Since you call yourself a master, you must have some astonishing achievements, right?

As the saying goes, "The Master spoke by the river," and this particular day marked the arrival of new student enrollment at Notting Academy.

"Halt. What are you here for?"

Old Jack hurried forward, his face wreathed in smiles as he carefully handed over two spirit soul certificates. "This elder brother, we are here to bring the children to school. These are the work-study students from Holy Soul Village this year..."

The gatekeeper took them carelessly. His gaze swept over the papers, but the moment he saw the words "Holy Soul Village," his mouth curled into a sneer.

When he saw "Tang San, Spirit Soul Blue Silver Grass, Innate Spirit Power Level Ten" and "Zhao Linchuan, Spirit Soul Glimmer, Innate Spirit Power Level Ten," he froze for a moment, then let out a mocking laugh as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"Blue Silver Grass? And Innate Full Spirit Power? Ha! And this, 'Glimmer'? What kind of nonsense is that? I've never even heard of it!"

He shook the two certificates, his laughter grating. "Old man, use your brain when you forge documents! If Blue Silver Grass could have Innate Full Spirit Power, I could be an Elder of the Spirit Hall!"

"And this 'Glimmer'... could it be the flame from the wick of your oil lamp at home?"

"Get out, get out, get out! Where did these country bumpkins come from? Don't block the gate!"

Zhao Linchuan felt a surge of fury, and Tang San moved to act immediately.

Under the combined assault of Zhao Linchuan and Tang San, the two gatekeepers were no match at all.

Just as the gatekeepers were beaten half to death and were preparing to call for help—

"What is going on? Stop!"

A middle-aged man of average build walked over.

He had an ordinary appearance and a somewhat rigid expression.

Seeing him, the gatekeepers acted as if they had found a savior, scrambling to their feet. "Grandmaster! You've come just in time! These country bumpkins forged spirit soul certificates and tried to force their way into the academy, and they even started hitting people!"

Yu Xiaogang ignored the gatekeepers' clamor, his gaze falling first on the two certificates on the ground.

He bent down to pick them up, his eyes scanning them rapidly. When he saw "Innate Spirit Power Level Ten," "Blue Silver Grass," and "Glimmer," his pupils contracted sharply, and a flash of fanaticism crossed his face.

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Tang San and Zhao Linchuan.

That look was not like he was observing two ordinary children, but rather like he was appraising two unpolished, priceless pieces of jade.

"The certificates are genuine." Yu Xiaogang handed the documents back to Old Jack, then looked coldly at the gatekeepers. "You are fired. Now, go pack your things and leave."

The gatekeepers were struck as if by lightning, their mouths hanging open. "Gr-Grandmaster, I..."

"Do I need to say it a second time?" Yu Xiaogang's tone remained flat, yet it made the gatekeepers shiver. Not daring to say another word, they scurried away.

Only then did Yu Xiaogang turn to Old Jack, his tone softening slightly. "Old man, thank you for your hard work in bringing the children here. Leave these two to me."

Old Jack expressed his endless gratitude, gave Tang San and Zhao Linchuan a few final, careful instructions, and then departed, looking back every few steps.

A short quarter of an hour later, inside Yu Xiaogang's room.

After Zhao Linchuan witnessed the iconic scene of the God King kneeling, the "Grandmaster of Theory" turned his gaze toward him, his eyes filled with an unquestionable certainty, as if he had already seen through everything.

"Child, what is your second spirit soul?"

Before the words had even faded—

[Detected current plot environment, triggering selection mission.]

[The tragedies of the entire Douluo Continent can be said to stem from Yu Xiaogang; it is precisely because of his paranoia that the imbalance and strife among the continent's powers were indirectly caused.]

[Option 1: Stab him in the back and become Yu Xiaogang's second student.]

[Reward: Buff-type divine artifact—Ancient Wish, System Points *50,000.]

[Option 2: Refute Yu Xiaogang's pride and joy, the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Spirit Souls, and make Tang San doubt Yu Xiaogang's true talent.]

[Reward: Sword God—Solderos Trial Card (five minutes), System Points *50,000.]

Zhao Linchuan's breathing hitched imperceptibly.

Ancient Wish?

Isn't that thing meant for dogs?

His gaze swept over Yu Xiaogang's expectant face, over Tang San's respectful back, and finally landed on the spire of the academy's clock tower in the distance outside the window.

'Tang Hao must be watching nearby, right?'

'If I have that trial card...'

'I choose two.'

[Selection successful, rewards will be automatically issued upon mission completion.]

He raised his eyes, meeting Yu Xiaogang's gaze—a gaze that appeared wise but was actually filled with rigid, preconceived notions—with a calm expression.

"Grandmaster," Zhao Linchuan said slowly, his tone devoid of emotion. "Since you call yourself a Grandmaster, you must have some astonishing achievements, right?"

"That goes without saying."

A look of pride appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face as he reverently took a manuscript from his robes, the cover neatly inscribed with The Ten Core Competitiveness Theories of Spirit Souls.

This was his life's work, the "achievement" he was proud of even while trapped at level twenty-nine.

"Grandmaster, why don't you read it to me," Zhao Linchuan said in a steady tone. "So that I might... pay my respects?"

"Then listen closely." Yu Xiaogang straightened his back, his voice carrying the solemnity peculiar to a scholar. "My theories summarize the essence of the spirit master world over the past tens of thousands of years."

"First, the magnitude of innate spirit power is directly proportional to the strength of the martial soul."

"Second, there are no trash martial souls in this world, only spirit masters who do not work hard enough at their cultivation."

"Third, martial souls are divided into two major categories: beast martial souls and tool martial souls..."

He recited them one by one, his voice echoing through the quiet room.

With every point he made, his back straightened a little more, and the radiance on his face grew more intense.

Tang San listened from the side, his eyes burning with admiration.

Finally, Yu Xiaogang finished the tenth point.

He closed the book and let out a long sigh, as if he had just completed a solemn ceremony.

He looked at Zhao Linchuan, waiting for an expression of astonishment, worship, or even awe to appear on the child's face.

Zhao Linchuan did indeed show an expression.

He clapped his hands.

"Clap, clap, clap."

"A master is truly worthy of being called a master," he said, raising his eyes with a cryptic smile playing on his lips. "Even when you pass gas, it's much more grand than anyone else's."

The air in the room suddenly froze.

Yu Xiaogang's face turned gloomy in an instant, and Tang San's eyes sharpened as he stepped forward. "Zhao Linchuan, what are you saying?!"

"Look," Zhao Linchuan said unhurriedly, "getting worked up again."

Yu Xiaogang raised a hand to stop Tang San. He stared at Zhao Linchuan, his tone turning cold. "Child, if you have any misunderstandings regarding my theories, you may speak them out. I can provide you with answers."

"Very well." Zhao Linchuan had been waiting for those exact words.

He took a step forward, the candlelight dancing in his eyes.

"Master, the first point of your theory—that the magnitude of innate spirit power is directly proportional to the strength of the martial soul—is what you used to deduce that Tang San possesses twin martial souls. Am I correct?"

"Correct." Yu Xiaogang nodded, his proud expression undiminished. "What is the problem with that?"

"Then, according to the most fundamental laws of martial soul inheritance," Zhao Linchuan said, his pace steady and every word clear, "martial soul inheritance is usually dominated by the parent with the higher-quality martial soul."