Work-Study Quota

Huang Fei rarely skipped sleeping in.

It wasn't because he had suddenly experienced an epiphany, but because Old Jack had been pounding on his door since dawn, the commotion loud enough to suggest he was trying to dismantle the door frame.

"Huang Fei! Huang Fei! Get up! It's a massive stroke of luck!"

Huang Fei rolled over, wrapped in his quilt, and tried to cover his ears with a pillow.

But Old Jack's voice had such piercing power that it came through clearly even through the pillow.

"If you don't get up now, the spots will be gone!"

Spots?

Huang Fei sat bolt upright, jolted awake.

He threw on a coat and opened the door to find Old Jack standing there, his face glowing red and his beard trembling. He clutched two sheets of paper in his hand, looking as excited as an old man who had just stumbled upon a gold nugget.

"Grandpa Jack, what's going on?" Huang Fei asked, rubbing his eyes.

Without a word, Old Jack shoved the two papers into his hands. "See for yourself!"

Huang Fei looked down.

Martial Soul Awakening Certificate.

Both of them were.

One bore the name of Tang San, and the other bore his own.

They carried the signature of Su Yuntao and the seal of the Martial Soul Hall, certifying that both of them possessed Innate Full Soul Power and that their Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass.

"Su Yuntao left these for me before he departed." Old Jack rubbed his hands together, the wrinkles on his face blooming into a smile. "He said you two are geniuses and shouldn't be buried in this village. I've been out running errands lately specifically to secure your enrollment."

Huang Fei froze for a moment, a wave of warmth surging in his heart.

Old Jack was over seventy and had bad legs, yet he had run back and forth for the sake of two orphans. This sentiment...

"Holy Soul Village had one work-study student spot, so I gave it to Little San."

Old Jack counted on his fingers as he spoke. "I went to the neighboring village and borrowed another spot for you. Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, work-study student, free tuition! You both can go!"

"Grandpa Jack..." Huang Fei opened his mouth, wanting to say something to express his gratitude.

Old Jack waved a hand, cutting him off. "Don't talk to me about thanks. You two came out of Holy Soul Village; just don't forget the village when you make something of yourselves in the future."

Huang Fei swallowed the "thank you" that had reached his lips, replacing it with a sincere promise.

"Grandpa Jack, don't worry. Once I, Huang Fei, make a name for myself, I will definitely repay the village."

He said this with genuine sincerity.

Although he was usually lazy, he knew exactly who treated him well.

An old man over seventy running around for two orphans—this kindness could not be forgotten.

"Alright, alright, enough with the empty talk."

"School doesn't start for another three months, so you two better prepare well."

"I've already told Little San, so go have a word with him."

Old Jack waved his hand, though the corners of his eyes were clearly moist.

Old Jack turned and walked away after speaking, his steps much lighter than when he had arrived.

Huang Fei stood at the door, watching Old Jack's hunched back disappear into the morning light, and suddenly felt that the sunlight in this world was exceptionally warm.

He tucked the two certificates away and strolled slowly toward the low wall of Tang San's house.

Tang San was sitting in the courtyard practicing meditation; he opened his eyes when he heard the movement.

"Did Grandpa Jack tell you?" Huang Fei asked, leaning over the low wall.

"He did."

"Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy. I've checked the books; it's one of the top-ranked junior academies in the empire."

Tang San nodded, a hint of excitement in his eyes.

"Rankings don't matter." Huang Fei yawned. "The key is that it's free."

Tang San: "..."

He knew it.

"By the way."

Tang San suddenly remembered something, his expression turning serious. "I've been meditating and cultivating for these past two months, but my soul power has been stuck at level ten without any improvement. The books say one must obtain a first soul ring to advance further."

He looked troubled as he said this.

"That's normal." Huang Fei leaned against the low wall, resting his chin on his arms. "Before you absorb a soul ring, your soul power limit is locked. You're like a cup right now; the water is already full. If you don't add a soul ring to make the cup bigger, there's no way to fit any more in."

Tang San nodded. "That's what I thought, too. So, once we get to the academy, can we apply to go hunt for soul rings?"

"Of course we can," Huang Fei said. "There is a Soul Beast Forest near Nuoding City. The academy should organize students who meet the requirements to hunt for their first soul ring, but..."

He changed the subject, looking into Tang San's eyes.

"Do you remember what I told you before? For a soul beast with life-force attributes, the higher the age, the better."

Tang San nodded solemnly. "I remember. I've thought a lot over these past two months, and what you said makes perfect sense. The essence of Blue Silver Grass is life; I should follow that path."

Huang Fei smiled with satisfaction.

Tang San was a smart man who understood things the moment they were pointed out.

Unlike the original story where he let Gangzi lead him astray, eventually walking a path that was neither here nor there.

The Blue Silver Grass awakened its royal bloodline in the later stages, which should have been a complete rebirth, yet Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor still looked weak and brittle in the original work, snapping after just a few hits.

Huang Fei strongly suspected that he had taken the wrong path early on, failing to build a solid foundation, which resulted in the plant remaining malnourished even after awakening.

It was just like planting a tree.

If you plant a sapling crookedly from the start, even if it gains a royal bloodline later, the trunk will remain crooked and it will never grow into a towering tree.

In this life, with him watching over him, he would never let Tang San take a wrong turn.

"San, I need to tell you something." Huang Fei suddenly lowered his voice.

Tang San leaned in closer.

"When absorbing a soul ring, don't completely trust the age limits written in books."

Huang Fei said, "Your physical constitution is far stronger than that of an ordinary soul master. Your limit is much higher than four hundred and twenty-three years. When the time comes, listen to your own body, not the books."

Tang San nodded, lost in thought.

"Alright, continue your cultivation."

Huang Fei pulled back from the low wall and brushed the dust off himself. "I'm going back to sleep."

Tang San watched his retreating figure, his mouth twitching.

The sun was already high in the sky, and he was still going to sleep?

But thinking of what Huang Fei had just said, he felt a warmth in his heart.

Although this neighbor was lazy, he always managed to say things that put one at ease during critical moments.

The next two months passed in the blink of an eye.

Tang San still rose before dawn every day to practice Mysterious Heaven Skill, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and hidden weapon techniques.

Although his soul power was stuck at level ten and could not increase, he poured more energy into improving his physical fitness and control.

Huang Fei still slept until he woke up naturally every day, ate the meals Tang San brought him, went to sit in the shade under the big tree at the village entrance, and then went back to sleep.

Occasionally, he would get up to stretch his limbs, stroll around the village, tease the children, and scare the chickens and ducks, living a life even more comfortable than a retired official.

The system's notification sound would chime occasionally.

"Ding! Target Tang San's physical fitness has improved, soul power cap maintained at level 10. Host's physical fitness has improved, soul power maintained at level 20."

Every time he heard this notification, Huang Fei would roll over, the corners of his mouth curling up involuntarily.

Cultivation?

That didn't exist.

Once Tang San obtained a soul ring later and started leveling up, he would naturally level up along with him.

What was there to rush for now?