After settling the matter of the children.
City Lord Xiao turned to Dean Zhang, his face radiant with delight.
Dean Zhang was grinning from ear to ear too, his old face like a chrysanthemum in full bloom.
The two exchanged a smile; everything went without saying.
"Ahem, City Lord."
Dean Zhang rubbed his hands together. Seeing that the mood was just right, he struck while the iron was hot:
"Since our academy has produced three little geniuses, could this year's funding... be increased a little?"
He paused, then said with a solemn expression:
"That way, I can buy these three youngsters more cultivation materials. Especially the cafeteria food-we have to keep up."
City Lord Xiao waved his hand, his generosity soaring to the clouds:
"Approved! Double it!"
"On top of that, I'll have someone deliver a batch of ingredients tomorrow so they can have special meals!"
To City Lord Xiao, what did this little money amount to?
If his son Xiao Chenyu could learn even a fraction of what these three monsters knew.
Even if he only tagged along and became a familiar face, the benefits would last a lifetime!
So what if his son was about to graduate?
This final year was precisely the crucial time to build connections!
At the City Lord's bold declaration, a ripple passed through Tang Tian's Sea of Consciousness.
[Little Iron Hammer (hands on hips)]
[This City Lord knows what's what! He gets it!]
[Idiot Tang Tian, you've got money now. Hurry up and buy me something tasty!]
[I want rare metals!]
Tang Tian: ...
These few Gold Soul Coins probably wouldn't even cover one meal for you.
You really are a gold-gobbling beast!
In the end, City Lord Xiao left thoroughly satisfied, feeling that he had made a hugely profitable deal with no risk of loss.
Dean Zhang also left thoroughly satisfied. With the academy's funding secured and its reputation established, even his steps seemed to stir up a breeze.
Tang Tian and the others had reaped considerable rewards as well.
Not only had they received actual Gold Soul Coins.
They had also secured a medal and a generous subsidy for the old village chief from the City Lord's Mansion.
Only Yu Xiaogang remained.
He stood where he was, watching everyone's retreating backs.
The cold wind swept past, making him look particularly desolate and aggrieved.
The cafeteria's second floor.
Tang Tian brought Tang San and Xiao Wu along.
And ordered another table full of the most expensive dishes.
To celebrate the day's abundant harvest.
Tang San placed a piece of meat in Tang Tian's bowl.
And could not help asking curiously:
"Big Brother, that Blue Silver Grass of yours at the school gates today... was that really your First Soul Skill?"
Tang Tian smiled and did not conceal everything.
His First Soul Skill, Blue Silver · Life Ruler, was extremely powerful!
First, it provided an ultimate life enhancement, greatly increasing the Blue Silver Grass's strength, toughness, and resistances.
Second, it could grant his Martial Soul a devouring trait, allowing it to devour the life force of plants or enemies to replenish his own soul power and stamina.
However, Tang Tian had disguised this Soul Ring as a four-hundred-year Yellow Soul Ring.
And told Tang San about its effects only after drastically watering them down.
At the same time, he had long since made up a lie about the Soul Ring's origin.
He explained that he had happened upon a mutated stalk of Blue Silver Grass on the academy's Back Mountain.
It had seemed quite compatible with him, so he had tried absorbing it, never expecting such incredible luck.
Tang San could not help marveling that his big brother and Xiao Wu were both children of destiny. Why was he the only one who had to struggle to find a Soul Ring?
Was this the gap between them?
Xiao Wu could not help blinking.
Wasn't this story about finding a Soul Ring on the Back Mountain copied from mine?
But on the surface, she pretended not to have noticed anything wrong:
"Wow! Brother Tang Tian, you're amazing!"
Xiao Wu's mouth was stuffed full, but her eyes shone as she looked at Tang Tian and said indistinctly:
"Then if anyone dares bully us, beat them up good!"
Everyone's shocked, admiring gazes.
Sent Little Blue in Tang Tian's Sea of Consciousness into utter bliss.
[I've been acknowledged! I'm so happy!]
Little Blue spread her leaves.
Tang San's assessment in particular carried great weight in her eyes.
After all, Tang San carried a bloodline aura that made her feel both familiarity and reverence. He was her master's brother, which, rounding things off, made him family.
"Sure enough, only I can complement Master perfectly!"
However, when Little Blue's gaze shifted to Xiao Wu.
Her mood instantly changed from smugness to wariness and displeasure.
Xiao Wu was leaning her head right beside Tang Tian's shoulder without the slightest restraint.
She even picked out the fatty meat she disliked from her own bowl.
