Martial Soul Theory, The First Step to Disguising as a Genius

Li Ping'an stayed at home for a few days before returning to Notting Academy.

Xiao Wu and the others had also returned, and the two were reunited once more.

Seeing Xiao Wu back, Li Ping'an felt a bit surprised; shouldn't she have stayed in the Star Dou Great Forest?

"Xiao Wu, what's wrong? Why do you look so down?" Li Ping'an asked with concern.

Xiao Wu opened her mouth, not knowing how to explain things to Li Ping'an.

Was she supposed to tell him that she wasn't actually human, but a transformed soul beast, and now felt like a bird in a cage?

In the end, she could only shake her head and say, "It's nothing."

"Xiao Wu, if you're having any trouble, you can tell me. Maybe I can help you out!"

Xiao Wu felt inexplicably touched, thinking to herself, These humans don't seem to be all that bad!

Li Ping'an, however, saw on his system interface that Xiao Wu's favorability toward him had skyrocketed, reaching sixty-five.

If her favorability reaches eighty, I wonder if Xiao Wu would sacrifice herself for me? Li Ping'an mused.

This Notting Academy is of no use to me anymore.

Unfortunately, I can't just walk away, or Tang Hao might notice something unusual.

If a soul master cultivating Blue Silver Grass went from level one soul power to over level ten in just over a year, who wouldn't be suspicious?

Tang Hao would certainly associate it with Ah Yin and go to the secret cave chamber to investigate.

If that happened, Li Ping'an would surely be exposed, implicating his parents in this life.

Therefore, he had to reveal his cultivation slowly to appear relatively normal.

Exposing two levels of soul power a year, plus one level from absorbing a soul ring—even in six years, I'd only reach level fourteen.

To hide his strength, he even gave up registering at the Martial Soul Hall to collect the one Gold Soul Coin subsidy.

No, that's too slow. I'll build myself up as a genius.

And that genius path will start with martial soul theory!

A few months later.

At the medical clinic where Li Ping'an worked part-time, several physicians saw him exchange all his earnings for Whale Rubber and wore knowing, auntie-like smiles.

"It really is better to be a soul master. When I was his age, I didn't even have a girlfriend."

"Who would have thought Physician Li would already be using Whale Rubber!"

"But as a physician, I must remind you, Physician Li, you need to exercise some restraint."

"You know, the saying goes, 'In youth, one doesn't know...'"

Li Ping'an was usually easygoing at the clinic, so these physicians dared to tease him.

He didn't really care, though; having lived two lives, why would he be afraid of a few dirty jokes?

He was buying the Whale Rubber now because he intended to publish a martial soul theory, and if he didn't buy it soon, the price would go up.

"Gentlemen, I don't think there's anything left for me to do today, so I'll be heading back!" Li Ping'an said.

The physicians immediately grinned. "Go on, go on. We understand—a moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold!"

Li Ping'an ignored them and left the clinic.

Whale Rubber is so cheap right now. Three thousand Gold Soul Coins got me one ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber and two thousand-year ones!

Ten thousand years from now, this ten-thousand-year piece would be worth tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins!

I owe these purchases to my connections at the clinic; otherwise, in a small city like this, I'd never be able to buy Whale Rubber of this quality!

In a small city like this, few nobles would spend thousands of Gold Soul Coins on Whale Rubber just for virility.

To buy higher quality Whale Rubber, one would have to go to coastal cities or the major imperial capitals.

Since I've bought the Whale Rubber, it's time to publish my theory! Li Ping'an thought.

With theoretical backing, he could justify his rapid breakthroughs without raising suspicion.

Otherwise, it was hard to say if a Blue Silver Grass user with level one Innate Soul Power could even graduate from a junior soul master academy, let alone be considered a genius.

The next day, at the Academic Affairs Office.

Director Su held the manuscript pages Li Ping'an had handed him.

"You're saying this is a martial soul theory you wrote, and you want to use the academy's connections to publish it?"

Director Su looked at him with a strange expression, as if looking at a fool.

"Director Su, why don't you read the content before asking? I can answer any questions you have!"

"If you feel this theory isn't fit for publication, I can always find other channels," Li Ping'an said.

"Other channels? What kind of channels could a Work-Study Student like you possibly have?" Director Su was left between laughter and tears.

This world, too, relies on connections.

If Yu Xiaogang had not had the backing of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Martial Soul Hall back then, how could his theories have spread so widely?

"Director Su, the City Lord's son, Xiao Chenyu, is our little brother!"

"If that still doesn't work, I'll go to Martial Soul Hall. Surely there must be someone there who knows a good thing when they see it?" Li Ping'an said.

"You brat!" Director Su was not angry; on the contrary, he felt quite gratified.

Li Ping'an's words just now showed that he had thought this through carefully. Perhaps his theories really did have some substance to them.

Director Su flipped open the manuscript and began to read.

"Refuting the 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul' Spirit Ring Age Theory?"

"You brat, are you trying to use Grandmaster's reputation to climb the ladder? You had better be careful, he is currently staying at the academy!" Director Su warned.

Director Su flipped through a few pages and was about to return the manuscript to Li Ping'an when he was suddenly captivated by the content.

"The age limit for a Spirit Master absorbing a spirit ring is not fixed, but is related to the Spirit Master's body, spirit, and martial soul?"

"This viewpoint is quite interesting! I'm going to find the Academy Dean!"

Director Su flipped through it casually and saw another piece: "Refuting the 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul' Heterogeneous Martial Soul Spirit Ring Fusion Theory?"

This point refuted Grandmaster's theory regarding plant martial souls absorbing animal spirit rings and animal martial souls absorbing plant spirit rings.

He finally understood that Li Ping'an intended to use Grandmaster as a stepping stone.

If he succeeded, then Li Ping'an would gain as much fame as Grandmaster currently possessed.

"Sigh, I had better let the Academy Dean decide. My spirit power cultivation is not enough to support me in fully understanding these two theories."

Director Su told Li Ping'an to wait a moment while he went to find the Academy Dean.

In Yu Xiaogang's room, he was currently wearing a red dress, dancing gracefully.

Just then, his door was suddenly pushed open, and the Academy Dean walked in.

"Grandmaster! You..." The Academy Dean was dumbfounded. What was he seeing? Grandmaster was actually wearing women's clothing and dancing?

"Academy Dean? Why did you come in without knocking?"

Yu Xiaogang's face turned beet red, and he opened his mouth to say, "Academy Dean, if I said I was practicing a Self-Created Soul Skill, would you believe me?"

The Academy Dean looked at Yu Xiaogang; clearly, he did not believe him, and he took a step back.

"Academy Dean, watch closely!"

To clear his name, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly performed a series of swift sword movements from the Evil-Warding Sword Manual.

"Such speed, such a fast sword!" With spirit power surging, the Academy Dean was somewhat moved.

"Alright, Grandmaster, I believe you! Be careful!"

Yu Xiaogang let out a sigh of relief, thinking to himself, Thank goodness I managed to fool him!

The Dancer Who Defeated the Courtesan is Tang Xiaoyu; it has nothing to do with me, Yu Xiaogang!

But if I am discovered in the future, I can at least use this excuse to bluff my way through! Yu Xiaogang thought.