Chapter 18: Chapter 4: The First Hidden Weapon of Tang San in Another World (4)_1
Translator: 549690339
Tang San asked, "If there are primary and intermediate levels, then there must be an advanced level, right?"
Old Jack nodded his head, his eyes revealing a hint of envy, "Don't even think about the advanced Soul Master academy. It's not somewhere just anyone can enter. In our Tiandou Empire, there are only two advanced Soul Master academies, and together they enroll less than one hundred students each year. They are the cradle of the future. Anyone who graduates from an advanced Soul Master academy is highly sought after by either the state or the Martial Soul Hall and is immediately bestowed with a noble title."
"Noble? With such good conditions." Tang San said in surprise.
Old Jack said, "Of course. The Soul Master is the noblest profession, and even more so for a Senior Soul Master. Those are all talents, so if us commoners want to skyrocket to success and become Senior Soul Masters, that is evidently the best shortcut. However, how many commoners with an ordinary background can possess such superior martial souls? Even if they do, without the support of a large family, it would be quite difficult to graduate from an advanced Soul Master academy."
"Why do they need others' assistance for a graduation test? That's something one should do by oneself," Tang San was confused.
Old Jack sighed, "That's the difference. The difference between the poor and the rich, commoners and nobles. The graduation requirement for a Primary Soul Master Academy is very simple, just having your martial soul reach level 10, obtaining a Soul Ring under the guidance of a teacher, and successfully advancing to the Soul Scholar title is enough. This isn't difficult, any child who possesses Soul Power during their awakening can achieve it. It's said that the ten levels from Soul Scholar to Soul Master are the easiest to improve."
"But it's different for an Intermediate Soul Master Academy. To graduate from here, your martial soul must reach level 20, and you have to obtain a second Soul Ring to attain the Grand Soul Master title. Many Soul Masters spend their whole lives unable to reach level 20. And after level 20, to obtain a Soul Ring, you must rely on your own strength to hunt soul beasts. This is extremely dangerous. If you come from a noble family, you have family warriors to accompany you, which makes it a lot safer. But for commoner soul masters like us, we can only rely on ourselves."
"The graduation requirements for an advanced Soul Master academy are even stricter. You must break through the level 30 bottleneck, obtain a third Soul Ring, and go from a Grand Soul Master to a Soul Elder. They say that level 30 is a threshold; crossing it means you can be called a powerful Soul Master, a real noble. If you can't make it over, then it's tough. Furthermore, there seem to be some restrictions on obtaining Soul Rings at level 30. The specifics, you should learn at the academy. Anyway, it seems that less than one-third of the students at those advanced Soul Master academies actually graduate."
After hearing what Old Jack had to say, Tang San formed a basic impression of how Soul Masters were taught in Soul Land.
"Grandpa Jack, didn't you say that there are as many as ten different levels of Soul Master titles? The graduates from an advanced Soul Master academy are only Soul Elders, so how does one earn the following titles?"
Old Jack gave a wry smile, "How would I know? Beyond the title of Soul Elder, those are significant figures. Like the Soul Sage that came from our village, he was directly supported by the nation. I've heard that the further you go in the cultivation of a Soul Master, the harder and more dangerous it becomes. How many can reach the status of a Titled Douluo, the pinnacle existence? I'm not even sure if the Tiandou Empire or the Xingluo Empire has such individuals now."
Old Jack's understanding of Soul Masters was rudimentary at best. What he said wasn't detailed, and Tang San understood that he would have to slowly figure out these things at the academy, especially pertaining to soul beasts and Soul Rings.
The journey from Holy Spirit Village to Notting City wasn't far, and the two walked for half a day. After eating some simple dry food along the way, by afternoon, they could already see the city walls in the distance.
Although Notting City wasn't a very large city, it had sturdy walls due to its proximity to the border of the Tiandou Empire. Tang San and Old Jack, like the other passersby, were inspected before entering Notting City.
"Xiaosan, I'll leave after I drop you at the academy. You must listen to the teachers when you're there on your own, and don't leave the academy without permission. When the semester ends, Grandpa Jack will come to pick you up. By then, it will almost be the New Year."
Since it was the first time Tang San was leaving home, he felt somewhat anxious and said subconsciously, "Grandpa Jack, are you leaving so soon?"
Old Jack replied with a wry smile, "Inns aren't something us poor folks can afford. You have to do well for yourself. When Grandpa sees you next time, I hope you've already become a Soul Master. If you do, our Holy Spirit Village will be proud of you."
The Notting Primary Soul Master Academy was located to the west of Notting City. After asking for directions several times, Old Jack finally led Tang San to the place.
From a distance, they could already see a tall archway. The arch was twenty meters wide and over ten meters high, constructed of hard rock, with two iron gates beneath it, dark and imposing. Tang San could tell at a glance that they were made from fine Refined iron.
Through the iron bars, one could see a winding path leading directly to the inside, flanked by tall trees on both sides.
In the center of the archway, four large characters read, "Notting Academy."
Just from the academy's gates, it was clear how important the profession of a Soul Master was in Soul Land, and this was merely a Primary Soul Master Academy.
As soon as Old Jack and Tang San approached the gate, they were immediately stopped by a young gatekeeper, "What business do you have here? Is this a place you country folk ought to come?"
In Holy Spirit Village, Old Jack's clothes were considered quite presentable, but in Notting City, he looked purely like a country man, and the disdain in the gatekeeper's eyes was apparent.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone