Arrogant Yu Xiaogang

"These are all crafted exquisitely." Lan Si nodded in satisfaction, stowing the semi-automatic pistol parts and the bullet press into his Soul Tool. He then pulled out a pouch of Gold Soul Coins and smiled, "Uncle Otto, this is the payment from my teacher."

Lan Si naturally could not tell the truth about having Otto craft firearm parts. He operated on the principle that he could not let Otto suffer a loss.

Therefore, he had fabricated a story about an eccentric teacher who did not exist, providing a deposit of thirty Gold Soul Coins and claiming these parts were what that teacher required.

Thinking that Lan Si was still young, could not possibly know about such precise components, and could not have that much money, Otto was happy that Lan Si had found a high-level Soul Master as a teacher. Without a shred of suspicion, he had agreed.

"Hehe, keep the money. The previous deposit was enough to cover the material costs. Consider the labor fee my way of thanking him for taking you as a disciple." Otto shook his head with a chuckle.

"Uncle Otto, you know my teacher's personality. If I go back and he finds out you didn't take the money, he will scold me." Lan Si insisted on paying. With thirty Gold Soul Coins, Otto would definitely be at a loss; the iron essence material alone cost more than thirty Gold Soul Coins, and when labor was added, it would be impossible to finish for less than fifty.

"You child." Otto shook his head with a smile, no longer refusing. He then took a short sword with a scabbard from the counter, "This is the short sword you failed to forge last time. I added some iron essence and finished it for you. Take it now."

"Uncle Otto, I..." A warm current flowed through Lan Si's heart, and he heard Otto say, "No matter what, I hope you can be safe and sound. If one day you grow tired of the outside world, just come back to this smithy. This place will always be your home."

"I will." Taking the short sword, Lan Si nodded solemnly before walking out of the smithy and heading toward the academy.

Upon reaching the academy, Lan Si quickly returned to his room, locked the doors and windows, assembled the firearm, and then took out the gunpowder he had been preparing bit by bit over the past few months to begin making bullets.

The night passed without incident!

The next morning, Lan Si woke up from his sleep slumped over his desk. Looking at the twenty-some bullets on the table and the already assembled pistol, he revealed a satisfied smile.

With this semi-automatic pistol, he would have a certain degree of self-preservation against Soul Masters below level forty.

After all, the power of this specially crafted semi-automatic pistol was immense. When infused with soul power fused from the Supreme Universe Art and the Five Thunders Heart Art, it could even pierce through steel plates several centimeters thick.

If he could forge a Barrett sniper rifle in the future, a Soul Saint or even a Douluo could be crippled if caught off guard.

If his soul power increased, it might even be possible to severely injure a Titled Douluo.

As he chambered a round, a surge of shooting memories from his past life at the firing range flooded his mind. He subconsciously wanted to fire, but considering his current environment, he ultimately held back. This was the Nuoding Academy dormitory building; if he fired, the sound of the gunshot would surely attract the attention of instructors and students. That would not be a wise move.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and Yu Xiaogang's voice rang out from outside: "Lan Si, are you up? It's time for us to depart."

"Oh, coming." Lan Si quickly packed away the various tools on the table, washed up briefly, and hurried out.

An hour later, the three of them had finished purchasing supplies. Yu Xiaogang and Tang San carried large and small bags, boarding the carriage to the Soul Hunting Forest with Lan Si.

"Little San, this is for you." Yu Xiaogang glanced at Lan Si, a trace of imperceptible smugness curling the corner of his mouth as he took out a jade belt and handed it to Tang San.

"Teacher, what is this?" Tang San asked curiously.

Yu Xiaogang smiled calmly and immediately began to educate Tang San about Soul Tools.

Tang San was deeply moved after hearing this, nearly calling Yu Xiaogang "father."

"Lan Si, do you want me to help you put your luggage inside?" Tang San looked at Lan Si.

"No need, I have a Soul Tool as well." Lan Si raised his left hand, revealing the Heart of the Sea Blue, and stored his supplies within it.

Seeing the Soul Tool in Lan Si's hand, Tang San nodded without paying much attention. Being able to afford a single room at the academy and owning a Soul Tool did not seem so strange after all.

Yu Xiaogang, however, frowned and asked Lan Si, "Lan Si, was this given to you by your teacher?"

Lan Si replied, "No, it was left behind by my parents."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's brows finally relaxed. He continued to ask, "Lan Si, can you show me your Martial Soul? We are almost at the Soul Hunting Forest, so I can help you deliberate."

"Sure." Lan Si did not refuse; it was not a secret anyway, and the other party would find out sooner or later.

As he spoke, he raised his right hand. Channeling the Supreme Universe Art, a white mist swirled, and a Mortal Green Lotus, rising with forest-white flames, appeared in his palm.

"A plant-type Martial Soul that burns with flames—that is rare." A look of gravity appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face as his eyes stared at the green lotus in Lan Si's hand.

Tang San was also interested, watching curiously. After a long while, he asked Yu Xiaogang, "Teacher, did you see anything?"

Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment, nodding first, then shaking his head: "There is no record of this type of Martial Soul in the books I have read. This forest-white flame seems very weak; it has no temperature to speak of."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang reached out to touch the forest-white flame, a look of deep disappointment flashing across his eyes instantly.

He had originally intended to take him as a disciple, but Lan Si's Martial Soul did not meet his expectations and was simply insufficient to prove his theories.

Fortunately, he hadn't given away the second Soul Tool he had prepared, or it would have been a huge loss.

However, considering he had promised Director Su with such certainty that he would bring Lan Si out to hunt for a soul ring, he still gave Lan Si some advice, saying in a deep voice, "It seems you are only suited to be an auxiliary-type Soul Master. I suggest you look for a Soul Power Holy Wood; it should allow you to obtain a healing or soul-power-boosting auxiliary skill."

Hearing this, Lan Si was instantly amused to the point of anger. This truly was a "Grandmaster"—his face changed faster every time.

The first time, upon hearing his innate soul power was level five, he had flicked his sleeves and left impatiently.

The second time, he had become arrogant and condescending.

The way he gave this advice was as if he were bestowing charity.

If he, Lan, were to truly unleash the power of the Supreme Universe Art, did he really think his palm would remain unscathed?

Li Siyuan of the The Degenerates original work, at the Great Heaven rank, had used his aura to instantly evaporate a venomous snake as thick as an arm into ashes. Although his own cultivation was still shallow, releasing an aura comparable to the temperature of an ordinary flame was something he could certainly achieve.

The Soul Hunting Forest was four hundred li away from Nuoding Academy—not too long, not too short. Along the way, Yu Xiaogang talked incessantly to Tang San, lecturing on his own proud theories.

Meanwhile, Lan Si took out the books his parents had left behind from his Soul Tool and began searching for a suitable soul beast.

By noon the next day, the three of them finally arrived at the Soul Hunting Forest.