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Blackstone
Despite being a border town, it wasn't as poor as the surrounding villages.
The tax revenue and opportunities brought by the highway was enough to ensure that the city's main government and enterprising individuals make a decent living.
Within the low city walls, prosperity and poverty coexist. Dirty slums exist alongside bustling streets.
"You mean you've never heard of Tianxing Academy?"
In the lavish Blackstone City Hotel, Dai Mubai frowned as he questioned the hotel manager standing before him.
"Young master, why would I lie to you? Our hotel is considered one of the high-end establishments in Blackstone City. We have access to plenty of information and secrets. As for Spirit Master academies, I can guarantee that there's only one in Blackstone— Blackstone Spirit Master Junior Academy."
The hotel lobby manager patted his chest in assurance. He was carefully serving the young man in front of him.
Although the youth seemed childish and had no bodyguards accompanying him, the manager dared not underestimate his noble demeanor and generous spending.
Dai Mubai's eyes narrowed as he listened. The manager's confidence made him doubt the authenticity of "Tianxing Spirit Teacher Academy."
"Heaven rewards diligence. A gentleman is always striving for self-improvement." he thought, carefully pondering the phrase.
Having been taught by a court lecturer since childhood, Dai Mubai possessed extensive knowledge of literature, and he knew that a liar could hardly fabricate such a phrase.
So... what was wrong? Was the information he'd heard merely a rumor? But what was the informant's purpose?
Dai Mubai couldn't make sense of it.
Seeing the young man lost in thought, the lobby manager felt a pang of anxiety, but he still had no information about the mysterious Spirit Teacher Academy.
Hesitantly, he suggested, "Although we don't have any records of this Spirit Master Academy, it could be a newly established academy or one that recently relocated here, enrolling students in Blackstone City for the first time."
Dai Mubai nodded, tossing a few gold coins to the manager.
"Thank you for your help."
"Thank you, young master!"
The manager's eyes lit up as he swiftly accepted the coins. This young man was wealthy.
Dai Mubai maintained a blank expression as he turned and walked out.
He was determined to learn more about Tianxing Academy; there had to be other ways to gather information.
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Elsewhere in Blackstone City, Lin Jin had just finalized a contract with a building materials merchant.
Materials worth over fifty gold coins were to be transported to Yon Village starting today, with twenty gold coins paid as a deposit.
"Hiss, that's not enough."
Lin Jin grimaced as he watched the gold coins dwindle in his spirit guide. The funds were insufficient.
He found a stool and sat down, thinking hard about how to raise more money. If it were a well-established Spirit Master Academy, sponsors would flock to invest.
But for a Spirit Master Academy with nothing but plans and no physical campus yet, those shrewd businessmen would only laugh.
"I should aim a bit lower. Forget the businessmen—perhaps I could convince a noble."
But as he considered it, Lin Jin shook his head again. Getting a few gold coins out of the hands of the nobles would be just as difficult—a wishful thought at best.
"What a useless thing! This must be a mistake! I'm going to smash that worthless crystal!"
A commotion broke out at the gate of the Spirit Hall in Blackstone City.
Lin Jin looked up, startled, just in time to see a child being pulled away by a middle-aged man who looked like his father.
The middle-aged man was chubby, well-dressed, and adorned in delicate garments, but he was now sweating and looked helpless.
In front of him stood the bishop of the Spirit Hall, equally helpless. He reasoned with the man,
"Viscount, the Spirit crystal cannot be wrong. We've tested it with three different crystals; they have no issue."
The middle-aged man's eyes flickered with sadness as he forced a smile.
"I understand, but..."
He looked down at his son and sighed.
The little boy beside him pursed his lips, tears welling.
Suddenly, he let out a cold huff and ran off.
The middle-aged man turned to his guards and ordered, "Quick, go and protect the young master!"
"Yes, sir!"
The guards responded immediately, and three of them quickly followed in the direction the boy had run.
Lin Jin watched the hurried scene unfold, and two short messages appeared in his mind.
[Bishop of Blackstone: Level 53 spirit power, Martial spirit: Black Python.]
[Viscount of Blackstone City: Level 44 spirit power, Martial spirit: Cloud Pattern Staff.]
The messages only revealed their spirit power and martial spirit; there was no other information, unlike those who could be recognized as potential students by the system.
It seemed that the amount of information Lin Jin could access about others was limited.
Watching the direction the boy ran, Lin Jin thought for a moment. After one last glance at the commotion, he quietly slipped away, following the boy's trail.
He opened the system map, and the terrain of Blackstone City appeared in his mind. He then commanded mentally:
"Activate character display!"
The previously empty system map was now filled with numerous dots. Lin Jin observed before locking onto a specific dot moving down a street.
"Got you."
A small smile played on Lin Jin's lips. Come here, little one.
In a secluded alley of Blackstone City, Peng Fan, who had managed to evade his family's guards, leaned silently against the wall. Slowly, he slid down until he was sitting on the ground.
Looking up slightly, Peng Fan could see the clear blue sky, but his heart was clouded with despair.
"Why..."
His lips parted slightly, and his voice was filled with confusion.
When he entered the Awakening Hall, he was full of excitement and hope. But the result dealt him a heavy blow in an instant.
He didn't possess the innate full spirit power he had imagined, nor did he match even his father's talent.
His mutated martial spirit and low-level spirit power left him in despair—they meant he might never reach level 10 in his entire life.
Peng Fan sobbed quietly, hugging his knees. He had been so strong before, but now, he felt completely vulnerable.
Just then, he heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching the alley, followed by a stranger's voice.
"Young man, do you want to become stronger?" (Let me be your Mystic Grandpa)
Lin Jin appeared, smiling as he addressed the boy.