Zhou Tong: Yu Xiaogang, Shut Up

"The first spirit ring must naturally be a high-age ring that enhances the origin of the martial soul; the five-hundred-year Lightning-Struck Wood that Zhou Tong mentioned is quite suitable."

"Do not cause trouble blindly."

Although the Dean did not specialize in martial soul theory, his grasp of basic martial soul common sense was still up to par.

Ten-year spirit rings were generally not absorbed by anyone.

Unless there was truly no other choice and a hundred-year spirit ring could not be hunted, one would only then helplessly settle for such a ring.

Zhou Tong could not suppress the disdain at the corners of his mouth, and he said coldly, "I want a hundred-year Lightning-Struck Wood; with the Dean's help, that is enough."

Yu Xiaogang, it would be better for everyone if you did not come.

Your presence only serves to sabotage others.

He hoped Yu Xiaogang would be sensible enough to stop interfering blindly.

Clearly a novice, yet insisting on playing the role of a grandmaster, always making a laughingstock of himself.

With his suggestion rejected by both of them, Yu Xiaogang could no longer keep a straight face, and his expression darkened instantly.

"Such a lack of respect for your elders."

"How dare you question my martial soul theory."

"I am the number one theoretical master of martial souls on the continent."

"You do not want to take me as your master? I have no desire to take you as my disciple either."

"Even if someone begged me to accept you, I would not do it."

"You are merely a commoner with innate full spirit power; just because you have a tiny bit of talent, you dare to be this arrogant and disregard your superiors."

"It will be difficult for you to go far in the spirit master world."

"Since you question my theory, I shall see just how far you can cultivate."

"You are nothing but a lucky commoner, truly vulgar. It was in vain that I, a noble, was willing to look upon you favorably and condescend to take you as my disciple, yet you dare to refuse me."

Yu Xiaogang looked indignant, his hand trembling as he pointed at Zhou Tong, his tone frantic and exasperated.

Not daring to refute the Dean, Yu Xiaogang took his anger out on Zhou Tong.

In his eyes, Zhou Tong, who had never dared to talk back, was a soft target.

Especially since Zhou Tong wore coarse linen clothes and was merely a commoner spirit master.

Yu Xiaogang, on the other hand, was born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and was the son of the clan leader, Yu Yuanzhen.

He had grown up being flattered his entire life, and he held nothing but contempt for commoner spirit masters.

After all, the nobility monopolized the spirit master world; even if a commoner became a spirit master, they would never have enough resources to grow.

Zhou Tong would definitely not go very far.

At this moment, Zhou Tong felt a fire burning within; his forbearance had only earned him the endless mockery of a clown.

It seemed he had been too tolerant of Yu Xiaogang.

He immediately sneered coldly.

"I never said I wanted to take you as my master."

"If you hadn't insisted on following us, I wouldn't have even glanced at a ten-year spirit beast."

"And you insist on forcing a mentorship? May I ask what level your spirit power is?"

"Whose verification has your theory passed?"

"With such a grand reputation, you must at least be a Spirit King, right?"

"Since you love teaching people so much, you must be a teacher, right?"

"You must have taught many famous spirit masters, right?"

"Master, why aren't you speaking?"

"Have you forgotten how to talk?"

"Don't tell me, don't tell me, you haven't even taught a single student?"

"You aren't even a teacher?"

"If your theory is so strong, how can you not even manage to be a teacher?"

Zhou Tong unleashed a barrage of sarcasm, ruthlessly mocking Yu Xiaogang.

Since the other party had torn off the mask and left no room for civility, why bother holding back?

Every word from Zhou Tong struck Yu Xiaogang's scars.

Listening to Zhou Tong's biting sarcasm, Yu Xiaogang's face turned as dark as liver; it felt as if his heart had been gouged out, and a surge of boiling blood rose in his throat, ready to erupt.

Clutching his chest, Yu Xiaogang furrowed his brows, his eyes filled with malice as he pointed at Zhou Tong, gnashing his teeth.

"You brat, how dare you disrespect me."

"Do you believe me when I say I will have you expelled from Notting Academy?"

"If you offend me, Yu Xiaogang, there will be no place for you in the spirit master world!"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes were bloodshot and he was panting like an ox. Unable to win the argument against Zhou Tong, he resorted to low-handed threats.

However, the Dean no longer indulged him. He walked up to him and said, "Xiaogang, you are merely a guest here; you have no authority to interfere with academy affairs."

"You should focus on your theoretical research instead."

"Stop trying to convince people to hunt Ten-Year Lone Bamboo."

The Dean felt a pang of regret for ever letting this unreliable fellow come here.

He even wanted to expel a rare genius of the academy right in front of him?

That was going too far!

"That's enough, Grandmaster. Zhou Tong's reasoning is quite sound, so you should head back."

"I can handle his first spirit ring myself."

The Dean's words added fuel to Yu Xiaogang's burning rage.

But faced with his benefactor, he dared not act recklessly.

If he lost this job that provided him with meals, there would truly be no one left to take him in.

After all, he was only a level 29 spirit master.

"I, Yu Xiaogang, will no longer teach you!"

"You will regret this."

"I will certainly find a genius to prove my spirit soul theories."

"Zhou Tong, you just wait and see!"

Yu Xiaogang stormed off, cursing as he went.

That brat actually dared to look down on him.

Once Zhou Tong absorbed the wrong spirit ring, he would see how things turned out.

"Dean, since this Yu Xiaogang is so unreliable, how has he been able to stay at the academy for so many years?"

Zhou Tong couldn't help but ask.

How could this absurd clown manage to stay at the academy, freeloading for so many years?

"It's only because of his background; we didn't want to offend the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"Enough talk, it's time to find your first spirit ring."

"Alright."

After Yu Xiaogang had gone far away, the two continued walking through the forest.

After several days, they arrived in a dense woodland.

In the lush forest, sturdy and towering trees stood proudly, their verdant leaves shimmering with a faint, deep green light.

Zhou Tong's gaze fell upon a valley surrounded by the woods, where the ground was covered in bare, black stones, as if shattered by a divine lightning strike from the heavens.

What caught his eye even more was a Golden Tree in the center of the valley!

Above the valley, thick dark clouds rolled in, and a bolt of heavenly lightning descended, striking the Golden Tree below.

The Golden Tree's once beautiful, brilliant golden leaves were shattered to pieces, and the vibrant tree was transformed into a bare Lightning-Struck Wood, with only a few leaves remaining.

Yet, the entire Golden Tree had fundamentally changed; its body crackled with arc-shaped electricity, having achieved a coexistence with the power of thunder.

"Found it. This Golden Tree is a five-hundred-year-old Lightning-Struck Wood!"

"It is perfect for my spirit soul."

Zhou Tong said excitedly; his first spirit ring was finally within reach.

Five hundred years was still within the range of what he could withstand, especially since Zhou Tong possessed innate full spirit power and great talent.

"Watch closely, I'm going in!"

The Dean said in a deep voice. The next moment, he revealed two yellow and two purple spirit rings and charged toward the Golden Tree.

Before long, the Golden Tree was down to its last breath, and Zhou Tong dealt the final blow.

He sat cross-legged and guided the pale yellow spirit ring into his spirit soul.

A massive, strange energy, carrying the power of destruction, surged violently into his body.