This farce finally came to a complete end as Lin Nuo departed beneath everyone's awestruck and reverent gazes.
For Nuoding Academy's teachers, local tyrants like Xiao Chenyu, and work-study students like Wang Sheng and his group, today had absolutely reshaped their worldview.
Before today, the word "genius" had been nothing more than a vague concept in their minds.
But from this day onward, Lin Nuo's terrifying figure—Magic Scythe in hand, killing with a single move—became the sole tangible embodiment of the word "genius."
The scene returned to Yu Xiaogang's office.
After returning with his bedraggled beloved disciple and a strangely expressioned Xiao Wu, Master Yu naturally had to brew up a hearty pot of chicken soup and forcibly rebuild Tang San's confidence.
"Xiao San, raise your head.
"You need to understand that Lin Nuo only surpassed you by a small margin today because he relied on a slight advantage in Martial Souls. In the long run, that is nothing to worry about."
Yu Xiaogang paused strategically before tossing out his Invincible Theory. "In my view, compared to him, you possess three victories, while he has three defeats!"
The moment those words came out, not only Tang San, but even Xiao Wu—who was still disgusted by the smell on Tang San—could not help casting him a curious look.
"Oh? What do you mean, Teacher?"
Tang San cooperatively pressed for an explanation.
Master Yu habitually tucked his remaining right hand behind his back, lifted his chin slightly, and assumed the bearing of an academic authority passing judgment on the world as he declared forcefully,
"First, the victory of talent!
"Xiao San, you should know just how terrifying that hidden talent of yours is.
"Your Blue Silver Grass may seem somewhat weak at present, but that is only temporary."
"Once your cultivation breaks through to the Soul Saint stage, the entire continent will understand what a true peerless genius is!
"As for Lin Nuo, no matter how fierce his Spider Martial Soul may be in the early stages, its potential is ultimately fixed. There will inevitably come a day when he lacks the strength to continue."
Tang San nodded thoughtfully after hearing this.
He knew his teacher was referring to his second Martial Soul.
Yu Xiaogang had once analyzed his future development for him.
As long as he reached the Soul Saint stage and equipped his second Martial Soul with nothing but black Soul Rings over ten thousand years old, that kind of cross-rank attribute stacking would be enough to send him soaring instantly.
Lin Nuo, meanwhile, had only one Martial Soul. He only had so many available Soul Ring slots, so the gap would naturally widen in the later stages.
"Second, the victory of heritage." Master Yu continued his analysis, his tone becoming inscrutable.
"As for the true inheritance behind your Martial Soul, Xiao San, I have already uncovered a few clues.
"When the time is right, I will tell you everything.
"With a colossal power of that level backing you, Lin Nuo's shady background is nothing much."
Upon hearing that riddle-like statement, Tang San's eyes immediately took on a look of pure, unclouded stupidity.
Inheritance?
What earth-shattering inheritance could his crappy Iron Hammer Martial Soul possibly have?
Could it be that his alcoholic father, who got drunk every day back in Holy Soul Village, was actually some hidden peerless expert?
Yet within Yu Xiaogang's self-proclaimed World-Shocking Wisdom, the logic formed a perfect closed loop.
Even if Lin Nuo truly was Bibi Dong's illegitimate son, he was still an unacknowledged bastard. The core foundation of Spirit Hall was ultimately held by the Angel Clan, so the resources Bibi Dong could provide the boy were surely limited.
And Tang San? He was a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect, born of pure and proper blood!
As long as he returned to his ancestral clan in the future, and had the careful support of a theory master like himself, would succeeding as the Clear Sky Sect's leader not be a certainty?
This round, the advantage was mine!
Before Tang San could fully digest that logic, Master Yu impatiently straightened his back and threw out his core argument.
"This third point is also the most fatal and most important victory—"
Using his sole remaining arm, Master Yu forcefully pointed at his own chest, his eyes brimming with pride. "The victory of a famous teacher!"
"That brat Lin Nuo has nothing but brute strength. He does not have a theoretical master as learned and knowledgeable as me to guide him.
"Do not be fooled by how much glory he has gained through his wild methods now. A Soul Master's cultivation is like walking on thin ice. Without proper theoretical guidance, he will sooner or later ruin his cultivation and completely waste his talent!"
Gangzi snorted coldly and gave his lofty conclusion. "Today, he was blind enough not to kneel and acknowledge this master as his teacher. One day, he will regret his arrogance and ignorance until his guts turn green!"
After hearing Master Yu's textbook-perfect method of spiritual victory, the light instantly returned to Tang San's formerly dim eyes.
He nodded repeatedly, as though clouds had parted to reveal the blue sky. His admiration for Yu Xiaogang surged like an endless river.
"Teacher, you truly deserve to be the number one theory master in the Soul Master world!
"Your analysis has truly awakened me from a dream!"
According to Gangzi's perfectly closed-loop Winning Theory, although Tang San had just been beaten downstairs until his face was disfigured, and even his peerless Hidden Weapon had been treated like trash and trampled underfoot, as long as the timeline stretched into the future, he would crush Lin Nuo from every angle without a single blind spot!
So what if he had lost?
The potential advantage was mine! The background advantage was mine! Even the advantage of a famous teacher was mine!
Seeing his beloved disciple regain his invincible Dao heart, Yu Xiaogang stroked his chin in satisfaction. Then his demeanor shifted, and he turned his calculating gaze toward Xiao Wu beside him.
"Xiao Wu, your talent is likewise an unpolished jade rarely seen in this world.
"Why not join Xiao San in receiving guidance by my side from now on?
"I guarantee that the two of you will become the most dazzling pair of stars on the continent."
At the suggestion, Xiao Wu frowned, instinctive resistance flashing through her eyes.
After all, that foul-smelling Tyrant Flower had truly ruined this master's standing in her heart.
Who knew what kind of mess she would become if she followed his cultivation methods?
Yu Xiaogang took in Xiao Wu's reluctance but was not angered in the slightest. Instead, a meaningful smile even flickered in his eyes.
He had his pride and his confidence.
Back then, he, Yu Xiaogang, had merely been a useless failure whose Martial Soul mutation had gone wrong. Yet had he not still relied on his "world-shocking" wisdom and nowhere-to-place charm to make both Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong, two proud daughters of heaven, fall head over heels for him?
Like master, like disciple.
He believed that with his help, would Tang San not be able to win over this inexperienced little rabbit with ease?
As long as Xiao San turned this girl into one of their own and trapped both her body and heart, what difference did it make whether she formally became his disciple?
In the end, the meat would all rot in their own pot anyway.
As the office fell into brief silence, Xiao Wu's eyes flickered continuously as an intense battle raged within her mind.
In the end, she gently bit her lower lip and nodded obediently in agreement.
"Then... all right. From now on, I'll listen to Master's arrangements together with Xiao San."
Before you continue