Taking a Master

Taking a Master

Shi Yi arrived at the entrance. Carved into the rock at the center of the archway were four large characters: Nuoding Academy. Through the gaps in the iron gate, he could see broad avenues winding into quiet depths, lush plants lining both sides of the road, and several elegant rooftops in the distance.

The young man looked Shi Yi up and down and said bluntly, "Stop right there. Where did this kid come from? Go play somewhere else. This is a Soul Master Academy. If you disturb a Lord Soul Master, I won't be able to help you."

Shi Yi could only smile ingratiatingly. "Big Brother, I came from a village. The people at Spirit Hall said I awakened Soul Power and told me to study here. This is the certificate they issued for me."

As he spoke, Shi Yi took the Soul Master certificate hidden in his bundle and handed it over.

Hearing Shi Yi's somewhat fawning tone, the young man's expression softened. He took the certificate suspiciously, looked it over, and confirmed that it was indeed issued by Spirit Hall—though it had come from the Spirit Hall in Moonflower City.

"Why didn't you study at the Moonflower City Junior Soul Master Academy?" the young man asked, studying Shi Yi.

"I... I came to Nuoding City to seek refuge with relatives, so I didn't study in Moonflower City," Shi Yi said to the young man, deliberately putting on a timid, stammering manner.

Seeing Shi Yi's appearance, perhaps deciding there was no profit to squeeze from him, the young man casually returned the certificate. "Go in. Once you're inside, find the Registration Office yourself and register."

Shi Yi let out a breath of relief and casually said, "Thank you, Big Brother."

With that, Shi Yi slowly entered the academy. He had originally wanted to ask the young man about Yu Xiaogang, but this fellow was clearly not easy to talk to. Raising suspicions would only make things more troublesome.

Forget it. Since I'm here, I'll learn meditation first. Even if Yu Xiaogang isn't here, attending this junior academy won't have been a waste, Shi Yi thought to himself.

Before long, after asking for directions along the way, Shi Yi arrived at the Registration Office. After a simple registration process, he became a member of Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy and was assigned to Dormitory Seven.

After asking around, he learned that there were not many Work-Study Students each year. Dormitories One through Six housed regular students, while Dormitory Seven was exclusively for Work-Study Students.

While registering, Shi Yi had also sneakily glanced at the roster in the teacher's hand, but he had not found Tang San's name.

Could I be older than Tang San?

Shi Yi thought about it, but he still could not be sure. If Yu Xiaogang was still here, then Shi Yi had arrived early. The worst outcome was that Yu Xiaogang was no longer here, meaning he had arrived during the period when the original storyline was already underway.

"Child, what is it? Do you still need something?" Seeing that Shi Yi had not left, the teacher at the Registration Office asked curiously.

Shi Yi smiled slightly, shook his head, and gave the teacher a small bow. "It's nothing. Thank you very much."

With that, Shi Yi slowly left.

Watching Shi Yi's departing back, a trace of surprise flashed through the teacher's eyes. Looking at Shi Yi's name on the roster, he nodded faintly. "A Work-Study Student, yet such a polite child."

Shi Yi wandered through the academy without deliberately asking around for news of Yu Xiaogang. If Yu Xiaogang really was here, he could not run away. If he was not, Shi Yi could calmly accept that result. He knew perfectly well that he had only come here to try his luck.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Shi Yi realized that he had happened upon Nuoding Academy's Library. He was quite interested in Soul Master knowledge, since he had never been exposed to cultivation before.

Like universities in his previous life, the Library required a student ID. Using the student ID he had just received, Shi Yi successfully entered the Library.

Only after walking in did he realize it was not very large. There were not many books, and even fewer people reading them. Clearly, Martial Soul theory had a severe knowledge barrier.

Martial Souls often represented formidable combat power. Those capable of achieving results in Martial Soul theory were inevitably strong themselves. The theories they developed or summarized would naturally not be made public once successful. It was like the secret techniques of the Clear Sky Sect; they could all be considered results gained through researching Martial Souls. As for those lacking talent, researching Martial Souls was like a child who had only completed the third grade claiming they wanted to conduct scientific research. Yu Xiaogang was naturally the representative example.

How could someone who had never climbed to the summit appreciate the scenery at its peak?

The Library's books were not even categorized. Of course, with so few books, there was hardly any need to categorize them. There were only three rows of shelves in total. There were barely any books on Martial Soul theory; most were illustrated guides to Soul Beasts, and all of them covered low-level Soul Beasts.

