As Shen Xiu made her shocking revelation of the Nomad's soul test results, a palpable silence fell over the gathered students. Even those in other classes, who were occupied with their own yearly reports, couldn't help but turn their attention to the dramatic scene unfolding in the fighter apprentice class. It seemed that one of their own, a student who had been tested and found to possess not even a single ounce of soul force, had caused quite an uproar on the martial field.
As whispers and murmurs spread through the crowd, a few brave souls stepped forward to voice their incredulity. "Is it really true?" they asked in hushed tones. "You mean that dumb-looking kid over there?" came the snickering reply. "Hahaha, what kind of joke is this? How could someone like him even be admitted to our school?"
As the gossip continued to swirl around the unfortunate student, rumors began to spread that he would surely be kicked out of the school as a result of his failed soul test. However, to everyone's surprise, the boy simply looked at his teacher with a hint of amusement, as if she were a foolish child.
"What are you looking at, student Nomad?" Shen Xiu snapped, sensing the boy's silent defiance. "Are you questioning the results that are clearly visible on the soul crystal? As everyone can see, there is not a single speck of soul force within you!"
With her words, Shen Xiu poured fuel onto an already burning flame, igniting the interest of the other students gathered around the scene. Despite this, the boy remained calm and collected, his eyes fixed firmly on his teacher as if daring her to cause a ruckus further.
"And as you can see, there is no reason for you to remain in this class," Shen Xiu declared, her voice dripping with contempt. "You have undoubtedly claimed the lowest result in the history of our beloved Holy Orchid Institute. Now scram! No one wants a tra--"
But before Shen Xiu could finish her sentence, her face froze in terror as an oppressive wave of soul force crashed down upon her. Her eyes bulged and her knees buckled beneath her as she struggled to maintain her composure. For a moment, she thought she might collapse from the sheer force of it all.
Thankfully, the soul force disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving Shen Xiu trembling and gasping for breath. As she looked up, she saw a woman with a terrifying visage standing before her, glaring down at her with unbridled fury. The woman dared her to continue speaking, the words that had been stuck in Shen Xiu's throat now trapped in her own fear-stricken mind.
"What is it that you wished to say?" the woman questioned with a deceptively calm tone, though her eyes betrayed a thirst for blood. If Shen Xiu were to continue speaking, there was no doubt that she would meet a gruesome end at the hands of this fearsome mother.
Thankfully, just as the tension between them reached a boiling point, someone came to alleviate the situation with a cough. "Ahem, Mrs. Hong Yue," Ye Sheng, the vice principal of the Holy Orchid Institute, interjected, his voice calm and soothing. "I believe there may be something wrong with the test results. Please remain calm and wait for them to be rechecked."
Ye Sheng smiled reassuringly, trying to prevent Shen Xiu from speaking any further. Even he could sense the bloodthirsty aura emanating from the woman before him, and he knew that one wrong move could spell disaster for everyone involved.
However, the woman remained silent, gazing at Shen Xiu with an expressionless face. Her true emotions were hidden behind a mask of calmness, concealing her seething rage and her desire to tear Shen Xiu's throat out. Despite her overwhelming urge to act on her anger, she refrained from doing so, feeling her son's hand on hers, trying to calm her down.
After a tense standoff that lasted a full minute, the woman turned to her son, trying to soothe him. She was afraid that Shen Xiu's words might have affected him, but her worries were needless. Her son remained unflinching, even in the face of his teacher's public shaming and the terrifying aura emanating from his mother. The woman couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her son's unwavering courage.
"Are you okay, son?" she asked, crouching down to his eye level. "Don't worry about that woman. I promise you that she will no longer be your teacher."
Her son simply nodded in response, his eyes clear and unwavering.
Meanwhile, Shen Xiu, who had been at the center of the storm, finally began to calm down after hearing the woman declare that she would no longer be Nomad's teacher. Shen Xiu had originally thought that she would be kicked out of the Holy Orchid Institute, and she was about to protest when Ye Sheng stepped in front of her, whispering for her to calm down.
Despite his calming words, Shen Xiu's pride as a member of the Sacred Family would not allow her to back down easily. However, when she remembered the woman's piercing gaze, which seemed to sear her very soul, Shen Xiu couldn't help but shudder in fear once again.
"I understand what happened here, Teacher Shen Xiu," a man suddenly appeared near them, examining the soul crystal that Nomad had used. "As you can see, Student Nomad has a very peculiar soul force that even confused me at first." The man's name was Lu Ye, a teacher at the Holy Orchid Institute like Shen Xiu. "As you can see, Student Nomad's soul force is transparent and cannot be detected by the naked eye, only through the use of soul force."
Lu Ye's words were spoken with a calm smile, as he tried his best to ease the tension that had built up in the room. He knew Shen Xiu's background, but in his opinion, the woman's own abilities were far more frightening than those of the Sacred Family.
Upon hearing Lu Ye's explanation, Shen Xiu and Ye Sheng quickly examined the soul crystal and confirmed his words to be true. Realizing their mistake, Ye Sheng immediately rectified Nomad's result.
