Old Jack answered each question in turn, telling the two children everything he knew.
At one point, Tang San mentioned that Tang Hao had told him to work at the blacksmith's.
Old Jack couldn't help saying indignantly, "You? Work at a blacksmith's? What are you talking about? Tang Hao must have gone mad."
"How old are you? You're probably not even as tall as a forging hammer. What blacksmith's shop would take you on as an apprentice? Besides, blacksmithing is a lowly profession, and you wouldn't earn much working there. You just need to study hard at the academy."
Those were Old Jack's heartfelt words. He didn't know that Tang San had the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul, much less that it had a Self-Created Soul Skill. As far as he knew, becoming a Soul Master and cultivating diligently was the proper thing to do. Going off to work as a blacksmith was a waste of time and a distraction from the right path.
Tang San clearly didn't take it to heart. He lowered his head and didn't respond to Old Jack.
Old Jack took a moment to calm his breathing. Looking at Tang San's obedient, well-behaved appearance, he sighed. Remembering the boy's strange family circumstances—he could afford the tuition after all—Old Jack ultimately decided not to press the matter.
The three of them continued talking about Soul Master Academies and the benefits of being a Soul Master. Most of what Old Jack said was something he had heard from others.
Old Jack only had a basic understanding of Soul Masters, so he couldn't explain things in much detail. Tang San understood that he would have to explore this knowledge gradually at the academy, especially anything concerning Soul Beasts and Soul Rings.
The journey from Holy Soul Village to Nuoding City wasn't long. They walked for half a day, stopping once to eat a little dried food. By afternoon, they could already see the city walls in the distance.
After passing through the gate's inspection, the three of them entered the city without trouble.
Old Jack hadn't been to Nuoding City often, and he didn't know the way to Nuoding Academy.
He had no choice but to take the two children around the streets, asking people for directions.
It was Tang San's first time in Nuoding City. He looked around at the city, but with memories of his previous life, he remained calm. He showed none of the curiosity or insecurity that ordinary country children felt when entering a city for the first time.
Kai had been there a few times, but only to sell game at the market. He had never stayed long. The journey was far, and even a little delay could keep him from getting home on time, so he didn't know where Nuoding Academy was either.
After a few wrong turns, the three of them finally reached the entrance to Nuoding Academy.
From far away, they had already seen the tall arched gate. It was twenty meters wide and over ten meters high, built entirely of hard stone. Beneath it stood two black iron gates. Tang San could tell at a glance that they were made of the finest wrought iron.
Through the gaps in the gates, they could clearly see the wide, clean road inside and the tall trees lining either side.
Naturally, guards were stationed at the entrance.
The gatekeeper at Nuoding Academy dealt with a steady stream of Soul Masters and prospective Soul Masters, so he had grown rather arrogant. Seeing the three of them in their plain, shabby clothes, he frowned.
"What are you here for? Is this a place country bumpkins like you can come?" Before they even reached the gatehouse, he stopped them.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang
The gatekeeper could work at a Soul Master Academy and deal with visiting Soul Masters because he had some connections. At the very least, he was someone ordinary people couldn't afford to offend.
He looked at the two children beside Old Jack and, remembering that it was currently enrollment season at Nuoding Academy, naturally guessed why the three had come.
But some people just loved to make the most of the little power they had. In previous years, ordinary people bringing their children to the academy had usually given him a little something.
But Old Jack, who was so poor he wouldn't even pay for an inn, didn't understand the hint and had no money to spare.
The old man, who had spent his whole life working the land, hurried to explain. "Young man, we've come from Holy Soul Village. This child is our village's Work-Study Student this year. The other child is paying his own tuition. Could you tell us what we need to do?" As he spoke, he pointed to Kai and Tang San in turn.
Seeing that Old Jack hadn't understood what he meant, the gatekeeper began giving them a hard time. "Can a golden phoenix really come from a chicken coop? A tiny village like yours has someone with Soul Power? The academy hasn't had a Work-Study Student in years. You're not imposters, are you?"
Old Jack suppressed his anger and handed over the certificate from Spirit Hall. The gatekeeper took it.
He gave it a disdainful glance, his tone doubtful. "Blue Silver Grass? And Innate Full Soul Power? The other one's knife Martial Soul could possibly have full Innate Soul Power, but this Blue Silver Grass is ridiculous."
