Put Down the Bowl and Curse

"It seems so," Lan Si said. "Master is of noble birth, raised in luxury since childhood, so naturally, you think like a noble. You don't stand from the perspective of us commoners to view these issues."

"According to your logic, the subsidies Martial Soul Hall provides to soul masters come from the Empire. Then I would like to ask you, where does the Empire's money come from? Is it from those nobles? Those sects?"

Lan Si shook his head repeatedly. "No, none of them. It is from the commoners, collected from the hands of people like us. As the saying goes, what is taken from the people is used for the people. If Martial Soul Hall didn't exist, would the Empire still issue subsidies to soul masters? Or would the Empire awaken martial souls for commoners like Tang San and me? Would you even be able to receive a disciple like Tang San, who possesses Innate Full Soul Power?"

"This..." Lan Si's question caught Yu Xiaogang off guard. He had never considered these things; his impression of Martial Soul Hall was limited to Bibi Dong coveting his theories and abandoning him, which had bred his resentment—nothing more.

Lan Si gave a definitive answer: "The answer is no. At the very least, besides Martial Soul Hall, I have never heard of any faction willing to awaken martial souls for the masses of commoners. If the two great empires were willing to enact preferential policies like Martial Soul Hall, then given the Empire's financial resources, how much of the people's hearts could Martial Soul Hall actually buy?"

"That is still no excuse for Martial Soul Hall to overstep its authority and buy people's hearts." Seeing Yu Xiaogang stumped, Tang San, as his disciple, spoke up to refute him.

Although what Lan Si said had some merit, in Tang San's view, the two great empires were similar to the imperial courts of his past life, and Martial Soul Hall was like a religious organization. Religious organizations should not interfere with the imperial court.

This was a grave disrespect; this was treason.

"What a guy with deeply rooted feudal thinking." Lan Si cast a disdainful glance at Tang San in his heart, but he wasn't angry. He spoke again: "If that's the case, then you are free to hate Martial Soul Hall, because Martial Soul Hall has touched the interests of the nobles. It is understandable that you lean toward the nobility. By the way, don't go collect your soul master subsidies either. Otherwise, enjoying the preferential policies of Martial Soul Hall while eating from their bowl and cursing them once you've finished—don't you find that shameless?"

Lan Si spread his hands.

"You..." Tang San was left speechless.

Although Lan Si's words were harsh, one had to admit they held some truth. He never expected that he, Tang San, would be lectured by a six-year-old child today.

Yu Xiaogang, sitting beside Tang San, saw that Tang San seemed somewhat swayed. Sensing danger, he hurriedly frowned and asked, "Lan Si, who taught you these things?"

"Does this need someone to teach it?" Lan Si shrugged slightly and countered.

"Your thinking is very dangerous. As your elder, I advise you to abandon this line of thought. Such ideas will harm you and your family," Yu Xiaogang said sternly.

"Martial Soul Hall awakened my martial soul and gave back a portion of the money the Empire took from the commoners to the commoners. I still understand the simple principle of distinguishing gratitude from resentment," Lan Si said. "In the end, Master is a noble, so naturally, you don't care for Martial Soul Hall. Since Master feels that issuing soul master subsidies is wrong, then don't go to Martial Soul Hall to collect them. After all, this money comes from the commoners and has nothing to do with you nobles."

"Unreasonable!" Yu Xiaogang's face flushed red, and he simply turned his head away, ignoring Lan Si.

In the past, Yu Xiaogang had always comfortably collected his subsidies from Martial Soul Hall while convincing himself that it was the Empire's money, and it would be a waste not to take it.

Otherwise, Martial Soul Hall would be the one benefiting.

Now, after being told this by Lan Si, if the soul master subsidies were truly gone, how could he continue his research into his invincible theories?

He would likely be unable to even afford a meal.

Lan Si sneered and turned his attention back to his book, enjoying the peace and quiet.

Yu Xiaogang said to Tang San, "San, don't learn from Lan Si. Martial Soul Hall is ambitious and is not a good thing."

"Yes," Tang San replied respectfully.

As the saying goes, a teacher for a day is a father for life.

Tang San had always kept this principle in mind.

And from Yu Xiaogang's eyes, he saw the same emotion he only ever saw from his father, Tang Hao, when he looked at him.

This showed that Yu Xiaogang had truly come to regard him, this disciple, as his own son.

On one side was a father who treated him like his own flesh and blood, and on the other was a wet-behind-the-ears, strange little brat. Comparing the two, he naturally leaned toward Yu Xiaogang.

The night passed in silence.

The next morning, after a night of travel, Lan Si finally returned to the familiar city—Nuoding City.

Because of Lan Si's words the previous evening, the master-disciple duo of Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were much colder toward him. Lan Si couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind; he got off the carriage on his own, first returning to Otto's blacksmith shop to report that he was safe, and then headed to the Martial Soul Hall in the center of the city to undergo soul master appraisal.

Compared to the one Gold Soul Coin soul master subsidy, he was more interested in his current Soul Power Level.

The guard at the entrance was the same one who had greeted Otto three months ago. Seeing Lan Si, he smiled and greeted him: "Isn't this A-Si? Looking at your clothes, you must be attending Nuoding Academy. What brings you to our Martial Soul Hall?"

"Uncle, I'm here to have my martial soul level assessed," Lan Si said.

"Oh, is that so? Then hurry inside. Master Ma Xiunuo is on the first floor; you can go straight there to find him." Hearing this, the guard looked at Lan Si with envy.

"Thank you," Lan Si replied and walked quickly into Martial Soul Hall.

The guard's envious gaze followed Lan Si into the building, and he heard another guard say, "What's wrong, brother? You know this little guy?"

"Of course, he's the nephew of Otto from the blacksmith shop, Innate Soul Power level five."

While the two guards were talking, Lan Si had already reached the door of the reception hall.

Lan Si knocked on the half-open door.

"Oh, who is it? Come in," a somewhat aged voice rang out from inside the room.

It was a bright office. Ma Xiunuo sat behind a large desk. His neat soul master attire and the standard three-sword emblem on his person indicated that he was a battle-type Soul Grand Master.

Walking into the reception hall and closing the door behind him, Lan Si stood before the desk and stated his purpose directly: "Hello, Master Ma Xiunuo, I am here for a soul master appraisal."

At this moment, Ma Xiunuo no longer remembered Lan Si. He looked at him with a smile and said, "Child, I can hardly be called a master. Come, I will take you for your advancement appraisal."

As he spoke, Ma Xiunuo stood up, left the reception hall, and led Lan Si to a spacious room on the second floor.

Ma Xiunuo first introduced Martial Soul Hall to Lan Si, then signaled for him to release his martial soul and soul ring.

Lan Si walked to the center of the room and stood still. He raised his right hand, held his breath, and focused his mind. His Supreme Universe Art soul power combined with his Green Lotus martial soul slowly surged from his palm.

A forest-white flame rose from his palm, and the Mortal Green Lotus, radiating a dazzling metallic luster, slowly emerged. A bright yellow hundred-year soul ring rose from beneath Lan Si's feet, its brilliant, eye-catching light swirling up and down, centered on his body.