Enrollment, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang Appears

Beside the dilapidated blacksmith shop, in Tang San's home.

Looking at Tang Hao, whose face was twisted and eyes askew, Tang San felt a strange sense of fear.

Tang Hao, whose complexion was already sallow, looked even more like a vagrant in this state.

The poison Tang San had administered this time was quite potent, causing Tang Hao to lose control of his facial features, resulting in symptoms resembling a stroke.

I didn't expect Tang Hao's injuries to be this severe; otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to use this kind of poison! Tang San thought to himself.

Two months ago, under the guise of using his Blue Silver Grass soul power to help soothe Tang Hao's body, he had probed Tang Hao's condition and discovered that his meridians were in such chaos that he hardly seemed like a living person.

If not for Tang Hao's Title Douluo level soul power and the support of his soul bones, he would have likely met the Grim Reaper long ago with injuries this grave.

My hidden injuries seem to be worsening, Tang Hao thought.

Over the past few months, he had noticed several abnormalities occurring within his body.

I cannot drag this out any longer. I must arrange everything for Little San as soon as possible, then use the sect's secret technique to force all my hidden injuries into my soul bones!

Once this secret technique was used, it could purge the hidden injuries from his body.

However, the price was that he would lose his soul bones, his limbs, and his corresponding soul power.

By then, he would hand the soul bones over to Tang San, allowing him to take them to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the sect, thereby repaying the mistakes he had committed.

Two inherited soul bones were enough for the sect to cultivate another Title Douluo to bolster their standing.

"Dad, I am about to leave for the Soul Master Academy with Old Jack. Please take care of yourself."

Tang San knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to Tang Hao.

During this period, the more effort he put into poisoning him, the harder he kowtowed.

Only in this way could he disguise himself as a filial son and avoid arousing Tang Hao's suspicion.

Tang Hao gulped down a flask of cheap liquor and barked, "Get lost! Stop annoying me!"

In his heart, he was actually reluctant to part with Tang San.

To leave a good impression on Tang San, he once again endured the pain of his aggravated hidden injuries and used his soul power to smooth out his facial features.

After doing so, Tang Hao opened his bedroom door and lay back down on his bed.

Seeing this, Tang San breathed a sigh of relief; he had cleared this hurdle.

He touched the Gold Soul Coin hidden in his inner lining, feeling a slight sense of security.

This was the reward for his mission this time: poisoning Tang Hao three times and making him lose face three times had earned him these fifty Gold Soul Coins and half a level of soul power.

With these fifty Gold Soul Coins, I can forge a few decent hidden weapons for self-defense! Tang San thought.

It's a pity I have to part ways with Tang Hao today. I wonder when the next mission will trigger?

From his initial resistance to the missions, he now found himself faintly looking forward to them.

Today was the day to enroll in the Soul Master Academy.

After bidding farewell to Tang Hao, Tang San took his luggage and headed toward Old Jack's house.

He didn't have much luggage—just two tattered sets of clothes and a few iron nails for self-defense.

These nails had already been ground into the shape of the Tang Sect's Bone Piercing Nail, and their power was decent.

Upon arriving at Old Jack's home, he found that Li Ping'an was already waiting there.

Like him, Li Ping'an didn't bring much luggage either.

"Tang San, you're finally here!" Old Jack breathed a sigh of relief.

Old Jack disliked Tang Hao, so he was reluctant to go to Tang San's house to meet that drunkard.

If Tang San hadn't arrived, he would have had to go to Tang San's home to check on him.

"Grandpa Jack, I had to say goodbye to my dad, so I was a bit late," Tang San explained.

In front of the village chief, he maintained the appearance of a sensible child, which deeply pleased Old Jack.

"Good, since everyone is here, let's set off!"

Old Jack led Tang San and Li Ping'an toward Nuoding City.

Because of Tang San's previous malice toward him, Li Ping'an did not intend to get too close to Tang San.

Although improving his relationship with Tang San could make Tang San's missions easier and the rewards more generous—allowing him to gain more rewards in the process—Tang San was simply too fickle to be worth Li Ping'an's investment in friendship.

Moreover, he also possessed a Blue Silver Grass martial soul; Tang San wouldn't need him for any future teams, so he had no value to be courted by Tang San.

"Tang San, Ping'an, you are both good children of Holy Soul Village. Once you go to the Soul Master Academy, remember to look out for each other." Old Jack instructed.

"Understood, Grandpa Village Chief!"

Tang San and Li Ping'an both nodded, but neither knew what the other was truly thinking.

The Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy was located in the west of Nuoding City, and Holy Soul Village was also to the west of Nuoding City.

It only took the trio half a day to reach Notting Academy.

Looking at the ancient and imposing academy gates, Old Jack felt a sudden sense of inferiority.

Nevertheless, he stepped forward to inquire about the enrollment process for work-study students on behalf of the two children from his village.

"Work-study students? It seems Notting Academy hasn't had any work-study students for several years now."

The guard glanced at the two Martial Soul certificates Old Jack handed over.

Old Jack grew anxious; failing to grasp the subtext in the guard's words, he spoke up hurriedly.

"These two children really are work-study students! The Martial Soul certificates and the village paperwork are all here!"

The guard frowned, wondering if Old Jack was truly oblivious or just pretending to be.

What he wanted was a bribe, a toll fee, not to actually inspect any paperwork.

"What a joke. Since when can Blue Silver Grass be cultivated? And both of them are Blue Silver Grass, with one even having Innate Full Soul Power?"

"Are these Martial Soul certificates of yours fake?"

Old Jack was about to retort, intending to drag the guard to Martial Soul Hall to prove their innocence.

But Li Ping'an could no longer stand by, fearing Old Jack might get hurt if a conflict broke out.

Although the guard was no match for Tang San, what if Tang San was unwilling to fight while he was present?

So, he stepped forward to pull Old Jack aside and whispered his understanding of the situation.

"Grandpa Village Chief, Tang San, that guard is just a gatekeeper. What authority does he have to verify the authenticity of our Martial Soul certificates?"

"He just wants a bribe. Don't let him upset you, Grandpa Village Chief; we can just wait him out."

"That guard wouldn't dare let us attract the attention of any important figures, so he'll obediently let us in soon enough!"

"What? He wants a bribe from us?" Old Jack was momentarily speechless.

Though he was older, he knew little of the schemes and tricks found in the city.

The social customs of the village were nothing like this.

Upon hearing this, Tang San also had a sudden realization. Although he hadn't dealt much with worldly affairs in his past life, his ability to learn was top-tier.

Once Li Ping'an pointed it out, he understood immediately.

"A clever lad indeed, so young yet so well-versed in the ways of the world!" A deep, resonant voice drifted over.

Li Ping'an and the others turned to see a middle-aged man with a crew cut, a melancholy expression, and thick lips appearing behind them.

The moment he appeared, the guard stopped acting up and respectfully addressed him as "Grandmaster."