"Seventy thousand. The lowest-grade ten-year soul spirit costs seventy thousand Federation Coins. Do you understand the despair of a father whose son awakened soul power, something he could be proud of, yet who couldn't scrape together seventy thousand Federation Coins to buy his son a soul spirit?"
That barrage of words left Xie Xie completely stunned. Even the pain around his eye faded. Inwardly, he gave Jiang Mingyuan a silent thumbs-up.
Bro, your firepower is incredible.
"During the test just now, I saw that your martial soul was a sword, a sword with an ice attribute, right? Its quality must be pretty high. Wulin's martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, and his innate soul power was only rank three. The Spirit Transmitter who awakened his martial soul laughed at him. His teachers and classmates at the elementary academy laughed at him too. But he still resolutely set out on the path of cultivating as a Soul Master. Do you know how much pressure he was under?!"
"To avoid adding to his family's burden, Wulin picked up a blacksmithing hammer when he was only six years old! Every day, he stood at a forging bench, all so he could buy the cheapest soul spirit and become a Soul Master."
Wu Changkong fell silent.
He had come from a privileged family, and his innate soul power had been fairly high too. As a child, all he had needed to do was work hard at cultivation. His parents and elders had taken care of his soul spirits and cultivation resources.
"I'm sorry. I took far too much for granted. I said such hurtful things without first understanding what had happened."
All four of them fell silent in the office. For a while, the room was utterly still.
Suddenly, Xie Xie thought of something. He raised a finger.
"Hey! Wait a minute. Tang Wulin's first soul ring was yellow. That clearly came from a hundred-year soul spirit. Don't tell me he earned a million Federation Coins by swinging a hammer for three years?"
That was right. Wu Changkong realized it too. Tang Wulin had exceptional talent for forging and had quickly become a Level-One Blacksmith. But could a Level-One Blacksmith earn a million Federation Coins in those three years?
"Oh. I gave Wulin the money."
Right. Jiang Mingyuan and Tang Wulin had both graduated from Red Mountain Academy, so they must have known each other for ages. But wait, after talking for so long, he hadn't mentioned his own part in this at all.
Wu Changkong, Xie Xie: (￣_￣|||)
"A gentleman won't eat food tossed to him with contempt. Wulin and I made a bet. If he could earn thirty thousand Federation Coins through his own efforts within three years, I'd lend him the money to buy a soul spirit."
Fine. Wu Changkong had nothing more to say. He turned his gaze back to Xie Xie, making him shudder.
"Xie Xie, your problem is the biggest. You both awakened your martial souls at six, and Tang Wulin had to spend part of those three years learning to forge. What about you? You could have devoted yourself entirely to cultivation, yet you lost in the test. You're a genius with twin martial souls and innate full soul power, but you're only rank eighteen now. Haven't you been slacking off far too much?"
Tang Wulin looked surprised when he heard that. Wait, Xie Xie's talent was that good?
You'd rather face my fists with a little dagger than use your second martial soul? Xie Xie, you little punk.
An identical dagger appeared in each of Xie Xie's hands, except that the one in his left hand radiated an aura of light, while the one in his right radiated an aura of darkness.
"Teacher Wu, my twin martial souls aren't like other people's! And rank eighteen isn't that low, is it? I'm about to reach rank nineteen."
If Xie Xie and Wu Changkong had been the only two people in the office, that argument might have held water. But Jiang Mingyuan was standing right beside them.
Jiang Mingyuan made a two with his left hand and an eight with his right, even extending his left hand in front of everyone.
Yeah!
They were both nine years old, and both had innate full soul power. So how had the other boy ended up ten ranks ahead of him?
Xie Xie had another explanation ready.
"Teacher Wu, you know my family has been involved in mecha for generations. My elders have made me study related subjects since I was little." My cultivation might be lower than Jiang Mingyuan's, but I have a reason! I haven't been focused solely on cultivating either. Like Tang Wulin, I've been studying other things.
Suddenly, clack! A sound reached everyone's ears as something fell to the floor. Xie Xie and Wu Changkong looked down. It appeared to be a badge.
"Oh, no! I dropped my Level-Two Designer Badge. Xie Xie, could you please pick it up for me?" Jiang Mingyuan blinked his bright, dewy eyes, his tone utterly sincere.
Xie Xie's mouth fell wide open.
Seriously, bro! You're not setting me up on purpose, are you?
Jiang Mingyuan: Hehe! This is fun!
Wu Changkong bent down and picked up the Level-Two Designer Badge. After examining it carefully, he confirmed that it was genuine.
In other words, over those three years, Jiang Mingyuan had not only cultivated his soul power to a terrifying rank twenty-eight, but had also become a Level Two Designer.
Wu Changkong had never seen a genius like this, even during his days as a student at Shrek. Perhaps only that legendary Sea God Pavilion Master could compare to him.
This child was talented, a quick learner, valued friendship, stood up for his companions, and had the looks to match.
"Put this badge away safely. Don't lose it again." Wu Changkong returned the designer badge to Jiang Mingyuan. He thought to himself, Perhaps I can guide these children toward Shrek. That would count as making amends for what happened back then.
Xie Xie's biggest problem was that he had gotten a little complacent, much like Wang Dong during the Douluo II era. His talent was right there, yet he failed to cherish it. He had only lost to Tang Wulin because Tang Wulin was a walking cheat-and one who had developed even better than in the original story.
Finally, Wu Changkong turned his gaze to Jiang Mingyuan.
"Your performance was flawless. Among everyone I've seen, not one could achieve your exquisite control over the fire element at your age. However, as a Power Attack System Soul Master, you must also work on your physical strength. Once someone gets close, your advantage will be wiped away."
At that moment, Tang Wulin thought, Is Brother Yuan afraid of someone getting close? The crimson flame he uses in that state is no joke.
Back on the train, Tang Wulin had only been able to close in without suffering much harm because Jiang Mingyuan had subconsciously recognized him as one of his own and held back his power.
Otherwise, even if Tang Wulin hadn't been reduced to charcoal like those robbers, he would have suffered burns across large areas of his skin.
"However, there is something else I must criticize you for." Wu Changkong changed tack, his tone turning stern. In his eyes, Jiang Mingyuan had made a fatal mistake.
Jiang Mingyuan listened attentively. He wanted to hear what assessment this outstanding Shrek graduate would offer.
"Jiang Mingyuan, your soul spirit is an Emerald Swan, correct? A soul spirit of exceptional quality. Do you know Bi Ji, who ranks fourth among the continent's Ten Great Ferocious Beasts? She is the matriarch of the Emerald Swan clan. Emerald Swans are also the soul beasts with the most powerful healing abilities on the continent."
Soul beast resources on the continent were now on the verge of depletion. Even someone with a certain amount of family backing like Xie Xie knew little about Emerald Swans, soul beasts that had once been famous throughout the continent.
"An Emerald Swan is of exceptional quality, but she isn't suited to you. The Phoenix Martial Soul stands at the pinnacle of the continent's power attack martial souls, yet you fused it with a Support System soul spirit."
"Wait!"
Jiang Mingyuan raised a hand to stop Wu Changkong from continuing.
"Have you considered the possibility that my martial soul is actually a Support System, and I just dream of being a warrior?"