Dividing the Compensation

At dusk, on Notting Academy's training grounds, Tang San and Xiao Wu had just finished their cultivation for the day and were preparing to use Xu Linjiu's small smelting furnace to roast some whale glue.

The dean stood at the edge of the field with his hands behind his back, watching the two youths with satisfaction in his eyes.

These two children were each more talented than the last and more diligent in cultivation than the last. In just a few months, both of their cultivation levels had risen by a great deal.

As long as they could grow up healthy, leaving aside whether they would protect Notting Academy in the future, their reputations alone would help the academy recruit a few more children from noble families next year.

At that thought, the smile on the dean's lips simply would not fade.

Suddenly, a streak of light cut across the sky. It drew nearer from afar and hovered above the academy in the blink of an eye.

The figure slowly descended and landed steadily on the training grounds.

"Teacher's back!"

Tang San's eyes lit up when he recognized the newcomer. He immediately put down what he was holding and hurried over.

The newcomer was Xu Linjiu. The hem of his robe swayed lightly as he stood calm and composed, as if he had merely gone out for a stroll.

"Uncle! You're finally back! How did it go? Shrek Academy's people didn't do anything to you, did they?"

Seeing this, Xiao Wu hurried after Tang San and came to Xu Linjiu's side.

Xu Linjiu raised an eyebrow. "Do anything to me?"

He casually waved a hand. In an instant, a huge pile of gold soul coins appeared out of thin air, raining down like a shower of gold and piling into a small mountain.

The golden light of the setting sun fell upon the coins, reflecting a dazzling brilliance.

Xiao Wu squinted from the glare and could not help sucking in a sharp breath.

Tang San was stunned as well. Looking at that mountain of gold soul coins, he was speechless for a long while.

With his current cultivation as a Soul Master, he could only receive one gold soul coin each month as a subsidy from Martial Soul Hall. Even his wages from blacksmithing amounted to only one silver soul coin a month.

He simply could not imagine how many gold soul coins lay in the pile before him.

Dean Su hurried forward and lowered his voice, his tone carrying a hint of nervousness. "Linjiu, where did all this come from? There won't be any trouble, will there?"

Xu Linjiu waved his hand. "Shrek Academy's dean, Flender, paid it himself. Not a coin short. I not only froze him into an ice sculpture, but also sparred with Zhao Wuji. They admitted defeat and offered the compensation themselves."

"Zhao Wuji?"

Dean Su's expression shifted slightly. "The Immovable King Zhao Wuji? The Zhao Wuji who once fought sixteen Soul Emperors from Martial Soul Hall by himself?"

"Mm. His martial soul is the Vigorous Vajra Bear. Tough skin, thick flesh, pretty good at taking a beating."

Xu Linjiu shook his head. "It's a shame he was a little slow. He couldn't hit me."

"Are you sure you're talking about a Soul Sage, not some living target dummy?"

The dean could hardly believe it. If he remembered correctly, half a year ago, this kid in front of him had only been a Soul Ancestor with cultivation close to his own.

When Xu Linjiu had easily frozen Flender before, there had at least been the excuse that Flender had let his guard down.

But now he had defeated the Immovable King Zhao Wuji. He was not even bothering to put on a show anymore, treating a Soul Sage like a spinning top to whip around.

"Enough, old man! Stop staring at me like that!"

Xu Linjiu felt uncomfortable under his gaze. He took out a sheet of parchment from his storage ring and casually tossed it to the dean. "There's also the deed to a small shop in Soto City. It's useless to me, so see if you can make use of it. If not, just sell it."

The dean hurriedly caught it with great care, unfolded it, and gave it a quick glance before nodding repeatedly.

Xu Linjiu swept through the items in his ring with Inner Focus again, making sure he had not overlooked anything else valuable. He put a small portion of the gold soul coins on the ground back into the ring, then pointed at the remaining coins and spoke to the dean.

"Dean, consider these remaining gold soul coins my donation to the academy. After all, the matter with Flender started because of me."

"Are you sure?"

Although the dean said that, his hands showed no intention of stopping.

In the blink of an eye, the little mountain of gold on the ground vanished without a trace.

After checking the gold soul coins in his storage soul tool, the dean nodded in satisfaction and turned to walk into the academy.

"Fine. It counts as a bit of filial respect from you, so I won't stand on ceremony."

Xu Linjiu helplessly shook his head. He turned, removed the storage ring from his hand, and casually tossed it to Tang San beside him.

"Teacher, this is...?"

Tang San caught it instinctively and looked up in confusion.

"There are some things inside that you should be able to use. The gold soul coins in there can be your spending money. As for the ring, if you have no use for it, give it to Xiao Wu."

"Really, Uncle?"

The moment Xiao Wu heard that there was a share for her, her eyes instantly lit up.

She had long been envious of Tang San's storage soul tool. Every time she saw him take things out of it, she was green with envy.

Tang San had just examined the items inside the ring, and the expression on his face changed from confusion to shock.

Aside from those gold soul coins, the ring also contained some rare minerals and medicinal herbs.

In particular, there was an enormous slab of metal inside. He had no idea how many Dragon Beard Needles it could be forged into.

"Teacher, this is far too precious! I can't accept it!"

"Enough. If I tell you to take it, take it."

Xu Linjiu raised a hand and knocked Tang San on the head. "Why do you think I gave you this ring? I have no use for the things inside. You can use them to make those little toys of yours."

"Teacher!"

Tang San took a deep breath, carefully put away the ring, and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Teacher. This disciple will not disappoint your expectations!"

"That ring was Uncle's gift to me!"

Xiao Wu poked Tang San's arm from the side and reminded him in a low voice.

"Enough with all that empty talk."

Xu Linjiu waved his hand, though his expression became more serious. "There's something I need to tell you two."

Tang San straightened up and turned solemn, tugging Xiao Wu slightly at the same time.

"Don't spread word that I can defeat a Soul Sage head-on. I'll speak to the dean about it."

Xu Linjiu's gaze swept over their faces. "When I was obtaining a soul ring outside some time ago, I ran into a bit of trouble. If you spread word that I can defeat a Soul Sage head-on, it could bring unnecessary trouble."

Tang San's heart tightened, and he answered seriously, "Yes, Tang San understands."

"Alright. If there's nothing else, go back and rest first. Xiao Wu, stay behind. I have something to tell you alone."

Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, then at Xu Linjiu. Though he felt somewhat puzzled, since his teacher had spoken, he naturally did not ask further.

He bowed to Xu Linjiu, then gave Xiao Wu a look before turning and walking toward the dormitories.

Only after Tang San had gone far away did Xu Linjiu turn his gaze to Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu felt uncomfortable under his stare and could not help asking, "Uncle, why did you keep me behind?"

Xu Linjiu did not answer her question directly. Instead, he looked at her with a meaningful gaze.

"You're already so old, yet you keep pretending to be young and calling me Uncle? I'm probably not even a fraction of your age!"

"U-Uncle, what are you talking about?"

Xiao Wu's voice trembled slightly, and her smile stiffened.

"I only awakened my martial soul this year. How could I possibly be so old? You must be joking, right?"