บท 4: Chapter 4: Nuoding Academy
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After shaking off the enthusiastic villagers, Wang Li finally returned home. This was only his spirit awakening—he hadn't even obtained a single soul ring yet. He let out a deep sigh; although it wasn't quite how he'd expected, he was now a popular figure in everyone's eyes, despite being a lone orphan.
Once back at his house, Wang Li grabbed his hoe and headed back out to the fields.
Even though he'd awakened his spirit, the field still needed to be tended.
With a contemplative look, Wang Li thought to himself, "Three months to go. Once I'm at Nuoding Academy, I won't have to work the fields anymore. The work-study program covers tuition, but I'll still need to figure out a way to pay for my meals."
He calculated that selling this year's grain after taxes, along with whatever he could get from leasing or selling his family's plots, would have to tide him over until he officially became a soul master and could collect a stipend from the Spirit Hall. Only then would he be able to leave behind this constant struggle.
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Three months passed quickly—neither too long nor too short.
Wang Li counted his savings, mostly in copper spirit coins with a few silvers mixed in. After tallying them, he said, "Twenty-five silver spirit coins and two hundred thirty-four copper spirit coins, making that twenty-seven silvers and thirty-four coppers in total. This should be enough to support me for a while."
In the world of Douluo, currency conversions are as follows: one gold spirit coin is worth one hundred silver spirit coins, and one silver spirit coin equals one hundred copper spirit coins.
(Note: In the original text, one gold spirit coin = ten silver = one hundred copper. This seems like an author's oversight, as otherwise, ten days' work sweeping would earn a gold coin at the academy.)
Wang Li sold his grain and, under the village elder Wang Ping's arrangement, rented his fields to other villagers at a low rate. Ideally, Wang Li would have liked a higher price, but given the village's economy, charging more would leave him with no tenants.
Although the rental income wasn't much, it was consistent, and Wang Li was satisfied with that.
At that moment, a voice called from outside the house:
"Little Li, are you home?"
Hearing this, Wang Li quickly stored his two money pouches and hurried to the door. Outside, he saw Wang Ping with several other villagers. He greeted them warmly, "Village Elder, uncles, and aunties! What brings everyone here? Please, come in and sit down. I'll pour some tea for you all!"
Wang Ping knew that there were too many people to fit into Wang Li's small house, so he just smiled and said, "No need, Little Li. Tomorrow, you'll be going to the city with me, and you must have a lot to prepare. Make sure you have everything you need, since we common folk can't visit you at Nuoding Academy once you're there."
With that, Wang Ping solemnly handed a small pouch to Wang Li and said, "The city isn't like our village. You may not be able to return for a year or more, so take this—it's everyone's contribution. Study well, train hard, and one day become a true soul master!"
Wang Li carefully accepted the pouch. He had no idea how much money was inside, but looking at Wang Ping and the villagers' hopeful expressions, he thanked them loudly, "Thank you, Village Elder! Thank you, everyone! I will become a strong soul master!"
It felt just like when a promising student from a poor village leaves for university, carrying the whole village's hopes with them.
Wang Li accepted their kindness. Once he became stronger, repaying the village would be an easy task.
Hearing his words, Wang Ping's face lit up with joy. In a small place like theirs, Wang Li was the only child with soul power they'd had in years. He was their only hope for the future, and with a deep breath, he said repeatedly, "Good boy, good boy…"
Aside from Wang Ping, many villagers also warmly presented Wang Li with some dried food and fruit, which he graciously accepted with a smile.
After sending off Wang Ping and the other villagers, Wang Li's smiling face became a bit stiff. Once back inside, he neatly arranged the dried food and fruit, then opened the pouch of money Wang Ping had given him. He counted it carefully—thirty silver spirit coins in total.
Wang Li's eyes sparkled with excitement; it seemed that after going to Nuoding Academy, he wouldn't just be able to eat enough, but also eat well—at least he could afford an extra chicken leg!
He quickly stored away all the money. Just as Wang Ping had said, Wang Li indeed had a lot to prepare: two sets of clean clothes, shoes and socks, bedding, and dried food… it almost felt like he was preparing to go to university.
The Next Day!
Before dawn, Wang Li got out of bed. He didn't bother cooking; instead, he boiled a pot of hot water and filled his stomach with dried food.
After packing his large and small bundles, he stepped outside. He took one last look at the place he had called home for six years, then firmly closed the door behind him and resolutely set out on his path to becoming a soul master.
Spirits, soul rings, soul bones… the Douluo Continent was filled with excitement!
At the village entrance, Wang Ping and his son Wang Shun were already waiting, beside them was an ox cart.
Wang Li hurried over, calling out, "Village Elder, Uncle Wang Shun!"
Wang Ping's aged face was full of smiles as he looked at Wang Li and urged him, "Little Li, come quickly and get in the cart. We need to set off early; we can't afford to delay your enrollment!"
Wang Shun, tall and strong, stepped over to help Wang Li load his luggage onto the cart. His eyes were filled with envy; after all, Wang Li was likely to become the village's only soul master.
Once everything was ready, Wang Ping and Wang Li sat on the ox cart while Wang Shun drove them forward.
During the journey, Wang Ping enthusiastically shared everything he knew about soul masters, recounting both real stories and legends, his words brimming with longing for the world of soul masters.
In the Douluo Continent, soul masters were equivalent to nobles; they were born into privilege. However, soul masters offered commoners a glimmer of hope, even if that hope was quite slim.
This clearly illustrated the special status of soul masters.
Upon arriving outside Nuoding City, Wang Shun stayed with the ox cart while Wang Ping led Wang Li into the city. After inquiring a bit, they quickly located Nuoding Academy.
When they reached Nuoding Academy, they found a vast compound. The main gate alone was twenty meters wide and four meters tall, made from finely crafted iron.
At that moment, in front of the gate, there were an old man and a young boy who seemed eager to enter for enrollment, but they were being stopped by the gatekeeper.
(End of Chapter)
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