As night fell, Yang Yunhai returned to the dormitory after having dinner directly at the cafeteria.
Opening the door and looking inside, he saw Tang San and Xiao Wu were both there.
The other beds were mostly empty, with only three of them having bedding, his own and two belonging to other roommates. As for Wang Sheng and the other older students, they had already graduated.
Technically, he could also apply for graduation now, since the requirement for graduating from a primary spirit master academy was simply to become a Spirit Master.
However, he didn't want to do that.
Firstly, with his martial soul, innate spirit power, and current level-11 cultivation, it was uncertain whether any intermediate spirit master academy would accept him. Besides, the tuition for such academies was expensive, he couldn't afford it.
Secondly, even the nearest intermediate spirit master academies, including the one run by the Spirit Hall, were far from Nuoding City. That would hinder his upcoming plans.
Thirdly, the open area behind Nuoding Academy, filled with Blue Silver Grass, had become an ideal simulated environment for his training.
The academy instructors weren't particularly strong, and the vegetation around the dormitory provided good cover, making it easier to stay unnoticed. Even if he started drawing more lightning strikes during his cultivation, it likely wouldn't attract attention, making things much more convenient.
So, after considering everything, he felt it was better to stay at Nuoding Academy.
"Xiao Hai, you're back," a roommate greeted him as Yang Yunhai walked into the dormitory.
They had already heard about him taking leave to acquire his spirit ring. His return signaled that he had successfully become a Spirit Master, unlike them.
Out of camaraderie and respect for someone stronger, a polite greeting was necessary.
"Back again, huh? It's not like we've never seen you before." Xiao Wu, holding a carrot in hand, spoke lazily, her eyes drifting down to Yang Yunhai's hands, her nose wrinkling slightly.
"Xiao Hai, that's just not cool! You went out and didn't even bring us back any local treats."
"You came back at this hour, I bet you already went to the Spirit Hall to get your spirit master stipend, right?"
"Sorry, Xiao Wu. I was in a bit of a rush, but I'll go out later and buy you something tasty," Yang Yunhai replied with a smile.
"That's more like it!" Xiao Wu's expression immediately softened. She nodded and asked, "So, how did it go?"
"Xiao Hai, I heard you went out alone and found someone to help you hunt a spirit beast. What kind of beast did you kill? How old was it? What spirit ability did you get?"
"A Vine of less than 200 years. The skill is Extension, it lets the martial soul grow longer, like a vine," Yang Yunhai said, still smiling.
"Oh." Xiao Wu nodded slightly and commented, "At least it's a century-old ring, not bad."
Extension, just growing longer like a vine? Isn't that completely lacking in offensive power? My first skill, Entangle, is at least an active control skill. Probably because my ring came from a snake-type beast? Guess the teacher's theory was right.
Tang San, who was nearby, silently admired Yu Xiaogang even more. But when he looked at Yang Yunhai, his gaze carried a hint of pity.
Simply extending? No doubt about it, this was a useless spirit ability.
"It's alright," Yang Yunhai scratched his head. "Xiao Wu, I'm heading back to my bed to continue cultivating."
"Go ahead," Xiao Wu waved her hand nonchalantly.
Diligent cultivation, but what a pity. Tang San shook his head slightly and lost interest.
Yang Yunhai returned to his bed, sat cross-legged, and entered his cultivation state.
The night passed without incident. The next morning, he got up early and began another round of daily classes and cultivation.
He also left the academy once to buy snacks for Xiao Wu and his roommates as a way to celebrate becoming a Spirit Master.
Time flew by, days passed quickly.
Now that he had obtained his first spirit ring, the afternoon training became more demanding. He had to train his body, practice spear techniques, multitask, and develop follow-up uses based on his first skill. As a result, he had less time to cultivate spirit power in the afternoon.
Fortunately, after absorbing the first spirit ring, his physical strength had improved significantly. With a stronger foundation, his efficiency in absorbing lightning energy had also increased. He could now draw down four lightning bolts at a time.
His cultivation speed was still acceptable.
Though the training was dull, having a goal kept his enthusiasm high.
A year passed. By then, only Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Yang Yunhai remained among the work-study students in the dormitory.
But this didn't affect Yang Yunhai's training schedule in any way. As for Xiao Wu, since Tang San had to work and Yang Yunhai was always cultivating, the dorm was empty during the day. Not being fond of cultivation herself, she eventually got so bored that she started challenging students in other dorms one by one, winning every fight without exception.
Eventually, Xiao Wu became the queen of the entire academy, the undisputed boss.
Everyone avoided her, and she enjoyed quite a bit of fame.
Only in front of Tang San, whom she now called big brother, did she act sweet and obedient.
