"Actually, every time the academy recruits students, Grandmaster goes along to take part, but that isn't his job."
Wang Sheng lowered his voice and whispered to Qin Qi and the others.
Though he'd kept his voice low, Tang San, sitting not far away, still heard him. His ears twitched slightly.
"Oh, you mean Grandmaster actually picks students from among the new recruits?"
Qin Qi asked.
"More or less. Our academy had a genius once, and Grandmaster went to talk to him, too."
"But when that person learned Grandmaster hadn't even reached Level 30 by the time he was fifty, he flat-out rejected him."
Wang Sheng looked like a pretty honest kid, but as it turned out, he knew plenty of gossip.
He usually went around Dorm Seven asking people about things.
"Wasn't that just a coincidence?"
Tang San's expression suddenly changed when he heard this. He remembered Grandmaster's appearance when the guards had given him a hard time at the academy gate.
At the time, he'd thought it was a coincidence that Grandmaster had shown up to help them. But now, maybe it hadn't been a coincidence at all!
"No way. So, according to you, Fatty, that Grandmaster tricked Little San into becoming his disciple?"
"He took advantage of us being new to the academy and knowing nothing, then sweet-talked us into it?"
Xiao Wu caught on, too. She didn't lower her voice and spoke openly.
"I wouldn't call it sweet-talking. Grandmaster has written books, hasn't he?"
Qin Qi said.
"That's just a load of nonsense, Sister Xiao Wu, Brother Qin. You've only just enrolled, so you don't know much about Martial Souls."
"But after you've been at the academy for a few years, you'll see. That so-called Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Martial Souls is pure rubbish."
Wang Sheng had been at the academy for several years. He might not have been the best student, but he knew the basics.
"Old Wang, keep your voice down. Don't let Little San hear you. He'll get mad again."
"He might even challenge you to a duel."
Qin Qi struggled not to laugh. Wang Sheng was right. Whatever else you said about Grandmaster's theories—
His claim about the maximum age of a Spirit Ring was nothing but Luo Sanpao farting. It was completely useless.
A Spirit Master's limit for absorbing a Spirit Ring changed according to age, physical fitness, strength of will, and all sorts of other factors.
So there was no fixed maximum age for a Spirit Ring. It depended entirely on the Spirit Master.
You could say that the 425-year limit was the average for a normal person.
But don't forget, Soul Beasts weren't monsters in a game. They didn't have their levels floating over their heads.
You could only make a rough estimate of a Soul Beast's age. There was no way to know its exact age.
As Tang San listened to Qin Qi and the others discussing this, his expression darkened. He wasn't angry with them.
He just felt as if Yu Xiaogang had played him for a fool.
"No. Grandmaster may really be lacking in other areas, but he saw that I have Twin Martial Souls."
"He must have real knowledge!"
Tang San tried to reassure himself. He'd already taken Grandmaster as his master; it was too late to back out now.
After Qin Qi and the others finished eating, they left the cafeteria and went about their usual routines.
Over the next few days, Qin Qi attended class in the morning, worked in the afternoon, and studied in the Study Space at night.
Whenever he had time, he also followed Tang Jiaren's prescription to make some medicine to build up his body.
Before long, it was time to head to the Soul Hunting Forest.
"Good morning, Teacher Zhao."
Qin Qi arrived at the teachers' office bright and early, trying hard to calm himself down.
But he was still a little excited. This was his first time obtaining a Spirit Ring—what kind would he get?
And what Soul Skill would his Dan Shi gain once he had a Spirit Ring?
"Good morning."
Teacher Zhao greeted Qin Qi, then checked the time.
"But you're here too early."
"The Soul Hunting Operation is this morning. You'll have to wait a few hours."
Teacher Zhao understood Qin Qi's excitement. She'd felt the same way when she'd obtained her first Spirit Ring.
"It's fine. I got up early so I'd be ready."
Qin Qi replied.
"You should get ready. Come sit down, and I'll tell you what to watch out for during the Soul Hunt."
Teacher Zhao pulled over a chair for Qin Qi. Once he sat down in front of her, she began explaining everything he needed to know.
"We're going to the Soul Hunting Forest, which is managed by Spirit Hall. It's safer than other forests."
"Our teachers will be accompanying you, so nothing should go wrong."
"But once you're there, don't run off. Make sure you stay close to the teachers."
Teacher Zhao instructed him.
"Mm."
Qin Qi nodded, though he was already wondering how he could run off.
He had to. If he let the academy teachers lead the hunt, they'd probably only find a Ten-Year Soul Ring.
That would ruin everything. Qin Qi wasn't hoping to cheat the way Huo Yuhao had and get a million-year-old Sky Dream Ice Silkworm right away.
But he needed to get at least a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
As Teacher Zhao went over the precautions, time slipped by before he knew it.
She stopped talking and checked the time, then took Qin Qi to meet up with the group.
They were all sixth-year students. Teacher Zhao spoke briefly with the teacher leading them, then walked over to Qin Qi.
"I've already talked to the teacher in charge. Just stay by his side, and he'll look after you."
"I'm not going with you. I still have to go back and teach."
After she finished speaking, Teacher Zhao patted Qin Qi on the head and smiled as she left. "Good luck, little Spirit Master."
"Quit taking liberties with me!"
Watching Teacher Zhao walk away, Qin Qi couldn't help reflecting that handsome boys had to protect themselves when they were out and about.
"Stay close to me once we get to the Soul Hunting Forest."
The teacher leading the group came over and gave Qin Qi a few instructions, then went off to take care of other things.
"Hey, you're a first-year, aren't you?"
"What's your Martial Soul?"
"You reached Level 10 Soul Power so quickly. You wouldn't happen to be a genius, would you?"
The sixth-year students crowded around Qin Qi, peppering him with questions. Their eyes were full of curiosity.
"Not bad talent, but it's a shame he's a Work-Study Student."
Someone spoke up.
"Mm!"
Qin Qi turned toward the student. Here we go—the villain of the day looking down on me. Then I'll show off my strength!
After that, I'll loot his corpse and collect my reward!
"So now they're going to look down on me and mock me. If I rob them all..."
"I won't have to worry about money for medicine for a long time!"
As Qin Qi watched the sixth-year students surrounding him, he could almost hear Gold Soul Coins clinking together!
"You're just jealous."
"Go play somewhere else, you petty little man."
"If you don't like him, then leave. I, for one, love cute little brothers like him."
The other sixth-year students all rolled their eyes at the one who'd spoken and silently cursed him for an idiot.