The Sun-Moon Federation government put considerable effort into nurturing Soul Masters like them, and it could be said to spare no effort in supporting their academies and supplying resources.
Most intermediate schools worked with the Spirit Pagoda and could obtain admission tickets to the Spirit Ascension Platform. Graduates of advanced academies, such as the Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, could even find decent jobs in the Federation.
Although the Red Mountain Academy that Tang Li and the others attended was only a primary academy, the Spirit Master Class had good facilities. Most of what they needed was available, including meditation rooms.
During morning classes, they studied various subjects just like ordinary students, except their lessons included more knowledge related to Soul Masters.
In the afternoons, however, their teachers took them to the meditation rooms and taught them basic meditation methods.
Over the many years since its founding, the Federation had compiled meditation methods from numerous sects and used them as a foundation to develop several cultivation methods suited to the widest range of people.
One of the graduation requirements at primary academies like theirs was for students to be able to meditate independently.
Their teachers explained the differences between these meditation methods, then let the students choose whichever suited them best. Dedicated teachers would then take charge of instructing them.
Students like Tang Li, who already had their own cultivation methods, could apply to their teachers for permission to cultivate independently without instruction.
Tang Wulin had originally wanted to stay with Tang Li, but their instructor—the woman who would serve as their Spirit Master Class's homeroom teacher for the next three years—recommended that Tang Wulin remain for guidance. She could tell that Tang Wulin could not meditate as proficiently as Tang Li.
In the end, Tang Wulin accepted her teacher's advice, since the manual Tang Ziran had was one of the basic meditation methods developed by the Federation.
Of course, part of the reason was that she did not want to interfere with Tang Li's cultivation.
And so, under Tang Wulin's reluctant gaze, Tang Li went to another meditation room to cultivate on his own.
There were several other students from families with some standing in this meditation room. Most had inherited their parents' excellent martial souls and practiced meditation methods their families had provided, chosen to suit them best.
Out of courtesy, Tang Li moved quietly and found a spot far away from them, where he sat down to cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
The afternoon flew by as he immersed himself in cultivation, and in the blink of an eye, school was over.
Tang Li returned to the classroom and packed up both his belongings and Tang Wulin's. Only then did Tang Wulin return, exhaustion written all over her face. Clearly, the afternoon's lessons had not been easy for her.
"Xiao Li, are you going to the Spirit Pagoda to buy a soul spirit?"
"Yeah, Dad's already arranged everything. I'm going to meet Uncle Lin at the school gate in a bit. Wulin, do you want to come with me?"
At the prospect of visiting the Spirit Pagoda, Tang Wulin's large, exhausted eyes suddenly lit up. But remembering that she had yet to memorize the circulation route for her meditation method, she shook her head and declined Tang Li's invitation.
"I'd better not. I still haven't fully memorized the meridian diagram for the meditation method. I'll go home and review it some more. Once I break through to rank ten, I'll have a chance to visit the Spirit Pagoda too."
As she spoke, Tang Wulin took both schoolbags from Tang Li, slinging one over her back and carrying the other in her left hand. With her right, she grabbed Tang Li and hurried toward the school gate.
"Come on, let's go. We shouldn't keep Uncle Lin waiting."
At the entrance to the Red Mountain Academy, a man who looked to be in his thirties stood among the crowd. His short hair bristled like steel needles, and his explosive muscles stretched his short-sleeved shirt taut. Tall and powerfully built, he resembled a giant ape.
His dark yellow eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, pinpointing Tang Wulin and Tang Li among the crowd.
"Little Tang Li, little Wulin, over here!"
Uncle Lin's booming voice was like a loudspeaker, instantly drawing the siblings' attention.
They had met Uncle Lin before and remembered his tremendously powerful build vividly. Once they confirmed who he was, the two quickly threaded through the crowd and came up to him.
"Hello, Uncle Lin!"
"Heh-heh, little ones, let's go. I'll take you to the Spirit Pagoda and broaden your horizons."
The burly man, whose name was Lin Ye, warmly took the siblings by the hand and headed toward a less crowded area. Seeing such a hulking tough guy, the parents waiting for their children all cleared a path.
"Uncle Lin, I won't be going to the Spirit Pagoda. I still need to go home and keep studying my meditation method."
"All right, then. I'll bring you something tasty next time. Remember to stay safe on your way home!"
Lin Ye waved goodbye to Wulin, then took Tang Li away in another direction.
As for why he was not worried about Tang Wulin's safety, that was naturally because the government maintained public order quite well in Aolai City's Hongshan District. If anything happened to a promising young Soul Master like Tang Wulin, the authorities would certainly investigate thoroughly.
Unless someone had something wrong with their head, they would not lay a hand on these children.
Meanwhile, as Tang Li rode to the Spirit Pagoda with Lin Ye in a Soul Guidance Car, he kept feeling that he had forgotten something. Only after thinking for a long while did he remember: today seemed to be the day Tang Wulin met Na'er!
And he remembered that a few thugs were apparently going to target Wulin!
Damn it, I should have dragged Lin Ye along to take Wulin home first, then gone to the Spirit Pagoda.
But it was already too late. He could only hope that Tang Wulin, who had awakened the Clear Sky Hammer, could protect herself and avoid getting hurt.
Beside him, Lin Ye noticed that Tang Li was unusually quiet, his brows slightly furrowed as though something was weighing on his mind. He chuckled and teased:
"Little Tang Li, why aren't you asking what soul tool I've commissioned your dad to make this time? I remember you always loved asking about this and that."
"Uncle Lin, I'm just a little curious about what soul spirit you and Dad found for me."
Tang Li did not mention Tang Wulin. He was not sure whether his presence would cause any changes. Perhaps Tang Wulin would not even meet Na'er this time?
Tang Li tried to comfort himself with that thought. Worrying now would accomplish nothing. At worst, he could go back and avenge Wulin!
"Hahaha! I was going to surprise you, kid, but since you've asked, I'll tell you. Your dad asked me to pull some internal strings and get you something rare. You know the Evil Eye, right? The one ranked second among the Ten Great Beast Kings ten thousand years ago belonged to that species."
At this, Lin Ye's face lit up, his brows dancing with excitement. Clearly, he was immensely pleased with the favor he had done for Tang Ziran.
An Evil Eye? My wish really came true.
"This hundred-year Evil Eye would probably fetch just under ten million Federation Coins on the open market. But fusing with this thing requires very high spiritual power. I'll take you to have yours tested when we get there. If it's below thirty points, I've also got a hundred-year Iron-Backed Earth Dragon ready. It was originally meant for your sister, but if the Evil Eye doesn't work out, you can have it first. I'll look for something else afterward."
"Don't worry, Uncle Lin. I can definitely do it."
Tang Li was quite confident when it came to spiritual power. After all, he had received Sea God Tang San's "blessing"!
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