This.
The Grand Master froze on the spot.
Something was wrong. This wasn't how the script was supposed to go.
Shouldn't I have explained how awesome my theories were, and then Tang San would bow down and become my disciple? Where had things gone wrong?
He had actually been rejected on the spot by a six-year-old child! Though Tang San had not completely shut him down, it still left him thoroughly embarrassed.
Thinking about the conclusions he had deduced and the changes Tang San might bring him, the Grand Master took a deep breath, restrained his emotions, and said,
"Child, don't be so quick to reject me. It won't be too late to decide after you see what I can do. I can't let such a promising talent slip away. After all, you are the third person in the past hundred years to possess Twin Martial Souls."
Tang San: He seemed to have a point. Brother Ling had indeed awakened later than I did.
Though Tang San inwardly grumbled, he was genuinely shocked as well.
"Are you wondering how I knew you had Twin Martial Souls?" As he spoke, he shook the certificate in his hand. "It is because of this certificate. Others may not be able to spot the flaw in it, but if even I could not see it, then I would not deserve the title of Grand Master."
"I once conducted research."
What followed was the Grand Master's lengthy series of data-based theoretical analyses.
"Therefore, I can say with certainty that you should possess another Martial Soul, and an exceptionally powerful one at that."
"Everything has exceptions. Why can't I be one?" Tang San asked.
"That's right, everything has exceptions, but your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."
Tang San listened attentively from beginning to end. It all seemed to make sense, yet something still felt strange.
Suddenly, Tang San thought of something and respectfully asked, "May I ask, Grand Master, what level Soul Master are you?"
Upon hearing that question, the Grand Master's previously confident face stiffened slightly. His lips twitched as he forced out an awkward smile.
"Me? A Level Twenty-Nine Soul Grandmaster. Because my research into Martial Soul theory is relatively outstanding, my peers have kindly honored me by calling me Grand Master."
Tang San fell silent. Over the past few years, Xia Tianling had repeated one sentence to him more than anything else—practice was the sole criterion for testing truth.
The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record also warned Tang Sect disciples that the various poisons and herbs had all been gradually tested and compiled by generations of Tang Sect members, at the cost of countless lives.
Though he did not know much about Martial Souls, he had learned the previous night from Old Jack's two guards that the strongest people in this world were Titled Douluo above level 90. Only Soul Masters above the rank of Soul Emperor could truly be considered powerful.
A Level Twenty-Nine Soul Grandmaster, to put it bluntly, was not even as strong as many students at intermediate academies.
As someone at the bottom of the Spirit Master World, he was certainly unlikely to have studied actual examples. He could only make conjectures based on documents, without any way to verify them.
Wasn't this so-called theory merely a castle in the air? Without the practical foundation beneath it, it would collapse sooner or later.
Besides, where had the Grand Master obtained these so-called materials? With his strength, how could he possibly have acquired such data?
And were these materials even accurate? Conclusions drawn from incorrect information could differ drastically from reality.
It had to be said that his guess had already come extremely close to the truth.
Thinking of this, Tang San prepared to speak and refuse him.
The Grand Master seemed to notice Tang San's hesitation and hurriedly added, "Little San, how about this? I'll take you as a registered disciple. Listen to my lessons for a while first, then decide whether to stay or leave. What do you say?"
Tang San wavered. He would only be a registered disciple, after all. If his judgment was wrong, he could still formally take him as his master. If it was right, they could simply part ways as soon as possible.
Seeing this, the Grand Master pressed his advantage.
"Little San, you haven't obtained your First Soul Ring yet, have you? How about this? Your teacher will help you acquire your first two Soul Rings. What do you think?"
"All right, I agree." Thinking of the Mysterious Heaven Skill that he had been unable to break through, Tang San gritted his teeth and accepted. "But I still don't know your name."
"I am Yu Xiaogang."
"Registered disciple Tang San greets Teacher Yu." Tang San raised his hands in salute and bowed. Though he had only temporarily agreed to become a registered disciple, the proper etiquette could not be neglected.
The Grand Master's stiff mouth twitched. This brat really doesn't give me any face. But he comforted himself. A registered disciple was still a disciple. In a few months, Tang San would surely be won over by his profound theoretical knowledge.
"Good, good. Let's go. I'll take you to the Teaching Office to register."
Though he felt somewhat uncomfortable inside, the Grand Master warmly took Tang San's hand and led him toward the Teaching Office.
Just as described in the Original Work, Tang San heard the other teachers gossiping about the Grand Master behind his back as he left. Compared with the mockery in the Original Work, Tang San actually found himself somewhat agreeing with their words.
He truly felt that his teacher was just a tiny bit unreliable.
On the way to the dormitory, Tang San touched the little cloth pouch Old Jack had given him and could not help opening it for a look. Even someone as calm as him nearly cried out in shock!
A full one hundred Gold Soul Coins!
One hundred Gold Soul Coins! Grandpa Jack had actually given him that much!
Though he knew that, because of Xia Tianling, Spirit Hall had probably given Old Jack a large sum of money, these one hundred Gold Soul Coins were undoubtedly an enormous fortune to Tang San. They were enough for him to eat and live well at the academy for all five years.
Tang San clenched the little pouch tightly and pressed it against his chest.
Compared to my unreliable bargain-bin teacher, Grandpa Jack and Brother Ling, you two have been so good to me.
What Tang San did not know was that, for the current Old Jack, one hundred Gold Soul Coins truly was not much. If Spirit Hall had not blocked news of Xia Tianling, the people bringing gifts and trying to curry favor would likely have worn down his doorstep.
On the morning of Tang San's second day at the academy, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Xia Tianling arrived by carriage at Old Jack's residence in Nuoding City.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Old Jack were two old men whose statuses and appearances were worlds apart, yet they got along surprisingly well while discussing just how outstanding Xia Tianling was.
When Chrysanthemum Douluo heard Old Jack boast that he had once been known as the Prophet in the village, though all he could really do was forecast the weather, he laughed heartily.
Xia Tianling immediately felt embarrassed and only wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. What Prophet? That had merely been something he used to fool Tang San back then—a definite dark chapter of his past.
But on second thought, perhaps he could make the identity of Prophet a reality? It seemed quite useful at certain moments.
"Young Master, you may not know this, but yesterday the old master took your friend to enroll at the academy."
After Xia Tianling fled because of his embarrassment, Hou San came over and reported what had happened when Old Jack took Tang San to enroll that day.
After listening, he smiled softly and silently checked the system's record panel. Sure enough, there was a notification that the Grand Master's fate had been altered.
It seemed that the Grand Master had perhaps been rejected by Tang San when he tried to take him as a disciple.
He wondered whether Tang San would still go to Shrek afterward, and whether there was such a thing as the convergence of worldlines.
"Let's go, Tianling. We'll head to the Soul Hunting Forest northeast of Nuoding City. The Spirit Beasts there are all raised by our Spirit Hall, and none exceed ten thousand years. It is just right for a beginner like you who is hunting Soul Rings for the first time."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice rang out, calling Xia Tianling to set off.
"Ah, coming!"
The Soul Hunting Forest near Nuoding City was perfectly timed and fit Xia Tianling's script exactly.
"Tianling, cultivate diligently with your Grandpa Chrysanthemum! You must become a powerful Soul Master and make our Holy Soul Village live up to its name!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo smiled when he heard that.
Soul Saint? Too small. His vision was too small. Tianling was a genius destined to become a Super Douluo.
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