Notting City

Meow Meow slept deeply.

By the time he woke up, Bibi Dong had already flipped through the textbooks on the table.

Her Holiness the Pope had even added notes in several places.

Meow Meow leaned over to take a look.

Beside the first page of Soul Master Ethics and Martial Soul Hall Statutes, there was an extra line.

["Soul Masters are protected by Spirit Hall and must also abide by Spirit Hall's Statutes. They must not bully ordinary people without Soul Power."]

Meow Meow blinked.

"This one's good."

After saying that, he looked at the second page.

["Soul Rings obtained through Soul Hunting must be legally registered. Low-level Soul Beasts must not be slaughtered without cause."]

"This one's good too."

As he read on, Meow Meow finally came across a note that made his ears twitch.

["At the Martial Soul Hall School, all new students must attend morning lessons every day."]

Meow Meow fell silent for a moment.

"Isn't that a little strict?"

Bibi Dong looked up at him.

"Do you want to teach them to slack off?"

Meow Meow immediately sat up straight.

"Of course not."

"This cat just thinks they're still children. They need a balance between work and rest."

Bibi Dong said nothing. She simply closed the textbook.

As Meow Meow watched her, he silently lit a candle for the children of Notting City's future.

The Martial Soul Hall School hadn't even been built yet, and morning lessons were already on the schedule.

That was the efficiency of Her Holiness the Pope.

But it wasn't a bad thing.

What ordinary Soul Masters lacked most wasn't talent, but someone to tell them from the very beginning what they could and couldn't do.

If Soul Masters only knew how to cultivate and didn't know how to restrain themselves, they'd most likely end up bullying people with their Soul Power.

Meow Meow didn't want the ordinary Soul Masters he'd worked so hard to support to turn into a bunch of good-for-nothings, strutting around on Spirit Hall's subsidies.

"Then that settles it."

Meow Meow patted the textbook with his paw.

"Send it to Notting City first."

"Also, stamp every copy with Spirit Hall's seal, so nobody can tamper with it."

Bibi Dong nodded.

"It's already been arranged."

Meow Meow froze.

"That fast?"

"You slept for two days."

"..."

Meow Meow looked down at himself.

No wonder he felt so refreshed.

He'd certainly slept a long time.

"What about Notting City?"

"The branch hall has already started preparing the school," Bibi Dong said. "Su Yuntao will go to Holy Soul Village today and deliver the subsidies and enrollment arrangements."

Meow Meow nodded in satisfaction.

"Good."

Then he suddenly realized something was off.

Su Yuntao was going to Holy Soul Village.

Tang San was going to Notting Academy.

Old Jack was leading the way.

When those things came together, they seemed oddly familiar.

Meow Meow narrowed his eyes.

"This cat needs to take another look."

Bibi Dong was just about to say something when Meow Meow had already curled up on the cushion again. The Soul-Calming Bell at his neck rang softly.

A faint image appeared.

In the scene, dawn had just broken over Holy Soul Village.

Old Jack arrived at the blacksmith's shop early that morning.

This time, he hadn't come only with a Work-Study Student spot at Notting Academy.

Su Yuntao was with him, too.

Tang Hao sat in the doorway, reeking of alcohol and looking listless.

Su Yuntao felt uneasy.

He didn't know why his superiors had insisted that he deliver the subsidy documents in person.

He also didn't know why Lord Holy Cat had specifically warned him not to disturb the child too much.

A Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power.

It was certainly strange.

But surely it wasn't strange enough to make a Spirit Hall Deacon like him come here twice.

Old Jack, on the other hand, was delighted.

"Xiao San, this is the subsidy from Spirit Hall."

"When you get to Notting Academy, study hard. Don't let Holy Soul Village down."

Tang San took the documents. His eyes shifted slightly as he looked at Spirit Hall's seal.

He didn't know much about Spirit Hall yet.

But the organization had awakened the Martial Souls of the village children for free, and was willing to help a poor child like him pay his tuition. That certainly gave him a favorable impression of them.

Tang Hao glanced at the documents, his expression unchanged.

But when he saw Spirit Hall's seal, a flicker of coldness passed through the depths of his eyes.

It quickly sank away.

"Go on."

Tang Hao's voice was hoarse.

Tang San looked up at his father.

"Dad, I'll come back."

Tang Hao didn't reply. He simply picked up the wine jug beside him.

Tang San was used to this silence.

Still, before leaving, he couldn't help looking at his father one more time.

Old Jack urged him, "Come on, Xiao San. We don't want to be late."

Su Yuntao added, "The academy in Notting City has already been notified. Just bring the documents with you."

Old Jack grinned so broadly that every wrinkle on his face smoothed out.

