The Master's Setback (This Chapter Is Brain-Dead, Can Be Skipped)

Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened, and anger rose in his heart. He had personally spoken up, yet Wu Ling still dared to refuse him so tactlessly!

"Hmph, he's just a brat who doesn't know his place. Once I announce that I'm the continent's foremost theorist, he'll definitely come crying and beg me. After he becomes my disciple, he'll have a hard time!"

Although Yu Xiaogang cursed relentlessly in his heart, he still had to keep up appearances. With a pleasant expression, he said, "Little friend, you may not know who I am. I am the continent's foremost theorist. If you want to bring out your true potential, I'm the only one on the entire continent capable of doing so."

"Master, that isn't right. This child has already agreed to join our Spirit Hall." Ma Xiunuo pretended to remind him from the side, while subtly positioning himself between Wu Ling and Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang glanced at Ma Xiunuo expressionlessly and resolved to make him pay later. For now, taking on a disciple was more important.

He stepped around Ma Xiunuo and was about to continue persuading Wu Ling when Wu Ling spoke first. "The continent's foremost theorist? I know you. Yu Xiaogang, author of the Ten Core Competitiveness Theories and the book There Are No Useless Martial Souls, Only Useless Soul Masters."

Su Yuntao and Ma Xiunuo immediately sensed that something was wrong, while Yu Xiaogang grew smug upon hearing Wu Ling's words. See? Even a child knew who he was.

Since he admires me, as long as he kneels, apologizes, and begs me to take him as my disciple, I'll magnanimously overlook what happened just now, Yu Xiaogang thought as he spoke arrogantly.

"Good. Since you know who I am, this will be easy. Hurry up and acknowledge me as your master."

"But I refuse."

Yu Xiaogang looked incredulous, then said unhappily, "You know who I am, and you still refuse?"

Rather than answer directly, Wu Ling asked Yu Xiaogang a question. "Master Yu, you once mentioned in your work that the maximum age of every Spirit Ring a Soul Master can absorb is fixed, correct?"

"Of course. Not only that, I have now clearly deduced the maximum age for every Spirit Ring. In other words, I can ensure that every Spirit Ring a person obtains reaches its maximum possible age." Yu Xiaogang spoke smugly, as if he could already see the admiration in Wu Ling's eyes.

Instead, Wu Ling asked, "Then may I ask, Master, what did you base those deductions on?"

"Of course, physical constitution. The stronger a Soul Master's body, the older the Spirit Ring they can withstand."

"Then, at the same rank, is there a difference in physical constitution between assault-type Soul Masters and support-type Soul Masters?"

"Of course there is."

"Good. Since there is a difference in physical constitution between assault-type and support-type Soul Masters, why would the Spirit Ring ages they can withstand be the same?"

"That is, of course..."

Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth instinctively, but stopped halfway through. If their physical constitutions differed, then insisting that the maximum Spirit Ring age was fixed meant that Spirit Ring age had nothing to do with physical constitution. But then his theory, built on physical constitution, could not explain it.

But if he said that their maximum Spirit Ring ages were different, then what had all his years of research been for?

"You... you're simply being unreasonable!

There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters. Therefore, the maximum age of a Spirit Ring is related to the Soul Master!

I am the continent's foremost theorist. I cannot possibly be wrong!"

Yu Xiaogang recited his famous saying, attempting to use his status to intimidate Wu Ling and forcibly justify himself.

But Wu Ling was not frightened by such a petty trick. He continued calmly, "Oh, there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters?

But as I recall, Master, you still haven't broken through Rank 30, have you?

Then are you saying that you yourself are useless?

As expected of a master. You keep repeating the fact that you're useless. In that regard, I truly cannot compare to you."

"You... you... you bastard!"

Having had his sore spot exposed, Yu Xiaogang had no interest in maintaining his image. Humiliated and enraged, he took several steps forward, intending to bully a child with his strength.

"Master, it was merely a child's joke. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to try to kill him over this?"

Quick-eyed and quick-handed, Su Yuntao pulled Wu Ling to his side, while Ma Xiunuo stepped in front of Yu Xiaogang and confronted him.

Yu Xiaogang's face turned from red to green, then from green to black. Finally, he remembered that he had not brought any radishes with him this time, and could only grit his teeth as he cursed inwardly.

"Luo Sanpao, Luo Sanpao, you useless trash!

Not only does your attack deal no damage, but you need radishes prepared in advance. Without radishes, you can't attack again. Is there any Martial Soul more useless than this?"

In the end, Yu Xiaogang could only snort coldly, putting on an expression that suggested he disdained bullying a child. He quickly walked around Ma Xiunuo and headed out of the hall.

Before leaving, he also shot Wu Ling a vicious glare, as though he wanted to remember him so that Wu Ling would be "out of his league" in the future.

With Yu Xiaogang gone, the atmosphere in the hall gradually eased. The three of them tacitly refrained from saying much more about him.

Under Ma Xiunuo's guidance, Wu Ling underwent another Soul Power test, confirming that he possessed Innate Full Soul Power. Ma Xiunuo had also never heard of Wu Ling's Heroic Spirit Disk Martial Soul.

Thus, Wu Ling's identity as a genius was confirmed.

"Good, good, good! Innate Full Soul Power and a mutated Martial Soul. Spirit Hall has truly found a fine prospect this time!

Come, I'll take you to see the hall master. With your talent, you may have a chance to train in Spirit City, the holy land of us Soul Masters."

Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao brought Wu Ling before the master of the Spirit Hall branch, who wrote a letter to the master of the Martial Soul Branch Hall in astonishment.

The master of the Martial Soul Branch Hall then wrote another letter to the Spirit Main Hall in surprise...

Just like that, Wu Ling's information passed through every level of review as though it had been given the green light, eventually reaching Bibi Dong at Pope Palace.

At first, Bibi Dong remained expressionless as she read the letter sent from that remote region. Only after seeing Wu Ling's details did a slight ripple appear in her eyes.

"Oh, Innate Full Soul Power with a mutated Martial Soul. He counts as a decent prospect. Though a genius who has not grown up is inferior even to a mediocre person who has, with his talent, he does indeed qualify to cultivate here... Gui Mei."

As soon as Bibi Dong finished speaking, a black-clad figure whose features could not be seen appeared at her side.

"Bring this little fellow back to see me. Oh, and before that, have him obtain his first Spirit Ring. I want to see the potential of that mutated Martial Soul."

"Yes."