Before long, a year slipped quietly by.
Host: Li Han Age: 7 Cultivation Techniques: Everlasting Spring Technique, Elephant Armor Skill, Blinking Sword Technique, Smoke-Drifting Steps. Wealth: 3 Copper Soul Coins.
Li Han had just finished cultivating. He looked at the information on the system panel and smiled with satisfaction.
Aside from his pitiful wealth, he was satisfied with everything else.
As for why he was so poor, the reason was simple: Li Han never skimped on food.
So he spent all his wages on food.
Yet even so, he was still often left hungry.
Cultivating the Elephant Armor Skill took too much energy, and as a result, his appetite was three times that of other children his age.
Wang Sheng, the leader of Dorm Seven, saw that Li Han wasn't eating enough and often shared some of his own food with him.
Over time, the two became quite close.
"Although cultivating the Elephant Armor Skill put me a little behind, I still broke through to level ten within a year.
It's about time I went to the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt a Soul Beast.
Once I become a Soul Master, I should be able to escape the predicament of never having enough to eat."
Spirit Hall gave Soul Masters a stipend of one Gold Soul Coin each month, and one Gold Soul Coin was worth a hundred Copper Soul Coins—enough for Li Han to improve his meals.
Besides, becoming a Soul Master would open up more ways for him to earn money.
"I'll go to the dean and ask to hunt in the Soul Hunting Forest!"
Li Han immediately left Dorm Seven and headed for the dean's office.
He had originally wanted to go alone to the Soul Hunting Forest and hunt a Soul Beast without revealing his cultivation level.
But entering the Soul Hunting Forest required a permit from Spirit Hall.
There was no way he could get one on his own.
He would have to prove to Spirit Hall that he really needed to hunt a Soul Beast to advance, and he would also need three nobles to vouch for him. It was all very troublesome.
Rather than go through the hassle himself and let more people learn his cultivation level, it was better to have the academy take care of it.
Of course, he wouldn't need to go through all that if he went to some other large, wild Soul Beast Forest. But with Li Han's current strength, going there would be little different from walking to his death.
The dean's office.
"Xiaogang, you can stay here with me for now. This may only be a junior academy, but the students are quite good.
"When you have time, you can teach them some theory, too."
It was Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang!
At this time, he had a terrible reputation in the Soul Master World. Known as a notorious good-for-nothing, he had nowhere to go and had been forced to seek refuge with his old friend, the dean.
Seeing that the dean was willing to take him in, Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement. Then he smiled confidently.
"Don't worry! I'll guide these students well.
"With my theories, I'm sure they'll benefit for the rest of their lives!"
"Heh."
The dean smiled faintly and said nothing.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Li Han pushed the door open. When he saw Yu Xiaogang, he couldn't help but pause.
I haven't seen this Grandmaster in a year. I didn't expect to run into him today. Did he just arrive?
Li Han wondered to himself, but showed no sign of surprise.
"Dean, I've broken through to level ten. I'd like to ask the academy to help me hunt a Soul Beast and obtain my First Soul Ring."
His words astonished both the dean and Yu Xiaogang.
"What? You've broken through to level ten? I remember you had six levels of Soul Power when you awakened. You've reached level ten in just one year?"
Li Han didn't explain. Instead, he released his Martial Soul and Soul Power.
Compared to a year ago, the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo had grown slightly, and a few white specks had appeared on it.
But overall, it still looked plain.
"Lone Bamboo?"
A trace of disdain flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
When he'd heard the boy claim he had broken through to level ten, he'd been surprised that the academy had such a remarkable young talent.
Now, it turned out to be nothing more than a mutated Lone Bamboo. The white spots that had appeared on it looked like some kind of disease. It was hardly worth nurturing with care.
With such limited potential, Li Han could reach level fifty at most. Going any higher would be nearly impossible.
Unlike Yu Xiaogang, the dean looked at Li Han with nothing but admiration and delight.
"Good, good, good! Breaking through to level ten at seven years old—you've set a record for our school.
"Going from level six to level ten in one year must have taken a great deal of effort.
"Li Han, well done!
"Tomorrow, I'll arrange for someone to take you to the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt a Soul Beast."
Although he didn't think much of a student with the Lone Bamboo Martial Soul, having a seven-year-old Soul Master would make the school's performance figures look better.
"Thank you, Dean."
"Do you have any requirements for your First Soul Ring?"