"Thank you, Deacon."

Su Yuntao waved a hand.

"This is what Spirit Hall is supposed to do."

Even he thought he sounded rather righteous saying that.

As if he'd suddenly become someone important.

Su Yuntao nodded to himself.

No wonder his superiors wanted to build a school.

Helping ordinary children embark on the path of becoming Soul Masters really did feel good.

After Tang San left with Old Jack, Tang Hao finally raised his head and looked at Su Yuntao.

Su Yuntao's back tensed under his gaze.

"Do you still need something?"

Tang Hao asked flatly.

"No."

Su Yuntao hurriedly shook his head.

He didn't know why, but facing this disheveled blacksmith always made it hard to breathe.

The man was clearly just an ordinary villager.

Yet his gaze made Su Yuntao uncomfortable.

It was like being struck by a massive hammer through the air.

"Then leave."

After saying that, Tang Hao stood and went back inside.

Su Yuntao stood there for a long while before finally letting out a breath.

"Holy Soul Village really is strange."

Notting City wasn't very big.

But to Tang San, it was already far livelier than Holy Soul Village.

Old Jack brought him to the entrance of Notting Junior Soul Master Academy. He was just about to explain why they had come when the gatekeeper noticed the documents in Tang San's hand.

The gatekeeper had looked rather lazy at first, but the moment he saw Spirit Hall's seal, he sat up straighter.

"Recommended by Spirit Hall?"

Old Jack puffed out his chest.

"He's a child from our Holy Soul Village. He has Innate Full Soul Power."

The gatekeeper froze.

His gaze toward Tang San changed, too.

Even if he wasn't a Soul Master, he knew how impressive those words were.

"Go on in. The academy's already been notified."

Old Jack had been prepared to explain everything at length. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly, and for a moment, he didn't quite know what to make of it.

Tang San was surprised, too.

He'd thought enrollment would be more troublesome.

He hadn't expected Spirit Hall's documents to carry so much weight.

"Grandpa Jack, does Spirit Hall have influence at the academy, too?"

Old Jack smiled. "Spirit Hall is the most powerful Soul Master organization on the continent. Of course it has influence."

"But Xiao San, when you get to the academy, remember this: people help you out of kindness, but it's your responsibility to work hard."

Tang San nodded.

"I understand."

Old Jack escorted Tang San into the academy and reminded him several more times before finally leaving reluctantly.

Standing inside the academy, Tang San looked at the students coming and going, feeling a faint sense of anticipation.

The cultivation of Soul Masters in this world was finally about to begin in earnest.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a simple robe walked past nearby.

He had ordinary features and a thin build, and didn't look particularly lively.

But his eyes were unusual.

He glanced at the documents in Tang San's hand and stopped.

"Blue Silver Grass, with Innate Full Soul Power?"

Tang San looked up at him.

"Teacher, do you know me?"

The middle-aged man shook his head.

"I don't know you."

"But I do know that Blue Silver Grass couldn't possibly have Innate Full Soul Power for no reason."

Tang San's eyes sharpened.

His wariness toward the middle-aged man immediately rose.

The man seemed to notice his suspicion. In a calm voice, he said, "Don't be nervous. I'm just an ordinary teacher at the academy."

"Everyone calls me Grandmaster."

Tang San looked at him.

Grandmaster?

The title sounded a little strange.

But for him to recognize the problem with Blue Silver Grass at a glance, he certainly didn't seem like an ordinary person.

Grandmaster continued, "Would you be willing to let me see your Martial Soul certificate?"

Tang San hesitated.

Just then, a voice came from the other side of the academy.

"Tang San?"

The two turned around at the same time.

A Spirit Hall attendant hurried over, carrying several new booklets.

"These are the basic textbooks from the Notting City Martial Soul Hall Branch."

"Since the school hasn't been built yet, Notting Academy will temporarily manage them."

Tang San took the books.

The title of the top one read Martial Soul Basic Identification.

The second was titled Soul Power Introduction and Meditation.

The third was Soul Hunting Safety Regulations.

Grandmaster looked at the books, his brow furrowing slightly.

He had intended to take advantage of Tang San's complete ignorance of Martial Soul knowledge and guide him through an explanation himself.

But the Spirit Hall had suddenly delivered these materials, changing things somewhat.

Tang San opened the first book.

A line was written on the first page.

[A Martial Soul's potential isn't determined by its name alone. Bloodline, mutation, and compatibility with Soul Power can all affect it.]

Tang San's eyes flickered.

That statement matched his Blue Silver Grass perfectly.

Grandmaster had seen the line too.

His expression grew complicated.

Since when had the Spirit Hall made its basic textbooks so detailed?

