Prayers didn't do much, Fang Ling's martial soul was terrible, just an ordinary farming sickle. As for soul power, he had nothing, completely empty.
Given his thin body and the fact that half of his left calf was missing, if not for the system panel, this would've been the worst possible start.
However, the path of a soul master could not be avoided.
Eventually, he would have no choice but to travel a thousand miles to Heaven Dou City and bet his life with Dugu Bo.
Fortunately, the system panel appeared just in time.
When his martial soul awakened, a gray progress bar emitted a mesmerizing glow.
Though the deep gray wasn't eye-catching, to the desperate Fang Ling, it was like hearing heavenly music play right in his ears.
It lifted his spirits instantly.
If it hadn't been for the crowd around him, he might have burst into song on the spot.
After a moment to compose himself, Fang Ling began to study his cheat-like system.
The panel was simple and didn't offer much detailed information.
Since he didn't have any soul rings or soul bones yet, those were temporarily irrelevant.
What mattered were the plus signs, the "talents," and the "points."
He started with one point, most likely gained when the gray progress bar filled up.
Now the progress bar was empty again and was refilling at a painfully slow rate.
When Fang Ling allocated the point to his soul power, it increased by one, but the points counter dropped to zero.
The plus signs next to soul power and the martial soul also dimmed from their original bright gray.
He remembered this and pondered, "One point increases one level?"
If so, then wouldn't a hundred points make him a god?
The idea sounded great, but even without thinking too hard, he knew that was impossible.
Every time a soul master advances by one ring, the required soul power increases. The higher the level, the harder the climb.
More likely,
Before obtaining a soul ring and officially becoming a soul master, one point equals one level.
Once he becomes a soul master, he can test that theory.
Based on the available information, the progress bar takes a year to fill, granting one point.
Which means: one level per year.
Just relying on automatic point growth, it would take ten years to reach the first soul ring!
As for what happens after that, no one knows. In a world full of sudden changes, he might die to some random area-of-effect attack at any time.
In the end, destiny must be controlled by his own hands.
Besides cultivating, he had to find other ways to earn points.
Fang Ling shifted his attention to the "talents" section.
What stood out most was the phrase "Innate Martial Soul Talents."
Talents were essentially passive traits.
"Sharpness" and "Toughness" were both Level 1, as was the martial soul, hard not to assume they were all linked.
As expected, both were likely tied to the martial soul's level and would upgrade as it did.
Soul rings affect martial souls, and choosing a compatible ring might enhance these talents too.
Additional martial soul talents probably also depend on future soul rings.
Since martial soul talents exist, could there also be physical or spiritual talents?
Fang Ling guessed there should be.
Soul rings not only strengthen martial souls, they also enhance a soul master's body. So physical or spiritual talents might emerge as well.
Consistent physical training might help too.
Consuming immortal herbs would likely add talents as well.
For example, the fire and ice immunity from eating the Ice and Fire Yin Yang herbs clearly counts as a talent.
Unfortunately, even though Fang Ling knew the plot, he didn't dare to recklessly seek them out.
Not only was he weak now, but the journey was long.
And Dugu Bo, old and poisonous, was notoriously temperamental. A dangerous figure. He had to tread carefully, not rush.
While Fang Ling was working out his future plans, the flow of people outside gradually thinned until none remained.
He could still faintly hear some voices.
He'd heard them earlier and instantly recognized them, it was Su Yuntao and Sisi.
Su Yuntao said, "Today wasn't great. No particularly good martial souls. The best was a bat, but its soul power was only half a level."
"Even though it can fly later on, the soul power is so low it'll be hard to even reach level ten."
Sisi countered, "Didn't Nuoding Academy have that so-called 'Grandmaster' who started with only half a level of soul power but cultivated up to level twenty-nine?"
Due to his fame in theory and his notorious freeloading, that "Grandmaster" was fairly well-known in Nuoding City.
"Grandmaster… his name is Yu Xiaogang. The surname Yu isn't simple, maybe he has a powerful background."
"Forget him. Just basic soul master knowledge, and he calls it a theory. Makes me sick just thinking about it."
Their conversation ended, and they walked briskly inside.
They found Fang Ling sitting upright and well-behaved in the room, like someone was threatening him.
There was a bit of naive silliness about him, it stirred a hint of sympathy.
"Master Su," Fang Ling said quickly, standing up stiffly.
"Mhm, no need for that. Sit," Su Yuntao waved his hand, feeling a good impression of this well-mannered child.
Even though he was a beggar and had a lame leg, he still had an inexplicable vitality about him.
His eyes were bright, his clothes clean, and unlike other beggars, he didn't stink. His whole aura was distinct.
Su Yuntao said it was fine, but Fang Ling certainly wouldn't sit back down.
Su Yuntao didn't mind. He took out a notebook and began writing, "Your name is Fang Ling, right?"
"Yes. I didn't have a name, so I gave myself one."
"Where are you from?"
"Of course, I'm, "
"Think carefully before you answer, kid." Su Yuntao interrupted him.
Fang Ling stopped. There had to be a reason for this sudden interruption.
What could it be?
A student work-study quota!
He vaguely remembered that soul master academies weren't open to just anyone.
Even the guards at the Martial Soul Hall had envied Tang San for getting into Nuoding Academy.
Maybe it was about money, but he was just a penniless beggar with no means to pay for school.
"Master Su, did you find any children with suitable martial souls and soul power in villages outside the city this year?"
In the timeline, city awakenings came slightly after the villages, so this question wasn't suspicious.
"This year's even worse than last. Haven't found a single one." Su Yuntao smiled. This was a clever kid.
"I'm from Huangshi Village," Fang Ling replied, recalling nearby village names. A spark of intelligence flashed in his eyes.
"Alright, Fang Ling, from Huangshi Village. Six years old. Martial soul: sickle. Innate soul power: level one…"
Su Yuntao quickly filled out a certificate. "You can use this to register at Nuoding Academy as a work-study student."
"Thank you, Master Su. I'll never forget your kindness."
Fang Ling etched the favor deep into his heart.
Su Yuntao laughed and patted his shoulder. "No need to repay me. Just cultivate well and stop being a beggar."
Fang Ling nodded fiercely, carefully holding the certificate, eyes welling with tears.
"Go on now. That's the only copy, lose it, and there's no replacement."
Watching the little limping figure run off, Sisi asked curiously, "Why help him?"
"Probably just didn't want to see another beggar in the world. He's still full of life, worth saving."
Like advising someone's daughter to leave prostitution for a better life.
A common enough impulse.
Fang Ling's situation wasn't so different.
Su Yuntao had a good impression of him and didn't want to see that vitality vanish and the boy still begging in the streets one day.
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