NOVEL WEB Chapter 793: Graduation
Currently, Yu Tianheng is already eleven years old. Following Sun Ming's teachings, he has become a Soul Elder, with his third soul ring sourced from a five-thousand-year-old Radiant Scales Beast found by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
After absorbing it beyond his current level, his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Spirit truly began evolving towards the Radiant Saint Dragon—upon activating his Martial Spirit, the scales on his body started changing from dark blue to platinum.
Although only the scales on his back changed, this already gave the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan hope.
If Yu Tianheng can acquire soul rings from radiant-type soul beasts before reaching Soul Sage, his Martial Spirit will certainly become the Radiant Saint Dragon!
Moreover, because evolution is achieved through the soul rings' enhancement, it subtly alters both the physical body and the Martial Spirit's bloodline during this process, rather than forcefully using nature's treasures for instant evolution.
Therefore, once the Radiant Saint Dragon takes form, it will undoubtedly be stably inherited!
After absorbing the soul ring with radiant attributes beyond his current level, Yu Tianheng's soul power directly reached level thirty-four.
If not for his young age, making it difficult to settle his mind and tiring him after several rounds of soul power circulation, his soul power could be even higher.
Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers also reached level twenty-nine in soul power, merely seven or eight days away from breaking through to level thirty.
The three of them are all very grateful to Sun Ming, especially Shi Mo and Shi Mo brothers, who even stole materials from home hoping to provide useful information for Sun Ming's research.
However, Sun Ming refused.
He dared not accept items stolen by children from their family.
Finally, the parents of the two personally delivered the materials, which Sun Ming accepted, and created a set of soul power circulation methods suitable for the brothers, allowing them to break through to level thirty within a day.
Upon acquiring soul rings, they were legitimately recognized as Soul Elders.
Subsequently, Sun Ming applied for graduation from Tiandou Royal Academy, feeling there was nothing more to learn here, although the three committee members had taken good care of him, and he had reciprocated by meticulously documenting his research for them and creating soul power cultivation methods tailored to their Martial Spirits.
"You want to apply for graduation?" Meng Shenji asked somewhat reluctantly, "Isn't this too early? You're only ten years old."
"But I'm already a Soul Sage."
Sun Ming relayed a fact they couldn't help but believe, "I know the three committee members wanted me to form a team with Tianheng and the others to prepare for the upcoming All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament and win the rewards provided by Martial Soul Hall, bringing glory to Tiandou Royal Academy."
"However, I have no interest in bullying opponents that I can defeat with just one finger."
"Roughly every five years, considering the timeline, by the time I'm thirteen, it will be the next event, but by then, at worst, I'll be a Soul Douluo, potentially even a Title Douluo."
"Isn't it a bit... inappropriate to bully Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors from other academies?"
Having thought it over, Meng Shenji sighed and said, "Fine, fine, if you're graduating, are you willing to join the Tiandou Empire? We three can directly apply to His Majesty to grant you the title of Marquess."
The titles of nobility within the Tiandou Empire, from low to high, include Village Chief, Rural Chief, Town Chief, City Lord, Baron, Viscount, Count, Marquess, Duke, and Prince.
Among them, the title of Prince is mostly reserved for direct blood descendants of the Tiandou royal family, often referred to as Duke.
The three committee members were willing to request Emperor Xueye to grant Sun Ming a Marquess title, ranking among the top five major nobles in the Tiandou Empire, potentially even owning his own fiefdom, founding a vassal kingdom with total domestic autonomy, generally not required to report to the Tiandou Empire.
"Thank you for the kind offer, but I'm still young and don't want to be stuck in one territory; I want to explore more." Sun Ming politely declined.
"Ah, that's truly unfortunate." Meng Shenji lamented, sending Sun Ming off, Xue Qinghe came along as well to bid farewell and even attempted recruitment.
However, Sun Ming expressed his desire to see more of the world, leaving the Crown Prince, who was actually a woman disguised as a man, in a bit of a dilemma.
"Young Master, should we eliminate the opponent?" After the three committee members left, Porcupine Douluo appeared beside Xue Qinghe, looking at Sun Ming's back, and uttered nonchalantly.
If he can't be recruited, he must be eradicated.
"A strong man challenges a stronger opponent, that's a sentence from the 'Martial Soul and Soul Power Cultivation Theory'; do you dare to attack a weaker one?" Xue Qinghe asked.
"Don't we often do this later?" Porcupine Douluo puzzled, "Moreover, although his body is robust, his combat strength is unrivaled; if I attack him, it counts as a challenge against a stronger opponent."
"Twisted logic."
Xue Qinghe snorted, "That kid has that woman's token, moves freely in Martial Soul Hall; although he hasn't joined, to those major sects, he's half considered a member of Martial Soul Hall."
"Unfortunately—"
"Why did that woman seize the opportunity earlier?"
Porcupine Douluo focused inwardly, pretending not to hear his master's complaints.
