After finally extricating himself from the enthusiastic villagers, Wang Li returned to his small home. Though he had only just awakened his Martial Spirit and had yet to obtain a single Spirit Ring, the fact that he possessed innate Spirit Power had transformed him. The lonely orphan had become the village's prized treasure.
He let out a long sigh, picked up his weeding tools, and headed back to the fields. Awakening his Martial Spirit didn't excuse him from his chores; the land still needed to be tilled.
As he worked, his mind was already planning for the future. There are three months until I leave. Once I get to Nuoding Academy, I definitely won't have time for farming. Work-study students don't have to pay tuition, but I'll still need money for food.
He made a decision. He would sell all the grain he had harvested, and with the village chief's help, rent out his family's fields. Then he would need to get the best possible price for everything. As long as he could officially become a Spirit Master and begin receiving the monthly stipend from Spirit Hall, his financial troubles would be over.
…
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Wang Li sat on his floor, counting his entire savings. It was a small pile of coins, mostly copper mixed with some silver. "Twenty-seven Silver Soul Coins and thirty-four Copper Soul Coins," he murmured, satisfied. "This should be enough to last me for a while."
On the Douluo Continent, one Gold Soul Coin was worth one hundred Silver Soul Coins, and one Silver Soul Coin was worth one hundred Copper Soul Coins.
He had sold his grain and, with Wang Ping's assistance, rented out his land to other villagers at a modest price. He would have liked to ask for more, but given the village's humble economy, no one could have afforded a higher rate. Still, the arrangement provided a steady, long-term income, for which Wang Li was grateful.
Just then, a voice called from outside his house. "Xiao Li, are you home?"
Wang Li quickly scooped his two money pouches—one large, one small—out of sight and ran to open the door. He was surprised to see not only Wang Ping but also a group of other villagers.
"Grandpa Village Chief! Uncles, Aunts, what brings you all here? Please, come in! I'll pour you some water!"
Wang Ping smiled, knowing perfectly well the small house couldn't accommodate all of them. "We won't come in, Xiao Li. You're leaving for the city with me tomorrow, and you must have a lot to pack. Make sure you bring everything you need. Once you enter Nuoding Academy, it won't be easy for us common folk to get inside to see you."
With that, Wang Ping held out a cloth pouch, his expression solemn. "Life in the city is different from our village. You may not be able to come back for a year or more. Take this money; it's a small token from all of us. Practice hard, study well, and make us proud by becoming a Spirit Master!"
Wang Li accepted the pouch, treating it like a precious treasure. He didn't know how much was inside, but as he looked at the hopeful faces of Wang Ping and his neighbors, he bowed his head. "Thank you, Village Chief! Thank you, Uncles and Aunts! I promise, I will become a powerful Spirit Master!"
He felt like the first student from a remote village heading off to university, carrying the hopes of everyone he knew. He didn't refuse their kindness; he knew that once he became strong, repaying their generosity would be a simple matter.
Wang Ping's face beamed with delight. It was the reality of a small village; after so many years, they had finally produced one child with Spirit Power. They had to place all their hopes in him. "Good boy, good boy..." he said, patting Wang Li's shoulder.
The other villagers enthusiastically pressed gifts of dried rations and fruit into his hands, and Wang Li accepted everything with a smile.
By the time he saw them all off, his cheeks were stiff from smiling. He returned inside, organized the food, and opened the money pouch from Wang Ping. He carefully counted the contents: a total of thirty Silver Soul Coins.
His eyes shone. It seemed that at Nuoding Academy, he wouldn't just be able to eat his fill—he could even eat well. A chicken drumstick was definitely within his budget.
He quickly stored the money away. Just as Wang Ping had said, he had a lot to pack: two sets of clothes, shoes and socks, his bedding, the dried food... He truly felt like a student heading off to college.
The next morning, Wang Li rose before the sun. Instead of cooking, he boiled a pot of hot water and ate some of the dry rations to fill his stomach.
He shouldered his bags, walked out, and took one last look at the house he had lived in for six years. Then, closing the door behind him, he resolutely set off on his new path.
Martial Spirits, Spirit Rings, Spirit Bones... The wonders of the Douluo Continent awaited.
At the village entrance, Wang Ping and his son, a tall and sturdy man named Wang Shun, were already waiting with an ox cart.
"Grandpa Village Chief, Uncle Wang Shun!" Wang Li called out as he hurried over.
Wang Ping's old face crinkled into a smile. "Ah, Xiao Li, you're here! Hurry and get on the cart. We need to leave early so we don't delay your enrollment."
Wang Shun strode over and effortlessly lifted Wang Li's luggage onto the cart, his eyes filled with envy. This young boy might very well be the first and only Spirit Master their village would ever see.
With everything loaded, Wang Ping and Wang Li settled onto the cart, and Wang Shun cracked the reins to set off.
Along the way, Wang Ping enthusiastically recounted everything he knew about Spirit Masters. His tales were a mixture of fact and legend, all of it colored by a deep yearning for the world they represented. On the Douluo Continent, Spirit Masters were nobility. Nobles were born into their station, but Spirit Masters represented a path for commoners to rise, however slim that hope may be. This alone showed their special status.
When they arrived at the outskirts of Nuoding City, Wang Shun stayed behind to guard the ox cart while Wang Ping led Wang Li into the bustling city. After asking for directions, they soon found their way to the academy.
Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy was an impressive institution. The front gate alone was twenty meters wide and four meters high, forged from fine iron.
As they approached, they saw they weren't the only ones arriving. Standing right before the gate, an old man and a young boy were trying to enter but were being blocked by a dismissive gatekeeper.