Looking at the sparse books on the shelves, Shi Yi searched for the basic Meditation Method he wanted.

Suddenly, several familiar words entered Shi Yi's view, and he could not help but smile when he saw them.

Shi Yi picked up the book Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul and casually flipped through it. Smiling, he shook his head before returning it to its place.

"Child, do you have any thoughts on that book?" A slightly hoarse voice suddenly sounded beside Shi Yi's ear.

Shi Yi was startled and looked toward the source of the voice. A man with a close-cropped haircut was looking at him, his hands clasped behind his back, putting on an imposing air. His expression was full of despondency and melancholy, yet Shi Yi could see a trace of pride hidden beneath them.

Shi Yi asked uncertainly, "You are?"

"I am the author of that book," Yu Xiaogang said calmly as he looked at Shi Yi.

Shi Yi's heart jolted. A trace of excitement flashed through his young eyes. Sure enough, this trip had not been in vain. Even if Tang San was not his age, he could still wait here at Nuoding Academy for Yu Xiaogang to show up.

Seeing the growing confusion in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, Shi Yi snapped back to his senses and hurriedly shook his head. "No... I don't have any thoughts."

Even if Shi Yi did have thoughts, he would not voice them. If a child from a small mountain village could point out flaws in Yu Xiaogang's seemingly flawless theory, that alone would be suspicious.

"Oh?" A glimmer flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes as he looked at the child before him. Although he did not believe a child could have any opinion on his theories, everything Shi Yi had displayed just now told him that Shi Yi should have views of his own.

"Could you tell me whether there are any books about meditation here?" Shi Yi hurriedly changed the subject.

Yu Xiaogang looked at the bundle on Shi Yi's back and said softly, "Second row, third book. If you tell me what you think, I can personally teach you meditation."

Shi Yi's expression stiffened. Clearly, his attempt to change the subject could not fool Yu Xiaogang.

This old man may not be much of a scholar, but he's first-rate at reading people. No wonder he managed to win over Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong, Shi Yi thought to himself.

In interactions between people, understanding what the other person wanted often made it possible to cater to their preferences. Was that not how he had acquired Tang San as a disciple?

Shi Yi deliberately put on a troubled expression, then nodded slightly and said timidly, "All right, Senior. I'll only share my own thoughts. They may not be correct."

Yu Xiaogang nodded lightly as he looked at Shi Yi. He was also curious what thoughts a child who did not even know how to meditate could have regarding his theories.

Yu Xiaogang, Yu Xiaogang, you've truly gone mad, actually willing to indulge a child's nonsense. Fine. Perhaps a child who has never cultivated can see a different world, Yu Xiaogang thought to himself as he looked at Shi Yi.

Shi Yi picked up Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, opened it to the first page, and pointed at a subtitle. "Your book says that the level of Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the strength of one's Martial Soul. I think that's wrong."

"Oh? Tell me what is wrong with it."

"If this theory is correct, then why do people with the same Martial Soul awaken with different levels of Innate Soul Power?" Shi Yi countered.

Yu Xiaogang was somewhat surprised. He had not expected a child who had never cultivated to raise such a sharp question. Indeed, the best example was the Upper Three Sects. Most of their members awakened the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, yet their Innate Soul Power varied. He had his own explanation for this as well.

"You are right. Although Martial Souls may be the same, each person's talent differs. Some people's talent becomes a burden on their Martial Soul, while others can fully unleash their Martial Soul's power. This is not the Martial Soul's fault. The same Martial Soul gives everyone the same things, but restrictions can cause a deficiency in Innate Soul Power. That sentence was indeed written somewhat carelessly. Still, the most important thing when reading is to understand the deeper meaning. You have good comprehension," Yu Xiaogang said softly to Shi Yi.

Shi Yi did not argue, since Yu Xiaogang had at least admitted his lack of scholarly rigor.

"Can you teach me meditation now?" Shi Yi asked Yu Xiaogang expectantly.

Seeing the anticipation in Shi Yi's eyes, Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly and asked softly, "Can you show me your Martial Soul certificate?"

Shi Yi obediently took the Martial Soul certificate from his bundle and handed it to Yu Xiaogang.

"A mutated ant, with Innate Level 1 Soul Power." A trace of interest flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. Mutation was something he had always studied, after all, since his own Martial Soul had also come from a mutation.

"Come with me," Yu Xiaogang said softly to Shi Yi.

