Tang San Became a Disciple

The bustling street teemed with people and rang with so much noise that they had to shout to speak to anyone beside them. Neat rows of trees and flowerbeds by the steps made the place a pleasure to behold.

A carriage rolled slowly down the street. Yang Que calmly lifted the curtain and looked at the buildings on either side. "These buildings have a style all their own. They look a little like ancient Western European architecture..."

Tang San was equally composed. So this is Nuoding City? It's so lively!

Old Jack looked at the two boys and thought, They're both good, sensible children. They just act far too old for their age. Finding girlfriends might be difficult for them!

Yang Que had no idea what Old Jack was thinking. If he had known, he would certainly have rolled his eyes...

The carriage continued on its way. Before long, a towering arch appeared in the distance. It was twenty meters wide and over ten meters tall, built entirely of sturdy stone. Beneath it stood two dark iron gates. Tang San could tell at a glance that they were forged from the finest Fine Iron.

Through the iron gates, they could see a winding path leading into a secluded garden. A broad road ran straight inward, lined on both sides with tall trees.

In the center of the arch hung a large sign bearing four characters: "Nuoding Academy."

Judging by its construction, the academy was magnificent—and this was only a Junior Soul Master Academy. If a higher-level academy was even grander, then... Yang Que's eyes suddenly gleamed with Gold Coins!

"Yang Que, Xiao San, Grandpa can only take you this far. Here are your admission notices. Keep them safe. And take these Gold Coins too—don't go without anything at the academy! Grandpa will be off now. This isn't a place country folk like us can enter." As Old Jack spoke, he took out two sheets of paper. One was a Work-Study Student Admission Notice; the other was an admission notice for a paying student. He also handed them two small bags of Gold Coins.

Yang Que and Tang San held everything carefully, afraid of losing it. Their futures depended on these papers...

After getting out of the carriage and saying goodbye to Old Jack, they walked side by side toward Nuoding City Soul Master Academy...

"Stop! Who are you? Don't you know this is Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy?" Two young gatekeepers called out when they saw them approach. They did not immediately tell the boys to get lost. Their clothes were hardly shabby, and Yang Que in particular looked like a young nobleman.

Besides, the gatekeepers were only servants. They did not dare offend anyone important. They were merely doing their job when they called for the boys to stop.

Yang Que glanced at them and released a trace of his Martial Soul's power. Blood Fiend Aura crashed into them. They were only ordinary Soul Scholars; how could they withstand it? They dropped to their knees, trembling!

Yang Que was speechless. He had only wanted to test the strength of the two gatekeepers who had made things difficult for Tang San in the original story. He had not expected them to be so weak!

Yang Que withdrew his Blood Fiend Aura. After a moment's thought, he tossed them a Gold Coin. "Get moving. Open the gate."

"Yes, yes, sir! We'll go open it right away!" Their eyes lit up at the sight of the Gold Coin, and they scrambled to open the gate. After all, one Gold Coin could cover several months of expenses for an ordinary family in Nuoding City.

Tang San looked at Yang Que with admiration.

Yang Que rather enjoyed it. He had once been from China, after all, and knew just how to handle people!

If Yang Que had shown even the slightest hesitation, those two petty gatekeepers might have pestered them just as they had in the original story. He wanted no part of that. He was the man who would crush every genius on the Douluo Continent—how could he let two nobodies get the better of him? A little intimidation followed by a reward was enough to make them obedient!

To Tang San, though, it was astonishing. In his previous life, he had shut himself away to research Hidden Weapons, working behind closed doors and rarely dealing with people. It was that single-minded focus, together with his talent, that had allowed him to create the Tang Sect's supreme Hidden Weapon, Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus...

Yang Que's string of moves left Tang San utterly amazed...

"What an impressive little fellow!" An untimely voice drew the attention of all four.

"Grandmaster, you're back!" The two young men bowed respectfully to the newcomer.

Yang Que and Tang San turned. A slightly thin man had appeared beside them without their noticing. He looked to be in his forties or fifties. His cheeks were sunken, and his eyes sat so deep in their sockets that he resembled a starving ghost. His short black hair was parted to one side. Otherwise ordinary-looking, he stood with his hands behind his back, wearing the air of a lofty expert.

After hearing the gatekeepers call him Grandmaster, the boys took another look at him. It was hard to connect his appearance with that title. He looked more like a roadside beggar!

This must be Yu Xiaogang, Xiao San's first teacher. But that face really is something else!

"Mm. You two, let me see your admission notices." Yu Xiaogang approached them, glanced at the gatekeepers, then addressed the boys.

Neither boy suspected anything, and they handed him their notices.

Yu Xiaogang read the descriptions on their notices. His eyes widened abruptly, disbelief and a hint of excitement crossing his face.

"Come inside with me, both of you." Notices in hand, Yu Xiaogang led the way.

Yang Que and Tang San exchanged a glance, then followed him into the Soul Master Academy...

As soon as Yu Xiaogang led them inside, the two gatekeepers began whispering. One grumbled, "Hmph. What's he so proud of? He has a bit of theoretical knowledge and a connection to the headmaster. Call him Grandmaster if you want to flatter him, but what is he otherwise?"

The other replied, "Ah, what can you do? He's the headmaster's friend. But that boy in white had a powerful presence!" "No kidding. I nearly pissed myself back there!"

