Gangzi: Jiang Yu Stole My Intellect!

Seeing Ning Fengzhi and Dugu Bo seek him out at the same time, Jiang Yu was quite surprised.

"Sect Master Ning, Senior Dugu, what rare visitors."

Jiang Yu smiled as he welcomed them inside.

Ning Rongrong, following behind Ning Fengzhi, curiously sized Jiang Yu up.

Dugu Yan, following behind Dugu Bo, likewise watched Jiang Yu with her beautiful eyes.

Clearly, both of them were full of curiosity about Jiang Yu.

After they took their seats, Dugu Bo spoke first. Straightforward by nature, he did not beat around the bush.

"Jiang Yu, let's be frank. I came today hoping you could guide my granddaughter Yan Yan in her cultivation."

Ning Fengzhi immediately followed up, unable to help saying, "Young friend Jiang Yu, I am here for my daughter Rongrong as well. Would you be willing to offer Rongrong some guidance in her cultivation?"

Both their gazes were fixed tightly on Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu lifted his teacup and took a light sip, his gaze sweeping over Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan.

One was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The other was the beloved granddaughter of the Poison Douluo.

After a moment, Jiang Yu set down his teacup with a soft clink.

"Guide the two of them in cultivation? Sure!"

Upon receiving this affirmative answer, joy appeared on both Ning Fengzhi's and Dugu Bo's faces.

But Jiang Yu's next sentence instantly made the atmosphere turn solemn.

"However, my cultivation methods are rather extreme."

Jiang Yu's gaze sharpened as it swept over Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan.

"If the two of them cannot endure it, withdraw halfway through, or if anything goes wrong, then you cannot blame me."

Dugu Bo and Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance, each seeing resolve in the other's eyes.

"No problem!"

"As long as Yan Yan can become stronger, she can endure any amount of hardship!"

Dugu Bo said decisively.

Ning Fengzhi also nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, young friend Jiang Yu. If Rongrong cannot endure it, that is her own problem and has nothing to do with you."

Hearing their words, Jiang Yu looked once more at Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong and said, "Fine, since you both say so."

"Then starting tomorrow, they will cultivate with me!"

Meanwhile, in Notting City, a thousand miles away.

Within a humble room at Notting Junior Soul Master Academy, Yu Xiaogang was bent over his desk, writing furiously.

His expression was focused and fervent, as though he were carrying out an act of creation.

Under the dim yellow lamplight, the words on his manuscript were clearly visible:

<An Inquiry into the Feasibility of Cross-Species Soul Ring Selection for Martial Souls>

[Note: Under certain conditions, plant-type martial souls can also absorb the soul rings of animal-type soul beasts, thereby gaining unexpected mutation abilities...]

[Theory discoverer: "Grandmaster" Yu Xiaogang]

When writing the two words "Grandmaster," Yu Xiaogang deliberately pressed down harder with his brush, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

Although this title of "Grandmaster" had been bestowed upon himself by Yu Xiaogang, very few in the soul master world acknowledged it.

However, Yu Xiaogang possessed an almost obsessive confidence in his theories.

Especially after taking Tang San, a disciple with twin martial souls, as his student, he felt that the talent he had suppressed for half his life had finally found a use.

One theory after another had been perfectly verified through Tang San, making him increasingly convinced that his theories were correct.

Yu Xiaogang believed that before long, once Tang San grew up and became famous across the continent, the name Yu Xiaogang would also resound throughout the entire Douluo world.

By then, he would no longer be a self-proclaimed Grandmaster, but a true Grandmaster revered by the entire continent!

Just as Yu Xiaogang was immersed in his beautiful fantasies of the future, the conversation between two passing teachers in the hallway outside caught his attention.

"Hey! Have you heard? Our academy has produced an incredibly important figure!"

"You mean Jiang Yu, right? I heard all about it! That kid Jiang Yu even attended my classes before! Who would have thought he would become a baron of the Heaven Dou Empire!"

"That's not all! Not only was Jiang Yu personally granted the title of imperial baron by Emperor Xue Ye, he was also bestowed the title of 'Grandmaster'!"

"That's really enviable!"

Hearing their conversation, Yu Xiaogang's heart jolted, and his hand tightened around the brush.

Crack!

Yu Xiaogang crushed the pen shaft in his grip! Ink splattered all over his hand.

"What!? What did you two just say!"

"Say that again!"

Yu Xiaogang flung the door open and charged out with bloodshot eyes, roaring at the two teachers passing by.

One had to know that "Master" was Yu Xiaogang's exclusive title! It was the lifelong goal he had staked his entire life on pursuing.

Though no one acknowledged it, in Yu Xiaogang's heart, the title "Master" had long since become one with him.

Yu Xiaogang was "Master."

And now, someone had actually obtained that title?

And it had been personally bestowed by Emperor Xue Ye, with the recognition of the Heaven Dou Empire?

How could Yu Xiaogang not be agitated?

The two passing teachers were startled by Yu Xiaogang's crazed appearance, but one of them immediately said, "You don't know yet?"

"It's Jiang Yu, the one who graduated from our academy! He's now an imperial viscount, and he's even received the title of 'Master'! The news has spread throughout Heaven Dou City!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang felt as though he had been struck by lightning, standing there completely stunned.

"Th-This is impossible!"

"Jiang Yu!? That trash Jiang Yu absorbed a soul ring beyond the limit. Shouldn't he have exploded and died long ago!?..."

"How could he... how could he have become a viscount and received the title of Master!"

Yu Xiaogang thought in disbelief.

A viscount of the Heaven Dou Empire, honored as Master!

These were things Yu Xiaogang had dreamed of and striven for his entire life, yet could never obtain!

And now, Jiang Yu—the trash, the dead man in his eyes—had taken them so easily!

Why!

Why did Jiang Yu deserve the rank of viscount and the title of Master?

"Wait... could it be... could it be that Jiang Yu plagiarized my theories!"

A thought like lightning tore through Yu Xiaogang's chaotic mind.

"That's right! It must be so!"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes suddenly lit up. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Yu Xiaogang remembered clearly that, in order to display his knowledge, to make Jiang Yu become his disciple and help verify his theories—

He had once explained his martial soul theories to Jiang Yu in great detail!

Jiang Yu must have plagiarized those theories of his to obtain the viscount rank and the title of "Master."

"No, I must go to Heaven Dou City at once! I'm going to find Jiang Yu and expose him!"

"The rank of viscount! The title of 'Master'! They're all mine!"

"I will take back everything that belongs to me!"

Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms as fury blazed in his eyes.