First Pot of Gold Secured, Enrolling at Notting

The hotel owner's eyes gleamed shrewdly. Seeing Yang Tian's indifferent expression, he felt somewhat uncertain.

Yang Tian naturally knew what the hotel owner was thinking and immediately said, "Name your price. If it's fair, I'll sell. If not, I'll carry it to the next place."

The hotel owner did not dare play any more tricks. "Two hundred Gold Soul Coins."

Seeing the hesitation on the hotel owner's face, Yang Tian said nothing and directly hoisted the Flame Lion onto his shoulder. "Not selling!"

The hotel owner quickly grabbed Yang Tian and said with a flattering smile, "Little brother, name a price?"

"Double it!" Yang Tian said bluntly.

The hotel owner froze, then gave a bitter smile. "You're ruthless, little brother. Three hundred. I can't go any higher."

Yang Tian turned and left. The hotel owner hurriedly shouted after him, "Three hundred fifty!"

Yang Tian ignored him. In the end, the hotel owner ran in front of Yang Tian. "Four hundred! Little brother, you're too ruthless. At least leave me some profit."

Yang Tian shot him a glance. "Pay up."

The hotel owner returned to the hotel and took out four money bags, each containing one hundred Gold Soul Coins.

Yang Tian weighed them in his hand without counting them, then left.

It was already late, so he planned to find a hotel for the night before returning to Holy Soul Village. With four hundred Gold Soul Coins, he had more than enough for his expenses and could even improve Old Jack's living conditions.

That night, Yang Tian took a bath and lay on the bed. Opening the system interface, his gaze fell on the Brave Grade Theft Ticket.

"System, steal!"

"Beep! Congratulations, Host. You have stolen an unnamed cultivator's Storage Ring!"

Yang Tian raised a brow. This was truly like being handed a pillow when sleepy. Taking out the Storage Ring, he followed the instructions and dripped blood onto it to bind it as its owner. With a thought, he entered the Storage Ring's space.

The Storage Ring's space measured over ten meters in length, width, and height. Inside were dozens of crystalline stones, medicinal herbs, and other miscellaneous items.

"The theft wasn't just the Storage Ring?" Yang Tian looked at the items inside and finally realized it. The Theft System stole things that belonged to someone else!

The Storage Ring had an owner, so naturally there were items inside it.

Moreover, the system had thoughtfully provided descriptions for all of those items. Very conscientious.

"Spirit stones, spirit herbs, a minor divine ability, and an immortal cultivation technique. The gap between items stolen with Brave Grade theft is rather large. Could this be the difference between its upper and lower limits?"

Although Lingbo Steps was good, it truly could not compare to the value of this Storage Ring.

The minor divine ability in the Storage Ring was called Illusion God Palm. Its palms struck like a god, its movements leaving phantom shadows!

The name of that cultivation technique sounded rather impressive as well.

Innate Spirit Nurturing Art: Absorb the qi of heaven and earth to nurture the body, nurture the spirit, nurture the mind, and nurture the soul!

Without hesitation, anything produced by the system could be directly mastered at the beginner level.

Taking out the spirit stones, Yang Tian cultivated through the night and broke through from level thirteen to level fourteen. That was only because his Sacred Body was such a resource-devouring burden. Otherwise, Yang Tian felt that the five spirit stones he had consumed could have let him break through to level twenty.

Host: Yang Tian

Martial Soul: Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame

Soul Power: Level 14

Theft Tickets: None

Inventory: Empty

Mission: Complete studies at Notting Academy.

Three days later, Old Jack gratefully tucked away the hundred Gold Soul Coins Yang Tian had insisted on leaving him. Then he tucked Yang Tian and Tang San's enrollment certificates into his robe and set off with Yang Tian, picking up Tang San on the way to Notting City.

He had not paid much attention to Tang San over the past three months, but the boy had grown sturdier as well.

Yang Tian's lips curled slightly. Back then, he had still been debating whether to cling to Tang San's coattails. Now... heh. Do you believe I'll sleep with your CP?

At Notting Academy, Old Jack had just arrived at the gates with Yang Tian and Tang San when they were stopped by the young gatekeeper. "What are you doing here? Is this a place country bumpkins like you can come to?"

As he spoke, the young man stepped forward and raised his hand, intending to shove Old Jack.

However, before he could succeed, a somewhat youthful yet powerful hand gripped his wrist. "A dog acting fierce on its master's authority? You need someone behind you first!"

Yang Tian's face was cold. He gave the young man's arm a light tug, then kicked at his feet, sending him sprawling face-first onto the ground.

Immediately afterward, a system notification sounded in Yang Tian's mind.

"Beep! Mission to teach the gatekeeper a lesson completed.

Reward: One Common Grade Theft Ticket."

Yang Tian paid it no mind. Even if the system had not issued a mission, he would have acted. Old Jack had raised him for six years. How could he stand by and watch him be bullied?

"Little Tian? You..." Old Jack was moved to see Yang Tian act, but he was also worried. After all, they came from a small village.

Tang San spoke from the side. "Grandpa Jack, he was trying to push you, so Heavenly Brother acted. We're in the right. We don't need to fear them."

The gatekeeper never expected to be brought down by a child. After climbing to his feet, he was about to strike again when a deep, heavy voice stopped him. "Stop!"

The young man paused and turned around. His expression immediately changed, and he said in a fawning yet respectful tone, "Grandmaster, you're back."

Grandmaster wore a stern expression and merely grunted. Then, seeing the enrollment certificates in Old Jack's hand, he said, "Sir, may I see the enrollment certificates you are holding?"

Old Jack nodded repeatedly. It was clear that Grandmaster was an important figure at Notting Academy.

Grandmaster took the certificates and glanced over them. Then he said, "The certificates are genuine. Sir, I apologize to you on behalf of the academy. Let's go inside."

After saying that, he glared at the gatekeeper again. "If there's a next time, you needn't stay here anymore."

Hearing Grandmaster actually apologize to him, Old Jack was flattered. "No, no, there's no need. Grandmaster, you're too courteous. I won't be going in. I'll trouble you to help these two children enroll."

Grandmaster did not insist. Only after Old Jack repeatedly reminded Yang Tian and Tang San to behave before leaving did Grandmaster lead the two into the academy.

At that moment, Yang Tian received another system notification.

"Beep! Mission issued: Refuse to become Grandmaster's disciple.

Mission reward: One Brave Grade Theft Ticket."

"Beep! Mission issued: Question Grandmaster's claim that 'there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters.'

Mission reward: One Common Grade Lottery Ticket."

"Two missions, and one is even Brave Grade. Not bad." Yang Tian had never intended to become Grandmaster's disciple. Though Grandmaster's theories were strong, they were far from invincible. Besides, Grandmaster was cowardly, irresponsible, arrogant, and hypocritical... he was simply too rotten. The only thing worth taking from him was his extensive theoretical knowledge.

Thinking this, Yang Tian sneered inwardly and said, "Teacher, thank you."

Yang Tian directly stole Tang San's line, but Tang San did not notice at all and followed with a word of thanks.

Grandmaster shook his head slightly and forced out an unpleasant smile. "I am not a teacher at this academy."

"Not a teacher? But you just said you represented the academy... then you must be some powerful academy leader, right? The kind with exceptional strength!" Yang Tian wore an innocent smile.

Grandmaster's body stiffened. Then he chuckled and shook his head. "You're very clever, but you still guessed wrong."