Tang San nodded and followed Yu Xiaogang into Notting Academy.
"Thank you, teacher," Tang San said politely after entering Notting Academy.
Yu Xiaogang stopped, his face wearing an inscrutable expression.
"I'm not a teacher at the academy. I'm just an idler freeloading here."
"If you want to call me teacher, that is, unless you truly want to study martial souls under me." Yu Xiaogang's voice was calm, as though he did not care in the slightest.
His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, his emotions were already churning like a stormy sea.
Blue Silver Grass, Innate Full Soul Power.
Having studied martial souls for so many years, he knew all too well what that meant.
For a Trash Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass, the chance of possessing Soul Power was less than three percent. Even among that three percent, no one had ever possessed Innate Soul Power above Rank One.
Yet this child before him had Innate Full Soul Power at Rank Ten. There was only one possibility: Twin Martial Souls.
Moreover, the quality of the other martial soul had to be exceptionally formidable, powerful enough to raise even the upper limit of Blue Silver Grass.
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and suppressed the wild joy in his heart.
Don't rush. Don't let it show. Get him under my wing first.
Tang San looked at him and asked, "Are you going to teach me how to cultivate my martial soul?"
Yu Xiaogang did not answer directly, instead asking, "Would you be willing?"
Tang San sized up the man before him. There was nothing unusual about his appearance, and his long-term lack of grooming even made him look somewhat slovenly.
His hair was a mess, and bluish stubble covered his chin. Tang San did not immediately agree.
Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly, his smile carrying a hint of just as I thought.
"You're a clever child." He paused. "I have studied martial souls for many years and summarized some findings, called the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. Would you like to hear them?"
Tang San nodded.
With his hands behind his back, Yu Xiaogang paced two steps before speaking unhurriedly.
"I just looked at your Martial Soul Certificate. Blue Silver Grass, Innate Full Soul Power."
"Do you know that fewer than three percent of those with Blue Silver Grass martial souls possess Soul Power? And among that three percent, not one has Innate Soul Power above Rank One."
Tang San's gaze shifted slightly.
Yu Xiaogang caught that change, and the curve of his lips widened a little.
"Therefore, I conclude that Blue Silver Grass is not your only martial soul. You have another martial soul, and its quality far surpasses Blue Silver Grass."
He stopped and turned to look at Tang San.
"The amount of Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of one's martial soul. That is the conclusion of my years of research. A Blue Silver Grass martial soul cannot possibly support Rank Ten Innate Soul Power."
Tang San was silent for a while before asking, "How did you see through it?"
"Because of this certificate." Yu Xiaogang pointed at the Martial Soul Certificate. "Perhaps others cannot see the flaw in it, but if even I could not, then I would not deserve the title of Grandmaster."
A faint confidence appeared on his face, as though he were merely stating an obvious fact.
"I once investigated six hundred and forty-seven people whose martial soul was Blue Silver Grass. Only sixteen possessed Soul Power, less than three percent."
"And even among those sixteen, not one had Soul Power above Rank One. Yet you have Innate Full Soul Power, Rank Ten."
"According to one of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul I researched, the amount of Innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of the martial soul. Blue Silver Grass clearly cannot meet this condition."
"Therefore, I can be certain that you have another martial soul, and it is an extremely powerful one."
After hearing this, Tang San fell silent.
Only then did he put away the Silent Sleeve Arrow hidden behind his back.
Yu Xiaogang's expression remained calm, unaware that he had just passed through the gates of hell.
The way Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang changed. Though the man looked slovenly, he truly possessed real knowledge and ability.
Tang San had grown up in Holy Soul Village, and no one had ever taught him these things about martial souls. Perhaps this man could truly help him.
Tang San stepped back, dropped to both knees, and respectfully kowtowed.
"Teacher, please accept this disciple's bow."
Yu Xiaogang froze for a moment, then reached out to help Tang San up. A gratified smile appeared on his face, and his eyes even reddened slightly, as though he were deeply moved.
"Good, good, good child."
He patted Tang San's shoulder, his voice trembling slightly.
But in his heart, his joy had already reached its peak.
I finally got him! Twin Martial Souls, Innate Full Soul Power—such talent was enough to prove that my theory was correct.
As long as he was properly cultivated, Tang San would surely become an unparalleled powerhouse in the future.
Then let's see who would still dare say his theories were empty talk, who would still dare mock Yu Xiaogang as trash.
Wang Xian?
Yu Xiaogang sneered inwardly.
That ignorant brat would see, when the time came, what a true genius was and what a true Grandmaster was.
"Come, I'll take you to complete your enrollment." Yu Xiaogang took Tang San's hand and headed toward the Academic Affairs Office.
While completing the procedures, Director Su and the other teachers were all greatly surprised that Tang San had taken Yu Xiaogang as his teacher.
But Tang San, a slave to feudal sect values, could not listen to anyone's advice after becoming his disciple. Instead, he felt that they were insulting his teacher.
Tang San held them in great contempt, believing that they did not value theory and were narrow-minded.
With his enrollment certificate in hand, he headed toward the work-study student dormitory.
The door to Dormitory Building Room 7 was half-open. Tang San knocked twice, then pushed it open and walked inside.
Several work-study students were busy with their own affairs inside. Hearing the sound, they all looked up.
Wang Sheng jumped down from a bed, walked over to Tang San, and looked him up and down. He planted his hands on his hips.
"You're this year's new work-study student?"
Tang San nodded slightly, his tone polite yet neither servile nor overbearing. "That's right. I'm this year's work-study student. My name is Tang San."
Wang Sheng grinned and slapped his chest. "My name's Wang Sheng. I'm one of the old hands in this room."
"Little San, let me tell you, once you enter the work-study student dormitory, you have to listen to our boss, Wang Xian. Got it?"
Little San.
Tang San's expression instantly darkened.
Not just anyone could call him that.
He raised his eyes to Wang Sheng, a trace of coldness entering his gaze. "And if I refuse?"
Wang Sheng froze. He had not expected the newcomer to be so tough. He immediately rolled up his sleeves. "Refuse? Then beat me first!"
Before his words had even faded, Wang Sheng charged forward. He was considered a capable fighter among the work-study students, but compared to Tang San, he was far too inferior.
Tang San shifted aside, flicked his wrist, seized Wang Sheng's arm, and pulled. Wang Sheng's entire body flew through the air, hitting the ground and rolling half a turn.
The other work-study students' expressions changed at once. They rushed over and surrounded Tang San.
Under Wang Xian's leadership, they had long ceased to be the scattered rabble they once were. Someone had bullied one of their own—how could they possibly endure it?
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