Tang San Becomes a Disciple

Time flew by, and one day, Old Jack once again arrived at Zhao Xuan's home.

"Zhao Shi! Zhao Shi! Is Xiao Xuan awake?" The old man was full of energy, his brows showing joy. Seeing Zhao Shi busy in the small courtyard, he asked.

Zhao Shi, who was working in the yard, put down his tools and said repeatedly, "He's up, he's been up for a long time."

"Xiao Xuan! Hurry out, the village chief is here." Mu Qin's anxious voice came from inside the house, and then two figures walked out.

Leading the way was Zhao Xuan. He looked quite impatient, wearing a brand-new outfit. Mu Qin, following behind, was still tidying him up as they walked.

"Mom, it's neat enough already," Zhao Xuan couldn't help but say. Ever since Mu Qin woke him up early this morning, he had been treated like a puppet, at her mercy to be dressed up.

A mother worries when her child travels far. Today, Zhao Xuan was going to Nuoding City to enroll. Mu Qin had been nagging him all morning, reminding him of things to pay attention to.

He had to admit, Zhao Xuan looked quite likable after being dressed up. His small face was clean and fair, so tender it looked like it could be squeezed for water. His short black hair was fresh, and his pair of black eyes sparkled like a porcelain doll.

Old Jack's eyes lit up when he saw him, and he repeatedly said, "Good, good."

At this moment, Zhao Shi came over and stuffed a few Gold Soul Coins into Zhao Xuan's hand.

"Son, use them sparingly. Your old dad isn't a landlord."

Zhao Xuan was stunned for a moment, a warm current flowing through his heart. He looked up and laughed heartily, "When I become successful, I'll make you a landlord, Dad... and Mom too, of course."

Zhao Shi's eyes turned a little red, and he nodded speechlessly. Mu Qin's face bloomed with a heartwarming smile, "Son, you must be careful when you're out on your own."

"Mhm," Zhao Xuan nodded.

"Alright, that's enough. It's not like we're parting forever; you'll see us again in a few months." Although he said this, the old man's eyes were also a little moist. Perhaps he couldn't bear the feelings of longing and separation.

After bidding farewell to his parents, Old Jack took Zhao Xuan to Tang San's house. After picking up Tang San, they hurried towards Nuoding City.

It was noon when they arrived in Nuoding City. The group didn't delay. Old Jack, after asking passersby, led the two directly to Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

Nuoding Academy was located in the west of Nuoding City. Although it was only a junior academy, its grounds were quite vast, visible at a glance.

From afar, they could already see a tall archway. The archway was twenty meters wide and over ten meters high, all built from hard stone. Below it were two iron gates, dark and ominous. Tang San, who was skilled in forging, immediately recognized that they were made of the finest wrought iron.

Through the iron bars, they could see winding paths leading into the distance. A wide road led straight into the interior, flanked by tall paulownia trees. It was still summer, and the canopy of the paulownia trees was still lush green. The broad paulownia leaves were a pleasing green, but once autumn arrived, they would turn golden-red, that fiery color.

As Old Jack brought Tang San to the main gate, they were immediately stopped by a young man on guard. "What are you doing here? Is this a place for you country folk?"

Old Jack's attire was considered quite presentable in Sacred Soul Village, but in Nuoding City, he looked like a complete country bumpkin. The gatekeeper looked at him with a hint of disdain.

Old Jack quickly put on a fawning smile. "Little brother, we're from Sacred Soul Village. This child is a Work-Study Student our village is sending this year. Could you tell us what procedures we need to follow?"

The gatekeeper frowned and said sarcastically, "Can a thatched hut produce a golden phoenix? Does a small village even have people with Soul Power? It's been many years since the academy had a Work-Study Student. You're not impostors, are you?"

Zhao Xuan couldn't stand the gatekeeper's demeanor and became angry. He wasn't a patient person to begin with, and seeing the gatekeeper deliberately making things difficult only fueled his anger.

Although the gatekeeper was much taller than him, he wasn't afraid. With his innate divine strength, he could take down this extra with a single punch.

Seeing Zhao Xuan's movement beside him, Tang San couldn't help but be startled. He quickly retracted the hidden dart he had already prepared and grabbed Zhao Xuan, who had already taken a step forward.

This tug-of-war almost made him stumble. Tang San was startled and even more annoyed. Xiao Xuan's strength was really getting greater and greater.

As for the gatekeeper, he was startled by Zhao Xuan, who suddenly rushed out. Seeing Zhao Xuan being held back by Tang San, he became enraged, realizing he had been scared by a child.

He pointed at Zhao Xuan and cursed, "Brat, what do you think you're doing!"

Old Jack hadn't even recovered from the shock, wondering how things almost escalated to a fight.

