Chapter 31: The Gamble of a Failing Man
On the way back on horseback, Bai Qingshan wanted to say something to refute Zhao Yuanbu's words, but in the end, he chose to remain silent.
In truth, Bai Qingshan had considered the very scenario Zhao Yuanbu mentioned earlier—but he really had no other choice.
He understood his own situation very well. His soul power talent was mediocre. Born into a commoner family, he had no impressive background or access to rare cultivation resources. He lacked the kind of fortune others were born with.
His talent and resources were ordinary, and the medicine he used in his cultivation had long-term side effects that severely damaged his potential. On the day he reached level 40, Bai Qingshan came to a painful realization: without a miraculous opportunity in his life, reaching the realm of the five-ring Soul King was nothing more than a fantasy.
His soul power was innately just two poles, and with soul rings of one white, two yellow, and one purple, becoming a four-ring Soul Ancestor was already his ceiling.
With his status and background, the kind of medicine and resources he could acquire wouldn't help him solve his cultivation bottleneck. He couldn't even raise his soul power by a single level.
So when he finally broke through to level 41, he became stuck there. His soul power refused to budge any further.
Under such circumstances, even without Xiao Qiang, he would have had to consider investing in a promising talent. He could only hope that by doing so, he might receive a little "incense" in return—a future favor or breakthrough opportunity.
It was at that critical time that Xiao Qiang approached him.
A boy with innate level 5 soul power and a Body Martial Soul. That kind of talent was exceedingly rare in Donghai City. At the time, Bai Qingshan had no reason to refuse.
There was no need for Xiao Qiang to say too much. As someone who had climbed up from the bottom, Bai Qingshan knew all too well how important resources were for a soul master.
Talent was only one part of the equation. Whether one ate vegetarian food, regular meat, or meat from soul beasts made an enormous difference in cultivation results.
So when Xiao Qiang mentioned the phrase, "Chicken feed can't raise a phoenix," many thoughts in Bai Qingshan's mind clicked into place.
The Sun Moon Empire didn't have abundant soul beast resources. However, since they were stationed in Donghai City, there was still some hope. There were no soul beasts on land, but occasionally, fish in the sea carried soul beast bloodlines. Though most weren't even ten-year soul beasts, at least they were soul beasts—and with great effort, Bai Qingshan could just barely afford them.
And so, for Xiao Qiang, Bai Qingshan gritted his teeth and gave everything he had.
By the time Xiao Qiang turned fourteen, Bai Qingshan had gone from a comfortably middle-class educator to a debt-ridden man clinging to the edge of ruin.
The only reason he hadn't become homeless was because of his identity as a four-ring soul master and a certified soul guide. No matter how poor he got, such qualifications ensured he could still hold a decent job.
But his life was becoming more and more miserable.
In the past two years, he had sold all his family property. He was now surviving purely on borrowed money.
He knew very well that he might end up with nothing—but if he didn't take this risk, his future would be even bleaker.
At his current age, perhaps he could wait ten more years. But what if, after those ten years, he still had to wait another ten?
He was only a four-ring Soul Ancestor—he didn't have that many ten-year periods left to gamble on.
"The principal's words make sense. Let's not talk about this anymore," Bai Qingshan said with a smile, trying to change the subject. "By the way, about that advance on my salary…"
"Advance salary?" Zhao Yuanbu raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. You see, the amount I owe outside is a bit too much. Would it be possible to get—"
"No." Zhao Yuanbu interrupted him before he could even finish.
"I'm not the one who spent your money. If you want it back, go ask that brat Xiao Qiang. Don't come crying to me."
Zhao Yuanbu's tone turned cold. The mere mention of Xiao Qiang made him furious.
In a place like the Sun Moon Empire—especially in a second-tier city like Donghai—someone with innate level 5 soul power was already considered a rare talent.
That's why, from the beginning, Zhao Yuanbu had considered pulling Xiao Qiang into his faction. It was also one of the reasons his family had secured him the position of academy principal—to establish and expand their influence.
However, when he was about to approach Xiao Qiang, the boy handed him a detailed list of requested cultivation resources.
Zhao Yuanbu was instantly embarrassed and angered by the sheer audacity of it. He refused Xiao Qiang on the spot.
Still, Xiao Qiang's talent was undeniable. Zhao Yuanbu had heard rumors of the Body Sect and, though he didn't know much about them, the rumors alone suggested the boy's potential was extraordinary.
Zhao Yuanbu didn't want to give up entirely. So he thought to cut the resource list in half and offer Xiao Qiang an additional condition: marry into his family—specifically, marry Zhao's cousin—after coming of age.
But just as he was preparing to make the offer, Bai Qingshan went ahead and accepted Xiao Qiang's full list of demands.
That move completely ruined Zhao Yuanbu's plans.
How could he possibly offer less and still expect Xiao Qiang to join him?
At the time, Zhao Yuanbu developed a strong prejudice against Bai Qingshan for disrupting the "market." But he couldn't act on it. He had just been appointed to this academy, and most of the administrative duties were still in Bai Qingshan's hands.
Compared to the long-standing and experienced Bai Qingshan, Zhao Yuanbu was still seen as an outsider—a parachuted-in official.
He could try to rally staff to his side, but people only followed leaders who offered real benefits. And recruiting others to counter Bai Qingshan would cost more resources than he was willing to give—probably more than what Bai Qingshan had already given to Xiao Qiang.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, there was no reason to start a conflict. Cultivating his own strength in peace was a better investment.
In the end, Bai Qingshan had spent a great deal of his resources on Xiao Qiang, while Zhao Yuanbu had diverted them to recruit three average students instead. Though they weren't as talented, the total resources spent were less than half of what Bai Qingshan had wasted.
From a practical standpoint, Zhao Yuanbu didn't lose anything—in fact, he had gained.
But every time he thought about Xiao Qiang's rare talent and saw Bai Qingshan coming to him begging for a salary advance, he couldn't help but lash out. After all, who else could he vent his anger on?
"Dean, you know Xiao Qiang's situation… How can I go to him and ask for money now?"
"I don't care. That's your business. You chose your path—walk it yourself. Don't come to me when you're in trouble, and don't bother me when you're not." Zhao Yuanbu snorted and took a sip of tea, placing the cup down with a clink of irritation.
At that moment, a voice suddenly rang out in the hallway:
"Hmm? Xiao Qiang? Seems like I picked the right way after all. First time delivering something, and I'm already spot on. I'm really amazing."