Grandmaster

Grandmaster

"Boss Yuan, you've misunderstood. Wang Sheng and I were just fooling around, right, Wang Sheng?" Xiao Chenyu hauled Wang Sheng to his feet and gently brushed the dust off him.

"Really? Then why did I see you put your foot on Wang Sheng's head? Was that fooling around too?" Lu Yuan asked calmly.

"Uh..." Xiao Chenyu was left speechless and could only stammer.

Seeing Wang Sheng's bedraggled state, Lu Yuan waved a hand. "Get lost. Don't stand here and offend my eyes."

"Sure! We'll get lost right away!" Xiao Chenyu was overjoyed at his words and hurried off with his two lackeys.

"Are you all right?" Lu Yuan asked.

"Hello, Boss Yuan. I'm fine. Thank you for getting me out of that situation!" Wang Sheng bowed deeply, clearly grateful to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan nodded. "I can only help you for now. If you work-study students want to avoid being bullied, you can only rely on yourselves. My status is special—I represent the academy. I have to treat everyone fairly and can't give you any more help. I hope you understand."

"Mm, I understand!" Wang Sheng nodded.

"Then I'll be going." Patting Wang Sheng on the shoulder, Lu Yuan turned and left.

As for the work-study students being bullied, this was as much as he could do. After all, he was the dean's son, and his every word and action represented the academy. Showing excessive favoritism toward the work-study students would provoke dissatisfaction among the Noble Students, which would be detrimental to the academy's stability.

Although he was dissatisfied with the Noble Students as well, helping the work-study students oppose them head-on was unrealistic.

If the work-study students truly wanted to avoid being bullied, they first had to become stronger themselves. This would likely change once Tang San and Xiao Wu enrolled.

Lost in thought, Lu Yuan headed toward Grandmaster's wooden cottage.

The cottage was small, but the surrounding environment was excellent. Lush green trees stood all around, and it was quiet—a perfect place for scholarly pursuits.

The door was left slightly ajar. Lu Yuan knocked gently, as a matter of basic courtesy.

"Come in!" Grandmaster's firm voice came from inside.

With a creak, Lu Yuan pushed open the door and saw Grandmaster taking notes.

Grandmaster was a middle-aged man of around forty or fifty, with close-cropped hair, a stiff expression, and eyes full of wisdom. His back was straight. He was a true scholar.

"It's Xiao Yuan. Come, sit!" Seeing that it was Lu Yuan, Grandmaster smiled, though it was far from an attractive smile.

Lu Yuan did not sit. Instead, he walked over to Grandmaster and looked at the thin book before him. "Peerless Spirit Compendium? What is this?"

Grandmaster handed the book to Lu Yuan. "It records some powerful and rare Martial Souls found on Douluo Continent. Some of them have long since gone extinct."

"Oh?" Lu Yuan became interested. Taking the book, he began flipping through it curiously.

"Peerless Chapter!"

"Six-Winged Angel! The inherited Martial Soul of Spirit Hall's Qian Clan, the Martial Soul closest to godhood on Douluo Continent. It serves as a god's representative—sacred, noble, and inviolable. Those who possess the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul not only have Innate Full Soul Power, but Innate Full Soul Power at level twenty. Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, it ranks first!"

"Golden Sacred Dragon. A pure dragon Martial Soul possessing powerful Light Power, a legendary Martial Soul that naturally restrains all evil. Holders of the Golden Sacred Dragon Martial Soul are certain to possess Innate Full Soul Power. It once appeared on Douluo Continent, but has now been lost. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks second."

"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. A Soul Beast formed when evil power tainted a white tiger possessing Light Power. If it were a Martial Soul, it would not be inferior to the Six-Winged Angel. According to records, this Martial Soul has never appeared on Douluo Continent. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks third."

"Clear Sky Hammer. The direct-line Martial Soul of the Clear Sky Sect, the world's strongest assault-type tool Martial Soul. Renowned for its formidable explosive power, its unique dominance and destructive capability are unmatched. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks fourth!"

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. The inherited Martial Soul unique to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, currently the continent's strongest beast Martial Soul. It possesses the explosive fury of lightning and the Tyrant Dragon's tremendous offensive power. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks fifth!"

"Evil Eye White Tiger. The inherited Martial Soul of the Star Luo Empire's imperial family, king of all beasts. It possesses powerful offensive and defensive capabilities with no obvious weakness. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks tenth!"

After looking through the Martial Soul Rankings in the Peerless Chapter, Lu Yuan nodded faintly. Grandmaster's rankings largely conformed to the current state of Douluo Continent. After all, Grandmaster's strength was limited, and it was already remarkable that he knew so much. If these Spirit Soul Rankings were presented to the outside world, not many people would be able to refute them.

"Legendary Chapter?" Lu Yuan was visibly stunned when he saw those words at the back of the book.

"Legendary Chapter. Written based on related legends and my own conjecture. There is no clear evidence, and whether they exist is unknown. The rankings in the Legendary Chapter are as follows."

"Golden Dragon, progenitor of power, possessing the Ultimate Power attribute! The strongest metal-attribute Martial Soul, the strongest beast Martial Soul across the continent. In terms of Martial Soul quality, it is absolutely not inferior to the Six-Winged Angel and may even surpass it. It possesses the strongest physical constitution and boundless strength capable of destroying everything. Whether it exists is unknown. Ranked first overall."

"Emerald Qilin, possessing the ultimate life attribute. An adult qilin is comparable to a true dragon and is the king of land beasts. It possesses the ultimate life force and extremely powerful recovery abilities. Whether it exists is unknown. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks second."

"Heavenly Emperor Hammer, a legendary Martial Soul of the Clear Sky Sect, possessing the ultimate destruction attribute. Legend says it evolved from the Clear Sky Hammer and represents the true pinnacle of tool Martial Souls. However, there is no clear evidence, and whether it exists is unknown. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks third."

"Azure Dragon Spirit, foremost among the four Divine Beast Martial Souls, possessing the ultimate wood attribute. It can innately control all wood elements as well as the explosive power of lightning. Whether it exists is unknown. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks fourth."

"Divine Beast White Tiger Spirit, the western Divine Beast of slaughter, possessing the ultimate light attribute. Sacred and extraordinarily powerful in attack, it is said to originate from the Star Luo Empire. Whether it exists is unknown. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks fifth."

"Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, evolved from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Without question the strongest support-type Martial Soul, it is a legend passed down within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Whether it exists is unknown. After comprehensive consideration, it ranks tenth."

After reading the Martial Soul Rankings in the Legendary Chapter, Lu Yuan closed the book. Grandmaster's rankings still had some basis. The Martial Souls in the Peerless Chapter were ones Grandmaster knew for certain existed or had once existed. Even the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger existed as a type of Soul Beast. Grandmaster had boldly inferred that if such a Soul Beast were a Martial Soul, it would not be inferior to the Six-Winged Angel. His reasoning was sound and well-supported.

Compared to the well-founded rankings in the Peerless Chapter, the Legendary Chapter's rankings were even more interesting. Everything was unknown. They were Martial Soul rankings compiled by gathering together legends passed down among various nations and factions.

Whether they were accurate was unknown, but the Martial Souls in the Legendary Chapter were remarkably powerful. What kind of Martial Soul would he awaken?

Lu Yuan was even more curious.