He raised his head, eyes glowing with the eye of exploration. In an instant, the information of everyone present was reflected in his gaze.
A flicker of surprise, subtle yet noticeable, passed through his eyes.
The ruler in his hand tapped lightly. Then, without warning, Lin Jin raised his arm and pointed toward two individuals in the crowd.
"You—and you. You two may stay and observe."
Their expressions shifted, unsettled, as murmurs of surprise spread among the others.
One of them, face twisted in discomfort, stepped forward and asked, "Dean Lin, I haven't done anything inappropriate. Aren't you being a bit unreasonable?"
Lin Jin regarded him in silence for a long moment.
Just as the man began to grow uneasy under his gaze, Lin Jin finally spoke.
"You simply don't meet the requirements. Your spirit power hasn't reached level 30, has it?"
The man's face changed again, disbelief replacing defiance.
"How... how do you know that?"
With those words, the crowd knew Lin Jin was correct. Yet his precision left them bewildered.
Eyes turned toward him, wide with shock.
How could he possibly know someone's exact spirit power level?
Everyone knew that spirit power remained elusive until it was put into use.
Even among sensitive Spirit Masters, one could only detect an approximate range—not the exact level.
"Is his spirit perhaps inclined toward exploration?" Su Yun mused thoughtfully from within the crowd.
"Impossible," said Shen Yang, standing beside him, shaking his head.
"If his spirit leaned toward exploration, he wouldn't be such a formidable fighter. He wouldn't have defeated Ding Sanshi so easily."
Lin Jin offered a mysterious smile.
"Is it important how I know?" he said lightly.
"I welcome visitors from all walks of life. Even if some don't meet the requirements, they're welcome to stay and observe—if they choose."
The Spirit Master who had questioned Lin Jin quickly shut his mouth, his face flushed under the stares of those around him.
He gave a hurried apology and turned to leave, clearly embarrassed.
The second Spirit Master, who had remained silent throughout, stepped aside.
Though he didn't leave, he also showed no intention of causing trouble.
Lin Jin paid him no mind. Instead, his gaze moved through the crowd, stopping on another figure. A warm smile touched his lips.
"I didn't expect you to come. Are you serious this time?"
In the crowd, Shen Yang felt Lin Jin's eyes on him and knew the question was directed at him. He also knew why Lin Jin was asking—Shen Yang hailed from Spirit Hall.
Caught off guard, Shen Yang's expression turned awkward. Instinctively, he glanced at Su Yun beside him.
After all, it was Su Yun who had encouraged him to attend.
Lin Jin's eyes lingered on Su Yun, unsurprised.
If he wasn't mistaken, this man wasn't only a close friend of Shen Yang's but also a fellow member of Spirit Hall.
With a hearty laugh, Su Yun said, "Of course we're serious. But... it depends on what kind of treatment Dean Lin can offer. If it's not worth it, then perhaps we'll pass."
Lin Jin chuckled. "Even having a full stomach isn't easy these days. But I can promise you porridge and pickles—served in generous portions!"
His joking tone drew laughter from the crowd.
"Since we're all gathered, I might as well share the academy's plan," Lin Jin continued.
"This time, I intend to recruit six tutors. One will handle daily administrative affairs, two will focus on combat training, two on theory and cultural instruction, and one will oversee logistics."
"Among them, the Director of Teaching will receive 150 gold coins, the Logistics Tutor will receive 100, and the remaining tutors will each receive 120 gold coins per month. And there will be more surprises after officially joining the college."
"Huh?"
The Spirit Masters present suddenly perked up. Their eyes lit with interest—Lin Jin's offer wasn't just decent, it was generous.
In most cases, tutors at Spirit Master academies received modest compensation.
Their jobs were considered safe and respected, but the pay was rarely impressive.
Yet here was Lin Jin, offering a salary that could only be described as extravagant.
After all, just two or three gold spirit coins were enough to support an average family for an entire year. One hundred gold spirit coins a month? That was a dream for many.
Among those stunned by the offer, Shen Yang was perhaps the most shocked.
His jaw dropped slightly, and he stared in disbelief.
'No way... this guy's loaded. Am I wrong about him?'
He glanced at the modest, humble-looking Spirit Master Academy building in front of him, then at Lin Jin, who stood calmly as if this were all ordinary.
Suddenly, he had the urge to bow in respect.
'Is this what it means to hide your wealth?'
Truth be told, Lin Jin was still tight on funds overall. But thanks to a stable source of income, he could afford to pay his tutors well—at least for now.
"For the position of Director of Teaching, prior experience is preferred," Lin Jin announced.
"However, I don't believe anyone here—"
"Wait!"
A firm voice cut through his words. From the crowd, an elderly man with a head of white hair stepped forward.
Though aged, the man stood tall, brimming with vitality.
His eyes were not clouded like those of most elders, but instead crystal clear, sharp and reflective, like a mirror still water.
Lin Jin's gaze lit up, and he bowed slightly.
"May I ask your name, Senior?"
The old man smiled.
"I bear the surname Hu, and my given name is Yannian. I happen to have several decades of experience as a Teaching Director."
"What?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even Lin Jin was taken aback.
Hu Yannian chuckled.
"I used to serve as the director of an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy in the Barak Kingdom."
"I returned to Blackstone earlier this year to retire and be closer to home. But when I saw the announcement about Tianxing Spirit Master Academy... well, I couldn't sit still."
Lin Jin was stunned—but thrilled. He quickly turned to the others.
"Is there anyone else here with experience in academic management?"
Everyone glanced at each other and shook their heads in unison.
Without hesitation, Lin Jin bowed more deeply toward Hu Yannian.
"In that case, I humbly request your guidance moving forward."
"Haha, Dean Lin, you flatter me. Now that I've joined the academy, I am a member of its community. Being able to contribute to a Spirit Master Academy during the twilight of my life is a dream come true. If anyone should be grateful, it's me."
[Ding! Congratulations to the host! A tutor has been successfully recruited!]
[Ding! Hidden mission completed—]
[Where great minds gather, excellence inevitably follows. With flowers come butterflies; with strength come talents. A mysterious gift package has been issued."]
[Tutor Profile: Hu Yannian]
[Age: 68]
[Martial Spirit: Red Snake Vine]
[Spirit Power: Level 53]
[Management Ability Evaluation: SR]
[Teaching Ability Evaluation: SR]
[Combat Ability Evaluation: R]
Lin Jin stared at the profile screen in front of him, eyes wide in disbelief.
A hidden boss indeed!
Not only did Hu Yannian possess significant spirit power, but his management and teaching abilities were among the best in the scale.
(P.S. Note: Combat ability refers to a Spirit Master's combat potential relative to the teaching system, not the overall Spirit Master system.)