Chapter 39 First Lesson
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Walter handed a ring to Yan Jin and said kindly, "Take it. This is my first lesson."
Yan Jin mechanically took the ring, mechanically followed Walter's instructions to input soul power, and mechanically took out the contents of the ring. Then, she was blinded by the golden brilliance on the ground.
Walter's first lesson for her was a ring-shaped space soul tool, twenty thousand gold soul coins, and a whole box of books about soul power, soul masters, and soul beasts!
These books were hard to find on the market, and some were even closely guarded secrets of small families and sects!
Walter used concrete examples to further explain his teaching philosophy to the three of them, embodying his way of being a teacher.
"So this is 'the teacher's strength can bring resources, and then use these resources to improve the disciple's strength, thereby indirectly imparting power'?"
Amon sketched a smile, looking at Walter with great interest and saying:
"I have a friend who is seventeen years old, with level 34 soul power, drifting through life without a famous teacher. If you don't mind..."
Walter shook his head with amusement and refused, "You... well, your friend might not be suitable.
"Although I have certain purposes in accepting disciples and some other considerations, I also hope to cultivate a teacher-student relationship.
"Your friend is too rational; he will only turn the teacher-student relationship into a naked transaction."
Walter knew that his actions had the suspicion of snatching disciples from Amon, and he had guessed Amon's reaction, which might be resistance or obedience, but what he did not expect was that he also wanted to find a master.
Amon shook his head with a smile, not disappointed by this.
He just wanted to see if he could get some benefits from Walter now; it didn't matter if he didn't.
Yan Jin looked at the gold coins all over the ground and suddenly wasn't so sad anymore.
This master seemed not bad. Well, only a little bit worse than Amon, just a little bit...
Lei Yin was dazzled. He thought that if his sister was sad, so be it. Anyway, she wouldn't be sad for long, probably be fine the next day. Please, by all means, let's have more of these lessons!
Sorry, Mr. Walter, you are a good teacher. I wronged you just now! He silently apologized in his heart.
"So many things have happened in one day. I think you also need time to calm down and think. Let's end here for today," Walter said.
Walking out of the Spirit Hall, Yan Jin couldn't help but ask, "How did you guess that he was the one behind it all?"
Amon chuckled, "The three groups of robbers on the road were too targeted, just right at the level that our apparent strength could handle, but not too easily...
"The combination of the Firebird and Lightning Turtle has a certain resistance to your lava and Lei Yin's lightning.
"One of the robbers in the third group could even resist my soul skills, which is relatively rare. Putting it all together, it's hard to believe it's a coincidence.
"From that time on, I suspected that someone was targeting us from behind, but it shouldn't be with too much malice.
"When we arrived at the Northern Advanced Spirit Master Academy, Director Zhu Youzhi's attitude further confirmed this.
"Then there was Glenn's warning... Glenn's appearance here was abnormal in itself, not to mention that we were rejected by the academy at noon, and he came to put pressure on us in the evening. Obviously, he was deliberately arranged there to wait for us by someone.
"Ma Wen knows part of our strength. Even the strength we are currently showing is enough to compete with the Ice Thorns Chamber of Commerce. She wouldn't be so unwise as to threaten us with such a tough attitude.
"This would only add a powerful enemy to herself, unless she had a reason to do so.
"And if she really wanted to coerce us into doing something for her, it wouldn't be Glenn who came, but Vasayev, who has always been at odds with Yan Jin.
"In addition, Glenn's last words, 'I hope you don't refuse that lord's kindness,' were hinting at us.
"The lord he mentioned is not referring to Ma Wen... He has always called Ma Wen 'Lady Ma Wen'.
"To send six Soul Elders to be our whetstones, to make the Northern Advanced Academy refuse excellent students, to direct the Ice Thorns Chamber of Commerce far away in Frost Leaf City...
"Tell me, who has interacted with us, possesses such great power, and is willing to put in so much effort?"
Yan Jin thought for a while, propping her chin up and said, "Indeed, it's only him."
She looked at Amon again, "But... Amon, am I really going to be his disciple in the future?"
"Haven't you already kowtowed?"
"I'd rather be your disciple..." she muttered softly.
Amon shook his head, "This is a necessary compromise. I don't mind being threatened, but you can't. You have attachments and bonds.
"When you first showed your talent in Frost Leaf City and were noticed by the Spirit Hall, it was destined that you couldn't avoid him.
"Can you be sure that if you refuse, he won't become angry out of humiliation?
"Do you really believe his promise that he won't interfere with us anymore if he's rejected again?
"Because of some strategic goals of the Spirit Hall, they don't want to see genius soul masters who are not under their control grow up right now.
