Chapter 33: Early Graduation
Arriving outside the dean's office, Lin Mo paused, took a deep breath, then raised his hand and knocked.
"Come in."
The familiar voice of Dean Wang Zongchang came from inside.
Lin Mo pushed the door open and entered.
Dean Wang Zongchang was seated behind the wide desk with a document in his hand. Hearing the movement, he looked up. When he saw Lin Mo, he immediately smiled, without the slightest trace of surprise on his face.
He casually set the papers aside, leaned back in his chair, and looked at Lin Mo. He had clearly expected this visit.
He knew this student very 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 to the diligence Lin Mo had shown on the library's second floor over the past 6 months, he had seen it all.
He understood that Lin Mo's ambitions were far too great for this small Nuoding City to contain.
With the talent and aspirations Lin Mo had shown, he neither should nor would remain trapped in a place like Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy.
Wang Zongchang went straight to the point.
"Lin Mo, you've come today to apply for early graduation, haven't you?"
Lin Mo nodded and confirmed the dean's words.
He stepped forward, took the metal token that granted free access to the library's second floor from his chest pocket, 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 his back, looked solemnly at the dean, and bowed.
Wang Zongchang picked up the small token, turning it lightly in his fingers, and looked at Lin Mo with complicated eyes.
A sigh rose in his heart.
Nuoding Academy was indeed too small for Lin Mo.
Its resources and teachers could no longer meet the boy's future cultivation needs.
Moreover, from their conversations and his own observations, he could already tell that Lin Mo had long mapped out his own path. He had a clear goal and firm steps.
Otherwise, with how much he admired the boy, he would not have minded lowering himself and trying to take Lin Mo as a disciple.
A genius with Innate Level 6 Spirit Power, an External Beast Martial Soul like Charmander, and such diligence, not to mention that both of them were fire attribute Spirit Masters, anyone would be tempted by such qualifications.
Yet he also knew that even if he made the same offer Yu Xiaogang once made and tried to accept Lin Mo as a disciple, Lin Mo would refuse without hesitation, just as he had refused Yu Xiaogang.
Wang Zongchang knew his own limits.
As a 4 ring Spirit Ancestor, he stood at the top in Nuoding City.
But in a larger city, whether the capital of the Balak Kingdom or any major city with an Advanced Spirit Master Academy, his strength would not be considered anything special.
More importantly, a good spirit ring was crucial, and obtaining one required sufficient power to defeat or kill the right Spirit Beast.
With his 4 ring strength, helping Lin Mo obtain a suitable second spirit ring would not be a problem. Killing a century Spirit Beast was not difficult for him.
The real issue was that in just a few years, Lin Mo would reach the Bottleneck at Rank 20, and then Rank 30.
At Rank 30, he would need a thousand year spirit ring.
Once it came to that point, even a Spirit Ancestor like him would feel the strain.
The gap between thousand year and hundred year Spirit Beasts was enormous, and the danger was far greater.
And defeating a Spirit Beast was one thing, killing it was another.
Not to mention protecting Lin Mo safely while precisely crippling a suitable thousand year Spirit Beast without accidentally killing it. That would be nearly impossible.
After all, Lin Mo's careful choice of Torkoal for his first ring had already shown how strict his standards were.
The boy clearly had a plan for his future spirit rings, and his requirements were exacting. A Spirit Beast of the right age alone would never be enough.
At Lin Mo's current low Rank, Wang Zongchang could still help.
But once the boy advanced and needed thousand year or even ten thousand year spirit rings, he would no longer be able to provide any real support.
Since he could not give long term help in the most important part of Lin Mo's growth, obtaining spirit rings, why bring it up and embarrass them both?
Besides, if Lin Mo had wanted a master, this sharp and thoughtful 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 buried the thought of taking Lin Mo as a disciple deep in his heart.
With those thoughts settling, Dean Wang Zongchang placed 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 very little left to teach you. The road ahead is one you must walk on your own. With your talent and your temperament, your future achievements will be limitless."
Relief washed over Lin Mo when he heard the dean agree so readily.
He bowed respectfully again.
"Thank you for your guidance and care over this past year, Dean!"
Wang Zongchang chuckled.
"Since you've chosen early graduation, what are your plans for the next few weeks?"
Lin Mo thought for a moment before replying,
"Dean, during the 1 month holiday, I plan to return to Emperor Village."
A quiet sigh rose in his heart. This would likely be his only chance to go home for years.
Once he entered an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy, cultivation would consume nearly all his time and energy, leaving little room for travel.
He continued,
"When the holiday ends, I will immediately set out for an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy."
Understanding appeared on Wang Zongchang's face, and he nodded.
Then, as if remembering something, he asked,
"Have you decided which Intermediate Academy you want to attend? With the talent you've shown, every one of them would be eager to recruit you."
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/Eldryx]