Tang San instinctively assumed Yu Xiaogang was a teacher at the academy when he heard him speak. Without much thought, he handed over his Martial Soul certificate.
Yu Xiaogang accepted the certificate without paying much attention to it. The one he had truly noticed was Bai Shu.
Bai Shu had just released his first soul ring.
Only two or three months had passed since the Martial Soul awakenings in the surrounding villages. That meant Bai Shu's Innate Soul Power had to be at least rank nine, or he could not possibly have met the requirements to obtain his first soul ring so quickly.
However, when Yu Xiaogang casually glanced over Tang San's Martial Soul certificate, his previously indifferent expression froze. His eyes widened instinctively.
As though unable to believe it, he checked it twice more. Only then did Yu Xiaogang suppress the excitement in his eyes and resume his lofty demeanor.
"Mm, it is indeed a certificate from Spirit Hall. Child, where is yours?"
As he questioned Bai Shu, Yu Xiaogang quietly put away Tang San's Martial Soul certificate.
Although Bai Shu had not noticed Yu Xiaogang's little move, he had no intention of handing his enrollment materials to him. He refused outright.
"Sorry, I don't need some stranger of unknown origin inspecting my certificate. The teachers at the Academic Affairs Office will naturally be able to tell whether it is genuine."
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. What did Bai Shu mean, stranger of unknown origin? As the dignified Grandmaster, this was the first time anyone had looked down on him so much. If not for the possibility that Bai Shu was a genius with Innate Full Soul Power, he would have wanted to fling his sleeve and leave.
Tang San was displeased by Bai Shu's words as well. Bai Shu's remark made his own act of handing over the certificate seem foolish.
"Child, being cautious is a good thing." Yu Xiaogang suppressed his anger and said blandly, "But I am no stranger of unknown origin. Even the Principal of this academy must address me as Grandmaster."
As he spoke, he clasped his hands behind his back and struck a pose as though awaiting worship.
Bai Shu was speechless at this guy's performance. Didn't you know perfectly well how you got the title 'Grandmaster'?
When he went out, he never gave his name and only made people call him Grandmaster. If they did not call him that, what else could they do?
Thus, Bai Shu had no patience for Yu Xiaogang's posturing and asked directly,
"So you aren't a teacher at the academy? Then you have even less right to inspect my Martial Soul certificate."
Yu Xiaogang's mouth twitched. He had not expected Bai Shu, despite his young age, to be so difficult to deal with. His expression was already becoming hard to maintain.
"Hmph! What do you know?"
"There is only one word of difference between Grandmaster and teacher, yet our statuses are worlds apart. How could those academy teachers possibly be mentioned in the same breath as me?"
"So basically, you're just a freeloader, right?"
Bai Shu curled his lip disdainfully.
"Enough. I still need to register. If there's nothing else, move aside."
"You..."
Yu Xiaogang was furious at Bai Shu's "freeloader" remark. Plenty of people at the academy did call him that in private, but this was the first time someone had mocked him to his face.
At the same time, he realized that Bai Shu could say such things because he had most likely been influenced by those who disparaged him. The chance of taking him as a disciple was already slim.
Bai Shu could not be bothered with this guy, who was only capable of impotent rage.
Perhaps because his Martial Soul's combat power was too weak, Yu Xiaogang had always believed in talking things out whenever possible rather than fighting.
So Bai Shu simply walked around Yu Xiaogang toward the teaching building.
Behind him, after hearing Bai Shu's words, Tang San also felt that this so-called Grandmaster seemed somewhat suspicious.
Just as he was about to follow, he suddenly realized that his Martial Soul certificate was still in the other man's hands.
Tang San could only turn back and say helplessly,
"Gr... Grandmaster, could you return my Martial Soul certificate? I need to register too."
With a genius who might possess Innate Full Soul Power already slipping away before his eyes, how could Yu Xiaogang possibly let this final test subject go?
Moreover, in his heart, Tang San's value far surpassed Bai Shu's. After all, Bai Shu had already absorbed a soul ring. Even if Bai Shu followed his arrangements afterward, it would still leave a blemish on his theories.
What was more, this remaining child was very likely to possess Twin Martial Souls.
"Child, don't rush." Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San and lowered his voice. "If I'm not mistaken, you have Twin Martial Souls, don't you?"
After shaking off Yu Xiaogang's pestering, Bai Shu quickly completed his registration, received the academy uniform, and headed for Dormitory Seven.
The dormitory was not difficult to find. After all, the academy had only a little over two hundred students across all six grades, with just one dormitory building.
However, the condition of Dormitory Seven still exceeded Bai Shu's expectations somewhat.
At that moment, Bai Shu stood at the entrance to Dormitory Seven.
The door stood open. Inside were dozens of shabby wooden beds, while quite a bit of uncollected trash littered the floor.
Bai Shu politely knocked on the door, drawing the attention of more than a dozen children inside.
"Hello, I'm a new Work-Study Student this year. This is Dormitory Seven, right?"
Upon hearing Bai Shu's words, many of the younger children visibly relaxed.
Children on Douluo Continent generally matured quickly. Moreover, Bai Shu had already absorbed his first soul ring. Judging by his appearance alone, no one would doubt him if he claimed to be ten years old.
Coupled with the noble students' frequent malicious provocations, they had initially thought he was here to cause trouble again.
After learning Bai Shu's purpose, a rather sturdy-looking boy stepped forward voluntarily.
"Hello, I'm Wang Sheng. My Martial Soul is the War Tiger, and I'm the boss of Dormitory Seven."
"We have a rule in Dormitory Seven. Newcomers have to fight the boss. Whoever wins becomes the new boss."
Bai Shu shrugged. He had come here to study, not to fight.
Besides, if nothing unexpected happened, he would not be staying in Dormitory Seven for more than a few days.
The poor environment was one thing, but Work-Study Students also had to work every day. That would be far too much of a waste of cultivation time.
Before the age of twenty was the golden period for a Spirit Master's cultivation. He did not want to waste his time on such things.
"My name is Bai Shu. My Martial Soul is the Green Lotus, but it's a support-type Martial Soul, so I'm afraid I can't fight you."
"Huh? A support type?"
Wang Sheng froze for a moment and instinctively looked at the others. Dormitory Seven had never had a support-type Spirit Master before.
The Work-Study Students looked at one another, unable to make up their minds. Seeing Wang Sheng's reaction, Bai Shu knew that this supposed challenge rule was not all that formal, so he continued,
"I'm unfamiliar with the academy anyway, so you should keep the position of boss. If you ever need my help with anything, just come find me."
Wang Sheng coughed. "Fine, then. If you don't want to be the boss, forget it."
"We're all Work-Study Students anyway. If noble students cause trouble in the future, just stick with us."
Bai Shu nodded. "Thanks."
After reaching an agreement with Wang Sheng, Bai Shu chose a relatively clean bed by the window and began tidying it up.
Next, he only had to wait for Xiao Wu from the original story to appear. When she did, he could conveniently see just how strong she was.
In the original story, she had even defeated Tang San. Though Tang San had held back, she could not have been weak regardless.
Before you continue