The Proud Master and Disciple

Ever since Xiao Yan and Xiao Wu agreed to the group fight, the atmosphere throughout Notting Academy had changed. The conflict between the work-study students and the fee-paying students, who had never gotten along in the first place, grew increasingly intense. In just one morning, there were already two clashes between them. But none of that had anything to do with Wang Tianyi. All he cared about was the lesson before him and the knowledge filling his mind.

He was remarkably disciplined—almost excessively so. Attending class, eating, cultivating, sleeping: that was his life at Notting Academy. Until three days later...

At the gates of Notting City.

A carriage slowly entered the city. Yu Xiaogang had returned from the Soul Hunting Forest with Tang San. Yu Xiaogang did not look very well, but like Tang San, his eyes were brimming with excitement.

"Little San, from today onward, you are a true Soul Master! Come, your teacher will take you to the Spirit Hall Branch to register your identity as a Soul Master. From now on, you can collect one Gold Soul Coin every month for living expenses! Then... we'll go find that arrogant brat!"

Yu Xiaogang's face was full of pride. His theory had succeeded! He had successfully given his disciple a Datura Snake as his first Soul Ring, and Blue Silver Grass had undergone an astonishing enhancement! This was enough to prove that there was nothing wrong with his theory!

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San was filled with anticipation as well. The Gold Soul Coin was secondary; there was no reason to refuse free benefits. What Tang San truly cared about was showing off his first Soul Ring before Wang Tianyi and seeing the other party's jaw hit the ground. That would surely be wonderful, wouldn't it?

Being born humble was not shameful. Tang San was confident that he could defy fate and change his destiny through his own efforts!

Those who look down on me will eventually pay the price for their shallow vision!

Tang San thought to himself as he entered the Spirit Hall Branch with Yu Xiaogang. Sure enough, when Tang San revealed his Level 13 Soul Power and his transformed Blue Silver Grass, the Spirit Hall staff member was stunned. He praised Tang San's outstanding talent while also praising Yu Xiaogang for teaching his disciple well. Though it was merely the approval of an ordinary person, it still made master and disciple proudly raise their heads.

"Senior, did you hear? Those kids from Notting Academy are going to have a group fight!"

Another Spirit Hall staff member walked over and chatted with the elderly man who had tested Tang San's Soul Power. Tang San's heart stirred, and Xiao Wu's face suddenly surfaced in his mind.

"Teacher, shall we return to the academy?"

Yu Xiaogang knew exactly what Tang San wanted to do. It was nothing more than showing off in public, but Yu Xiaogang had the same idea! What was the point of having strength if one did not flaunt it? It was a perfect chance to let those narrow-minded fools see just how astonishing the genius he, Yu Xiaogang, had taught truly was!

"Let's go!"

Master and disciple hurried back to Notting Academy. After making a few inquiries, they learned that the students were currently at the back mountain. Tang San naturally wanted to go, while Yu Xiaogang believed he might find Wang Tianyi there as well, so he followed. As for whether he wanted to hear the students shower him with praise, Yu Xiaogang himself denied it. He was a Grandmaster—why would he care about the opinions of a bunch of children?

"Stinking monkey, I've disliked you for a long time! You're asking for it!"

"A defeated opponent like you, where did you get the nerve?"

The fight had already begun, but the Work-Study Student Faction was in a terrible position. As someone who had lost to Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng was already considered fairly strong among the work-study students. His Beast Martial Soul, a tiger, was also more powerful than the hyenas and wild wolves possessed by some others. But the problem was that he had no Soul Ring. Battles between Soul Warriors relied solely on Martial Souls, and before the boy with the long staff Martial Soul from the fee-paying students' side, Wang Sheng was beaten into a panicked retreat.

Xiao Wu's expression was extremely grim. This was already their sixth match, yet the work-study students had not won a single one. Their strength was simply not on the same level.

"Just admit defeat, little girl! With the few of you, there isn't the slightest hope of winning!"

Xiao Yan wore a smug expression. After all, his side had several One-Ring Soul Masters. In comparison, among these work-study students, those whose Soul Power exceeded Level 6 were few and far between! Without enough talent or support from elders, it was far too difficult for ordinary people to make a name for themselves in the world of Soul Masters.

"Don't get cocky! Watch how Sister Xiao Wu teaches you a lesson!"

Xiao Wu was furious and had intended to step in personally, when cries of surprise suddenly rose behind her.

"Grandmaster? Why is he here?"

"Could it be that the Grandmaster wants to spar with us students too? His Level 29 Soul Power does stand above the rest..."

"What nonsense are you talking about? The Grandmaster is a genius who broke through to Level 29 before turning fifty. If he's willing to help us, then we're set!"

"Is that the disciple he tricked into joining him? He looks kind of dumb..."

The work-study students muttered among themselves, but they still consciously made way for the two of them. Yu Xiaogang walked forward with his hands behind his back and a proud expression on his face, turning a deaf ear to the mockery around him. Laugh, laugh all they wanted. Once his disciple Tang San displayed his strength and proved his theory, these people would probably kneel on the spot and beg him to accept them as disciples! But how could that happen? Yu Xiaogang was of noble birth, after all. How could he possibly think highly of these mud-legged commoners?

Tang San wore the exact same expression as Yu Xiaogang, with a faint arrogance on his face. Under everyone's watchful gaze, he stepped forward and placed one hand on Xiao Wu's shoulder. It was worth mentioning that perhaps because his martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, Xiao Wu treated him far more warmly than she did the others.

"Little San? You're finally back. These people have gone too far!"

"How can a girl go around fighting? Leave it to me!"

Tang San stepped forward with utter confidence and looked at the boy holding the long staff. At that moment, he became the protagonist, savoring the thrill of everyone's attention! A protagonist was powerful and mysterious, so he crooked a finger at the other boy with an air of supreme superiority.

"Come on! I'll give you three moves!"

That display of arrogance was simply over the top! The moment he said that, the fee-paying students were enraged by Tang San. They all shouted that they wanted to beat him up, while Xiao Yan was especially agitated, cursing nonstop.

Wang Tianyi remained calm. He looked at Tang San and found that Tang San was looking back at him. Then, Tang San shifted his gaze aside and met Yu Xiaogang's eyes.

So, he's already obtained his first Soul Ring? Blue Silver Grass with a Datura Snake Soul Ring... Heh, a mommy's Entanglement soul skill?

Wang Tianyi was deeply disdainful of this. Blue Silver Grass was ordinary, but it possessed considerable vitality. The path most suited to developing such a martial soul was undoubtedly the life attribute. Yet Yu Xiaogang had stubbornly given Tang San a Datura Snake Soul Ring, focusing on control with poison as a secondary trait. It was clearly the wrong direction. Blue Silver Grass was only able to tolerate all things; otherwise, with another martial soul, let alone gaining a decent soul skill, forcibly absorbing a Soul Ring incompatible with one's martial soul could even sever the path of cultivation entirely!

Perhaps there were some worthwhile aspects to Yu Xiaogang's so-called theory, but what did that have to do with him? Those few worthwhile points had come from the conclusions of earlier sages! Yu Xiaogang probably thought he had found the right path for Tang San and could not wait to show it off before him. It seemed that he still had not given up on the idea of taking him as a disciple!

He just wondered whether, when hope turned into despair, master and disciple would be able to bear it...