章節 18: Chapter 18: It Is Impossible to Work Part-Time

"What? You want to undergo a soul power advancement assessment? Have you already obtained your soul ring?"

Master Matthew exclaimed in surprise that Ye Hao was here for a soul power evaluation just five days after he had awakened his martial soul.

The nearby Soul Beast Forest is a long way from the outer Soul Hunting Forest, which is kept up by the empire. To enter, one must possess the token issued by the Spirit Hall.

Many people had come to the branch hall in recent days, but Master Matthew had never seen Ye Hao among them. It was possible that others had obtained their rings in the meantime.

Master Matthew was convinced that Ye Hao's soul ring had to be a 10-year one, even though he was born with full soul power and did not need to train to get his first one. It was difficult to deal with a hundred-year-old soul beast, and Notting City's soul master power was limited.

The risks were simply too great for anyone to risk hunting a hundred-year-old soul beast for a newbie.

Master: Is he referring to me?

Following Master Matthew, Ye Hao came to a massive archway. With a push, Master Matthew opened the door.

"This is the assessment laboratory for martial soul advancement."

The room was spacious, covering more than two hundred square meters, with large floor-to-ceiling windows providing ample light. Even the distant landscape of the academy was visible.

Ye Hao followed Master Matthew to a fist-sized black stone, which was the same stone that Master Su Yun Tao used to awaken Ye Hao's martial soul, but it was smaller.

"Ye Hao, put your hand on it and release your soul ring and martial soul."

As soon as Master Matthew finished speaking, Ye Hao took a step forward, concentrating his energy. He raised his right hand, and as his palm touched the stone, his yellow hundred-year soul ring gradually rose, while the shadow of the Death Spider Emperor behind him caused Master Matthew to hold his breath, as if someone were choking him.

"Hundred, hundred-year soul ring."

Master Matthew steadied himself and returned his gaze to Ye Hao, his expression a mix of appreciation and complexity as he approached a yellow crystal ball on the desk.

He took a moment to observe the faint light flickering on the crystal ball before speaking. "Ye Hao, martial soul: Death Spider, soul power: level 12, first soul ring: 400 years."

"By the way, Ye Hao, could you tell me what soul beast you got your first soul ring from?" Master Matthew asked, perplexed. With a hundred-year-old soul ring, the next one must logically be the same age.

Soul masters require soul rings that are appropriate for their needs at each breakthrough, and the age of the required soul rings gradually increases, as does their color.

"A four-hundred-year Death Magic Spider, just a bit of luck."

Master Matthew: "..."

Just a little bit of luck?

The combination of the Death Spider Emperor's martial soul and the first soul ring obtained from a Death Magic Spider was equivalent to the priestess' ninth soul ring being sourced from a hundred-thousand-year Death Spider Emperor—this was not just a stroke of luck!

It would not be an exaggeration to say you are the son of heaven!

Ye Hao's first martial soul was the Death Spider Emperor, but during Master Matthew's operations, he mistook it for the Death Spider.

Master Matthew took out a medal and recorded Ye Hao's information. This medal was recognized throughout the continent and could be used in any Spirit Hall on the Douluo Continent.

"You are now the glorious soul master of the Heaven Dou Empire. Welcome to the ranks of the soul masters. In the future, with this medal, you will be eligible for a monthly subsidy of one gold soul coin. When you reach the level of a grand master like us, it will increase to ten gold soul coins per month. You must continue working hard!"

Ye Hao accepted the medal, thanked Master Matthew, and then left the Spirit Hall branch.

Throughout, Master Matthew made no mention of Ye Hao joining the Spirit Hall.

Master Matthew was aware that Ye Hao's personal information had already been reported, and joining the Spirit Hall was only a matter of time.

Master Matthew gave a deep sigh as he watched Ye Hao leave. Youth is truly wonderful.

(Letter: I am still stuck in the corner, gathering dust.)

Ye Hao strolled down the bustling streets, feeling relaxed. The gold soul coin in his pocket made him feel lightheaded; the sensation of having money was incredible.

Anyone entering a soul master academy, dressed in the distinctive Notting Junior Soul Master Academy uniform, was unquestionably a soul master, a profession revered across the continent.

Many people on the continent were able to awaken their martial souls, but not everyone had soul power.

"Ding Ding, Dong Dong..."

Ye Hao noticed the sounds of hammering as he passed by a blacksmith shop.

Inside, a small figure wielding a hammer bigger than himself hammered furiously at a piece of iron. He was dressed in gray with a scarf around his waist, and sweat dripped down his forehead, turning his face red from the heat. Nonetheless, his gaze remained fixed on the iron before him.

With each strike of the hammer, the iron began to change shape, gradually forming into what he desired.

"Tang San!"

Ye Hao called out, surprising Tang San, who was concentrating on his work.

That is right; Tang San was a part-time student who could not afford to stay at the academy due to its limited funding. Besides, he had been spending time with Xiao Wu lately, sleeping together at night and playing together in their spare time; they were practically inseparable.

Xiao Wu's expenses were considerable, and the majority of Tang San's funds were spent on her, prompting him to recall the man's words before leaving.

"If you do not have any money, go work in the blacksmith shop."

That led to the current situation.

Tang San wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel draped over his shoulder before looking at Ye Hao, who had appeared unexpectedly.

"What are you doing here?"

Tang San asked, perplexed.

Ye Hao took a look at Tang San's oversized hammer, stepped forward, and casually picked it up. He swing it a couple of times.

Under Tang San's watchful gaze, the iron in front of him instantly flattened and transformed into a thin iron disc.

Tang San: (Д)

Everyone: ∑(O_O;)

Ye Hao: (...)

Ye Hao dropped the hammer and examined his hands, surprised at how strong he had become.

(System: Praise me!)

(Ye Hao: Get lost!)

The blacksmith shop owner's eyes lit up. "Little brother, I can tell right away that you are not an ordinary person. Why don't you work with us? One silver soul coin per day. "What do you think?"

Are children today so abnormal? Tang San is like this, as is the kid who just appeared.

Faced with the blacksmith shop owner's offer, Ye Hao immediately responded, "It is impossible to work part-time. "I will never work part-time in my life."