"On behalf of our teacher Shen Xiu's mishap, I, as the vice principal of the Holy Orchid Institute, would like to extend our apologies to our student Nomad for the error in reading his result," Ye Sheng announced, covering up Shen Xiu's mistake with his authority. He knew that Shen Xiu was still furious from earlier, and he wanted to prevent any further conflicts from arising. He also had faith that Mrs. Hong Yue would respect his decision and not cause a scene in the school.
"Student Nomad Layman."
"Test result: One Hundred Soul Force!"
As Ye Sheng's voice echoed throughout the martial field, it effectively cleared up the earlier misunderstanding and put a stop to any further rumors from spreading. Shen Xiu finally heaved a sigh of relief as Nomad and his mother left after seeking Ye Sheng's permission. She was left with Lu Ye and Ye Sheng, who she was grateful for covering up her mistake.
With the incident now resolved, Shen Xiu resumed the test without any further mishaps. However, she couldn't help but scheme on how to get back at the mother and son duo for the humiliation they had caused her earlier.
—
As the martial field event drew to a close and Nomad's yearly examination test came to an end, his mother whisked him away on a grand tour of the illustrious Glory City to celebrate his triumphant passing. They visited every posh establishment in town, showering him with lavish gifts at every turn.
Though Nomad was grateful for his mother's affectionate doting, his thoughts kept drifting to his father, who was surely waiting for him at home to join in the revelry. "Poor dad," he mused, gazing at the extravagant array of dishes before him. "I'll never be able to finish all this." He timidly conveyed his concerns to his mother, but she was quick to admonish him, warning him not to waste even a morsel of the delicious spread, lest she punish him by spanking.
As he hungrily shoveled food into his mouth, his mother suddenly interjected, "By the way, I have a gift for you." He glanced up from the mountain of presents she had brought him, intrigued. "I heard that you had asked the manager about this item, so I went ahead and found it for you." With a flourish, she presented him with a beautifully wrapped box adorned in shimmering gold. "It was quite the challenge to locate, hidden deep within the darkest recesses of the ruins. But our men were up to the task, and their efforts yielded an early end to the expedition, with many treasures in tow." Her tender smile conveyed the depth of her love for him, as she leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on his forehead, still chewing his food with his mouth full.
"My son, congratulations on passing the exam! I must admit, I was quite worried that you might fail. But I always had faith in you," his mother said, beaming with pride. She then motioned to the box sitting before him. "Now, won't you open it and tell me what its purpose is?"
Nomad eagerly reached for the box, wondering what awaited him inside. As he peeled back the lid, he gasped in amazement at the sight of an old, jade-black pot with shimmering, translucent properties. It was the same demonic vessel that Nei Li had used to refine the spirits of demons, making them stronger and more powerful.
"Thank you, Mom!" Nomad exclaimed, his smile radiating with excitement and gratitude. He knew his mother had many questions, especially about the mysterious cure he had discovered for Xiao Ning'er's illness, the enchanted lamp he had acquired from the auction house, and now this remarkable pot. He sensed their unspoken concerns but was grateful that they trusted him without demanding explanations.
Nomad took another hearty bite of food before turning to his mother with a sly smile. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll explain to you and Dad about everything when we celebrate at home." He knew she was on to him, aware of his peculiar habits and suspicious of his supposed trips to the library to research Xiao Ning'er's illness.
He could see the understanding in her eyes as she lovingly gazed upon him, having already confirmed her suspicions by checking the library's records. His request of the enchanted lamp had also made its way to her ears before Nomad even received it. But despite it all, she was still here, hand-delivering the demonic pot to her son to earn a few extra love points - something she knew she had more of than her husband.
Despite the mystery and confusion surrounding Nomad's knowledge, his mother chose not to question him. She trusted and loved him unconditionally, which was why she had always supported him, even when he didn't want to cultivate. She believed it was safer for him to avoid danger.
When Nomad finally decided to join the Holy Orchid Institute, she went out of her way to purchase the best available cultivation techniques from the city lord for him. She also tended to Xiao Ning'er's wounds and groomed her, despite the young girl's problematic background, all because of her love for her child.
As Nomad continued to stuff his mouth, his mother playfully threatened to spank him. Though he knew she was only joking, he couldn't help but feel grateful for her unwavering support and affection. There was no one in the world who loved him more than his parents did, and for that, he was truly blessed.
As Nomad mentioned that he would share everything with his father later, his mother couldn't help but feel a bittersweet mix of emotions. On one hand, she was proud of her son for growing up and becoming more independent. On the other hand, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness at the thought of him no longer needing her as much.
But despite these conflicting emotions, she couldn't help but smile at her son, feeling immense love and pride in her heart. "Huhu, I should teach Ning'er how to be a better wife for him," she thought to herself.
With that, she leaned in and planted another affectionate kiss on Nomad's cheek, silently vowing to always be there for him, no matter what.
—
Hong Yue Family Compound
As Nomad and his mother entered the family compound, they were suddenly startled by a loud, booming noise. It was Nomad's father, who had erupted in joy upon hearing that his son had passed his examination.