Tang San looked up at Grandmaster.

"Grandmaster, when you said just now that Blue Silver Grass couldn't possibly have Innate Full Soul Power for no reason, did you mean the same thing as this?"

Grandmaster was silent for a moment, then said, "More or less."

Tang San nodded.

"Then I'll read the books first when I get back."

Grandmaster: "..."

Was this child too cautious?

An ordinary child would have been curious and asked questions as soon as he heard someone uncover his secret.

But Tang San had chosen to read first.

That wasn't very six-year-old-like.

A flicker passed through Grandmaster's eyes. He was increasingly certain that Tang San was no ordinary child.

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can come ask me."

Tang San nodded politely.

"Thank you, Grandmaster."

The Spirit Hall attendant also turned to Grandmaster and said courteously, "If you're willing, Grandmaster, you could also help our hall compile basic theories."

Grandmaster's expression stiffened slightly.

"I have my own research."

"Then I won't keep you."

The Spirit Hall attendant said no more.

Watching the brief exchange between them, Tang San found himself thinking.

Grandmaster didn't seem to get along with the Spirit Hall.

He had quickly picked up on that.

But he wasn't in a hurry to take either side.

He only wanted to learn about this world's cultivation system as soon as possible.

So Tang San carried the books toward the Work-Study Student dormitory.

Grandmaster remained where he was, watching him leave. For a long time, he didn't move.

"Blue Silver Grass. Innate Full Soul Power."

"And the textbooks the Spirit Hall suddenly sent over."

"This child..."

Grandmaster's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

He had a feeling.

He might have found a perfect piece of uncut jade to prove his theory.

But now, a Spirit Hall chisel had already been placed beside it.

Dorm Seven.

As soon as Tang San pushed open the door, a group of children looked over.

The Work-Study Student dormitory wasn't luxurious. It was even a little shabby.

But most of the children here came from ordinary families. Getting into the academy was already difficult enough, so nobody was too fussy.

Wang Sheng, who was at the head of the group, stepped forward and sized Tang San up.

"New here?"

"Mm."

"What's your name?"

"Tang San."

Wang Sheng nodded. He was just about to test Tang San according to Dorm Seven's rules when he noticed the books in Tang San's arms.

"Those from the Spirit Hall?"

Tang San nodded.

"Yeah."

Wang Sheng stared, and the other Work-Study Students crowded around too.

"The Spirit Hall gave you books?"

"Does someone in your family work for the Spirit Hall?"

Tang San shook his head.

"No."

Wang Sheng scratched his head.

"Then you're pretty lucky."

Tang San looked at everyone and suddenly asked, "Don't you have any?"

As soon as he said that, Dorm Seven fell silent.

Wang Sheng looked a little embarrassed.

"How would we have any?"

"Getting to go to school is already good enough."

Tang San lowered his eyes to the books in his arms.

He suddenly realized that what the Spirit Hall had given him might be more important than he'd thought.

"We can read them together," Tang San said.

Wang Sheng's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Mm."

Tang San put the books on his bed.

The Work-Study Students immediately gathered around.

The first page of Soul Power Introduction and Meditation was clearly written, and the wording wasn't complicated. Even someone with a weak foundation could understand it.

Wang Sheng studied it for a while, then muttered, "So Soul Power has to follow a route. I've just been forcing it around at random."

A Work-Study Student beside him said, "And you wonder why your stomach hurts every day."

Wang Sheng glared at him.

"Shut up."

Tang San ignored their bickering and focused on the contents of the book.

He found that although the textbooks were basic, they were well put together.

Not a single line seemed carelessly written.

The meditation section in particular mentioned that Soul Power mustn't be rushed and should be suited to the Martial Soul's characteristics.

That was somewhat similar to his Mysterious Heaven Skill, yet also somewhat different.

Tang San was absorbed in reading.

He didn't look up until light footsteps sounded outside.

"Is this Dorm Seven?"

A clear, bright voice rang out.

Everyone turned.

A little girl in an ordinary dress stood in the doorway, holding a bundle. Her eyes sparkled.

Tang San looked up.

The girl wore her hair in a scorpion braid and was very cute.

But her eyes were far too lively for an ordinary child.

"Are you a Work-Study Student too?" Wang Sheng asked.

"Yeah."

The girl smiled. "My name's Xiao Wu. Wu as in 'dance.'"

Far away in Spirit City, Meow Meow's tail twitched slightly as he watched the scene through the Soul-Calming Bell.

"She's here."

He had been lying on a cushion with a dried fish still in his mouth.

When he saw Xiao Wu appear, Meow Meow put the fish down.

Xiao Wu had enrolled.

