Soul Land: I Am the True Grandmaster

Chapter 162: Tianxing Academy's Mountain Retreat

Time flowed on, and before he knew it, three more years had passed. Ye Wen's three children had each awakened their twin spirits, each boasting an innate spirit power of level 20. With ten levels from birth plus the Sea God's blessing granting an additional ten, they were on par with Qian Renxue in the original tale if not even more powerful, thanks to their twin spirits.

After so many years of tireless effort, Ye Wen decided it was time for a well earned vacation. So, he gathered his family for a grand trip to the original Tianxing Academy, now known as Tianxing Mountain Retreat. The former Holy Soul Village had since been renamed Tianxing Village, and though Ye Wen hadn't visited in years, Old Jack had kept the retreat immaculately maintained. The villagers, grateful for Ye Wen's past generosity, even contributed to the maintenance each year.

Tianxing Village had long abandoned farming grain in favor of cultivating medicinal herbs. Though the plants required care, this work was far less labor intensive than farming, and the profit margins were much higher. Now these medicinal herbs, known for their curative properties, sold quickly across the Douluo Continent.

"Such a transformation, Ye Wen. I never thought Holy Soul Village would change this much," Ah Yin marveled. She preferred calling the village by its original name, as it held cherished memories of her time with Ye Wen.

Meanwhile, Ye Tianxin and Ye Tianchen were brimming with curiosity as they took in the vast fields. They had never ventured this far from home, and this was their first glimpse of a rural village. Bo Saixi, holding her sleeping daughter, also gazed around, imagining the legendary start of Tianxing Academy.

Years had passed since Ye Wen's departure from the village. Now an elder with white hair, Old Jack was seated by the entrance of the Tianxing Retreat, eagerly recounting tales of Ye Wen's life to the village children.

"Remember this, children," Old Jack said with fervor. "Our village is now called Tianxing Village because a great man was born here the founder of Tianxing Advanced Soul Master Academy, Master Ye Wen. He's the continent's foremost soul master theorist and the creator of the Truth Pavilion. Even Title Douluo bow in respect to him."

Ye Wen, overhearing this as he approached, couldn't help but chuckle. Despite not openly revealing his full power, many people across the continent speculated that he had reached Soul Sage or even beyond, hoping he would someday publish a book on the "Path of the Soul Sage," as he had for the Soul Elder. With the help of his earlier publications, countless commoner soul masters had overcome bottlenecks and risen to new ranks.

Under Ye Wen's theories, the once rare Soul Elder was now more common, and Soul Kings had even appeared in regions previously untouched by such ranks. Moreover, the number of cases of soul masters dying from absorbing incompatible spirit rings had dropped dramatically.

Even with these achievements, though, Ye Wen found Old Jack's praise to be somewhat exaggerated. "There's no need to go that far, Old Jack. Title Douluo are impressive figures themselves; no need for them to bow to me."

Surprised to be interrupted mid speech, Old Jack initially frowned, but the familiar, clear voice quickly softened his expression. Turning, he found Ye Wen himself standing before him in casual clothing.

"Master Ye Wen!" Old Jack exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion. "I can hardly believe it's you!" Ye Wen quickly reassured him, "I know you're excited, but take care, Old Jack. You shouldn't overexert yourself." As he spoke, Ye Wen released a bit of his spirit energy, stabilizing Old Jack's own.

For Old Jack, who wasn't a soul master, living to fifty in this world was no small feat. In such a world, where strength often determined one's longevity, few cared for the lives of the powerless.

"It's been a while, Old Jack. It seems life has been kind to you," Ye Wen said warmly. Old Jack, deeply moved, humbly bowed in respect. "It's all thanks to you, Master Ye Wen."

Unlike in the original timeline, Old Jack now wore clean, undamaged clothes and enjoyed a comfortable life. "I'm glad to hear Tianxing Village is doing well. Since I began my journey here, I'll always consider it my true home. My family and I will be staying here at the retreat for a while, so I'll be counting on you, Old Jack."

Old Jack had assumed he'd never see Ye Wen again, so hearing that he planned to stay for a while filled him with gratitude. He immediately busied himself with preparations, eager to make the stay as pleasant as possible.

Many of the villagers who had known Ye Wen in his youth had already passed away, but those who remained were equally thrilled to see him return. In Tianxing Village, where soul masters were no longer rare, Ye Wen was still seen as a revered figure. Those with young children dreamed of catching his eye, hoping he might enroll them in Tianxing Academy and set their family on the path to fame and fortune. After all, graduates of Tianxing Academy were recognized as the continent's brightest future talents.

Yet, Old Jack, aware of these ambitions, intervened. "I understand what you're all hoping for, but remember, if you bother Master Ye Wen, our village will lose its special connection with him. If your children are talented, let them earn their place in Tianxing Academy. But if you think you can exploit this bond, you'll have to get past me first," he said, standing tall despite his frail frame.

Respecting Old Jack's words, even the eldest villagers held their tongues. After all, they knew who had transformed their lives for the better.

Observing this from his retreat, Ye Wen felt neither annoyance nor offense; he understood such human inclinations. Old Jack's display of integrity, however, impressed him. Only those with principles could walk a path of genuine success. To show his appreciation, Ye Wen decided to awaken soul power in Old Jack's young grandson, ensuring he had a talented descendant who could honor the family name.

As for his purpose in returning to this former Holy Soul Village, Ye Wen was also curious whether Tang Hao had ever visited this place.

(End of Chapter)

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.

Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10