But this is your key to becoming a Spirit Master.
If your Family is poor, you can only rely on yourself to obtain a spirit ring.
The power of a Spirit Beast surpasses that of normal wild beasts, even a ten-year Spirit Beast.
Even an adult, facing the lowest-level ten-year Spirit Beast, could become its food.
To easily hunt hundred-year Spirit Beasts just by relying on a teenager's physique and simple trap arrangements? That's pure nonsense.
As long as you can obtain the first spirit ring, you can become a Spirit Master, and strive for your second spirit ring to be at the hundred-year level.
The age limit of the first and second spirit rings might determine your future spirit power Rank; the best outcome would be to become a four-ring Spirit Ancestor.
But that's enough, just like Manno City now, even the City Lord is only a three-ring Spirit Elder.
A four-ring Spirit Ancestor is enough to command influence in a small city and establish a Spirit Master Family.
Preferably, a four-ring Spirit Ancestor with a thousand-year spirit ring.
Comparing a ten-year spirit ring and a hundred-year spirit ring;
Tie Li certainly knows the difference between the two, especially since his Spirit is just an ordinary Forging Hammer. The attributes and foundation provided by a high-year spirit ring are even more important, but I am a Spirit Master from a commoner Family;
Being able to obtain a spirit ring and become a Spirit Master is enough; it already surpasses all ordinary people who cannot Cultivate.
In the evening, his father called all his three or five friends over.
This was Tie Niu's happiest moment in over twenty years; he drank himself into a stupor, and it took Tie Li and his mother working together to help him into bed.
The next day, Tie Niu took out the Family's savings, put on his best clothes, and took Tie Li to the Elementary Soul Master Academy in Manno City.
Manno Elementary Soul Master Academy!
Two gatekeepers stood at the entrance, with pillars made of exquisite marble, and the surrounding walls extended to both sides, topped with a stone archway plaque that read "Manno Elementary Soul Master Academy."
Seeing Tie Niu and Tie Li's appearance, the gatekeepers guessed they were there to register. One of them was responsible for leading them to the registration area, while the other remained to continue guarding.
"Big brother, your Family is really lucky, unlike my boy; none of my three have this fate," the gatekeeper said helplessly.
Since yesterday, the smile on Tie Niu's face had not disappeared.
"There's always hope," Tie Niu comforted him.
Upon reaching the registration office, the gatekeeper gave a prompt and then left. Tie Niu thanked him and led Tie Li inside.
The teacher in charge looked very young, with a gentle smile on his face, and did not deliberately show dissatisfaction due to the difference in their status.
"Present your Spirit Hall certificate, then go to the side to pay the tuition. You can live on campus or commute. Living on campus requires an additional accommodation fee."
Tie Niu originally wanted his son to live on campus so he could fully dedicate himself to his studies, but Tie Li requested to commute. On one hand, it would save money, and he still had two younger brothers. Perhaps they could also awaken Innate spirit power, which would then require more tuition.
On the other hand, he considered the Cultivate environment of his Spirit. His Spirit was a Forging Hammer, and the speed of Cultivate in the blacksmith shop would definitely be faster.
After paying the tuition, he received two sets of Manno Elementary Soul Master Academy uniforms and a pass for commuting students.
His father, who would normally feel pain even buying a pot of cheap wine, did not hesitate at all when paying the expensive tuition.
"Innate Rank two spirit power, a very good talent!" the young teacher praised.
"As a father, if you don't mind, I can take him to get familiar with the Academy environment first."
"I don't mind, of course I don't mind." As a blacksmith, he certainly wouldn't refuse the goodwill expressed by a Spirit Master.
And as an Academy teacher, he was also willing to show his goodwill within his capabilities.
"Then you can rest here for a while; I'll take him to get familiar with the Academy."
The Academy was very large, with dormitories, a cafeteria, public areas, etc. At this time, most students were in the teaching building.
"Your talent is good; you might even reach Rank ten spirit power in your fifth year."
"If I'm lucky, maybe!"
"Ahead is the cafeteria. The food on the first floor is the cheapest, the second floor is next, and the third floor is the most expensive. Although you are a commuting student, it's best to eat in the cafeteria at noon to avoid wasting time going back and forth and delaying your afternoon classes."
Every time they reached a new place, he would explain it, clearing Tie Li's doubts.
"Teacher, thank you," Tie Li expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
"You're welcome."
A smile appeared on the teacher's face; that was what he wanted to hear.
Upon returning home, Tie Li, dressed in his Academy uniform, immediately drew envious glances from his two younger brothers.
"Brother looks just like a noble young master."
"Haha, you two are so sweet-mouthed."
The material of the uniform was excellent; Tie Li had never worn such fine clothes before.
After lunch, Tie Li rushed to the Academy for his afternoon classes.
In the following time, Tie Li basically followed a two-point-one-line routine, absorbing Spirit Master knowledge as much as possible.
Occasionally, when he had no classes in the afternoon, he would return to the blacksmith shop to help, or Cultivate beside the iron furnace, which indeed made his Cultivate speed much faster than normal.
Unbeknownst to him, Tie Li was already a fourth-year senior student at the Elementary Soul Master Academy.
"Hoo."
Tie Li awoke from his meditation, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
His spirit power Rank had finally reached Rank ten; he could now obtain his first spirit ring.
An iron furnace had been added to his room; his father had specially forged it for him after learning that the iron furnace could help him Cultivate.
"A year earlier than expected," Tie Li secretly murmured to himself.
As long as he obtained a spirit ring, he would be a true Spirit Master and could receive Spirit subsidies from the Spirit Hall, which would greatly alleviate his Family's financial situation.
Funded by the Two Great Empires, distributed by Spirit Hall!
In these past few years, he had almost used up the Family's limited savings.
One gold coin a month; he could save enough from the subsidy for the next two years of tuition, with some left over.
His Family couldn't even earn one gold coin a month, yet a Spirit Master could receive one gold coin without doing anything. When they reached Spirit Grandmaster or Spirit Elder, this gap became even more exaggerated.
Now he needed to quickly report to the academic affairs office and submit his spirit power Rank. The Academy would then arrange for a teacher to lead a team to the Hunting Soul Forest to obtain a spirit ring.
Tie Li got up and tidied himself, then rushed to the Academy. As soon as he reached the academic affairs office, he saw Mars organizing documents. Mars was the first teacher he met when he entered the Academy.
"Dali, why are you here?"
"Teacher Ma, my spirit power Rank has reached Rank ten," Tie Li said truthfully.
"You reached Rank ten so quickly?" Mars's voice held a hint of surprise.
"Release your spirit power and let me confirm it."
"Okay."
Tie Li released his spirit power, and it had indeed reached Rank ten.
"Good. I'll report it for you. There happens to be a teacher leading a team to the Hunting Soul Forest tomorrow, and they can take you along."
"Thank you, Teacher."
"This is what a teacher should do."
Coming out of the academic affairs office, Tie Li saw a familiar face, rushing towards the back mountain.
Seeing this, Tie Li couldn't help but call out.
"Jin Bao, where are you going?"