On this joyous day for Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy, a Soul Master had popped up, released his Martial Soul, and displayed his Soul Ring, stealing everyone's attention. Was he trying to challenge them?
Who did he think he was? Daring to disrespect the academy in Nuoding City? Did he know how many Soul Masters the academy trained every year? Did he know those Soul Masters had entered every level of Nuoding City?
So two teachers came over to see what was happening, one tall and one fat!
The tall teacher asked, "What's going on?"
The fat teacher said, "Put your Martial Soul away."
Lin Kong withdrew his Martial Soul, and the hundred-year Soul Ring vanished. He swallowed the pancake in his mouth and was about to speak, but unexpectedly, the refined-looking man who had fallen to the ground sprang up first. He hurried over, forcing respect onto his face and revealing an expectant look as he turned the accusation back on Lin Kong:
"Teachers, he hit people! He wants to hit people! He was bullying us just now."
The two teachers had initially been somewhat displeased with Lin Kong, but that had largely faded after he withdrew his Martial Soul. Now that someone had approached them to resolve this sort of dispute, they instinctively felt annoyed.
How could they have any interest in upholding justice? They would much rather shake this matter off, return to the procession, and keep enjoying the townspeople's cheers!
But... wouldn't upholding justice feel rather good too?
The tall teacher said, "He wanted to hit you, right? Hmm, tell us. Explain what happened clearly."
The fat teacher said, "Indeed. How could a Soul Master casually lay hands on ordinary people?"
The refined-looking man had already hidden behind the two teachers. He poked his head out to glance at Lin Kong, then immediately pulled it back, his eyes gleaming with the success of his scheme. He was taking advantage of Lin Kong's youth and lack of a nimble tongue. He kept edging backward, planning to find a chance to slip into the crowd and make his escape.
As for the rough-looking man, he had none of that cunning. He simply stood where he was with his head lowered, waiting to be lectured. Just what one would expect of someone who had wanted a pancake over a single remark in the first place.
The North Market vendor raised his hand slightly and stepped forward. "Lord Lin Kong is a graduate of the academy. Also, those two were just cursing Lord Lin Kong to die in the Soul Hunting Forest."
As soon as those words fell, both teachers' expressions changed.
With a cold expression, the fat teacher looked around but failed to find the man. Turning his head, he spotted the refined-looking man sneaking away. He strode over, seized him by the collar, dragged him back, and hurled him to the ground with considerable force, barking, "You'd better behave yourself, brat."
He swallowed the words he had spoken mere seconds earlier.
The tall teacher looked at Lin Kong, his tone very warm. "What's your class teacher's name?"
"Wu Yunsheng."
In less than half a minute, Wu Yunsheng arrived. First he frowned, then his eyes suddenly widened. He hurried forward a couple of steps and rushed up close, his voice uncertain. "Hmm... you're Lin Kong?"
"Hello, Teacher!"
At that moment, the refined-looking man's face turned ashen as he lay on the ground. He knew he had gotten himself into trouble. Having said such things on a day like today, he was certainly in for a bitter time.
How he regretted it!
"It really is you, Lin Kong! Damn, getting a Soul Ring completely changed your looks. You're so handsome even your teacher couldn't recognize you. Back then, I didn't see you in the Soul Hunting party, so I even went to ask the dean. He said you'd gone with an elder to obtain a Soul Ring. How did it go? What's your first Soul Ring?"
He had asked the question one second, and the next, Wu Yunsheng added:
"It's fine if you don't want to say. A Soul Master's Soul Rings are their secrets. I understand, I understand."
Wu Yunsheng truly was a good teacher.
"I obtained a hundred-year Soul Ring."
Lin Kong summoned his Martial Soul and displayed the yellow hundred-year Soul Ring, drawing another wave of astonished looks from those around him. In a small place like Nuoding City, Soul Masters whose first Soul Ring was a hundred-year one were exceedingly rare. At the very least, both the tall teacher and the fat teacher only had ten-year first Soul Rings.
Looking at the current procession of students, only five had hundred-year Soul Rings. Most had simply been lucky enough for a hundred-year Soul Beast to fall into their hands. After killing it, they checked whose Martial Soul it suited and gave it straight to them. There was only one exception: Shen Zhinian.
"Good, good, good!" Wu Yunsheng patted his shoulder with satisfaction. Seeing his student achieve something naturally made him happy as his teacher. "Well done. Shall we head back to the academy together now?"
"No, I'm going to Spirit Hall to register in a bit."
Lin Kong offered a reason. He was already a one-ring Soul Master now, and after registering, he could collect one Gold Soul Coin. With that money, he could settle his previous debts.
Wu Yunsheng nodded in understanding, then brought up something else:
"There's a celebration banquet at noon. Make sure you come. People from the city lord's residence and Spirit Hall will be attending too. You lads had better keep your wits about you. This is a great chance to find work!"
A celebratory parade, a celebration banquet, and then a recruitment fair. How efficient!
"Hmm... all right!"
Lin Kong agreed.
He was returning home in glory, after all. Naturally, he couldn't miss the celebration banquet! Besides, staying in Nuoding City for a day or two wouldn't delay his search for Ah Yin and the Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor right leg Soul Bone.
All the Soul Master Academies on the continent followed the same schedule, with a month's holiday between graduation at the end of the old school year and the start of the new one. After leaving Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy, Tang San and Xiao Wu would arrive at Shrek Academy a month later. In between, the two would make a trip back to Holy Soul Village, then travel at a leisurely pace, stopping to have fun along the way and timing their arrival at Suotuo City and Shrek Academy.
If Lin Kong went looking ahead of time, he might run into Tang San and Xiao Wu, which meant running into Tang Hao. Wouldn't that be throwing his life away?
This sort of thing couldn't be rushed!
"Make sure you come!" Wu Yunsheng stressed one last time before returning to the procession.
The tall teacher and the fat teacher exchanged glances, having already made up their minds about what to do. Smiling, the tall teacher walked over to Lin Kong, draped an arm around his shoulders, and drew him over to the pushcart. He picked up a pancake and tasted it. "Mmm! Tastes good. You've got a good eye, Lin Kong!"
"I eat these often. They're also great as dry rations in the Soul Hunting Forest. Teacher, this flavor is a little spicy. Would you like to try it?"
"Sure, sure!" The tall teacher seemed to have genuinely taken a liking to them. After finishing, he handed over a Silver Soul Coin. "Boss, keep the extra as a tip. Hmm... when the new school year starts in a month, you can set up a stall at the academy gates in the mornings to sell pancakes."
The price of a pancake: two Copper Soul Coins each.
One Silver Soul Coin was worth a hundred Copper Soul Coins and could buy fifty pancakes. Not only did it cover this purchase, it also paid off Lin Kong's tab. More importantly, he had opened a door, allowing the North Market vendor to do business at the academy gates. That was worth more than could be measured in Soul Coins. It was no small favor.
Such were Soul Masters. In status, wealth, strength, and other aspects, they crushed ordinary people on every front.
A smile blossomed across the North Market vendor's face as he bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, esteemed Teacher! Thank you, Lord Lin Kong! Thank you! Thank you!"
The tall teacher gave Lin Kong's shoulders a gentle shake with the arm around them. "All right, the two of us are heading back to the procession."
"Goodbye, Teacher," Lin Kong said.
Not far away, red finger marks covered both sides of the rough-looking man's face. The refined-looking man had fared somewhat worse for his scheming, his cheeks swollen, blue, and purple. The fat teacher had taught them a lesson.
With the matter settled, Lin Kong first went to Spirit Hall, then went around paying off his tabs before heading toward the academy...