Old Diamond's Garden!

Upon hearing Zong Li's words, Grandpa Vick couldn't help but be shocked as well: "What?! Spirit Rank 8!"

Zong Li then took a deep breath and thought: "Goodness.... looks like I found quite a talented little guy."

Must know that the teachers of Spirit Amethyst Academy greatly value students that awaken with an innate Spirit Rank above 5, let alone one that awakened with an innate Spirit Rank of 8.

By this point Garndpa Vick couldn't help but give a happy laugh and say: "Hahaha... The heavens have once again blessed our Lake Coast Village!"

After calming down from the excitement, Zong Li turned to Haoxin and asked: "Young man may I know your name?"

Haoxin then replied: "My name is Xing Haoxin teacher Li"

Zong Li then nodded, smiled and asked: "Then Haoxin.... Would you like to become a Student at Spirit Amethyst Academy?"

Hearing her question, Haoxin quickly showed a slight smile then nodded and replied: "Yes I would like to join Spirit Amethyst Academy."

Hearing their conversation, some of the other children stared at Haoxin with a bit of envy. While as most of them were still just happy that they awakened their spirits.

Hearing Haoxin's reply, Zong Li immediately showed a bright wide smile and said: "Wonderful!.... We'll talk more later once I've awakened the spirits of all of the children."

Haoxin nodded and walked over to Grandpa Vick.

"Hahaha... I've always known you were talented Haoxin." Said the old village head as he ruffled the boy's hair.

However it was at this moment that the old man remembered something that turned his happy smile into a deep frown: "After the ceremony Little Li will probably ask to talk to Haoxin's parents.... We.... We never got the chance to tell her what happened to Lin Xia... oh dear... and they were like sisters as well."

Noticing the old man's change of expression, Haoxin couldn't help but ask: "Grandpa Vick is something wrong?"

Hearing the boy's question, the old man immediately returned to his happy smiling face and said: "How could there be anything wrong? In fact I'm just so happy that you've awakened with Innate Spirit Rank 8!"

Haoxin frowned... Although Grandpa Vick had said those words, something was telling him that the old man wasn't being completely honest.

...

After the Spirit Awakening Ceremony was over, most of the children had left the room and only four had stayed.

These four children were naturally the ones that awakened with spirit power.

A little girl from these children then approached Zong Li and asked: "Teacher Li can I also go to Spirit Amethyst Academy like Haoxin?"

Hearing the adorable little girl's question, Zong Li couldn't help but release a sad sigh.

Grandpa Vick who was standing at the corner of the room also couldn't help but stare at this scene with sad eyes. He had seen similar scenes to this one way too many times.

In truth due to Spirit Amethyst Academy being a school secretly funded by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, they had somewhat strict requirements when accepting students.

- Children that awakened with innate Spirit Ranks above 5 will automatically be accepted.

- Children that awakened with innate Spirit Ranks of 4 or 5 will be considered depending on their Martial Souls.

- Children that awakened with Innate Spirit Ranks of 3 or lower will only be considered if they possess extremely rare Martial Souls.

Besides Haoxin the other three children had only awakened with Innate Spirit Ranks of 2. What's more all of their Spirits were quite ordinary.

Zong Li: "I'm sorry little one you see...."

Zong Li then spoke to the three other children for a few minutes. When she was done, the faces of the three children were now filled with tears.

"Don't cry children..... Here these are some phamphlets of nearby Elementary Spirit Master Academies that have a fair chance of accepting you." Said Zong Li to the three children as she handed them several phamplets.

When the children left, Zong Li couldn't help but sigh once again and say: "No matter how many times I do this it never gets easy seeing the sad faces of these children."

She then faced Haoxin and gestured him to come closer: "Young man come here for a moment, there are some things I must give you."

"Yes teacher Li." Replied the boy as he nodded.

When the boy was close enough she immediately handed him 3 things. One was a purple amethyst gem shaped pin similar to hers. The second thing was a purple pouch that seemed to give off quite a fragrant aroma. The third thing was a letter. Haoxin guessed it must be something to prove that he's a student accepted into Spirit Amethyst Academy.

Upon receiving the items Haoxin quickly bowed and said: "Thank you teacher Li."

Zong Li then smiled and began to explain: "The pin is something you will need to wear at all times once you enter the academy. The purple pouch contains some spiritual herbs that should be able to help you reach Spirit Rank 10 within the next few months. As for the letter, it is something that proves that you've been accepted into Spirit Amethyst Academy."

Hearing this Haoxin was somewhat surprised. He didn't think Zong Li would even give him some spiritual herbs for cultivation.

