After returning to Nuoding City with Su Yuntao, the first thing Lu Yang did was register as a Soul Master at the Spirit Hall Branch and collect a subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin.
Based on Lu Yang's understanding of this world, one Gold Soul Coin was truly a fortune for an ordinary person. In reality, however, when it came to a Soul Master's cultivation, it was merely a cup of water thrown onto a blazing cartload of firewood.
Take the good things Lu Yang knew about, such as whale rubber. Some whale rubber of very low age could be purchased in Nuoding City's pharmacies, but even those items cost far more than the single Gold Soul Coin in his hand.
Never mind leaving Nuoding City for Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. That would cost a considerable sum.
At this point, Lu Yang could not help mocking his former self. Where on earth did I get the confidence to think I could head to Heaven Dou City and live the good life once I obtained a Soul Ring?
He was currently in Fanos Province under the Balak Kingdom's jurisdiction, with the Silves Kingdom lying between him and the Heaven Dou Empire. With his meager resources, getting to Heaven Dou City was simply impossible.
However, when Ma Xiunuo, the steward of the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch, learned that Lu Yang's first Soul Ring was a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, he immediately showed a keen interest. Not only did he give Lu Yang ten Gold Soul Coins for living expenses, but he also thumped his chest and guaranteed that he would accurately report Lu Yang's information to his superiors.
After Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao saw him out of the Spirit Hall Branch, Lu Yang returned to Nuoding Academy. Although he did not want to see that annoying fellow Yu Xiaogang, he had nowhere else to stay in Nuoding City.
Still, Lu Yang had already made up his mind. If Yu Xiaogang remained just as annoying, he would simply withdraw from Nuoding Academy and return to Windbreath Village. At least if he stayed in the village, he would not have to keep dealing with Yu Xiaogang.
Upon returning to Nuoding Academy, Lu Yang first stopped by the Academic Affairs Office.
Director Su was overjoyed to see him back.
Lu Yang's Soul Hunting trip had taken four days in total, and when he left, he had not told anyone at the academy where he was going.
Lu Yang's disappearance had left both Nuoding Academy's dean and Director Su quite anxious. After all, Lu Yang was a promising talent with innate full soul power. If he left without a word, it would be a considerable loss for the academy.
Now that Lu Yang had returned, Director Su could finally breathe much easier.
"Little Yang, where have you been these past few days? I asked the other students in Dorm Seven, but none of them knew where you'd gone," Director Su asked.
"I went to Spirit Hall and asked one of their deacons to help me hunt for a Soul Ring," Lu Yang answered directly, making no attempt to conceal anything.
Director Su's heart clenched at Lu Yang's answer. Lu Yang's Soul Hunting application had reached his desk long ago, but the dean had never approved it, leaving him no choice but to hold it back.
Now that Lu Yang had successfully obtained a Soul Ring with Spirit Hall's help, could he really harbor no resentment toward the academy that had sat on his application?
At that thought, Director Su gave an awkward smile and said, "So that was it. The academy failed to give the matter proper consideration. With the new term about to begin, there's been so much to do that your Soul Hunting trip ended up being delayed."
Hearing Director Su's feeble explanation, Lu Yang merely shook his head. There had barely been anyone at Nuoding Academy before the start of term, and only a few students in the dormitories. He genuinely had not seen any sign of all this bustle.
As for the reason he suspected, Lu Yang had no intention of voicing it. Whether or not Yu Xiaogang had been tripping him up behind the scenes, it could not change the fact that he had already obtained a thousand-year first ring.
"Director Su, I've already obtained my first Soul Ring. If there's nothing else, I'll head back and rest," Lu Yang said.
"Of course, of course. Go get some rest. The term starts in a few days, and you'll be busy then." Smiling, Director Su saw Lu Yang out of his office. Only after watching him leave did he turn and head toward the dean's office.
He had to report that Lu Yang had obtained a Soul Ring. As for whether the dean and Yu Xiaogang's schemes would now go down the drain, that was none of his business.
Meanwhile, on his way back to the dormitory to rest, Lu Yang ran into Yu Xiaogang on the academy grounds.
The moment Yu Xiaogang saw Lu Yang, he hurried over to him.
Lu Yang's absence from the academy over the past few days had left Yu Xiaogang squirming with anxiety. He already regarded Lu Yang as the disciple of his dreams and feared that something might have happened to him. Naturally, now that Lu Yang was back, he had to show his "concern" immediately.
"Lu Yang, where have you been these past few days?" Unfortunately, Yu Xiaogang was so accustomed to acting haughty-putting on airs, really-that although he had meant to show concern, the words came out sounding like an interrogation.
"Do I have to report my whereabouts to you, Grandmaster?" Lu Yang frowned and asked impatiently.
Yu Xiaogang's expression changed at his words.
"I'm showing concern for you! Don't spit on my kindness!" Yu Xiaogang snapped.
"Yes, yes, thank you for keeping me in mind, Grandmaster. But there's no need for you to concern yourself with my affairs." Lu Yang gave a helpless reply, then turned to leave.
"Wait!" But Yu Xiaogang had no intention of letting Lu Yang leave just like that.
"Over the past few days, I have consulted many more texts and refined the development plan for your Martial Soul. Your Light Ball Martial Soul can develop not only along the control system path, but also serve the support system, provided you choose the right Soul Rings. As long as you follow my guidance in selecting your Soul Rings, you can become a Soul Master who cultivates both control and support." Seeing that Lu Yang was about to leave, Yu Xiaogang stopped putting on airs and laid out the development plan he had devised for him.
"As long as you accept me as your teacher now, I'll take you to obtain a Soul Ring immediately!" Yu Xiaogang still did not know that Lu Yang had already obtained a Soul Ring and wanted to keep using the matter as leverage over him.
"Thank you, Grandmaster, but I've already found a better option. Besides, I've already had a Spirit Hall deacon help me obtain my first Soul Ring, so I won't need your help." With that reply, Lu Yang walked away.
"What!?" Yu Xiaogang was horrified. Lu Yang was the promising talent he had set his sights on, the tool he would use to prove himself! How could anyone else lay their hands on his tool!?
"You're squandering heaven's gifts! You're nothing but a trash Martial Soul with innate full soul power. Without my guidance, you'll eventually vanish into the crowd! How could those people from Spirit Hall possibly put their hearts into nurturing you? Only I would truly help you plan your Soul Rings and cultivation!"
By now, Yu Xiaogang had somewhat lost his composure. He stood where he was, pointing at Lu Yang as the boy slowly walked away, and berated him with his nose in the air.
Lu Yang offered no response to his words and merely quickened his pace in silence. He truly could not understand whether something was wrong with Yu Xiaogang's head. If he genuinely wanted to take a disciple, should he not try persuading them with kind words? What child with a brain and a backbone would willingly accept him as a teacher when he opened with a barrage of insults?
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