"So if you had refused just now, it was more likely that he would have killed us all.
"You must remember not to overestimate other people's kindness and not to underestimate other people's malice.
"Many of the things he said to us just now are of questionable truth. For example, he said that those robbers were captured from other places..."
Yan Jin looked puzzled: "What's wrong with that?"
"It could be real robbers, or it could not be... As far as I know, the Spirit Hall has secretly trained death warriors," Amon replied.
"Probably... not, right? They wouldn't use someone they finally trained in this kind of place," Yan Jin hesitated.
Amon raised his hat brim slightly and said softly:
"Who knows? Human lives aren't worth much... You should have a deep understanding of this after contacting Ma Wen so much.
"I tend to think that the third group of robbers were death warriors from the Spirit Hall, while the first two groups were more likely to be real robbers who were coerced and instructed by him.
"If those people were death warriors, and if we were killed because we were no match for them, it would mean that you were just so-so and not worth Walter's expectations.
"If we won but let them escape, it would mean that your talent was still okay and worth him taking you as a disciple. In this case, there would be no loss for Walter.
"There is also a third situation, like now, where we won, and they couldn't even escape.
"This means that your talent has exceeded his expected value, and he is willing to pay a greater price to take you as a disciple... which also means that you must worship him as your teacher.
"Also, he said that he has been paying attention to you... When do you think this 'always' started?"
"Six years ago?" Yan Jin blurted out, but knowing that Amon would point it out specifically, there must be a problem, so she immediately denied, "No, that's not right..."
Amon put his hands in his pockets and nodded slightly, acknowledging:
"Yes, it couldn't have been six years ago. A Soul Douluo's time is not that cheap... but what he said, in connection with the context, makes it easy to create such an illusion.
"The time when 'always' started shouldn't be too long ago, probably after you defeated a Soul Venerable as a Soul Grandmaster, and your deeds spread throughout Frost Leaf City...
"Anyone can see that it won't be long before you have the ability to influence the situation in Frost Leaf City, and Mi Zonglan will definitely report your matter.
"And Walter, who once thought about taking you as a disciple, will definitely receive this information."
"Is that so..." Yan Jin suddenly smiled, "Sorry, with your help in the past five years, I've been living too smoothly, forgetting the cautious mentality of five years ago. I will adjust in time."
"Temporary forbearance is for better soaring one day... Remember today's helplessness... Although, in terms of results, it's pretty good." Amon's eyes were deep, and his expression was solemn.
"Yes, I will work harder to become stronger... until I no longer need to compromise or give way to others."
Yan Jin nodded, then asked with a curious look, "But, Amon, who is your friend without a teacher? I've never heard you mention him before."
Amon's expression froze, and he looked at her suspiciously. Seeing that she didn't seem to be joking, he couldn't help but take a deep breath and didn't answer.
You really think I have such a friend?!
Lei Yin covered his face, silently turning his head away, not letting her see the smile he couldn't hold back on his face.
For a moment, the atmosphere was a little strange, which made Yan Jin confused.
...
In the academy, Bi Da'er stood in front of his aunt, Rona, and said excitedly:
"Why? Why can't the three of them enroll? Can't you really think of a way?
"With their talent, they even have the hope of winning the academy competition! Was Zhu Youzhi's head kicked by a donkey?"
Rona said helplessly: "I have already tried, and I have contacted many people, but the director of education just won't budge. It seems that this time the person who prompted him to make the decision has a lot of power."
"Auntie, you know, I must get the qualification to represent the school in the Spirit Master Competition..." Bi Da'er grabbed his hair and said weakly.
His position in the family was actually not stable. Although he was the eldest son, there were still several younger brothers behind him who were eyeing his position as heir.
So he needed the honor of participating in the Spirit Master Competition and the affirmation of others for his talent.
"Since my mother passed away and my father married that woman again, my position in the family has been declining day by day. That woman's son has been trying to seize my identity as the viscount's heir."
Rona patted his back lightly, comforting him: "I know, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I, your uncle, and your grandfather will support you. It won't be so easy for them to take away what belongs to you.
"Wanting to represent the academy in the competition doesn't necessarily depend on those three. I know Zhu Youzhi well. He is the best at weighing the pros and cons and judging people.
"This time I used the family's connections to put pressure on him, but he still refused and didn't even reveal any information. This shows that the person who is causing trouble behind the scenes is a big shot beyond our expectations.
"Continuing to associate with them may bring adverse effects to you. Think about it carefully yourself."
Bi Da'er's gaze was slightly downward, with a hint of hesitation on his face.
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