Since You Call Yourself a Grandmaster, You Must Have Some Astonishing Achievements, Right?

Confucius once said, "All things flow like this river." And just like that, it was the day the students of Nuoding were admitted.

"Stop right there. What are you here for?"

Old Jack hurried forward, his face wreathed in smiles as he carefully handed over two Martial Soul certificates. "Sir, we're here to enroll the children. These are this year's work-study students from Holy Soul Village..."

The gatekeeper accepted them carelessly. His eyes swept over the certificates, and when he saw the words "Holy Soul Village," the corners of his mouth curled downward.

But when he saw "Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, Innate Soul Power: Level Ten" and "Zhao Linchuan, Martial Soul: Glimmer, Innate Soul Power: Level Ten," he froze for a moment. Then, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world, he burst out laughing.

"Blue Silver Grass? With Innate Full Soul Power? Ha! And what about this one, 'Glimmer'? What the heck is that? I've never even heard of it!"

He shook the two Martial Soul certificates, his laughter grating. "Old man, if you're going to forge documents, at least use your brain! If Blue Silver Grass could have Innate Full Soul Power, I'd be an elder of the Spirit Hall!"

"And this 'Glimmer'... Is that the flame on the wick of your oil lamp?"

"Get lost, get lost! Some country bumpkins trying to cheat their way in. Don't block the gate!"

Zhao Linchuan was boiling with rage, and Tang San had already started throwing punches.

The two gatekeepers were no match for Zhao Linchuan and Tang San working together.

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

"What's going on? Stop!"

A middle-aged man of average height walked over.

He had an ordinary face and a somewhat stiff expression.

When the gatekeeper saw him, it was like seeing his savior. He scrambled to his feet and cried, "Grandmaster! You're just in time! These country bumpkins forged their Martial Soul certificates and tried to force their way into the academy. They even attacked us!"

Yu Xiaogang ignored the gatekeeper's shouting and first looked at the two Martial Soul certificates on the ground.

He bent down and picked them up, his gaze darting over them. When he saw "Innate Soul Power: Level Ten," "Blue Silver Grass," and "Glimmer," his pupils suddenly contracted, and a trace of fervor flashed across his face.

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

He wasn't looking at two ordinary children. Rather, he seemed to be appraising two priceless uncut jades.

"The certificates are real." Yu Xiaogang handed them back to Old Jack, then turned coldly toward the gatekeeper. "You're fired. Go pack your things and leave."

The gatekeeper looked as if he'd been struck by lightning, his mouth hanging open. "G-Grandmaster, I..."

"Do I need to say it twice?" Yu Xiaogang's tone remained mild, but the gatekeeper shuddered. Daring not say another word, he slunk away.

Only then did Yu Xiaogang turn to Old Jack. His tone softened a little. "Thank you for the effort you've gone to bringing the children here, sir. Leave these two in my care."

Old Jack thanked him profusely, then carefully reminded Tang San and Zhao Linchuan of a few things before finally leaving, looking back every few steps.

Barely a quarter of an hour later, in Yu Xiaogang's room.

After Zhao Linchuan had witnessed a God King kneel with his own eyes, the Theory Master turned his gaze on him. His eyes held an unquestionable certainty, as though he had already seen through everything.

"Child, what is your second Martial Soul?"

Before he could finish speaking—

[Current plot setting detected. Choice mission triggered]

[The tragedies across the Douluo Continent can be said to have all stemmed from Yu Xiaogang. His stubbornness indirectly led to the imbalance of power and conflict among the continent's factions.]

[Choice One: Stab him in the back and become Yu Xiaogang's second student]

[Reward: Buff-type divine artifact—Ancient Wish, System Points * 50000]

[Choice Two: Refute the Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls that Yu Xiaogang prides himself on, and make Tang San doubt whether Yu Xiaogang has any real knowledge]

[Reward: Sword God—Solderos Trial Card (Five Minutes), System Points * 50000]

Zhao Linchuan's breathing hitched almost imperceptibly.

Ancient Wish?

Wasn't that thing for dogs?

His gaze swept over Yu Xiaogang's expectant face, then Tang San's deferential back, and finally settled on the pointed roof of the academy's clock tower in the distance outside the window.

Tang Hao should be watching nearby, right?

If I had that trial card...

I choose two.

[Choice successful. The reward will be issued automatically upon mission completion]

He raised his eyes and calmly met Yu Xiaogang's seemingly wise gaze, though it had long since been filled with preconceived notions.

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

"Of course."

A proud expression appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. He carefully drew a manuscript from his robe. Neatly written on its cover were the words Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul Theory.

This was the work of his lifetime, an "achievement" he could take pride in despite being stuck at level twenty-nine.

"Why don't you read it to me, Grandmaster?" Zhao Linchuan said evenly. "Then I can... pay my respects?"

"Then listen closely." Yu Xiaogang straightened his back, his voice carrying the solemnity peculiar to scholars. "My theory summarizes the essence of tens of thousands of years of the Soul Master World."

"First: innate Soul Power is directly proportional to Martial Soul strength."

"Second: there are no useless Martial Souls in this world, only Soul Masters who don't work hard at cultivating."

"Third: Martial Souls are divided into two major categories: Beast Martial Souls and Tool Martial Souls..."

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

With each point, his back straightened a little more, and his face shone a little brighter.

Tang San listened nearby, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

At last, Yu Xiaogang finished the tenth point.

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

He looked at Zhao Linchuan, waiting for the child's face to show astonishment, admiration, or even reverence.

Zhao Linchuan did show an expression.

He clapped.

"Clap, clap, clap."

"Just as expected of a Grandmaster," he said, looking up with an inscrutable smile at the corner of his mouth. "Even when you fart, you make it sound more ceremonious than anyone else."

The air in the room froze.

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened at once. Tang San's eyes sharpened, and he stepped forward half a pace. "Zhao Linchuan, what did you say?!"

"See?" Zhao Linchuan said unhurriedly. "You're getting worked up again."

Yu Xiaogang raised a hand to stop Tang San. He fixed his gaze on Zhao Linchuan, his tone turning cold. "Child, if there's anything you don't understand about my theory, you can say so. I'll explain it to you."

"Good." That was exactly what Zhao Linchuan had been waiting for.

He took a step forward, candlelight flickering in his eyes.

"Grandmaster, your first point says innate Soul Power is directly proportional to Martial Soul strength, and from that you deduced that Tang San has Twin Martial Souls. Am I right?"

"That's right." Yu Xiaogang nodded, his pride undiminished. "What's the problem with that?"

"Then, according to the most basic laws of Martial Soul inheritance," Zhao Linchuan said, his pace steady and every word clear, "Martial Souls are usually inherited from whichever parent has the higher-quality Martial Soul."