Chapitre 17: Otherworldly Tang San's First Hidden Weapon (4)
Tang San said:
"Like elementary and intermediate, is there also an advanced?"
Old Jack nodded, his eyes revealing a somewhat admiring glint,
"You need not think about the advanced spirit master academy since that is not something that practically anyone can enter. In our Heaven Dou Empire, there are altogether only two advanced spirit master academies, and every year the number of students accepted number less than a hundred. That is indeed the cradle of a brilliant career. Even the nation's spirit hall will strive to directly confer a noble title upon every student who graduates from an advanced spirit master academy."
"Noble? There is such a good possibility."
Tang San said, astonished.
Old Jack said:
"Of course. Spirit master is indeed the noblest vocation, and advanced spirit master even more so. But those are all talents. Therefore, to us common people who dream to have a meteoric rise, becoming an advanced spirit master is obviously the best shortcut. Only, coming from the ordinary common people, how many people have the ability to become such a great spirit master? Even if there were any, without the assistance of a distinguished clan it is very difficult to graduate from an advanced spirit master academy."
"A graduation exam is its own matter, so why is the assistance of other people needed?"
Tang San was somewhat confused.
Old Jack heaved a sigh, and said:
"This is exactly the gap. The gap between poor people and wealthy people, between commoners and nobles. The elementary spirit master academy graduation requirements are very simple: as long as the spirit reaches the tenth rank, the teachers at the academy will guide you to obtain a spirit ring, and you can successfully advance your spirit master title. This certainly isn't difficult; provided you have spirit power at the time of awakening, it is something children can do. It is said, advancing from spirit scholar to spirit master at tenth rank spirit power is the easiest promotion."
"But at the intermediate spirit master academy it is different. To graduate from this place, the spirit must have reached the twentieth rank and furthermore obtain the second spirit ring to be able to attain the spirit grandmaster title. Tenth rank to twentieth rank, is something very many spirit masters are unable to achieve in their entire life. Also, after reaching the twentieth rank, to obtain the spirit ring they must depend on their own strength to hunt and kill a spirit beast and obtain a spirit ring. That is indeed extremely perilous. If they are descended from a noble family, and accompanied by family warriors, the danger is naturally much smaller. Spirit masters descended from common people like us can only depend on themselves."
"The graduation requirements of an advanced spirit master academy are even more exacting. Only after passing the thirtieth rank bottleneck, and obtaining the third spirit ring, can the spirit grandmaster title be promoted to the spirit elder title. They say that one who surmounts the thirtieth rank threshold can be called a powerful great spirit master, a genuine noble. To also go beyond is certainly difficult. Also, at the thirtieth rank obtaining a spirit ring seems like it is not the only restriction. For the specifics, you should be able to learn when you reach the academy. At any rate, of those advanced spirit master academy students, the quantity who are still really able to graduate seems to be only a third."
After listening to old Jack, Tang San had a basic understanding of Douluo Continent's spirit masters.
"Grandpa Jack, didn't you say that there are ten spirit master titles? Advanced spirit master academy graduating students can be spirit elders, how can those later titles be obtained?"
Old Jack spoke with a wry smile:
"I know how. Those transcending the spirit elder title can all be called great personages, like the spirit saint that came from our village who at that time was supported directly by the country. I have heard people say that spirit master cultivation later on is exceedingly difficult, and also exceedingly dangerous. How many people possess the kind of genuine ability that can reach the top level of Title Douluo? You could even say that it is not known whether such people exist in both our Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire right now."
Old Jack only had some simple understanding regarding spirit masters, nothing more. Hence his words were not detailed. Tang San understood that he could only search for this knowledge himself in the academy. In particular, about spirit beasts, spirit rings and such things.
From Holy Spirit village to Nuoding city was certainly not far; two people walking could reach it in half a day's time. Eating some simple travel rations halfway, by afternoon they could already see the city walls in the distance.
Even though Nuoding city was not counted as a large city, because it was very close to Heaven Dou Empire's border the city walls were still built thick. Tang San and old Jack were examined like all the other travellers when entering Nuoding city.
"Tang San ah! In a moment grandpa will take you to the academy and then return. When you are alone at the academy you must listen to your teachers, you must not leave the academy without permission. When the semester ends, Grandpa Jack will again come to meet you. That time will be almost at the New Year."
This was after all the first time Tang San left home. In his heart he was somewhat flustered, and subconsciously said:
"Grandpa Jack, you are leaving this soon?"
Old Jack said with a wry smile:
"A hotel is not for us poor people to stay in. You must try to win credit. When grandpa sees you next time, I hope you will already have become a spirit master so that you can be the pride of our Holy Spirit village."
Nuoding primary spirit master academy was located in west Nuoding city. Old Jack asked passersby for directions several times, and at long last Tang San was brought there.
Distantly, they could already see a large gate arch. The arch was twenty metres wide, and its height was over ten metres, made of solid rock. Below were two iron gates, jet black. Tang San saw they had been meticulously forged.
Through the iron bars, a winding path could be seen. A main road led directly inside, lined with trees on both sides.
In the middle of the arched gate were four large characters, "Nuoding Academy".
Just from the gate it could be seen that on Douluo Continent, the vocation of spirit master was significant. This was still only a primary spirit master academy, nothing more.
Old Jack brought Tang San walking up to the front gate, and they were immediately stopped by the young gatekeeper,
"What on earth? Is this a place where you country bumpkins can enter?"
Old Jack's apparel counted as bright and new in Holy Spirit village, but arriving in Nuoding city, it completely had the appearance of a country bumpkin. The gatekeeper had in his eyes a somewhat disdainful look.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone