Chapter 15: Promising a 100 Year Spirit Ring
Lin Mo remained standing straight, his tone calm and steady as he refused again. "Thank you for Grandmaster's kind intentions. However, my cultivation is going very well right now, and I haven't run into any so called bottleneck. For the time being, I have no plan to take a master."
Before Yu Xiaogang could snap back, Lin Mo continued, still unhurried.
"Besides, my Martial Soul is fire attributed. It doesn't match the attribute of your Luo San Pao, Grandmaster. More importantly… you are not my ideal teacher."
His words were clear and direct. Each sentence landed like a hammer on Yu Xiaogang's fragile pride.
"Putting theory aside for a moment, just in terms of Spirit Ring acquisition…" Lin Mo's gaze swept calmly over Yu Xiaogang's face, which had already darkened. "Grandmaster, you are destined to never break through Rank 30 in this life. When it comes to hunting Spirit Beasts and obtaining Spirit Rings, I'm afraid you can't offer me any real help."
"What I need is a teacher who can give practical protection and guidance when I obtain Spirit Rings. Not a teacher who can only teach theory, and even then, I can't be sure whether those theories are true or false."
Lin Mo paused. When he looked at Yu Xiaogang again, his gaze was unusually serious, and every word came out slowly and clearly.
"So, no matter how you look at it, Grandmaster, you are not my ideal teacher. Let's not bring up apprenticeship again."
There was no room left for courtesy. Every line struck straight at Yu Xiaogang's sore spots.
"You…" Yu Xiaogang's stiff face turned so gloomy it looked like water might drip from it.
He wanted to retort, to accuse Lin Mo of arrogance and ignorance, to scold him for wasting an opportunity. But his lips trembled a few times, and not a single forceful rebuttal came out.
Because everything Lin Mo said was an undeniable fact.
Rank limitations. Spirit differences. Those were chasms he could not cross, and they shattered the image of an "excellent teacher" he tried so hard to wear.
A wave of powerlessness and humiliation surged up, as if his disguise had been torn off in public.
The atmosphere instantly turned stagnant and awkward.
Just as Yu Xiaogang was left hanging there, Dean Wang Zongchang, who had been quietly watching, finally spoke. He chuckled and stepped forward at the perfect time to smooth things over.
"Alright, alright, Xiaogang, don't be so impatient. Student Lin Mo has his own thoughts and considerations. That's perfectly normal."
He first soothed Yu Xiaogang, whose face was ashen, then turned back to Lin Mo. That unreadable smile still hung on his face.
"Lin Mo, to be honest, I really am curious about the new Martial Soul that hatched from your egg. That's why I brought Grandmaster here to speak with you."
His tone stayed casual, as if this were a simple chat.
"But you can rest assured. I understand your concerns. Grandmaster and I won't just look at your Martial Soul for free."
He paused briefly, then laid out his condition.
"I already know you broke through to Rank 10. As compensation for you showing your Martial Soul, during the Soul Hunting Forest operation the academy organizes at the end of the year, I can personally help you obtain a 100 year Spirit Ring that suits your Martial Soul. What do you think?"
"A 100 year Spirit Ring?"
For the first time, clear surprise appeared on Lin Mo's face. He looked at the dean, who usually seemed to do very little, with genuine astonishment.
At Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy, aside from a tiny number of lucky people like Tang San and Xiao Wu whose first Spirit Ring was 100 year level, most students, including Xiao Chenyu, the city lord's son, only obtained a 10 year white Spirit Ring as their first.
The reason was simple.
The academy's Soul Hunting Forest operation always prioritized student safety. Bringing a group of children who had just reached Rank 10, with almost no real combat experience, into the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt Spirit Beasts meant the accompanying teachers had to take enormous risks.
Nuoding was only an elementary Spirit Master academy. Its staff was limited, and its high level combat strength was even more limited. They could not let students risk their lives by going deeper into the forest just to chase "perfect" Spirit Rings.
Under those constraints, unless someone had special background or absurd luck, most students could only settle for a 10 year Spirit Ring.
A 100 year Spirit Ring, to any newly advanced Rank 10 Spirit Master, was an undeniable temptation.
After all, the boost from a 10 year Spirit Ring could not compare to a 100 year Spirit Ring. The difference meant stronger attribute enhancement and more powerful Spirit Abilities.
Lin Mo met Dean Wang Zongchang's smiling eyes and quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Showing Charmander in exchange for a Spirit Ancestor personally helping him hunt a 100 year Spirit Beast was not a loss.
Charmander, as his main Spirit, would have to be revealed sooner or later anyway. Using information that would become public in the future to gain a real benefit now was a fair trade.
More importantly, if he missed this chance, it would be extremely hard for him to secure a 100 year first Spirit Ring through his own strength later.
Having decided, Lin Mo did not hesitate any longer. He nodded to Dean Wang Zongchang and spoke solemnly.
"Since Dean has said so much, it would be rude for a student to refuse again. I accept your terms."
"Good. Straightforward." Wang Zongchang's smile widened.
The way he looked at Lin Mo held not only curiosity, but also scrutiny.
Lin Mo had only used a little over half a year to raise his Spirit Power from Rank 6 to Rank 10. That cultivation speed alone was enough to prove his talent.
If the potential of his Martial Soul was equally impressive…
Wang Zongchang pondered silently, already considering something deeper. If this child's Martial Soul truly had great potential, he would not mind doing another favor and personally taking Lin Mo into the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain the most suitable 100 year Spirit Ring, one on one.
Investing in a future powerhouse ahead of time always paid off.
With Spirit Ancestor strength, he had the confidence to take Lin Mo in and bring him back safely, while also helping him secure the best possible Spirit Ring.
Seeing Lin Mo finally relent, Yu Xiaogang's expression eased slightly as well. But he was clearly not satisfied with simply taking a look.
He took over the conversation and stated his plan.
"Since we're observing a Martial Soul, nothing demonstrates a Martial Soul's traits and potential more directly than actual combat."
With that, he turned and waved toward Tang San, who had been waiting quietly not far away.
"Little San, come here."
Tang San stepped forward. Yu Xiaogang continued, "Lin Mo, spar with Little San. Let me see with my own eyes what your Martial Soul can do."
Lin Mo's face did not change, but his heart was clear.
So this was what they had prepared.
Tang San being here was probably not just because he reported the news. Yu Xiaogang had arranged him as a whetstone from the start, a tool to test Lin Mo's Martial Soul.
Lin Mo glanced at Tang San. Tang San was also looking back at him, his eyes complicated, carrying a hint of apology, but also a trace of eager battle intent.
"All right." Lin Mo nodded calmly, agreeing to Yu Xiaogang's request.
He also wanted to see what kind of combat power the newly hatched Charmander could display against Tang San, who had a 100 year Spirit Ring and Tang Sect unique techniques.
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/Eldryx]