Along the way, the three of them barely exchanged a few words.
Old Jack was getting on in years and had little in common with young people like Chen Yumo and Tang San. He only occasionally asked them a few caring questions.
As for Chen Yumo and Tang San, they simply could not stand the sight of each other.
Because of his preconceived notions from the original work, Chen Yumo instinctively felt that Tang San was not someone worth getting close to. He had no interest in becoming friends with him anyway. Who knew how many times he might cut him off in the future or end up opposing him?
Why bother getting along so well?
Tang San, meanwhile, simply looked down on Chen Yumo. Especially since he, a person with Innate Full Soul Power, had somehow been labeled by Su Yuntao as having the same useless Martial Soul as Chen Yumo.
That left him deeply dissatisfied.
Especially when, carrying that resentment, he asked Tang Hao what kind of Spirit Beast an Ice Silkworm was, Tang Hao's answer made Tang San completely dismiss Chen Yumo.
"What is an Ice Silkworm? The weakest Spirit Beast in the Extreme North. Food in the mouths of all Spirit Beasts there, a Spirit Beast at the bottom of the food chain." Tang Hao spoke carelessly. "You don't need to concern yourself with that kid whose Martial Soul is an Ice Silkworm. The height he can reach in cultivation in this life probably won't even match yours at the moment you awakened."
What Tang Hao meant was that Chen Yumo would most likely never reach level ten in his entire life, not even qualifying to obtain a Spirit Ring.
Since they were not on the same level at all, why would Tang San waste his effort trying to befriend Chen Yumo?
Amid the oppressive silence, the three finally arrived at Nuoding City just before sunset.
Old Jack had probably visited Nuoding City many times before. He was very familiar with the road to Nuoding Academy and led Chen Yumo and Tang San through countless twists and turns until they found it.
As expected, they were stopped by the gatekeeper again. This time, however, the first divergence from the original story appeared.
When the gatekeeper saw the Innate Level One Ice Silkworm Martial Soul on Chen Yumo's Martial Soul certificate, he let him in. Level one Soul Power was still Soul Power; it was not something a mere ordinary gatekeeper with no Soul Power could afford to provoke.
But when he saw Tang San's Martial Soul certificate, he stopped him. His reason was naturally that he suspected Old Jack had forged it. The useless Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul could not possibly possess Innate Full Soul Power.
As he spoke, the gatekeeper tried to shove Old Jack away and drive him out.
"His Martial Soul certificate is genuine. Master Su Yuntao of Spirit Hall can vouch for it." If the gatekeeper had merely made things difficult for Tang San, Chen Yumo would have been delighted. But if he tried to lay hands on Old Jack, Chen Yumo could not tolerate it.
"You're just a lowly gatekeeper. How dare you question a Martial Soul certificate issued by Master Su Yuntao?"
At Chen Yumo's words, the gatekeeper's arrogant expression froze. He stood there awkwardly, his lips trembling as he failed to utter a single word for a long while.
Question Su Yuntao?
Don't be fooled by the fact that Brother Tao was merely a weak Soul Grandmaster with one white and one yellow Spirit Ring. In the eyes of ordinary people, Brother Tao was an undisputed battle soul master!
If Su Yuntao found out that a mere gatekeeper dared question a Martial Soul certificate he had issued, even if the man did not die, he would lose a layer of skin.
Spirit Hall only forbade the wanton killing of commoners without cause. If commoners offended the dignity of Spirit Masters and paid the price for it, Spirit Hall would not interfere.
In fact, questioning a Martial Soul certificate issued by a Spirit Hall deacon like this already counted as disrespect toward Spirit Hall. Even if Su Yuntao really killed him, the people of Spirit Hall would only turn a blind eye.
At its core, Douluo Continent was still a supernatural world that devoured people. Ordinary people occupied the very bottom.
Chen Yumo's single sentence frightened the gatekeeper until his face turned deathly pale.
Tang San's expression was not very pleasant either.
First, he had been provoked by a mere gatekeeper. Then, just as he was about to mark the gatekeeper with the Way of Death, Chen Yumo interrupted his casting. It left him with the stifling feeling of having a breath trapped in his chest.
"Enough. Let this end here."
At that moment, a hoarse voice sounded from the side. The sleazy little flat-top who had been voyeuristically watching Tang San for ages finally emerged from a shadowy corner.
Yu Xiaogang glanced at the gatekeeper, took the Martial Soul certificates from Old Jack's hand, and lowered his head to inspect them carefully.
When he saw the line reading Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, Innate Full Soul Power, an imperceptible heat flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. According to his theory, Martial Soul strength was proportional to Innate Soul Power. Blue Silver Grass did not meet that condition, which meant Tang San must possess another, even more powerful Martial Soul!
Twin Martial Souls!
The third person with Twin Martial Souls in a hundred years—and he had actually encountered him here!
This was simply the best disciple Heaven had bestowed upon Yu Xiaogang. He would definitely use Tang San to prove that he was the greatest theoretical master in the Spirit Master world!
It took Yu Xiaogang quite a while to barely calm the excitement in his heart. On the surface, though, he still wore that cold, deadpan face, doing his utmost to maintain the bearing of an aloof expert.
"The Martial Soul certificates are genuine. You need not concern yourself with this matter. I will take them into the academy." Yu Xiaogang glanced at the gatekeeper and spoke calmly.
"Yes, yes! Master, I'll be leaving right away!" Overjoyed, the gatekeeper nodded and bowed before making a smooth exit.
"Come with me!" Yu Xiaogang turned around. A stiff smile rarely appeared on his deadpan face as he took Tang San's hand and led him into Nuoding Academy.
The moment Chen Yumo saw Yu Xiaogang approach, he had already entered the academy ahead of them.
He simply did not want to see Old Jack being harassed by a watchdog. He did not care what happened to Tang San. Since Yu Xiaogang had arrived, Old Jack would be fine, so Chen Yumo naturally left first.
After all, Chen Yumo had no interest in listening to Yu Xiaogang's theories. Nor did he want to be marked with the Way of Death just because he knew Tang San's secret of possessing Twin Martial Souls.
If he had not possessed the system, perhaps he would have tried to learn some Spirit Beast knowledge from Yu Xiaogang. No matter where Gangzi had stolen his knowledge from, no one could deny that he did have some real expertise in that area.
But Chen Yumo came equipped with the Four-in-One Encyclopedia. Yu Xiaogang no longer had any value to him, so naturally, the farther away he stayed, the better.
Don't mess around on a fresh account.
He was still in the growth stage. Playing it safe came first.
While Tang San was taking Yu Xiaogang as his master, Chen Yumo had already arrived at the Academic Affairs Office and found the guide for his second beginner village—Director Su of Nuoding Academy.
"Hello, Director Su. This is my Martial Soul certificate." Chen Yumo bent over and handed him the certificate.
"You're Chen Yumo, this year's Work-Study Student from Radish Village, correct?" After taking the Martial Soul certificate and looking it over twice, Director Su began writing on the form before him.
"Yes, Director Su." Chen Yumo nodded obediently.
"Work-Study Students do not need to pay tuition, but the academy will assign you some tasks so that you can earn a little living money and support yourselves." Director Su continued writing without raising his head.
"Director Su, may I enroll normally and pay tuition instead of becoming a Work-Study Student?"
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