And took the carrots from Tang Tian's bowl.
"This rabbit is so annoying! She has absolutely no sense of boundaries!"
Little Blue flailed her vines wildly in the Sea of Consciousness.
"She insisted on squeezing in beside Master when they slept before, too. That rabbit's aura practically suffocated me!"
"I've already evolved into a Blue Silver King. Though I'm not afraid of her, this instinctive suppression is still really irritating!"
"Master is mine! Mine! Keep away from Master, you rabbit! Aaaah!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Sea of Consciousness.
Little Iron Hammer gloated over her misfortune.
She was not angry in the slightest; instead, she secretly felt delighted.
"Go on, squabble. Make a fuss. The clingier that rabbit gets, the more miserable this stupid grass becomes."
"Anyway, I'm already past the beginner protection period. I'm no longer that little hammer who could only watch helplessly."
Little Iron Hammer swayed her hammer body haughtily.
"That brat Tang Tian's physique is getting stronger and stronger. Soon, he'll be able to withstand my true power."
"When that happens... heh-heh. Once I come out, rabbits, grass, whatever-all of them will have to step aside!"
"I'm the true principal-wife Martial Soul!"
Two days later.
At Nuoding City's gates.
Old Jack wore the new clothes he had worn on his previous visit to the city.
He stood somewhat awkwardly at the entrance.
Looking at the towering city walls, his heart pounded like a drum.
"Little Tian said the City Lord would really meet an old geezer like me? Could there have been some mistake?"
Old Jack was filled with unease.
Just then, a burst of synchronized footsteps suddenly came from inside the city gates.
Two rows of guards in gleaming armor swiftly ran out and lined up on either side, holding back the surrounding pedestrians.
Old Jack jumped, thinking some important person was about to set out.
"Grandpa!!!"
Two energetic shouts rang out.
Old Jack's cloudy eyes blurred, and he saw two figures racing toward him.
Tang San was running in front.
Behind him was Tang Tian, who always wore a confident smile.
"Little San! Little Tian!"
Old Jack was beside himself with excitement:
"You... why did you come out? You haven't missed class, have you?"
"Forget class. Picking up Grandpa is what matters!"
Tang Tian took Old Jack by the arm.
And helped brush the dust off his clothes.
Immediately afterward, City Lord Xiao emerged in luxurious brocade robes.
"Oh! You must be Village Chief Jack of Holy Soul Village!"
City Lord Xiao was the very picture of warmth as he strode forward.
He tightly clasped Old Jack's calloused hands in both of his and shook them vigorously:
"I've long admired your name! Long admired it! You're the man who deserves credit for nurturing two geniuses!"
Bewildered by this sudden warmth, Old Jack stammered:
"Y-you are?"
City Lord Xiao said with a beaming smile:
"I am the City Lord of Nuoding City."
"The... City Lord?!"
Old Jack's legs went weak with fright, and he instinctively moved to make a deep bow.
But City Lord Xiao reacted swiftly and stopped him.
City Lord Xiao smiled:
"You are an honored guest of Nuoding City. I should be thanking you."
The surrounding commoners stared, dumbfounded.
A country old man was actually receiving such courteous treatment from the City Lord?
As for Old Jack at that moment.
He looked at the two straight-backed children beside him.
Especially as he saw Tang Tian's composure in dealing with an important figure, tears glimmered in his cloudy eyes.
"They've made something of themselves... the children really have made something of themselves..."
The City Lord said no more on the matter, smiling as he said:
"Village Chief Jack, let's go inside to talk. I've prepared the finest banquet to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey!"
At the banquet.
Tang Tian, along with Tang San and Xiao Wu, ate with abandon, sweeping through the food like a wind scattering clouds.
After the commendation ceremony ended.
Old Jack received the medal and that heavy bag of Gold Soul Coins as his subsidy.
He felt as though he were dreaming.
He had wanted to leave the money to Tang Tian and Tang San, but Tang Tian firmly refused.
"Grandpa, we have money. It's not every day you come to the city. Let's look around!"
Tang Tian brought Old Jack and Tang San along.
As well as Xiao Wu, who had insisted on tagging along the moment she heard they were going shopping.
And headed straight for Nuoding City's market.
Besides buying some practical things for his grandfather, Tang Tian had a little plan of his own.
He rubbed his chin.
His gaze swept over the market stalls as he thought:
Little Iron Hammer has been getting pickier and pickier lately.
I wonder if I can find a hidden bargain somewhere like this and get some rare metals to feed her...
Before you continue