Tang San had enrolled.

The Notting Academy arc had begun.

Meow Meow narrowed his eyes as he watched the scene.

In Dorm Seven, Wang Sheng had already started explaining the rules to Xiao Wu.

Tang San sat to one side, still holding the Spirit Hall textbook.

Xiao Wu looked curiously at the book in Tang San's hands.

"What's that?"

"A textbook from the Spirit Hall," Tang San replied.

Xiao Wu blinked.

"The Spirit Hall?"

Her voice was soft.

But Meow Meow caught the flicker of wariness in it.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that had taken human form would naturally be wary of the Spirit Hall.

But Xiao Wu didn't yet know that there was a cat in the Spirit Hall watching her.

Meow Meow didn't keep watching for long.

Xiao Wu wasn't simple, and neither was Tang Hao.

If he kept peering through the Soul-Calming Bell, some sharp-eyed being might notice.

"That's enough."

Meow Meow withdrew his gaze.

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"Did you see that Soul Beast?"

Meow Meow nodded.

"I did."

Bibi Dong's eyes turned cold.

"A hundred thousand years?"

"Mm."

Bibi Dong's fingertips paused slightly.

For any Soul Master, the prospect of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast taking human form was an unimaginable temptation.

A Soul Ring.

A Soul Bone.

It was enough to drive even a Titled Douluo mad.

Meow Meow noticed her reaction and hurriedly said, "Leave her alone."

Bibi Dong raised her eyes.

Meow Meow said seriously, "Now isn't the time."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment.

"You think she's still useful?"

"It's not about whether she's useful."

Meow Meow sighed.

"She's just a child right now."

Though her true age wasn't young, after transforming into human form, she really was experiencing childhood all over again.

Bibi Dong didn't argue.

She simply looked out the window.

After a long while, she finally said calmly, "Since you say so, we'll leave her alone for now."

Meow Meow breathed a sigh of relief.

What he feared most was Bibi Dong suddenly ordering someone to go to Notting Academy.

That would really throw everything into chaos.

"But we should keep a record."

Bibi Dong added.

"Sure, we can keep a record."

Meow Meow nodded.

"But we can't alert them."

"She's at Notting Academy, and Tang Hao is nearby too."

"If we push them too far, things could get very troublesome."

Bibi Dong glanced at him.

"You've certainly thought this through."

Meow Meow puffed out his chest.

"I've always been very thorough."

Bibi Dong didn't call him out.

Meow Meow lay back down, his tail swaying slowly.

Things had already begun at Notting Academy.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Yu Xiaogang.

The Protagonist Group's first step had already taken shape.

But this time, Spirit Hall's influence was also at their side.

A textbook.

A subsidy.

A school that was soon to be built.

These things seemed insignificant.

But Meow Meow knew they would gradually change a great many things.

At the very least, Tang San wouldn't only listen to one person's theories anymore.

At the very least, the commoner Soul Masters of Notting City would have another path open to them.

At the very least, Xiao Wu would learn that Spirit Hall wasn't only about hunting Soul Beasts.

"Let's take it slowly."

Meow Meow closed his eyes.

"I'm in no hurry."

But he'd barely closed his eyes when the system spoke again.

[ Ding, the host successfully changed Notting Academy's initial Node. ]

[ Ding, the host enabled Tang San to encounter Spirit Hall's foundational system ahead of time. ]

[ Ding, the host brought Xiao Wu into Spirit Hall's field of observation ahead of time. ]

[Reward: one Soul Master Enlightenment School Expansion Blueprint, one box of Spirit Treasure: Meow Meow Chalk.]

Meow Meow's eyes flew open.

"Chalk?"

He waved a paw.

A box of white chalk appeared in front of him.

Its description appeared as well.

[Meow Meow Chalk: Can be used to write down the foundational concepts of the Great Dao. Suitable for introductory lessons. Those listening will find the material easier to understand.]

Meow Meow stared at the chalk for a long while.

"This is pretty good."

Bibi Dong looked over too.

A bold idea suddenly came to Meow Meow.

In the future, when classes started at the Martial Soul Hall School, he could have Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan, and the others use the chalk to teach.

Especially Yan.

He could have him teach the children Soul Master Ethics and Martial Soul Hall Statutes.

Just imagining it was amusing.

The corners of Meow Meow's mouth lifted slightly.

"Looks like the curriculum can be a little more varied from now on."

Watching his expression, Bibi Dong said evenly, "Don't teach them anything ridiculous."

Meow Meow's smile froze.

"Do I look like I'd teach them anything ridiculous?"

Bibi Dong didn't answer.

Meow Meow quietly put the chalk away.

Never mind.

He'd bring it up later.