After finally shaking off the many overly enthusiastic villagers, Wang Li returned home. This was only the awakening of his martial soul,he had not yet obtained a single soul ring.
He let out a long breath. Although it was not entirely accurate, he was now essentially a lonely orphan, and in an instant had become the prized focus of everyone's attention.
After getting home, Wang Li picked up his farming tools for weeding and went out again, heading toward the fields.
Even though he had already awakened his martial soul, the land still needed to be farmed.
A thoughtful look appeared on Wang Li's face as he pondered inwardly:
There are still three months left. Once I get to Notting Academy, I definitely won't need to farm anymore. Working students don't have to pay tuition, but I'll still need to find a way to cover my food expenses.
After paying taxes, all the grain harvested this year will be sold. As for the fields at home, I'll sell them if possible; if not, I'll rent them out.
Once I officially become a soul master and can receive subsidies from the Martial Soul Hall, I'll be able to escape this difficult situation.
…
Three months passed quickly,neither long nor short.
Wang Li counted all his savings, mostly copper soul coins with some silver soul coins mixed in. After finishing the count, he said:
"Twenty-five silver soul coins and two hundred thirty-four copper soul coins. Converted, that's twenty-seven silver soul coins and thirty-four copper soul coins. This should be enough for me to survive for a while."
In the Douluo world's currency system, one gold soul coin can be exchanged for one hundred silver soul coins, or ten thousand copper soul coins.
(PS: In the original work, 1 gold soul coin = 10 silver soul coins = 100 copper soul coins. This was clearly an oversight by the author,either the math wasn't calculated properly or it wasn't explained clearly. Otherwise, at the academy, sweeping the grounds for one day earns ten copper soul coins, and sweeping for ten days would earn one gold soul coin.)
After selling the grain, and with Village Chief Wang Ping presiding, Wang Li rented out his family's fields at a low price to other villagers. If possible, he would have liked to charge more, but given the village's economic situation, no one would rent the land if the price were too high.
The current arrangement wasn't expensive, but it provided steady long-term income, which satisfied Wang Li.
At that moment, a voice came from outside the house:
"Xiao Li, are you home?"
Hearing this, Wang Li put away the two money pouches,one large and one small,on the table, then quickly went to open the door. Outside were Wang Ping and several villagers. He greeted them warmly:
"Village Chief Grandpa, uncles and aunties, why have you all come? Please come in and sit down,I'll pour you some water!"
Knowing there were too many people and that Wang Li's house couldn't accommodate them, Wang Ping didn't go inside. Instead, he smiled and said:
"Xiao Li, we won't go in. You're going into the city with me tomorrow, and there must be a lot to pack. Make sure you bring everything you need. Once you enter Notting Academy, common folk like us won't be able to go in and see you."
After saying this, Wang Ping took out a bag and solemnly handed it to Wang Li, speaking seriously:
"The city isn't like our countryside. Once you leave, you won't be able to come back for at least a year or two. Take this money,it's everyone's token of goodwill. Cultivate well, study hard, and make sure you become a soul master someday!"
Wang Li accepted it as if it were a priceless treasure. He didn't know how much money was inside, but seeing the hopeful expressions on Wang Ping's face and those of the other villagers, he thanked them loudly:
"Thank you, Village Chief Grandpa. Thank you, uncles and aunties. I will definitely become a powerful soul master!"
The feeling was like a poor village suddenly producing a college student, who then carries the hopes of the entire village as they go to the city to study.
Wang Li did not refuse this kindness. Once his strength grew, it would be easy for him to repay the village in some small way.
Hearing this, Wang Ping's face filled with joy. This was the tragedy of small places,after so many years, their village had finally produced someone with soul power, Wang Li, and all their hopes could only be placed on him. Taking a deep breath, Wang Ping said repeatedly:
"Good child, good child…"
Besides Wang Ping, the other villagers also warmly brought Wang Li dried rations and fruit. Wang Li accepted everything with a smile, refusing nothing.
Only after seeing Wang Ping and the villagers off did Wang Li feel his smile stiffen from holding it so long. He returned inside, tidied up the dried food and fruit, then opened the money pouch Wang Ping had given him and carefully counted it,there were a full thirty silver soul coins.
Wang Li's eyes shone brightly. It seemed that after going to Notting Academy, not only would he be able to eat his fill, but he might even eat well,at the very least, he could afford an extra chicken leg.
He quickly put all the money away. Just as Wang Ping had said, Wang Li really did have a lot to pack: two sets of clothes to change into, shoes and socks, bedding, dried rations… It truly felt a bit like a college student heading off to school.
The next day!
Before dawn, Wang Li got up. He didn't cook any food, but boiled a kettle of hot water and ate some dried rations to fill his stomach.
Then, carrying his many bags, he stepped out the door. He turned back to take one last look at the place he had lived in for six years, then closed the door and resolutely set foot on his path as a soul master.
Martial souls, soul rings, soul bones… the Douluo Continent was truly something to look forward to.
At the village entrance, Wang Ping and Wang Shun, father and son, were already waiting, with an ox cart beside them.
Wang Li walked over quickly and called out:
"Village Chief Grandpa, Uncle Wang Shun."
Wang Ping's aged face was full of smiles as he looked at Wang Li and beckoned:
"Xiao Li, you're here. Get on the cart quickly. Let's set off early,we can't delay your enrollment."
Wang Ping's son, the tall and sturdy Wang Shun, strode over to help load Wang Li's luggage onto the cart. His eyes were full of envy, since Wang Li would very likely become the village's only soul master in the future.
Once everything was ready, Wang Ping and Wang Li sat on the ox cart while Wang Shun drove it forward.
Along the way, Wang Ping spoke loudly and enthusiastically, telling Wang Li everything he knew about soul masters,some of it true, some of it legend. His words were filled with longing for the world of soul masters.
On the Douluo Continent, soul masters were equivalent to nobles. Nobles were born that way, but soul masters gave commoners a glimmer of hope, even if that hope was extremely slim.
This alone showed how special the status of soul masters was.
Upon reaching the outskirts of Notting City, Wang Shun stayed with the ox cart while Wang Ping took Wang Li into the city. After asking around briefly, they soon found the location of Notting Academy.
When they arrived at Notting Academy, they saw a massive complex. The main gate alone was over twenty meters wide and four meters tall, forged from refined iron.
At that moment, there was also an old man and a child standing in front of the gate, seemingly there to apply for admission, but they were being stopped by the gatekeeper.
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