The morning mist had yet to lift when Qian Xunji finished packing his modest bundle. He had no intention of going to Nuoding City with Qian San.
"San, go with Grandpa Old Jerry to register at the academy today." Qian Xunji stuffed several changes of clothes and some dry rations into Qian San's bundle, then patted his son on the shoulder, his gaze deep and unreadable.
"I need to make a trip to Star Dou Forest. You've got good talent, and ordinary Soul Beasts aren't worthy of you. I'll go find you a First Soul Ring myself."
Qian San knew all too well how powerful his father's Zheng Fuyu Sword Technique was, so he had no worries about his safety. He obediently nodded.
Half a day later, at the entrance to Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.
Old Jerry had just brought Qian San up to the grand arched gateway when the gatekeeper rudely stopped them.
"What are you doing here? This is a Soul Master Academy. Country folk, don't go barging in!" The gatekeeper eyed the old man and boy with open disdain.
Old Jerry hastily put on a fawning smile and held out the certificate issued by Haotian Hall with both hands. "Young sir, we're from Soul Saint Village. This child is the Work-Study Student our village sent this year."
The gatekeeper suspiciously took the certificate and glanced over it. Then, as if he'd just seen the biggest joke in the world, he burst out laughing.
"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Spider? Innate Full Soul Power? Old man, if you're going to forge a document, at least use your head! A lousy spider without even a trace of poison, fit only to catch mosquitoes in the woods, could have Innate Full Soul Power? If you've got Innate Full Soul Power, then I'm the pope!"
Old Jerry was an honest village chief. After being mocked with such barbed insults, his face flushed crimson. He stood there at a loss, lips trembling, but didn't dare say a word in reply.
Qian San's brows drew together, and a cold glint flashed in the depths of his eyes. Just as his fingers twitched, ready to teach this contemptible gatekeeper a lesson using a Tang Sect technique, a slightly hoarse voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Stop."
The newcomer was a middle-aged man with a close-cropped haircut and ordinary features. He stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a faded black robe. The muscles in his face seemed somewhat stiff, and he carried himself with a proud aloofness that warned others to keep their distance.
This was Ning Dagang, who had turned to studying Martial Soul Theory after his Martial Soul Evolution failed and his Martial Soul became a Glazed Piglet that could fire stinky fart pellets.
"Let me see the certificate." Ning Dagang walked up to the gatekeeper and held out his hand.
The gatekeeper recognized him, and his bluster immediately faded. He hurriedly handed over the certificate with the utmost respect.
Ning Dagang lowered his head to study it. His gaze lingered for a long while on the words "Blue Silver Spider" and "Innate Full Soul Power," and a faint glimmer of insight flashed in his eyes. He turned to Qian San, his stiff face forcing a kind smile. "The certificate is genuine. Sir, leave the child with me."
Old Jerry, greatly relieved, thanked him repeatedly before turning and leaving the academy.
Ning Dagang led Qian San through the academy gates. Along the way, he deliberately slowed his pace, sizing up the unusually composed child in rough homespun clothes from the corner of his eye.
"Though the Blue Silver Spider is stronger than Blue Silver Grass, it's still a Trash Martial Soul at its core," Ning Dagang said suddenly, his tone firm and confident.
"By all rights, this kind of Martial Soul shouldn't be able to produce Innate Full Soul Power. I once investigated 250 Blue Silver Spider Soul Masters, and fewer than seven had Soul Power—a rate of less than three percent. According to my Martial Soul Theory, the strength of a Martial Soul is directly proportional to the amount of Innate Soul Power."
He stopped and turned around, staring intently into Qian San's eyes as if he meant to see through every disguise. "So the only explanation is that you have another exceptionally powerful Martial Soul. You have Twin Martial Souls, don't you?"
Qian San's heart sank.
Last night, beneath the dim oil lamp, his father's stern voice echoed in his mind once more: "Whatever you do, don't reveal your Angel Martial Soul."
Qian San let just the right amount of confusion and surprise show on his face. He scratched his head and blinked his clear eyes. "Teacher, what are Twin Martial Souls? I only have this one spider. Does everyone have to have two Martial Souls?"
Ning Dagang froze.
He stared hard at Qian San's expression, trying to find a crack. But how could a six-year-old country boy with such clear eyes be so cunning? Could his theory really be wrong? But the child clearly had only a Blue Silver Spider... Could it have undergone some rare recessive mutation?
Ning Dagang wasn't sure anymore. Still, whether or not the boy had Twin Martial Souls, his Innate Full Soul Power was undeniable. Ning Dagang desperately needed a genius to prove his theory.
"Ahem..." Ning Dagang cleared his throat, covering his embarrassment. He clasped his hands behind his back again and struck a profound pose.
"If you don't, then never mind. But with your Innate Full Soul Power, your future will be boundless if I guide you. Would you... be willing to take me as your master?"
According to Ning Dagang's expectations, the child should have been so excited that he bowed down on the spot.
Qian San did hesitate. As a newcomer, he did need someone knowledgeable to guide him and help him understand how the world worked. The middle-aged man before him seemed a little odd, but he appeared to know quite a lot.
Still, taking him as a master was fine. Calling him Dad was absolutely out of the question.
He hadn't forgotten his father's warning the previous night: "If anyone tries to take advantage of you and make you call him godfather, I'll break his legs."
So Qian San simply stood up straight, bowed slightly, and replied in a calm, courteous voice, "Greetings, Teacher."
Ning Dagang's lips twitched faintly, and he felt a little disappointed. The ceremony of taking on a disciple had been rather perfunctory, but at least the boy had agreed. He nodded. "All right. Come with me to the Academic Affairs Office."
Along the way, plenty of teachers and students who passed by saw Ning Dagang with a new student and whispered behind his back. Insults like "useless master" and "freeloader" drifted into Qian San's ears now and then.
Qian San's expression didn't change. He acted as if he hadn't heard a thing. He didn't need a War God for a master; he only needed a useful tool. His real source of confidence was his inscrutable father, who was even now making plans for his First Soul Ring.
After completing the formalities and collecting his uniform, Qian San went alone to the entrance of Dorm Seven.
He pushed open the door. The dorm was noisy, with more than a dozen boys of around his age roughhousing. When they saw a newcomer enter, a burly boy who looked a whole circle bigger than his peers strode over. His name was Wang Duo.
"New here? Know the rules?" Wang Duo raised his chin and cracked his knuckles, the joints popping. "I'm Wang Duo, the boss of Dorm Seven. The rule here is that whoever's got the hardest fists is the boss. Take this!"
Before he'd even finished speaking, Wang Duo charged like a little bull, his massive fist aimed straight at Qian San's face.
Before you continue