[LSP]

Notting Academy.

Tang San sat in Yu Xiaogang's study, quietly reading the theories Yu Xiaogang had developed.

Five years after becoming his disciple, he had long since been given a key to Yu Xiaogang's room. Whenever he had time between training sessions, he came here to study soul master theory.

"San, how about we go shopping?"

Dressed in a pink jacket, her brown hair in a scorpion braid, Xiao Wu sat across from Tang San.

She was bored out of her mind!

"I don't have time!"

Tang San kept his head down and continued studying.

"All right!"

Xiao Wu let out a long sigh.

These theories of Grandmaster's were practically useless. In particular, much of his research on soul beasts was wrong.

If she hadn't been afraid of exposing her identity as a soul beast, she would have pointed out his mistakes long ago.

She had no idea what San was thinking, treating these theories like precious treasures.

Watching Tang San's absorbed expression, Xiao Wu casually picked up a book beside her.

"LSP?"

"San, what's this?"

Xiao Wu held up a yellow book with the three letters "LSP" written on it.

"This LSP records Teacher's research on his own martial soul, along with some characteristics of mutated martial souls. LSP is short for Luo Sanpao."

Tang San explained.

Tang San had already grown accustomed to this habit of Yu Xiaogang's.

Every time Yu Xiaogang wrote a book, he used an abbreviation for its title.

While the two were chatting, Yu Xiaogang returned...

"Teacher, where have you been these past few days?"

Tang San asked with concern.

He hadn't seen Yu Xiaogang for half a month.

"I went out to take care of something."

Of course, he wasn't going to say that he had gone to Elephant Armor City to find Wei Fan, only to be rejected to his face.

That was too fucking humiliating!

"San, you haven't neglected your training lately, have you?"

On the way back, Yu Xiaogang had already thought everything through.

He would never set his sights on Wei Fan again. He would put all his energy and hopes into Tang San.

So what if Wei Fan had been the champion of the previous tournament?

His disciple had twin martial souls and innate full soul power, and his second martial soul was none other than the Clear Sky Hammer. A genius like him was no worse than Wei Fan. Besides, Wei Fan had already hit a bottleneck. He hadn't advanced a single step in two years and remained stuck at rank thirty-nine.

He had wanted to help Wei Fan, but Wei Fan had squandered that opportunity himself.

He couldn't blame Yu Xiaogang!

Moreover, compared with Wei Fan, Tang San's greatest advantage was that he was three years younger.

"Teacher, I've been training hard all along. I believe I'll be able to break through again before long."

At the thought of growing stronger, Tang San was visibly excited.

"Very good. I've already planned out the road ahead for you."

"You carry all my hopes."

Yu Xiaogang gripped Tang San with both hands, his gaze burning with fervor.

"Teacher...?"

Tang San was puzzled.

His teacher seemed a little off today. As far as he remembered, Yu Xiaogang rarely became this excited.

What had gotten into him today?

"San, come with me!"

"Next, I'm going to put you through special one-on-one training."

With that, Yu Xiaogang walked out of the room first.

Tang San followed him out, casting Xiao Wu an apologetic look before leaving.

"Tch!"

"What's so great about it? I'm not interested in those lousy theories at all."

What worried her was that he might ruin Tang San with his teaching.

The Academy Back Hill.

"San, for the next year, you won't need to attend classes at Notting Academy. Come find me every day after you get up."

"I'm going to put you through a year of hellish training!"

"After that year, I plan to send you to Shrek Academy."

"Although this academy might not look very legitimate, it has a resounding reputation in the soul master world. Then I'll find a way to arrange for you to compete in the Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament three years from now."

"You must shine at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament and strive to win the championship, because that will be your first step toward becoming a true powerhouse."

"Only soul masters who perform brilliantly at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament have a chance to catch the attention of the various powers."

"As long as you follow the path I've laid out, you're certain to become a powerhouse!"

"..."

Yu Xiaogang laid out all the plans he had drawn up over the past few days.

He hadn't decided what would come after that, because he had never had contact with stronger powerhouses himself.

But he believed that as long as Tang San shone at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, he wouldn't need to seek out powerhouses afterward. They would come looking for him.

Even the Clear Sky Sect might take Tang San back and groom him as its successor!

"Teacher, how should I train now?"

Yu Xiaogang's words set Tang San's blood surging.

He was already itching to get started, and even felt the soul power circulating inside him begin to speed up.

"The first step is him!"

Yu Xiaogang took out a small notebook and tossed it to Tang San.

Tang San opened it. Written prominently on the first page were two striking characters: Wei Fan!

"Teacher, what's this?"

Tang San was dumbfounded. He didn't understand what this meant.

"Treat him as your opponent from now on!"

"Wei Fan was the champion of the previous Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, and many people call him a genius soul master. He was twelve when he last competed in the Soul Master Tournament, and he'll definitely compete again three years from now."

"I won't demand that you win the tournament championship, but you must defeat him!"

At the thought of that name, Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists hard.

Wei Fan, just you wait!

I'll make sure my disciple defeats you. Then my disciple will become famous, and everyone will come to understand my theories as well.

Don't all the Five Elemental Academies of the Heaven Dou Empire want to recruit you?

Don't they all think you can lead their teams to the championship?

Yu Xiaogang refused to believe any of that!

He intended to use Wei Fan as a stepping stone, lifting himself and Tang San to heights where everyone would notice them.

"Teacher, I will!"

Tang San leafed through the little notebook. From the information recorded inside, he could tell that this Wei Fan really was no ordinary person.

He would indeed make a worthy opponent!

"San, there's something I must remind you of."

"Women may well become fetters on your path to becoming a powerhouse. You must know where to draw the line."

"My theoretical research stalled for several years because I became entangled in romance."

As he spoke, two breathtakingly beautiful women surfaced in Yu Xiaogang's mind.

It was the appearance of those two women that had made his life more and more fucked up.

He had wanted to warn Tang San for a long time, because he had noticed Tang San and Xiao Wu growing increasingly close.

It hadn't mattered when they were children, but now the two were gradually growing up.

"Teacher, I understand!"

Tang San agreed, but didn't take it too much to heart.