Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang

Nuoding City, Junior Spirit Master Academy.

The autumn wind rustled bleakly, sweeping up several fallen leaves from the ground.

Inside a somewhat shabby office, Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes gleaming with an almost fanatical light.

He looked at the two six-year-old children before him as though they were uncut pieces of rare jade—or perhaps... stepping stones that could bring him fame and glory.

"Innate Full Soul Power, yet the Martial Spirit is the standard useless Martial Spirit, Blue Silver Grass."

Yu Xiaogang's voice was hoarse and low. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed skyward at a forty-five-degree angle, wearing an air of profound mystery.

"According to the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul that I proposed, such an extreme contrast can mean only one thing."

He abruptly turned around, his gaze locking firmly onto Tang San at his left. His tone was certain.

"Tang San, you have another Martial Spirit too, don't you?"

Tang San's pupils abruptly shrank to pinpoints.

Killing intent flashed through his heart.

This was his greatest secret, the trump card Tang Hao had repeatedly warned him never to reveal.

Yet this seemingly dispirited middle-aged man had seen through it at a glance?

He inferred that I have Twin Martial Souls from nothing more than a certificate...

Tang San rapidly weighed the pros and cons in his heart.

This man's Soul Power was weak, but his theoretical knowledge seemed exceptionally profound.

I had only just arrived and knew nothing about the world of Spirit Masters. I needed someone to guide me.

The benefits of taking him as my master outweighed the drawbacks.

With that thought, Tang San took a deep breath. The vigilance in his eyes turned to admiration as he dropped to both knees.

"Master, please accept this disciple's bow."

At last, a faint smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's stiff face. He helped Tang San up, and the weight in his heart finally lifted.

"Silly boy, why kneel when taking a master? Don't you know that is a courtesy reserved only for monarchs and parents? A bow is enough."

With this disciple, Yu Xiaogang's chance to prove himself had finally come.

Tang San bowed again with utmost solemnity.

"A master for a day, a father for life. You deserve my kneeling."

Yu Xiaogang nodded repeatedly in satisfaction. What an obedient and polite child—kindhearted and filial.

Then he turned around. His confident, even arrogant eyes settled on Ye Liuyun, who had stood silently to the side with an expressionless face.

"Ye Liuyun, you're the same."

Yu Xiaogang once again adopted that all-knowing pose, his voice carrying an unquestionable certainty.

"Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power—without a powerful second Martial Spirit supporting it, such a mutation cannot be explained. You also possess Twin Martial Souls, do you not?"

Tang San turned to look at Ye Liuyun as well.

Since he himself had Twin Martial Souls, this peer who was in precisely the same situation ought to have them too.

However.

Ye Liuyun merely stood there quietly.

He wore coarse linen clothes, and his gaze was as deep as an ancient well. He showed neither Tang San's earlier shock nor the panic of someone whose secret had been exposed.

"I don't."

Ye Liuyun spoke.

His voice was calm and cold, as though he were simply stating the most obvious fact in the world.

"I have only one Martial Spirit: Blue Silver Grass."

He was an eight-hundred-thousand-year-old Blue Silver Grass that had cultivated anew into human form.

His true body was his Martial Spirit. Where would a second one come from?

His so-called Innate Full Soul Power was merely the tip of the iceberg of his vast cultivation, after it had been sealed away.

The air froze in that instant.

The smile on Yu Xiaogang's face stiffened, and a crack appeared in his profound expression.

No?

How could there be no second Martial Spirit?!

If there was none, then wouldn't his Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul become a joke?

Wouldn't his confident deduction from moments ago become utter nonsense?

This was not merely a matter of one disciple. It concerned the dignity of his title as "Grandmaster," and the faith to which he had devoted his life!

"No, you do."

Yu Xiaogang's gaze instantly darkened. His voice rose several degrees, carrying an urgent insistence that bordered on sophistry.