"I've worked as a gatekeeper at this academy for four years, and I've never heard of a student with Innate Full Soul Power. This kid has Blue Silver Grass, yet he has full Soul Power? I say you forged this certificate from Spirit Hall." The gatekeeper sounded so certain because Blue Silver Grass was widely recognized as a Trash Martial Soul. It almost never came with Innate Soul Power, and the few exceptions usually had only half a level or one level. They could barely reach level ten and obtain a Soul Ring, let alone graduate as low-level Soul Masters. Innate Full Soul Power was out of the question.
He was all sneers and mockery, but the gatekeeper knew that certificates from Spirit Hall couldn't be faked.
Kai watched the farce unfold and saw Old Jack standing in front of him. He stepped forward.
At the same time, a blade appeared out of nowhere in Kai's hand.
The blade was broad and black, its edge so sharp that it gleamed with a blue, ghostly light. Black and gold intertwined along its hilt. At a glance, it was clearly a weapon made for slaughter.
Even a single glance sent a chill down the spine. It was a demonic blade—the Demonic Blade.
Kai said nothing. He simply walked toward the gatekeeper, dragging the Demonic Blade, which was almost taller than he was. The gatekeeper instinctively backed away.
"W-what are you doing? This is Nuoding Academy, not a place where you can run wild!" the gatekeeper stammered.
"Kai, don't be rash! Listen to Grandpa. Put your Martial Soul away. This man isn't worth it. I'll handle this." Old Jack was trembling a little too, but he still stepped forward to talk Kai down.
"All right, stop."
Just then, a somewhat hoarse voice rang out, stopping them both.
Everyone turned toward the voice.
They saw a man of average height and slightly lean build walking toward them. He looked to be around forty or fifty. His short black hair was parted in a three-to-seven style. His appearance was unremarkable, but his hands were clasped behind his back, and he had a distinctive air about him. When his eyes opened and closed, they held a hint of laziness and dejection.
In short, ordinary looks, a decent bearing, an impressive posture—he was a bit of a show-off, with all the makings of a noble.
The gatekeeper recognized him, and his attitude changed at once. He hurried over respectfully, bowing and scraping as he greeted him. "Grandmaster, you're back!"
"Elder, could I see the certificate from Spirit Hall?" But Grandmaster merely glanced at the gatekeeper and walked straight past him to ask Old Jack.
Compared to the "minor disagreement" between an ordinary gatekeeper who wasn't even a Soul Master and these commoners, Grandmaster—Yu Xiaogang—was far more interested in whether what they had said was true.
Innate Full Soul Power! Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the family Yu Xiaogang belonged to, had produced only a few geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power.
Ordinary people didn't understand how important Innate Full Soul Power was, but Yu Xiaogang, as a member of a great clan, knew exactly what it meant.
Innate Soul Power reflected a Soul Master's talent and potential.
Take Yu Xiaogang himself. His Innate Soul Power had been only half a level. Even after consuming countless rare treasures and spending vast resources, he had barely reached level twenty-nine, and could advance no further.
A genius with Innate Full Soul Power, given enough resources and diligent cultivation, would certainly become a Soul Douluo, and would very likely become a Titled Douluo—provided they survived long enough.
At the thought that two such top-tier geniuses might end up in his hands, becoming his disciples and proving his theories, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help getting excited.
Old Jack had been a village chief, after all, and knew how to read people. From the gatekeeper's expression, he could tell that this middle-aged man held a high position at the academy. And then there was his title: Grandmaster. He quickly handed over the certificate.
"The certificate is genuine. Elder, I apologize on behalf of the academy for what just happened. Leave this child to me."
After looking over the certificate from Spirit Hall, Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San and Kai.
Old Jack immediately realized that Grandmaster didn't know the two children. He quickly introduced them. "This is Tang San. His Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. This is Kai. His Martial Soul is a blade."
Su Yuntao hadn't recognized the Martial Soul, so he had simply written "blade" in the space for its name on the certificate.
Kai hadn't stopped him. His Martial Soul was called the Demonic Blade, which sounded a little sinister. Until he had some real strength, it was better to keep a low profile.
Each with Their Own Thoughts
Yu Xiaogang glanced at the extraordinary Martial Soul in Kai's hand, which seemed to radiate a bone-chilling sharpness. Then he looked at the Martial Soul name written on the certificate: simply "blade."
