No Interest

"No need to thank me. I only spoke up for you because you're also Innate Full Soul Power. A genius like that shouldn't be buried."

Xiao Wu looked as if she expected no repayment for her kindness, which made Tang San like her even more. But he had also heard that "also," and thought, Could this little girl be Innate Full Soul Power too? That would really be amazing.

After Tang San thanked Xiao Wu, he turned and said a few words to Old Jack. Old Jack also gave him a few reminders, then turned and left.

Tang San followed behind Xiao Wu and was just about to enter the academy when someone stopped them.

"You two are Innate Full Soul Power?"

A hoarse, rather unpleasant voice sounded. Xiao Wu frowned and looked up, only to see a stiff-faced middle-aged man blocking their path.

The middle-aged man was of average height and slightly thin. He looked around forty or fifty, with short black hair parted three-seven. His features were very ordinary, his lips even a little thick, like sausages. His mouth was large too, and up close, he even looked a bit ugly.

He had both hands clasped behind his back, and when his eyes opened and closed, they carried a hint of laziness and dejection.

The gatekeeper froze for a moment. Then the fawning expression on his face grew even stronger, and he bowed and scraped to the newcomer. "Grandmaster, you're back."

Yu Xiaogang ignored the gatekeeper and only stared at Tang San and Xiao Wu, a trace of heat flashing through his eyes. "You're both Innate Full Soul Power?"

Seeing this man inexplicably blocking her way, Xiao Wu sounded somewhat displeased. "That's right, I'm Innate Full Soul Power. Are you a teacher at the school?"

Tang San thought, So it really is true.

Joy appeared on Yu Xiaogang's rigid face, and he shook his head. "I'm not a teacher."

"Then why are you stopping me?" Xiao Wu said, already trying to go around him.

Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened, and he hurriedly said, "Although I'm not a teacher, I'm still someone from Notting Academy. The dean is a good friend of mine, and I help him manage the academy."

Xiao Wu gave an "oh," thinking Yu Xiaogang was part of the school administration, and said, "Are you here to take us to handle the formalities?"

"Yes, yes. I'll take you to handle the formalities."

Yu Xiaogang followed along with her assumption. "Come with me. There are some things I need to ask you. They concern your future instruction."

"Go ahead and ask!"

Xiao Wu looked completely indifferent. She hadn't come here to study in the first place. With her strength, how could a mere Notting Academy be qualified to teach her?

Tang San said nothing, looking as if he would follow Xiao Wu's lead, and followed behind her into Notting Soul Master Academy.

Yu Xiaogang squeezed a smile onto his face and said kindly to Xiao Wu, "Let me see your soul master certificates."

Xiao Wu casually handed over her soul master certificate, and Tang San followed her example, handing his own over as well.

Yu Xiaogang accepted the two soul master certificates. He first examined Xiao Wu's, and when he saw Innate Soul Power level ten, delight appeared in his eyes. But when he saw that her martial soul was Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

This kind of martial soul wasn't very good. Among soul beasts, Soft Bone Charm Rabbit was a lower-tier soul beast and was usually food for other soul beasts. From that, one could imagine that the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit martial soul would not be very strong either.

What a pity for such fine Innate Full Soul Power.

Yu Xiaogang sighed inwardly. Xiao Wu's aptitude was somewhat unsatisfactory. Though she could still be considered a genius, she was still just a little short of the peerless genius he needed.

He then looked at Tang San's soul master certificate with anticipation. First he saw level ten soul power and nodded inwardly, but when he saw that the martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, his heart abruptly sank, and enormous disappointment filled him.

No, that's not right. How could a trash martial soul like Blue Silver Grass possibly have Innate Full Soul Power?

Yu Xiaogang suddenly reacted. Soft Bone Charm Rabbit might not be high quality, but it was at least a beast martial soul with offensive ability. Though it was rare for Innate Full Soul Power to appear with it, it was still possible. But how could a completely useless waste martial soul like Blue Silver Grass have Innate Full Soul Power?

