Grandmaster

"Brother Chen, we're not going to the academy to date girls. I swore I'd become a powerful Soul Master. With no women in my heart, cultivation comes naturally. You said that yourself—have you forgotten?"

Tang San spoke seriously. Tang Hao's sudden departure had deeply shaken him. Having lived two lives, how could Tang San not see that his father had troubles he could not speak of? That was why he had to cultivate diligently, so that one day he could help his father.

"Not bad, Little San. You've even learned to talk like Brother Chen. You're improving. Ah, not bad, not bad.

Time quietly passed. The carriage rattled along toward Nuoding City, and before Lu Chen realized it, he and Little San had reached the city gates while chatting.

"Little Chen, Little San, we've arrived at Nuoding City." After paying the carriage fare, Old Jack called for Lu Chen and Tang San to climb down from the pile of straw in the carriage.

Nuoding City's walls were tall and imposing. Though it was only a small city, it stood near the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, so its defenses were much stricter than those of ordinary cities.

Old Jack led Lu Chen and Tang San into the city.

Along the way, Old Jack carefully explained everything he knew about Soul Master Academies to Tang San.

Lu Chen had heard it many times before, so he was not interested.

Nuoding City was quite lively. Compared to the peace and quiet of Holy Soul Village, Lu Chen preferred this bustling scene of crowds and traffic.

Early in the morning, many merchants from other villages had already come to Nuoding City to sell their goods, shouting continuously to draw customers.

"Cheap spinach! Spinach, spinach, spinach, cheap spinach!"

A vegetable farmer shouted at the passing crowds at the top of his lungs. As more and more people gathered around his stall, the other vendors refused to be outdone.

"Mom, I want roasted yams. Eat, eat big ones. Are two enough? Enough. Thanks, Mom."

"Cornbread! Four for one copper soul coin! Hehe!!"

"Boss, how much are these rats?" Lu Chen asked as he approached a stall.

"Little friend, these aren't rats. They're bamboo rats. Three copper soul coins each, or three for ten copper soul coins!"

"Little Chen, stop looking around. We're almost at the Junior Soul Master Academy." Old Jack called out, signaling for Lu Chen to hurry up.

After asking around several times, Old Jack finally brought Lu Chen and Tang San to the gates of Nuoding Academy.

Since Lu Chen had come here several times before, he did not feel much. Tang San, however, was somewhat stunned by the academy's grandeur and magnificence.

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing here? This is the Junior Soul Master Academy. Is this a place for country bumpkins like you? Get out of here!"

Seeing the three of them lingering before the gates, the gatekeeper immediately stepped forward to drive them away.

Lu Chen's clothes were actually decent enough, and Old Jack had changed into a fairly nice outfit that day, making him look quite spirited.

But Tang San's clothes were covered in patches, making him look genuinely shabby.

Seeing this, Old Jack hurriedly stepped forward with a smile. "Young man, we're from Holy Soul Village. These two children are here to enroll. One is a work-study student, and the other is paying his own tuition. Could you tell us what procedures are needed?"

"A work-study student, and one paying his own tuition? Who are you trying to fool? You think a phoenix can come out of a chicken coop? A kid from some broken-down village can have Soul Power? Paying his own tuition? Can you even afford it? I think you're impostors." The gatekeeper spoke in a mocking, sarcastic tone, clearly trying to make things difficult for Old Jack.

He had done this sort of thing plenty of times. Anyone with any sense would hand him some money and send him on his way.

After living for so many years, how could Old Jack not understand? But Lu Chen's tuition had already drained all his savings, and he had no extra money left.

Though he was furious, Old Jack endured it. He took out the Martial Soul awakening certificate Su Yuntao had given him and handed it to the gatekeeper.

"Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul? And Innate Full Soul Power? Are you here to make me laugh? Trash like Blue Silver Grass can have Soul Power and cultivate? This certificate must be fake."

As he spoke, the gatekeeper casually tossed the Martial Soul awakening certificate aside. With his arms folded and his chin raised, he blocked Old Jack's way and refused to let them enter.

"Little San, get to work. Teach him a good lesson. Grandpa Jack and I will go in first. Catch up with us later."

Lu Chen could no longer stand watching. He pulled Grandpa Jack and had barely taken two steps when the gatekeeper blocked them again, looking unwilling to let the matter go.

"Get lost."

Lu Chen flew into a rage and jumped up, slapping the gatekeeper across the face.

With a cry of pain, the gatekeeper was sent flying by Lu Chen's slap, several of his teeth knocked out.

Seeing that his teeth had been knocked out, the gatekeeper's anger surged. Just as he was about to charge forward, a voice came from the side.

"Enough. Stop."

A middle-aged man walked over. He had an unkempt beard, and his expression carried a hint of laziness and despondence.

The moment the gatekeeper saw him, he scrambled up from the ground and ran over with a fawning smile, bowing and scraping. "Grandmaster, you're back!"

Grandmaster ignored the gatekeeper and walked straight to Old Jack. "Sir, could I take a look at the certificate from Spirit Hall?"

Old Jack was immediately overjoyed. At a glance, he could tell that the man before him was no ordinary person.

Just as he bent down to pick up the certificate from the ground, Tang San beat him to it and handed the Spirit Hall certificate over.

Grandmaster accepted the certificate. After carefully verifying its authenticity, he began reading its contents.

After looking at it for a while, his brow gradually furrowed. Then he turned his gaze toward Tang San and Lu Chen.

"Sir, both certificates are genuine. Could you leave these two children with me? I'll take care of all the remaining procedures."

"Haha, that would be wonderful. Then I'll trouble you, sir. Little Chen, Little San, once you're at the academy, listen carefully to your teachers. Don't cause trouble. Follow this Grandmaster inside. I'll be heading back now."

Lu Chen and Tang San nodded, then followed Grandmaster into Nuoding Academy.

Just like in the original story, Grandmaster successfully talked Tang San into it with his eloquence.

"Tang San, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Tang San froze, then immediately knelt down. Under Grandmaster's astonished gaze, he kowtowed heavily three times.

"What are you doing? To become a disciple, a bow is enough. Kneeling is reserved for one's parents and ruler."

"A teacher for a day, a father for life. Since you are willing to take me as your disciple, you should accept my kneeling."

Tang San spoke solemnly. To see at a glance from a single certificate that he possessed Twin Martial Souls—such a person was qualified to be his teacher.

Lu Chen simply watched Tang San kneel and acknowledge his master. He did not stop him. It was Tang San's own choice.

"Then what about you, Lu Chen?"

Grandmaster turned his gaze toward Lu Chen. He also possessed Innate Full Soul Power, and might even have a mutated Gem-type Martial Soul. This child was likewise qualified to become his disciple.