Arrogant Yu Xiaogang!

Lin Xuan stood beside Old Jack, his expression unreadable.

He had known this would happen.

People like this gatekeeper were narrow-minded and loved throwing around what little authority they had.

There was no point arguing with him.

"If you don't believe us, ask one of the academy's teachers to verify it," Lin Xuan said calmly. "The Martial Soul certificates carry a Soul Power imprint. They can't be forged."

The gatekeeper froze.

The boy made a surprisingly reasonable point.

But he still didn't believe them. He was about to throw out another insult when a sharp voice rang out behind him.

"Enough!"

A middle-aged man with a crew cut emerged from the academy, his face grim.

"You're a gatekeeper, and you don't even know basic manners?"

The gatekeeper's expression changed the moment he saw him. "G-Grandmaster..."

"Give me the Martial Soul certificates."

The man strode up and snatched the certificates from him.

The gatekeeper drew back his neck and didn't dare say another word.

Lin Xuan studied the man before him.

He was in his thirties, short, stern-faced, and dressed in a plain gray robe.

This was Yu Xiaogang.

The Grandmaster.

A theorist who had built his reputation on empty claims.

His famous saying went:

There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters!

He had managed to insult himself twice in one sentence. That took talent.

And someone like him had won over Bibi Dong in the prime of her youth? The underlying logic of Douluo Continent was terrifying!

Douluo Star really was where the God of Love had fallen!

Yu Xiaogang looked down at the two certificates, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.

"Innate Full Soul Power..." he murmured. "These two children..."

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over Lin Xuan and Tang San.

Old Jack hurried forward. "Sir, they really do have Innate Full Soul Power! It's not fake!"

Yu Xiaogang waved a hand. "I believe you."

He returned the certificates to Old Jack, then turned a cold gaze on the gatekeeper.

"If this happens again, you won't be working here anymore."

The gatekeeper nodded repeatedly and slunk aside.

They might look down on this freeloading Grandmaster, but he knew the Dean. What could they do?

Yu Xiaogang turned back, a kindly smile appearing on his face.

"Sir, let me see the Martial Soul certificates. I'm a teacher here. I can help them enroll."

Old Jack was overjoyed and quickly handed them over.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you!"

Yu Xiaogang took the certificates and examined them closely.

Martial Soul: paper.

Innate Full Soul Power.

Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass.

Innate Full Soul Power.

Yu Xiaogang's hands trembled slightly.

According to his years of research, the strength of a Martial Soul was directly related to Innate Soul Power.

Useless Martial Souls like paper and Blue Silver Grass could not, in theory, awaken with Innate Full Soul Power.

That left only one explanation.

Twin Martial Souls!

Only another, powerful Martial Soul could support two low-grade Martial Souls in awakening with Innate Full Soul Power!

Yu Xiaogang's heart raced.

Both of these children had Twin Martial Souls!

He suppressed his excitement and looked up at Lin Xuan and Tang San.

"Come with me."

Old Jack patted Lin Xuan and Tang San on the shoulders. "Go on. Study hard with your teacher."

Lin Xuan nodded. "Grandpa Jack, be careful on the road and take good care of yourself when you get back."

Tang San added, "Thank you for bringing us here, Grandpa Village Chief."

Old Jack's face creased with a smile. "Good, good. You're both good children."

He climbed onto the ox cart and drove it back the way they had come.

Yu Xiaogang led Lin Xuan and Tang San into the academy.

They crossed a small square, passed several classrooms, and arrived at a quiet courtyard.

Yu Xiaogang stopped and turned around.

"You two both have Twin Martial Souls, don't you?"

Lin Xuan sighed inwardly. So here it comes after all? Tang San takes him as a master and calls him father.

Tang San's expression changed.

Yu Xiaogang noticed neither of their reactions and went on.

"According to my years of research, a useless Martial Soul cannot awaken with Innate Full Soul Power. Paper and Blue Silver Grass are both among the lowest-grade useless Martial Souls. Under the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul theory, their Soul Power should never exceed level two."

"But both of you have Innate Full Soul Power. What does that tell us?"

Yu Xiaogang raised his voice, his eyes shining.

"It means you each have a second Martial Soul! And those second Martial Souls are powerful enough to let you awaken with Innate Full Soul Power!"

Tang San clenched his fists.

His father, Tang Hao, had told him never to reveal his Twin Martial Souls to anyone.

This man had already guessed.

He had brought death upon himself!

Lin Xuan frowned.

Yu Xiaogang had stumbled onto the truth. In the original story, Tang San had cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Skill since childhood; he hadn't been born with Innate Full Soul Power.

Yu Xiaogang had guessed Tang San's Twin Martial Souls by sheer luck, then talked him into kneeling, becoming his disciple, and calling him father with a set of theories.

But Lin Xuan was different!

His Martial Soul wasn't ordinary paper. It was Talisman Paper, capable of bearing the art of talismans!

Lin Xuan spoke calmly.

"I only have one Martial Soul. There is no second one."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head.

"You don't have to hide it. I understand your concerns. Twin Martial Souls are rare and can attract trouble. But don't worry. I won't tell anyone."

"I really only have one Martial Soul," Lin Xuan repeated.

Yu Xiaogang smiled confidently. "Child, your Martial Soul is paper, right? Summon it and let me have a look."

Lin Xuan held out his right hand.

Pale yellow Talisman Paper appeared in his palm.

Yu Xiaogang stepped closer and examined it.

"Ordinary paper..." he muttered. "No other attributes I can sense. Nothing special about it..."

"That only proves my theory!" Yu Xiaogang looked up, his voice filled with certainty. "Your second Martial Soul is the truly powerful one. The paper is just a cover!"

Lin Xuan fell silent.

Yu Xiaogang had become obsessed.

Nothing he said would matter.

"Your theory makes some sense, but there are exceptions to everything." Lin Xuan dismissed his Martial Soul. "Thank you for showing us the way. I'll handle my enrollment myself."

He turned to leave.

Yu Xiaogang froze. "Wait!"

Lin Xuan didn't stop.

He couldn't be bothered arguing with Yu Xiaogang anymore.

The man was stubborn and believed only in his own so-called theory.

Explaining anything to him would be a waste of time.

And Lin Xuan knew how deeply Yu Xiaogang was obsessed with Martial Soul Theory.

He had spent most of his life developing his theories to prove that useless Martial Souls could become powerful.

Now that he had finally found two children he suspected of having Twin Martial Souls—perfect test subjects to validate their power—how could Yu Xiaogang let them go so easily?

Lin Xuan had no intention of letting the man latch onto him.

Yu Xiaogang chased after him for a few steps. "Child, listen to me..."

"I'm not interested." Lin Xuan didn't look back. "I don't agree with your theory."

He quickened his pace and soon disappeared beyond the courtyard.

Yu Xiaogang stood where he was, his expression shifting.

Then he turned toward Tang San.