Yang Yunhai had reached soul power rank 10?
Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed with slight surprise as he turned his head.
That cultivation speed was faster than his own back then.
Although his martial soul was a malignant mutation, his father never abandoned him. He provided resources for cultivation, and even helped him hunt soul beasts of the optimal age—sub-dragon types—so Yu Xiaogang had reached rank 29 before the age of 20.
As for rank 10, he had achieved that well before 10 years old.
But Yang Yunhai, just a commoner with nothing, had broken through even a few months faster than he had.
'Is it because of sheer diligence?' Yu Xiaogang thought. Considering the difficulty of the first 10 ranks and Yang Yunhai's hard work, he felt a little more at ease.
"Black Bamboo," he said calmly, his tone as flat as always.
"Black Bamboo is naturally resilient. Though it lacks strong attack power, its defense is solid. And like Blue Silver Grass, it is a plant-type soul beast, so compatibility won't be a problem."
"Absorbing such a ring will greatly increase toughness, covering up the natural weakness of Blue Silver Grass."
"Furthermore, Black Bamboo under a hundred years old isn't difficult to find or hunt."
Coming from a poor background, with only 0.5 innate soul power and a martial soul as weak as Blue Silver Grass, Yu Xiaogang instinctively assumed Yang Yunhai would apply to the academy, letting a teacher help him hunt a soul beast under 100 years old. That was the standard for work-study students.
From what Yu Xiaogang knew, the teachers of Nuoding Academy would never risk hunting a century-old beast for a mere work-study commoner. Entering the habitats of century-old beasts always carried danger of ambush.
No one would gamble their life for an unrelated student.
"Cough, Grandmaster, Yang Yunhai came to request leave." Director Su's eyes flickered with embarrassment. He understood Yu Xiaogang's words well—the unspoken rule among teachers was to never take risks for work-study students.
Ambitious beyond his means. The phrase surfaced in Yu Xiaogang's mind, and a hint of disdain appeared in his eyes.
A leave request meant only one thing—Yang Yunhai planned to seek a better hundred-year ring. Most likely he wanted to return to Lone Grass Village and beg the retired Spirit Hall deacon, the village chief, for help. But an orphan with no talent, no background, and a useless martial soul—why would anyone go out of their way for him?
If the chief had cared, Yang Yunhai wouldn't have been sent here as a work-study student in the first place.
Yu Xiaogang was almost certain—this trip would end in failure.
And if, unwilling to give up, Yang Yunhai made the reckless choice of venturing into the Soul Hunting Forest to form a team or even hire hunters, he might very well lose his life.
Chasing things beyond your reach always ends in nothing.
How many commoner soul masters had died in the beginner Soul Hunting Forest over the years? He had heard too many stories.
The thought drew up memories of his old companions: Flender, and… her. Back then, they had been the perfect team, able to entrust their backs to one another. It was only because of them that he could test his theories in practice. After their separation, lacking the strength to enter the forest alone, he had come to Nuoding Academy, collecting martial soul data to develop his theories.
But the students here were mediocre, unworthy of his teaching. That was why he endured years of mockery.
Fortunately, fate had turned.
He had met Tang San—a student who could prove his theories, who could prove his worth as a teacher.
Thinking of Tang San, his expression softened for a moment, even showing a trace of indulgence.
But then he remembered Tang San's twin martial souls. Another figure flashed in his mind, and his expression darkened slightly.
His brows furrowed. His gaze toward Yang Yunhai sharpened, his tone colder.
"You plan to join Spirit Hall in the future?"
Unless Yang Yunhai used Spirit Hall as leverage, Yu Xiaogang didn't believe that village chief would help him.
'What's it to you!? Spirit Hall pays stipends every month like clockwork. Even if you can't say a kind word, why put on airs about it? Who cares if I join or not?' Yang Yunhai cursed silently in his heart.
On the surface, he stayed calm, shaking his head slightly. "Probably not. Director Su already mentioned this to me. I think he's right. With my martial soul and talent, even if I joined a sect or power, they wouldn't nurture me. I'd just lose my freedom."
"So after graduating, I want to study at an intermediate soul master academy. If possible, maybe even get admitted to an advanced academy. If not…" He looked up at Yu Xiaogang, speaking sincerely.
"Grandmaster, I've heard some of your story during my time here."
"Tang San is the strongest in our dorm, and that must be thanks to your guidance. Your soul master theories must be extraordinary."
"They say just reading books is never as good as walking the land. Your theories are so sharp—surely it comes from traveling across the continent, seeing much, practicing and refining your knowledge."
A stream of flattery, carefully hidden in implication, flowed out.
"So if I can't get into an advanced academy, I want to follow your example—travel the continent, broaden my horizons. If I grow stronger along the way, wonderful. If not, I'd return to Nuoding Academy, maybe become a teacher, and share what I've seen with students. That would be my way of repaying the academy."
"And when I'm old, I'll return to the village and orphanage to guide children, to repay the kindness of raising me."
"Good child, good child…" Director Su's eyes grew moist with emotion.
People always said poor children matured faster, but he hadn't expected Yang Yunhai to think so far ahead at such a young age.
His eyes flicked instinctively toward Yu Xiaogang. After all, Yu Xiaogang had lived off the academy for years without teaching a single class.
"..." Yu Xiaogang's face flushed faintly. He didn't know what to say.
After a long silence, his expression returned to cold indifference. "If you can find someone to help, perhaps you should hunt a century-old poisonous snake. That would give Blue Silver Grass a poison attribute, adding some offensive power. It would help you survive should you travel the continent."
With that, he turned back to Director Su. "Director Su, I still have business. Give me the student records."
"Of course, just a moment." Director Su nodded, then smiled warmly at Yang Yunhai. "Xiao Hai, go. May your journey be smooth, and may you obtain a soul ring that suits you."
Blue Silver Grass with animal-type rings… Yang Yunhai could accept it now. After all, Tang San had already proven it possible.
Director Su bent over the shelves, flipping through stacks of records for Yu Xiaogang.
"Goodbye, Director Su. Goodbye, Grandmaster!" Yang Yunhai bowed to them both before striding out the door.
Back in the dormitory, Tang San and Xiao Wu weren't there, likely attending class.
Without overthinking, Yang Yunhai quickly packed his belongings.
Once everything was ready, he slung the bundle over his back, stepped out of the dorm, and walked straight toward the academy gates.
(End of Chapter)
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