Yu Xiaogang's Guide to Raising an Ungrateful Wretch

When he entered the dormitory, it was empty. The others had yet to return.

"They probably went out to play after lunch since school hasn't officially started yet." Lin Manshan found an empty bed not far from Tang San's and laid out his bedding. Tang San was probably taken away by Yu Xiaogang. As for Xiao Wu, she's the restless sort. It's her first day at the academy, and she must be curious about this unfamiliar place. Maybe Wang Sheng and the others are showing her around the academy right now.

Perfect. I can see what Yu Xiaogang and Tang San are talking about. With that thought, Lin Manshan immediately lay down on his bed and pretended to fall asleep with his eyes closed.

He had long since given the spider an order: whenever it saw Yu Xiaogang, it was to follow him into the room.

Activating the Beast Taming Technique to establish a connection, images immediately entered his mind despite his closed eyes, along with memories of the previous conversation.

After Yu Xiaogang gave Tang San a series of suggestions regarding the development of his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, Tang San had come to trust Yu Xiaogang completely and had already told him about his Twin Martial Souls. Yu Xiaogang now looked somewhat excited, yet also somewhat frightened in retrospect.

"Xiao San, it's fortunate that you concealed your second Martial Soul during your Martial Soul Awakening and didn't let the people from Spirit Hall see it. That child called A'man didn't believe you had Twin Martial Souls either. Otherwise, your second Martial Soul might have already been exposed. Your teacher was careless before."

"It's fine, Teacher." Tang San smiled and shook his head. "Fortune and misfortune go hand in hand. A'man's wild analysis earlier actually gave your disciple a reason to conceal the existence of my Twin Martial Souls. From a certain perspective, I should even thank him."

"That child is indeed clever. It's just a pity that his talent is too poor." Yu Xiaogang shook his head and spoke indifferently.

Tang San nodded. "No one in A'man's family line ever awakened Soul Power in their Martial Souls. By his generation, his parents had suffered misfortune and passed away early. He was also born foolish, and after being taken in by our village chief, he spent his days muddleheaded until he cracked his head in a fall at the age of four and suddenly came to his senses. It was already a blessing that he awakened a Mutated Martial Soul with Soul Power."

"A'man's temperament now feels like that of a young child who has only just begun forming memories. He's at the stage where he's deeply curious about new things. I initially thought that, given his circumstances, he might be well suited to studying theory, so I even asked him why he didn't become your disciple with me."

"However, because of an elder's instructions, he seems to be quite wary of you."

As he spoke, Tang San shook his head and recounted his earlier conversation with Lin Manshan to Yu Xiaogang.

After listening, Yu Xiaogang, who had initially found Lin Manshan somewhat pitiful, immediately showed a trace of displeasure. He said coldly, "The study of theory requires the most unrestrained and unconventional ideas. That child has no independent opinions. Even if he devoted himself to theoretical research, a few words from others would make him waver and abandon his original ideas. He will never amount to much."

"Besides, given his Martial Soul talent, Soul King is probably the limit he can reach in his lifetime. Rather than waste time researching theory, he should cultivate his Soul Power properly while he's young. At least then he won't delay his cultivation and fail to even reach Soul King in the future."

"That's true." Tang San nodded. It was like practicing martial arts in his previous life. Youth was the most crucial period for cultivation. Otherwise, as one grew older, bodily functions would gradually decline and the meridians would become blocked, making achievement in cultivation extremely difficult.

Seeing that Tang San had taken his words to heart, Yu Xiaogang continued, "Xiao San, A'man only has Rank Three Innate Soul Power, so his future accomplishments are limited. But you are different. With your aptitude, even reaching the realm of Title Douluo is entirely possible. The difference between the two of you is like that between mortal dust and the bright moon—utterly beyond reach. For A'man's own good, I advise you to associate with him less in the future. That way, you won't put pressure on him and affect his cultivation."

"Yes, I understand, Teacher." Tang San also felt it made sense. From Yu Xiaogang, he had already gained some understanding of the relationship between Martial Souls and Innate Soul Power. It was like the inner and outer sects of the Tang Sect in his previous life—there were distinctions of rank and status.

Different people belonged in different circles. The gap between A'man's talent and aptitude and his own was simply too great. They would not even belong to the same world in the future. Standing at different heights meant vastly different horizons. They would have nothing to talk about, so how could they be friends? Forcing it would only bring needless trouble to both of them.

Yu Xiaogang really is narrow-minded. Lin Manshan was speechless. After this, Yu Xiaogang must be thoroughly displeased with me. He probably wishes he could throw me straight out of the academy. Borrowing an Order Token from him for my First Soul Ring is even more out of the question now.

His gaze turned toward Tang San. This was probably when Tang San's sense of superiority began to take shape. Once he learned that he possessed Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, that he was extraordinarily gifted, he started looking down on Spirit Masters inferior to himself.

Just then, Yu Xiaogang continued, "Xiao San, tomorrow is the opening ceremony, and the academy will begin classes officially the day after tomorrow. But attending such mundane affairs as an opening ceremony is merely a waste of time for you. Your top priority right now is to obtain a Soul Ring as quickly as possible so your Martial Soul can continue cultivating. Therefore, I've decided to take you to Soul Hunting Forest tomorrow to obtain your First Soul Ring."

