Inside Nuoding City Junior Spirit Master Academy!
With both hands behind his back and his chin slightly raised, Yu Xiaogang strode toward the depths of the academy with Tang San, wearing what he imagined was an elegant gait.
His face still wore that inscrutable "Grandmaster" expression, as if he could see through all things in the world.
He was still savoring the joy of taking on a new disciple.
But he hadn't gone far when two small figures suddenly entered his sight beneath a streetlamp ahead.
One was a six-year-old boy in simple clothes, with features as delicate as carved jade. He was holding hands with a little girl in a pale purple dress, with silver hair and violet eyes.
Hand in hand, they walked toward him, chatting and laughing.
Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena!
Yu Xiaogang's steps abruptly halted. The flush of pride from taking on a disciple drained from his face, leaving it dark and ugly, as if he'd swallowed a dead fly.
The memory of that night a few days ago surged back like a tide.
The six-year-old boy's merciless mockery, and the terrifying kick that had sent him flying more than ten meters, still made his chest ache faintly.
"What's he doing here?"
Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth, a trace of venom flashing in his eyes.
Walking behind Yu Xiaogang, Tang San keenly noticed that something was wrong with his teacher.
Following Yu Xiaogang's gloomy gaze, he spotted Ling Xuqing and Gu Yuena in the distance.
Tang San stopped, too, a flicker of confusion crossing his deep eyes.
"Who are those two?"
"They look like new students, too. Why is the teacher looking at them like that?"
Tang San wondered to himself.
His keen instincts told him that the boy holding the little girl's hand seemed to have some irreconcilable conflict with his teacher.
While Tang San was puzzling over it, Yu Xiaogang had already stopped and called coldly to the pair ahead:
"Stop!"
Hearing the voice, Ling Xuqing halted.
He turned around and, in the dim light, saw Yu Xiaogang's livid face and Tang San standing behind him.
The corner of Ling Xuqing's mouth curled into an amused smile. He turned to face Yu Xiaogang, looking at him with a half-smile.
"Grandmaster, what guidance do you have for me today?"
"Ling Xuqing, don't say I never gave you a chance!"
Yu Xiaogang looked at Ling Xuqing, once again adopting his inscrutable Grandmaster airs.
"See Tang San beside me? He has Innate Full Soul Power, too. He's already taken me as his teacher and become my disciple."
"Oh? And then?"
"I'm just telling you not to waste your talent. I'm a master of theory. Without my Martial Soul Theory and my guidance, you'll never get anywhere in Nuoding City."
"Not interested."
"I'm busy. I'm leaving."
With that, Ling Xuqing led Gu Yuena away without looking back.
Yu Xiaogang's chest heaved with fury at Ling Xuqing's attitude. Pointing at him, he gritted his teeth and said, "Ling Xuqing! I'm warning you, don't think you can look down on everyone just because you have a little talent! Your attitude earlier was disrespectful to knowledge and a desecration of theory!"
Hearing that, Ling Xuqing couldn't help laughing.
He looked at Yu Xiaogang's furious expression, his eyes full of pity and disdain.
"Grandmaster, other people might be interested in your theories, but I'm not."
"Someone who can make a top-tier weapon Martial Soul of the Power Attack System come with poison and Entanglement—go ruin someone else's life."
"Leave me out of it!"
At those words, Yu Xiaogang's face turned the color of pig liver, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.
The instant Tang San heard Ling Xuqing's words, a cold glint flashed in his eyes!
In Tang San's view, a teacher for a day was a father for life.
Now that he had taken Yu Xiaogang as his teacher, Yu Xiaogang was his elder—his father!
And this ignorant brat actually dared to insult his teacher?
"You dared to insult my teacher. You've got a death wish!"
A murderous chill flashed through Tang San's heart.
His right hand silently slid toward his sleeve, his fingertips already brushing against a cold mechanism.
With only a thought, the Sleeve Arrow would pierce Ling Xuqing's throat!
Yet just as Tang San was about to strike, Ling Xuqing acted as if he hadn't noticed the movement at all. He kept his cold gaze fixed on Yu Xiaogang and continued:
"Grandmaster, I've told you. A true genius is beyond your understanding. Go figure out your Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao before you talk! Stop misleading students!"
