After the match, Ling Yun walked up to Xiao Chenyu and sneered. "You've already lost. So, as agreed, from now on you'll give me ten Gold Soul Coins every month. You're not going to go back on your word, are you?"
By the end, Ling Yun had even adopted a threatening tone.
"Hmph! I, Xiao Chenyu, am not the kind of person who can't accept defeat!"
After tossing Ling Yun ten Gold Soul Coins, Xiao Chenyu fled in disgrace with his lackeys.
The work-study students from Dorm Seven immediately crowded around Ling Yun, looking at him with admiration.
"Ling Yun—no, Brother Yun! From now on, you're my big brother!" Wang Sheng declared.
"Brother Yun, you were so cool just now! I thought we were done for, but you beat them all with one move."
"You should've seen how scared Xiao Chenyu looked just now! It was hilarious. A few of the older students even wet their pants. I'm dying, hahaha..."
"Heh, I told you. Those small fry were no match for me."
As he spoke, Ling Yun put the ten Gold Soul Coins in his pocket and thought to himself, If nothing unexpected happens, Xiao Chenyu will give me ten Gold Soul Coins every month from now on. With that money, I should at least be able to buy a few pieces of Hundred-Year Whale Rubber, right?
At that thought, Ling Yun chuckled. "All right, I'm officially a rich man now. Come on, everyone, let's go to the cafeteria. Order whatever you want. It's on me!"
"Yeah! Long live Brother Ling Yun!"
When they heard that Ling Yun was treating them to a meal, everyone's eyes lit up with excitement. They were all work-study students and usually ate only steamed buns and pickles. Now that Ling Yun was treating them, they'd all become his biggest fans.
The food in the cafeteria wasn't too expensive. Treating everyone cost only two Gold Soul Coins, which Ling Yun could easily afford now.
As they ate, Xiao Wu munched on a carrot and smiled. "Ling Yun, I had no idea you were so strong. You beat so many people with one move! I thought the two of us One-Ring Soul Masters would have to team up to beat them."
"The battleground was a good choice, too."
Ling Yun took a bite of a huge chicken leg and continued, "My First Soul Skill lets me control plants. Fighting in the woods lets me bring out the full extent of my strength!"
After lunch, Ling Yun left Notting Academy and headed to the Martial Soul Branch Hall in Notting City to register as a Soul Master.
Compared to the rundown wooden hut in Five Elements Village, the Martial Soul Branch Hall in Notting City looked far grander and more imposing.
After entering the Martial Soul Branch Hall, Ling Yun saw an elderly man with a head of white hair. This must be Grandfather Ma Xiunuo, he thought.
Ling Yun walked up to him with a smile. "Hello, sir. I'd like to register as a Soul Master."
Looking at Ling Yun, who was only as tall as his thigh, Ma Xiunuo furrowed his brow in surprise. "Oh? You're already a Soul Master, young man? Really? You're not pulling my leg, are you?"
"Why would I joke with you about something like that?" Before he had even finished speaking, Ling Yun released his Martial Soul. A bright Yellow Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet.
"A Hundred-Year Soul Ring?"
Ma Xiunuo froze for a moment, then nodded. "Since you've already obtained a Soul Ring, you can register as a Soul Master. Give me your Martial Soul certificate."
"No problem."
Ling Yun took out his Martial Soul certificate. Only after seeing that he had Innate Full Soul Power did Ma Xiunuo give a slight nod.
"So you have Innate Full Soul Power. No wonder you became a Soul Master at such a young age."
After registering Ling Yun, Ma Xiunuo handed him a Gold Soul Coin with a smile. "Here, take it, young man. This is a subsidy from the Spirit Hall."
"Thank you, sir." Ling Yun accepted the coin with a smile. He was short on money at the moment.
Then Ma Xiunuo invited him, "By the way, young man, would you like to join the Spirit Hall? If you do, I promise you'll become a powerful Soul Master."
"Thank you for the invitation, sir, but I'm already studying at Notting Academy. I'll think about joining the Spirit Hall after I graduate. I'll also need to discuss it with my family."
Ling Yun politely declined. He knew very well that the current pope, Bibi Dong, was a tigress and a madwoman. If he joined the Spirit Hall now, there was no guarantee she wouldn't set her sights on him.
Until he could protect himself, he didn't want to appear in Bibi Dong's field of vision.
Ma Xiunuo wasn't discouraged by Ling Yun's refusal. He simply nodded. "That makes sense. Then I wish you success in becoming a powerful Soul Master."
"Thank you, sir."
After saying goodbye to Ma Xiunuo, Ling Yun returned to Notting Academy for class. The afternoon lesson was theoretical: the teacher explained the attributes and characteristics of various Soul Beasts, the Soul Skills they might produce, and how to determine their age.
Ling Yun listened closely, while also thinking about which Soul Beast would be suitable for his Second Soul Ring.
After classes ended, Ling Yun unexpectedly ran into Director Su. He went to the cafeteria with him and paid for their meal himself, hoping to thank Director Su for helping him obtain his First Soul Ring.
While they were eating, Ling Yun spotted two familiar figures: Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. The two of them had already returned from the Soul Hunting Forest.
Yu Xiaogang was clutching his chest and limping along with Tang San supporting him. Yu Xiaogang's injured? Does that mean they ran into a Datura Snake? Ling Yun thought.
Ling Yun couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. He'd been wondering what kind of Soul Skill Tang San's Blue Silver Grass would produce if he absorbed a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo.
If it were a Blue Silver pole vault, that would be hilarious.
At the same time, Yu Xiaogang noticed Ling Yun eating with Director Su. After buying himself a meal, he limped over.
He still hadn't given up. He wanted to keep trying to trick Ling Yun into becoming his disciple.
When Yu Xiaogang arrived, Director Su greeted him politely. "Grandmaster, you're injured? Are you all right?"
"It's nothing. We ran into a four-hundred-year-old Datura Snake this time. I accidentally inhaled the poisonous mist from the beast."
Yu Xiaogang left out how close he'd come to being bitten to death by the Datura Snake. Turning to Ling Yun, he asked, "Director Su, what Soul Beast did you choose for this child?"
"Heh, we ran into a Green Wood Vine with a cultivation of four hundred years. After absorbing its Soul Ring, this kid got quite a powerful Soul Skill."
"Green Wood Vine? A Soul Ring from a plant-type Soul Beast?"
Yu Xiaogang was taken aback, then shook his head in disappointment.
"Alas, you made a mistake! This child's Martial Soul is a Metal Bracelet. He shouldn't have absorbed a Soul Ring from a plant-type Soul Beast.
"If it were up to me, I'd have chosen a hundred-year-old metal-type Soul Beast for his First Soul Ring."
Yu Xiaogang's tone carried a hint of pity as he invited Ling Yun again.
"Child, although you chose the wrong First Soul Ring, it's not the end of the world. I'll choose more suitable Soul Rings for you. All you have to do is agree to become my disciple. What do you say?"
"Thank you for the offer, Grandmaster, but I'll pass!"
Ling Yun flatly refused, then rubbed salt in Yu Xiaogang's wound.
"I'll say the same thing as before: become a powerful Soul Master yourself first, then come and teach me. 'There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters'—those are your own words, Grandmaster. And besides..."
Ling Yun curled his lips into a sneer. "I don't think I chose the wrong First Soul Ring at all. My First Soul Skill is very powerful!"
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