Yu Xiaogang, Stop Bluffing!

More than twenty copper soul coins were scattered on the ground, glinting in the sunlight.

At the entrance of the gatehouse, two middle-aged men were brawling; one was yanking the other's hair, while the other was biting his opponent's ear, all the while cursing:

"You ungrateful wretch! I was the one who recommended you!"

"You black-hearted bastard! You took fifteen silver soul coins from me!"

"I was keeping them for you!"

"Keep them for your mother! Give me back my money!"

Several other guards stood in a circle nearby, cracking melon seeds and watching the spectacle, with absolutely no intention of breaking up the fight.

Yu Xiaogang: "..."

He silently took a step back, then another.

Then he turned around, pretended he hadn't seen a thing, and walked briskly into the academy.

As he walked, he thought:

Was that... the academy guard?

Has the recruitment standard for Notting Academy dropped this low?

No.

The point is—where is Tang San?

He looked around, but did not see that familiar figure.

Yu Xiaogang frowned.

According to the memories of his past life, Tang San should have been harassed by the guards today, and he would have appeared just in time to resolve the crisis with a few words, successfully winning Tang San's favor.

But now...

The guards are fighting.

Tang San is nowhere to be found.

A vague, ominous premonition stirred in Yu Xiaogang's heart.

But he immediately comforted himself: It's fine, Tang San must have been sent back. After all, without his help, what could a six-year-old child possibly do?

Tomorrow, he would go to Holy Soul Village for a "chance encounter," and he would still be able to take him as a disciple.

Perfect.

Yu Xiaogang nodded, hands clasped behind his back, and strolled leisurely into the academy.

"Never mind, besides me, who else could guide Tang San to godhood? He cannot do without me."

Inside Notting Academy.

With Su Yuntao leading the way, the path into the academy was unobstructed.

Old Jack unloaded the luggage and held Su Mo's hand, rambling on with instructions for a long time—eat well, study hard, don't get into fights, and send word to the village if you run out of money...

Su Mo agreed to each point.

Finally, Old Jack wiped the corner of his eye and drove the carriage away.

Su Mo watched the dilapidated carriage disappear from sight before retracting his gaze.

Su Yuntao said from the side: "Sir, I will take you to handle the enrollment procedures first, and pick up your daily necessities along the way. Also, the Big Black Ox needs a pet permit to move about inside the academy."

"No need, if it's treated as emergency food, it won't be that much trouble."

"Moo?"

Su Yuntao chuckled, naturally knowing this was a joke.

Su Mo nodded and looked at Tang San.

Tang San was carrying a burlap sack larger than himself, which was stuffed with Su Mo's luggage. The three bumps on his forehead had yet to fade and were shining brightly in the sun, yet he wore a satisfied smile on his face, as if he had just picked up a fortune.

Su Mo was silent for a second.

All the way from Holy Soul Village to Notting City, Tang San hadn't stopped for a moment.

In the morning he brought him water, at noon he handed him dry rations, and at night he made his bed; he had been at his beck and call the entire journey, as diligent as a professional pageboy.

Just now at the gate, he had even charged forward to confront a level seventeen Spirit Master on his behalf, only to be pushed to the ground with a single slap.

Although he was a bit of a fool.

Still, this sincerity...

Su Mo sighed: "Tang San, you should rest here. Give me the luggage, I can go get the supplies myself."

Tang San hurriedly hid the sack behind his back: "No need, no need! Master, this disciple is not tired!"

Su Mo: "The three bumps on your head haven't even faded yet."

Tang San touched his forehead and grinned: "It's nothing! These were bestowed by Master, this disciple is honored!"

Su Mo: "..."

He truly couldn't keep up with this child's train of thought.

Su Yuntao held back a laugh from the side: "Rest assured, sir. Young Master Tang San can just wait here. I will accompany you to handle the enrollment procedures myself; it will be quick."

Tang San wanted to say something more, but Su Mo had already turned and walked away.

He had no choice but to stand where he was, watching Su Mo's retreating figure.

Then, he found a shady spot to sit down, pulled Battle Through the Heavens out of his sack, and happily began to study it again.

Yu Xiaogang was walking aimlessly through the academy, mentally calculating his "chance encounter plan" for tomorrow.

As he walked, his peripheral vision caught a figure.

Black, short hair, about six years old.

He was sitting in the shade, holding a book in his hands, reading with rapt attention.

Yu Xiaogang's footsteps faltered.

He rubbed his eyes and looked carefully.

That side profile, that familiar outline—

Tang San?!

Yu Xiaogang's mind went blank for 0.3 seconds.

How was he here?

Wasn't he supposed to have been chased away by the guard?

Could it be... could it be that he got in on his own?

Yu Xiaogang's heart skipped a beat, but he immediately calmed down.

Regardless of how he got in, since they had met, it was fate.

He straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, put on what he considered his most master-like smile, and walked over.

"Little friend, sitting here all alone, are you waiting for someone?"

Tang San looked up.

Standing before him was a middle-aged man dressed in simple attire, with an aura that was... how to put it? It was the kind that tried hard to appear scholarly but looked nothing more than pedantic.

Tang San blinked: "Who are you?"

Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly, standing with his hands behind his back: "My surname is Yu, given name Xiaogang. Friends in the spirit master world call me—Grandmaster."

Tang San: "Oh."

Then he lowered his head and continued reading.

Yu Xiaogang: "..."

He waited for a moment, and finding that Tang San had no intention of continuing the conversation, he had to keep speaking himself: "Little friend, if I'm not mistaken, you should be a spirit master, right?"

Tang San didn't even look up: "Yeah."

Nonsense, coming to a spirit master academy for enrollment, what else would he be if not a spirit master?

"Your spirit is... Blue Silver Grass?"

Tang San finally looked up, a flash of surprise in his eyes: "How did you know?"

Yu Xiaogang was secretly delighted: As expected, the memories from his past life were still useful.

He gave a mysterious smile: "Because I am a master of spirit theory. Although your Blue Silver Grass is recognized as a trash spirit, in my eyes, it has infinite potential."

Tang San looked at him without speaking.

Yu Xiaogang continued: "For example, although Blue Silver Grass is fragile, it possesses extreme vitality and adaptability. If paired with the right spirit rings, it can completely follow a control or poison-type path. Coupled with your innate full spirit power, you may not necessarily fail to achieve greatness in the future."

He paused, his tone becoming sincere: "Little friend, if you are willing, I can be your teacher. I will use everything I have learned in my life to help you plan the most suitable path for cultivation."

Having said that, he looked at Tang San with great anticipation.

Tang San was silent for three seconds.

Then he spoke: "Are you done?"

Yu Xiaogang was stunned: "...I'm done."

Tang San nodded: "Oh."

Then he lowered his head and continued reading.

Yu Xiaogang: "..."

This reaction wasn't right, was it?

When he said this in his past life, shouldn't Tang San have been moved to tears and knelt to become his apprentice on the spot?

He couldn't help but ask again: "Little friend, don't you... think what I said makes sense?"

Tang San didn't even look up. "That makes a lot of sense."

Yu Xiaogang asked, "Then why do you..."

Tang San finally raised his head again, looking at him with a strange light in his eyes.

Yu Xiaogang was very familiar with that radiance—it was adoration, reverence, the look one gave an idol.

But the problem was, that look wasn't directed at him.

Tang San was looking into the distance, at the small figure walking toward them.

Then, a brilliant smile bloomed on Tang San's face as he stood up to meet them:

"Master! You've returned!"