Cuifen's Support

"Ok everyone, you know that we only have three months till the oldest of you will choose which secondary school you will go to. To qualify for a battle academy you will need to be at least a Spirit Condensator, and also to qualify for a chance to join the best battle academies, you will also need to be at least rank ten. If you are talented enough to join a top tier secondary school, our school will provide you your next Spirit Soul if you so choose to wish it. As our last quarter of the school year has started, we will begin to focus on the topics that will help you the most in joining a better school. For those that don't qualify for a battle academy, you will join a normal secondary school which leads to a normal future."

The last leg of the school year was here, so the older students in this class became more serious while the younger ones did not care and seemed bored. Chen Hai sat within the students knowing how important these things were. He was in a make or break situation, if he can't gain five more levels by the end of these three months, he will be destined for a normal life.

It was his final opportunity, the only chance, and the last stretch. Two sides of a coin, one leading to royalty, the other leading to the common.

In this class there were only five students who were in the same grade as him. This was a mixed class, only teaching the homeless basically, so there were less resources and students attending.

Out of all the students, Chen Hai had the worst Martial Soul and lowest Soul Power. When one awakened their Martial Souls, it was not only about birthing your hidden Martial Soul, but it also revealed how much Soul Power had inside of them already.

On a scale of zero to nine, when people awakened their Martial Souls, the child will also gains free Spirit Power. When Martial Souls were awakened, it caused a phenomenon were the Martial Soul sucks energy away from the heavens to condensate themselves into the world, this in turn caused Soul Power to leak the child, meaning that they will gain Soul Power.

The amount of Soul Power one gained usually corresponded with how much potential one's Martial Soul had, and Chen Hai- he had to start from scratch. This gave him an unbelievably huge disadvantage, in fact, reaching level ten was actually not that hard, it was just the filter put by battle academies to separate out the trash.

Only with trash Martial Souls will one have trouble cultivating. Although the potential determined how far the cap will be, the start was actually pretty easy, so reaching ten was not a hassle to most. In the group of five, there were three people who qualified for a battle academy, and the one who did not qualify was only because he barely cultivated, not even caring for his future.

So technically he was the only one inside this class that did not reach the bare minimum yet at this age.

Sighing, Chen Hai tried to pay attention to everything Ms. Biyu said in class.

. . .

After class was over, Biyu Cuifen singled out Chen Hai, calling him over to talk with her. The class only had the two of them, and the sun was also starting to settle down, not leaving much time left in the day.

"Chen Hai, I see you're serious in class, but knowing you... well, I'm definitely still worried. You need to face reality Chen Hai... There's only three months left and you are still only a level three Spirit Gatherer, there's no way for you to join a battle academy... It took you six years to reach here... just face the truth already..."

Cuifen didn't know what to say to this student of hers, she can understand the pain he is going through, but one can not change the way they were born. As a teacher, she still wished to make help steer Chen Hai towards a good life. She was worried for him, and it always sickened her at how he always ignored her when she tried to help him.

"Ms. Biyu, I can really make it if I work hard enough! My Martial Soul can really make me gain Soul Power!", Chen Hai was frustrated at how she still didn't believe in him, or how she never trusted his words.

But Biyu Cuifen was equally as frustrated at how Chen Hai could not understand or face reality! "Chen Hai-"

Cutting off his teacher's words, he quickly responded so this doesn't become a whole another huge argument. "It really does, go check! I'm level five now, not level three! You checked last Saturday right!? Just check it, I'm telling the truth!", handing his arm towards his teacher, he waited for her to check.

Still feeling doubtful, but seeing how the little man had so much confidence, she decided to check and see on the off chance he was telling the truth. Reaching her soft hand onto Chen Hai's hand, she summoned her Spirit Power to check his level.

Anyone in a higher rank can easily check a lower rank's level of Soul Power, they only weren't able to detect higher ranks or people in the same rank as them.

As she summoned her Spirit Power, a cool invisible wisp of energy swept through Chen Hai, forming a full circulation of the body, and quickly she was surprised by the results that she had found. Her student was actually telling the truth! He was actually a level five Spirit Gatherer!

Starting to believe in him, she asked him one last question after she let go of his hand, in order to clear away all her doubts. "How'd you gain two levels in two days? I wouldn't trust you if it was just one, but knowing your situation and abrupt rise of Spirit Power, there's no way you had outside help..."