"Is Spirit Amethyst Academy really this generous or is it only this teacher?" Thought the boy.

"Now then... I think it's about time I met your parents little Haoxin. Can you lead me to them?" Said Zong Li with a smile.

Haoxin: "My.... parents?"

Zong Li then nodded and said: "Yes I will need to personally inform them that you were accepted into Spirit Amethyst Academy."

It was at this moment that Grandpa Vick approached and said: "Haoxin you should go outside and play for awhile. I will explain to teacher Li the situation regarding your parents."

"Ah... um... Understood Grandpa Vick." Replied Haoxin as he nodded towards the old man.

When Haoxin left the room, Zong Li couldn't help but frown and ask the village head: "Is there something wrong with little Haoxin's parents Uncle Vick?"

With a heavy sigh, Grandpa Vick began to explain: "You see little Li...."

...

Now standing outside, Haoxin couldn't help but stare at the purple pouch in his hand and ask: "Is the spiritual herbs in this pouch really helpful for my cultivation Old Diamond?"

"I have already inspected the contents of the pouch with my spiritual sense. I can say for certain that these spiritual herbs are only useful to spirit masters that are below Rank 13." Replied Old Diamond from the boy's mind.

Haoxin: "So..."

Old Diamond: "They are useless to you."

Indeed... After all Haoxin was already a Rank 20 Spirit Master.

Haoxin then sighed and thought: "Well it'd be a waste not to use them.... Maybe I should give them to Oscar or something."

After a moment of thinking, Haoxin decided to sit down on a nearby large rock and released his Elemental Nemesis Tree Martial Soul.

Haoxin had thought that since he had already revealed it during the spirit awakening ceremony there was no need to hide it anymore.

Haoxin stared at his tree spirit for a few moments then muttered: "From now on this will be my main spirit.... the one I use the most."

In truth Haoxin had two reasons as to why he chose his Elemental Nemesis Tree as his main spirit and reveal it during his spirit awakening ceremony instead of his other two spirits.

His first reason was because Old Diamond had told him that the Elemental Nemesis Tree would be able to produce Elemental Nemesis Fruits much faster the more spirit rings it had.

As such this meant that if he focused on his tree spirit first, he'll be able to gain much more Elemental Nemesis Fruits quite early in his cultivation.

His second reason was because of another thing that Old Diamond had told him. It was the fact that Old Diamond stated that he knew the locations of several Spirit Beasts that would be perfect as the Elemental Nemesis Tree's first few spirit rings.

What's more some of these locations were even quite near Heaven Dou Empire's coast that was close to Haoxin's village.

These two reasons alone convinced the boy that it would indeed be for the best to focus on his Elemental Nemesis Tree first.

After a few minutes Zong Li and Grandpa Vick finally came out. When Haoxin turned towards them, he quickly noticed that there were faint tear stains around the academy teacher's cheeks.

When Zong Li spotted Haoxin, she quickly came over to the boy and knelt down in front of him.

Before Haoxin could even say anything, Zong Li suddenly gave him a tight hug.

"Um... Teacher Li?" The boy was naturally confused as to why Zong Li suddenly hugged him.

"Child from now on outside of the academy you will call me Aunt Li." Replied the academy teacher.

"Huh?" Hearing Zong Li's words, Haoxin couldn't help but turn towards Grandpa Vick seeking for an explanation.

To Haoxin's confused expression, Grandpa Vick simply sighed and shook his head.

When Zong Li released the boy from her hug, she immediately asked: "Child could you show me to your house?"

Haoxin then once again turned towards Grandpa Vick who just simply nodded, indicating it was alright.

"I understand. Please come with me t... um... Aunt Li." Replied Haoxin towards the academy teacher.

...

When the group of three arrived at Haoxin's house, Zong Li couldn't help but start to tear up as she muttered: "It's been so long since I've been to Sister Xia's house."

Zong Li then turned to Haoxin and asked: "May I enter?"

"Um... yes sure." Replied the boy.

Upon entering Haoxin's small house, Zong Li could no longer suppress her tears as she stared at a small mirror hanging on one of the walls.

"I remember.... Sister Xia and I bought this little mirror during our first trip to Baoshi City together." Thought Zong Li.

By this point Haoxin could no longer help but ask: "Grandpa Vick what's going on with teacher Li?"

Grandpa Vick sighed and began to explain: "Actually... Little Li was born here in our Lake Coast Village. Like you she had also lost her parents early. She and your Mother Lin Xia grew up together they were like sisters."

"Ah?" Haoxin was naturally surprised upon hearing this as he thought: "So that's why teacher Li told me to call her Aunt Li.... It turns out she was so close to my Mother."

