I'm Not Interested!

"Is this guy sick? 'Save thirty years of detours'? I don't care for your detours!"

Inside the sea of consciousness, Xiao Wu stood with her hands on her hips, stomping her feet in frustration.

Her pretty face was full of annoyance, her soft, pink lips pouted high, and she mercilessly ranted in Ling Xuqing's mind.

"Exactly, Xuqing. Even though this guy talks a big game, he always gives off this feeling of being high and mighty, like he's bestowing charity upon others. I don't like him."

A Yin chimed in softly from the side, a flicker of displeasure crossing her gentle eyes.

Listening to the two girls complaining in his sea of consciousness, the corners of Ling Xuqing's mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

He didn't lash out immediately, nor did he start a direct confrontation like Xiao Wu. Instead, he looked at the fanatical Yu Xiaogang before him with a gaze that was almost scrutinizing.

Ling Xuqing didn't refute him. He kept his arms crossed over his chest, tilted his head slightly, and asked in a tone that seemed humble but was actually laced with amusement: "Oh? Since the Master values my talent so much, then in your professional opinion, how exactly should I plan my path of cultivation?"

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up, as if he had seen the brightest starlight in the dark of night.

Great joy!

He was ecstatic, thinking to himself that although this child was cold on the surface, he was ultimately intimidated by his own reputation and aura.

See? Wasn't he already asking for guidance?

As long as he displayed his true strength and threw out those profound theories, was there any fear that this six-year-old genius wouldn't obediently bow down at his feet?

"Good! Good! Good!" Yu Xiaogang said the word three times, his hands trembling with excitement.

He cleared his throat, flicked his washed-out gray robe, and put his hands behind his back, radiating the mysterious confidence of an "academic titan."

"Child, listen well. Since you have asked with sincerity, this Master shall provide you with some pointers!"

Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat and began his most practiced theoretical posturing:

"First, your martial soul is the Golden Overlord Spear, which belongs to the top-tier weapon martial souls! The cultivation of a weapon martial soul focuses on 'precision' and 'control.' Although you have innate full soul power, remember not to be arrogant or complacent. Before the age of twenty, you must reach level thirty. This is the first watershed for whether you can become a powerhouse in the future!"

As he spoke, he observed Ling Xuqing's reaction from the corner of his eye. Seeing that Ling Xuqing remained expressionless, he assumed the child was listening intently and spoke with even more vigor:

"Secondly, the choice of soul rings! This is of the utmost importance! According to my research, the limit for the first soul ring is four hundred and twenty-three years! Your first soul ring must be a Datura Snake! The poison and resilience of this soul beast perfectly match the domineering attributes of your Golden Overlord Spear, granting you soul skills of control and paralysis!"

"As for the second soul ring," Yu Xiaogang's tone grew more impassioned, as if he could already see Ling Xuqing wreaking havoc under his guidance, "you must find a Ghost Vine! The parasitic and binding abilities of the Ghost Vine will greatly enhance your control-type methods. Remember, the combination of soul rings must be rigorous; a miss is as good as a mile!"

"As for the cultivation method," Yu Xiaogang patted his chest, speaking proudly, "I will personally design a meditation plan for you and teach you how to guide your soul power to wash through your meridians. Once you reach level thirty, I will take you to the Star Dou Great Forest to select the most suitable third soul ring! As long as you cultivate strictly according to my 'Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls' theory, I guarantee that your future achievements will be limitless!"

After speaking at great length, Yu Xiaogang finally stopped.

He panted slightly, but the fanaticism in his eyes grew even more intense.

He stared intently at Ling Xuqing, his eyes filled with expectation and certainty.

He waited, waiting for this six-year-old child to show a look of shock and admiration, then excitedly kneel on the ground, weeping as he called him "Teacher."

However, one second, two seconds, three seconds passed.

A breeze blew by, stirring a few fallen leaves.

Ling Xuqing remained in his crossed-arm posture, and there wasn't even the slightest change in his expression.

No shock, no admiration, no sudden realization—only a calmness like that of a spectator.

"Oh."

Ling Xuqing replied flatly.

It was the same word, the same tone without a ripple.

Yu Xiaogang: "..."

He felt as if he had been slapped in the face by an invisible hand in front of everyone.

How could his supposedly perfect theoretical output just now be like a gust of wind blowing past this six-year-old child, without even creating a splash?

"Alright, Master, I understand," Ling Xuqing said with a faint, ambiguous smile, his tone relaxed. "I'll consider it."

With that, he turned around, took a step, and walked swaggeringly toward the academy gate, carrying Xiao Wu and A Yin in his sea of consciousness.

"Hey! You—"

Yu Xiaogang was completely stunned.

He stood blankly in place, his outstretched hand frozen in mid-air, his mouth slightly agape, as if someone had grabbed him by the throat, unable to speak for a long time.

He didn't understand.

He truly didn't understand.

Why?

Why, even after he had explained it in such detail—even arranging exactly which soul beast to choose for the first and second soul rings—did this child have no reaction at all?

Shouldn't he be grateful?

Shouldn't he be moved to tears?

Shouldn't he be so overwhelmed that he would kneel on the spot and kowtow to take him as his master?

How could there be no reaction?

"I'll consider it"?

Do I need you to consider it?!

I, the dignified "Master," am taking the initiative to accept a six-year-old child as a disciple; this is his honor!

He should be kneeling down immediately to thank me for pointing out the direction of his life!

Yu Xiaogang's face turned pale and then green, his heart churning with a sense of immense frustration and disbelief.

But he didn't want to give up.

He stared fixedly at Ling Xuqing's receding back and gritted his teeth.

This was a genius with innate full soul power!

And he possessed the top-tier weapon martial soul, the Golden Overlord Spear!

How many such top-tier geniuses with maxed-out talent could one find in the entire Nuoding City, no, the entire Heaven Dou Empire?

Nuoding City was already in a remote location with scarce resources; the birth of a genius with innate full soul power was as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

If he missed Ling Xuqing, Yu Xiaogang didn't know how much longer he would have to wait in this dump to find another disciple who could help him "turn things around."

"No! I can't let him go just like that!"

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the panic and humiliation in his heart.

He straightened his robe, took another step, and hurried to catch up.

"Child! Child, wait!"

Yu Xiaogang ran to Ling Xuqing, panting, and blocked his path once more.

A smile that looked worse than crying was plastered on his face, and his tone even carried a hint of pleading: "Child, do you feel that what the Master said wasn't thorough enough? It doesn't matter, we can talk about it slowly! As long as you take me as your master, the Master can agree to any condition you have!"

Ling Xuqing stopped and looked at the middle-aged man who had become nearly insane in his quest to take a disciple, a faint mockery flashing in the depths of his eyes.

He stopped beating around the bush and stopped giving any face to this so-called "Master."

Ling Xuqing looked straight into Yu Xiaogang's eyes, his voice low, yet every word was like a blade, clearly striking Yu Xiaogang's heart:

"Master, let me be clear with you."

"I have my own path and system of cultivation; I have already planned my own way. Therefore, I will not take you as my master."

He paused slightly, a cold, undisguised sneer curling his lips:

"You should save this theory of yours to fool someone else. I'm not interested."