#33Graduate earlyAI Model: moonshotai/kimi-k2-instruct-0905
Chapter 33: Early Graduation
Arriving outside the dean's office, Lin Mo paused, drew a deep breath, then raised his hand and knocked.
'Come in.' The familiar voice of Dean Wang Zongchang sounded from within.
Lin Mo pushed the door and entered.
Dean Wang Zongchang was seated behind the wide desk, a document in his hands.
Hearing the movement, he looked up; seeing Lin Mo, he immediately smiled, not a trace of surprise on his face.
He casually set the papers aside, leaned back in his chair, and regarded Lin Mo—he had clearly expected this visit.
He knew this student well.
From Lin Mo's admission with the Egg Martial Soul, to its hatching into Charmander, to personally escorting him to the Soul Hunting Forest for his first spirit ring—
and the diligence Lin Mo had shown on the library's second floor these past six months—he had witnessed it all.
He understood that Lin Mo's ambitions were far too vast for this little Nuoding City to contain.
Given the talent and lofty aspirations Lin Mo displayed, he neither should nor would be confined to this small Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy.
Wang Zongcut straight to the point: 'Lin Mo, you've come today to apply for early graduation, haven't you?'
Lin Mo nodded, confirming the dean's words.
He stepped forward, drew from his breast the metal token that granted free access to the library's second floor, and placed it gently on the desk.
'Yes, Dean. I'm here to apply for graduation. This is the library token, and thank you for your care during this time.'
He paused, straightened, looked gravely at the dean, and bowed.
Wang Zongchang took the small key, toyed with it idly, and regarded Lin Mo with complicated eyes.
A sigh rose unbidden within him.
Nuoding Academy was indeed too small for Lin Mo.
Its resources and faculty could no longer meet the boy's future Cultivation needs.
Moreover, from their conversations and his observations, he could sense that Lin Mo had long since mapped out his own path—
a clear goal and firm steps.
Otherwise, given his admiration for the boy, he would not have minded swallowing his pride and trying to take Lin Mo as his disciple.
A Genius with Innate Level Six Soul Power, an External Beast Martial Soul like Charmander, and such diligence—
not to mention their matching attribute: both were fire-type Spirit Masters.
Any man would be tempted by such qualifications.
Yet he knew that even if he, like Yu Xiaogang back then, offered to take a disciple, Lin Mo would refuse without hesitation—just as he had refused Yu Xiaogang.
He knew his own limits.
A fourth-ring Spirit Ancestor, he stood at Nuoding City's pinnacle.
But in a larger city—the capital of the Balak Kingdom, or any metropolis with an Advanced Spirit Master Academy—his strength would be nothing special.
Furthermore, a good spirit ring is vital, and obtaining one requires sufficient power to defeat or kill the right Spirit Beast.
With his fourth-ring strength, helping Lin Mo secure a well-matched second spirit ring posed no problem;
slaying a century beast was not difficult for him.
The crux was that in a few short years Lin Mo would hit the Bottleneckat Rank 20, even Rank 30.
At Rank 30, he would need a thousand-year spirit ring.
Once that level was reached, even a Spirit Ancestor like himself would find it taxing.
The gap between thousand- and hundred-year beasts is vast; the danger far greater.
And defeating a beast is one thing; killing it quite another.
Not to mention safely protecting Lin Mo while precisely maiming a suitable thousand-year beast without killing it—nigh impossible.
After all, Lin Mo's meticulous selection of Torkoal for his first ring showed how exacting his standards were.
The boy's plan for his future rings was clear, his requirements strict;
any beast of the right age would never do.
At Lin Mo's current low Rank, he could still offer help.
Once the boy Advanced and needed thousand- or even ten-thousand-year rings, he could give no substantive aid.
Since he could not provide long-term support in the core growth need of obtaining spirit rings, why raise the matter and embarrass them both?
Moreover, if Lin Mo wished for a master, the astute boy would have asked long ago—just as Tang San had asked Yu Xiaogang.
Since he had not, it meant Wang Zongchang did not meet his expectations.
That was why he had kept the wish to take a disciple buried in his heart.
With these thoughts, Dean Wang Zongchang slipped the token into a drawer, smiled warmly, and said with certainty,
'Lin Mo, I approve your application for graduation.'
He paused, then added, 'Nuoding Academy has little left to teach you.
The road ahead you must walk alone. With your talent and Heart-Nature, your future achievements will be limitless.'
Relief flooded Lin Mo at the dean's ready consent. He bowed respectfully. 'Thank you for your guidance and care this past year!'
Wang Zongchang chuckled. 'Since you've chosen early graduation, what plans do you have for the coming weeks?'
Lin Mo pondered a moment, then replied, 'Dean, during the month-long holiday I intend to return to Di Hun Village.'
A silent sigh rose within him; this would likely be his only chance to visit home for years.
Once he entered an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy, training would consume nearly all his time and energy, leaving none for travel.
He went on, 'When the holiday ends, I'll set out immediately for an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy.'
A look of understanding crossed Wang Zongchang's face; he nodded.
Then, as if recalling something, he asked, 'Have you decided which Intermediate Academy to attend?
With the talent you've shown, every one of them will be scrambling to offer you a place.'
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