My Name is Yu Xiaogang

The next day, Zhu Shen brought Tang San to the Nuoding City branch of the Spirit Hall.

He told the female receptionist at the entrance that he was Yu Xiaogang and that he needed to have Tang San's spirit power measured.

However, he was taken aback.

The female receptionist looked at him with a face full of confusion and a hint of displeasure.

"You? Just you?" the woman said with utter disdain.

Zhu Shen felt as if he had been insulted twice; he couldn't tell if the woman thought Yu Xiaogang was a loser or if she felt he was currently inferior to him.

Regardless, he was a bit unhappy.

Zhu Shen said, "This is my disciple, Tang San. His spirit is Blue Silver Grass, and he has innate full spirit power. Now that he has obtained his first spirit ring, we are here to measure his spirit power and register his status as a spirit master."

Zhu Shen spoke very calmly, but the woman's expression grew increasingly strange.

Finally, the woman seemed unable to hold back her laughter and said dismissively, "Are you here to cause trouble? Blue Silver Grass with innate full spirit power? And you're impersonating that loser, the Grandmaster? What were you thinking?"

The woman's words were harsh, so Zhu Shen couldn't be bothered to waste more breath; he activated his spirit directly.

Two purple and two black spirit rings circled his body, and the phantom of a golden dragon emerged behind him.

At the same time, with Zhu Shen as the center, the ground sank slightly, and faint cracks appeared on the floor and the surrounding walls.

"How about now?"

The woman scrambled toward the back hall of the branch, nearly tripping over herself.

"Branch Master! Branch Master! Something big has happened!"

The Branch Master was a fat old man in his fifties who had been leisurely drinking tea and reading the paper, but he was so startled by the shout that he spilled tea all over himself.

"What are you panicking about? Is the sky falling?"

"It's worse than the sky falling! Outside, a Spirit Ancestor has arrived. He's incredibly handsome, and he claims to be Yu Xiaogang!"

The fat old man froze for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Yu Xiaogang? That level 29 loser, the Grandmaster? If he had the strength of a Spirit Elder, I'd eat this Spirit Hall branch."

"But Branch Master, he really has the strength of a Spirit Elder, and his spirit is a golden dragon with two thousand-year spirit rings and two ten-thousand-year spirit rings. He's also exceptionally good-looking, even more handsome than the second son of Widow Li's family in town..."

The fat old man's smile stiffened on his face, and the teacup in his hand slid onto the table.

"What did you say?"

"Y-you should go see for yourself."

The fat old man stood up, half-doubting, straightened his clothes, and walked out with his belly protruding. When he reached the door of the testing room, he saw the person standing next to the crystal ball at a single glance.

Dressed in gray cloth robes, with his hair tied back and golden eyes, his figure was as straight as a pine, and his entire being exuded an aura of natural authority.

The fat old man's eyes widened, and his mouth hung open.

He knew Yu Xiaogang. Yu Xiaogang had visited the Nuoding City Spirit Hall branch ten years ago. Back then, Yu Xiaogang was in his thirties, his face haggard, his back slightly hunched, and his eyes filled with the bitterness of unfulfilled ambition. Walking down the street, he was no different from any commoner.

But this person before him...

"Are... are you really Yu Xiaogang?" the fat old man's voice wavered.

Zhu Shen turned around and looked at him calmly. "Branch Master, long time no see."

The fat old man's mind was a mess. The voice was indeed similar, but this face and this aura simply did not match.

He subconsciously released a bit of spirit power to probe, wanting to sense the other party's spirit power level. The moment his spirit power went out, it collided head-on with a dragon's might so immense it was terrifying.

The fat old man's spirit power was torn to shreds as if it were made of paper, and his legs went weak, nearly causing him to kneel on the ground.

"Careful, Branch Master." Zhu Shen reached out to steady him.

The fat old man leaned against the wall to steady himself, his face deathly pale. He was a level 50 Spirit King, yet he had been shaken like this just by someone's spirit pressure?

He swallowed hard and spoke with difficulty, "G-Grandmaster, this spirit of yours..."

"It just evolved," Zhu Shen said nonchalantly.

The fat old man opened his mouth, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say. Evolved? Spirits could evolve? He had never heard of such a thing.

"If the Branch Master has no other business, let's get on with the task."

The fat old man nodded mechanically.

Before long, the measurement was complete.

Zhu Shen took Tang San and left the Spirit Hall branch, leaving behind a room full of staff members staring at each other in shock.

Walking out of the branch gate, Tang San finally couldn't hold back, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. "Teacher, the look on that Branch Master's face was hilarious."

Zhu Shen smiled as well. "A common sight for those with little experience."

"Teacher, where are we going now?"

"To Notting Academy," Zhu Shen said, striding forward.

Stepping out of the Spirit Hall branch gate, the sunlight was just right.

Tang San followed behind Zhu Shen, looking up at this teacher who was now completely different from the one in his memories, an indescribable feeling welling up in his heart.

"Teacher, are we heading to Notting Academy next?"

"Correct." Zhu Shen nodded. "But before that, there is something else I must give you."

