Disclaimer!
Besides my original characters, the other characters do not belong to me (I'll name them when they appear). I am not making any money off this story, and am merely writing Fan Fiction.
I hope you enjoy Soul Land: Generation Talents Journey :)
They continued walking for several hours before the night began to fall so they decided to rest. After setting up camping, they all gathered around the campfire as Teacher Cao further instructed them. The embers flew lightly in the air, as the flame was poked by a stick, the dim light illuminating the bottom half of Cao Li Yang's face which was full of trepidation. "Everyone," Cao Li Yang said. "My spirit configuration is a bit abnormal, please, do not make a scene,"
Slowly, Cao Li Yang exhaled, surrounding him, one by one, spirit rings appeared falling from the top of his head to surrounding him at the ground. In his right hand manifested a thick paged book. The yellow pages seemed to be aged from one side, while the entirety was bound by red covers that looked as though it was made of leather. However, in the most astounding were still his spirit rings—black, black, black, black, black, black, red, red, red, dark blue—10 spirit rings of 3 different colours floated down mesmerizingly around him.
Everyone was gobsmacked, Dan Guo was the first to speak up as she rose from the ground staring wide-eyed. "This-this? Teacher Cao? You reached level 100 god? And your spirit ring colours-"
"Truthfully, I spent so much to become a god. Your Teacher is quite old, but you are all very young. I made several regrettable mistakes when I was younger, but in a sense, I hope to right this in a way by teaching you, good-hearted children. You must think Teacher is very selfish, bringing you back to make up for his mistake. To be honest, I could already tell early on that your spirits were unique. It was this reason why I brought you back to my home village." In his heart, he felt wary about saying such truths, but he knew that these children once they were older, would have such questions and perhaps then, they might have decided to be against him. It was best to tell them now, now, all he could do was hope they chose to remain with him. Perhaps it was because they were the only way to correct his sins, or maybe it was more so that they were the only family he had in a very long time. "I do want to tell you that these few years with you have been my most joyful in a long time,"
There was a long moment of silence before someone spoke. "Teacher Cao," One of the most mature out of them, Ning Tian Cheng said. "I do not think that you faked this content of being with us these past few years. As Dan Guo said earlier: As Teacher suggests we'll do. In the end, the fact remains that you brought us to the village when we all were in unpreferable situations or such, and you are in our eyes not only a teacher but also like a father of sorts. We know you do not have ill-intentions, and we will still stay with you,"
After someone took the initiative to start, the other children started to agree. After all, a person would always make actions they regretted in their life. However, Cao Li Yang never had any ill-intentions towards them and was still quite honest about their relations. True feelings couldn't be faked. Even someone blind would be able to sense the anxiety and emotion Cao Li Yang had when speaking. "That's right!" Gu Yan Ling spoke. "Teacher Cao, don't worry so much. The 8 of us—we are a family. Besides," She giggled. "You can't say we don't have our benefits as well. Anyone would know the number of gods on the continent isn't a lot, we get a god to train us, hee hee, I say we will shake the world,"
Cao Li Yang released a long built-up sigh of relief, then smiled. "Thank you. Another thing, please do not disclose my rank," As he talked, the 10 dazzling spirit rings slowly disappeared around him. "However, I think it's better to let you know this before we continue to head out into the rest of the Dou Luo continent. The rest of these matters, I will tell you one day, including my own experiences we should take it slowly. There is a lot of information to process after we finish this segment, we'll take a break for a while for some reflection." Being a god-ranked spirit master meant many things, but what each individual would take to get there was something only known if they'd be willing to share. If he would have chosen again, he would rather not have this god position.
There was a faint dark blue dome that extended from Cao Li Yang and enveloped him and Qi Long alone. The colour was an ink blue that was so dark it was near black. "Everyone," Cao Li Yang said. "Relax, and remain cross-legged." A couple of seconds later, that dark blue dome retracted back into Cao Li Yang, completely disappearing. "The special attributes of your spirits I determined also have a factor on the age limit. Qi Long, yours is around 870 years. Zu Que, and Bai Shu, yours are both around 840 years. Gu Yan Ling, yours is around 760 years. Dan Guo, and Ning Tian Cheng, both of yours are around 790 years. As for Lan Jing Hua, your spirit is truly peculiar, if this will further be a blessing is something we do not know, but the limit should be around 900 years for you."
"Ah," Gu Yan Ling said. "I have the lowest limit of us all,"
"Why do you look so upset?" Qi Long said. "This is still very good, 760 is still at least double of the initial limit!"
"Yes, but compared to you all, it's not too great. Oh well, I suppose I'll just work extra hard then!" She laughed and skipped around. "Wait until I beat you in spirit abilities!"
