I Thought Grandmaster Was His Title

Tang San stepped forward a few paces upon hearing this. "Li Xun, Teacher once taught me that more rings, more bones, and more skills meant greater strength. Now that you lack active abilities, you truly will be at a disadvantage when fighting others."

He had also picked up on some of Teacher's intention to take on a disciple.

However, it did not affect him, and he was willing to support Teacher.

Seeing his disciple Tang San step forward, Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction. "Li Xun, your Wood Carving Martial Soul should originally have been a support-type Martial Soul. It was only because it mutated that you were able to control plants.

"My disciple Tang San is, like you, a plant-type Soul Master. The two of you should have quite a few similarities in your choices regarding Martial Souls."

"Now that you have already missed out on two offensive Soul Rings, you must not lead yourself astray!"

Li Xun looked at Yu Xiaogang, then at Tang San. He discovered that both of them possessed tremendous confidence.

They believed that everything they did was right.

"Grandmaster, I would like to ask you a question."

Li Xun gathered his thoughts. "What use do you think the first two Soul Rings, mere hundred-year rings, can have in later battles?

"Are you planning to use your First Spirit Ability to fight a Titled Douluo?"

Seeing that Yu Xiaogang seemed not to have recovered from the shock, Li Xun promptly pressed on. "Take Tang San's Blue Silver Grass as an example.

"This plant is inherently fragile. Rather than thinking about improving the quality of his Martial Soul early on, building a solid foundation, and expanding Blue Silver Grass's strengths,

"you only care about increasing superficial combat strength. What use will it be in the mid and late stages when an opponent can break free with a light struggle?"

Li Xun's words stunned both Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. Neither had expected Li Xun to raise such a question.

Tang San thought of the toughness of his Blue Silver Grass and realized that Li Xun's words did make some sense.

But that gave rise to another question. What would he do in early battles? The Clear Sky Hammer did not have any Soul Rings either. Would he have to rely on Hidden Weapons?

"All Soul Masters develop this way. Could all of their choices be wrong?

"Not to mention the nine abilities of a Title Douluo—at the level-thirty stage alone, how could you compare with other Soul Masters?" Yu Xiaogang came back to his senses, anger rising in his heart.

Li Xun had actually used his disciple as an example. That was undoubtedly a denial of his achievements.

If he admitted at this moment that Li Xun's viewpoint was correct, would that not prove that the theories he had taught Tang San, as well as the choices for his first two Soul Rings, had been wrong?

That was a result he could not accept.

"Grandmaster, after level thirty, with the quality of my Martial Soul and my passive abilities, even if I have only one skill, it will not be something my opponents can easily withstand."

Li Xun gave Yu Xiaogang a calm glance. "Moreover, as my level rises, the effects of my opponents' first two Soul Rings will only become smaller and smaller. Meanwhile, because my first two Soul Rings passively bolster my other skills, I will only grow stronger."

There was another point he did not mention.

Judging from a Soul Master's combat ability alone, he was not afraid of early battles in the slightest.

Tang San was not truly afraid either. What decided the outcome for him in the Soul Master Competition was the hammer and Hidden Weapons. The Blue Silver Grass could only handle minor enemies.

"Humph! Stubborn and incorrigible!

"This is experience forged through the practice of countless Soul Masters, yet in your eyes it has become a flaw. If you have no means in the early stages, how will you obtain Soul Rings? How will you guard against evildoers?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression was cold and stern as he pointed at Li Xun. "Speaking solely of combat, how do you know that the first two Soul Rings will be useless later on?"

Sorry, but I really do know.

Li Xun frowned when he saw Yu Xiaogang pointing at him.

That was an extremely rude gesture. Even for a Teacher reprimanding a student, it was terribly uncouth.

Not to mention that the two of them were not even familiar with each other.

"A mere level-twenty-three Soul Grandmaster talking about future realms is indeed somewhat premature. Whether in combat experience or level, you certainly cannot compare to Grandmaster."

Li Xun's expression became restrained as he cupped his hands toward Yu Xiaogang. "However, Tang San and I are clearly different from ordinary Soul Masters. How can we be taught using the same method?"

"The world changes every moment. Even if Grandmaster were a Title Douluo powerhouse, he would still have to consider the actual circumstances when teaching!

"You must not use the experience of those before us to bind us.

"Besides, even if we take the wrong path early on and lack the ability to hunt Soul Rings, will our Teachers not still shield us from the wind and rain?"

