First Meeting with Yu Xiaogang, Storage Bag

In the blink of an eye, a year passed quietly.

Host: Li Han
Age: 7
Techniques: Everlasting Spring Technique, Elephant Armor Skill, Blinking Sword Technique, Smoke-Drifting Steps.
Wealth: 3 Copper Soul Coins.

Li Han, having just finished his cultivation, looked at the information on the system panel and smiled with satisfaction.

Aside from his pathetic wealth, he was quite pleased with every other aspect.

As for why he was so poor, the reason was simple: Li Han never mistreated himself when it came to food.

He spent all his wages on meals.

Even so, he was still often unable to fill his stomach.

Because the consumption required to cultivate the Elephant Armor Skill was so immense, his appetite was three times that of his peers.

Wang Sheng, as the boss of Dorm Seven, saw that Li Han was not getting enough to eat and often shared some of his own food with him.

Over time, the two of them developed a rather good relationship.

Although cultivating the Elephant Armor Skill delayed my progress a little, I still managed to break through to level ten within a year.

It's about time I went to the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt a soul beast.

As long as I become a soul master, I should be able to escape this predicament of never having enough to eat.

Martial Soul Hall provided soul masters with a monthly subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin, and one Gold Soul Coin was equal to 100 Copper Soul Coins—enough for Li Han to improve his diet.

Moreover, after becoming a soul master, his channels for income would also increase.

I'll find the dean and apply to go to the Soul Hunting Forest!

Li Han immediately left Dorm Seven and headed toward the dean's office.

He had wanted to go to the Soul Hunting Forest alone to hunt a soul beast so as not to expose his cultivation level.

But entering the Soul Hunting Forest required a warrant from Martial Soul Hall.

That was something he couldn't obtain on his own.

It required proving to Martial Soul Hall that he truly needed to hunt a soul beast to advance, as well as having three nobles provide a guarantee; it was extremely troublesome.

Rather than struggling on his own and letting more people know about his cultivation, it was better to let the school handle it for him.

Of course, if he went to other large wild soul beast forests, he wouldn't need to go through such trouble, but with Li Han's current strength, going to those places would be suicide.

Dean's office.

"Xiaogang, you can stay with me for the time being. Although this is only a primary academy, the students here are quite good."

"If you have time, you can also give them some theory lessons."

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang!

At this moment, he was notorious in the soul master world, a famous failure with nowhere to turn, so he had no choice but to seek refuge with the dean, an old friend.

Seeing that the dean was willing to take him in, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He nodded in agreement, then smiled confidently.

"Rest assured! I will guide these students well."

"With my theories, I believe they will benefit for a lifetime!"

"Heh."

The dean smiled faintly and said nothing.

At this moment, a knock sounded at the door.

"Come in."

Li Han pushed the door open and was stunned to see Yu Xiaogang.

I haven't seen this Grandmaster in a year; I didn't expect to run into him today. Could he have just arrived?

Li Han muttered to himself, but showed no outward reaction.

"Dean, I have broken through to level ten. I would like to apply for the academy to help me hunt a soul beast and obtain my first soul ring."

As soon as these words were spoken, both the dean and Yu Xiaogang were astonished.

"What? You've broken through to level ten? I recall your soul power was level six when you awakened. You've broken through to level ten in just one year?"

Li Han did not offer much explanation, instead directly releasing his martial soul and soul power.

Compared to a year ago, the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo had grown slightly, with a few more white light spots appearing on it.

But overall, it still looked plain.

"Lone Bamboo?"

Seeing this, a trace of disdain flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.

When he had just heard this child say he had broken through to level ten, he had been surprised that such a brilliant genius existed in this academy.

It appears to be nothing more than a mere mutated Lone Bamboo; the white spots that have mutated onto its surface look like a disease, and it has absolutely no value for careful cultivation.

Its potential is at most level fifty; wanting to go any higher is almost impossible.

Unlike Yu Xiaogang's disdain, the Dean's eyes were filled with appreciation and joy.

"Good, good, good! Breaking through to level ten at seven years old, you have broken our school's record.

To go from level six to level ten in one year, one can only imagine the hardship involved.

Li Han, well done!

Tomorrow, I will arrange for someone to take you to the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt a soul beast."

Although he did not think highly of this student with a Lone Bamboo martial soul, a seven-year-old soul master student could make the school's performance look much better.