With that, he walked toward the door without waiting for Shi Yi's answer. Shi Yi followed after him. Clearly, there were benefits waiting for him.

Following behind Yu Xiaogang, Shi Yi was soon led into Yu Xiaogang's dormitory.

Shi Yi could not help showing surprise at the room full of books. There were even more here than in the Library just now.

The young master really is a young master. He has books from Blue Lightning, and probably quite a few from Spirit Hall too. What a benefactor.

Yu Xiaogang's voice sounded beside Shi Yi's ear, pulling him back to reality.

"At the Library just now, I couldn't let you release your Martial Soul. Release it now and let me see," Yu Xiaogang said softly as he looked at Shi Yi.

Shi Yi was not surprised. Clearly, Yu Xiaogang was also very interested in the mutation of his Martial Soul.

Old man, I hope you won't be too shocked when you see it. Thinking this, the corners of Shi Yi's lips curled slightly. He nodded at Yu Xiaogang, raised his hand, and with a thought, an ant appeared in his palm.

The moment Yu Xiaogang saw the ant in Shi Yi's palm, his pupils shrank. His entire body trembled involuntarily. The scene seemed to take him back to when he had awakened his Martial Soul.

After a long silence, Yu Xiaogang asked Shi Yi, "Your Martial Soul is alive?"

Shi Yi deliberately showed off. "What do you think? Isn't it amazing?"

Seeing Shi Yi's optimism, Yu Xiaogang could not help but smile bitterly. Recalling Shi Yi's earlier behavior, a glimmer of light flashed through his eyes.

This child does seem fated to meet me. Could Heaven have sent him to me? Yu Xiaogang thought to himself.

"You think this is amazing?" Yu Xiaogang asked Shi Yi calmly.

Shi Yi nodded as if it were only natural and asked in return, "Of course. Little Ant has its own consciousness and can do things that most other Martial Souls cannot. Isn't that amazing?"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent at those words. Was Shi Yi right? Of course he was. The most obvious advantage was that having an intelligent Martial Soul was equivalent to fighting two against one. But without sufficient Innate Soul Power, none of that mattered, because Innate Soul Power determined a person's cultivation speed.

Yu Xiaogang had Innate Level 0.5 Soul Power. Even past fifty, he still persisted in meditation, yet no matter what he did, he could not cross the threshold of Level 30. By his estimation, Shi Yi's Innate Level 1 Soul Power was at most one step above his own, and might even be inferior. After all, Yu Xiaogang had received help from his family.

After a moment of silence, Yu Xiaogang walked to a bookshelf, took down a book, and handed it to Shi Yi. "This is the Meditation Method I practice. I hope it will be of help to you."

Shi Yi felt slightly excited. He did not know whether Meditation Methods had ranks or qualities, but coming from a great sect like Blue Lightning, it was surely not without its merits.

Just as Shi Yi was about to take the book from Yu Xiaogang's hand, Yu Xiaogang's hand drew back slightly. Shi Yi looked at him in confusion, only to hear Yu Xiaogang say the next moment, "If you are willing to take me as your master, I will pass all my life's learning on to you."

"..." Shi Yi looked at Yu Xiaogang. A strange expression appeared on his young face as he began to hesitate.

Shi Yi did not have much prejudice against Yu Xiaogang. Though Yu Xiaogang was neither a qualified scholar nor a qualified teacher, Shi Yi could still see some valuable qualities in him: resilience and persistence. Not everyone could spend so many years conducting theoretical research for their own problem. Someone else might have simply accepted their fate and given up. Moreover, Yu Xiaogang possessed what Shi Yi lacked most: connections. And if he followed Yu Xiaogang now, would Tang San not have to call him Senior Disciple Brother in the future? With Shi Yi's aptitude, following Yu Xiaogang meant he would offend neither the Heaven Dou and Star Luo sects nor Spirit Hall.

On the Heaven Dou side, who would not give Blue Lightning some respect? If he fell into Spirit Hall's hands, he could just cling to Bibi Dong's thigh and call her Martial Aunt. Every problem would be easily resolved.

Safe. So very safe. Becoming the Tang Sect's Senior Disciple Brother seems like a pretty good choice too, Shi Yi thought to himself.

"What? You aren't willing?" Yu Xiaogang asked Shi Yi softly.

Coming back to his senses, Shi Yi hurriedly gave Yu Xiaogang a small bow. "This disciple is willing!"