Yu Xiaogang brought the boys into a small room. "Which of you is Tang San?"

"Grandmaster, that's me." Tang San stepped forward.

"As I understand it, Blue Silver Grass is a Trash Martial Soul. For its owner to have Innate Full Soul Power, the first requirement is Twin Martial Souls. The second is that the other Martial Soul must be exceptionally powerful," Yu Xiaogang said, watching Tang San.

"And you, Yang Que. Your description says you have a Tool Martial Soul, but for it to give you Innate Full Soul Power, it must be comparable in strength to the Number One Tool Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer. Its power would make any sect on the continent wary. You two really are monsters!" Yu Xiaogang continued his analysis.

Yang Que narrowed his eyes at Yu Xiaogang. No wonder he's one of the ten great theorists in the original story. He worked out all that from a brief description...

Tang San's body suddenly tensed. He wanted to fire the Sleeve Arrow in his hand and eliminate Yu Xiaogang. Then his and Yang Que's secrets would remain safe. No one else would know...

Yang Que noticed Tang San's movement and smiled faintly. He quickly gripped Tang San's shoulder. He knew from the original story how terrifyingly fast and powerful Tang San's Sleeve Arrow was. If Tang San accidentally killed the man, they would have to face every Soul Master in the Junior Soul Master Academy. Tang San had a Titled Douluo for a father, so he need not be afraid. Yang Que, on the other hand, was still small and had no hope of taking on so many Soul Masters!

Tang San felt Yang Que's hand on his shoulder. "Hm? Brother Que...?"

Yang Que shook his head.

Yu Xiaogang took in their exchange. "I guessed correctly. You two truly are as close as brothers! Otherwise, I wouldn't have spoken of your secrets in front of each other."

"Grandmaster, you're playing with fire," Yang Que said coldly.

"But I wasn't wrong, was I?" Yu Xiaogang said with a soft laugh.

Then his expression turned serious. "Tang San, are you willing to become my disciple?"

What followed was Tang San's apprenticeship, just as it had happened in the original story.

Once Tang San had become his disciple, Yu Xiaogang did not ask him to reveal his Second Martial Soul. Instead, he looked at Yang Que. "As for you, Yang Que, I'll find an instructor at the academy—" Before he could finish, Yang Que waved a hand. "No need. I'll walk my own path. I don't need anyone telling me what to do!"

"Well..." Yu Xiaogang saw the resolve in Yang Que's eyes and sighed. "All right. If you ever need anything, you can come to me at any time..."

Yang Que nodded. "I will."

"Good. Go find your dormitories," Yu Xiaogang said.

Yang Que and Tang San took their belongings and went to look for their rooms.

Yang Que carried his things into a dormitory: Room 208. It appeared to be a dormitory for nobles!

Inside, a group of children surrounded a little boy, fawning over him. His name was Wang Hu. He was young but looked older than his years, stood a head taller than the others, and was a level-seven Soul Scholar. Naturally, he had become the dormitory's boss.

Yang Que paid the children no attention. It was only a contest over who ruled the dormitory, and he had no interest in it. Adding his two lifetimes together, he was old enough to rival their parents. Competing with them would be beneath him!

Yang Que put his belongings on the last bed and was about to leave.

But the children clearly had no intention of letting him. Wang Hu saw the newcomer ignore him as though he were air, and irritation rose in him.

A sharp-featured boy noticed his boss's displeasure and seized the chance to show off. "Hey, newcomer! Don't you know you're supposed to pay your respects to the boss?"

Yang Que stopped. "Get lost. Don't bother me!" With his still-childish face, he looked for all the world as though he were putting on airs.

His words stirred up a hornet's nest. The children surrounded him. Wang Hu stepped forward and rolled his neck. "What did you say? Say it again!"

Yang Que looked around at them and curled his lips into a smile. "If you want to play, I'll play with you!"

Thunderclap Sword Shadow Steps!

A breeze swept past. Suddenly, the children lay in a heap, sprawled over one another! Only Wang Hu remained standing. His hands and feet shook, and yellow liquid ran down from his crotch. "Y-you... what do you want?" Barely able to speak, Wang Hu stared at Yang Que, trembling.

Yang Que walked up and patted his face. "You're the boss of this dormitory? Don't bother me again. Understand?" He put on a fierce expression and stared Wang Hu down.

Wang Hu answered shakily, "Y-yes... yes, I am. All right, all right! I understand!"

Satisfied, Yang Que nodded, patted his shoulder, and turned away, leaving behind a dashing silhouette.

Wang Hu suddenly crumpled to the floor. "Who is that guy? Such terrifying strength—and such terrifying speed!"

After leaving the academy, Yang Que began thinking about how to obtain his First Soul Ring. He remembered that in the original story, entering the Soul Hunting Forest required a Handheld Token from Spirit Hall!

I have Su Yuntao's written order, so I could ask him for a Handheld Token. But a favor like that would be hard to repay.

Better to go to the Star Dou Great Forest. With my strength, staying around its outskirts shouldn't be much of a problem!

Having made up his mind, he bought a horse.

In his previous life, he had often enjoyed learning interesting skills outside his studies—horse riding, for instance...

Once outside the city, he mounted up. Windblown sand swept past, and Yang Que rode like a swordsman bound for a journey of a thousand miles. Gradually, he disappeared along the road to the Star Dou Great Forest...