The Current State of Northland Academy

"Hmm? Why?" Vidal was somewhat taken aback. He could not understand why Amon had refused.

He considered himself quite capable, with his father, the city lord, as backing. He had both influence and ability. Cooperating with him would be a win-win choice.

"I believe I made it very clear just now. At Northland Advanced Soul Master Academy, talent and strength alone do not guarantee that you can represent the academy in the competition.

"Commoner Soul Masters simply cannot form a team.

"You do not seem to have any major power backing you either.

"There have been commoner Soul Masters who banded together before, hoping to defeat teams formed by noble students and win the academy competitions to earn qualification for the Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies.

"They truly had the ability, but before the academy finals, their team fell apart. Its members withdrew one after another and joined other teams instead.

"Some were threatened, while others were bought off...

"So if your goal is the Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies, at least one person on the team must have sufficient influence... Perhaps even one will not be enough.

"Or do you think I am too weak and unworthy of teaming up with you?"

By the end, a trace of anger had appeared on Vidal's face. He felt that he had already shown Amon enough respect and goodwill, and he did not think his own strength was poor.

At Northland Academy, his talent might not have been the very best, but he was certainly among the top tier.

A faint smile played on Amon's lips. "I did not mean that you are weak or unqualified to join us... I also believe that teaming up with you would be a very good choice."

"Hmm?" Vidal was confused by the contradiction.

Amon continued, "But I will not join your team. I will choose my own companions. My goal is not merely to participate... Don't you think winning a championship would be quite interesting?"

"The... championship?" Vidal was astonished by his ambition.

Northland Province was directly governed by the royal family and belonged to the Heaven Dou City division, which had five qualifying spots. To advance through the preliminaries, one had to rank among the top five of the many advanced Soul Master academies.

But the Five Elemental Academies stood like towering mountains before them, leaving Northland Academy's students without the courage to climb.

Vidal's greatest goal had only been to qualify for the competition. If he could perform well in the preliminaries, that would be even better.

He had never once considered reaching the finals. As for the championship, that was pure fantasy.

Amon nodded. "That's right, the championship... Therefore, I need control over the team. I cannot accept people who do not meet my standards joining it.

"From your description, the captain of a competing team at Northland Academy should hold considerable authority, because this is a team competition, and the captain is the core of the team.

"Honestly, if you were the captain, could you refuse students who were friendly with your family but just a little lacking in strength?"

Vidal fell silent. He shook his head. "Not really. I would have to compromise."

Amon spoke in a gentle yet resolute voice:

"Yes. When interests are involved, choices must be made—concessions and compromises. I believe the conditions needed to make me compromise would be far more difficult to meet than those needed to make you compromise...

"I am not so easily bought, nor so easily threatened. And I have no complicated things like familial affection, friendship, or family ties to consider.

"Making me yield will not be so easy.

"For example, in my eyes, someone with your level of strength is already the minimum requirement. But your minimum standard seems to be lower."

"You seem very confident... The championship is something I would never even dare to imagine." Vidal laughed helplessly. He glanced at Yan Jin and Lei Yin, his expression somewhat resigned. "If everyone had talent like theirs, perhaps there would be hope in the tournament after next. But I cannot wait that long. I am already nineteen.

"However, if you truly have the confidence to win the championship and demonstrate that kind of strength, the various factions within the academy will not break up your team.

"They would only try every possible way to send the outstanding students they favor, those who meet your standards, into your team..."

Amon suggested, "How about we decide who the captain is after we reach the academy?"

"Fine... If you are strong enough, then you will be the captain." Vidal nodded, anticipation and ambition in his eyes. If possible, he naturally wanted to achieve better results as well.

"Huh? Goldie? Amon agreed to let you join?" Yan Jin had been watching the situation the whole time. She walked over, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile, "Hmm... Your strength is passable, I suppose."

Vidal's mouth twitched, and he gave a bitter smile. Yan Jin's words stung because they were the truth.

After the tavern conflict, although Vidal had acknowledged Yan Jin's talent, he had not thought she had already surpassed him. He had seemed passive in the tavern only because the space had been too cramped for him to make use of his speed advantage.

But after witnessing the final exchange of her sparring match with Lei Yin, he had changed his mind and admitted that he could not defeat Yan Jin.

Perhaps when Amon said I was the minimum standard, he had lowered his requirements somewhat because I helped him hunt for a Spirit Ring, just to spare me some face... Vidal thought to himself.

After Vidal left, Yan Jin belatedly asked, "Amon, are you going to obtain a Spirit Ring here? We are not going to the academy first?"

Amon adjusted his Monocle. "Perhaps I am worrying too much, or perhaps not... In any case, I need to arrive at the academy in a better, more outstanding state.

"I originally planned to obtain a Spirit Ring after reaching the academy because I wanted to use the academy's resources to make the hunt easier.

"But now, Vidal can achieve the same effect."

Lei Yin's expression grew grave. Amon did not change his plans casually. If the plan had changed, it meant something beyond his expectations had occurred during this period.

"Those... bandits?"

"Hmm? What did you say?" Yan Jin asked when she heard Lei Yin mutter.

"N-Nothing." Lei Yin shook his head and looked at Amon. "Do you need us to come with you?"

"Yes." Amon nodded. "I currently do not have many offensive methods, so I will need your assistance.

"Once we reach the Ironheart Mountains, do not act recklessly. This target is somewhat troublesome.

"Eyeless Snakes are not Soul Beasts with low combat power like Slimes. On the contrary, they are powerful predators.

"A five-thousand-year Eyeless Snake can rival the strongest among Soul Ancestors, or an ordinary Soul King."

"A Soul King?" Lei Yin felt immense pressure.

Yan Jin and he could rely on the unique properties of their Martial Souls to fight Soul Elders, but they could not possibly cross two major ranks to challenge a Soul Ancestor, much less a Soul King.

Yan Jin's expression was equally grave, but she said with certainty, "But since you included it in the hunting range from the start, that means you are confident that the three of us can take it down together."

Although she did not like to think too much, she understood Amon better than Lei Yin did and knew that he never did anything without confidence.

Amon adjusted his Monocle and merely smiled without confirming or denying it.