"My Martial Soul is a kind of bamboo. I'd like to hunt a bamboo Soul Beast, since one of the same type should be a better fit. Of course, the older the better."
As soon as Li Han finished speaking, Yu Xiaogang let out a dismissive chuckle.
"Heh."
Li Han and the dean both turned to look at him.
"Xiaogang, do you think that's unwise?"
The dean turned to Yu Xiaogang.
He knew his friend had a way with theory.
Even though Yu Xiaogang was nearing fifty despite having yet to reach level thirty, he came from a noble family and had access to things beyond the reach of ordinary Soul Masters.
"Of course it's unwise."
Yu Xiaogang slowly rose to his feet and clasped his hands behind his back, adopting an air of unfathomable wisdom.
"The Lone Bamboo is a Trash Martial Soul, only slightly better than Blue Silver Grass, with limited potential.
"Though its mutation gave it six levels of Innate Soul Power, the Martial Soul itself is still weak.
"If he adds a bamboo-type Soul Ring now, all he'll get is a Soul Skill like toughness—an attribute bamboo already possesses, which won't do much to improve his strength.
"But if he hunts an animal Soul Beast, he could gain a different attribute, such as poison or sharpness, and greatly increase his Martial Soul's power.
"Only then can he gradually escape the fate of having a Trash Martial Soul.
"Besides, a First Soul Ring isn't better just because it's older. If it exceeds the limit of 423 years, the Soul Master will surely explode and die.
"Judging by this student's Martial Soul, he might not even be able to withstand a hundred-year Soul Ring."
Yu Xiaogang spoke with absolute conviction, as if everything were already under his control.
"Hunt an animal Soul Beast? Wouldn't that be unsuitable? Li Han has a Plant-type Martial Soul, so a beast-type Soul Ring wouldn't suit him."
The dean furrowed his brow and voiced his doubts.
"That just shows you don't understand Martial Soul Theory."
A proud look appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face.
"According to my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul theory, plant Martial Souls can also absorb beast-type Soul Rings.
"As everyone knows, beast-type Soul Rings are generally more effective than those from Plant-type Soul Beasts.
"For a plant Martial Soul to reach greater potential, hunting a beast-type Soul Beast is the best choice."
After finishing, Yu Xiaogang looked at Li Han.
"You're Li Han, right? I can see you have some talent. I can take you as an unofficial disciple and chart a path for your Martial Soul's growth.
"With me to guide you, your future will surely shine brighter.
"My name is Yu Xiaogang. People call me the Grandmaster."
Though Yu Xiaogang didn't think much of Li Han's talent, he needed someone to test his theories on.
Li Han was already a top student at Nuoding Academy—he was the perfect subject for an experiment.
"Ding! Check-in character triggered: Master Golden Light. Reward: Storage Bag (growth-type; its capacity increases as the host's strength grows; initial capacity: ten cubic meters)."
Li Han was overjoyed.
*A whole year! The system finally mistook someone for somebody else again.
A Storage Bag! What a treasure.
Seeing the delight on Li Han's face, Yu Xiaogang assumed he had heard of his reputation and was thrilled that the Grandmaster wanted to take him on as a disciple. He grew even more pleased with himself.
"Li Han, do you really want to take Xiaogang as your master?
"A Soul Master can only have one master in their lifetime. Otherwise, all Soul Masters will despise you. Think carefully."
Seeing Li Han's silence, the dean reminded him.
Li Han came back to his senses and shook his head repeatedly.
"No, Dean. I'm not looking to take a master for now. Besides, I think a bamboo-type Soul Beast would be a good choice.
"As for a beast-type Soul Ring, I have no plans to get one for now."
Yu Xiaogang's expression changed at once.
"Hmph! You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! I thought well of you and offered to guide you, but you don't know a good thing when you see it.
"Fine, then!
"By the looks of you, you'll never amount to much. If people found out I had you as an unofficial disciple, they'd laugh at me."
Yu Xiaogang angrily swept out of the room without so much as a pause.
"Xiaogang! Xiaogang!"
The dean called after him again and again, but Yu Xiaogang didn't even look back.
"That fellow still has such a temper. He can't stand anyone doubting his theories, not even a little."
The dean sighed helplessly.
"Li Han, go back and get ready. We'll leave first thing tomorrow to hunt a Soul Beast.
"Oh, and go tell Mo Hen at the library that you'll need to put your Work-Study Student duties on hold for a while."
"Yes, Dean."
Before you continue