The Swelling Yu Xiaogang (About to Sign)

Lan Si followed the sound and looked over, only to see a middle-aged man holding a Martial Soul certificate, leading a child as they slowly walked in.

The middle-aged man appeared to be in his forties or fifties, of medium build and slightly thin. His features were plain, with slightly thick lips, a crew cut, and heavy stubble on his face, giving him a somewhat decadent air.

Yet, a faint smile always lingered on his face. From this, one could tell he was in a very good mood.

Like the man, the child's appearance was also quite ordinary. He looked to be about five or six years old, dressed in coarse linen clothes with wheat-colored skin. Perhaps due to malnutrition, despite being around the same age as Lan Si, he looked very thin and small, half a head shorter than Lan Si.

As Lan Si sized them up, the other party was doing the same. From Director Su, they had heard that Lan Si's current Soul Power had already reached level nine. Could this fair-skinned and handsome child be a genius with an Innate Soul Power of nine?

The middle-aged man placed the Martial Soul certificate on the table and said to Director Su, "Director Su, this is the work-study student sent from Holy Soul Village this year. Please help him register."

Director Su smiled and said, "Isn't this the Grandmaster? What brings you here? A rare guest indeed. Come, sit for a while."

As he spoke, Director Su signaled for someone to bring over a chair.

Grandmaster glanced at Lan Si, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said to the child, "Go ahead and register yourself; I will come find you later."

The child took note of Grandmaster's expression. Though he didn't know why Grandmaster was paying such close attention to Lan Si, he nodded and said respectfully, "Goodbye, Teacher."

Listening to their conversation, Lan Si finally confirmed that these two were indeed Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.

"You have taken the Grandmaster as your teacher?" Director Su looked at Tang San with a strange expression.

Tang San frowned and asked, "Is there something wrong with that?"

Director Su shook his head repeatedly, saying with some regret, "No, it's just surprising that the Grandmaster would take on a disciple. Wait a moment, let me finish registering this student who arrived first."

Tang San nodded slowly and stood quietly to the side.

Placing Tang San's Martial Soul certificate beneath Lan Si's, Director Su registered the information while smiling at Lan Si, "Lan Si, your certificate clearly states your Innate Soul Power is level five. Why did the test show level nine? Can you tell me? If the Martial Soul Hall made a mistake, I can help you correct it."

Lan Si shook his head and recited the excuse he had prepared: "Director, the registration is correct. I awakened my Martial Soul a few months ago. The reason my Soul Power rose to level nine is that I have been learning meditation from a Soul Master during this time."

Hearing this, Director Su realized, and it made sense. However, being able to increase one's Soul Power by four levels in just a few months was already a shocking talent.

His gaze softened as he said, "Lan Si, I have finished your registration. However, since you are not a work-study student, you must pay five Gold Soul Coins in tuition each year. Of course, in return, your living conditions will be much better; you can enjoy a room for three."

Lan Si nodded, thought for a moment, and suddenly asked, "Director, if I pay a little more, could I have a single room?" His cultivation technique was quite special; when it was on the verge of a breakthrough, blue arcs of electricity and ghostly white flames would swirl around him. The scene would be too exaggerated to be seen by outsiders.

"This..." Director Su hesitated, as Nuoding Academy had never had such a precedent since its founding. But considering Lan Si's outstanding talent, Director Su eventually agreed.

"Very well, I can apply to the Dean to open a separate dormitory for you, but you must pay the academy two additional Gold Soul Coins each year. For today, you will have to squeeze into the work-study dormitory. It's in Building Seven. Here is your academy uniform." As he spoke, Director Su took a package from under the desk.

"Many thanks, Director." Lan Si accepted gladly. Not wanting to flaunt his wealth, Lan Si reached into his robe, symbolically, and retrieved seven Gold Soul Coins from the Soul Tool hidden in his sleeve.

There were hundreds of Gold Soul Coins in the Soul Tool his parents had left him, so seven coins a year was well within his means. Furthermore, once he became a Soul Master, he could collect a subsidy from the Martial Soul Hall every month, so he didn't need to worry about money in the short term.

After receiving the items from Director Su, and considering that he might secretly "leech" Tang San's Storm Cloak technique in the future, Lan Si nodded to Tang San as a greeting before walking out of the administrative office.

Watching Lan Si's retreating back, Tang San didn't pay much mind, assuming the other boy was just a well-mannered rich kid, and turned to finish his enrollment with Director Su.

Not long after leaving the office, Lan Si was stopped by an unexpected person.

"Grand-master (ps: no typo), is something the matter?" Lan Si looked at Yu Xiaogang with a calm expression.

Seeing that Lan Si was not terrified of him, a Soul Grand Master, like the other new students, Yu Xiaogang nodded repeatedly, feeling increasingly satisfied.

Not arrogant or impetuous, and calm in his demeanor—he was certainly a good seedling.

"Your name is Lan Si, right? I heard Director Su in the office say your Innate Soul Power is level nine. Could you show me your Martial Soul?"

According to Yu Xiaogang's theory, Innate Soul Power was directly proportional to the quality of the Martial Soul. The higher the Innate Soul Power, the higher the quality of the Martial Soul.

Lan Si possessed level nine Innate Soul Power. Even if he wasn't as good as Tang San, who had Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, he was still a shocking genius worthy of guidance from a theoretical master like himself.

After all, his theories had yet to be put into practice; he needed a lab rat—no, he needed cases to serve as practical examples for Tang San.

Lan Si felt speechless. This guy was clearly setting his sights on him. He replied indifferently, "Grandmaster, you've misunderstood. My Innate Soul Power is not level nine, but level five. I awakened my Martial Soul early and met a kind Soul Master who taught me meditation, which is why my power rose to level nine. If you don't believe me, you can ask Director Su."

Hearing that Lan Si only had level five Innate Soul Power, Yu Xiaogang's face dropped instantly, losing its previous kindness. In his mind, level nine Innate Soul Power was the threshold for taking a disciple; level eight would only earn him a bit of simple advice.

Level five Innate Soul Power? If he wanted the theoretical guidance of this Grandmaster, he could keep dreaming.

"Fine, there is nothing else. You may go." Yu Xiaogang waved his hand impatiently and turned to leave. He needed to go back and think about how to strengthen the bond between himself and Tang San. It seemed Tang San hadn't prepared bedding, and his food was poor; he could start from there.

This was a good opportunity.

Watching Yu Xiaogang's departing back, Lan Si sneered inwardly. How truly insecure one must be to be so arrogant—someone with only half a level of Innate Soul Power looking down on someone with level five.

Too lazy to bother with this guy, Lan Si set off toward the dormitory Director Su had arranged. Until his single room application was approved, he would have to stay there for the night.