Admissions

The hall fell silent in an instant, every gaze focused on Zhou Qiubai—especially that purple Soul Ring.

A thousand-year Soul Ring.

Soul Ring colors could not be faked.

But this youth was only sixteen, and his second ring was already a thousand years old? What kind of monstrous talent was that?

The woman behind the window was stunned as well.

She had worked here for three years and seen quite a few geniuses, but she had never heard of anyone whose second ring was a thousand years old.

Yet the youth before her wore coarse linen clothes washed nearly white. The sword at his waist was unusual in design, but no matter how she looked at it, he did not seem to come from a wealthy family.

She took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice steady. "Please... please wait a moment. I need to ask the deacon to come verify this."

She hurried away from the window and ran toward the inner rooms, leaving Zhou Qiubai to wait quietly.

Whispers rose around him:

"Did you see that? A purple Soul Ring!"

"It's fake, right? Dyed?"

"Dyed my ass! Can Soul Ring colors be faked?"

"But he's only sixteen..."

"Maybe he came from some reclusive family..."

Zhou Qiubai turned a deaf ear to it all, his heart calm as still water.

A few minutes later, the woman returned with a middle-aged man in his forties.

The middle-aged deacon looked Zhou Qiubai up and down, his gaze finally settling on the jade-white sword at his waist.

"I am Russell, a deacon of Spirit Hall in Suotuo City," he said in a steady voice. "Could you display your Soul Rings once more?"

Zhou Qiubai nodded and released his Soul Rings again.

Yellow, purple.

The two Soul Rings slowly revolved beneath his feet, seeming to prove his strength to everyone present.

Deacon Russell stared at the purple Soul Ring for a full ten seconds before finally nodding. "Confirmed. A thousand-year second ring. Your talent is extraordinary."

He paused, and his tone became gentler. "May I ask where you trained? Have you come to Suotuo City to travel, or...?"

"To travel," Zhou Qiubai answered simply.

He was not lying, but he had not told the whole truth.

"I see." Deacon Russell smiled, a trace of admiration flashing through his eyes. "It would be a great pity for a genius like you to remain outside and explore on your own. Spirit Hall values talent above all else. If you are willing, I can recommend you to continue your studies at the Spirit City headquarters. With your talent, entering Spirit Hall Academy would be more than easy. The resources and guidance would be far superior to wandering alone."

It was an olive branch extended to him.

Zhou Qiubai shook his head. "Thank you for the offer, but I am used to freedom and cannot stand being constrained."

A trace of regret flashed through Deacon Russell's eyes, but he did not press the matter.

Geniuses were often proud. Trying to keep one by force would only make an enemy.

"Then I will not force you." He turned to the woman. "Process certification for young brother Zhou. His stipend will follow the standard for a level twenty-one Soul Grandmaster: three Gold Soul Coins per month. Also..."

He pondered briefly. "Bring him an application form for the advanced training class in Spirit City."

The woman hurried to comply, moving swiftly and efficiently.

Before long, Zhou Qiubai received two items.

A Soul Master certificate bearing his name and rank, along with an application form.

"The stipend can be collected at the beginning of every month with your certificate," Deacon Russell said. "As for this application, if you change your mind at any time, fill it out and submit it to any Spirit Hall branch within five years. They will send it directly to Spirit City. The training class begins every spring. With your qualifications, you may enroll without an examination."

"Thank you." Zhou Qiubai put the items away and turned to leave.

As he watched Zhou Qiubai walk out the doors, the smile on Deacon Russell's face gradually faded, leaving behind a complicated look in his eyes.

"Lord Deacon," the woman asked softly, "are we really just letting him go? A thousand-year second ring... In any other city, even the branch master would personally try to keep him."

"The branch master has returned to Spirit City to report on his duties, and besides, trying to keep him only matters if he is willing." Deacon Russell shook his head. "A genius like that has pride. Forcing the issue would only make an enemy. Organize his information and report it to Spirit City for the records. Whether he comes or not is something the main hall should worry about."

He paused, then added, "Also, notify the people below. While this youth remains in Suotuo City, make things as convenient for him as possible. Setting everything else aside, the courage and strength required to absorb a thousand-year second ring at sixteen mean his future achievements will never be low. It never hurts to form a good connection."

"Yes." The woman nodded, silently committing it to memory.

After leaving Spirit Hall, Zhou Qiubai weighed the money pouch in his hand.

Three Gold Soul Coins was not much, but it was enough for him to live comfortably for a month.

Combined with the ninety-six coins he had exchanged at the trading house, he now had just under a hundred Gold Soul Coins on hand—already a respectable amount of startup capital.

Now, it was time to begin his real business.

After asking around, he found the largest apothecary in Suotuo City.

The air was filled with the complex scent of dozens of medicinal herbs, bitter with a faint freshness that cleared the mind.

Behind the counter sat an old apothecary in his sixties, wearing reading glasses as he carefully leafed through a thick medicinal tome.

Zhou Qiubai quietly handed over a list of herbs he had prepared in advance.

The old apothecary took it, glanced over it, and raised his brows slightly.

More than a dozen herbs were listed.

They were all medicines for strengthening the body, though they were not cheap.

"Young man, are you preparing a medicinal bath?" The old apothecary pushed up his glasses, a hint of approval in his eyes. "This formula is quite interesting. Red Sun Fruit and Ice Heart Grass have clashing medicinal properties. Ordinary people would not dare combine them like this."

"They balance each other out," Zhou Qiubai explained simply.

The old apothecary nodded, clearly not intending to ask further.

Every Soul Master had their own cultivation methods. Asking too many questions could easily breach a taboo.

He turned and opened drawer after drawer, skillfully measuring out the herbs, weighing them, and wrapping them up.

After calculating the price, he said, "Seventy-three Gold Soul Coins in total. I'll waive the change. Seventy will do."

Zhou Qiubai paid without hesitation.

Three Gold Soul Coins saved!

It was expensive, but now that he had enough Gold Soul Coins, he naturally had to make good use of them.

Before leaving the apothecary, Zhou Qiubai casually asked, "Shopkeeper, has anything interesting happened in the city lately?"

As he spoke, he handed over a Silver Soul Coin.

The old apothecary was counting his money and did not even look up, but one hand immediately took the Silver Soul Coin.

"Interesting things? Plenty. A few days ago, old Wang at the blacksmith shop in the south of the city got hold of a fine piece of ore. I heard he forged an excellent blade and sold it for five hundred Gold Soul Coins. A storyteller arrived at the tavern in the west of the city, and his stories are decent enough... Oh, right. The biggest news is that Shrek Academy, the only advanced Soul Master Academy near Suotuo City, has started admissions."

He even smiled as he said it.

That backwater academy—anyone who went there was asking for trouble.

If its dean were not a Soul Saint, and if it were not located outside the city, no one would bother with them.

Shrek?

Zhou Qiubai's heart stirred.

He remembered. Shrek Academy was located in a small village outside Suotuo City.

By the timing, it was indeed the admissions season for advanced Soul Master Academies.

"Shrek Academy... is it very strong?" He pretended not to know and asked tentatively.