Notting Academy was different from the schools on Earth. It only held two classes in the morning: a culture class and a Martial Soul class.
As the name suggested, culture class covered basic literacy and general knowledge.
Martial Soul class taught students basic knowledge about Martial Souls and led them through some training.
There were no classes in the afternoon. Ordinary students could do as they pleased, while the Work-Study Students had to use that time to do the jobs assigned by the academy.
The first class that morning was culture class, taught by a male teacher.
"Ahh... I'm suddenly sleepy."
Xiao Wu yawned with her head on the desk. She had gone to bed early the night before, but for some reason, lectures always made her sleepy.
Xiao Wu looked around. The other students were much the same as they were, with little interest in culture class.
Except for Tang San and Qin Qi. Tang San was genuinely studying hard, while Qin Qi genuinely wanted those credits!
[Ding, Attend Culture Classes Attentively, Credits+10]
[Ding, Attend Culture Classes Attentively, Credits+10]
Listening to the constant dinging in his mind, Qin Qi felt that it might be the most beautiful sound in the world.
The last time he'd liked a sound this much was when he'd been stacking steel in the Canyon.
"Hey, hey, Qin Qi, don't you think this is boring?"
Xiao Wu sat right next to him. She poked him and asked in a whisper.
"I'm a good student. I have to study hard, so don't whisper to me."
Qin Qi kept his eyes forward. Given the choice between studying hard and a cute little rabbit, he chose studying hard!
Lolis could slow down your draw, but studying earned you credits that could buy you a good blade!
"Humph!"
Xiao Wu's lips immediately puckered. That was just how rabbits were: the more you ignored her, the more she'd pester you.
"Qin Qi, Qin Qi, what are we having for lunch?"
"Qin Qi, Qin Qi, what did the teacher mean by that word?"
"Qin Qi, Qin Qi..."
Xiao Wu kept trying to talk to Qin Qi, but he ignored her the whole time. Still, she'd made him realize something important.
"What am I having for lunch?"
Qin Qi was broke now, and he wouldn't be working until the afternoon. He didn't even know when he'd get paid.
In other words, it seemed like he wouldn't have any lunch today.
No. I have to find a way to make money!
Qin Qi's expression turned serious. The principle that you couldn't cultivate immortality without money applied just as well to Martial Souls.
Without money, he couldn't afford food. His body wouldn't develop properly, and he'd be at a disadvantage from the start compared to nobles whose bodies had been nurtured since birth.
Besides, Qin Qi needed to buy new medicinal ingredients to increase the potency of his Qi Poison, and that would cost money too.
"The Soul Coins they pay for schoolwork aren't nearly enough. I'll have to find another way to make money."
"The fastest way is to become a Spirit Master. Then I can collect one Gold Soul Coin every month."
"But where am I supposed to get a Spirit Ring?"
Qin Qi felt a headache coming on. The nearby Soul Hunting Forest was controlled by Spirit Hall, and he couldn't get in without an entry permit.
The Star Dou Great Forest was too far away. With what he had now, getting there would be too difficult.
Just like that, culture class passed amid Xiao Wu's pestering and Qin Qi's worries about money.
Qin Qi earned a total of 200 credits, but no achievement points.
After class, Qin Qi skipped the break and went to the teachers' office to find one of the Notting Academy teachers.
"Hmm, I remember you're a new first-year student. What do you need?"
A female teacher had finished gathering her things and was about to head to class. As she passed the doorway, she spotted Qin Qi.
She recalled that the boy was called Qin Qi, a new first-year student.
"Teacher, I wanted to ask: once my Soul Power is full, how do I get a Spirit Ring?"
Qin Qi had spent the entire class thinking it over, then come up with the safest plan: ask a teacher!
As a student, when you ran into a problem with your studies, you should ask a teacher first.
If the teacher wouldn't help, then you could figure something out yourself.
"Once your Soul Power reaches level ten, the academy will arrange for a teacher to take you Spirit Ring hunting when you graduate."
The female teacher had been asked this question before. She answered gently.
"Oh. What if I reach level ten before I graduate?"
Qin Qi asked.
"Have you reached full Soul Power?"
The female teacher looked surprised. She examined Qin Qi carefully, then confirmed she hadn't mistaken him.
This really was a new first-year student who'd just enrolled.
"Yes. Do you need to test it?"
Qin Qi asked.
"Wait a moment. I'll go get what I need."
The female teacher nodded, then returned to the office to fetch a crystal ball and personally tested Qin Qi's Soul Power.
The test was complete: full Soul Power, level ten.
"What a genius!"
The female teacher was surprised, but then she looked a little troubled. Their academy had never encountered a genius like this before.
"Hmm, the sixth-years have a Soul Hunting Operation in a few days. I'll ask the dean for permission. You can go with the sixth-years then."
The female teacher considered it for a moment before answering.
"Then, thank you, Teacher."
"By the way, I'm Qin Qi. Qin Qi, one of the Work-Study Students."
Qin Qi looked at the female teacher with suspicion in his eyes. If she needed to ask for permission, why hadn't she even asked his name?
Was she just brushing him off?
"I know. I have the new students' records."
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm the first-year Spirit Master teacher. My surname is Zhao, so you can call me Teacher Zhao."
"I'll be teaching you for the next year."
Teacher Zhao smiled warmly as she spoke.
Teacher Zhao looked to be in her twenties. She was quite pretty, with a nice figure—and, for the record, single.
"Oh, I see. I look forward to learning from you, Teacher Zhao."
Qin Qi suddenly understood. So she was the homeroom teacher. No wonder she'd gone out of her way to talk to him.
"All right. Before class, I'll go speak to the dean and report this. I'll let you know when I hear something."
"For now, go wait for me in the classroom."
Teacher Zhao had originally planned to go to the classroom and prepare for class, but then she'd run into Qin Qi.
She decided to report his situation first and deal with class preparation later.
"Then thank you, Teacher Zhao. You've got so many things in your hands, and I'm guessing you're taking them to the classroom."
"Let me help."
Qin Qi looked at what Teacher Zhao was holding and offered.
"Hmm... Then sorry for the trouble. Just take them to the classroom and put them on the desk."
Teacher Zhao handed Qin Qi the things, then casually reached over and patted his head.
"She took advantage of me!"
Qin Qi watched Teacher Zhao walk away. He froze for a moment, then realized he'd been cheated.
Someone had taken advantage of him. He'd been defiled!
"I may be handsome, but you can't just take advantage of me like that! Just because you're a teacher doesn't mean you can do whatever you want!"
Qin Qi was furious. If he weren't six, but sixteen, he'd have shown his teacher what was what!
He'd have taught her what it meant to ride the teacher and disrespect the ancestors!