Chen Hai finally seeing hope on reaching an understanding with her swiftly responded. "I told you its from my Martial Soul! Yesterday I thought of a new idea, and that was to sell food! I just mixed my powder with the food, claiming it was seasoning so people can believe in my words. I borrowed my grandpa's cart to sell stuff I made! You can even come with me today to see, I was going to work again right after school anyways!"

Scrunching her brows, she massaged her fingers on her forehead to relieve some of the mental pain she was experiencing. Hearing him speak about his Martial Soul again, her suspicions formed again quickly, but seeing how serious he was, she couldn't help but start to trust in him a little. "Ok, I'll follow along with you today to spectate, if you are lying to me though, you already know the consequences of wasting my time."

Hearing her words, he quickly became excited, telling her to wait for him at the main street while he grabs his cart and ingredients. He briskly charged out the classroom before even waiting for his teacher's response.

Watching him eagerly run out, she awkwardly laughed to herself at how energetic he was once she started to trust in him.

. . .

After a long day of selling, Ms. Biyu helped him clean up his stall while grabbing the last Yaki Rice Balls of his to bring home.

She was honestly very surprised at how popular his food was to the people here, plus he was very creative too! She never heard of rice balls before, and they were also very tasty. However, there was something else that struck her more, he was very sneaky!

He kept acting to show how pitiful he was when customers went up to buy, plus he even displayed the neat sign showing that all the money went towards a good cause. Then the most crafty part was that he mixed in his Martial Soul with the ingredients, claiming it was special seasoning!

He was too scheming! He was too dishonest! He was too underhanded! H-He was... "Like a monkey..."

"What?"

Cuifen coughing embarrassingly was glad that he didn't hear what slipped out, or all the pride she had would slip away. Although she didn't taste the powder still, going by her student's words, only those who believed his words unconditionally or without the slightest suspicion will experience the effects he had claimed.

"Give me your arm again, I wish to test your Soul Power to see if your telling the truth"

Chen Hai giving his arm smiled foolishly at his beautiful teacher. Biyu Cuifen grabbed his arms to test how much Soul Power he had now.

The familiar cool feeling swept through him, and his teacher's face became surprised once more. He had truly gained Soul Power. He did not break through the next level yet, but it was noticeable enough for his teacher to identify.

After seeing that her student was telling the truth, she believed in him 100 percent now. When she eats these rice balls later, she will probably be able to know what those customers were experiencing earlier.

However, she her face also started seriously contemplating on the issue. Noticing how serious his teacher became, Chen Hai quieted down and waited for her to speak.

Cuifen was a teacher, and naturally as a teacher she knew a lot more about the history of the world than most. Throughout everything she had learned, there was never a Martial Soul that could gain Soul Power yet... Not to mention that his actual Martial Soul was one of the weakest in existence from an outside perspective, but its potential was staggering.

"First, I'll give you leave from school. I support you fully ok, and knowing how far behind you are, you will need the extra time."

"But what about the subjects?"

"I'll put the important info in the morning while the less important stuff in the afternoon. You'll start leaving school early, and only attend from morning to lunch. This way you have a chance at becoming a Spirit Condensator."

Seeing Chen Hai nod at her, she continued what she had to say.

"Second, Chen Hai... You must never tell anyone about the power of your Martial Soul again! I'm being serious! If people found out about it, lots of bad consequences will be resulted! You must promise me that you will never tell anyone about this again other than someone you trust with more than your life!"

Hearing the serious words of his teacher, he became confused, but still promised her to do so as he felt that she was saying it for the better. "Ok I promise... but can you tell me why I can't? I-I told you right? And it worked out..."

Flicking her white finger onto his forehead, she used her hands to ruffle his hair while telling him why. "Silly boy, not everyone will be as nice as me. The real world has lots of bad men! Even men who carry big bags to kidnap children like you! You can never trust anyone off of their appearances! You never know what their inner heart is hiding!"

Believing in her, Chen Hai quickly shuddered at the thought of how dark the world was. He started to grip the edges of the stall while staring towards a certain direction.

Seeing how weird Chen Hai just acted, Cuifen followed his gaze and noticed a man carrying a large black bag. "Chen Hai, that's the garbage man... He's even wearing the uniform..."

Shivering at when she mentioned the man, he squinted his eyes harder to stare at the bag the man was carrying. It was very big, almost like there was a true child inside of the bag like him. Becoming more scared at that thought, he started to crouch down and hide away from that scary man, "Bu-Bu-But..."

Seeing at how she potentially gave her student a trauma, she softly face palmed herself. "I'll walk you home tonight alright..."

'I guess he can still act like a normal kid sometimes...'

The days quickly passed... and the big date was soon approaching...