So...

Yu Xiaogang's heart filled with enormous surprise. He glanced at Tang San discreetly, as if he had seen a peerless treasure.

"Little girl, are you willing to take me as your teacher?"

Yu Xiaogang forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and first extended an olive branch to Xiao Wu.

Although Xiao Wu's talent did not meet his requirements, she could still be considered a genius no matter what. She was qualified enough to serve as a backup. In any case, teaching one was teaching, and teaching two was still teaching, so he might as well take them both as disciples.

If Tang San was not as he had guessed, or if his other martial soul was also a waste martial soul, then Xiao Wu could be promoted from backup, and with his careful nurturing, it might not be impossible for him to fulfill his long-cherished wish.

Xiao Wu glanced at Yu Xiaogang, rolled her eyes, and a trace of disdain lay deep in her gaze. She could see Yu Xiaogang's strength clearly at a glance. A man in his forties or fifties with only level twenty-nine soul power, yet he still had the nerve to take a genius as his disciple. Wasn't that just misleading the young?

"May I ask what your strength is?"

Xiao Wu asked bluntly.

Yu Xiaogang's expression turned somewhat unnatural. He said, "Although my soul power is only level twenty-nine, I dare say that when it comes to teaching students, no one in the entire Douluo Continent can compare to me. In terms of extensive knowledge and understanding of the soul master profession, no one can compare to me either."

"Not interested!"

Xiao Wu was too lazy to say more. Rolling her cute eyes, she took her soul master certificate back from Yu Xiaogang's hand.

Seeing that Xiao Wu looked down on him, Yu Xiaogang felt faintly angry, and his impression of Xiao Wu dropped into the negative. This little girl had no respect for others and was spoiled and arrogant. He had no interest in a disciple like that either.

He glanced again at Tang San's soul master certificate. Seeing that Tang San's face showed no hint of looking down on him, he nodded inwardly in satisfaction.

"Little girl, since that's the case, you can go report in first. I have a few words I'd like to say to this young friend Tang San."

Yu Xiaogang spoke kindly to Xiao Wu. Although he disliked Xiao Wu in his heart, in front of Tang San, he still had to maintain his bearing and magnanimity.

"Tch, I don't want to listen anyway!"

Xiao Wu knew this fellow wanted to trick that dark-skinned boy into becoming his disciple too. With a cold laugh, she took her soul master certificate and quickly left.

"Wait!"

Seeing Xiao Wu was about to run out of sight, Tang San remembered he still did not know her name and hurriedly called out, "You helped me, but I still don't know what your name is!"

Xiao Wu waved a hand. "My name is Xiao Wu—the Wu as in dancing!"

Watching Xiao Wu disappear from sight, Tang San felt an empty sense of loss and called out, "My name is Tang San—the San as in Xiao San."

"I wonder if Xiao Wu heard me... When I get the chance, I'll definitely thank her properly!"

Tang San silently looked forward to their next meeting. After all, they were both at Notting Academy, both first-year students. They would definitely meet again.

After Xiao Wu had gone far away, Yu Xiaogang brought Tang San to a secluded corner. Looking at him, he feigned a calm tone and said, "Child, you're quite good. Are you willing to take me as your master?"

"Are you going to teach me how to cultivate my martial soul?" Tang San asked.

Right now, he did not have Xiao Wu's knowledge. He was not very clear on what status a rank twenty-nine spirit master held in the spirit master world, so he did not look down on Yu Xiaogang because of it.

Yu Xiaogang stopped and stood facing Tang San. "Then are you willing or not?"

Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang without speaking. Although he did not look down on Yu Xiaogang, he also did not want to take a master casually.

If Xiao Wu had taken him as her master, he definitely would not have hesitated. But since Xiao Wu had refused, he had to think it over carefully.