The Work-Study Student Slot

Su Ming had just tossed the fish down when he asked, "By the way, did your father agree to let you go to the academy?"

Hearing Su Ming ask about the academy, Tang San looked up at him on the cloud with a guarded expression.

"My father already agreed. And I have Innate Full Soul Power, so I won't give our village's Work-Study Student slot to you. Sorry."

Su Ming, sitting on his Martial Soul, stared down at Tang San, speechless. He regretted giving him a fish just now. He'd wanted them to get along peacefully, but look how that had turned out!

"Don't worry. I wasn't planning to take it in the first place. I've already found a way to get a Work-Study Student slot. I won't take yours."

"I was even thinking that if Uncle Tang Hao wouldn't let you go, I'd try to talk him into it. I try to be kind, and you repay me like a donkey's liver and lungs. Hmph."

After saying that, Su Ming rode his Martial Soul away without looking back.

Seeing Su Ming fly off, Tang San realized he had misunderstood him. But he didn't dwell on it and continued chopping wood. Thinking of Tang Hao's embrace, he threw himself into the work with even more vigor.

On the way home, Su Ming grew angrier the more he thought about it. "Tang San really doesn't know what's good for him. I was hoping we could get along and mind our own business."

Su Ming thought, If he goes and takes that fool Yu Xiao Gang as his master again... He also remembered how he'd obtained so many Immortal Herbs from Dugu Bo, yet hadn't helped Dugu Bo resolve the poison problem with his Martial Soul.

"And then there's Tailong, the Four Affiliated Sects, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I got nothing out of any of them. And in my previous life, he even stole cultivation techniques. What a thankless wretch. No wonder so many people cursed him in my previous life. He deserved it!"

The village wasn't large. After flying for only a short while, Su Ming spotted his own house—and, naturally, the village chief's house too.

Before he had even reached his own door, Su Ming called out, "Grandpa Village Chief! Grandpa Village Chief!"

Hearing him, Old Jack hurried out of the house. The moment he stepped outside, he saw Su Ming jump down from a cloud, two fish dangling from his hand.

"Su Ming, you're back. Was that cloud you were riding just now your Martial Soul?"

Su Ming had just landed. Hearing Grandpa Jack's question, he hurriedly replied, "That's right, Grandpa Village Chief. I just figured it out." He lifted the two fish in his hand. "And I caught these with my Martial Soul just now. Grandpa Jack, we're having stewed fish tonight."

Su Ming handed the two fish to Old Jack and watched him take them.

"By the way, Grandpa Jack, doesn't everyone in our village say that one of our ancestors was a Soul Sage? Did that Soul Sage leave anything behind?"

"Yes, yes, yes! You and Tang San are the only two people in our village to awaken with Innate Soul Power in decades."

"Wait here. I'll get it for you right now."

Old Jack carried the two fish into the kitchen and set them down, then hurried to the bedroom. After searching for a while, he soon came back with a book whose pages had clearly yellowed with age and handed it to Su Ming.

"Here, this is the Meditation Method left behind by that Soul Sage. It's been over a hundred years, and this is a handwritten copy that's already more than forty years old. When that Soul Sage came back, he left behind this one book."

"He didn't settle down and raise a family in our village, either. All our village got was the name, and successive village chiefs have kept this book safe until now."

"But thanks to that Soul Sage, as long as we have the strength to work, we never have to worry about food or clothing."

"Have a look at it first. I'll go cook the fish. We're in for a treat tonight."

Su Ming took the Meditation Method back to his house, sat on the bed, and began studying it.

The first part of the book contained the low-level Meditation Method commonly used across the continent. The later sections included the Soul Sage's annotations. They were quite helpful for a Soul Master who had just awakened his Soul Power, and could improve on the standard low-level Meditation Method by about ten percent.

After familiarizing himself with the basics and learning how to cultivate his Martial Soul, Su Ming tried meditation for the first time. He soon slipped into a state of cultivation.

He didn't know how long he'd been cultivating when a shout jolted him awake.

He opened his eyes and looked out the window. Dusk had already fallen.

"Su Ming, come eat!"

"Coming, Grandpa Jack."

Su Ming got up and stretched his limbs, then went outside. Old Jack was just beyond the door.

Su Ming stepped forward and helped Old Jack. "Grandpa Jack, let's go. I can already smell how good it is."

They went inside and saw a whole basin of cooked fish on the table, then began to eat.

After the meal, Su Ming washed the dishes, said goodbye to Grandpa Jack, and prepared to go home and continue cultivating. He wanted to reach level ten as soon as possible and hunt for his First Soul Ring.

"Su Ming, I'll go to the other villages first thing tomorrow morning and ask them for a Work-Study Student slot for you. And once you've finished reading that Meditation Method, remember to give it to Tang San."

Su Ming thought for a moment.

"Okay, Grandpa Jack. I've already memorized it. I'll give it to him first thing tomorrow."

After returning home, Su Ming washed up and sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate.

After cultivating all night, Su Ming got up early. He washed up, then took the Meditation Method left behind by the Soul Sage and went to Tang San's house.

Su Ming summoned his Martial Soul. After practicing the day before, it no longer wobbled back and forth. He climbed on and slowly flew toward Tang San's house.

When he arrived, he saw Tang San running back from the hills behind the village. After Tang San went inside, Su Ming slowly descended.

He put away his Martial Soul, took out the Meditation Method, and knocked on the door.

Tang San had been about to make breakfast for Tang Hao. Hearing the knock, he opened the door and saw Su Ming standing there.

Tang San opened the door, and Su Ming stood there for a long while before finally saying, "What, aren't you going to invite me in?"

Seeing the book in Su Ming's hand, Tang San thought for a moment, then stepped aside. After Su Ming entered, Tang San closed the door and hurried over to the stove, afraid the porridge would boil over.

Su Ming took a look around as he went in, found a stool, and sat down, watching Tang San cook.

"Hey, Tang San, Uncle Hao is way too lazy. He still hasn't gotten up, and he's making a little kid like you cook."

Tang Hao had just come out of the bedroom. He glanced at Su Ming, then went to the table and sat down.

Under Tang Hao's gaze, Su Ming instantly broke out in goosebumps.

Tang San had finished cooking. Tang Hao was already drinking at the table, so Su Ming hurriedly handed the book to Tang San, afraid that a tipsy Tang Hao would hit him with a hammer.

"Tang San, this is the Meditation Method left behind by the Soul Sage who was one of our village's ancestors. Take a look when you have time. We're going to Nuoding City Primary Academy in three months, so I won't disturb you while you eat breakfast. I'll get going."

After saying that, Su Ming walked straight out of Tang San's house. He summoned his Martial Soul and hurriedly flew away.

Tang San saw Su Ming off. Watching him summon his Martial Soul and fly away, Tang San couldn't help feeling envious.

Su Ming had originally planned to fly to the hills behind the village and catch some game. But then he remembered that Grandpa Jack had gone to the other villages to ask for a Work-Study Student slot, so he went home and made a meal to wait for him.

Su Ming had just finished cooking when Grandpa Jack returned. He hurried outside to meet him.

"How did it go, Grandpa Jack? Did you get the slot?"

"I got it, I got it."

"Then let's eat, Grandpa Jack. You must be tired after walking all that way."

Su Ming helped Grandpa Jack sit down, then sat down himself. The two ate and chatted.

"By the way, Grandpa Jack, I already gave Tang San the book."

"That's good. Once Tang San has memorized it, have him bring the book back. We'll keep it for anyone in the village who's lucky enough to awaken Soul Power in the future."