"You—!!!"
Yu Xiaogang's face turned blue, then white. He roared hysterically, "Ling Xuqing! Don't get too arrogant! I've already taken a new disciple! He has Innate Full Soul Power! With my guidance, he'll become the finest Soul Master there is! Then you'll realize just how foolish your decision was!"
Faced with Yu Xiaogang's endless pestering and threats, Ling Xuqing grew more and more impatient.
He couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on the ungrateful fool. Turning to Gu Yuena, he said softly:
"Na'er, hit him."
Gu Yuena blinked her violet eyes and nodded obediently. "Okay, Brother!"
The moment the words left her mouth, Gu Yuena vanished from where she stood!
"Thud!"
A muffled impact rang out!
Gu Yuena drove a clean, powerful roundhouse kick into Yu Xiaogang's chest!
"Pfft—"
Yu Xiaogang felt a force like a collapsing mountain and surging sea. He flew backward like a kite with its string cut!
He traced a graceful arc through the air before crashing into the grass more than ten meters away, sending up a cloud of dust.
"Pfft—"
Yu Xiaogang spat out a mouthful of blood and slumped to the ground, eyes rolling back, his face full of disbelief.
"You... you..."
He pointed a trembling finger at Gu Yuena, his voice faint as a mosquito's buzz.
The moment Tang San saw Gu Yuena strike, he immediately tried to rush to Yu Xiaogang's aid!
But the instant he moved, a cold spearpoint silently pressed against his throat!
Ling Xuqing held the Golden Overlord Spear, its aura domineering, and stared coldly at Tang San.
"Put away your Sleeve Arrow and Hidden Weapons. They're useless against me."
"Move, and I'll kill you right now!"
"Hiss—"
Tang San sucked in a sharp breath, instantly drenched in cold sweat.
He stared at Ling Xuqing, utterly aghast.
"How... How did he know I had a Sleeve Arrow and Hidden Weapons?!"
Those were his greatest secrets!
His trump cards for staying alive as an outer disciple of the Tang Sect!
How could a boy who looked only six years old have seen through him?!
"Damn it... You've got a death wish!"
Tang San screamed inwardly, but he didn't dare move a muscle. The spear tip against his throat had already pierced his skin, drawing a thin line of blood.
Meanwhile, within the sea of consciousness.
"Xuqing, nicely done! Someone like that deserves a good beating!" Xiao Wu excitedly waved her little fists.
Ah Yin's eyes were even colder. She looked at Tang San on the ground, her heart filled with disgust.
She already knew from Ling Xuqing that this Tang San wasn't her real son at all!
He was a soul from another world who had seized her son's body!
Her real son had died long ago!
The person before her was nothing but a monster wearing Tang San's skin!
"Xuqing, don't waste your breath on him."
Ah Yin spoke coldly.
Ling Xuqing withdrew the Golden Overlord Spear, ignoring Tang San's astonished, venomous gaze.
He walked straight over to Yu Xiaogang, who was sprawled on the ground, bent down, and snatched the Storage Soul Tool from his waist—the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges!
"Ling Xuqing, you... how dare you!" Yu Xiaogang clutched his chest and stared at him in terror.
Ling Xuqing toyed with the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges in his hand, the corner of his mouth curling in mockery.
"Think I won't?"
"Yu Xiaogang, I showed you respect by calling you Grandmaster."
"Don't think that makes you a real Grandmaster!"
"You've provoked me twice now. Taking a little interest isn't unreasonable, is it?"
"You... you dare..."
Yu Xiaogang trembled with rage, but he couldn't even muster the strength to stand.
Ling Xuqing snorted, tucked the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges into his clothes, and looked down at Yu Xiaogang.
"Hmph, you're nothing but a waste. Go ruin someone else's life. Leave me out of it!"
Then he turned to Tang San and said casually:
"Hey, brother, here's a word of advice."
"Keep your eyes open when you choose a teacher. Don't get sold and still help count the money!"
With that, Ling Xuqing paid no more attention to the two men lying there with livid faces.
He turned around, took Gu Yuena's soft, pale hand again, and walked lightly toward the dormitories.
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