Ye Chen VS Yu Xiaogang

"Come out, Luo Sanpao!" A low voice sounded from Yu Xiaogang.

Following this, a purple light flew out from his chest and landed on the ground, transforming into a purple creature that looked like a cross between a pig and a dog.

This creature was Luo Sanpao, a mutation of Yu Xiaogang's Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon Martial Soul.

Much like Torchic, Luo Sanpao was an External Martial Soul, and both possessed astonishing evolutionary potential.

The moment it appeared, Luo Sanpao couldn't help but glance at Torchic.

Torchic shielded Ye Chen behind it, staring sharply at Luo Sanpao while emitting a "chamo-chamo" sound of intimidation.

Both sides seemed to mistake the other for a Soul Beast; Luo Sanpao also let out a "luo-luo" growl, ready to unleash its farting skill at any moment.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang intervened, "Sanpao, stop!"

Luo Sanpao held back its fart upon hearing the command, but it continued to glare at Torchic.

Ye Chen held Torchic in his arms and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Torchic. This is the Master's Martial Soul, named Luo Sanpao. Although it looks different, it is an External Martial Soul just like you, not a Soul Beast."

"Chamo?" After hearing this explanation, the look in Torchic's eyes shifted from intimidation to curiosity.

It was the first time it had encountered an External Martial Soul like itself, and feeling playful, it smiled and extended a small wing toward Luo Sanpao to offer a handshake and make friends.

Luo Sanpao also smiled and extended its front limb toward Torchic, making a "luo-luo" sound.

Seeing how friendly the two External Martial Souls were, Dean Ding hurriedly put in a good word for Yu Xiaogang, "Although Master's Luo Sanpao is a malignant mutation, it possesses two yellow-century Soul Rings. This is the most outstanding Soul Ring configuration for a two-ring Soul Grand Master."

"Furthermore, the Master is like you—an External Martial Soul user. When it comes to experience in cultivating External Martial Souls, who could possibly surpass him? Not to mention, the Master once published the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul at Martial Soul Hall, which is revered by countless scholars and has earned him the title of the invincible theoretical master."

Having said this, Dean Ding walked from behind his desk to Ye Chen, patted his shoulder, and smiled, "Ye Chen, you have Innate Full Soul Power; your future is limitless. I called you over late at night specifically to introduce you to the Master. Let him guide your cultivation so you don't go astray."

"If you are both willing, you could even become master and apprentice right here in my office. In the future, the two of you, with your respective External Martial Souls, could make a name for yourselves across the continent—that would surely be a wonderful story."

After listening to Dean Ding, Ye Chen looked at Yu Xiaogang, a thoughtful light flickering in his eyes.

Meeting Ye Chen's gaze, Yu Xiaogang suddenly stood up from the sofa. Two yellow Soul Rings rotated around his body, and the entire room was bathed in their golden light.

Even for Dean Ding or the previous two Soul Rings of the Nuoding City lord, the configuration was merely white and yellow.

Therefore, in Nuoding City, a two-ring Soul Grand Master with a yellow-yellow configuration was an absolute rarity. Such people either had powerful family backgrounds or formidable strength.

Yu Xiaogang revealed his two yellow Soul Rings in hopes of showing this to Ye Chen, thereby increasing the success rate of taking him as a disciple.

"Child, do you know why, despite being called the invincible theoretical master, I have never taken a single disciple from beginning to end?"

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, his two yellow Soul Rings spinning wildly, giving him an aura of profound, unfathomable depth.

"Is it because your standards for taking disciples are too high?" Ye Chen asked.

Yu Xiaogang nodded solemnly, "Correct. I will not be like others who take on a crowd of disciples. Because if one takes too many, the master's energy is dispersed, making it difficult to provide personalized guidance to each one—especially regarding Martial Soul talent, physical training, and the acquisition of Soul Rings; it is even harder to teach according to their aptitude."

"I am someone who would rather have nothing than settle for mediocrity. I will only take one disciple in my life, and I will only pour my energy into that one disciple."

"So, even with the ambition to prove my theories to the world, and even after staying at Nuoding Academy for so many years, I have been extremely cautious. If I do not encounter a child who satisfies me to the tenth degree, I will never take a disciple lightly."

"The disciple of Yu Xiaogang will never be merely a Title Douluo in the future, but a presence comparable to the gods!"

At this point, Yu Xiaogang looked at Ye Chen with burning eyes and said sternly, "Child, your Torchic is a benign mutation with huge potential, and you possess Innate Full Soul Power. If you add my theoretical guidance, then I am certain that your future achievements will far exceed those of a Title Douluo."

"Since fate has brought us together, I think it is time for me to be persistent for once. Are you willing to take me as your master?"

After hearing these words, Ye Chen looked back at Yu Xiaogang, pondered for a moment, and said, "Master, you are a revered theoretical master, so I understand why your standards for taking disciples are high. Actually, my standards for taking a master are also very high. To be my teacher, one must at least be stronger than me. Otherwise, how can you lead me to hunt Soul Beasts?"

"If your strength is not even as good as mine, how can I trust your theoretical guidance in the future? So, if you want to be my master, first defeat my Torchic Martial Soul."

Upon hearing this, not only Yu Xiaogang, the person involved, but even Dean Ding was slightly stunned. Clearly, neither had expected Ye Chen to make such a demand.

Even with Innate Full Soul Power and a benignly mutated External Martial Soul, this child Ye Chen was merely a Soul Scholar without a single Soul Ring. How could he dare to say such a thing to a two-ring Soul Grand Master?

Although Luo Sanpao was a malignant mutation and could only use farting as a means of attack, Yu Xiaogang was, after all, a two-ring Soul Grand Master!

Simply by using twenty-nine levels of Soul Power to reinforce the Luo Sanpao Martial Soul in battle, he could not possibly lose to a Soul Scholar with no Soul Skills.

Thinking of this, Dean Ding looked at the Torchic in Ye Chen's arms. If Yu Xiaogang hadn't said that Torchic was a benignly mutated Martial Soul, he certainly wouldn't have believed it.

Because Torchic looked like a harmless little chick, appearing to have no attack power, no defensive power, and no support capabilities.

Perhaps that was why the Martial Soul Hall deacon who awakened Ye Chen's Martial Soul had defined Torchic as a malignant mutation.

Now that Ye Chen wanted to use such a weak Torchic to fight Yu Xiaogang, wasn't that like an egg hitting a rock, overestimating his own strength?

However, for such a young child, this courage was still worth praising.

Recovering from his thoughts, Dean Ding smiled at Yu Xiaogang, "Xiaogang, what Ye Chen says also makes sense. Why don't you spar with him? Wouldn't this be the first practical lesson of you being his teacher?"

"Very well. All these years I have been studying theoretical knowledge, and I have almost forgotten that I am a Battle Soul Master."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back and suggested to Ye Chen, "Child, since you want to see if I am qualified to be your master, then I will grant your wish. To avoid bullying the young, I will not use any Soul Skills, and I will only use thirty percent of my Soul Power to fight you. How about that?"

"Good." Responding with a nod, Ye Chen felt a surge of joy. Based on the original description, although Yu Xiaogang was a two-ring Soul Grand Master, his strength was not formidable.

And with Torchic's current strength, there was absolutely no problem in defeating Yu Xiaogang.

He just wondered how much combat experience he would gain as feedback after defeating Yu Xiaogang across ranks.