Master and Disciple Clash? Leading a Student Astray?!

Yu Xiaogang had come to Shrek Academy at Flender's earlier invitation to teach theory—and also for the disciple he had set his sights on: Tang San.

When Flender heard he had arrived, he hurried out to greet him.

"Xiaogang! You're finally here!"

Flender clapped Yu Xiaogang warmly on the shoulder, privately glad he had finished his seclusion early. If Yu Xiaogang had seen the academy in its previous state, who knew what he would have thought?

It might have scared him straight off!

The place had been a damn wreck!

It had hardly looked like a proper academy.

"Flender." Yu Xiaogang nodded, his face expressionless. His sharp gaze swept over the academy grounds, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

This is really an academy?

It's... a little... too distinctive!

"Thanks for making the trip. Come on, sit down in my room and have some tea."

Flender led Yu Xiaogang toward his room and called to Oscar as he passed. "Go get Tang San. Tell him his teacher is here."

"Yes, Dean!"

Oscar nodded and hurried toward the training ground.

A few minutes later.

"My teacher's here?!"

When Oscar found Tang San, he was on the open ground behind the dormitory, carefully wrapping a weed in Soul Power as he practiced "communicating" with it.

At Oscar's words, he froze. Then a complicated look flashed through his eyes.

He respected Yu Xiaogang. Though his teacher's own strength was limited, his theoretical knowledge was immense and had given Tang San plenty of insight.

But ever since he had heard Cao Kun's explanation of Blue Silver Grass, he had deeply doubted the "poison-control" path Yu Xiaogang had planned for him.

He had also begun to question Yu Xiaogang's true intentions.

At this point, he couldn't tell whether Yu Xiaogang held a grudge against him, his father, or some other blood relative.

After a moment's hesitation, Tang San composed himself and headed quickly for Dean Flender's room.

Inside, Flender poured Yu Xiaogang a cup of hot tea, and the two exchanged a few pleasantries.

Yu Xiaogang went straight to the point. "Flender, your letter said you recruited several exceptionally talented children this year?"

"We did!"

Flender nodded with a smile. "We brought in several students with remarkable talent this year. They're far ahead of what we were like back then."

"Take the boy you just met. His name is Oscar, and he's my disciple."

"A Food-Type Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power."

"A Food-Type Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power?"

Yu Xiaogang was startled too. Then he murmured, "A Food-Type Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power... He may be the first in history."

Yu Xiaogang fell silent for a moment before asking Flender, "How is my disciple Tang San doing?"

"Tang San?"

Flender suddenly thought of Tang Hao, and his expression faltered.

Then he smiled. "Tang San is an impressive child. His Martial Soul may only be Blue Silver Grass, but he's steady under pressure and has an excellent instinct for combat."

"During the entrance test, he lasted the full time against Zhao Wuji, and he even..."

Before he could finish, a knock sounded at the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock...

"Come in!" Flender called.

The next moment.

Tang San pushed open the door and entered.

"Dean!"

Tang San greeted Flender first, then bowed respectfully to Yu Xiaogang. "Teacher!"

At the sight of Tang San, a rare, gentle smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's stern face. "Xiao San, you're here. Has your cultivation gone smoothly these past few days? Have you been following the initial training plan I laid out for you?"

Hesitation crossed Tang San's face. He opened his mouth but couldn't find an answer.

Should I tell him outright that I think his plan might be flawed?

That I'm trying a new way to train?

Yu Xiaogang caught the change in him at once and frowned. "What's wrong? Have you run into a problem with your training? Tell me, and I'll help you work through it."

After a moment's hesitation, Tang San decided to be honest.

Yu Xiaogang was his teacher, after all. Perhaps... his theories could be reconciled with what Cao Kun had said?

"Teacher, I... I've been trying a new way to train lately."

"A senior student here showed it to me. He said there might... be something wrong with how I'm cultivating my Blue Silver Grass."

"He suggested I try to 'communicate' with and 'nurture' the life essence of my Martial Soul, instead of focusing only on control and poison..."

"And even if I do pursue poison, I should aim for Ultimate Poison."

"What?!"

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed sharply. He shot to his feet, his voice rising with unmistakable anger.

"A new way to train? Advice from a senior student? Something wrong with my plan?! Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"

His face darkened with rage as he pointed at Tang San. "Xiao San! The path I planned for you is the best one I could determine from a lifetime of theoretical research. I took into account the traits of your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, your Innate Soul Power, and the Soul Rings you might obtain in the future!"

"A path built around poison-based control and resilience is the one best suited to bringing out Blue Silver Grass's potential while making up for its lack of offensive power!"

"And you listened to the ravings of some student who doesn't know what he's talking about and changed your training on your own?!"

His chest rose and fell. He was plainly furious.

As he saw it, a few words from some student who had appeared out of nowhere had shaken the path he had worked so hard to plan for his disciple. It was an insult to his theories.

And a challenge to his authority as a teacher!

"Teacher, that senior student—"

Tang San tried to explain what made Cao Kun so extraordinary and unfathomable.

"A senior student? What does he know?!"

Yu Xiaogang cut him off harshly, his face full of contempt and anger. "How much could some wet-behind-the-ears student possibly know?"

"How much does he understand about Martial Soul Theory or the system of Soul Master cultivation?"

"How many texts has he read? How much research has he done? And he dares to direct someone else's training—especially a major change involving their Martial Soul Origin?"

"He's leading students astray!"

"Flender, how could your academy allow this?!"

Beside them, Flender looked rather awkward.

He knew just how formidable Cao Kun's "knowledge" was. After all, Cao Kun was a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse.

As for whether he was leading students astray...

That was hard to say!

But this involved Cao Kun's secrets and Mount Buzhou. Flender couldn't explain them to Yu Xiaogang.

Besides, Yu Xiaogang was clearly worked up because this touched the thing he took the greatest pride in: his knowledge of Martial Soul Theory.

Anything Flender said now would probably make matters worse.

"Xiaogang, calm down. That student, Cao Kun, is—"

Flender tried to smooth things over.

"Cao Kun? So that's his name?"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes turned cold. "I'd like to see who this person is, making such arrogant claims and unsettling my disciple!"

He had always been stubborn and had absolute faith in the theories he had developed. He could not stand having them questioned.

Least of all when it concerned Tang San, whom he saw as the successor to his life's work.

Just then,

A calm voice came from outside the door.

"Oh? You want to meet me that badly?"