Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy.
At the gate.
The gatekeeper blocked Tang Yin and Old Jack, holding Tang Yin's proof in his hand as he scrutinized them with disdain.
Tang Yin lowered his eyes, deep in thought about when Yu Xiaogang, who had originally been Tang San's teacher, would show up.
The next second, he caught sight of a middle-aged man approaching from the corner of his eye. The man wore a dark robe, had an ordinary face, and wore a stiff, somewhat stern expression.
It was none other than Yu Xiaogang, who was supposed to take Tang San as his disciple.
Based on his clothes and the timeline, Tang Yin also guessed that the man was Yu Xiaogang.
"What's the matter?" Yu Xiaogang came up beside the gatekeeper and asked calmly.
The moment the gatekeeper saw Yu Xiaogang, his attitude did a complete about-face. He became utterly respectful. "Grandmaster, these two tried to sneak in with a fake proof. I stopped them."
Hearing the word "Grandmaster," Tang Yin became even more certain of the middle-aged man's identity.
Yu Xiaogang took the proof and examined it carefully. When he saw "Innate Full Soul Power" and "Blue Silver Grass" listed together on the same document, he froze for a moment, then studied Tang Yin without changing his expression.
"Hello. This proof was given to us by Master Su Yuntao of Spirit Hall. It's definitely real." Old Jack looked cautiously at Yu Xiaogang as he assured him.
After looking it over carefully, Yu Xiaogang said, "The proof is indeed real. Sir, let me apologize for his rudeness. Leave the child to me; I'll take him to register for school."
"No need to apologize! There's no need!" Old Jack waved his hands in alarm.
After all, an ordinary person had no standing at all before someone who might be a Soul Master.
"Little Tang, study hard here. I'll come get you when school's out." Old Jack said with a cheerful smile, then reached out and rubbed Tang Yin's little head, topped with short, sea-blue hair.
"Goodbye, Grandpa Jack!" Tang Yin waved farewell and watched Old Jack leave.
Only after Old Jack had gone did Yu Xiaogang say to Tang Yin, "Come with me."
Tang Yin nodded without a word.
Yu Xiaogang scolded the gatekeeper before turning and walking away.
Tang Yin watched it all, unmoved.
At that moment, all he could think about was how to reasonably turn down Yu Xiaogang's desire to take him as a disciple.
He didn't want a master.
Especially not a weak one.
Yu Xiaogang had also noticed how quiet Tang Yin had been along the way. He wondered how to start a conversation and break the silence.
After a while, Yu Xiaogang stopped.
Tang Yin stopped too, looking at him in confusion.
Yu Xiaogang turned to face Tang Yin and raised the proof in his hand. "A Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power. I've studied Martial Souls for decades, and this is the first time I've seen one. Could I take a look at your Martial Soul?"
"Of course. Master Su Yuntao of Spirit Hall was surprised too. He later told me that my Martial Soul had undergone a beneficial mutation, which was why I had Innate Full Soul Power." As he spoke, Tang Yin released his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul.
Even among the strongest on the continent, few knew about the Blue Silver Emperor.
Tang Yin wasn't worried in the slightest that Yu Xiaogang would recognize it.
Yu Xiaogang simply didn't have the ability.
Yu Xiaogang listened to Tang Yin's explanation. The words "Master Su Yuntao" and "Mutated Martial Soul" caught his attention; the former was the second time he had heard it today.
Since when could a mere Soul Grandmaster be called a master!?
Yu Xiaogang didn't dwell on that. He focused on Tang Yin's Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul and murmured, "Aside from those golden patterns, it's no different from ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Could it really have undergone a beneficial mutation?"
"Even a Trash Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass can undergo such a beneficial mutation and develop Innate Full Soul Power. It's truly unbelievable!"
Yu Xiaogang couldn't help thinking of himself, crying out inwardly, Heaven is unjust!
Tang Yin watched each change in Yu Xiaogang's expression and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had thought the lie through carefully before deciding to tell it.
And it fit the circumstances of a Mutated Martial Soul perfectly.
After all, Mutated Martial Souls could be good or bad.
If they developed in a good direction, they could produce peerless geniuses; if they developed in a bad direction, they could produce peerless good-for-nothings!
"Grandmaster, where do I register?"
"If you're busy, I can register on my own. I don't want to trouble you."
Tang Yin's words brought Yu Xiaogang out of his daze.
Yu Xiaogang studied Tang Yin closely, then said, "I've spent many years studying Martial Souls. Would you be willing to take me as your master? I'm willing to give everything I have to teach you and help you become a great powerhouse!"
"Grandmaster, I'm here to go to school, aren't I?" Tang Yin scratched his head, pretending to be confused.
"What I can teach you is something no Soul Master Academy or Soul Master can teach you!" Yu Xiaogang's stiff face struggled to form an ugly smile.
Tang Yin sighed inwardly and said helplessly, "Grandmaster, I'd like to register for school first."
The smile vanished from Yu Xiaogang's face, and his usual stiff, stern expression returned. "Come with me."
Yu Xiaogang said no more and headed straight for the new-student registration office.
Tang Yin hurried after him, thinking, Good thing I made up that lie and didn't expose the Mutated Clear Sky Hammer. Otherwise, it really wouldn't have been easy to get away from Yu Xiaogang. Yu Xiaogang can barely help me at all, so there's no need to get too involved with him.
When they reached the registration office, Yu Xiaogang said calmly, "Someone inside will handle new-student registration. Go in."
"Thank you, Grandmaster," Tang Yin said.
Yu Xiaogang waved a hand, clasped his hands behind his back, and left on his own. His tightly furrowed brow made it clear he was thinking about something.
Tang Yin said nothing more. He went inside, registered, received his uniform, then asked for directions and made his way to the Work-Study Student dormitory—Dorm Seven!
The door to Dorm Seven stood wide open. Seven or eight boys of different ages were gathered inside, making a racket.
Tang Yin didn't hurry in. Instead, he stood quietly to one side and waited.
Before long, a simply dressed, adorable little girl about Tang Yin's age walked over. What stood out most was her long scorpion braid, neatly combed.
"Hello, is this Dorm Seven?"
The girl came up to Tang Yin, her pink eyes sparkling as she studied his face. How can this person be so handsome?
Tang Yin looked the girl over too, thinking, This should be Xiao Wu!
Tang Yin pointed to the open dormitory door beside them and said, "This is Dorm Seven. I'm a new student too. Let's go in together."
When the girl came back to herself, she noticed the uniform in Tang Yin's hand, then looked at the uniform in her own arms, and suddenly understood.