"Come out, Luo Sanpao!" Yu Xiaogang's low voice rang out.
A streak of purple light shot from his chest, then dropped to the ground, where it transformed into a purple creature that looked half pig and half dog.
This creature was Luo Sanpao, the result of a mutation in Yu Xiaogang's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.
Like Torchic, Luo Sanpao was an External Martial Soul, and both possessed astonishing potential to evolve.
The moment Luo Sanpao appeared, he couldn't help glancing at Torchic.
Torchic stepped in front of Ye Chen to protect him, glaring at Luo Sanpao with sharp eyes and making a threatening "charmander" sound.
The two seemed to regard each other as Soul Beasts. Luo Sanpao also let out a series of "cluck-clucks," ready to unleash his farting skill at any moment.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang stopped him. "Sanpao, stand down!"
Only then did Luo Sanpao hold his fart in, though he kept glaring at Torchic.
Ye Chen scooped Torchic into his arms and smiled. "Don't worry, Torchic. This is Grandmaster's Martial Soul, named Luo Sanpao. He may look different, but like you, he's an External Martial Soul, not a Soul Beast."
"Charm?" After hearing this explanation, Torchic's gaze shifted from threatening to curious.
It had never encountered another External Martial Soul like itself, and its playful side took over. With a cheerful grin, it held out its little wing to Luo Sanpao, offering a handshake and friendship.
Luo Sanpao cheerfully extended a foreleg in return, making a series of "luo-luo" sounds.
Seeing how friendly the two External Martial Souls were, Dean Ding hurried to put in a good word for Yu Xiaogang. "Though Grandmaster's Luo Sanpao is an Evil Mutated Martial Soul, he has two Yellow Soul Rings—both Hundred-Year Soul Rings. That's the finest Soul Ring Configuration among Two-Ring Soul Grandmasters."
"Besides, like you, Grandmaster has an External Martial Soul. What teacher could match his experience in cultivating one? What's more, Grandmaster once presented the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul at Spirit Hall. Countless scholars admire him, and he's hailed as an unrivaled theoretical master."
At this point, Dean Ding came around from behind his desk and stood before Ye Chen, patting him on the shoulder with a smile. "Ye Chen, you have Innate Full Soul Power. Your future is boundless. I called you here so late at night because I wanted to introduce you to Grandmaster. Let him guide your cultivation and keep you from straying down the wrong path."
"If you're both willing, you could become master and disciple right here in my office. One day, the two of you could make a name for yourselves across the continent with your External Martial Souls. That would be a fine story indeed."
After hearing Dean Ding out, Ye Chen looked at Yu Xiaogang, a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.
Meeting Ye Chen's gaze, Yu Xiaogang suddenly rose from the sofa. Two Yellow Soul Rings revolved around him, bathing the entire room in their golden light.
Even Dean Ding, and the first two Soul Rings of Nuoding City's lord, had only been a White-and-Yellow configuration.
That made a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster with a Yellow-Yellow configuration a rare sight in Nuoding City. People like that either came from powerful families or possessed formidable strength.
By revealing his two Yellow Soul Rings, Yu Xiaogang hoped to make this point to Ye Chen and improve his chances of taking him as a disciple.
"Child, you know I'm hailed as an unrivaled theoretical master. But do you know why I've never taken a single disciple?"
As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back. The two Yellow Soul Rings around him spun faster and faster, giving him an imposing, unfathomable air.
"Have you gone so long without a disciple because your standards are too high, Grandmaster?" Ye Chen asked.
Yu Xiaogang nodded solemnly. "That's right. I won't take a crowd of disciples like everyone else. A master's attention gets divided among too many students, making it difficult to tailor guidance to each one—especially when it comes to Martial Soul talent, physical training, and acquiring Soul Rings. It becomes even harder to teach each disciple according to their individual needs."
"I'd rather go without than settle. In my entire life, I'll take only one disciple, and I'll devote all my energy to that one person."
"So even though I've always wanted to prove my theories to the world, and I've spent so many years at Nuoding Academy, I've been extremely cautious. Unless I meet a child who satisfies me a hundred thousand percent, I won't take them on lightly."
"My disciple will never be merely a Titled Douluo. They'll be an existence on a par with the gods!"
At this, Yu Xiaogang fixed his blazing gaze on Ye Chen and spoke earnestly. "Child, your Torchic is a Good Mutated Martial Soul with enormous potential, and you have Innate Full Soul Power. Add my theoretical guidance to that, and I'm certain your future achievements will surpass those of a Titled Douluo."
"Since fate brought us together, I think I should pursue this for once. Are you willing to become my disciple?"
After hearing him out, Ye Chen met Yu Xiaogang's gaze and thought for a moment before answering. "Grandmaster, people admire you as a theoretical master, so I understand why your standards for taking on a disciple are high. But I have high standards for choosing a teacher, too. At the very least, my teacher has to be stronger than me. Otherwise, how could you take me out to hunt Soul Beasts?"
"If you're weaker than I am, how am I supposed to trust your theoretical guidance? So if you want to be my teacher, you'll have to defeat my Torchic first."
At those words, Yu Xiaogang wasn't the only one taken aback—Dean Ding was too. Clearly, neither had expected Ye Chen to make such a demand.
Even with Innate Full Soul Power and a Good Mutated External Martial Soul, Ye Chen was still just a Soul Scholar with no Soul Rings. And he dared to say that to a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster?
Although Luo Sanpao was an Evil Mutated Martial Soul that could only attack by farting, Yu Xiaogang was still a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster!
With his level-twenty-nine Soul Power strengthening Luo Sanpao in battle, he couldn't possibly lose to a Soul Scholar with no Soul Skills.
Thinking this, Dean Ding looked at the Torchic in Ye Chen's arms. If Yu Xiaogang hadn't said Torchic was a Good Mutated Martial Soul, he wouldn't have believed it.
Torchic looked like a harmless little chick, with no apparent attack power, defensive ability, or support skills.
Perhaps that was why the Spirit Hall deacon who had helped Ye Chen awaken his Martial Soul had classified Torchic as an Evil Mutated Martial Soul.
Now Ye Chen wanted to pit this tiny, weak Torchic against Yu Xiaogang. Wasn't that like an egg smashing against a rock—utterly overconfident?
Still, Ye Chen's courage at such a young age was worth praising.
Coming back to himself, Ding Yuan smiled at Yu Xiaogang. "Xiaogang, Ye Chen has a point. Why not spar with him? It could be the first practical lesson you give him as his teacher, couldn't it?"
"Fair enough. I've spent all these years poring over theory. I've nearly forgotten I'm a Battle Soul Master."
With that, Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back and made an offer to Ye Chen. "Child, if you want to see whether I'm qualified to be your teacher, I'll give you what you want. To avoid throwing my weight around against someone younger, I won't use Soul Skills, and I'll fight you with just thirty percent of my Soul Power. How does that sound?"
"Fine." Ye Chen's heart leapt at Yu Xiaogang's reply. From the original story's description, Yu Xiaogang might be a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster, but he wasn't very strong.
And with Torchic's current strength, beating Yu Xiaogang should be no problem.
The only question was how much battle experience he'd be able to gain from beating Yu Xiaogang across a rank gap.
Before you continue