This sudden attack ended with Wang Li gaining 18 experience points and Wang Sheng obtaining a hundred-year spirit ring.
Actually, Wang Sheng's War Tiger Spirit needed a spirit ring from a strength-type Spirit Beast more, and tigers, leopards, and cats were not known for their strength, but getting a hundred-year spirit ring was already good enough; there was no room to be picky.
He also gained a good Spirit Ability, Heart of the Hunt, which, when used, allowed him to enter a special hunting state, increasing all his attributes by 10% and enhancing his vision, hearing, and nerve reflexes.
This attack also served as a reminder to Dean Zhang, Su Mo, and others: in the upcoming night watch arrangements, teachers and students absolutely could not be separated, as no one knew if there were other Spirit Beasts in the Hunting Soul Forest that were good at concealing themselves and launching sudden attacks.
When the sky brightened the next day, the Notting Academy group continued their journey to find suitable Spirit Beasts for the remaining students.
Time quickly passed, and seven days later, just as Liu Long finished absorbing the eighty-year spirit ring from the Ironback Ape, all the students had found their spirit rings, and all of them had successfully become Spirit Masters.
Without a doubt, it was time to return to the academy.
At the gates of Notting Academy!
They left as a group of Spirit Scholars and returned as a group of Spirit Masters, all having met the graduation standards.
Wang Li was also among them, so he formally presented his wish to Su Mo:
"Director, I want to apply for graduation."
Su Mo was startled for a moment but then felt it was only natural. Notting Academy's graduation requirement was to reach level ten spirit power and obtain a spirit ring to become a Spirit Master in the sixth grade.
If one met this requirement early, they could also apply for early graduation.
Wang Li had indeed met this requirement, though he was a bit young. Su Mo said regretfully:
"Your talent is excellent; you've cultivated to level ten spirit power in just your first year. It's a pity your Spirit is only Blue Silver Grass."
Spirit Masters on the continent were superstitious and stubborn about Spirits; for example, Blue Silver Grass was considered a waste Spirit, and they accepted this reasoning.
Su Mo then continued:
"Alright, I will help you with the graduation procedures. You'll graduate with the other sixth-grade students. What are your plans after graduation?"
"Are you going to join a force, or go to an Intermediate Soul Master Academy? At your age, you should still go to an Intermediate Soul Master Academy to continue your studies. Even with a Blue Silver Grass Spirit, if you can break through to the Spirit Elder level in the future, any force will welcome you warmly."
Wang Li had already made up his mind and immediately replied upon hearing this:
"Yes, Director, I want to go to an Intermediate Soul Master Academy."
Su Mo nodded with satisfaction. This was a child who listened to advice. He patted Wang Li's shoulder and then said:
"Then you will act with the other sixth-grade students and, under the academy's arrangement, go to an Intermediate Soul Master Academy. An Intermediate Soul Master Academy is different from a Junior Soul Master Academy; you need to pass some assessments to get in, so be prepared!"
At this point, Su Mo gathered the other sixth-grade students and said to them:
"Students, you have absorbed spirit rings and become Spirit Masters. You are all excellent graduates of our Notting Academy. Now, I will talk about the upcoming arrangements."
"From our departure to our return, including the time spent in the Hunting Soul Forest, only ten days have passed. There are still fifty days until the official holiday. During this time, you can arrange your own schedules, but I suggest you go home and have a good talk with your parents."
"Fifty days later, return to the academy. The academy will issue your graduation certificates and recommend you to an Intermediate Soul Master Academy. Not every Spirit Master is accepted by an Intermediate Soul Master Academy; they will select Spirit Masters who have a certain talent in combat or support."
"So, during this holiday, you might have to travel between multiple Intermediate Soul Master Academies. Being able to enter a better Intermediate Soul Master Academy will make your future cultivation path smoother."
These words immediately made the previously somewhat proud and complacent crowd, who had just become Spirit Masters, tense up again.
Su Mo then waved his hand:
"You are dismissed now. Enjoy these fifty days of leisure. If you want to get into a better Intermediate Soul Master Academy, you can also use this time to familiarize yourselves with your Spirit and Spirit Abilities."
Everyone quickly responded upon hearing this:
"Yes!"
Su Mo nodded, then, with the remaining teachers, he chatted and laughed as he turned and left. With the sixth grade graduated, they could also rest for a while.
With the teachers gone, the students dispersed. Wang Li and Wang Sheng walked back to the dormitory together.
Wang Sheng put his arm around Wang Li's shoulder and excitedly said:
"You applying for graduation is a good thing. We can go to an Intermediate Soul Master Academy together. Now that we both have hundred-year spirit rings, any Spirit Master Academy will surely be eager to accept us. We both have bright futures."
Wang Li chuckled. For Wang Sheng, having a hundred-year spirit ring might truly make his future very different.
At this moment, Wang Sheng continued:
"Do you have time? Let's go to the second floor of the cafeteria today and spend some money. We've been at Notting Academy for so many years and haven't really eaten anything good, and also... thank you..."
Wang Li glanced at him, then smiled and said:
"Yes, why not? Are you treating?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng patted his chest and said:
"All expenses today will be paid by me, Wang Sheng."
Wang Li raised an eyebrow:
"Then I won't be polite."
Because they returned just in time for lunch, they went directly to the cafeteria and to the second floor. This meal was quite extravagant, costing one silver coin, a full hundred bronze coins.
In the past, this would definitely not have been possible; they couldn't afford such expenses. But now that they were Spirit Masters, as long as they registered at the Spirit Hall, they would receive a monthly subsidy of one gold coin, so an occasional splurge was no problem.
After eating, they returned to the dormitory, where they were greeted not only by the envious gazes of the other work-study students but also by the encouragement of Sister Xiao Wu:
"Not bad! Our dormitory has two more Spirit Masters. When I mention it in the future, I, Sister Xiao Wu, will have face."
Wang Sheng grinned and immediately began to boast:
"Sister Xiao Wu, now Wang Li and I are like you all; we both have hundred-year spirit rings, and we are about to graduate and go to an Intermediate Soul Master Academy."
Xiao Wu was stunned. In the nearly one year she had been there, she had gained a sufficient understanding of human society and, of course, knew what graduation meant, but she asked in confusion:
"Wang Li is also graduating? He's only in the first grade!"
Wang Li knew that Tang San and Xiao Wu would go to Shrek Academy under Yu Xiaogang's guidance, so he was naturally not in a hurry to graduate, but he was different:
"I have already become a Spirit Master, so I naturally need to go to a place more suitable for me."
Upon hearing this, Tang San, who had been mostly silent beside them, showed a contemplative look in his eyes. He had become a Spirit Master long ago, but his teacher did not seem to be in a hurry for him to graduate.