Exposing Twin Martial Souls

When someone who was at least a Soul Master apologized to him, Old Jack's vanity was greatly satisfied. He hurriedly waved his hands. "No need to apologize, no need. We were at fault too. Master, I'll leave this child in your care. Little San, go inside with Master. Make sure you behave."

Tang San nodded but did not speak.

Earlier, when the Master before him stopped the gatekeeper from rushing at him, Tang San had already raised his left hand and released the safety on his Sleeve Arrow. If Master had spoken even a moment later, there might have been a short arrow lodged in the gatekeeper's throat.

The third rule of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record stated: Once an opponent had been identified as an enemy, if they had earned death, show no mercy. Otherwise, one would only create trouble for oneself.

In Tang San's eyes, the gatekeeper had already earned death by attacking an old man like Jack, not to mention his harsh and mean-spirited manner. At the same time, Tang San was absolutely certain that no one, including Old Jack, would discover that he had fired the Sleeve Arrow. Without evidence, who could say that he had killed anyone? The Tang Sect's Silent Sleeve Arrow fired with incredible speed, leaving only a shadow behind. How could someone like that gatekeeper possibly evade it?

After giving Tang San a few more reminders, Jack finally left.

Master gave the gatekeeper a cool glance. "This is the first time, and it will be the last. If it happens again, you need not remain here." His voice was hoarse yet calm, but it carried an irrefutable force.

Cold sweat broke out across the gatekeeper's back. He hurriedly agreed again and again before darting aside.

Master lowered his head to look at Tang San, forcing a faint smile onto his face. His facial muscles seemed somewhat stiff, and his smile was rather difficult to praise. Taking Tang San's hand, he said, "Let's go in."

Master's hand was soft and dry, comfortable to hold. It invisibly gave Tang San a measure of trust. Under his guidance, Tang San finally entered the academy.

"Teacher, thank you," Tang San said to Master.

"Teacher? I am not a teacher at this academy." Master glanced down at Tang San and spoke indifferently.

"Not a teacher? Didn't you just say you represented the academy?"

Master shook his head. Normally impatient, he was unusually tolerant today and once again forced out that unsightly smile. "Who said only teachers of the academy can represent the academy?"

Tang San suddenly understood. "I see. Then you must be the academy's headmaster, or perhaps an administrator."

Master laughed. "For a six-year-old child, you are quite clever. But you are still wrong."

Tang San asked in confusion, "Then you are...?"

Master said, "I am merely a resident here, freeloading on food and lodging. Like everyone else, you may call me Master. Everyone calls me that. I have even forgotten my own name. The certificate from Spirit Hall says your name is Tang San, correct? Tang San, you must understand that Master and teacher are worlds apart in meaning. Do not confuse them in the future. Unless..."

At that point, he stopped speaking, but a burning light flashed in his eyes. "Unless you truly wish to have me as your teacher."

"Will you 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 naturally stopped as well and looked up at Master before him. Examining him closely from below, he noticed that Master's mouth was rather large and his lips quite thick. He did not speak, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Master looked at Tang San's blankly staring eyes, and that stiff smile appeared again. "Good. As expected, you are a clever child."

Remaining silent carried two meanings. First, Tang San was not in a hurry to refuse, lest he offend Master. Second, he was asking Master through his actions: Why should I take you as my teacher?

Like Old Jack, Master raised a hand and rubbed Tang San's head. "Gifted beyond measure, and so clever as well. It seems I must be stubborn for once too. After all, you are the third person in the past hundred years to possess Twin Martial Souls."

Tang San was shocked by Master's words. The look in his eyes changed at once, and his left wrist quietly lifted as uncertainty and alarm filled his gaze.

Master calmly watched him and smiled. "Are you wondering why I know you possess Twin Martial Souls?" As he spoke, he shook the certificate Old Jack had given him. "Because of this certificate. Perhaps others cannot see the flaw within it, but if even I could not, then I would not deserve the title of Master."

"I have investigated six hundred and forty-seven people whose Martial Souls were Blue Silver Grass. Among them, sixteen possessed Soul Power, a probability of less than three percent. Yet even among those sixteen, not one had Soul Power exceeding level one. You, however, possess level ten Innate Full Soul Power. According to one of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul that I have researched, Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of one's Martial Soul. Blue Silver Grass clearly does not meet that condition. Therefore, I can be certain that you possess another Martial Soul, and an exceptionally powerful one at that."

Tang San's expression gradually calmed, and he argued, "Everything has exceptions. Why can't I be one?"

Master nodded seriously. "That is correct. Everything has exceptions, but since your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, you are clearly not that exception. Over the past hundred years, only two people with Twin Martial Souls have appeared in the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire, but nineteen people have been born with Innate Full Soul Power. I carefully studied every one of their Martial Souls. Every single one was powerful. The youngest among them has now reached the level of a Soul Grandmaster. Aside from fourteen who inherited powerful Martial Souls through their family bloodlines, five were exceptions."