Notting Academy.
The graduation ceremony wasn't over yet. Next came the graduates' speeches.
First, the sixth-grade students gave their speeches one after another. Finally, the principal invited Qin Qi up to give a speech.
"This is one of our academy's outstanding students."
"A genius with Level 14 Soul Power at age six and a Hundred-Year Soul Ring!"
"Next, he'll give us a speech."
After finishing, the principal looked toward Qin Qi.
"Ahem."
Qin Qi walked up to the podium and cleared his throat tactically.
"This doesn't feel right!"
"That cough sounds so familiar!"
"Oh no, I have a bad feeling about this!"
The students below the podium heard that familiar cough and suddenly felt a chill run down their backs!
"First, my achievements are my own, but I couldn't have done it without everyone's help!"
"Next, I'd like to thank a few people. First of all, Teacher Zhao! Teacher Zhao is a wonderful teacher!"
"When I ran into problems, Teacher Zhao kindly and gently helped me solve them!"
"Thank you so much, Teacher Zhao!"
Qin Qi looked toward Teacher Zhao, who was standing with the other teachers, and gave her a special thanks.
Hearing Qin Qi's words, Teacher Zhao couldn't suppress the smile spreading across her face.
"Teacher Zhao is our role model, an outstanding teacher. Our academy places great importance on excellent teachers and students!"
"To encourage outstanding teachers, Teacher Zhao's bonus for this month will be doubled."
The principal spoke up, then looked at Qin Qi with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
"Ahem. The second person I'd like to thank..."
As Qin Qi spoke, the principal was already preparing to stand up and deliver another speech.
"I'd like to thank our supervising teacher. During the Soul Hunting Operation, the teacher had to keep an eye on every student!"
"He had to keep us safe and help us hunt Soul Beasts. You could say that without our supervising teacher, we wouldn't have had a supervising teacher!"
"Let's give the supervising teacher a round of applause!"
After finishing, Qin Qi began clapping, and the sixth-grade students joined in.
"Thank you, everyone! Thank you! It's what I should do. It's my responsibility as a teacher!"
The supervising teacher stood up, deeply moved. He hadn't expected to get a mention.
He looked at Qin Qi, his eyes full of gratitude. What a good kid! He'd have to look after him more from now on!
"The supervising teacher did a good job, too. His bonus for this month will also be doubled."
The principal was getting a little frustrated. Why hadn't Qin Qi thanked him yet? He was the principal, after all.
"Mm."
The supervising teacher heard that but didn't thank the principal. He simply sat back down, making it clear that he still held a grudge against him.
"Lastly, I'd like to thank my fellow Work-Study Students and Formal Students!"
"Even though we bicker and fight from time to time, we're still good classmates from the same academy!"
Qin Qi looked at his classmates. They were so wonderful. Without their financial support, he definitely wouldn't have achieved what he had today!
"Bicker and fight?"
Liu Long and Wang Sheng squeezed their legs together.
"Good classmates from the same academy?"
Apart from Tang San and Xiao Wu, the students from Dorm Seven all wore strange expressions.
They'd never seen the so-called good classmate, but they had seen the demon who poisoned them and left them lying down for an entire night.
"Ahem, Qin Qi, did you forget something? Isn't there someone you still haven't thanked?"
Watching Qin Qi, the principal couldn't help reminding him.
"Oh, right. There's Da Huang by the gate. Da Huang's a good dog, diligently guarding the entrance."
"We have to treat him well from now on..."
"Ahem, I didn't mean Da Huang. I meant the greatest person at our academy, the one who deserves the most thanks."
"I don't mean me. I mean the person everyone has in mind."
The principal was so anxious he was nearly ready to say his own name.
"The greatest person at the academy... Of course, that's the cafeteria staff!"
"They prepare delicious meals for us every day. They're truly wonderful, even if the food is a little expensive."
Qin Qi once again offered his thanks with great enthusiasm.
"Ah, forget it. That's enough. Let's adjourn."
The principal gave up and, dejected, prepared to leave.
"There's one more person. He may not be quite so great, but he's been quietly supporting all of us!"
"He's like a diligent gardener, nurturing us with care. That person is the principal!"
Qin Qi concluded, "We have to thank the principal!"
"Clap, clap!"
"Clap, clap!"
Suddenly, thunderous applause filled the room. Oh, it was the principal clapping by himself.
"Well said! Very well said! You truly are an outstanding student!"
"Your words have moved me deeply. While I'm in the mood, let me say a few more things."
"Nothing much, just a few brief remarks."
At last, the principal had heard his own name. He excitedly walked up to the podium and spoke for two hours straight!
"I feel like I'm going to die!"
"I want to eat!"
"I want to go home!"
The students below had thought it was all over, but the torment of hell began again!
At noon that day, the speeches finally ended, and Teacher Zhao called Qin Qi to her office.
"Let me see your Spirit Ring again."
Teacher Zhao spoke up.
"Teacher Zhao, it's only a Hundred-Year Soul Ring. There's no need to get so excited, is there?"
Qin Qi really thought everyone was making a fuss over nothing. In a few days, Tang San and Xiao Wu would have them too.
There were plenty of people with this kind of Soul Ring Configuration out in the world.
"Ah, for you and certain other geniuses, it really isn't much."
"But for those with only a Ten-Year Soul Ring, it's something they can only dream of."
"A Spirit Master's Spirit Ring is very important. It can determine their future achievements."
"The difference between a Ten-Year and a Hundred-Year Soul Ring means you're sure to go further than we ever could."
Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi. With innate Level Nine Soul Power and a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, Qin Qi was sure to achieve great things in the future.
"Don't worry, Teacher Zhao. Once I've made a name for myself, I'll tell everyone I meet that you were my teacher at Junior Spirit Master Academy."
"Then you can open a tutoring class, and I'll bring you plenty of students."
Qin Qi spoke with a smile.
"You and your smart mouth."
Teacher Zhao smiled and poked Qin Qi on the head with her finger. Though she called him a smooth talker, she was quite happy inside.
"I'm serious."
Qin Qi said.
"All right. Whether you mean it or not, I'm happy you said that. Mm, I got a bonus today, so I'll treat you to lunch."
"Order whatever you want."
Teacher Zhao checked the time. It was nearly lunchtime, so she got up and took Qin Qi along to eat.
"Then I won't hold back!"
Qin Qi felt like he'd come out ahead. A free meal!
"Damn it! Why do I have so little ambition? I'm a man carrying a fortune of one Gold Soul Coin!"
"Why am I so happy about getting a free meal? How embarrassing!"
Qin Qi harshly berated himself in his heart, but after he was done, he still went to eat.
He might as well eat if it was free. Besides, it was a way to get closer to his teacher—not that he was just mooching a meal!