Refusing to Become an Apprentice, My Martial Soul is Bulbasaur, Not a Garlic Turtle!

"Lin Xia, I am being serious. Your Martial Soul only has Innate Soul Power of level one, and like mine, it is an external beast-type Martial Soul. Only by taking me as your master can you go further!"

"Look, Tang San had Innate Full Soul Power and he still took me as his master. I am truly not lying to you!"

Inside a room filled with books at Notting Academy, Yu Xiaogang was earnestly trying to persuade a young man.

However, the boy opposite him did not pay any attention to Yu Xiaogang's words.

Instead, he crouched on the ground, using his fingers to tease his own Martial Soul, Bulbasaur.

Bulbasaur had an appearance similar to a toad; it had bright red eyes, white pupils and sclera, and a pair of protruding ears atop its head.

Its nose was short and blunt, and it possessed a large mouth. When its mouth opened, a pair of small, sharp teeth could be seen on the upper jaw.

Its skin was blue-green with dark green patches. Its thick legs each had three toes at the feet, ending in small white claws.

On its back grew a miraculous seed that would grow alongside its body. After bathing in sufficient sunlight, the seed on its back would thrive and grow.

After a long while, seeing that Yu Xiaogang was still tirelessly trying to brainwash him, the boy finally could not hold back anymore.

"I say, Master, you have been coming to me for almost a week straight. I really do not want to take you as a master!"

"Besides, your theories are not suitable for me. Although my Martial Soul is an external beast-type Martial Soul, in essence, Bulbasaur belongs to the plant category. How could I go and absorb beast-type Soul Rings?"

Hearing these words from Lin Xia felt as painful to Yu Xiaogang as if he had been stabbed several times; this was a negation of his life's research!

"Preposterous, absolutely preposterous!!"

"I have studied Martial Souls for my entire life. Do you, a mere brat, understand what the Ten Core Competencies of the Martial Soul World are? Do you understand what the Martial Soul Mimicry Theory is?"

"A plant Martial Soul does not necessarily have to absorb the Soul Rings of plant-type Soul Beasts, and a beast Martial Soul is not necessarily unable to absorb plant-type Soul Rings. Given various prerequisites, the two can be absorbed by one another."

"I told you before, one of the major advantages of your Martial Soul is its non-exclusivity. Because it is too weak, it will not reject the attributes added by any Soul Ring, but will only passively integrate them. So, Lin Xia, just take me as your master!"

Lin Xia fell silent for a moment. These words from Yu Xiaogang might have fooled others, but trying to fool him, treating him like a fool?

Not to mention that he was well-versed in the original plot, furthermore, the attributes of Bulbasaur were Grass and Poison.

Non-exclusive? Why not have Bulbasaur absorb a fire-attribute Soul Ring and see what happens?

It was simply nonsense; he had no shame left!

Seeing Lin Xia suddenly fall silent, Yu Xiaogang thought the other party was already considering the apprenticeship, and his eyes flickered with anticipation.

Only Tang San, standing to the side, felt incredibly nervous at this moment, fearing that Lin Xia would agree.

After all, having spent these days together, Tang San had come to view Yu Xiaogang as a father-like figure.

He did not want anyone else to share his father.

To share this hard-won familial affection.

Under the gaze of the two, Lin Xia still shook his head.

"Master, your theories are excellent, but I lack the fortune. I am accustomed to a free and easy life and do not wish to take on a master or anything of the sort."

After saying this, Lin Xia turned around and left Yu Xiaogang's room with Bulbasaur.

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang was struck as if by lightning, his eyes filled with disbelief.

After so many days, this was still the answer he received.

Unable to contain his frustration, Yu Xiaogang looked at Lin Xia's retreating back and lashed out.

"A frog in a well, ignorant and ill-informed! If you don't take me as your master, the highest you will ever reach is a Soul Grandmaster!"

"You are as low-tier as your Martial Soul, that garlic turtle!"

Outside the door, upon hearing Yu Xiaogang's roar, a cold smirk curled at the corner of Lin Xia's mouth, but he quickly changed his mindset and smiled in response to Yu Xiaogang.

"Many thanks for the praise, Master. I didn't expect I actually had the potential to break through to a Soul Grandmaster; I didn't have much confidence in that myself!"

"And my Martial Soul is called Bulbasaur, not a garlic turtle!"

Yu Xiaogang, who had been furious, suddenly felt as if he had punched a pile of cotton after Lin Xia's response.

In Yu Xiaogang's eyes, Lin Xia was now nothing but a pile of mud, lacking even a shred of a powerhouse's heart. Cultivating such a person would only ruin his own reputation.

It was just a pity to lose such a good experimental subject...

Tang San, who should have been happy, felt a surge of dissatisfaction toward Lin Xia after seeing how dejected Yu Xiaogang was.

What a blind fool. Since you, Lin Xia, cannot recognize quality, don't envy my achievements in the future!

"Teacher, it's fine. My Blue Silver Grass will definitely be stronger than his garlic turtle in the future!"

After leaving Yu Xiaogang's room, Lin Xia finally relaxed.

There was no help for it; he was simply too weak right now.

He could only deal with Yu Xiaogang perfunctorily; after all, he had Tang San, that ticking time bomb, by his side.

A person who could act out of annoyance, even against a gatekeeper, and who even wanted to kill without considering the consequences.

Lin Xia truly did not want to provoke him!

He was terrified that while walking, a Sleeve Arrow might end up in his forehead!

And take Yu Xiaogang as a master?

Not to mention whether he could learn any knowledge from Yu Xiaogang, the narrow-mindedness of Tang San alone could drown him.

Moreover, as someone who had read the original work, Lin Xia knew that a Martial Soul, in the end, was equivalent to an extension of one's own body in this world.

Only by deeply understanding this Martial Soul could one make the most correct judgment; otherwise, if one stepped onto the wrong path, the Martial Soul would basically be ruined!

And as a transmigrator, how could Lin Xia not know the uniqueness of a creature like Bulbasaur?

Extreme life attributes combined with toxins—as long as he developed the Martial Soul's characteristics step by step, he could grow steadily.

Going to absorb beast-type Soul Rings might not have negative effects, but the upper limit would be restricted.

To abandon strengthening what one already possessed and instead try to create something that wasn't there, then force it through cultivation—Lin Xia would have to be insane to do that!

Besides, Bulbasaur could evolve.

Ivysaur, Venusaur, and even Mega Venusaur, Gigantamax Venusaur—although his Innate Soul Power was only level one for now, Lin Xia believed that as long as he could keep Bulbasaur evolving.

Its growth speed would definitely not be slow.

Plus, Grass-type Pokémon were the easiest to raise; you didn't even need to train them, just let them bask in the sun, and they could grow stronger.

Lin Xia would have to be out of his mind to take Yu Xiaogang as a master.

He still had to get stronger. With only level one Soul Power, he couldn't do anything. This feeling of having his fate controlled by others made Lin Xia somewhat unhappy.

"Dana~"

Bulbasaur rubbed its small head against Lin Xia's leg, seemingly sensing the agitation and unease in its master's heart.

Lin Xia crouched down, stroking Bulbasaur's smooth, blue-green skin, feeling the warmth faintly radiating from the vibrant seed on its back. Looking into Bulbasaur's bright red eyes, he whispered:

"Don't worry, Bulbasaur. Even though we are very weak right now, as long as we find the right path, we will definitely be able to become stronger."