Before long, the three of them finally made it back to the academy.
"Lin Yan, you have Innate Full Soul Power. You'll become a Soul Master as soon as you absorb a Soul Ring."
"By rights, I should take you to obtain a Soul Ring first."
"But another student at the academy is about to reach level 20, and Ma Hongjun is only one level away from his bottleneck. So you'll have to wait for them for now. The three of you can go Soul Hunting together when the time comes."
Standing in front of the two boys' dormitory, Flender patted Lin Yan on the shoulder. His tone was matter-of-fact, and he didn't give Lin Yan a chance to refuse.
Lin Yan couldn't say much in response, so he silently nodded.
"All right, Dean!"
"But I won't be in danger during the Soul Hunting Operation, will I? I heard Soul Beasts are all vicious and extremely aggressive toward humans."
"Of course not!" Flender nodded with a smile. "You're only level 10. Our teacher leading the group will personally help you hunt for a Soul Ring. You don't need to worry about that."
"But..."
Flender's tone abruptly changed. He narrowed his eyes and struck what he thought was a profound pose.
"When you reach level 20, though, you'll have to go Soul Hunting on your own. That's one of our academy's teaching methods. After all, Shrek Academy only accepts monsters."
"Huh?" Ma Hongjun looked horrified.
"Dean, what if a Soul Beast eats us? I have Innate Level 9 Soul Power! I want to become a powerful Soul Master and stand at the peak of the continent someday."
Flender let out a cold snort.
"If you can't even handle a Hundred-Year Soul Beast, what right do you have to stand at the peak of the continent?"
"Becoming a powerful Soul Master isn't just a matter of talking big. I hope you both have enough perseverance and courage."
"This is a decent fire-attribute meditation method. Take turns studying it, and try to set foot on the path of cultivation as soon as possible. If you run into any problems, come to my office anytime."
Flender took out a small booklet and handed it to Ma Hongjun, then turned and swept away. The two boys were left staring at each other, digesting what he'd just said.
So they really had to hunt for their own Soul Rings. No wonder the academy's graduation rate was so low. Most of them must have died during Soul Hunting.
Lin Yan pondered to himself.
Still, it was a good thing they had a beginner's protection period until level 10. At least that showed some humanity; there shouldn't be much danger before level 20.
As for after level 20... by then, the sea would be wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky high enough for birds to soar.
As long as he showed a little talent, the powers on the continent would be unlikely to turn down his joining them.
Thinking this over, Lin Yan's plans for the future became a little clearer.
But for now, there was still the same question: the age of his Soul Ring!
He only had this one Martial Soul, so he had to be extremely cautious about any irreversible choice.
Since he had a way to absorb a thousand-year first Soul Ring, he had to give it his all, no matter what!
That was the only way he wouldn't let his future self down.
After making up his mind, the confusion in Lin Yan's eyes gave way to resolve.
A few days later · Suotuo City.
Using the excuse that he wanted to broaden his horizons, Lin Yan followed Flender to the general store he ran.
In truth, he was hoping he might get lucky, spot some treasure Flender hadn't recognized, and secretly sell it for money.
As it turned out, he really did need to broaden his horizons...
He didn't recognize most of the things in Flender's shop, and the few he did recognize weren't worth much.
In the end, he had no choice but to lay his cards on the table with Flender.
"Dean, I'd like to borrow some money from you to buy something."
Flender was dozing lazily in a rocking chair. Hearing that Lin Yan wanted to borrow money, he replied in an unhurried voice.
"What? You've only just arrived in the city, and you're already thinking about spending money?"
"Let me hear what you want to buy. And how much money do you want to borrow?"
Flender assumed Lin Yan was just a child who'd seen some novel things and wanted to buy toys or something, so he didn't pay much attention. He'd even already decided to give him a Silver Soul Coin outright.
But the boy's crisp reply jolted him fully awake.
"I want to borrow two thousand Gold Soul Coins."
"What?" Flender shot upright in his chair, staring at Lin Yan in disbelief.
"Two thousand? Do you have any idea how much two thousand Gold Soul Coins is?"
Plenty of ordinary people who'd never awakened Soul Power might go their whole lives without even seeing two thousand Gold Soul Coins. Yet this kid had said it so calmly.
Seeing Flender's shocked expression, Lin Yan didn't answer him directly. Instead, he simply offered terms.
"I can pay interest: one hundred Gold Soul Coins a year."
"Hiss..."
Flender sucked in a sharp breath.
"That sounds pretty good, but what will you use to pay me back?"
"When I reach level 30, won't I be able to receive a hundred Gold Soul Coins a month from Spirit Hall? I can pay it all back in two or three years."
Lin Yan's tone was perfectly natural.
With his talent for Innate Full Soul Power, reaching level 30 would certainly be no problem. By then, the allowance he received from Spirit Hall alone would be enough to repay the debt. And that wasn't even counting the other benefits Flender could gain from his battles in the Soul Fighting Arena in the meantime.
After weighing the pros and cons, Flender silently settled back into his rocking chair, his tone softening.
"What exactly are you trying to buy? Why do you need so much money?"
"Whale Rubber." Lin Yan's expression was firm. Even when Flender looked surprised again, he didn't back down in the slightest.
"My Martial Soul produces Evil Fire. I need to release it, or I'll burst to death. You know that, Dean."
Flender furrowed his brow slightly.
Over the past few days, he'd indeed felt how formidable that abnormal flame was. It was a mechanism that grew more troublesome as its owner's strength increased.
He roughly estimated that within a few months of reaching maturity, or after cultivating to the Soul Elder rank, Lin Yan and Ma Hongjun would have to release the excess energy from their Evil Fire. Otherwise, it would definitely harm their bodies.
That was the insight expected of a Spirit Saint.
But... how old was this kid? He wasn't at that point yet, was he? Flender eyed Lin Yan with some suspicion.
"Isn't it a little early?"
Lin Yan didn't deny it. He simply replied as though it were obvious.
"That's why I need Whale Rubber!"
At that, the air fell silent.
Flender was at a loss. Why was this kid's reasoning so absurd, yet somehow made a little sense when he thought it over?
He looked at the child, who was barely over a meter tall, and finally couldn't help advising him.
"Can't you just hold it in? Hongjun has a problem with Evil Fire too, and it isn't as bad for him as it is for you!"
"Maybe his Evil Fire isn't as fierce as mine. After all, my Martial Soul is a dragon, while his is only a phoenix."
"..."
"Fine." Flender's brows knitted into a deep furrow as he awkwardly agreed. "If all you want the money for is Whale Rubber, I can go with you later. That way, some unscrupulous merchant won't rip you off."
"Thank you, Dean. Once I make money, I'll be sure to repay you right away."
Meeting Flender's complicated expression, Lin Yan didn't feel the slightest bit guilty.
After all, being able to get Whale Rubber at all was already a stroke of luck. What did reputation matter compared to a thousand-year first Soul Ring?