Yu Xiaogang's Unwillingness

After the match, Ling Yun walked up to Xiao Chenyu and sneered, "You've lost. According to our agreement, from now on, you will give me ten Gold Soul Coin every month. You aren't going to welsh on the deal, are you?"

By the end of his sentence, Ling Yun had even adopted a threatening tone.

"Hmph, I, Xiao Chenyu, am not someone who can't afford to lose!"

After tossing ten Gold Soul Coin to Ling Yun, Xiao Chenyu led his lackeys away in a dejected retreat.

Immediately after, the work-study students of Dorm Seven crowded around, looking at Ling Yun with eyes full of admiration.

"Ling Yun—no, Brother Yun, from today on, you are my, Wang Sheng's, big brother!"

"Brother Yun, you were so cool just now! I thought we were done for, but I never expected you to defeat them in a single move."

"You have no idea, the terrified look on Xiao Chenyu's face was hilarious. A few of the senior students even wet their pants; it was killing me, hahahaha..."

"Heh, I told you, these small fries are no match for me."

As he spoke, Ling Yun tucked the ten Gold Soul Coin into his pocket, thinking to himself: If nothing goes wrong, Xiao Chenyu will give me ten Gold Soul Coin every month from now on. With this money, I should at least be able to buy a few pieces of century-old Whale Rubber.

At this thought, Ling Yun chuckled. "Alright, I'm a rich man now. Let's go, everyone to the cafeteria! Order whatever you want, it's on me!"

"Yay! Long live Big Brother Ling Yun!"

Hearing that Ling Yun was treating them to a meal, everyone's eyes lit up with excitement. As work-study students, they usually only ate steamed buns and pickled vegetables; now that Ling Yun was paying, they all became his little fanboys.

The cafeteria food wasn't too expensive, and treating everyone only cost two Gold Soul Coin, which was perfectly affordable for Ling Yun now.

While eating, Xiao Wu gnawed on a carrot and laughed, "Ling Yun, I didn't expect you to be so strong, defeating so many people in one move. I originally thought only the two of us, both one-ring Soul Masters, could beat them if we worked together."

"It also helped that I chose the terrain well."

Ling Yun took a bite of a large chicken leg and continued, "My first soul skill allows me to control plants. Fighting in a forest lets me maximize my strength!"

After lunch, Ling Yun left Notting Academy and headed to the Notting City Martial Soul Hall branch to register as a Soul Master.

Compared to the dilapidated wooden houses of Five Elements Village, the Notting City Martial Soul Hall branch looked much more imposing and sacred.

Upon entering the branch, Ling Yun saw a white-haired old man and thought to himself: This old gentleman must be Master Ma Xiunuo, right?

With that in mind, Ling Yun walked up to him and smiled, "Hello, Grandpa. I would like to register as a Soul Master."

Looking at Ling Yun, who was only as tall as his thigh, Ma Xiunuo frowned slightly and asked in surprise, "Oh? Little one, you are already a Soul Master? Is that true? You aren't joking with me, are you?"

"How could I joke with you about something like this?" Before the words had even faded, Ling Yun released his martial soul, and a vibrant yellow soul ring floated beneath his feet.

"A century-old soul ring?"

Ma Xiunuo was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Since you have already obtained a soul ring, you can naturally become a Soul Master. Hand over your martial soul certification."

"No problem."

Ling Yun took out his martial soul certification. Seeing that he had Innate Full Soul Power, Ma Xiunuo nodded slightly.

"So it is 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 and smiled, "Here, take this, little one. This is the subsidy from the Martial Soul Hall."

"Thank you, Grandpa." Ling Yun smiled and accepted the Gold Soul Coin; he was in desperate need of money right now.

Immediately after, Ma Xiunuo extended an invitation: "By the way, little one, would you be willing to join the Martial Soul Hall? As long as you join, Grandpa guarantees you will become a powerful Soul Master."

"Thank you for the invitation, Grandpa, but I am already studying at Notting Academy. Let's talk about joining the Martial Soul Hall after I graduate. Besides, I 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. Joining the Martial Soul Hall now would make it hard to ensure that Bibi Dong wouldn't set her sights on him.

Before he had the power to protect himself, he didn't want to appear in Bibi Dong's field of vision.

Seeing Ling Yun refuse, Ma Xiunuo wasn't discouraged, merely nodding slightly. "That is true. Then I wish you success in becoming a powerful Soul Master soon."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

After bidding farewell to Ma Xiunuo, Ling Yun returned to Notting Academy to prepare for class. The afternoon session was a theory class where the teacher would explain the attributes, characteristics, potential soul skills, and how to judge the age of various soul beasts.

Ling Yun listened very carefully, while also considering which soul beast would be suitable for his second soul ring.

After school, Ling Yun unexpectedly ran into Director Su and immediately went to the cafeteria with him to eat. Ling Yun insisted on paying the bill, partly to thank Director Su for helping him obtain his first soul ring.

While eating, Ling Yun saw two familiar figures: Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. The two had just returned from the Soul Hunting Forest.

Watching Yu Xiaogang clutch his chest and walk with a limp, supported by Tang San, Ling Yun thought to himself: Yu Xiaogang is injured? Does that mean they encountered a Datura Snake?

Ling Yun felt a bit of regret, thinking that he had actually wanted to see what kind of soul skill Tang San's Blue Silver Grass would have produced if he had absorbed a ten-year Lone Bamboo.

If it had been a Blue Silver pole vault, that would have been quite interesting.

At the same time, Yu Xiaogang noticed Ling Yun eating with Director Su. After buying a lunch, he limped over.

He hadn't given up yet; he wanted to continue trying to trick Ling Yun into becoming his disciple.

Seeing Yu Xiaogang arrive, Director Su greeted him politely, "Master, you are injured? Are you alright?"

"It is nothing. We encountered a four-hundred-year-old Datura Snake, and I accidentally inhaled the beast's toxic mist."

Yu Xiaogang glossed over the fact that he had nearly been bitten to death by the Datura Snake, then turned to look at Ling Yun and asked, "Director Su, I wonder what soul beast you chose for this child?"

"Heh, we encountered a four-hundred-year-old Green Wood Vine. After absorbing its soul ring, this kid obtained a rather formidable soul skill."

"Green Wood Vine? A plant-type soul beast's soul ring?"

Yu Xiaogang froze for a moment, then shook his head in disappointment.

"Sigh, you've made a mistake! This child's Martial Soul is a Metal Bracelet; there is no reason for him to absorb a plant-type Spirit Beast's spirit ring. If it were me, I would choose a century-old metal-type Spirit Beast as his first spirit ring."

There was a hint of pity in Yu Xiaogang's tone as he extended another invitation. "Child, although your first spirit ring choice was wrong, it is not a fatal error. I will select a more suitable spirit ring for you, provided you agree to become my disciple. How about it?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Master, but that won't be necessary!"

Ling Yun flatly refused, then proceeded to rub salt into Yu Xiaogang's wounds.

"I'll say it again: wait until you become a powerful Spirit Master yourself before you try to instruct me. 'There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Spirit Masters'—those were your words, and besides..."

Ling Yun curled his lips into a cold sneer. "I don't think I chose my first spirit ring incorrectly at all. My first spirit skill is actually quite formidable!"