Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night

"Teacher, I'm here!"

Hearing voices from inside the room, Lu Yi knocked on Master's door, greeted him politely, then pushed the door open and walked in.

"Perfect timing, Xiao Yi. Flender wants you to attend his academy after you graduate from Nuoding Academy. What do you think?"

Seeing Lu Yi enter, Yu Xiaogang spoke as if he had just seen a savior. Flender had been pestering him to no end.

Lu Yi froze at those words, then looked toward his teacher. Yu Xiaogang merely closed his eyes and gave a slight shake of his head.

He did not want his disciple Lu Yi to attend Flender's so-called Shrek Academy. Though he had never inspected the place himself, judging by Flender's desperate recruitment efforts and what he knew of his old friend, the academy's facilities could not possibly be much good.

After all, his old friend was stubborn and unwilling to deal with nobles for investment. Naturally, the school's facilities could not compare to those of truly advanced academies.

Even Yu Xiaogang had not expected his old friend to be so unreliable. He had actually established an advanced Soul Master Academy in a tiny village. As for facilities, there were none at all, and enrollment relied entirely on trickery and deception.

According to Yu Xiaogang's plans, after Lu Yi graduated from Nuoding Academy, he wanted to use his connections with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to send Lu Yi directly to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Lu Yi's talent was not particularly outstanding. His Innate Soul Power was only level two, so they had to use every possible method to improve his cultivation speed during the golden years before he turned twenty. Otherwise, Lu Yi might fail to break through to the Soul King realm and end up stuck at level forty-nine for half his life, just like him.

Although Heaven Dou Royal Academy had not had the best reputation in recent years, it was still an advanced Soul Master Academy with a long history and deep foundations. If Lu Yi went there, he would at least never lack basic cultivation resources or a simulated cultivation environment. It was far better than Flender's academy, which might not even be able to provide a simulated cultivation environment.

Though he had not contacted anyone in the clan for a long time, he refused to believe that, given the father-son bond between himself and the sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, they would not help send his disciple to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. When the time came, even if he had to cast aside all pride, he would get Lu Yi into Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

With that thought settled, Yu Xiaogang opened his eyes and looked at Lu Yi. He shook his head at him with utmost resolve.

Lu Yi nodded in understanding. Although he had never planned on attending Shrek Academy, he did not particularly resist the idea either.

After all, once Magikarp evolved into Gyarados, he would at least have the potential to become a Soul Saint. That made him something of a genius. On top of that, he could share talents and skills with his Martial Soul, so he truly did not fear Shrek's students.

But since his teacher wanted him to refuse, there was no need for him to hesitate. He could simply decline.

"Senior Uncle, my Innate Soul Power is only level two. It doesn't really fit your policy of accepting only geniuses."

Seeing Flender waiting expectantly for his answer, Lu Yi spoke with a deliberately embarrassed expression.

"Innate level tw—"

"With Innate Soul Power at level two, your talent is indeed somewhat low. But you reached level ten Soul Power in just two years, which shows that your cultivation talent is not too poor. Keep working hard, and you will at least have a chance to become a Soul Saint in the future."

After hearing Lu Yi's words, Flender fell silent for a moment before encouraging him again, never once mentioning recruiting him into Shrek Academy.

Flender understood his own academy well enough. With Lu Yi's innate talent being so poor, recruiting him would only hold him back. If Lu Yi ended up stuck at level forty-nine and unable to break through to Soul King because of it, Flender would have no face left to face Master.

"Flender, step outside for now. Xiao Yi and I need to pack our things. We'll set off for the Star Dou Great Forest shortly to hunt a soul ring for Xiao Yi!"

Hearing Flender's words, Yu Xiaogang was still somewhat angry despite having long prepared himself for this outcome. He had already told him Lu Yi's talent was poor and that they were not going, yet Flender had insisted on inviting him. Now that he knew Lu Yi's actual talent, he was acting like this.

It was only because Yu Xiaogang had spent so much time with Lu Yi lately and saw hope of breaking through level thirty that his temper had improved. In the past, he would have given Flender a thorough scolding.

"Sure, sure, you master and disciple talk first!"

Seeing Yu Xiaogang's cold expression, Flender gave an awkward laugh and left the room.

In all of Douluo Continent, Master was probably the only two-ring Soul Grandmaster who dared throw such a face at a seven-ring Soul Saint!

After chasing Flender out, Yu Xiaogang feared that his disciple might lose heart, so he encouraged him, "Xiao Yi, don't take what Flender said to heart. Haven't we already proven it? Our Martial Souls really can evolve. As long as you don't give up, there will definitely be a place for you among the Soul Saints in the future!"

"Don't worry, Teacher. I won't give up!"

Looking at Yu Xiaogang's worried face, Lu Yi replied, both amused and touched.

He was touched because he had not expected Master to truly regard him as a disciple. To protect his state of mind, he was even willing to give his longtime best friend the cold shoulder.

What amused him was that he himself had proposed the theory of Martial Soul Evolution, yet Master was worried that Flender's words would discourage him into giving up. How could that possibly happen?

He did not know whether Luo Sanpao could evolve, but Magikarp absolutely could. That was the confidence of someone who had watched Pokémon for over a decade.

"This is the storage Soul Tool that Flender and I obtained when we traveled the continent in our younger days. Each jade stone on it contains one cubic meter of storage space. Today, I'm giving it to you. I hope you remember that your teacher will always stand behind you and support you!"

Yu Xiaogang took out the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night that he had given Tang San in the original story and offered it to Lu Yi.

"Teacher, I can't accept this. If I take it, what will you use?"

Seeing the belt in Yu Xiaogang's hand, embedded with twenty-four milky white jade stones, Lu Yi hurriedly waved his hands in refusal.

He truly had not expected that the teacher he had acknowledged out of greed for a bargain would treat him so well. Tang San's signature Soul Tool from the original story was now about to be given to him.

Lu Yi had already felt somewhat guilty. Master treated him so well, preparing a share of practically every resource for him. Yet Lu Yi knew that Whale Rubber might help Master break through level thirty, but he had never told him.

Now Master even wanted to give him the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night. Lu Yi felt even more ashamed.

"Take it when I tell you to take it. Your teacher naturally has other Soul Tools to use!"

Seeing Lu Yi's expression, Yu Xiaogang directly stuffed the belt into his hands.

"Then... thank you, Teacher." Seeing that he truly could not refuse, Lu Yi finally accepted it.

"That's more like it. From now on, this is your Soul Tool. Give it a name!" Seeing Lu Yi accept the Soul Tool, Master finally smiled.

"Let's call it Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night. Twenty-four jades reflect twenty-four moons; with a heart bright and steadfast, I shall repay my teacher's grace!"

After hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Lu Yi thought carefully for a while before answering. He had not changed its name, only given it a more fitting meaning.

"Twenty-four jades reflect twenty-four moons... Not bad. I never expected you to have such romantic literary talent, Xiao Yi!"

After savoring Lu Yi's words for a moment, Yu Xiaogang spoke approvingly.