The village chief and villagers of Soul Village couldn't help but light up with excitement as they listened, looking at Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and the others with envy.
They were ordinary people who had never had any contact with prestigious academies, let alone knew anything about places like Spirit Hall Academy or Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Even just looking at Tang San and the others' Soul Power levels, it was clear they were impressive. To ordinary people like them, Soul Power in the twenties made someone seem like a god. And that was without even mentioning how young Tang San and the others were to have reached such strength.
At that moment, the village chief and villagers of Soul Village all began praying silently, hoping that this time their village would produce a talented disciple who could join Shrek Academy. That child's future would be limitless!
"Ha ha ha ha. It's nothing, really. These are just the basics. There's nothing remarkable about them."
Yu Xiaogang, standing off to one side, grinned even more broadly when he saw everyone's reaction.
His words sounded a little modest, but he couldn't hold back the smug expression on his face. He was thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Tsk."
All bluster. He's got no shame.
Seeing them act like that, Liu Yuan cursed under his breath.
He thought Flender and Yu Xiaogang were utterly shameless.
Didn't other people know how these so-called geniuses had come to be? He did.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar aside for the moment.
But Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing—
They hadn't been at Shrek Academy for long at this point, had they?
Did their success have anything at all to do with Yu Xiaogang or Flender?
And these two still dared to brag about it?
Perhaps Tang San really did have some connection to them.
But even if he did, it was a bad one.
Tang San had Innate Full Soul Power, yet Yu Xiaogang had taught him into the sorry state he was in.
Just look at Hu Liena and Xie Yue.
Neither of them had Innate Full Soul Power, yet at the same age, they were every bit as capable as Tang San.
That said enough about Yu Xiaogang's ability, didn't it?
So Liu Yuan felt nothing but contempt for Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and the others. He didn't even bother to hide it when he faced them.
He made up his mind: once this was over, he would expose the truth about Yu Xiaogang and Flender to the villagers and show them what these people were really like. He couldn't let them keep being deceived!
"All right, let's begin the Martial Soul Awakening. We'll do it inside. Children, come in with us. Villagers, wait outside."
But Flender and Yu Xiaogang didn't waste any time. They had already spent the day visiting many places in search of talented children. They hadn't found a single one, and the day had still been exhausting. They didn't want to delay any further, so after glancing at everyone, they went straight into a nearby house.
"Yes, of course. Please."
The villagers and children all nodded respectfully to Flender and Yu Xiaogang, then obediently did as they were told.
Liu Yuan followed along, resigned to it.
"Line up. One at a time."
Once inside, Yu Xiaogang first took out a large crystal ball.
Then he took out several stones and neatly arranged them on the floor in the shape of a hexagram.
Helping children awaken their Martial Souls was actually quite simple. As long as one had the proper tools, even a Soul Master above level ten could do it.
So Yu Xiaogang handled the process with ease.
He motioned for the child at the front of the line to step forward for the awakening.
Soon, the first child's Martial Soul Awakening and Soul Power test were complete.
But as soon as Yu Xiaogang finished, his expression turned sour. He became much colder toward the child. He had been so warm before, but now he looked at him like a piece of trash, his heart filled with disdain.
"A hoe Martial Soul? Good for farming, I suppose. Your Innate Soul Power is only level one, too. Go on, get out of here. You're not suited to becoming a Soul Master. Just stick to farming from now on!"
The child was immediately disappointed, and Yu Xiaogang's sudden change in attitude left him stunned. He hadn't done anything wrong. Why had Yu Xiaogang become so cold toward him all of a sudden? Was this really the Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang?
Yu Xiaogang quickly drove the child out of the house. The child left still troubled, unable to understand why Yu Xiaogang's attitude had changed so drastically.
But Liu Yuan understood perfectly well.
He had known from the start that Yu Xiaogang and Flender weren't sincerely trying to help the villagers.
They were just using them as tools. If someone had value—if they were a genius—then of course they would be treated kindly.
But if their talent was ordinary, would these men give them the time of day?
That was why Liu Yuan had never liked them. These men didn't even treat the villagers like people. Why should Liu Yuan treat them like people?
Soon, Yu Xiaogang began the Martial Soul Awakenings and Soul Power tests for the second and third children.
But the results were just as disappointing.
One child had no Soul Power at all. The other had a Soul Power level of two and could have studied as a work-study student at certain schools, with a chance of becoming a Soul Master in the future.
But in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, they were nothing but trash.
"Trash Martial Soul, trash Soul Power. Go farm, and be done with it! The path of a Soul Master isn't for you."
Yu Xiaogang mercilessly crushed the children's confidence. He couldn't even be bothered to tell them their Soul Power levels. He simply chased them out.
He might as well have told them, "You'd be better off dead."
The children didn't know the truth, so they believed him. They were heartbroken.
One by one, they left with tear-filled, red eyes.
Liu Yuan grew angrier as he watched.
He resolved once again to make sure the village chief and villagers learned what Yu Xiaogang and the others were really like. He couldn't let them ruin these children's lives.
The children could have cultivated. They might not have become powerful, but they could at least have become Soul Masters and earned enough to get by.
But after Yu Xiaogang and the others got through with them, even that chance was gone!
They were ruining the children's lives!
Yu Xiaogang and the others had little patience left, either.
They had come up empty all day, and it had left them irritated.
Looking at Liu Yuan, they figured he was probably another failure.
They would test him quickly, and if he was no good, they would send him packing and go back to sleep!
"Your turn. Come over and let me test you."
Yu Xiaogang spoke to Liu Yuan.
Liu Yuan held back his frustration and stepped forward.
He wanted to tear off the mask, but he was still too weak. For now, he had to endure it.
Yu Xiaogang began the usual process of helping Liu Yuan awaken his Martial Soul.
He had assumed Liu Yuan would be another failure.
But the result of the awakening made their eyes light up.
"This time, I have to make him my disciple!"
"I'll make him my blade and put him to work for me!"
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