Master Takes a Disciple

The next day, the sun slowly rose.

An endless stream of students poured out of the dormitory building and headed for the cafeteria.

Today was the official start of the academy term. Before long, the Dean would deliver a speech on the training grounds.

By then, Xiao Xian had already gotten up.

He stood in a corner of the Back Mountain outside Nuoding Academy's rear gate.

"Like this, then like this..."

Xiao Xian closed his eyes. His clothes occasionally billowed, then clung tightly to his body.

The intermittent sound of wind made the slowly falling leaves spin continuously through the air.

After a long while, Xiao Xian opened his eyes, a hint of delight appearing in them.

He opened his palm and casually beckoned. The breeze condensed into threads.

Whoosh—!

A small stone on the ground was pulled straight into the air!

It shot into his palm at tremendous speed.

Then—

Whoosh—!

Xiao Xian swiftly swung his arm, flinging the stone from his palm at an equally terrifying speed.

It initially flew straight ahead, but just before striking a small tree, it gave a slight tremble, mysteriously tracing a small arc and slamming into the trunk of another large tree behind it.

At once, crack!

Bark exploded outward!

Xiao Xian calmly glanced at the tree trunk more than ten meters away, then turned and left.

Yet the curve he could not suppress at the corner of his mouth revealed his current mood.

As he walked back toward the academy, Xiao Xian recalled what he had gained just now.

"The Suction Palm is at least thirty percent more powerful. Its targeting is stronger, its range is farther, and its force is greater."

"My usual stone-flicking practice has also improved noticeably."

"And this is only the result of the first layer of the Mysterious Heaven Skill being thirty or forty percent complete, plus just one or two hours last night..."

At that thought, Xiao Xian could not help but sigh. This world's development of Soul Power was simply far too crude.

He had merely obtained the tiniest fraction of knowledge from Tang San, yet his improvement had been this great.

"..."

After returning to Nuoding Academy and eating breakfast in the Master's Dormitory, Xiao Xian went to attend the opening ceremony.

He did not actually need to go. With Master's connections, there would have been nothing wrong with acting as part of the "privileged class."

But the Dean of Nuoding Academy was, after all, the great benefactor who had helped him obtain his First Spirit Ring.

He still had to show him that much respect.

Before long, the opening ceremony ended.

On the training grounds, the bored students with wandering gazes immediately grew excited. Chattering away, they scattered in groups of three or five.

Xiao Xian greeted the Dean from afar.

The man was a middle-aged man in a long robe. His chin protruded slightly, but he was fairly handsome. He returned Xiao Xian's greeting with a gentle smile before leaving directly.

There were no classes today.

All time was entirely free to arrange.

Tang San mingled among the Work-Study Students, quietly asking whether there was a Blacksmith Shop near the academy.

After all, his father had told him to find a Blacksmith Shop and support himself.

And he truly was short of money.

Not only had he borrowed his bedding, he did not even have money for meals.

Xiao Xian heard a word or two from afar. As he passed by, Wang Sheng, Tang San, and the others greeted him, and he returned a gentle smile.

An exceptionally gentle one.

The scent of Sunlight Spore on Tang San had grown even richer.

As long as it did not take effect, Sunlight Spore could remain for at least three days.

Three days was enough for him to obtain the first layer of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Only, in the distance, Xiao Chenyu stood with his arms crossed and seemed to snort at them in displeasure.

Xiao Xian glanced at him and ignored him.

"..."

He made his way back to the Master's Dormitory.

Several thick stacks of books sat before Master. Quite a few books were also scattered messily across the two large bookshelves by the wall.

But now—

Master was continuously organizing them. Every book was swiftly sorted back into its proper place, with none of his previous frantic searching for information remaining.

As early as breakfast—

Master had told him that he had some ideas about Xiao Xian's Second Spirit Ring, though he still needed more information to confirm them before discussing it with him.

Xiao Xian naturally had no objections.

As usual, they spent a brief period studying theory.

At the same time, Xiao Xian released Xiao Jue early, allowing it to crawl onto the roof with a soft cushion in its mouth, find a quiet spot, bask in the sunlight, and meditate.

After the theoretical lesson ended, Xiao Xian began meditating as well, without the slightest rest or leisure.

The Innate Half-Level Soul Power talent would forever be a Sword hanging over his head.

Time always passed quickly.

It was time for lunch again.

As usual, Master brought lunch back to the dormitory, but his stiff face strangely carried a trace of excitement.

Xiao Xian ended his meditation and opened his eyes. The moment he saw Master's expression, he immediately realized what had happened.

Sure enough.

Before Xiao Xian could ask—

Master set the lunch on the table, his eyes blazing with fervor as he took the initiative to say, "Xiao Xian, do you know? This year, there's a new student named Tang San. His martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, yet he actually possesses Innate Full Soul Power!"

"You have to understand, I've investigated six hundred and forty-seven..."

"And Blue Silver Grass cannot mutate. No martial soul can possibly..."

"..."

"Blue Silver Grass is so weak that it cannot possibly grant powerful Soul Power, yet he possesses Innate Full Soul Power. Do you know what that means?"

After a lengthy speech, Master seemed to ask Xiao Xian excitedly, yet also seemed to be talking to himself.

Xiao Xian naturally knew that Master's theory was flawed, but he had no intention of exposing it.

He merely followed Master's excited expression, gradually revealing a look of shock while seeming to think frantically.

As if unconsciously, Xiao Xian murmured, "So, Teacher, what you mean is... could it be... Tang San... has another powerful martial soul?! He has Twin Martial Souls?!"

A flash of astonishment and surprise immediately appeared in Master's burning eyes.

Then came gratification.

Unprecedented gratification!

Clearly, his disciple's answer had greatly exceeded his expectations!

"That's right!"

Master immediately affirmed Xiao Xian's bold speculation.

"So, Teacher, what do you think about taking Tang San as my Junior Brother?"

"After all, he has Twin Martial Souls!"

"..."

Watching Master's retreating figure as he hurried away—

Xiao Xian's expression did not change. He merely extended a hand. First, a pull of suction arose from his palm, followed by a gust of wind.

Once the door had been pulled into place, the gust blew it rapidly shut.

But just as it was about to close—

Xiao Xian pulled his hand back. The gust instantly transformed into suction. The door abruptly stopped, then was drawn open again.

"The Blowing Fire Palm is nearly there as well."

Xiao Xian remained expressionless as he silently suppressed the somewhat chaotic Soul Power within his body.

Rapidly switching between the Suction Palm and the Blowing Fire Palm was still somewhat difficult.

After calling Xiao Jue over and eating the still-warm lunch on the table together, Xiao Xian closed his eyes and resumed meditating as usual.

Tang San's matter was unexpected, yet also perfectly reasonable.

After all, an academy had produced someone with Innate Full Soul Power, and his martial soul was Blue Silver Grass. Anyone would be unable to resist discussing it.

It was only a matter of time before Master learned of it.

The only trouble was—

The first layer of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

He had not fully learned it yet.

After Tang San obtained his First Spirit Ring, the Mysterious Heaven Skill would become the second layer.

"I had originally planned to make one final push while Tang San cultivated tonight..."

"The distance... two dormitories apart is still too far... I need to get closer."