"My theory cannot be wrong. A useless Martial Spirit like Blue Silver Grass could never bear Level Ten Innate Soul Power. Unless it mutated, or there are Twin Martial Souls. Your Blue Silver Grass shows no sign of mutation, so the only explanation is Twin Martial Souls!"

"Child, it is good to hide your trump cards, but lying before your teacher is a matter of character."

He stared at Ye Liuyun, his eyes filled with pressure and warning.

Admit it. Admit it now. Only if you admit it will my theory be perfect.

Tang San, standing nearby, frowned slightly.

He looked at the certain Yu Xiaogang, then at the indifferent Ye Liuyun, and a trace of doubt arose in his heart.

Could Master be wrong?

If Master was wrong even about this, could his theories truly be reliable?

Was taking him as my master too hasty?

Noticing Tang San's doubtful gaze, Yu Xiaogang immediately panicked inside.

He absolutely could not allow the genius disciple he had just accepted to begin doubting him!

To preserve his authority, he had to sacrifice Ye Liuyun's credibility.

"Tang San, are you doubting your teacher's judgment?"

Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back and snorted coldly. There was an additional trace of disgust in his gaze toward Ye Liuyun.

"There are always people in this world with deep schemes, who abandon even basic honesty in the name of so-called 'hiding their abilities.' The reason he refuses to admit it is nothing more than that he thinks I am unworthy of teaching him, or... he sees you as a potential competitor and is guarding against you."

"At such a young age, he is already so calculating. No matter how talented he may be, he will find it hard to achieve anything great in the future."

One grand accusation after another was mercilessly placed upon Ye Liuyun's head.

So this was the so-called Grandmaster.

For the sake of his reputation, he could slander a six-year-old child without hesitation.

After hearing this, Tang San fell into thought.

He had always been suspicious by nature. Coupled with the fact that he really had concealed the Clear Sky Hammer, he instinctively judged Ye Liuyun by his own standards.

That was right.

Both he and I have Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power. I have Twin Martial Souls, so why wouldn't he?

The only explanation was that he was lying. He was guarding against me, perhaps even... guarding against Master.

Compared to that, deceiving even one's own teacher truly was contemptible.

Having reasoned it out, the doubt in Tang San's heart dispersed. There was now a hint of distance and condescending admonition in the way he looked at Ye Liuyun.

"Ye Liuyun."

Tang San stepped forward. His tone was sincere, yet it carried the superiority of someone saying, "I'm only doing this for your own good."

"Since we are the same, why insist on denying it?"

"Master's theories are unparalleled. He saw through us at a glance. By being so evasive, you not only seem petty, but also show disrespect toward Master."

"Take my advice. Be honest with us, and we can still become fellow disciples."

Ye Liuyun looked at the master and disciple performing in tandem before him.

One twisted facts for empty fame; the other fancied himself clever and judged others by his own standards.

Ye Liuyun suddenly found it rather amusing.

Yet he did not laugh, nor did he offer any explanation.

He had no need to prove himself to anyone.

Explain himself?

That was how the weak begged the strong for recognition.

"Are you finished?"

Ye Liuyun lifted his eyes. They remained as calm as stagnant water.

They reflected Yu Xiaogang's hypocritical face and Tang San's self-righteous one.

The corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a faint smile.

There was no anger in that smile, no shame, not even the slightest emotional ripple.

"Since the Grandmaster says so, then so be it."

Ye Liuyun said it casually, his tone perfunctory to the extreme.

After saying that, he turned and left.

"You! Hopeless fool!"

"Your secret has already been exposed, yet you still pretend not to care. You are utterly hopeless!"

Yu Xiaogang's furious rebuke came from behind him.

"Tang San, did you see that? Stay away from people like him in the future! He is unworthy of being your opponent!"

"When your future achievements leave him far behind, he will naturally have his day of regret."

"Yes, Master."

Tang San answered respectfully. Watching Ye Liuyun's departing figure, he secretly shook his head.

This person might have talent, but his temperament was too poor, and he did not know how to adapt.

In the cruel world of Spirit Masters, he was destined not to go far.