Ever since Xiao Yan and Xiao Wu made their agreement to fight in a group brawl, the atmosphere throughout Notting Academy had changed. The conflict between the Work-Study Student Faction and the self-funded students, already at odds with each other, grew even more intense. In just one morning, there had been two clashes between work-study students and self-funded students. 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 extremely disciplined—almost excessively so. Classes, meals, cultivation, sleep: that was his life at Notting Academy, until three days later...
At the gates of Notting City.
A carriage slowly rolled in. Yu Xiaogang had returned from the Soul Hunting Forest with Tang San. Yu Xiaogang did not look particularly well, but like Tang San, his eyes brimmed 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 as a Soul Master. From then on, you'll be able to receive one Gold Soul Coin every month for living expenses! Then... we'll go find that arrogant brat!"
Yu Xiaogang was full of pride. His theory had succeeded! He had successfully added a Datura Snake as his disciple's first Soul Ring, and Blue Silver Grass had received an astonishing enhancement! This was enough to prove that there was nothing wrong with his theory!
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San was also filled with anticipation. The Gold Soul Coin was secondary; there was no reason to refuse something freely given. What Tang San truly cared about was showing off his first Soul Ring before Wang Tianyi and seeing the other man's jaw drop to the floor! That would surely be wonderful, wouldn't it?
Being born humble was no disgrace. 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 for their shallow vision!
Tang San thought to himself as he entered the Spirit Hall Branch with Yu Xiaogang. Sure enough, when Tang San displayed his Level 13 Soul Power and his transformed Blue Silver Grass, the Spirit Hall staff member was utterly stunned. He praised Tang San's exceptional talent while also praising Yu Xiaogang for teaching his disciple so well. Though it was merely praise from an ordinary person, it still made the master and disciple proudly raise their heads.
"Senior, have you heard? Those kids from Notting Academy are going to have a group brawl!"
Another Spirit Hall staff member came over and spoke with the old man who had tested Tang San's Soul Power. Tang San's heart stirred, and Xiao Wu's face suddenly appeared in his mind.
"Teacher, shall we return to the academy?"
Yu Xiaogang knew exactly what Tang San wanted to do: nothing more than show off in front of others. But he had the same thought! What was the point of having strength if one did not flaunt it? This was the perfect chance to let those narrow-minded fools see just how astonishing the genius he, Yu Xiaogang, had trained was!
"Let's go!"
The master and disciple rushed back to Notting Academy without stopping. After asking around briefly, they learned that the students were currently at the rear mountain. Tang San naturally intended to go there, while Yu Xiaogang believed he might find Wang Tianyi there as well, so he followed. As for whether he wanted to hear those students showering him with praise, Yu Xiaogang himself denied it. He was a master, after all—why would he care about the opinions of a bunch of children?
"You stinking monkey, I've disliked you for a long time! Come get beaten!"
"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 situation. As someone Xiao Wu had defeated before, Wang Sheng was considered fairly strong among the work-study students. His tiger Beast Martial Soul was also stronger than things like hyenas and wild wolves. But the problem was that he had no Soul Ring. Battles between Soul Warriors relied only on Martial Souls, and against the self-funded student whose Martial Soul was a long staff, Wang Sheng was beaten into a panicked retreat.
Xiao Wu's expression was extremely unpleasant. This was already their sixth match, yet the work-study students had not won a single one. Their strengths were simply not on the same level.
"Admit defeat, little girl! With just the few of you, there isn't the slightest hope of winning!"
Xiao Yan was full of smugness. After all, they had several One-Ring Soul Masters on their side. As for these work-study students, those whose Soul Power exceeded Level 6 were few and far between! Without sufficient talent or support from elders, it was simply too difficult for ordinary people to make something of themselves in the world of Soul Masters.
"Don't get so cocky! Just watch how Sister Xiao Wu teaches you a lesson!"
Xiao Wu was furious and had intended to step in herself, but then she heard cries of surprise from behind her.
"Master? Why is he here?"
"Could it be that Master wants to spar with us students too? His Level 29 Soul Power certainly surpasses everyone else..."
"What are you talking about? Master is a genius who broke through Level 29 at the age of fifty! If he is willing to help us, then we're guaranteed to win!"
"Is the one beside Master the disciple he tricked into joining him? He looks rather dull..."
The work-study students muttered among themselves, but they still consciously made way for the two men. Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back and walked forward with a proud expression, turning a deaf ear to the mocking 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 be possible? Yu Xiaogang was of noble birth, after all. How could he possibly think highly of these mud-legged commoners?
Tang San wore the same expression as Yu Xiaogang, with a faint trace of pride on his face. Under everyone's watchful eyes, 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 intimately than she treated the others.
"Little San? You're finally back. These people have gone too far!"
"How can a girl be fighting? Leave it to me!"
Tang San strode forward with complete confidence and looked at the youth holding the long staff. At that moment, he had become the protagonist, enjoying the thrill of everyone's attention! A protagonist was powerful and mysterious, so he crooked a finger at his opponent with tremendous swagger.
"Come on! I'll give you three moves!"
That act was so pretentious it practically reached the heavens! The moment he said it, the self-funded students were enraged. They clamored to beat him up, while Xiao Yan was especially agitated, cursing under his breath.
Wang Tianyi's expression remained calm. He looked at Tang San, only to find that Tang San was looking at him as well. Then he shifted his gaze aside and met Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
So he has already obtained his first Soul Ring? Blue Silver Grass with a Datura Snake Soul Ring... heh, a freaking 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 this Martial Soul was undoubtedly the life attribute. Yet Yu Xiaogang had stubbornly made Tang San attach a Datura Snake Soul Ring, focusing on control with poison as a secondary effect. It was a completely misguided development. Blue Silver Grass was only able to tolerate it because of its all-encompassing nature. With any other Martial Soul, let alone producing a decent soul skill, forcibly absorbing a Soul Ring incompatible with one's Martial Soul could have cut off the path of cultivation entirely!
Perhaps Yu Xiaogang's so-called theory had some worthwhile aspects, but what did that have to do with him? Those few worthwhile aspects came from the conclusions of other sages! Yu Xiaogang probably believed he had found the correct 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, this master and disciple would be able to bear it...
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