They continued walking in the Heaven Dou Empire for numerous days. At night, they'd find a suitable place to set up camp and rest. During the day, they would only travel. At first, it was incredibly weary for the young 7, however, they spent most of the recent years doing more physical chores and their conditions weren't too bad. Although Cao Li Yang never let them surpass what he determined was too much for them, it was still excruciating. If it were someone else perhaps they would have used Cao Li Yang's fear of them leaving to get lesser tasks but still reap great benefits, but these 7 were as close as a family, and wouldn't do anything as such. This is for our benefit. Lan Jing Hua thought to herself. I will persist. Teacher's efforts won't be in vain. She was the youngest out of them all, and the one who, unknownst to all of them, would encounter some of the most difficulties and unravel the most mysteries in the future.
He often quizzed them from time to time about what he had taught them, adding a few extra facts slowly by each day. After almost a week, their supplies were mainly all used, but they had finally reached their destination. It was still quite far from the more populated cities, but it was nonetheless much more advanced than their little village. After a few more minutes of walking there was the harsh yelling of another. "It's 30 golden spirit coins, or you can scram! Stop staying on my property!" Hearing this voice, the 7 children wore a faint expression of recognition while Cao Li Yang smiled in a reminiscing manner.
Soon after the departure of a middle-aged man along with his daughter, upon seeing their group, he took the time to stop and warn them. "Mister, I suggest you don't go to this Powerful Person Academy. I see you have a group of young children around the age of my daughter, you're probably here for the same reason as me, trying to enroll them in a nearby spirit master academy. However, this-this place is unworthy of anyone's time! The facilities are completely tiny, looking as if they would house less than a couple of people, and there is only one teacher. Although he is a Spirit Dou Luo, his personality is awful. On top of that, he charges so much for his services. Trust me, find another place," After finishing, he gave them a wave and left, stomping on the path with bitter anger.
Continuing to walk for a few more minutes, they came across a run-down area near the edge of the city they arrived in. There were only three houses that all looked as if they couldn't house more than 5 people, along with a large empty area that mowed over and over again. Next to this area was an old wooden sign that read: Powerful Person Academy; beside it was an old man with oily purple hair. Upon seeing them, he sneered. "Ah! You're back! Come, give me some money! If no one's coming here to learn, how am I supposed to make money?"
"They might if you lower the price. 30 golden spirit coins for a year of study for one student, and only the education." Cao Li Yang said. "Your status as a Spirit Dou Luo is very impressive, you just need to try not being so pricy," The Dou Luo continent currency had 3 different types of coins: Gold, Silver, and Copper. One gold spirit coin was equivalent to ten silver spirit coins, which was equivalent to a hundred copper spirit coins. One gold spirit coin could already cover three people's expenses for many months. 30 of them were already quite difficult to obtain, why would others give them up so easily for such a bad deal? This was one of the many reasons why Zhuang Yi Xuan had no students for a long time.
"Hmph," Zhuang Yi Xuan said, greedily taking the money Cao Li Yang brought out on his palm. Unexpectedly, a moment later, he reluctantly left it back in his hand. "...Zh—Cao Li Yang, I don't like you very much, but I do confess that after all these years, I do value the mutual acquaintance relationship between us. That's why I admit to you, I'm passing away,"
"What?!" Spirit masters would normally have longer lifespans than regular people. Although Zhuang Yi Xuan was old, Cao Li Yang would never have thought that this visit today might have been the last one. "Before you ask any questions," Zhuang Yi Xuan quickly said. "I'm not going to answer any of them. My last request to you is to make a name for our village. Other than that disaster a long time ago, no one knows about it. You have a few youngsters here, and I know you are a smart guy, Mr. All-Knowing. You'll be able to train them well. Take them to compete in the next Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Grand Competition. You don't have to win, after all, they'll still be very young when it happens. Just make a name, don't let our village be forgotten,"
"I promise to do my utmost," Cao Li Yang replied, his eyes moist. "However, how do we get registered? That competition only allows academies that are registered within a city of sorts, have you-"
"The Powerful Person Academy lies on the edge of one of the small kingdoms within the Heaven Dou Empire. I've been getting money from the son of the duke of the kingdom. Do you think with only the 5 gold spirit coins you give me I can live fruitfully? I've already been reduced to asking the duke's son, Rong Xi Chong, for money in exchange for being his bodyguard at times. It made quite a lot of money,"
"And yet you are still so stingy?"
"What was that?!"
"Teacher Cao," Bai Shu said, tugging at his sleeve. "You can't let yourself be bullied by Old Man Zhuang,"
"Who are you calling an old man pipsqueak!?"
"Teacher Cao," Gu Yan Ling added. "Can we also change the name of the school then? Powerful Person Academy sounds so awful. Besides, it like you're doing all the hard work and getting no credit, change the name,"
"How is it a bad name, you brat!?"
"Who are you calling a brat?!"