Yu Xiaogang

Even though he had yet to absorb his first soul ring, the things Little Lei Yi had trained him in meant he was no longer utterly helpless.

Over these past days, Little Lei Yi had become even more sentient.

Whenever he wanted to call Little Lei Yi back into his body, it would raise its tiny head and look at him with pleading eyes.

It looked as pitiful as could be.

Unfortunately...

His soul power was not enough to support Little Lei Yi remaining outside indefinitely.

"Is this your martial soul?"

As he was cleaning the area assigned to him, a middle-aged man walked over and slowly pointed at Little Lei Yi floating in the air.

"Mm."

Lin Ming glanced back at him and nodded.

That zombie-like face alone was enough for Lin Ming to recognize him.

Yu Xiaogang.

"What level is your Innate Soul Power?"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent for a moment before speaking again in a hoarse voice.

"Level one."

Lin Ming answered.

He was not lying in the slightest.

The Spirit Hall certificate Su Yuntao had written for him stated that he was level one.

"Only level one..."

Obvious disappointment appeared in Yu Xiaogang's eyes. After one final glance at Little Lei Yi, he turned and left.

He had originally intended to study Lin Ming's martial soul. If Lin Ming had enough potential, he could reluctantly take him as a disciple.

But he was only level one.

There was not the slightest hesitation in the way he turned and left.

"Huh?"

Lin Ming blinked, then shook his head with a laugh.

"See? Even he looks down on us."

He reached out and tapped Little Lei Yi's tiny head, speaking irritably.

If this little fellow had not absorbed most of his soul power to condense a body, he could not possibly have had only level one soul power.

"Yi!"

Little Lei Yi angrily punched and kicked at Yu Xiaogang's retreating back, then rubbed its head against Lin Ming's cheek.

"I'm not blaming you."

Lin Ming smiled and soothingly rubbed Little Lei Yi's tiny head.

He picked up the broom again and continued sweeping.

Even if Yu Xiaogang had asked him to become his disciple, he would not have agreed.

He was not someone lacking fatherly love; he would not casually acknowledge some man as his father.

Any soul master knowledge he lacked could be learned at the academy.

"Why is his soul power only level one..."

Inside a certain room, Yu Xiaogang watched Lin Ming sweeping through the window, unwilling to accept it.

He clearly possessed a Detached Martial Soul just like his own.

So why did someone else's martial soul seem so sentient?

And his own...

He summoned his martial soul.

"Luo~ Luo~"

The moment Luo Sanpao appeared, its eyes lit up slightly, seemingly delighted to have entered the outside world.

It hurriedly twisted its plump body over to Yu Xiaogang's feet and fawningly rubbed against his pant leg.

"How disgusting."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Luo Sanpao with revulsion and quickly retreated several steps.

Its ugly appearance, its bloated body.

And the faint smell of farts lingering around it.

"Why can't you be like someone else's martial soul?! Why do you look so stupid?! Why do you only know how to fart?!"

Yu Xiaogang compared Little Lei Yi's adorable appearance with Luo Sanpao and grew even more disgusted with his own martial soul, cursing it without mercy.

If injuring his martial soul had not caused backlash to him, he probably would have laid hands on it long ago.

"Luo... luo..."

Confusion filled Luo Sanpao's tiny eyes.

It did not know what it had done wrong.

It vaguely remembered that although Yu Xiaogang had disliked it when his martial soul first awakened, he had not looked so ugly back then.

It had not been summoned for a long time.

After venting, Yu Xiaogang panted heavily as he recalled Luo Sanpao. He stared thoughtfully at the area where Lin Ming had been cleaning, now empty of people.

The higher one's Innate Soul Power, the higher the quality of one's martial soul.

Lin Ming, with only first-level Innate Soul Power, could never catch his eye.

But that martial soul...

Yu Xiaogang began to hesitate.

Although Lin Ming had only first-level Innate Soul Power, it was still somewhat stronger than his own half-level Innate Soul Power.

After waiting for years in a small city like Nuoding City, he had been searching for a disciple.

Yet now, he had encountered Lin Ming, who possessed a Detached Martial Soul just like him.

He was unwilling in every possible way.

But...

It was a Detached Martial Soul.

"I'll go find him again tomorrow and see whether I can study his martial soul."

At last, Yu Xiaogang made up his mind to give Lin Ming a chance.

Inside the cafeteria.

"No."

Lin Ming looked at the arrogant Yu Xiaogang before calmly refusing him.

"Good. Since you agree, let me study your martial sou—what did you say?"

Yu Xiaogang's already stiff face became even stiffer. In disbelief, he dug at his ears.

"I said no. Little Lei Yi is my companion, not your lab rat."

Lin Ming patiently repeated himself. Little Lei Yi stood on his shoulder, raised its fist, and let out a clear cry.

"Yi!"

"How does this guy have the nerve to bully a child?"

"Who knows? That kid's pretty unlucky to get targeted by Master Shit."

"Which words do you mean by 'Master Shit'? Your pronunciation sounds off."

"That's right, my pronunciation is perfectly standard. Master Shit."

Teachers and students had gathered in the cafeteria. The teachers might not have dared to mock him openly because Master was the dean's friend, but the students did not care about any of that.

"You don't know who I am?"

Listening to the laughter and ridicule around him, Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists and stared at Lin Ming as he spoke in a low voice.

"We know, we know. Master Shit—we all know."

A youth on the second floor shouted, and the crowd erupted in cheerful laughter.

Even the teachers, despite their professional training, could not hold it in.

"Like you, I possess a Detached Martial Soul. Only by letting me study your martial soul can I guide you better."

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and looked at Lin Ming.

"You've already gone down the wrong path. You shouldn't let it stay outside all the time; it will affect your own cultivation."

"Yi!"

Little Lei Yi flew into a rage at those words and charged straight at Yu Xiaogang, striking him with a Rising Dragon Punch.

The fist was small, but its power could not be underestimated.

The punch landed solidly on Yu Xiaogang's chin, launching him into the air.

"Ow, Master Shit got sent flying by a child!"

Another wave of laughter rang out.

Yu Xiaogang lay on the ground with his head spinning. After getting back up, he rubbed his chin.

It hurt a little.

His gaze swept over the surrounding area, and he somewhat regretted seeking out Lin Ming in front of so many people.

With the dean protecting him, the teachers did not dare mock him to his face, and he rarely showed himself before the students.

It had made him forget that he was still a disgrace.

"You'll regret this."

Yu Xiaogang hurried out of the dining hall, yet as he passed Lin Ming, he did not forget to add that remark.

Regret?

Lin Ming watched his retreating figure, like a stray dog driven from its home, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

He had only said two sentences in total.

And although he did not know why Luo Sanpao's evolution had failed, Little Lei Yi staying outside had not affected his cultivation in the slightest.