Watching this, Yang Yunhai could only roll his eyes and meditate to avoid the awkward scenes.
Over two years later, just one month before the semester ended, and thus before his graduation.
"Hm?" While cultivating spirit power at night, Yang Yunhai suddenly sensed a breakthrough.
"Level 20. I finally made it." Opening his eyes, joy appeared on his face as he murmured to himself, "If it weren't for the first spirit ring being beyond my level and boosting my cultivation a bit, I probably wouldn't have reached level 20 before graduation."
Taking a deep breath, he glanced around the dormitory and finally let his gaze rest on the sleeping Tang San and Xiao Wu.
His eyes flickered slightly, then he lay down to sleep.
The next day, he got up early and went to the back mountain to tidy up his old training area.
Afterward, he headed straight to the academic office.
"What? You're at level 20?" Director Su was shocked when he heard Yang Yunhai had broken through.
"Yes," Yang Yunhai nodded.
"Director Su, this is my final year at the academy, and since there's only a month left until the holiday, I'd like to apply for early graduation."
"Now that you've returned after obtaining your spirit ring, I guess the term is nearly over anyway," Director Su nodded after recovering from his surprise, then smiled.
"Xiao Hai, I really didn't expect you to break through to level 20 so soon. Congratulations!"
This was the Blue Silver Grass, a martial soul universally recognized as trash! And his innate spirit power was only 0.5, the lowest of the low! Most people with the same martial soul and talent could hardly ever reach level 20 in their entire life, let alone at Yang Yunhai's age.
It was unbelievable!
"All your years of hard work weren't in vain. You've finally reaped the rewards. I won't say much more, but I hope that after graduation, you keep up this diligence and continue your path as a Spirit Master, maybe even become renowned in the spirit master world one day."
Though he knew that was unlikely given Yang Yunhai's martial soul, as the director, some encouragement was in order.
"I will. I'll definitely keep working hard," Yang Yunhai nodded earnestly.
After completing the graduation paperwork, he took his leave.
He first returned to the dormitory to pack up, then left the academy and headed back to his home village, Lonely Grass Village.
Not long after Yang Yunhai left, news of his breakthrough to level 20 spread quickly across the academy.
A Blue Silver Grass martial soul, with only 0.5 innate spirit power, breaking through at such a young age, it was a miracle. Especially since he studied at Nuoding Academy. Director Su was pleased and shared the news readily.
Soon, the news reached Yu Xiaogang.
"How is this possible!?"
That was Yu Xiaogang's first reaction.
Going from level 10 to level 20 was nothing like going from level 1 to 10. In his understanding, even Spirit Masters with excellent talent rarely reached level 20 at Yang Yunhai's age.
Moreover, Yang Yunhai's first spirit ring wasn't even of optimal age.
"How... how could this be?" Thoughts and doubts raced through his mind, challenging everything he knew about spirit master theory. "Can diligence alone achieve this?"
"Could there be another reason?" On impulse, he decided to check out Yang Yunhai's training area.
Soon, Yu Xiaogang arrived at the clearing behind the academy.
Blue Silver Grass grew densely there. In the center was a grass mat, now yellowed with age. A few nearby trees had ropes tied around their trunks, frayed and worn, showing signs of repeated striking.
Elsewhere, the area was empty.
"Even with this simulated environment, it shouldn't have happened so quickly." He frowned.
"Could it have been intense physical training combined with overdrawn spirit power cultivation that pushed his limits?"
That seemed like a plausible theory.
"Without medicinal support, that might leave lasting damage." With that thought, he shook his head and walked out of the woods, hands behind his back.
This child is finished, he concluded inwardly.
His student Tang San had already reached level 29, making the two utterly incomparable.
"This must be an example of hard work making up for lack of talent," Tang San muttered to himself when he heard the news back in the dorm that afternoon, then dismissed it.
Even if Yang Yunhai absorbed a second spirit ring and reached level 21, he would still be far behind Tang San's level 29.
Not to mention, with 0.5 innate spirit power, it was uncertain whether Yang Yunhai would ever reach level 30.
His own teacher was a living example.
Also born with 0.5 innate spirit power, Yu Xiaogang had been stuck at level 29 for many years.
"So boring," Xiao Wu, on the other hand, couldn't care less about Yang Yunhai's spirit power. She was more concerned with what she should do that afternoon.
"I'll take a nap first." She glanced at Tang San, pulled her quilt over her head, and went to sleep.
Seeing this, Tang San shook his head.
"Xiao Wu, I'm heading to work." With that, he got up, left the dormitory, and walked out of the school.
Graduation was near. He was going to the blacksmith shop to inform the owner.
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