Holy Soul Village was surrounded by lush mountains and rivers, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers. In the back mountain of the village, the ancestors of the Holy Soul Village were laid to rest. According to burial customs, a tombstone should be engraved with a person's birth and death dates, as well as their family lineage.
However, two particularly unusual tombstones stood on the back mountain of the village. Each bore only four simple characters: "Arakawa Family Grave."
Standing before the tombstones was an elderly man who looked to be in his sixties. He was tall and thin but had a vigorous spirit. His clothes were clean and neat, and his hair was meticulously combed.
Staring at the tombstones, the old man sighed. "You two... I truly couldn't stop him. I scolded him, beat him, but he still insisted on becoming a soul master. Now, I don't even know who he took as his teacher, and he's running around with a black card, claiming he's going to enroll in the academy in Nuoding City!"
"Before you passed, I promised you I wouldn't let him become a soul master. But things have turned out unexpectedly. I really can't hold him back anymore. So I've agreed to let him attend the Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy."
"His talent is indeed excellent. Born with full soul power at level [-]. Maybe, just maybe, our village could produce another Soul Saint. This time, let me be his teacher. If you want to blame someone, blame me."
As Old Jack spoke, he grew more emotional and pointed two fingers at the tombstones.
"So you finally agreed!"
A sudden voice startled Old Jack. He looked around and spotted a young boy perched on a tree about seven meters away.
"Ren Arakawa, come down and help me!" Old Jack shouted.
"I should have been allowed to study a long time ago," Ren said, swiftly climbing down and standing next to Old Jack.
"Grandpa Jack, why won't you tell me how my parents died?"
"How did they die? Of course, from illness," Old Jack replied, avoiding eye contact, clearly hiding something. He quickly changed the subject. "Ren, make your own lunch today. I have to make a trip to Nuoding City."
"Why are you going to the city?" Ren asked suspiciously.
"To handle your enrollment. I'm hoping to get another work-study slot. After all, our village once produced a Soul Saint," Old Jack replied.
"But Grandpa Jack, I have money for enrollment!" Ren said, pulling out the black card Ning Fengzhi had given him. A black card was a status symbol, only issued by financial institutions to those with substantial assets.
"I know you're rich," Old Jack said kindly, patting Ren's head. "But your life is long, and you'll need money for many things. Work-study students save five gold soul coins per term."
"Gold soul coins, huh..."
Three months later, Tang San convinced Tang Hao to let him study. Old Jack also secured two work-study quotas. Together, they headed happily to Nuoding City with Ren Arakawa.
Ren had initially insisted on not attending school, but he couldn't resist Old Jack's frugality and finally agreed to enroll as a work-study student at the Junior Soul Master Academy.
"Tang San, Ren, once you're in the academy, don't leave without permission. I'll come pick you up at the end of the term," Old Jack instructed.
"Grandpa Jack, you're leaving so soon?"
"We can't afford to stay at inns. You two must work hard and make something of yourselves. When I see you next, I hope you're both soul masters."
Old Jack reached out, stroking Tang San's head with one hand and Ren's with the other.
Nearby was a rather luxurious hotel – more like a high-end inn.
"Wait for me," Ren said, slipping away and walking into the hotel. Moments later, he emerged.
"Ren, what were you doing in there?" Old Jack asked curiously.
"Here, take this," Ren said, handing him a card.
"What's this?" Old Jack asked.
"A key card. For the hotel room."
"You booked a room?" Old Jack was stunned.
"Of course. Can't you see it's about to rain? If you catch a cold or fever, won't it be a hassle for me to take care of you? Listen to me – stay one night and head back tomorrow. You wouldn't make it back before dark anyway."
At that moment, Old Jack felt the six-year-old child before him seemed more like an adult.
"Nonsense! This is a hotel. I heard staying one night costs a gold soul coin!" Old Jack said, distressed.
"Not one. Two," Ren corrected.
"Two?!" Old Jack recoiled, immediately trying to hand the key card back to Ren. But Ren refused, smiling slyly.
"Forget about getting a refund. Once you've paid, they won't give it back. Even if you tried, they wouldn't accept it."
Ren didn't explain further. In truth, he had threatened the hotel staff: if anyone tried to refund the card, he'd leave a terrible review and lodge a complaint.
"You little rascal!" Old Jack muttered, unsure whether to be happy or troubled as he looked at the card.
Soon after, Old Jack, Tang San, and Ren arrived at the only Junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City, walking along the main street.
From afar, they saw a tall arched gate, twenty meters wide and ten meters high, made entirely of solid rock. Beneath it were two large black iron doors.
Past the iron gates lay a vast compound, with a winding path flanked by towering trees. At the center of the arch were four large characters: Nuoding Academy.
As they approached, a gatekeeper stepped forward to block them.
"What do you think you're doing? This isn't a place for country folk like you."
Old Jack, though neatly dressed, clearly looked like someone from the rural outskirts of Nuoding.
"Brother, we're from Holy Soul Village. These two kids are our village's new work-study students. Could you tell us what paperwork we need?" Old Jack asked politely.
"A golden phoenix from a straw nest? Your little village actually produced soul power users? I've worked here for four years and haven't seen a single work-study student. Are you faking this?" the young gatekeeper mocked.
"These are the official certificates from the Martial Soul Hall," Old Jack said, handing over two documents.
"Huh, a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul? Full soul power? Ridiculous, absolutely hilarious. A full soul power [-] level from Blue Silver Grass… that's the best joke I've heard all year. And the other one is also full soul power [-] level. Why don't you just say you're a born Title Douluo?"
He scoffed as he tossed the two certificates on the ground.
(End of Chapter)