"As for the academy, you needn't worry. I'll go to the Academic Affairs Office and request leave for you." At this, he smiled. "Once you obtain your First Soul Ring and complete your certification at Spirit Hall, you'll officially become a Spirit Master. By then, you'll be able to receive a Soul Master Subsidy from Spirit Hall every month. With that money, you won't need to continue being a Work-Study Student."

The Soul Master Subsidy Old Jack mentioned? Tang San's heart stirred. This was not the first time he had heard that Spirit Hall issued Soul Master Subsidies to Spirit Masters each month, but he knew nothing about how they were distributed or how much they amounted to.

He raised his head and could not help asking, "Teacher, what is a Soul Master Subsidy?"

"A Soul Master Subsidy is, simply put, money that Spirit Hall gives Spirit Masters every month. It mainly targets Commoner Soul Masters who lack money, helping them improve their lives and get through the early stages. The standard is one Gold Soul Coin per month for Spirit Masters, ten for Soul Grand Masters, and one hundred for Soul Elders. Once one reaches Soul Ancestor, the subsidy stops, and Spirit Masters must begin supporting themselves," Yu Xiaogang explained.

"Then Spirit Hall is actually pretty decent." Tang San looked surprised. One Gold Soul Coin was enough to feed an ordinary family of three well for several months. Ten or even a hundred Gold Soul Coins, available every month—how much money did Spirit Hall have to hand out each year?

"It's nothing more than a means of winning people over." Yu Xiaogang sneered. "And this money is funded by the Two Great Empires, with Spirit Hall merely distributing it. Xiao San, think about it. How many years has it been since a child in your village awakened a Martial Soul with Soul Power? There are not many Spirit Masters on the continent to begin with, and most have inherited legacies. It is exceedingly rare for commoner families to awaken Martial Souls with Soul Power, and they are distributed extremely unevenly. If the Empires took all these matters upon themselves, it would require enormous financial, manpower, and material resources."

"Therefore, in the early days, the Two Great Empires were quite willing to leave such work to Spirit Hall. Once these Spirit Masters grew up, they could simply use their own methods to win them over."

"However, judging from the final results, Spirit Hall undoubtedly gained enormously from this invisible battle to win people over. After all, the money passed through their hands, making their efforts at recruitment most effective. Precisely because of this, the Two Great Empires sensed an immense Threat long ago. Starting from when the previous Pope of Spirit Hall took office, they gradually reduced this funding under various pretexts."

"Thirty years ago, the funding had already been cut to half. As for now, no one knows."

"It was cut by that much?" Tang San's eyes widened slightly. "Then why does Spirit Hall continue issuing it?"

"This was the foundation upon which they established themselves and grew powerful. Naturally, they cannot simply stop it. Otherwise, it would be like flowing water losing its source and would inevitably decline in the end." As if recalling something, a complicated expression flashed across Yu Xiaogang's face. "Because of funding issues, this matter originally caused Spirit Hall no small amount of trouble. However, after the current Pope took office, Spirit Hall began using the capital it had accumulated to vigorously develop industries throughout the continent. Spirit Hall's nature also began changing greatly from that time onward."

"What kind of change?" Tang San, now deeply engrossed, hurriedly asked.

"Xiao San, you're still too young. There's no need for you to know that yet." Yu Xiaogang turned back and said seriously, "I'm telling you all this so you remember that pies do not fall from the sky. Other than your family and the few close friends you may have, no one will treat you well for no reason."

"In the future, when facing goodwill from different factions, you need not view it with bias. After all, they act this way only for their own interests. The same applies to the subsidies issued by Spirit Hall. What you need to do now is make good use of them and grow stronger as soon as possible. That is what truly matters."

"Yes, Teacher." Tang San nodded solemnly. Having learned of the existence of Title Douluo, he also understood that this was a world where strength reigned supreme. The worldly restraints of his previous life no longer applied here. Strengthening himself was the highest priority.

So this is a guide to raising an Ungrateful Wretch? Lin Manshan nearly choked on the thought.

He suddenly felt that the reason Tang San had become so selfish and hypocritical in the original story was probably inseparable from Yu Xiaogang's years of personal instruction. After all, Tang San had been a shut-in in his previous life. Even if he had undergone brainwashing in the Tang Sect, it should have been limited to loyalty to the sect, respect for hierarchy, avoiding direct confrontation when sneak attacks were possible, and killing decisively without softheartedness. Even if hypocrisy was in his nature, it should not have become this outrageous.

So becoming his disciple meant further training—surpassing the master and becoming even more hypocritical than him.

"Mhm." Yu Xiaogang picked up the kettle from the table, poured himself a cup of water, and drank it. "Xiao San, that will be all for today. Go back first. I'll come to your dormitory to find you early tomorrow morning."

"Alright, goodbye, Teacher." Tang San rose from his seat, bowed, and turned to leave.

PS: Today is a special day, so I'm posting a little extra.