Chapter 18: I'm Here to Learn Knowledge!

"The Novice Soul Master Academy teaches some basic things, such as the cultural achievements of our continent, introductions to martial souls, and simple understanding of soul beasts, etc. The program is six years long. If, by the age of twelve, there is no achievement whatsoever, one can only become an ordinary soul master. Those ordinary occupations await them. This is related to the strength of martial souls, but you don't need to worry. Having full innate soul power, you are destined to become a soul master quickly! Even if your martial soul is mediocre..."

On the way, Old Jack slowly explained the details of the Novice Soul Master Academy in Nording City to Tang San.

"As for the Intermediate Soul Master Academy, what they teach is even more profound."

Old Jack shared information he had gathered to prepare these two young fellows.

"But graduating from the Intermediate Soul Master Academy is much more challenging."

Old Jack gestured with two fingers, saying, "You need to reach level twenty and obtain the second soul ring to earn the title of a Grand Soul Master!"

Wang Feng listened attentively.

To be honest, when watching Douluo Dalu, he mostly ignored these introductions.

Because he wasn't interested.

He thought the author was forcefully injecting unnecessary information, making it seem messy and uninteresting.

So, he had long ignored most of the introductions, and naturally, he couldn't remember them.

But now, in this new world, Wang Feng found himself engrossed in listening to these explanations.

"Graduating from the Intermediate Academy requires reaching level twenty?" Tang San asked in surprise.

"It's quite easy." Wang Feng nodded.

He felt that the energy in his body should have already broken through level twenty.

It's just that he doesn't have a soul ring.

Unable to unleash it.

"Easy? You little rascal!"

Old Jack knocked Wang Feng on the head, "How can it be so easy? Although you, with your full innate soul power, can ask the academy's mentor for help in hunting and obtaining the first soul ring, obtaining a level twenty soul ring requires you to hunt it yourself!"

"Soul beasts are so dangerous. Countless civilian soul masters have been injured or even died because of this. Do you think it's easy? Only those noble offspring, accompanied by family warriors, are much safer than us! Wanting to rely on yourself to hunt soul beasts—this is what has stopped many soul masters in their tracks."

Wang Feng pursed his lips, thinking about soul beasts. He hasn't seen many of them and feels curious about their strength. How do they compare to soul masters? And when it comes to eating, is there a significant difference in taste compared to regular wild beasts? Are they all crispy, with a chicken flavor?

"Grandpa Jack, there are novice, intermediate, and probably advanced levels, right?" Tang San, less contemplative than Wang Feng, curiously asked.

"Advanced?" Old Jack paused, sighed, and said, "The Advanced Soul Master Academy is not something us common folks can aspire to. It's very difficult to get in. In the Tian Dou Empire, there are only two advanced academies, admitting less than a hundred students per year, most of whom are monopolized by those noble offspring. But those who graduate from there are sought after as soul masters from all walks of life, and the empire hasn't granted them noble titles yet."

Nobility. Wang Feng smiled; this world resembles a medieval structure, complete with nobility.

"Advanced Soul Master Academy is probably like the Harvard or Cambridge of our previous world, and the requirements are even higher. It's challenging for ordinary people to get in."

"Advanced Soul Masters..." Tang San muttered, genuinely wanting to experience that.

"Even if you enter the Advanced Soul Master Academy, graduating is not simple," Old Jack continued, "A soul master, hindered by just one soul ring, hampers the development of many. Without the assistance of a family, the help of powerful forces, wanting to hunt soul beasts, obtain soul rings, and practice to improve oneself at the same time is very difficult."

"Some people are born with a life of wealth and everything seems arranged. But we commoners find every step extremely difficult and arduous..."

Old Jack shook his head gently. Though just a village chief, he was over fifty, and every word he spoke carried wisdom.

Even Wang Feng felt a bit moved by Grandpa Jack's words. These sentiments are not limited to Douluo Dalu.

'Even in my previous life, it was the same.'

Wang Feng thought; some people are born into wealth, lacking nothing. They have family legacies and cultivation opportunities, far beyond those in Douluo Dalu or even in reality. For countless young people, their entire lives might be spent yearning for a house, a car, and many things they can only dream of through fragments of information online.

No resources, no connections, no status. Struggling for a lifetime is merely the starting point for others.

Just like how Elder Tao struggled for over twenty years, it's only the starting point for himself now, Wang Feng thought.

"The conditions for graduating from the Advanced Soul Master Academy are level thirty and obtaining the third soul ring. Crossing this threshold makes you a Soul Sovereign, also known as an Earth Soul Master. There are even restrictions on soul rings and age; not just any soul ring qualifies; it must be obtained with difficulty."

Old Jack concluded, "Even if you enter the Advanced Soul Master Academy, maybe only about a quarter of the students can graduate. As for what comes after, let's not talk about it; it's too far away. The further you progress in cultivation, the stronger soul rings you need, and hunting more powerful soul beasts becomes more dangerous! Otherwise, how many people can truly become Title Douluo? Counting on one hand should be sufficient."

After saying these things, Old Jack didn't speak anymore. After all, he didn't know much, only passing on basic knowledge to the two kids. In the afternoon, the three of them arrived in Nording City.

"You must work hard and become soul masters. When the semester ends, I'll hire two carriages to personally pick you up!"

Entering Nording City, Grandpa Jack said with a smile. The development of Saint Soul Village was good, giving him confidence to say such things.

Wang Feng hadn't been to Nording City much in the past. It was far, and he didn't bother to go. Moreover, rural folks are easily looked down upon by city people. Back then, with no Golden Finger and Saint Soul Village being dilapidated, Wang Feng was reluctant to make himself uncomfortable in Nording City.

Now, however, Wang Feng boldly entered the city, looking around.

There were quite a few pedestrians on the street, and the ground was flat, making it comfortable to walk. Although Saint Soul Village had improved in the past two years, the three of them were dressed plainly, lacking the splendid clothes of the city.

"Not bad, quite beautiful," Wang Feng shook his head, glancing around. He even spotted a few beautiful young girls.

He couldn't help but sigh; without various cosmetics and collagen-filled faces, these faces, natural and unpolluted, were pleasing to the eye, even if the girls weren't stunning.

"Wait a minute, I came here to study, not to look at pretty girls."

Wang Feng coughed a few times, pulling his gaze back.

'But, taking a glance won't make a piece of flesh fall off, right?'

After hesitating for a moment, Wang Feng casually glanced a few more times, then reluctantly looked away.

In this back-and-forth, Wang Feng's head swayed left and right.

It was as if:

Head: No, I came here to gain knowledge. I don't want to look!

Eyes: No, you do!

'Feels like my head and eyes are having a disagreement... damn.'

Wang Feng shook his head, took a deep breath, and settled down.