A month later
The morning sun had just risen, and the morning breeze was slightly cool.
On a patch of grass in a corner of Notting Academy, Bai Mu arrived early as usual and began cultivating through Calm Mind amid the surrounding green grass.
Zygarde lazily basked in the sun atop his shoulder.
Suddenly, a slightly hoarse voice sounded in front of him.
"An external Beast Martial Soul? That's quite rare."
"?"
Bai Mu slowly opened his eyes and found an ordinary-looking old man with a dispirited expression between his brows staring intently at him and Zygarde on his shoulder.
There was something rather perverted about that look.
"Woof~"
Zygarde glanced at Yu Xiaogang, then lazily melted into a puddle of mush again.
"Hello, teacher!"
Bai Mu placed Zygarde on his head and gave him a few strokes before politely greeting him.
Though he asked, he already knew the identity of the man before him.
This man was the "world-renowned" Martial Soul theory Grandmaster, Tang San's teacher who had failed to become a god—Yu Xiaogang.
He had quite the background and was incredibly skilled at bluffing, though his actual abilities were harder to judge.
So even though they both had External Martial Souls, and Yu Xiaogang had some cultivation experience, Bai Mu had had no desire to contact this legendary CS Grandmaster since enrolling.
"Teacher? I am not a teacher at this academy."
Grandmaster looked down at Bai Mu and spoke flatly.
He had intended to use the bearing of an expert to arouse the other's curiosity, but who would have thought...
"Alright, old man. Please move aside and stop blocking my sunlight."
Bai Mu shifted back a little, directly closed his eyes, and began cultivating through Calm Mind.
"O-old man?"
Yu Xiaogang, who had been trying to put on a show, was struck as though by lightning.
He, Yu Xiaogang, had lived a glorious life. Though the world did not understand him, he was clearly still in his prime. How did that make him an old man?
He opened his mouth to say something, only to see that Bai Mu had already entered meditation, clearly with no interest in talking to him.
"This child..."
Yu Xiaogang felt somewhat helpless, but he did not leave.
He believed Bai Mu was ignoring him purely because he did not know who he was. If Bai Mu knew him, he would surely be thrilled to take him as his master!
Of course, the more important reason was that he had spent years roaming the academic world and had seen countless Martial Souls, yet Luo Sanpao was the only External Martial Soul he had encountered.
Now that he had finally come across another conscious External Martial Soul, how could he let it slip away so easily?
"As long as I can cultivate a powerful External Martial Soul Spirit Master, it will be enough to wash away the humiliation I have endured for years!"
"Then I can tell the world that I, Yu Xiaogang, am not trash, but a Martial Soul theory Grandmaster—a Grandmaster worthy of the name!"
Thinking this, Yu Xiaogang settled himself and stood to one side.
He secretly decided that once Bai Mu finished meditating, he would win him over with his unparalleled personal charm.
However... time passed second by second.
Morning turned to noon, noon turned to afternoon, and Yu Xiaogang's state of mind gradually began to change.
"How strange! Doesn't this kid need to eat?"
Unable to maintain the demeanor of an expert any longer, Yu Xiaogang stared at Bai Mu as if he had seen a ghost.
He could not understand it. Bai Mu had not had a drop of water since morning, yet even he, a max-level Soul Grandmaster, was starving. How could Bai Mu still meditate with such focus?
Dusk fell, dyeing the sky red.
"Yo, old man, why are you still here?"
Having endured from daylight until dark and seeing that Yu Xiaogang simply would not leave, Bai Mu had no choice but to open his eyes and ask, puzzled and speechless.
Old man? To hell with you!
Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened. Then he smiled faintly and said,
"Child, don't call me old man. Call me Grandmaster. Everyone here calls me that."
"Alright, old man... Grandmaster. What can this old man do for you?"
Bai Mu smiled on the surface, but inwardly cursed.
"Child, let me ask you something. What is your name? What is your Martial Soul? What level is your Soul Power?"
Yu Xiaogang tried his best to make his tone sound calm and scholarly.
"My name is Bai Mu. I'm a new student who just enrolled. My Martial Soul is Zygarde, and I have Innate Level 1 Soul Power."
Bai Mu answered truthfully.
"Level 1?"
Yu Xiaogang's brows furrowed slightly, and the fire in his heart seemed to have been doused with a basin of cold water.
Innate Level 1 Soul Power? Only half a level higher than his own?
If Yu Xiaogang was going to accept a disciple to prove himself, how could he take in a piece of trash with such low Innate Soul Power, whose future could practically be seen at a glance?
His strength might have been low, but his standards were high!
Even with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan backing him, he had been unable to break through Level 29. For Bai Mu, with merely Innate Level 1 Soul Power, even reaching Level 29 in the future was questionable!
How could a trash disciple incapable of becoming a Spirit Douluo or Title Douluo restore Yu Xiaogang's reputation?
Though he despised the idea in his heart, Yu Xiaogang was still Yu Xiaogang. His mind worked quickly.