Grandpa Vick then continued: "When Little Li was eighteen she managed to achieve Rank 20 Spirit Master and as such decided to enter a Spirit Master Academy to focus on her cultivation as a Spirit Master. I still remember back then we all wished her luck as she left the village.... your Mother in particular was in tears watching Little Li leave.... She and your Mother had not seen each other ever since... Who could've known that would be their final goodbyes."

"I see..." Muttered Haoxin as he watched the academy teacher in tears while staring at the small mirror in his house.

After wiping away her tears, she quickly showed a smile towards Haoxin and gestured him to come closer: "Little Haoxin come."

"Yes Aunt Li?" Said the boy as he approached the academy teacher.

Zong Li then knelt down once again and placed her hand on the boy's cheek: "Your mother and I grew up together... we were like sisters... that's why... Little Haoxin from now on I will be your family. When you enter the academy I want you to consider me as your guardian. Is that alright with you?"

Seeing Zong Li's current emotional expression, Haoxin couldn't help but think: "She... definitely must've cared about my Mother quite a lot."

The boy thought for a moment then turned towards Grandpa Vick who nodded indicating it was alright.

Trusting the old village head, Haoxin turned back towards Zong Li with a smile and replied with a nod: "Yes I understand Aunt Li... from now on you are my guardian."

Hearing this, Zong Li once again showed a gentle smile and said: "Good.... very good."

She then thought: "I wasn't there when you needed me sister Xia.... but I promise.... I will definitely take good care of your son! I swear to you, he will certainly grow up to be happy and healthy..... and with his talent, you can rest assured that he also has a bright future ahead of him."

After this the group of three then spent the next hour talking about Haoxin's parents.

...

When the group of three exited Haoxin's house, the boy felt quite happy. Through Zong Li's words he gained a better understanding of the mother he had not met.

It was at this moment Zong Li said: "Alright.... it's about time I returned to the academy."

"Do you really have to go so soon Aunt Li?" Asked Haoxin. In truth he still wanted to know more about his late mother from Zong Li.

Zong Li then turned towards the boy and showed a slight smile: "I'm afraid there are still many things that I must handle back in the academy. However don't worry.... you'll be seeing a lot of me once you enter as a student."

Haoxin: "When can I enter the academy Aunt Li?"

Zong Li: "In three months will be the time when Spirit Amethyst Academy will be receiving new students. A week before that I will return here to pick you up, then get you settled in your dorm at the academy."

Haoxin: "Three months... I see... I understand Aunt Li."

Zong Li then smiled even wider and patted the boy's head while saying: "Good Boy... don't worry I'll tell you more about your mother when we were young the next time we meet."

After saying their goodbyes to Zong Li, Grandpa Vick patted Haoxin's shoulder and said: "From now on you will have to work hard little Haoxin. The road of a spirit master is both grand and difficult."

"Yes understood Grandpa Vick." Replied the boy.

...

When Haoxin got home he couldn't help but sigh. He did not expect that the academy teacher that had come was a close friend of his late mother's.

"Well at least now I have an adult I can approach when I encounter things that I don't understand in the academy." Thought the boy.

After a moment Haoxin asked: "Ok.... Old Diamond can you tell me the exact locations of the spirit beasts that would be suitable spirit rings for my tree spirit now?"

Old Diamond: "Are you planning on hunting them already?"

Haoxin nodded and said: "That's right.... I plan on hunting them in these next few months before I enter Spirit Amethyst Academy. With my current strength, I'm somewhat confident I can hunt a hundred years spirit beast.... Even if things get bad I can still use my Diamond Terra Paragon Transformation for 3 minutes after all."

Must know that Old Diamond had stated that in his Diamond Terra Paragon Form, Haoxin possessed the strength of an elite Spirit Ancestor. In fact if he were to use Old Diamond's defensive spirit skills and spirit bone, then it's no exaggeration to say that he might even be able to withstand the attacks of an ordinary Spirit King.

It was due to this that Haoxin had confidence to hunt the first few spirit rings of his Elemental Nemesis Tree already.

After a few moments of staying silent, Old Diamond finally spoke: "...You are not ready."

Haoxin: "Eh?!... Are these hundred years spirit beasts really that formidable?"

Old Diamond: "They are not hundred years spirit beasts."

Hearing this Haoxin couldn't help but be surprised as he asked: "Don't tell me they are thousand years spirit beasts?"

Old Diamond: "They are not thousand years spirit beasts either."

Haoxin: "....."

Old Diamond: "..."

Haoxin: "Old Diamond don't tell me..."