He could only think that the Spirit Hall staff responsible for recording Martial Soul Awakenings had a terrible eye. Even if they didn't recognize a Martial Soul of this caliber, they should at least have taken the time to record it properly!
If people only looked at the written record, who knew how many would underestimate or even overlook this genius?
With that thought, Yu Xiaogang turned to Old Jack, who was waiting nearby for an answer. "The certificate is genuine. Elder, I apologize on behalf of the academy for what just happened. Leave these two children to me."
Having a man who was at least a Soul Master apologize to him gave Old Jack's vanity a great boost. He hurriedly waved his hands. "There's no need to apologize. We weren't entirely in the right just now, either. Grandmaster, I'll leave these two children in your hands. Tang San, Kai, go inside with Grandmaster and make sure you listen to him."
The silver-haired Kai nodded obediently. If you ignored the vicious-looking greatsword in his hand, he was a well-behaved and pretty child—the kind adults always called a model child.
Tang San nodded but said nothing.
Jack gave Tang San a few more reminders before leaving.
Watching the old man walk away, Yu Xiaogang glanced at the gatekeeper, who was standing nervously beside him. "This is the first time, and it will be the last. If you do it again, you won't be staying here."
Cold sweat ran down the gatekeeper's back. He quickly agreed again and again, then stepped aside.
Yu Xiaogang was also somewhat annoyed, taking his anger out on the gatekeeper. If he hadn't happened to be there, that arrogant, unreasonable man who looked down on the poor might have cost him two genius disciples.
That's right. Yu Xiaogang had already decided to take the two geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power as his disciples.
He couldn't help imagining: I may not be able to become a powerful Soul Master myself, but I can become the teacher of powerful Soul Masters! I can still wipe away the humiliation I've suffered and become the pride of my clan.
He would spread the name of Grandmaster and become the undisputed foremost theorist on the Douluo Continent.
Yu Xiaogang wanted to win the two children over. He reached out to take their hands, but to his disappointment, the child named Kai stepped back and avoided him. His eyes and posture were wary. He didn't seem easy to approach.
By contrast, the child named Tang San accepted Yu Xiaogang's approach quite naturally and let him take his hand. He seemed very obedient and trusting.
At last, the three of them entered Nuoding Academy.
"Thank you, sir," Tang San said to Yu Xiaogang.
"I'm not a teacher at the academy." Yu Xiaogang looked down at Tang San and replied coolly.
He looked calm and confident, like a true master, learned and well-read.
Of course, that was just an appearance. He was a Soul Grandmaster who couldn't break through level thirty and had little fighting strength. No intermediate or advanced academy would hire him as a teacher; only a low-level Soul Master Academy like Nuoding Academy would.
He had grudgingly come to work at Nuoding Academy, yet looked down on the children whose Innate Soul Power wasn't high. He refused to teach and only wanted to study his theories. He was even unwilling to admit that he was a teacher at the academy.
He took the bowl to eat, then set it down to curse the hand that fed him. He was the perfect example.
Sure enough, hearing Grandmaster's grandiose words made Tang San, who had always been quiet and aloof in the village, warm up to him.
Tang San guessed that Yu Xiaogang was a teacher or leader at the academy since he could speak on its behalf, but Yu Xiaogang denied both.
That only made Tang San more excited.
Yu Xiaogang was quite taken with Tang San's reaction. Both of them had their own thoughts.
"I'm just a guest here, living off the academy's hospitality. Call me Grandmaster, like everyone else does. I've even forgotten my own name. The certificate from Spirit Hall says your name is Tang San, right? Tang San, you should understand that 'Grandmaster' and 'teacher' are worlds apart. Don't get them mixed up again. Unless..."
He stopped there, but his eyes shone with fervor. "Unless you really want me to be your teacher."
Yu Xiaogang finally couldn't resist revealing his true intentions.
As he said this, the corner of his eye kept drifting toward Kai.
"Will you teach me how to cultivate my Martial Soul?" Tang San didn't agree right away. Instead, he cautiously asked.
Grandmaster stopped walking and turned to face Tang San. Rather than answering his question directly, he asked, "And would you be willing?"
Watching the two of them put on their little performance, Kai finally couldn't help interrupting.
"May I ask where I'm supposed to register?"
Before you continue