Ning Dagang Brings the Wet

The morning mist had yet to disperse when Qian Xunji had already packed his simple luggage, having no intention of accompanying Qian San to Nuoding City.

"San, today you will go to the academy to register with Old Jerry." Qian Xunji stuffed a few changes of clothes and some dry rations into Qian San's bundle, patting his son on the shoulder with a profound gaze.

"I must make a trip to the Star Dou Forest. Your talent is exceptional; ordinary soul beasts are not worthy of you. I shall go personally to scout for your first soul ring."

Qian San knew well the power of his father's Zheng Fuyu Sword Technique, so he naturally felt no concern for his father's safety and nodded obediently.

Half a day later, at the main gate of the Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

Old Jerry had just arrived at the imposing archway with Qian San when they were unceremoniously blocked by the gatekeeper.

"What are you doing? This is a Soul Master academy, no country bumpkins allowed!" The gatekeeper looked the old man and the boy over with a look of utter disdain.

Old Jerry hurriedly offered a fawning smile, using both hands to present the certificate issued by Haotian Hall: "Young man, we are from Soul Saint Village. This child is the work-study student sent by the village this year."

The gatekeeper skeptically took the certificate, lowered his head to glance at it, and then, as if he had just heard the greatest joke in the world, burst into a mocking laugh:

"Martial Soul Blue Silver Spider? Innate Full Soul Power? Old man, use your brain when you forge documents! A pathetic spider that doesn't even have poison and is only fit for catching mosquitoes in the woods could have Innate Full Soul Power? If you have Innate Full Soul Power, then I'm the Pope!"

Old Jerry was an honest village head. Stung by the gatekeeper's sharp-tongued mockery, his face flushed red. He stood there at a loss, his lips trembling, yet he dared not utter a single word of rebuttal.

Qian San's brows furrowed slightly, a trace of coldness flashing deep within his eyes. Just as his fingertips twitched, preparing to use a Tang Sect technique to teach this snobbish gatekeeper a lesson, a slightly hoarse voice suddenly came from behind.

"Stop."

The newcomer was a middle-aged man with a buzz cut and an ordinary appearance. He stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a washed-out black robe. His facial muscles seemed somewhat stiff, exuding an aloofness that kept others at a distance.

This was Ning Dagang, who had switched to researching soul master theory after his Martial Soul Evolution failed, resulting in his martial soul becoming a Glazed Piglet that could only emit foul-smelling farts.

"Let me see the certificate." Ning Dagang walked up to the gatekeeper and held out his hand.

As soon as the gatekeeper saw who it was, his arrogance vanished, and he hurriedly and respectfully handed over the certificate.

Ning Dagang lowered his head to look at the document, his gaze lingering for a long time on the words "Blue Silver Spider" and "Innate Full Soul Power." A glimmer of imperceptible brilliance flashed in his eyes. He turned to look at Qian San, forcing a gentle expression onto his stiff face: "The certificate is genuine. Old sir, leave this child to me."

Old Jerry felt a weight lifted off his shoulders; after thanking him repeatedly, he turned and left the academy.

Ning Dagang led Qian San through the academy gates. Along the way, he deliberately slowed his pace, observing the child—who wore coarse cloth clothes yet remained exceptionally composed—out of the corner of his eye.

"A martial soul like the Blue Silver Spider, while stronger than Blue Silver Grass, is essentially still a trash martial soul," Ning Dagang suddenly remarked, his tone certain and confident.

"Logically speaking, it is impossible for such a martial soul to possess Innate Full Soul Power. I once investigated 250 Blue Silver Spider soul masters, and fewer than seven possessed soul power—a probability of less than three percent. In my soul master theory, the strength of a martial soul is directly proportional to the level of Innate Soul Power."

He stopped, turned around, and stared intensely into Qian San's eyes, as if trying to see through any disguise: "Therefore, the only explanation is—you have another extremely powerful martial soul. You are a Twin Martial Souls user, aren't you?"

Qian San's heart sank.

Last night, under the dim oil lamp, his father's stern voice echoed in his mind once more: "Never expose the Angel Martial Soul."

Qian San's face shifted to show just the right amount of confusion and shock. He scratched his head and blinked his clear eyes, asking, "Teacher, what is a Twin Martial Souls? I only have this one spider. Does everyone have to have two martial souls?"

Ning Dagang froze.

He stared fixedly at Qian San's expression, trying to find a flaw. Yet, how could a six-year-old village child have such deep cunning behind such clear eyes? Could his theory really be wrong? But the child clearly only had the Blue Silver Spider... Could it be that the Blue Silver Spider had undergone some rare recessive mutation?

Ning Dagang was no longer certain. However, regardless of whether he was a Twin Martial Souls user, the aptitude of Innate Full Soul Power was undeniable. He desperately needed a genius to prove his theories.

"Ahem..." Ning Dagang coughed twice to hide his awkwardness, placing his hands behind his back again to assume a profound and mysterious posture.

"If you don't have one, then so be it. However, with your Innate Full Soul Power aptitude, if you have my guidance, your future will surely be limitless. Would you... be willing to take me as your master?"

According to Ning Dagang's expectations, the child should be so excited at this moment that he would kneel and kowtow immediately.

Qian San did hesitate for a moment. Being new here, he did need a knowledgeable guide to help him understand the rules of this world. Although the middle-aged man in front of him looked a bit odd, he seemed to know quite a lot.

However, taking him as a teacher was fine, but acknowledging him as a father was absolutely out of the question.

He had not forgotten his father's warning from last night: "If anyone dares to take advantage of you and make you call them 'foster father,' I will break their legs."

Thus, Qian San simply stood straight, bowed slightly, and spoke in a calm and polite tone: "Hello, Teacher."

The corner of Ning Dagang's mouth twitched slightly, feeling somewhat disappointed. This ceremony of taking a disciple was far too perfunctory, but at least he had secured the student. He nodded: "Good, come with me to the Academic Affairs Office."

Along the way, many passing teachers and students saw Ning Dagang leading a new student and began pointing and whispering behind their backs. Gossip about the "trash master" who only knew how to scam meals drifted into Qian San's ears from time to time.

Qian San's expression remained unchanged, treating it as if he heard nothing. He didn't need a god-of-war master; he only needed a tool. His true confidence lay in his unfathomable father, who was currently plotting his first soul ring for him.

After finishing the paperwork and receiving his uniform, Qian San went to the door of Dorm Seven alone.

Pushing the door open, the dormitory was noisy, with over a dozen boys of similar age playing around. Seeing a newcomer enter, a burly boy who looked a head sturdier than his peers strode over. His name was Wang Duo.

"New guy? Do you know the rules?" Wang Duo lifted his chin and clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking audibly. "I am the boss of this Dorm Seven, Wang Duo. The rule here is that whoever has the hardest fist is the boss. Take this!"

Before he finished speaking, Wang Duo charged forward like a young calf, his sandbag-sized fist aiming straight for Qian San's face.