"Looks like that's the case," Lan Si said. "Grandmaster came from a noble family and grew up surrounded by wealth and luxury. Naturally, he sees things from a noble's perspective, not from the perspective of commoners like us."
"According to you, the subsidies the Spirit Hall gives Soul Masters come from the empire. Then let me ask you: where does the empire's money come from? The nobles? The sects?"
Lan Si shook his head repeatedly. "No. Neither. It comes from the common people, collected from people like us. As the saying goes, 'Take from the people and use it for the people.' If not for the Spirit Hall, would the empire still give subsidies to Soul Masters? Would the empire awaken Martial Souls for commoners like Tang San and me? Would you have gotten a disciple with Innate Full Soul Power like Tang San?"
"This..." Lan Si's questions left Yu Xiaogang at a loss. He had never considered any of this. His only impression of the Spirit Hall was that Bibi Dong had coveted his theories and then abandoned him. That was all, and it had left him full of resentment.
Lan Si answered firmly, "The answer is no. At least, aside from the Spirit Hall, I've never heard of any other faction awakening Martial Souls for the common people. If the two great empires were willing to announce preferential policies like the Spirit Hall's, how many hearts could the Spirit Hall win over with the empires' wealth?"
"That still doesn't justify the Spirit Hall overstepping its bounds to win people over." Seeing Yu Xiaogang at a loss for words, his disciple Tang San spoke up to defend him.
Although Lan Si's words made some sense, Tang San thought of the two great empires as being like the imperial court in his previous life, and the Spirit Hall as a religious organization. Religious organizations weren't allowed to interfere with the imperial court.
That was disrespectful. That was treason.
What a deeply feudal-minded fellow. Lan Si glanced at Tang San with disdain. He wasn't angry, though, and continued, "In that case, you're welcome to hate the Spirit Hall, since it's interfering with the nobles' interests. You side with the nobles, and that's only natural. And while you're at it, don't go collecting Soul Master subsidies. Otherwise, you're enjoying the Spirit Hall's preferential policies while eating from the bowl, then setting it down to curse them. Don't you think that's shameless?"
Lan Si spread his hands.
"You..." Tang San was at a loss for words.
Lan Si's words were harsh, but he had to admit they made some sense. He, Tang San, had actually been lectured by a six-year-old child today.
Seeing that Tang San seemed to be swayed, Yu Xiaogang, seated beside him, thought, This is bad. He hurriedly furrowed his brow and asked, "Lan Si, who taught you to say these things?"
"Do I need someone to teach me?" Lan Si shrugged slightly and asked in return.
"Your ideas are dangerous. As an elder, I advise you to abandon them. Thoughts like these will bring harm to you and your family," Yu Xiaogang said sternly.
"The Spirit Hall awakened my Martial Soul and gave back to the common people some of the money the empire collected from them. I understand the simple principle of keeping score fairly," Lan Si said. "At the end of the day, Grandmaster, you're a noble, so naturally you dislike the Spirit Hall. Since you think giving out Soul Master subsidies is wrong, then don't go to the Spirit Hall to collect them. After all, that money comes from the common people, and has nothing to do with you nobles."
"Impossible to reason with." Yu Xiaogang's face flushed red. He turned his head away and stopped responding to Lan Si.
In the past, Yu Xiaogang had accepted the Spirit Hall's subsidies without a second thought, while telling himself the money came from the empire. Why not take it if it was free?
Otherwise, the Spirit Hall would be the one benefiting.
Now that Lan Si had put it that way, if the Soul Master subsidies really disappeared, how would he continue researching his invincible theories?
He might not even be able to afford food.
Lan Si gave a cold laugh, then turned his eyes back to his book. At least now he could enjoy some peace and quiet.
Yu Xiaogang said to Tang San, "Xiao San, don't follow Lan Si's example. The Spirit Hall is ambitious. They're no good."
"Yes," Tang San replied respectfully.
As the saying went, "Once a teacher, a father for life."
Tang San had always kept that principle in mind.
And in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, he saw the same feeling he had only ever seen when his father, Tang Hao, looked at him.
That meant Yu Xiaogang had truly come to regard him as a son.
On one side was a father who treated him as his own son. On the other was a strange little brat who hadn't even lost his baby fat. Comparing the two, he naturally leaned more toward Yu Xiaogang.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, after a night on the road, Lan Si finally returned to the familiar city of Nuoding City.
After Lan Si's words the previous evening, the master-and-disciple pair of Yu Xiaogang and Tang San treated him more coldly. Lan Si couldn't be bothered with them either. He got off the carriage by himself, first stopping at Otto Blacksmith Shop to let them know he was safe, then heading to the Spirit Hall in the center of the city to have his Soul Master rank assessed.
Compared with the one Gold Soul Coin in Soul Master subsidies, he was more interested in his current Soul Power Level.
The guard at the entrance was still the same man who had greeted Otto three months ago. When he saw Lan Si, he greeted him with a smile. "Well, if it isn't A-Si! Judging by your clothes, you must be studying at Nuoding Academy. What brings you to the Spirit Hall?"
"Uncle, I'm here to have my Martial Soul rank assessed," Lan Si said.
"Oh, I see. Then head right in. Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo is on the first floor. You can go straight to him." Hearing this, the guard's eyes filled with envy as he spoke to Lan Si.
"Thank you," Lan Si replied, then hurried into the Spirit Hall.
The guard watched Lan Si enter, still looking envious. Another guard asked, "What is it, brother? You know the kid?"
"Of course. He's Otto, the blacksmith's, nephew. His innate Soul Power is level five."
While the two guards were talking, Lan Si had already reached the reception room.
Lan Si knocked on the half-open door.
"Oh, who is it? Come in." An elderly voice came from inside the room.
It was a bright office. Ma Xiunuo sat behind a broad desk. His neat Soul Master uniform and the standard three-sword emblem on his chest showed that he was a Battle Soul Master at the Soul Grandmaster level.
Lan Si entered the reception room, closed the door behind him, and stood before the desk. He stated his purpose directly. "Hello, Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo. I'm here to have my Soul Master rank assessed."
Ma Xiunuo no longer remembered Lan Si. He smiled at him and said, "Child, I'm hardly a grandmaster. Come, I'll take you to have your advancement assessment."
As he spoke, Ma Xiunuo stood and left the reception room, leading Lan Si to a spacious room on the second floor.
Ma Xiunuo first introduced Lan Si to the Spirit Hall, then motioned for him to release his Martial Soul and Soul Ring.
Lan Si walked to the far end of the room and stopped. He raised his right hand and focused. Soul Power from the Supreme Universe Art, accompanied by his Cyan Lotus Martial Soul, slowly surged from his palm.
Pale-white flames rose from his palm, and the Mortal Green Lotus, shimmering with a dazzling metallic sheen, slowly appeared. A bright yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring rose from beneath Lan Si's feet. Its dazzling light revolved up and down around his body.
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