However, Nomad's mother was quick to reprimand him for disturbing the neighborhood with his exuberant celebration. Despite her scolding, Nomad's father was unfazed and continued to beam with pride and excitement.
He even went as far as to prepare a lavish banquet in the main hall, inviting some of Nomad's friends as well as his own acquaintances to celebrate the occasion. Nomad's mother was initially hesitant, thinking it was a waste of money and questioning the wisdom of inviting strangers to their home.
However, her attitude changed 180 degrees as soon as she saw Xiao Ning'er in attendance. She called out to the young girl with affection and enthusiasm, and even went so far as to pamper her alongside Nomad's father.
Suddenly, Lu Piao gave Nomad a hearty slap on the back and exclaimed, "Oh man, I had no idea you were so well-off!" He was joined by his gang, consisting of Du Ze and their three best friends: Wei Nan, Zhu Xiangjun, and Zhang Min, who were clearly not accustomed to such extravagant gatherings and fidgeted nervously. Even Nei Li was there, standing beside them. "What do you mean well-off? I don't even have a single demon coin," Nomad joked before leading them around. "I'm just glad I came to this party before heading back home, otherwise, I would have missed out on such a grand event!" Nei Li exclaimed excitedly, and the rest of the group nodded in agreement.
Nomad's parents had organized a grand party to celebrate the success of the Fighter Apprentice class. Although only a handful of students had passed the test, the event was attended by all of his classmates, along with the most prestigious members of the noble and major families.
But the real reason for the gathering was to smooth things over between the Hong Yue family and the Sacred family after a recent altercation in the martial field. Nevertheless, Nomad's parents were delighted to have the opportunity to show their love for their child in front of such esteemed company.
As the party went on, a man with golden hair raised his cup and called out to the city lord, "Brother Ye Zhong, have a toast!" But Ye Zhong's attention was fixed on Nomad's father, who was still fussing over his son. "That idiot has forgotten the reason for this event and is busy pampering his son!" Ye Zhong exclaimed, rubbing his head in frustration.
But Chen Zhenlong, the patriarch of the Divine family, only laughed heartily. "Haha, you can't blame him, Brother Zhong. You know what happened in the past, when his son almost didn't make it." Chen Zhenlong finished his drink and gestured for more.
"Yes, but it's been 13 years already!" Ye Zhong retorted. "I even cleared my busy schedule to attend, but whatever! I'll just enjoy myself. Cheers!" And with that, he downed his glass in one gulp no longer thinking over anything.
Meanwhile down below them, Shen Ming, the representative of the scared family, was drinking and having a good time. He had already forgotten the reason for his visit and had written off the issue with the sacred family, assuming that the Hong Yue family had taken care of it.
"Haha, forget about those brats. Let's just enjoy ourselves!" he exclaimed, bursting into laughter as he continued to drink and revel in the moment.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
After a while, Nomad managed to slip away from the boisterous crowd of his classmates and found solace in a quiet pavilion outside. As he gazed out at the energetic revelry happening around him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity with the rowdy antics inside.
A contented smile graced his lips as he savored the rare moment of peace and solitude, knowing that soon enough, he would have to tread the path of cultivation and face the challenges that lay ahead. But for now, he allowed himself to bask in the tranquility of the moment, grateful for the brief respite from the chaos of the world around him.
As his eyes swept across the bustling main hall, he couldn't help but pause and take in the lively scene: his mother doting on little Xiao Ning'er, his father laughing boisterously with his friends, and his classmates engrossed in their own conversations, making the most of the festive atmosphere before they parted ways for the upcoming vacation. A sense of calm and contentment washed over him as he reminisced about the countless age he had spent pursuing knowledge, lost in the pursuit of academic success in the past.
He had been so absorbed in his studies that he hadn't even noticed the passage of time, nor had he realized that his beloved planet had crumbled to dust beneath his feet. His conscience gnawed at him, urging him to take action and make a difference, but he knew deep down that fate had its own plans - and that even turning back time would be a futile endeavor.
Life is like a dazzling fireworks display, a brief moment of brilliance before fading into obscurity. This is a lesson that Nomad has learned well - the preciousness of life. Despite having lived for what seems like an eternity, Nomad has never lost sight of this truth. He remains steadfast in his convictions, valuing life above all else.
For Nomad, everything has a purpose - even Shen Yue, who was relentlessly pestering Yi Ziyun for a dance. As he basked in the warmth of the night, Nomad couldn't help but reflect on its beauty. This was a night to remember, a moment of pure bliss that he had rarely experienced before. "What a wonderful night," he thought, savoring every last drop of its magic.
As the author, I want to express my gratitude for your support and take a moment to respond to one of my avid readers.
Although Nomad lived an eternal life, he spent every moment seeking knowledge. That is why time flew by for him, because he was deeply passionate about his pursuits.
Nomad never viewed life as meaningless or as a tool to be used, because he held this belief since the beginning. While it would be incorrect to say that time did not affect him ( which is evident in his nonchalant and calm attitude even in the face of gods and death ) there are certain aspects of life that will always remain constant. This could be the reason why he was the only one to survive and tell the tale of the relentless Immortal Snail.
Perhaps his strongest aspects are his mindset and his psyche.