Choice

After receiving the certificate issued by White Radiance Intermediate Soul Master Academy, Tie Li immediately put it away at home, intending to share the good news with his family.

Yet the scene he had imagined did not unfold. Instead, his father hesitantly took out a letter.

"When I was young, I went to Gengxin City to study forging. But because I wasn't a Soul Master and lacked the support of Soul Power, I couldn't learn more advanced forging techniques, so I returned to Manno City and opened a blacksmith shop.

I occasionally exchanged letters with my teacher in Gengxin City. A few days ago, I wrote to him about Dali, and he suggested that Dali go to Gengxin City to study forging under him.

We come from commoner backgrounds and can't provide Dali with cultivation resources. If Dali goes to Gengxin City, he can learn advanced forging techniques and craft quality weapons or Soul Tools in exchange for resources.

The initial profits may be a little lower, but it would be much safer than hunting Soul Beasts for income."

The final sentence carried an unspoken meaning. Clearly, Tie Niu knew that Tie Li had hidden the matter of the Gold Soul Coins from him.

What troubled Tie Niu was that Tie Li was already a Soul Master. Even if he did nothing, the Soul Master stipend alone would be a considerable income.

But as a father, he knew of the ambition hidden in his son's heart. Tie Li certainly would not be content to remain unnoticed.

That was why he had begun contacting the teacher he had studied under in Gengxin City when he was young—the man who had taught him his forging skills.

Even now, Tie Niu still remembered what his teacher had said when they parted.

"Tie Niu, you have quite a talent for forging, so why don't you have Soul Power?!"

He had clearly possessed outstanding forging talent, yet without the support of Soul Power, his path as a blacksmith had ended there.

Tie Niu heard the reluctance in his teacher's voice, the same reluctance that had long lingered in his own heart.

Sending Dali to Gengxin City to study forging was not only meant to make up for his regrets from his youth, but also to give his son someone to rely on.

For a commoner to go further on the path of a Soul Master was an exceedingly difficult thing.

Tie Li took the letter from his father. There were only a few brief lines written on it.

When he saw Gengxin City, the first thing Tie Li thought of was the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons, which would later shine brilliantly. The second was Soul Tools.

Douluo Continent placed great importance on cultivating Soul Masters, and its achievements in Soul Tools were not particularly impressive. At present, the most common Soul Tool on the market was probably the Storage Soul Tool, wasn't it?

It would not be until ten thousand years later, when Sun Moon Continent collided with Douluo Continent, that the Sun Moon Empire, with its advanced Soul Tool technology, would immediately display the might of Soul Tools. They were practically weapons of war.

If Shrek Academy had not dispatched several times as many top-tier Soul Masters as the Sun Moon Empire, the scales of victory in that war would have tilted toward the Sun Moon Empire.

Only afterward did the three great empires come to value the development of Soul Tools.

Tie Li did not hesitate for long. He set down the certificate from White Radiance Intermediate Soul Master Academy and chose the letter instead.

However, traveling from the north of the Heaven Dou Empire to the south of the Star Luo Empire would be a very, very long journey.

Tie Niu wanted to give Tie Li all the family's savings, but Tie Li refused.

Though the journey was distant, as a Soul Master, Tie Li had his own plans.

He could accept cargo-escort assignments from trading houses and ride in their carriages. It would save him trouble while earning him an additional fee—a win-win situation.

Tie Li returned to his room, took out a large map, and marked out a route.

"I can accept an escort mission from Manno City to Fragrant City through a trading house, then accept another escort mission from Fragrant City to another city through that city's trading house..."

He would continue until he reached the border. After crossing it, he would accept escort missions within the Star Luo Empire and repeat the process until he arrived in Gengxin City.

The next day, Tie Li went to the academy to complete his withdrawal procedures before heading to Snowwind Trading House.

After the previous incident, Snowwind Trading House treated Tie Li much more warmly.

"I'd like to accept an escort mission here," Tie Li said bluntly.

The employee receiving Tie Li was a girl in her early twenties. She wore Snowwind Trading House's uniform and had a faint smile on her face.

"Are you a Soul Master? What is your Soul Power Level? I'll register it for you."

Tie Li truthfully reported his Soul Power Level.

"Do you have any requirements for the mission?"

"Uh... are there any escort missions going to Fragrant City?"

The employee was not surprised by this and began searching.

"Yes. There's a batch of daily supplies that needs escorting, and they happen to be short one Soul Master to guard it. Would that be acceptable?"

The employee handed the mission details to Tie Li.

Tie Li accepted them and carefully read through everything before finally looking at the reward.

"Two Gold Soul Coins. That's not a bad reward," Tie Li said to himself.

"Alright, I'll take it."

"Please show me your Soul Master Handbook. I need to make a record."

A Soul Master Handbook was equivalent to a Soul Master's identification document, used to confirm one's identity.

"The caravan has already assembled. Can you depart at noon?" The employee returned the Soul Master Handbook to Tie Li.

"Mm, I can."

Tie Li first returned home to pack his luggage. He left a farewell letter in his room, and by the time he returned to Snowwind Trading House, it was nearly time.

The person overseeing this caravan was a middle-aged man around thirty years old. He dressed simply, and there was a trace of shrewdness in his eyes.

When he saw Tie Li, he was mildly surprised. He had not expected him to be a youth.

Yet the respect in his tone did not diminish in the slightest.

The status of a Soul Master alone represented the gap between them.

"Lord Soul Master, the caravan is ready. Please follow me."

"Alright."

The caravan was parked in the square of Snowwind Trading House. There were fifteen carriages in total, each overseen by a burly man.

The lead carriage was exquisitely made, its compartment constructed from fine wood. Inside was a comfortable cushioned couch.

"Lord Soul Master, this is your seat." The overseer pointed to the elegant carriage.

Tie Li did not stand on ceremony. He reclined halfway on the soft couch, finding it quite comfortable.

The overseer went to notify the people in the rear, then returned to the carriage. The compartment was where Tie Li rested, while he was responsible for driving.

With the soft cushion beneath him and the carriage swaying back and forth, Tie Li soon grew sleepy.

The journey from Manno City to Fragrant City would take half a month.

This was Tie Li's first escort mission. Though he lacked experience, the caravan itself was highly experienced.

For seven consecutive days, they reached a town before nightfall every time.

"Lord Soul Master, we may need to trouble you over the next few days," the overseer said suddenly as he drove.

"Did something happen?" Tie Li had a fairly good impression of the overseer. He always arranged matters properly and spared them a great deal of trouble.

"There are no towns along the road ahead, so we'll have to spend the night in the wilderness. If we encounter danger, we'll need your help."

"That is what I'm supposed to do."

Their route avoided Soul Beast Forests and basins where Soul Beasts might gather. At most, they would encounter attacks from wild animals.