Seeing the gatekeeper becoming more and more presumptuous, both Tang San and Zhao Xuan felt a surge of indignation. Even the strength with which Tang San was pulling Zhao Xuan lessened slightly.

Just then, a somewhat hoarse voice suddenly rang out, "Alright, stop it."

The gatekeeper was stunned for a moment, and then his angry face immediately turned obsequious. The change was so rapid it was unbelievable. He bowed and scraped towards the newcomer, saying, "Master, you're back."

Tang San and Zhao Xuan turned their heads and saw a man of medium build, slightly thin, who had appeared beside them at some unknown time. He looked to be around forty or fifty years old, with his black hair parted to the side in a three-seven split. His appearance was very ordinary, with his hands behind his back, but he exuded a special aura. His eyes, as they opened and closed, held a hint of laziness and decadence.

'Master' merely glanced at the gatekeeper, ignoring him. He then turned to Old Jack and said, "Old sir, may I see the proof from the Martial Soul Hall?"

"Ah? Oh, yes, yes." Old Jack, who had been disconnected for a while, finally came back online. He took out the proof from the Martial Soul Hall that he had in his bosom and handed it to "Master," then wiped away his non-existent sweat.

Recalling the scene just now, he was truly frightened. It wasn't that he feared conflict with the gatekeeper, as they were in the right. The old man was just afraid that Tang San and Zhao Xuan would be harmed; they were the future of the village.

Master took Old Jack's proof of the Martial Soul Hall. The moment he saw the two certificates, his previously calm expression changed drastically, becoming extremely serious, with a hint of confusion showing.

"Blue Silver Grass... Innate Full Soul Power... Mobile Phone, also Innate Full Soul Power. What kind of Martial Soul is this?" Master had dedicated his life to the research of Martial Souls and could be considered the foremost authority in theory. There were very few Martial Souls he hadn't seen, yet he had never heard of this "Mobile Phone."

"The certificates are indeed real, old sir. I apologize on behalf of the academy for what just happened. I'll take this child with me." After looking at the two certificates repeatedly, Master said to Old Jack.

A person who was at least a Soul Master apologized to him. Old Jack's vanity was greatly satisfied. He quickly waved his hands and said, "No need to apologize, no need to apologize. We weren't good either. Master, I'll trouble you with this child. Xiao San, Xiao Xuan, go in with Master. Be good."

After Old Jack gave the two a few more instructions, he left.

Master glanced at the gatekeeper indifferently. "This is the first and last time. If it happens again, you won't need to stay here." His voice was hoarse yet calm, but it carried an irrefutable authority.

Cold sweat broke out on the gatekeeper's back. He quickly agreed and scurried to the side. In fact, he was also terrified, not expecting these two children to actually be the Work-Study Students arriving this year.

Even though they were only Work-Study Students, they were not people he could afford to offend. No one knew what their future held. If the academy found out, he would be the one punished.

Master looked down at Tang San and Zhao Xuan, forcing a smile. The muscles in his face seemed a bit stiff, and his smile was not exactly pleasant to behold.

"Teacher, thank you," the three walked into the academy. Unlike the carefree Zhao Xuan, Tang San said to Master.

"Teacher? I am not a teacher at the academy," Master said faintly, looking down at Tang San.

"You're not a teacher? Didn't you just say you represented the Academy?"

Master shook his head. Usually impatient, he was exceptionally tolerant today, forcing out a strained smile again. "Who says only an Academy teacher can represent the Academy?"

Tang San realized, "I understand. Then you must be the Principal, or a leader of the Academy."

Master chuckled, "You're a very smart six-year-old child. But you guessed wrong."

Tang San asked, confused, "Then who are you?"

Master said, "I'm just a lodger here, getting free food and board. Like everyone else, you can call me Master. Everyone calls me that. I've even forgotten my own name. The Martial Soul Hall's certificate says your name is Tang San, right? Tang San, you need to understand that 'Master' and 'teacher' are worlds apart. Don't get them wrong in the future. Unless..."

He trailed off, his eyes flashing with an intense light. "Unless you are truly willing to let me be your teacher."

"You want to teach me how to cultivate my Martial Soul?" Tang San asked.

Master stopped walking and turned to face Tang San. "Then are you willing?"

Tang San also stopped naturally, tilting his head to look up at Master. Observing him up close from below, he noticed Master's mouth was a bit large and his lips were thick. He didn't reply, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Master looked into Tang San's wide, staring eyes, and that stiff smile reappeared. "Good, you are indeed a smart child."

His silence had two meanings: first, not to refuse immediately, lest he offend Master. Second, to use his actions to ask Master, "Why should I take you as my master?"