At this point,

Li Xun wore a broad smile as he looked meaningfully at Yu Xiaogang. "You are a Titled Douluo, while my Teacher is the Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As the disciples of the two of you, why should Tang San and I worry about Soul Rings?"

"Would we need to trouble others to help us obtain Soul Rings?"

After speaking, Li Xun even glanced at the headmaster of Notting Academy.

Though Li Xun had a smile on his face, Yu Xiaogang felt as though he were being mocked. It was like a blade stabbing straight into his heart, leaving his chest unbearably tight.

"You—"

Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen. His raised arm trembled slightly, and though he opened his mouth several times, he realized he seemed to have lost his voice.

"Grandmaster, what is wrong?" Li Xun looked anxious, his tone full of concern.

"Li Xun, do you really not know, or are you pretending not to?

Yu Tianheng stepped forward several paces and pointed at Li Xun through gritted teeth. "Do not tell me the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has no intelligence on our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"

"What intelligence?"

Li Xun stared blankly at Yu Tianheng.

"Ahem, Xiao Xun, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang is not a Titled Douluo. Due to his own circumstances, his level has remained stuck at twenty-nine, unable to advance any further."

Seeing how awkward things had become, Qin Ming gave a light cough and stepped in to explain.

Li Xun looked utterly bewildered, his eyes clear as he looked at Yu Xiaogang. "Hm? I thought Grandmaster was his title! But if his Soul Power has been stuck at level twenty-nine, how does he know what it feels like after level thirty?"

Hearing Grandmaster and Titled Douluo mentioned together,

Yu Xiaogang's breathing became rapid. His hands clenched into fists, veins bulging on the backs of them as his body trembled uncontrollably. His eyes remained fixed on Li Xun.

Over the years, he had heard plenty of mockery and ridicule.

He had thought he had long since grown used to it.

But the words of this child before him made him feel as if he had been stripped naked before everyone.

The truth he had always least wanted to face was being laid bare, layer by layer.

Qin Ming glanced at Yu Xiaogang's condition and pondered for a moment. "Grandmaster is what the outside world calls him. The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul that you heard about in class were written by him. Li Xun, do not be disrespectful."

"Oh! So he is the Grandmaster who organized the teaching materials. This junior has been disrespectful."

Li Xun bowed to Yu Xiaogang. "No wonder Grandmaster speaks with such certainty. It seems he truly is well learned."

Yu Xiaogang wanted to fly into a rage several times, but the child before him wore an innocent expression. Though he could tell Li Xun was pretending, he had nowhere to vent his anger.

"Li Xun, you will surely regret today's choice. My disciple Tang San is destined to be a goal you will never reach in your lifetime."

Yu Xiaogang silently loosened his fists and turned around with difficulty. His once-straight back was no longer upright, and his voice carried a trace of hoarseness.

Qin Ming sensed that Yu Xiaogang was not in a good state and hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Grandmaster, do not be angry. Li Xun is still only a child. Children speak without restraint!"

Tang San had originally been absorbed in Li Xun's views on Martial Souls, but seeing Teacher's pale face now, he became deeply anxious.

Soul Power at level twenty-nine had always been Teacher Yu Xiaogang's greatest pain.

Yet before everyone's eyes, a child had torn away his last shred of dignity. The harm this caused Teacher was undoubtedly immense.

Tang San stared fixedly at Li Xun.

Li Xun's earlier words about Soul Rings did make some sense, but they had yet to be tested. They were unlike Teacher's theories, which Tang San himself had already proven.

Moreover, Teacher had always treated him very well. Seeing Teacher humiliated now, Tang San's heart surged with emotion.

As the saying went, a Teacher for a day was a father for life.

Seeing his master insulted, killing intent abruptly rose within Tang San. He slowly raised his arm and aimed his Sleeve Arrow at Li Xun.

The third rule of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record's general principles: once someone was confirmed as an enemy, if they had invited death, then show no mercy.

At the same time, he considered how he would evade Qin Ming's pursuit after killing Li Xun.

"Hm? Killing intent."

Li Xun suddenly sensed a cold, sinister presence locking onto him. Through Hashirama Senju's memories, he knew that this feeling meant someone wanted to kill him.

"This is not that serious, is it? A verbal dispute, and you want to kill me?"

Looking at Tang San's arm aimed at him, Li Xun was speechless.