Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, two and a half years had passed.
Ever since that previous upheaval, nothing troublesome had happened at Nuoding Academy.
Lin Nuo was more than happy to enjoy the peace and quiet.
Thanks to the large sum of Gold Soul Coins the City Lord's Manor had sent to curry favor with him, Lin Nuo had consumed quite a bit of aged Whale Rubber during this period.
Combined with his daily diligent training, both his physical condition and Soul Power underwent a qualitative leap.
By now, Lin Nuo's Soul Power had successfully reached the bottleneck of level twenty.
As long as he hunted and absorbed another Soul Ring, he would officially enter the ranks of Soul Grandmasters.
"Nuoding City isn't a place I can stay forever. It's time to graduate."
Lin Nuo stretched, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.
His target for his second Soul Ring was a thousand-year level one.
He even felt that if he still chose a spider-type soul beast, then with the Death Spider Emperor's formidable attributes, challenging one that was two thousand years old would not be a problem.
But if he wanted to absorb a Soul Ring beyond his level, he would have to make plans in Heaven Dou City.
Although going rashly to Heaven Dou City, or even Sunset Forest, at his current age and strength was somewhat risky,
as the capitalists from his previous life had said, as long as there was a three-hundred-percent profit, they would dare risk the gallows!
As long as he planned properly, he could reduce the risks to a minimum.
In short: the advantage was his!
However, before leaving Nuoding City, there was one more crucial matter he needed to take care of.
Ever since that killing intent had locked onto him two and a half years ago, Lin Nuo had never sensed Tang Hao's presence again.
Clearly, that old bastard had gone off somewhere to drink himself into a stupor and was definitely nowhere near Nuoding City.
Since that was the case, it was time to retrieve the treasure that was destined for him.
The hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone in the waterfall cave outside Holy Soul Village might not perfectly match the Death Spider Emperor in terms of attributes, but such a top-tier Spirit Bone would be excellent to keep in hand as a reserve.
Besides, Tang San's mother, who had turned into a blade of grass, was still in that pitch-black little cave.
Lin Nuo had a strong feeling that he would inevitably have a life-or-death conflict with Tang San in the future.
Since they would clash sooner or later, he might as well take control of the other party's mother in advance and use her as a bargaining chip.
How pitiful was it for a blade of grass to be left all alone in a cave that never saw sunlight?
It would be better for her to stay by his side and get some more sun.
After all, Lin was most fond of taking care of ladies.
After briefly tidying up the dormitory he had lived in for two and a half years, Lin Nuo turned and headed straight to Director Su's office in the Academic Affairs Department.
"Lin Nuo, you... you're graduating already?"
Looking at the tall, upright youth before him, Director Su wore a complicated expression, his voice full of reluctance.
At first, he had indeed deliberately befriended Lin Nuo because he had taken a liking to his heaven-defying talent.
But the boy was sensible and considerate. After two and a half years together, he had genuinely come to like this outstanding young talent.
Although he knew this great figure would eventually leave the little temple that was Nuoding Academy, the day had come so quickly that it still left him dazed.
"Please help me process the paperwork, Director Su." Lin Nuo smiled and handed over his application. "For my next destination, I'll ask Deacon Su Yuntao from Spirit Hall to help make the arrangements."
After two and a half years of preparation, Lin Nuo had ultimately decided that his first stop would be Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
As for the specific enrollment matters, once he spoke with Su Yuntao, Spirit Hall naturally had the means to arrange everything properly.
Director Su nodded in complete agreement upon hearing this.
In his view, for a genius like Lin Nuo, who came from a commoner background with no connections, choosing Spirit Hall was undoubtedly the wisest decision.
With the boy's monstrous talent, wouldn't it only be a matter of time before he caught the attention of Spirit Hall's higher-ups and rose through the ranks?
"All right. Since you've already made your arrangements, I won't try to keep you."
Director Su sighed, swiftly stamped Lin Nuo's documents, completed his graduation certificate, and solemnly handed it to him.
"Lin Nuo, I wish you a bright future on the path of a soul master and a safe journey ahead."
Director Su patted his shoulder. "Remember, you will always be Nuoding Academy's greatest pride!"
The moment he stepped out of Nuoding Academy's gates, Lin Nuo did not delay for a second and headed straight for the Spirit Hall in the city center, following a familiar route.
The instant he entered the main hall, he happened to run into Su Yuntao, who was preparing to head out on business.
The moment Su Yuntao saw this monstrous genius whose top-tier Martial Soul he had personally awakened years ago, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly came forward with enthusiasm.
"Yo, Lin Nuo? Did the sun rise in the west today? What brings you to Brother Tao's place?"
Lin Nuo did not stand on ceremony. A gentle smile curled at his lips as he got straight to the point.
"Brother Tao, my Soul Power is level twenty.
I just finished my graduation procedures at the academy. For what comes next, I may have to shamelessly trouble Spirit Hall for some help."
In an instant, it was as if someone had pressed a mute button on the entire hall.
The smile on Su Yuntao's face froze abruptly. He wondered whether he had not slept well last night and was hearing things.
Not even nine years old, and level twenty?!
What kind of terrifying cultivation speed was that?!
Even a monster with Innate Full Soul Power could not cultivate at such an outrageous pace, could they?!
Once he recovered, Su Yuntao did not even bother with the work at hand. He grabbed Lin Nuo by the arm and rushed frantically toward Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo's office on the second floor.
A few minutes later, inside the office.
As they looked at the testing crystal ball beneath Lin Nuo's hand, radiating a brilliant glow, Su Yuntao and Ma Xiunuo—the young and old deacons of two generations—both sucked in a sharp breath.
Level twenty. It really was level twenty!
Looking at that crystalline radiance, bright enough to nearly blind them, the two only felt something crack in their minds. The common sense and worldview they had maintained for so many years shattered all over the floor at that moment.
"Ahem, ahem..."
Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo was the first to recover.
He tried hard to calm his pounding heart. When he looked at Lin Nuo again, his gaze was practically that of someone looking at a priceless, one-of-a-kind treasure, and even the wrinkles on his face bloomed with smiles.
"Lin Nuo, you said just now that you needed help with something?
Say it! With your talent, as long as it's within the authority of Nuoding City's Spirit Hall, this old man will stake his reputation on getting it done for you!"
Faced with the two men's enthusiasm, as though they wanted to worship him on an altar, Lin Nuo still maintained his courteous demeanor.
He first thanked them flawlessly for Spirit Hall's care over the years, giving the two enough emotional satisfaction, before slowly voicing his request.
"Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, Brother Tao, here's the situation.
Nuoding Academy's courses are no longer of any use to me. Next, I plan to continue my studies at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
At this point, Lin Nuo paused slightly, revealing just the right amount of helplessness. "But I heard that place has a rather high threshold. To enroll, you need a letter of recommendation from a noble.
As a commoner, I truly don't have connections in that regard. After thinking it over, I could only come to Spirit Hall for help."
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