Apprenticing to an Old Chinese Doctor

The matter of the sparring match on the training ground quickly spread throughout the entire academy.

Although Tang San had won, he had exposed the worthless nature of Blue Silver Grass's first soul skill.

It looked like a victory, but in truth, it was a loss.

Wang Sheng had lost, but he had lost with honor.

Inside the office, the teachers were abuzz with discussion.

"I never expected Jiede's Martial Soul to be a food-type Martial Soul."

"Yeah. What a pity. It stinks so badly no one can eat it. Even Yu Xiaogang threw up after eating it."

"The dean is really something, insisting on letting that fraud freeload at the academy."

"Who told him his surname was Yu..."

"The supposedly unbeatable theoretical Master Yu actually had his direct disciple absorb a lousy ten-year Soul Ring. It's utterly ridiculous."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

Inside a room.

Yu Xiaogang lay on the bed, groaning miserably despite not being ill.

"Bleurgh~"

He vomited up a mouthful of yellow bile.

"Teacher, why did you insist on taking Jiede as your disciple?" Tang San asked resentfully.

His reputation had also taken a hit now, and his classmates had plenty to say about him.

Even the way Xiao Wu looked at him had become strange.

"Little San, you must understand your teacher's painstaking intentions.

You have Twin Martial Souls, and we lack experience. We need someone to serve as a test subject for my research.

Jiede's mutated Martial Soul is perfect for that, and he has Innate Full Soul Power. Such talent is rare.

Do you understand?"

Yu Xiaogang explained earnestly.

"So that's how it is, Teacher. This disciple understands everything now." Tang San suddenly understood.

In Yu Xiaogang's heart, he still hoped to find an opportunity through Jiede to break through Level 30.

After all, he was nearly fifty. If he did not break through soon, there would truly be no hope left.

"Little San, you need not take today's matter to heart.

Wang Sheng is nothing to worry about. He cannot beat you now, and he will not be able to beat you in the future either.

His Innate Soul Power is only Level Three. He has no future.

Jiede wasted his first soul skill too. The loss outweighed the gain.

Just wait a few more years and look at them again.

By then, you will have left both of them far behind."

"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher!"

"Unfortunately, after all this fuss, taking on disciples has completely fallen through."

"Teacher, the first soul skill of my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul is useless too. Use it for experiments instead. No matter what, it cannot get much worse."

"I've wronged you, Little San."

Fortunately, Jiede's first soul skill was useless as well, so Tang San finally felt somewhat better.

At least I still have my second Martial Soul. I have room for error.

Jiede only had one Martial Soul.

That afternoon, Jiede returned home.

Jie Yuan stopped refining white sugar.

"Little De is back."

"Dad, I need to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"I have a classmate I'm very close with. His family..."

Jiede told him about Wang Sheng's family circumstances and everything that had happened at the academy.

After listening to Jiede, Jie Yuan fell silent for a moment.

He had hired helpers at his shop before, but one of them had often secretly stolen soul beast meat. Liu Yun discovered it one day and fired him immediately.

After that, Jie Yuan never hired anyone again.

Character was what mattered most. Since Wang Sheng had been raised to be so loyal and righteous, his parents could not be too bad either. He could try them out first.

He also had to consider Jiede's future. After all, Jiede was a food-type support Soul Master, so it was necessary for him to make friends with Soul Masters who had combat ability.

As his father, he had to support his son's decision.

"Alright. Tell your classmate that he can come work anytime."

"Thanks, Dad. I'll teach you a Body Tempering Technique."

"What's that?"

"The hope of becoming a Soul Master..."

It was not until late at night that Jie Yuan finally learned the Body Tempering Technique.

However, he did not feel any sign of soul power being born within his body.

Jiede comforted him. "Don't rush it. Take things step by step. Practice more, and it'll work eventually."

"Can practicing this technique really produce soul power?" Jie Yuan remained skeptical.

For an ordinary person without soul power to develop soul power was simply unheard of.

