"The Primary Soul Master Academy mainly teaches the basics of cultivation and some cultural courses. Only after obtaining a soul ring and officially becoming a Soul Master can one graduate from the academy. After that, there are intermediate and even advanced academies."
Old Jack was driving the ox cart as he shared stories about the Soul Master academies with the two boys.
Lu Feng was lying leisurely on the cart, eyes closed, one leg crossed over the other, a blade of foxtail grass in his mouth.
"Xiao San, come up and sit. We still have over half an hour before we reach Nuoding City," Old Jack said kindly, glancing back at Tang San, who was walking beside the cart.
Tang San wiped the sweat from his forehead and replied nonchalantly, "No need, Grandpa Village Chief. I'm not used to riding carts. I'll just treat this as a bit of exercise."
In truth, ever since Lu Feng left the blacksmith shop, Tang San had been getting a regular taste of "fatherly love."
Just a few days ago, after two months of effort, Tang San finally refined a chunk of iron into a fist-sized piece of refined iron. Excited, he showed his achievement to Tang Hao.
The moment Tang Hao saw the iron, his mind immediately went to Lu Feng, that other kid.
And so, Tang San experienced the meaning of "fatherly love is like a mountain."
"Hiss~"
Tang San winced as he touched his butt. Even though he'd applied ointment, it still burned painfully.
"Hmph. School is about to start. Lu Feng is still a fellow villager. I'll let this go for now." Tang San shot a dark glance at Lu Feng, then continued walking beside the cart.
"Grandpa Village Chief, what are intermediate and advanced academies?" Tang San asked curiously.
Old Jack patiently explained, "Intermediate academies teach more advanced knowledge. To graduate from one, you need to reach level twenty and obtain a second soul ring."
He glanced back at Lu Feng and Tang San, his eyes full of pride. With their talents, reaching level twenty wouldn't be too hard.
"However, intermediate academies don't help students hunt for soul rings. To get your second ring, you must rely on your own strength to kill a soul beast."
Old Jack sighed.
For commoner Soul Masters, becoming powerful was incredibly difficult.
Cultivation resources, family backing, environment—all it took was falling behind once to be left behind forever.
"What about advanced academies?" Tang San asked again.
Old Jack gave a bitter smile. "Advanced academies are even harder to reach. Those aren't something we commoners can even consider."
At some point, Lu Feng had opened his eyes and was now listening intently to Old Jack's words.
To be honest, when he first read Douluo Dalu, he only cared about the soul master tournaments and how cool the protagonist was.
Once the anime came out, his focus shifted entirely to the waifus.
As for the customs and culture of this continent, he knew next to nothing.
After all, the novel was fiction—but now, he was living in a real world.
Along the way, Old Jack continued telling them about the Soul Master academies, occasionally adding funny stories from his youth.
Nuoding City wasn't far from Holy Soul Village, and since they were riding an ox cart, they reached the city gates before noon.
This wasn't Lu Feng's first time in Nuoding. Back when he was a hunter, he had traveled here several times with vegetable merchants.
Old Jack drove the cart to a designated area and took the two boys to the primary academy.
Nuoding's roads were all paved with marble, smooth and even. The streets were bustling with people, full of life and energy.
The primary academy was located in the western part of the city. After walking for a while, they arrived at the school gate.
The academy looked very luxurious. A massive arched gate about ten meters high stood before them, built from solid stone. Below it were two iron-bar gates—Tang San immediately recognized that they were made from high-grade refined iron.
"If I could dismantle those gates, I'd have enough material to make tons of hidden weapons!"
Tang San's eyes lit up as he stared at the black gates.
"What are you doing! You country bumpkins think you belong here? Scram!" a young gatekeeper barked when he saw Tang San gawking.
Startled by the shout, Tang San snapped out of his daze. Realizing how he had looked, his face flushed with embarrassment. He raised his head, a flash of coldness in his eyes.
"What are you staring at! I'm talking to you!"
The young man jabbed his finger at Tang San. "Where the hell are you from? Do you even know what this place is?"
Old Jack quickly stepped forward with a polite smile. "Good brother, we're from Holy Soul Village. These two children are this year's working students."
The guard sneered, "Working students? The academy hasn't had those in years. Are you impostors? Do you have any proof?"
His bad attitude wasn't without reason. There had been people pretending to be working students just to get part-time jobs at the academy.
After all, sweeping floors in the academy earned ten copper soul coins a day—far better than working outside.
A flicker of anger flashed in Old Jack's eyes, but he held his temper and handed over the boys' proof.
"Hahaha! Blue Silver Grass? Innate full soul power? What kind of crap is this? If you're going to forge something, at least make it believable," the gatekeeper mocked, waving the documents.
"Holy Soul Village? More like Beggar's Village!"
"What did you just say?" Old Jack's face changed. He stepped forward and glared furiously at the guard.
Holy Soul Village was his greatest pride—he would never let anyone insult it.
Tang San's expression darkened, eyes narrowing. He raised his right hand slightly and disabled the safety on his hidden sleeve dart.
"Hmph. Mad now that I exposed you? I've been a gatekeeper for four years and never heard of any kid with full innate soul power. Let's see what this other document says—"
"Martial Soul: body type, innate—" The guard stopped mid-sentence.
On Lu Feng's certificate was a golden stamp, gleaming under the sunlight.
"Spirit… Spirit Hall… Youth Division Reserve Squad?" the youth stammered, eyes going wide.
A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Though it was autumn, he felt like he was standing in a furnace.
Forging a soul master certificate was easy if you had someone simulate a soul power seal.
But faking a Spirit Hall seal? That could cost you your head!
"Th-this…"
I'm doomed. I just offended two future Soul Masters!
The youth stood frozen, like a boulder had dropped onto his chest.
"O-old sir, I'm terribly sorry. I was blind. Please forgive me," the gatekeeper stammered.
"Hmph!" Old Jack snorted, feeling immensely satisfied.
Still, he didn't reply—those earlier insults had struck a nerve.
Tang San lowered his head, gently rubbing his wrist. He said nothing.
In Tang San's mind, insulting someone's Martial Soul was a death sentence.
Had the gatekeeper's apology come just a few seconds later, an arrow would've been lodged in his throat.
"Hmph. Our village chief is magnanimous. This time, we'll let it slide. Next time, open your eyes before barking," Lu Feng said casually, waving the youth aside.
The gatekeeper had indeed been rude, but Lu Feng had no interest in making life harder for a commoner.
The young man sighed in relief and gave Lu Feng a deep bow.
Just as Lu Feng stepped into the academy gate, a white light orb dropped before him:
Acquired White Attribute Fragment [Faith] ×1 (1/1).