Master, like Old Jack, raised his hand and ruffled Tang San's hair. "With such extraordinary talent and being so smart, it seems I'll have to be persistent this time. After all, you are the third Twin Martial Soul user in the last hundred years."

Hearing Master's words, Tang San was greatly shocked. His gaze towards Master changed instantly, and he subtly raised his left wrist, his eyes revealing a look of stunned disbelief.

Master looked at him calmly and smiled, "Are you wondering how I knew you have Twin Martial Souls?" As he spoke, he jiggled the certificate Old Jack had given him. "It's because of this certificate. Others might not see the flaws in it, but if I can't, then I wouldn't be worthy of the title 'Master'."

"I once investigated six hundred and forty-seven people whose Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass. Among them, sixteen had Soul Power, a probability of less than three percent. And even among those sixteen with Soul Power, none could exceed level one. Yet you are at level ten with Innate Full Soul Power. According to one of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul that I've researched, the magnitude of Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of the Martial Soul. Blue Silver Grass clearly cannot satisfy this, so I can be certain you must have another Martial Soul, and a very powerful one at that."

Tang San's gaze gradually calmed. He countered, "There are exceptions to everything. Why can't I be a special case?"

Master nodded seriously. "That's right, there are exceptions to everything. But your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, so you are clearly not that exception. In the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire over the past hundred years, although only two Twin Martial Souls have appeared, there have been nineteen individuals born with Innate Full Soul Power. I have carefully studied the Martial Souls of each of them, and without exception, they were all powerful existences. The youngest among them has already reached the level of a Soul Grand Master. Except for fourteen who inherited powerful Martial Souls through family bloodlines, five were exceptions."

The two chatted with increasing enthusiasm, and somehow, Tang San ended up kneeling and formally taking Master as his teacher.

Zhao Xuan, standing nearby, watched in dumbfounded amazement. Seeing them hit it off so well and completely ignoring him, he couldn't help but feel a pang of dejection. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was superfluous.

However, upon seeing Tang San reveal his Twin Martial Souls, Zhao Xuan inexplicably felt relieved. So, it wasn't just him who had two Martial Souls. Little San had them too! This way, he wouldn't have to worry about being an anomaly and being dissected if discovered.

Although, in a certain aspect, he truly was an anomaly.

Seeing Tang San and Master chatting endlessly, as if they had known each other for a lifetime, Zhao Xuan felt inexplicably jealous.

"I have two Martial Souls too," he muttered.

Although his voice was very soft, Master, with his keen hearing, immediately caught it. He quickly turned his head to look at Zhao Xuan, exclaiming in surprise, "You have two Martial Souls too?!"

Tang San also looked at Zhao Xuan with some surprise. Didn't Master say Twin Martial Souls were very rare? How could Little Xuan have them too?

As for Master, he was already stunned by this massive windfall. One wasn't enough, and Heaven was giving him a second? His heart filled with joy, he asked Zhao Xuan with a slight tremble, "Can you show me?"

Zhao Xuan thought for a moment and nodded. Firstly, Master was already Little San's teacher. Secondly, from their earlier discussion, Zhao Xuan could tell that Master was merely an enthusiastic researcher.

In fact, in his previous life, he had similarities with Master, possessing the same fervor when researching hacking technology. But now, cough cough...

Zhao Xuan summoned his mobile phone with one hand and his computer with the other. Master's eyes instantly changed, becoming exceptionally serious.

He examined these two Martial Souls, his heart filled with excitement. "Indeed, two new Martial Souls that have never appeared before!"

He hastily took out a notebook from his pocket, making notes, looking up to observe, then furiously writing.

After a long while, he finally put down his notes, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead from excitement.

Putting down his notebook, Master suddenly seemed to remember something, his eyes blazing as he looked at Zhao Xuan. "Zhao Xuan, is it? Are you willing to..."

Zhao Xuan was startled, then quickly reacted. He seemed to know what Master was about to say.

"No!" he refused.

Master's unsaid words were abruptly cut off by Zhao Xuan. His gaze became somewhat resentful as he stared directly at Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan couldn't stand it. If a beautiful woman did this, he could accept it gladly, but Master was just an old man.

So, he quickly said, "Master, I'm very lazy and don't want to learn theory. You have Little San, and that's enough. He's very diligent, you can train him however you want. If you want to research my Martial Souls in the future, just call me, and I'll come whenever you need me."

Master opened his mouth, then closed it again. He pondered. Indeed, having Tang San as his only disciple was sufficient. From their earlier conversation, he had already seen that Tang San was very smart, eager to learn, and he was very satisfied with this disciple.

Thus, Master nodded. "Alright."

Tang San, standing to the side, had a dark line across his forehead. No matter how pure he was, the word "train" made him think of inappropriate things.