His son was going to defy the heavens.

If it really could cultivate soul power, the matter would be enough to shake the continent, leave a name for eternity, and even be recorded in history.

"Alright. From now on, I'll set aside time every day to keep practicing."

"Don't spread word of this. You must keep it secret."

"Don't worry. Your dad knows what to do."

Jiede tossed seven Foundation-Building Pills to Jie Yuan.

"Dad, take one Foundation-Building Pill a day while practicing. The results will be twice as good with half the effort.

The Foundation-Building Pills can only be stored for seven days. Once they expire, they'll disperse on their own.

I'll give you more when the time comes."

Jie Yuan nodded and accepted the pills. "By the way, are you coming home again tomorrow?"

"What's up?"

"The old Chinese doctor you asked me to find has been located."

"Alright, then tomorrow afternoon. I happen to have no classes."

The following afternoon.

Jie Yuan carried two slabs of meat and a jar of wine as he brought Jiede to the entrance of Yu He Clinic.

"Old Yu has a pretty bad temper, so watch yourself. I only know him because I used to deliver meat to him. We aren't close, but his medical skills are good."

Jie Yuan cautioned him.

Jiede nodded indifferently. He only wanted to gain some knowledge of medicinal herbs.

As for whether the other man had a good temper or superb medical skills, it did not matter.

To him, all of it was merely paving the way for his Mystic Core Martial Soul.

The father and son passed through the main hall and entered the rear courtyard.

Yu He only saw patients in the mornings. At the moment, he lay on a rocking chair with his eyes closed, resting.

Jiede placed the gifts on a stone table beside him and spoke softly. "Mr. Yu, pardon the disturbance. I've brought my son to study under you."

Yu He lifted his eyelids slightly but did not rise. "Another one here to become my apprentice. If his comprehension is too poor, I won't accept him!"

He looked Jiede over a few times. "This little brat?"

"This junior is Jiede. Greetings, Mr. Yu." Jiede cupped his hands in salute.

"Chinese medicine is vast and profound. Mastering it cannot be done overnight. It may even take decades before you can complete your training. You should think this through carefully."

Yu He reminded him.

"If you give up halfway, you might as well not learn at all. Don't waste your time."

Jiede looked young and delicate, clearly the type from a well-off family who had been pampered since childhood. Yu He did not think highly of him.

Decades?

That definitely would not do.

Jiede shook his head. "I don't have that much time. Three years at most."

"Then why are you learning medicine at all? Are you so bored that you came here to amuse yourself at my expense?" Yu He glared and rebuked him.

Jiede did not explain further. He raised his hand and released his Mystic Core Martial Soul, a yellow Soul Ring rising beneath his feet.

"What do you mean by this? Are you planning to threaten me?"

Yu He snorted coldly. "You'd best think carefully. I've treated patients for many years and know quite a few Soul Masters. They may not be high-level Soul Masters, but they have more than enough ability to deal with a one-ring Soul Master like you!"

Jiede frowned. This old man truly had a bad temper. He jumped to conclusions before others had even finished speaking.

"Sir, I possess Innate Soul Power. I'm destined to walk the path of a Soul Master, and my Martial Soul is very special. It possesses..."

"Then go cultivate. Why are you still learning medicine?"

He had come to learn medicine, not to endure abuse. Besides, it was not as if he refused to pay tuition.

Jiede simply sat down on a stone stool beside him.

"Then tell me, what will make you willing to teach me?"

"I do not accept disciples without manners."

"You don't even act like an elder. How are you worthy of being my teacher?" Jiede stood, picked up the gifts, and turned to leave.

"Little De..."

Jie Yuan followed helplessly. He had never expected things to turn out this way.

"Wait!" Yu He suddenly called out.

"What?" Jiede stopped. "The apprenticeship didn't work out, so does that mean you won't return the gifts?"

"Who the hell wants your pathetic gifts!"

Yu He looked at Jie Yuan. "You don't need to deliver soul beast meat anymore. Stop coming here to bother me!"