragon King, Spiritual Power in the Spirit Origin Realm was classified as 0–100.

But in Ultimate Douluo, Spirit Origin Realm Spiritual Power was changed to 0–50.

Tang San contradicting his own settings is an old habit. Everyone should already know that...

Because the author is a bit obsessive-compulsive, this book will standardize the Spirit Origin Realm as 0–50. The other realms were not "contradicted," so they will remain unchanged.

That is:

Spirit Origin Realm: 0–50

Spirit Connection Realm: 51–500

Spirit Sea Realm: 501–5000

Spirit Abyss Realm: 5001–20000

Spirit Domain Realm: 20001–50000

Spirit God Realm: 50001+