"So there are elementary and intermediate levels, then there must also be a senior level?"
Lao Jie Ke nodded, a hint of envy showing in his eyes. "You can forget about the senior Soul Master Academy. It's not a place just anyone can get into. In our entire Tian Dou Empire, there are only two senior Soul Master Academies, and the total number of students they admit each year is less than one hundred. That's the cradle of the future. Any student who graduates from a senior Soul Master Academy will be fought over by both the country and Spirit Hall, and will be directly granted the title of nobility."
"Nobility? Such favorable conditions," Tang San said, surprised.
Lao Jie Ke replied, "Of course. Soul Master is the most noble profession, and senior Soul Masters even more so. They are all talents. So, for us commoners wanting to rise to the top in one leap, becoming a senior Soul Master is obviously the best shortcut. It's just that, how many people from ordinary backgrounds can possess such excellent Martial Souls? Even if they do, without the backing of a major family, it's still very difficult to graduate from a senior Soul Master Academy."
"The graduation exam is one's own responsibility, why would others need to assist?" Tang San was a bit confused.
Lao Jie Ke sighed. "That's the gap. The gap between the poor and the rich, between commoners and nobles. The requirements to graduate from an elementary Soul Master Academy are simple: as long as your Martial Soul reaches level ten and, under the guidance of an academy teacher, you obtain one Soul Ring to successfully advance to the title of Soul Master. That's not difficult. Any child who possesses Martial Soul Power at their awakening can do it. I've heard that advancing from Soul Apprentice to Soul Master, those ten levels of Soul Power are the easiest to increase."
"But it's different at the intermediate Soul Master Academy. To graduate from there, your Martial Soul must reach level twenty, and you must obtain the second Soul Ring to earn the title of Great Soul Master. Many Soul Masters never reach the level between ten and twenty in their entire lives. Furthermore, once you reach level twenty, to obtain a Soul Ring, you must rely on your own strength to hunt a Soul Beast. That is extremely dangerous. If you come from a noble family and have family warriors accompanying you, the danger is naturally much less. But for Soul Masters from common backgrounds like us, we can only rely on ourselves."
"The graduation conditions for a senior Soul Master Academy are even more stringent. Only by breaking through the bottleneck of level thirty and obtaining the third Soul Ring can one advance from the Great Soul Master title to the rank of Soul Venerable. I've heard that level thirty is a threshold. Cross it, and you can be called a powerful Soul Master, a true noble. If you can't cross it, things get difficult. Also, there seem to be some restrictions on obtaining a Soul Ring at level thirty, the specifics of which you'll probably learn at the academy. Anyway, of the students at those senior Soul Master Academies, it seems less than a third actually manage to graduate."
After hearing Lao Jie Ke's words, Tang San gained a basic impression of how Soul Masters were instructed in Soul Land.
"Grandpa Jie Ke, didn't you say there are ten ranks for Soul Masters? If graduates of senior academies are only Soul Venerables, how are the ranks above that obtained?"
Lao Jie Ke smiled wryly. "How should I know? Ranks surpassing Soul Venerable are all big shots. Like the Soul Saint from our village in the past, he was directly supported by the state. I've heard people say that the cultivation of a Soul Master gets harder and more dangerous the further you go. How many can truly reach the peak existence of a Titled Douluo? You could even say, I'm not certain if such existences even currently exist in our Tian Dou Empire or the Xing Luo Empire."
Lao Jie Ke only had a simple understanding of Soul Masters, and his explanation wasn't very detailed. Tang San understood that he could only slowly figure out this knowledge at the academy. Especially things related to Soul Beasts and Soul Rings.
The journey from Sacred Soul Village to Nuoding City wasn't far. The two walked for half a day, stopping midway for a simple meal of dry rations. By the afternoon, they could already see the city walls in the distance.
Although Nuoding City wasn't considered a large city, its walls were thick and solid due to its proximity to the Tian Dou Empire's border. After passing inspection along with other travelers, Tang San and Lao Jie Ke entered Nuoding City.
"Little San! Grandpa will leave after taking you to the academy. You have to listen to your teachers and don't ever leave the academy on your own. When the term ends, Grandpa Jie Ke will come to pick you up. It'll be close to the New Year by then."
This was Tang San's first time leaving home, and he felt a bit panicked. Instinctively, he asked, "Grandpa Jie Ke, are you leaving so soon?"
Lao Jie Ke smiled bitterly. "Inns aren't places poor folks like us can afford. You must work hard. When Grandpa sees you next, I hope you've already become a Soul Master. That way, our entire Sacred Soul Village will be proud of you."
Nuoding Elementary Soul Master Academy was located in the western part of Nuoding City. After asking directions several times, Lao Jie Ke finally led Tang San to its gates.
From afar, they could already see a tall archway. The arch was twenty meters wide and over ten meters high, all constructed from hard rock. Beneath it were two iron grid gates, dark and solid. Tang San could tell at a glance they were forged from excellent refined iron.
Through the iron bars, they could see a winding path leading inward, a wide avenue stretching straight into the grounds, flanked on both sides by tall trees.
In the center of the archway, four large characters read "Nuoding Academy."
Just from the academy's main gate, one could tell how important the profession of Soul Master was in Soul Land, and this was merely an elementary academy.
As Lao Jie Ke and Tang San approached the main entrance, they were immediately stopped by a young man guarding the gate. "What do you want? Is this a place country bumpkins like you are allowed to come?"
Lao Jie Ke's clothing, which was considered presentable in Sacred Soul Village, now looked completely like a rural outfit in Nuoding City. The gatekeeper looked at him with a touch of disdain.
(End of Chapter)