Old Diamond: "The spirit beasts I have planned to become your Elemental Nemesis Tree's first few spirit rings have cultivation ages of a minimum of 50,000 years."

After being silent for a few moments Haoxin finally couldn't help but say: "WHAT THE HELL OLD DIAMOND?!!!"

Old Diamond: "Young man before I became your spirit ring, I had promised you that I would help you become an all-powerful Spirit Master. I intend to keep that promise. Which is why I had chosen Spirit Beasts over 50,000 years to be your first few spirit rings."

Haoxin: "Old Diamond don't you know that under normal circumstances the optimal spirit ring age a Rank 20 spirit master like me can absorb is only less than 764 Years?!"

Old Diamond: "I am naturally well aware of this fact. However there is no need to worry. I have some means to allow you to absorb Spirit Rings over 50,000 years.... Take out my diamond key, there are some things back in my dimension that I must show you."

...

With a flash of aurora light, Haoxin had once again appeared in Old Diamond's cavern dimension.

"So what was it that you wanted to show me here Old Diamond?" Asked the boy.

Old Diamond then said: "Walk towards the wall on your left."

When Haoxin approached the wall to his left, he couldn't help but frown and think: "It just seems like a regular stone wall."

However it was at that moment Haoxin suddenly became covered in magenta colored aura. His spirit heart had activated and a golden spirit ring emanating aurora aura rose from below him.

"What the?... My spirit heart had activated on it's own?" Thought the boy.

Old Diamond then said: "Don't worry I'm only able to do this while we're in my dimension."

Haoxin: "What exactly are you planning to do Old Diamond?"

However the Old Tortoise did not answer the boy. Instead a small beam of white energy shot out from the ten million years spirit ring towards the cavern wall.

Shiiing!

At that moment....

RUMBLE...RUMBLE...RUMBLE...

The entire cavern began to shake.

"W-What the heck?!" Exclaimed Haoxin as he felt the carvern dimension shaking.

Old Diamond: "Calm down Young Man. I'm just opening the entrance to my caves."

It was then that the wall in front of Haoxin opened and a passageway appeared.

Haoxin: "This is...."

Old Diamond: "Go in young man."

Trusting Old Diamond's words, the boy simply nodded and went inside the passageway.

Haoxin then asked: "You said these led to your caves?"

Old Diamond: "That's right.... These caves contain many of the things that I had collected in these passed few million years."

"Items from.... Millions of years ago?!" Muttered the boy in shock.

When Haoxin reached the end of the passageway, he immediately saw ten cave entrances.

Haoxin: "So these were the caves you were talking about?"

Old Diamond: "That's right... Each cave stores specific types of items that I have gathered since ancient times. From left to right I have labeled them as the first to the tenth cave."

Hearing this Haoxin stared at the cave entrances... and there were indeed labeles at the top of each of them.

They were labeled (1st Cave, 2nd Cave, 3rd Cave....etc) from left to right.

Old Diamond: "First thing you'll need to do is enter the 3rd cave. There is something there that should be slightly helpful to your body."

"Alright... let's see what you have in these caves Old Diamond." Replied the boy as he entered the third cave.

As the boy walked inside the 3rd cave's entrance, he immediately smelled a sweet and relaxing fragrance.

"What a nice aroma. I wonder what Old Diamond's keeping here?" Thought the boy.

A few seconds later, the boy finally got to see what was inside this 3rd Cave.

"Holy cow!" Exclaimed Haoxin as he stared at the extremely large beautiful garden in front of him.

Old Diamond: "Hoh.... Welcome to my garden young man."

The garden in front of Haoxin was extremely beautiful. It had numerous different colorful plants from rare looking flowers, leaves and grass. The sweet and relaxing aroma from earlier also continued to linger in the air which pretty much just added to the breathtaking feeling that Haoxin felt upon seeing this garden.

Old Diamond then said: "In this garden of mine resides very many ancient immortal herbs and ancient spirit fruits."

Haoxin: "Immortal Herbs?.... You mean plant type Spirit Beasts?"

Old Diamond: "Hoh so you even know about that huh. However there is no need to worry. Due to the special condition of my dimension none of the immortal herbs here have gained a conciousness and thus cannot be considered as true plant type spirit beasts."

After taking a deep breath, Haoxin asked: "So what exactly do you want me to do here in your garden Old Diamond?"

Old Diamond: "This is where we will start your training young man. In the next few months before you enter your first spirit master academy, we will use the resources here in my ten caves to prepare you to hunt the spirit beasts that are suitable spirit rings for your Elemental Nemesis Tree.... Best prepare yourself child, for I can assure you.... I will not go easy on you."