As the main city closest to Holy Soul Village, Nuoding City was far more prosperous than the little village could ever compare to. Carriages streamed past, and crowds wove through the streets. The towering city walls and orderly shops all felt rather novel to Lin Yan, who was entering the city for the first time. But to Village Chief Lin Daniu, everything here exuded an expensive air that made him feel constrained. He held tightly to Lin Yan, afraid the boy might get lost or offend some important person.
Nuoding Soul Master Academy stood in the central district of the city. Its imposing archway and the large words "Nuoding Academy" could be seen from afar. The children who studied here were either rich or noble, or, like Lin Yan, possessed a precious work-study placement.
Lin Daniu and Lin Yan arrived at the academy entrance.
Lin Yan said, "Uncle, I'll go in on my own from here. Head back early, so you won't be traveling too late for it to be safe."
"All right, then go on by yourself."
The village chief handed Lin Yan his few belongings, then carefully reminded him to treat others kindly and so on. Only then did he leave, looking back three times with every step.
Lin Yan took a deep breath, straightened his somewhat rumpled coarse-cloth clothes, settled his pack on his back, and walked toward the academy gates.
As soon as he approached, he saw a familiar scene-a country old man and a child in clean but equally plain clothes were being stopped by a gatekeeper with a disdainful expression.
"Shoo, shoo! Where did you come from, you penniless country brat? Is this any place for you? Innate full soul power, and Blue Silver Grass? Who are you trying to fool, a ghost? You must have forged this certificate!" The gatekeeper waved his hand, his tone dripping with mockery, drawing the attention of several finely dressed students and parents nearby who turned to watch the spectacle.
The people being stopped were, naturally, Old Jack and Tang San from Holy Soul Village.
After some arguing, the gatekeeper reached out and began shoving Old Jack. Then Tang San showed his strength and pushed the gatekeeper over, after which the gatekeeper scrambled up from the ground in a fit of rage and was about to charge at Tang San.
Lin Yan stood to one side, watching quietly. He knew that next came-
"Stop." A somewhat hoarse voice rang out, carrying a measure of authority.
A middle-aged man in a long gray robe walked out of the academy, his face stiff and his expression stern. His gaze swept over the gatekeeper with an air of scrutiny that brooked no question.
At the sight of him, most of the gatekeeper's arrogance instantly died away. He hurriedly bowed. "Grandmaster, you're back."
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang ignored the gatekeeper and instead looked at Tang San and Old Jack. He asked for the martial soul certificate they held and examined it carefully, a barely perceptible gleam flashing through his eyes. He turned his gaze to Tang San, then said, "The certificate is indeed genuine. The academy will handle this matter."
After taking care of things, Grandmaster was just about to lead Tang San inside.
Lin Yan immediately called out, "Hello, Grandmaster!"
Only upon hearing the call did Grandmaster turn his gaze toward Lin Yan. "You know me?"
"I don't know you, but after seeing you reprimand the gatekeeper, I thought you must be someone remarkable."
"I'm hardly remarkable, merely a lodger who scrounges food and drink at the academy. Are you also a new student here to register?" Hearing Lin Yan's words satisfied Yu Xiaogang's vanity, so he asked another question.
Lin Yan nodded and handed over his work-study certificate and the soul power certificate issued by Spirit Hall. "Yes, Grandmaster. My name is Lin Yan. I'm from Dalin Village, and I'm a work-study student."
Lin Yan knew that although Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's theories did not stand up to scrutiny, his knowledge of soul beasts was indeed extensive. If he could learn something about soul beasts from Yu Xiaogang, he would know where to look when the time came to find a suitable one, saving himself considerable trouble. So Lin Yan did not mind getting acquainted with Yu Xiaogang.
Grandmaster took the certificates and glanced over them. When he saw "Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass, innate soul power: half a rank," his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. He seemed somewhat surprised, but quickly regained his composure and merely gave an indifferent "Mm."
He handed the certificates back to Lin Yan, then told the gatekeeper, "Do not let anything like this happen again. I'm taking these two inside."
The gatekeeper repeatedly agreed, not daring to show the slightest negligence.
Grandmaster said to Tang San and Lin Yan, "Follow me."
Once they entered the academy, the surroundings became much quieter and more secluded. Green trees provided shade, the paths were broad, and a few students in school uniforms could be seen walking in the distance.
Grandmaster stopped and first said to Lin Yan, "Follow this path straight ahead, and you'll reach the academic affairs office. Go register on your own."
His tone was flat, with an unmistakable note of dismissal. Clearly, in his theoretical framework, a Blue Silver Grass soul master with half a rank of innate soul power had extremely limited prospects even if he could cultivate, and was not worth much of his attention.
Lin Yan understood and was not disappointed. He nodded calmly. "Thank you, Grandmaster." He glanced at Tang San beside him, knowing that Grandmaster might be keeping him behind to explain his deductions about "twin martial souls."
Without saying anything more, he carried his belongings toward the academic affairs office as directed.
The academic affairs office was on the first floor of the main teaching building. When Lin Yan reached the new student reception desk, he saw a teacher in his sixties and two young teachers assisting him.
Lin Yan walked up to the reception desk and placed his certificates on the table. "Hello, teacher. I'm Lin Yan, this year's work-study student from Dalin Village. I'm here to register."
The older teacher looked at Lin Yan's martial soul certificate and could not help saying aloud, "Martial soul, Blue Silver Grass. Innate soul power, half a rank."
The teachers present all wore strange expressions when they heard this.
"Student Lin, with this martial soul of yours, have you really thought through coming here to study? After all, you'll inevitably have to spend money at the academy, yet you might not even cultivate to rank ten by graduation."
"Yes, I've already thought it through. I believe there are no trash martial souls, only trash soul masters."
"Hahaha, those words of yours are rather similar to that Grandmaster's theory. All right, as long as you're willing to study, we won't refuse you admission. Here are your things, issued free of charge by the academy. You'll be staying in Dorm Seven in the dormitory building. The teacher in charge there will arrange your work-study duties. Off you go!"
"Thank you." Taking the things handed over by the teacher at the new student reception desk, Lin Yan bowed and left the academic affairs office.
There was only one dormitory building, so it was easy to find. Lin Yan soon found Dorm Seven.