"Many thanks, Dean."

"Do you have any requirements for this first soul ring?"

"My martial soul is bamboo, so I want to hunt a bamboo-type soul beast; that way, the compatibility will be higher. Of course, the higher the age, the better."

As soon as Li Han finished speaking, he heard Yu Xiaogang let out a disdainful laugh.

"Heh."

Li Han and the Dean's gazes immediately fell upon him.

"Xiaogang, do you think something is amiss?"

The Dean turned to look at Yu Xiaogang.

He knew that this friend of his had a way with theory.

Even though he was nearly fifty years old and had yet to break through level thirty, he was, after all, of noble birth and had access to things that ordinary soul masters could not compare to.

"Of course it is amiss."

Yu Xiaogang slowly stood up, hands behind his back, looking unfathomable.

"This Lone Bamboo is a trash martial soul only slightly better than Blue Silver Grass, and its potential is limited.

Although it has an Innate Soul Power of level six due to mutation, its essence remains weak and pathetic.

If you attach a bamboo-type soul ring at this time, you will gain nothing more than attributes like toughness, which is already a property of bamboo, providing little improvement to your strength.

But if you can hunt an animal-type soul beast and gain other attributes, such as poison or sharpness, you could greatly increase the power of your martial soul.

Only in this way can you gradually escape the fate of a trash martial soul.

Furthermore, the age of the first soul ring is not the higher the better; once you break the limit of 423 years, you will definitely explode and die.

Judging by this student's martial soul, he might not even be able to withstand a hundred-year soul ring."

Yu Xiaogang spoke with absolute certainty, as if everything were already within his grasp.

"Hunt an animal-type soul beast? That won't work, will it? Li Han has a plant-type martial soul; beast-type soul rings are not suitable for him."

The Dean frowned, raising a question.

"That is where you do not understand martial soul theory."

A look of pride appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face.

"According to my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul theory, plant-type martial souls can also absorb beast-type soul rings.

As everyone knows, the effects of beast-type soul rings are generally stronger than those of plant-type soul beasts.

If a plant-type martial soul wants to gain greater potential, hunting a beast-type soul ring is the best choice."

After Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, he looked at Li Han.

"Li Han, is it? I see you have some talent, so I can take you as a registered disciple and map out a path of growth for your martial soul.

With me, your future will surely be even more brilliant.

My name is Yu Xiaogang, and people call me Grandmaster."

Although Yu Xiaogang did not think much of Li Han's talent, he lacked someone to put his theories into practice.

Li Han was already a standout at this Nuoding Academy; using him for experiments was perfectly appropriate.

Ding, triggered check-in character Master Golden Light, rewarded with Storage Bag (growth-type, capacity increases with the host's strength, initial capacity ten cubic meters).

Li Han was immediately overjoyed.

It's been a year! The system finally recognized someone else. A Storage Bag! Good stuff.

Seeing the look of joy on Li Han's face, Yu Xiaogang assumed the boy had heard of his reputation and was reacting this way because he was about to take him as a disciple, making him even more smug.

"Li Han, do you really want to take Xiaogang as your master?

A soul master can only take one master in their lifetime, otherwise, they will be spurned by all soul masters; you must think this through."

Seeing that Li Han did not speak, the Dean immediately reminded him.

Upon hearing this, Li Han snapped back to reality and shook his head repeatedly.

"No, Dean, I have no intention of taking on a master for the time being. Besides, I think choosing a bamboo-type spirit beast is quite good.

As for beast-type spirit rings, I don't have any plans for that right now."

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed instantly.

"Hmph! You are a rotten piece of wood that cannot be carved! I only offered you guidance because I thought highly of you; I never expected you to be so blind to value.

So be it!

Looking at you like this, you won't amount to much in the future.

If people found out I had a nominal disciple like you, I'd be a laughingstock."

Yu Xiaogang flicked his sleeves in anger and left, showing no intention of staying.

"Xiaogang! Xiaogang!"

The Dean called out repeatedly, but Yu Xiaogang did not even look back.

"This guy's temper is still as big as ever. He doesn't allow anyone to have even the slightest doubt about his theories."

The Dean sighed helplessly.

"Li Han, go back and prepare. We set off to hunt spirit beasts early tomorrow morning.

Right, go to the library and tell Mo Hen that your work as a work-study student will be suspended for this period."

"Yes, Dean."