The body Amon had transmigrated into had only just revived and was already in a weakened state. Immediately afterward, he had fought someone and then hurried on a journey. His condition had now dropped to rock bottom.
He had no desire to clash with anyone at a time like this. What he needed most was rest and recovery.
Moreover, the city's thieves, beggars, and thugs often banded together. Catching one might provoke a whole group.
However…
Even if the Amon of the mysterious world had kicked him out of the "group chat," even if the transmigrator's personality was dominant—
I'm still Amon, aren't I?
Since when have I ever endured such humiliation?
The next time he saw that little thief, he would definitely show her what a real "Thief" looked like.
Amon shook his head with a faint smile and went to the cafeteria with his staff card to claim his free meal.
After a simple dinner, he visited the library.
Icewind Junior Soul Master Academy's library was not large—only three bookshelves in total. Compared to the vast oceans of books he remembered from before transmigration, it was modest.
Considering that the timeline of Douluo Continent I counted as ancient within the broader series, however, three shelves were already quite impressive.
Amon borrowed a copy of Chronicles of Heaven Dou History, registered it with the librarian, and returned to his dormitory.
He did not begin reading immediately. Instead, he started studying his martial soul.
In a Soul Master's combat strength, aside from soul skills, the innate characteristics of the martial soul itself were equally important. Some martial souls possessed special abilities from birth.
The Worm of Time clearly belonged to that category.
Amon circulated his soul power. A semi-transparent worm with twelve circular rings and specks of starry color appeared in his palm.
As more soul power flowed into it, the Worm of Time emitted a faint gray glow.
The light grew brighter. From the original martial soul, a more illusory, nearly transparent shadow separated and gradually solidified, transforming into another Worm of Time.
At the same moment, Amon's soul power dropped from Level 13 to Level 12.
This was not ordinary consumption—it was a fundamental decrease in soul power level. It could only be restored through cultivation, not simple recovery.
Simultaneously, a wave of weakness arose from the depths of his soul. His senses dulled noticeably, and even his efficiency in absorbing surrounding energy decreased.
This was the special ability of the Worm of Time—
Division.
The divided Worm of Time could exist either in martial soul form or condense into a physical body, taking human shape. These clones could cultivate and level up independently, but their maximum level could not exceed the main body's level minus ten.
Division not only lowered soul power level, but also weakened the soul itself, reducing the main body's cultivation speed. The extent of the reduction depended on the proportion of soul divided into the clone.
The resulting soul weakening was recoverable. Meanwhile, the divided clone's soul would gradually mend itself as well. In other words, over time, both main body and clone would gradually regain their full cultivation aptitude—eventually returning to the level they would have had without division. It would simply take a long time.
Clones could also merge together, forming a more complete soul and a higher-level clone—though still bound by the restriction of not exceeding the main body's level minus ten.
If the main body reabsorbed a clone, it could restore its soul and heal injuries, but it could not directly increase its soul power level.
As for the original owner's innate talent, Amon wasn't certain. However, after transmigrating, he suspected his aptitude had become innately full soul power. Only such talent would be worthy of a martial soul as powerful as the Worm of Time.
Amon did not continue his research for long. He had teaching duties the next day. He needed this job and intended to take it seriously.
Working as a teaching assistant allowed him to borrow books and accumulate knowledge. The job was light and did not interfere with cultivation.
Early the next morning, he arrived at the grade director's office.
"Director Lu, hello. I'm the new assistant instructor, Amon. I look forward to your guidance."
Director Lu Wencong was a middle-aged man with half a bald head. He wore a loose robe, giving him the air of an old-style teacher from a bygone era.
"Mm." Lu Wencong nodded lightly. "I heard you're skilled in close combat?"
"I have some experience," Amon replied modestly.
It was common knowledge that an excellent Thief or Seer was often proficient with daggers and short swords—a capable assassin.
"Our junior academy doesn't have many courses. We mainly teach children basic knowledge about the Soul Master world. Of course, as Soul Masters, combat is unavoidable. Since you have expertise in that area, you may try teaching them. Learning more never hurts."
"I'll prepare the standard curriculum for you. You only need to follow it. The lower grades learn very simple material."
"Today, try teaching Class Two a lesson. I'll observe. If the results are good, the academy may consider adding a dedicated combat class. That could also give you a chance to become a full instructor with better待遇."
Amon nodded. "I'll do my best."
On the school field, more than twenty children gathered together, chattering noisily.
"I heard there's a new teacher today."
"He's really young. I saw him after school yesterday. He's only a few years older than us—almost like the senior students."
"Is he handsome?" asked a girl with a ponytail, curiosity in her eyes.
"Hmph. Definitely not as handsome as me," said a cool-looking boy beside her, clearly displeased.
His attention was entirely on the ponytailed girl. Seeing that she paid him no mind, he looked somewhat dejected.
"About the same age as the seniors? I just hope he actually knows something and isn't useless," said a red-haired girl coldly.
But soon her expression changed. Seeing Amon and Lu Wencong approaching, she silently retreated toward the back of the group, shrinking her presence as much as possible.
Standing before the students, Amon smiled and introduced himself:
"Good morning, everyone. I am your new assistant instructor, Amon. It's my honor to stand here and teach you.
"I'm sure many of you find ordinary lessons dull and tedious. So today, let's try something different.
"As Soul Masters, you cannot avoid battle. While powerful soul skills are important in combat, victory does not depend solely on the strength of soul skills. Close-combat techniques can often produce unexpected results—especially at the lower levels.
"Although I sincerely hope all of you will become powerful Soul Masters in the future, reality is less kind. Most people cannot reach that height. Learning close-quarters combat skills can benefit many of you for a lifetime."
As soon as he finished, murmurs erupted among the students.
"I won't stay at low level forever!"
"I'm going to become a Soul Douluo someday!"
"Who wants to learn useless stuff like that?"
"Close combat? Isn't that for ordinary people fighting?"
"Exactly. We're noble Soul Masters."
Amon merely smiled at their discussion.
Who hadn't harbored grand dreams as a child?
Reality would eventually teach them that most of them would never break past Soul Elder in their entire lives.
"Well… maybe it's not useless," someone muttered. "Isn't Yan Jin always beating people up with just her fists?"
"Yeah, that's true. She can beat senior students with her fists. If we learn properly, could we become that strong too?"
As they spoke, many of them glanced toward a certain spot.
The shift in opinion surprised Amon slightly. Adjusting his monocle, he followed their gaze to the back of the group—the red-haired girl.
Yan Jin felt her classmates' stares and her expression grew worse and worse. At that moment, she wished she could bury her head in the sand like an ostrich.
When Amon's gaze joined the others', her face stiffened, and her heart seemed to skip a beat.
"It seems everyone has their own opinion—some in favor, some opposed. Why don't we test it in practice? Truth always needs practice to verify it," Amon said lightly.
"Would any student like to volunteer and spar with me?"
Swish!
Every head turned toward the red-haired girl at the back, and the crowd parted to give her a clear path forward.
In their minds, she was practically synonymous with words like combat and violence. Naturally, they assumed she would volunteer at a time like this.
But Yan Jin only wanted to say that she truly did not feel brave at all right now.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced an awkward yet polite smile at Amon.
"Y-hello."
Amon's gaze grew a shade more dangerous. With a smile that did not reach his eyes, he replied:
"No. I'm not doing well at all… We meet again, student."