He was not only skilled in theoretical research; he was even more skilled at making use of everything available.
"This boy's Soul Power may be low, but if I can have him help test some of my research ideas, perhaps I can find a way to break through Level 29!"
Thinking this, Yu Xiaogang coughed twice, forcing a trace of a kindly smile onto his old face.
"Child, normally speaking, it is extremely difficult for someone with Innate Level 1 Soul Power to become a Soul Grandmaster."
He paused. Seeing Bai Mu's brows crease slightly, he continued in an enticing tone,
"Fortunately, your Martial Soul is special. Like my Luo Sanpao, it is a rare External Martial Soul. I happen to have considerable research into this kind of Martial Soul. If you are willing to accept my guidance, I can guide your cultivation, help you avoid some detours, and perhaps you may have a chance to become a Soul Elder in the future."
"A Soul Elder?!"
Bai Mu looked utterly bewildered.
The cultivation system of Douluo Continent was divided into Spirit Scholar, Spirit Master, Soul Grandmaster, Soul Elder, Soul Ancestor, Spirit King, Spirit Emperor, Spirit Saint, Spirit Douluo, and Title Douluo.
So after all that rambling, you did not even have absolute confidence in helping me break through Level 29?
Thinking Bai Mu had been intimidated, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly struck while the iron was hot and asked,
"Well? Are you willing to accept my guidance?"
"Are you... trying to take me as your student?"
Bai Mu asked in return.
"No, no, no. It is simply that I, Grandmaster, cherish talent. Even if you do not acknowledge me as your master, I am still willing to guide you."
A smile hung at the corner of Yu Xiaogang's mouth, as though he thought himself exceptionally noble.
"Truly worthy of being a Grandmaster. What a loud set of calculations!"
Bai Mu narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered inwardly.
It sounded nice, but wasn't it simply that after hearing I have Innate Level 1 Soul Power, you did not even want to accept me as a disciple? You just wanted to use me as a lab rat to verify your experiments and help yourself break through Level 29.
Who the hell do you take for an idiot?
"Well? Are you willing to accept my guidance?"
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back and asked confidently.
"Not really."
Bai Mu could not be bothered to keep acting.
"That's good... Hm? What did you say?"
Yu Xiaogang froze and looked at Bai Mu in disbelief.
He was a dignified Martial Soul theory Grandmaster, willing to personally guide him and share his research results without even restricting him from taking other masters, yet he had actually been rejected?!
Bai Mu looked at Yu Xiaogang with a face full of speechlessness.
"Grandmaster, I heard you're nearly fifty years old, but your Soul Power is only Level 29. You aren't even a Soul Elder yourself. How am I supposed to believe you can make me one?"
"How can that be the same?"
Yu Xiaogang flew into a rage. "I am the number one Martial Soul researcher on the entire continent! I developed the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul! My theories are invincible! Do you really think that, with my knowledge, I cannot guide you to become a Soul Elder?"
"Grandmaster truly is impressive!"
Bai Mu praised him, then asked sincerely,
"So... Grandmaster, you still haven't become a Soul Elder. Is it because you don't like it?"
"You!"
Lies did not hurt people. The truth was the sharpest blade.
The moment those words came out, Yu Xiaogang's defenses instantly shattered, and he unconsciously clenched his fists.
What did he mean, he did not like becoming a Soul Elder? If he could have become one, he would have done so long ago!
Why else would he lower himself and offer to guide a mere Level 1 Spirit Master like Bai Mu?
"Hmph!"
After several seconds of silence, Yu Xiaogang raised his head high and declared proudly, "With my abilities, becoming a Soul Elder is merely a matter of time!"
"Then once you break through, Grandmaster, come guide me. I'm still young, so I can wait. I'm not in a hurry."
Bai Mu wore a serious expression. "I believe that with your abilities, Grandmaster, you can definitely do it. I'll go clean up for the day first. Please carry on with your work."
With that, Bai Mu patted his backside and left, as though he had made some sort of firm decision.
"You can wait, but I can't, you bastard!"
Watching Bai Mu's retreating back, Grandmaster nearly could not help but curse aloud.
After taking a deep breath, he magnanimously decided to give Bai Mu another chance and properly move him with his actions and wisdom.
Unfortunately, no matter how much he pestered him... it was useless!
"Grandmaster, please stop trying to guide me. I'm afraid my classmates will misunderstand."
Bai Mu looked utterly speechless. "As long as you become a Soul Elder, I will absolutely accept your guidance. No arguments!"
After saying that, he turned and left without hesitation.
Watching Bai Mu depart, Yu Xiaogang's gaze grew rather gloomy.
"A mere waste with Innate Level 1 Soul Power. I thought you might be somewhat different from the others, but you are just as vulgar as everyone else."
"Without my guidance, you will never break through to Soul Grandmaster in your entire life!"
"You missed your chance. Even if you beg me in the future, even if you kneel and beg me, I will never guide your cultivation again!"
Before you continue