The story between the Young Master and the current Pope, he didn't want to inquire, lest he courts disaster and troubles himself.
"Young Master, then why not let him create a specialized Soul Power cultivation method for you? The time wasted on political affairs cultivation may be made up for?"
Xue Qinghe looked at Porcupine as if he were a fool: "What use would a Soul Power cultivation method related to a swan Martial Soul be? Besides, with his knowledge, if I dared to exhibit the disguised swan Martial Soul, after he examined it once, he would discover something amiss. Do you want my identity to be exposed?"
"I wouldn't dare."
Porcupine Douluo broke out in a cold sweat. The Young Master's plan must not be exposed; otherwise, all would be lost...
···
"Sun Ming!"
A familiar voice came from behind. Sun Ming turned around and indeed, it was Dugu Yan. The most up‑to‑date version is on M4VLEMP4YR.
"Why did you come along?"
"The academy is boring, so I applied for graduation with the three deans, after all, I am a Spirit King." Dugu Yan pouted, "I don't want to hang out with those little brats like Yu Tianheng."
At the academy, Dugu Yan often cultivated with Sun Ming, and naturally matured early. It's not that she looked down on kids her age, it's just that they didn't see eye to eye and really couldn't play together.
"Didn't you tell your grandfather?"
"I've already written him a letter. He should know in the Herbal Garden." Dugu Yan said as a matter of course, "He will definitely agree."
"Then let's go see him first." Sun Ming suggested, and Dugu Yan had no objections, so they set off for the Sunset Forest. Along the way, no soul beasts dared to approach them until they arrived at the Ice-Fire Lake Herbal Garden, where they found Dugu Bo tending to the garden, clearing some weeds.
"Why have you both come back?" Dugu Bo was surprised.
"Grandfather, we've graduated!" Dugu Yan held Dugu Bo's hand, shaking it constantly.
"Graduated?" Dugu Bo pondered for a moment, then smiled, "Well, since the people at the academy all want to curry favor with you rather than you making connections with them, and this place is second to none in cultivation environment."
"I'm not planning to cultivate here, but rather to travel around the continent, and if possible, I'd also like to look overseas." Sun Ming expressed his thoughts.
"Reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles?" Dugu Bo asked.
"Indeed so." Sun Ming nodded, "The knowledge I've acquired at the Martial Soul Hall has been consolidating, and now I need to travel around, practicing and innovating as I go."
"Grandfather, I also want to join him." Dugu Yan said, "To broaden my horizons."
Dugu Bo thought for a while and then said, "Alright, Xiao Ming, you should be able to protect Yan Yan, yes."
"She's already a Spirit King, naturally able to protect herself, and in this year, she's made great progress in controlling that external soul bone, the Lotus Crown. Although she hasn't reached the power I once demonstrated, the energy it radiates could easily defeat a Spirit Sage or Spirit Douluo." Sun Ming laughed, "Moreover, most Spirit Masters above the level of Spirit Sage on the continent are too 'precious' either establishing their own sects, returning home, or joining major forces. Unlike when they were young, they lack the courage and spirit to explore."
Dugu Bo frowned, "Isn't that directed at me?"
"That wasn't my intention." Sun Ming chuckled, "Since you have to take care of these herbs here... But when I return, I plan to establish an academy."
"Establishing an academy? Count me in, I'll definitely support it. However, you know my situation, it's just Yan Yan and me in the family, and I have to guard this place most of the time, unless the academy is built near here." Dugu Bo had already begun musing over the possibility of starting an academy.
"As for Spirit Masters, I can bring my parents' Soul Hunt Group here. They've made rapid progress over the past couple of years, having matured from scratch to where they are now. They may not speak profound truths, but they're rich in experience." Sun Ming also said, "And over time, Spirit Masters can be cultivated by them."
"That makes sense, with me making an appearance, excellent commoner Spirit Masters will come flocking." Dugu Bo chuckled, as if already seeing the future academy thriving with talented students everywhere.
Afterwards, Dugu Bo took out two external left arm and right arm bones of extreme ice and fire, allowing Dugu Yan to absorb them, while Sun Ming, on the side, began forging and hammering, constantly refining impurities from the iron blocks, cooperating with the furnace flames, repeatedly striking.
The forging hammer was lifted high above his head, striking down with force, sparks flying everywhere.
Following each strike, using the rebound, another hit was delivered, imparting a vibration force, efficiently refining the iron block.
Using force against force, with another layer of force concealed within, the cycle repeating, as if dancing amidst the flames.
Nobody knew how many times it had been hammered, but the iron block, once the size of a head, was compressed to the size of a fingernail, perfectly round, transformed into a silvery white color, radiating strange vibrations.
Dugu Bo was amazed, asking, "Your forging skills surpass even the Chaotic Wind Hammer Skill of the Haotian Clan, and this iron block... though I don't understand smithing, this is no longer iron, right? It seems able to resonate with Soul Power, acquiring a Martial Soul-like nature."