Lightning crackled around Su Zhe, his white hair complementing his imposing presence.
He was just like the Lord of Thunder.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up when he saw Su Ze standing before him.
The way lightning surrounded the boy made him look a lot like the legendary Element Spirit.
And his presence was even more imposing than that of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
With an aura like that, and talent to match—
if he could just take the boy on as his disciple,
then, together with Tang San, who had Twin Martial Souls,
he would soon be renowned across the continent.
Even as excitement surged through him, a dark thought arose unbidden in Yu Xiaogang's heart.
He was the son of the head of the Lightning Tyrant Family, yet the Martial Soul he'd inherited was useless.
It could do nothing but fart.
The boy before him, on the other hand, came from a humble commoner family, yet had been lucky enough to awaken such a powerful Lightning Attribute Martial Soul.
Why him?
Why hadn't he awakened a Martial Soul with such a powerful Lightning Attribute?
That dark, jealous thought clouded Yu Xiaogang's judgment.
Although Lightning Attribute Soul Masters pursued Extreme Lightning,
and the preferred path of cultivation in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Thunder Academy was Extreme Lightning,
overcome by jealousy toward Su Ze, Yu Xiaogang still said against his better judgment, "For your First Soul Ring, you must find a Soul Beast that grants Lightning Defense."
"Combined with the powerful attack of your Lightning Attribute, it'll make you invincible."
"I recommend the Thunder Earth Dragon! It's a Pangolin Spirit Beast found in the Soul Beast forest, and it has both defensive and lightning attributes."
"Of course, other defensive Soul Beasts will work too!"
Among the Lightning Attribute Soul Masters in Yu Xiaogang's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan,
if Extreme Lightning was the best path,
then focusing on defense was the worst.
Besides his jealousy, Yu Xiaogang had another reason for recommending a defensive path.
After all, his other genius disciple, Tang San, specialized in control.
This boy called Su Ze could serve as a meat shield and support Tang San.
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Su Ze gave him a scornful smile.
As expected, Yu Xiaogang had nothing worthwhile to offer.
He actually claimed that lightning cultivators should focus on defense.
Lightning was the most powerful offensive attribute in the world.
And as the saying went, the best defense was a good offense.
Focus on defense?
Then why awaken a lightning Martial Soul at all?
He might as well have awakened an Earth Attribute Martial Soul.
"If you think Lightning Attribute Martial Souls should focus on defense, Master, then we have nothing to discuss."
"I personally believe Extreme Lightning is the path that Lightning Attribute Soul Masters should follow."
"Your theory, Master? Heh!"
By the end, Su Ze wore a mocking smile.
Hearing Su Ze say he intended to pursue Extreme Lightning, and mock him for it,
Yu Xiaogang's first reaction was shame.
He had indeed been jealous of the boy's Lightning Talent.
That was why he'd deliberately recommended an inferior path to Su Ze.
He hadn't expected Su Ze to distrust him completely,
and choose to follow his own path instead.
More importantly, he'd chosen the right path.
The thought that Su Ze had not only mocked him but was also following the path best suited to Lightning Attribute Soul Masters—the path of Extreme Lightning—
intensified the jealousy and shame he felt.
His emotions shifted from simple guilt and unease to anger and humiliation.
His gaze swept over Su Ze's coarse clothes.
He remembered how Su Ze had been exempted from tuition and miscellaneous fees.
The pride he felt as a scion of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan welled up again.
A lowly commoner.
He'd merely gotten lucky and awakened a powerful Lightning Attribute Martial Soul.
And even had Innate Full Soul Power.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang, the son of the Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan,
had awakened nothing but Luo Sanpao, a Martial Soul that could only fart.
Heaven was unfair.
Anger at being mocked, shame at his plan having failed—
and, most of all, jealousy of Su Ze's talent—
Yu Xiaogang spoke furiously. "You brat, don't think that just because you have talent and have read a few books, you can refute my theories!"
"I'm telling you, with an attitude this bad, and your insistence on clinging to such mistaken ideas—"
"you'll squander the talent you were lucky enough to obtain."
"And most importantly, I won't take someone like you as my disciple."
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's angry words, Su Ze gave another mocking smile.
The only thing in that whole speech that could be called a threat was his refusal to take Su Ze as a disciple.
Was that supposed to be a threat?
It'd be a threat if he agreed to take Su Ze as his disciple, wouldn't it?
And for some reason, whenever Yu Xiaogang talked about his talent, his tone always seemed a little off.
Almost sour.
With that thought, Su Ze sneered. "Yu Xiaogang, is it?"
"I'm only calling you Master because I'm well-mannered and know how to show respect."
"Otherwise, your harmful, worthless theories are so filthy that I wouldn't even want to speak to you."
"I don't know how you tricked the dean, but the moment you claimed that Lightning Attribute Soul Masters should take a defensive path—"
"I knew you were a useless fool."
"And, Yu Xiaogang, I've heard you mention my talent over and over. I think you awakened a useless Martial Soul and are jealous of mine."
Su Ze felt especially satisfied as he said this.
Yu Xiaogang, that bastard!
He'd even gone out of his way to find him.
What a waste of time.
Su Ze had thought that after more than twenty years of studying theory,
and with his background in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan,
Yu Xiaogang might offer some fresh insights on acquiring Soul Rings.
After all, even the most useless person would have something to show for studying a field for twenty years.
But Yu Xiaogang had actually claimed that Lightning Attribute Soul Masters should cultivate defense.
Su Ze figured there were only two possibilities: either Yu Xiaogang was an idiot,
or he had ulterior motives.
Considering how sour Yu Xiaogang had sounded earlier when talking about his talent,
Su Ze was overwhelmingly inclined to believe the latter.
After all, Yu Xiaogang was the son of the head of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Even if he hadn't researched Lightning Attribute Soul Rings himself,
he must have known from growing up around the clan which direction was best for Lightning Attribute cultivation and Soul Ring acquisition.
So Su Ze felt no guilt at all as he insulted Yu Xiaogang.
Hearing Su Ze's words, Yu Xiaogang's gaunt face visibly reddened.
Lies didn't hurt people; the truth was the blade that cut deepest.
Yu Xiaogang had already been jealous of Su Ze's Lightning Talent.
Now that the boy had exposed him, anger surged through him, and Yu Xiaogang felt a sweetness rise in his chest.
He felt as if he might spit blood.
More importantly, everything Su Ze had said was true.
In the Soul World, his theories were indeed considered worthless.
And he really was jealous of Su Zhe's Lightning Talent.
He couldn't even think of how to refute him.
Humiliated and furious, Yu Xiaogang could only start harping on Su Ze's attitude like a woman.
"You brat, you have no respect for your elders, and your attitude is awful."
"Even if you got down on your knees and begged me, I still wouldn't take you as my disciple."
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