Yu Xiaogang and Tang San's Shock

While Old Jack and the Gatekeeper Youth were arguing, a middle-aged man had already appeared not far from Ao Tian. He stood there with a furrowed brow, silently watching.

This middle-aged man was Yu Xiaogang. He had short hair and an ordinary appearance, not much different from before, except that he looked far more weathered.

There was also a hint of laziness and despondency about him.

When he saw the Gatekeeper Youth get up and charge at Tang San, Yu Xiaogang finally spoke. "Enough, stop."

Hearing the voice, the youth halted mid-charge and glared angrily at the person who had stopped him.

He was about to curse loudly, but when he saw that it was the Grandmaster, the fury on his face vanished, immediately replaced by a fawning smile.

"Grandmaster, it's you."

Before the Grandmaster, the Gatekeeper Youth no longer dared to make a move.

Tang San gave the youth a cold look and lowered his arm.

If someone had not suddenly arrived, this youth would already have become a corpse.

Tang San turned to look at the newcomer without saying anything.

If this middle-aged man was also someone who threw his weight around like that youth, he would not mind sending them west.

The Grandmaster glanced at the youth, snorted coldly, then looked at Old Jack. "Old Man, may I see the Spirit Hall proof?"

Old Jack hurriedly handed Tang San's Spirit Awakening Proof over.

The Grandmaster studied the proof, occasionally looking Tang San over. His expression was uncertain with shock and doubt before it turned into a trace of delight.

Tang San frowned. This middle-aged man's gaze made him very uncomfortable.

The Grandmaster bowed slightly. "The proof is genuine. Old Man, the gatekeeper offended you just now. On behalf of the academy, I apologize. Leave the child to me. I'll take him in to register."

Old Jack hurriedly said, "There's no need to apologize. We were at fault as well."

Afterward, he gave Tang San a few reminders before finally leaving.

The Grandmaster glanced at the Gatekeeper Youth and said flatly, "If there's a next time, get lost."

The youth's face filled with panic. He repeatedly promised that he would not dare, then quickly stepped aside.

The Grandmaster lowered his head to look at Tang San, forcing a smile onto his stiff face as though he had not smiled in a long time.

"Wait here for a moment," he said.

Then he looked at Ao Tian in the distance and waved. "Child, come here."

The Grandmaster had noticed this beautiful child as soon as he approached.

Ao Tian's appearance and bearing were simply too eye-catching. Even the weathered Grandmaster, who had seen much of the world, had been struck by his beauty.

He guessed that this Child had also come to enroll. With such extraordinary looks and bearing, he was very curious about what this child's Martial Soul might be.

When Ao Tian heard the Grandmaster call him, he felt somewhat puzzled, but he still walked over.

The Grandmaster still wore that stiff smile. Looking at Ao Tian as he arrived, he asked, "You're here to enroll as well, aren't you?"

Ao Tian nodded without speaking.

"May I see your Spirit Awakening Proof?" the Grandmaster asked.

Ao Tian took out his proof and handed it over. He wanted to see what Yu Xiaogang intended to do—whether he wanted to "guide" him.

As Ao Tian walked over, Tang San's gaze remained fixed on him.

He had noticed this child earlier and had been struck by his appearance as well.

Now that he was observing Ao Tian up close, Tang San inexplicably felt a trace of inferiority.

The other boy was dressed brilliantly and possessed looks unmatched among thousands. Standing together, Tang San felt like mere background decoration, so dim and unremarkable.

When did I start caring about a bag of skin? Great strength is the foundation of everything. No matter how good-looking someone is, it's useless. Tang San was startled and hurriedly admonished himself.

The moment the Grandmaster saw Ao Tian's proof, he was stunned.

"Another Innate Full Soul Power," he cried out involuntarily.

He had already been greatly surprised upon seeing Tang San's proof. Now, another person with Innate Full Soul Power had appeared, making it impossible for him to remain calm.

According to his research, only nineteen people with Innate Full Soul Power had appeared in the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire over the past century.

Yet today, he had encountered two at once.

The population of the entire continent was unimaginably vast. For him to encounter two children with Innate Full Soul Power at the same time was practically a one-in-a-hundred-million chance.

Could this be fate? Is this Heaven's pity for my unfair destiny, its compensation to me? The Grandmaster could not help lifting his head to look at the sky.

He had already made up his mind. No matter what, he had to take these two children as disciples. Such excellent talent could not be wasted.

When the Grandmaster exclaimed, Tang San also looked at Ao Tian in shock.

Not only was the child before him extraordinarily handsome, his talent was no weaker than Tang San's. At that moment, Tang San actually felt a sense of defeat.

Compared to this handsome child, he truly seemed somewhat dim and unremarkable.

When did I start comparing myself to a Little Brat? I have other advantages—the second Martial Soul, the Tang Sect's Secret Skills. I, Tang San, am no weaker than anyone. Tang San snapped awake.

As soon as the Grandmaster finished exclaiming, his brows furrowed. He stared at Ao Tian's Martial Soul in confusion.

A Golden Dragon Martial Soul—he had never even heard of such a Martial Soul.

He had worked at Spirit Hall for many years. With his meager strength and Trash cultivation talent, he had been destined to become nothing more than a low-ranking Deacon. However, by chance, he came into contact with Bibi Dong and won her favor through some of his unique insights into Martial Souls.

Later, with Bibi Dong's authority, he gained access to Spirit Hall's various research materials and data. Only then was he able to summarize his Ten Core Competitiveness Theory of Martial Souls from the immense amount of data collected by Spirit Hall.

He knew hundreds, even thousands, of Martial Souls, yet he had never heard of a Golden Dragon Martial Soul.

Among dragon-type Martial Souls, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was the very best. It was also the strongest Beast Soul. Yu Xiaogang guessed that this Golden Dragon Martial Soul was probably inferior to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

"Your name is Ao Tian, Child. May I see your Martial Soul?" The Grandmaster looked at Ao Tian expectantly.

He had devoted his life to research. Now that a new Martial Soul had appeared, how could he not be excited?

"Sorry, I don't show my Martial Soul to people casually," Ao Tian refused.

He had not come to study under Yu Xiaogang, so why should he obey Yu Xiaogang's every word?

He guessed that there was an eighty or ninety percent chance Yu Xiaogang wanted to take him as a disciple.

The Grandmaster froze, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward.

"You needn't worry. I live inside Nuoding Academy, and everyone calls me the Grandmaster," the Grandmaster hurriedly explained. He felt that this child was being overly wary.

"I don't care what kind of Grandmaster you are. I don't want to show you. Even if the Pope came, it would be useless," Ao Tian said bluntly.

"You child, how can you have no manners at all? This is one of the academy's Teachers. You'll be studying here in the future," Tang San could not help scolding him.

"Alright, alright. I won't look, then," the Grandmaster hurriedly said.

There would be plenty of opportunities to see Ao Tian's Martial Soul in the future. There was no need to rush it now. It would not be good if everyone ended up unhappy.

"I'll take you inside," he said, reaching out to take Tang San's hand.

His other hand reached toward Ao Tian, but Ao Tian did not extend his hand.

The Grandmaster did not mind. He withdrew his hand and led Tang San ahead.

Ao Tian walked behind them with a faint smile on his lips. If nothing unexpected happened, he would soon see Tang San kneel and acknowledge a master.