The two found a quiet, secluded alley, and Zhu Shen retrieved the Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo Leg Bones he had received as a mission reward yesterday from his robes. The spirit bones were entirely emerald green, emitting a faint halo and feeling warm to the touch.

"This is..." Tang San's eyes lit up.

"The Solitary Bamboo spirit bones for you." Zhu Shen handed them over. "Absorb them now; I will stand guard for you."

Tang San took the spirit bones and hesitated. "Teacher, will there be any hidden dangers if I absorb spirit bones so frequently? I heard my father say that it is best for spirit masters to space out the absorption of spirit bones..."

"That is true for normal spirit bones, but this is different." Zhu Shen explained. "These Solitary Bamboo spirit bones share the same origin and possess a special resonance with one another. The more you absorb, the better they fuse. Besides, with me watching over you, what are you afraid of?"

Tang San asked no more. He sat cross-legged and pressed the spirit bones against his right leg.

An emerald light ignited from the spirit bones, surging into Tang San's body like ripples in water. This absorption went even more smoothly than the previous two; within half a quarter of an hour, the light had completely receded.

Tang San opened his eyes, a flash of emerald brilliance crossing his gaze. He stood up, flexed his legs, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.

"How does it feel?"

"Very good." Tang San felt the power surging within him. "The strength and resilience of both legs have improved significantly, and also..."

With a thought, his right leg glowed faintly green, and the weeds beside his feet suddenly grew wildly, instantly entangling a nearby wooden post.

"This is?" Zhu Shen raised an eyebrow.

"A skill attached to the spirit bone." Tang San said with some excitement. "I can control the growth of plants within a small area. Although the effect isn't strong yet, it feels quite marvelous."

Zhu Shen nodded, thinking to himself: The things the system provides are truly extraordinary. This seemingly ordinary ten-year spirit bone actually possesses such a hidden ability.

"Let's go. It's time to head to the academy."

Notting Academy was located in the southeast corner of Nuoding City. It did not occupy a large area, but the environment was quiet and elegant.

As a primary spirit master academy, it mainly recruited students between the ages of six and twelve, teaching basic spirit master knowledge and elementary combat techniques.

Zhu Shen led Tang San through the academy gates, where a spacious plaza greeted them. In the center of the plaza stood a statue of an elderly man holding a staff, said to be the founder of the academy.

It was currently the afternoon, and many students were active in the plaza. Some were sparring with spirit skills, others were practicing physical conditioning, and others were gathered in small groups discussing something.

The appearance of the two quickly drew attention.

Zhu Shen's current appearance was truly eye-catching. Even in a simple gray robe, he possessed an inexplicably ethereal air. His golden eyes were brilliant, his posture upright, and walking through the crowd, he stood out like a crane in a flock of chickens.

Many female students focused their gazes on him, whispering among themselves.

"Who is that person? So handsome..."

"I've never seen him. Is he a new teacher?"

"Who is the child following him? Is he a new student?"

Tang San felt the surrounding gazes and felt somewhat uncomfortable. In his past life, he was a Tang Sect disciple accustomed to keeping a low profile; this feeling of being watched was not pleasant.

Zhu Shen, however, did not care and walked straight toward the teaching building.

They hadn't gone far when a voice came from the side.

"Stop! Who are you people? This is a restricted area of the academy; outsiders are not allowed!"

The speaker was a young man in his twenties, wearing an academy teacher's uniform with a two-ring Great Spirit Master badge pinned to his chest.

Behind him followed a youth in fine silk clothing—the very same wealthy young master who had provoked him yesterday.

Zhu Shen stopped and glanced at the young man, then at the youth in silk behind him, understanding the situation immediately.

The youth in silk had lost face yesterday, and today he had brought reinforcements.

"I am Yu Xiaogang, here to teach at the academy." Zhu Shen said calmly.

"Yu Xiaogang?" The young teacher paused, then sneered. "You are Yu Xiaogang? That twenty-ninth-level trash Master? Don't joke around! Everyone knows Yu Xiaogang is a middle-aged man with a bitter face. Look at your own face—you should at least try to make your lies believable!"

More and more students gathered around, and upon hearing the name "Yu Xiaogang," they all wore expressions of surprise.

Yu Xiaogang was indeed famous in the spirit master world, though it was a dual reputation as a "theoretical master" and "trash spirit master."

Rumor had it that his spirit power was permanently stuck at level twenty-nine, he was over fifty years old, and his martial spirit was a failed mutation of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, with combat power inferior to that of a level ten spirit master.

But this person before them...

"Teacher Wang, he is the one who injured me in the Soul Hunting Forest yesterday!" The youth in silk pointed at Zhu Shen, gritting his teeth. "He is also impersonating the Master; he must have some ulterior motive!"

The young teacher known as Teacher Wang darkened his expression. "How bold! To run wild in Nuoding City and even dare to impersonate the Master! Men, seize him!"

Several students stepped forward, surrounding Zhu Shen and Tang San. These students were all spirit masters of the teens, and as they released their martial spirits, they all displayed white spirit rings.

Zhu Shen sighed.

He really did not want to waste time in a place like this, but trouble always seemed to find its way to him.

"Xiao San, step back."