"Your disciple, Tang San, pays his respects to his teacher!"
Tang San's body was frail and malnourished.
Even after the surrounding passersby had steadied themselves, he still had not recovered from the immense pressure.
Now that Lu Xuan had extended another invitation to become his disciple as a Titled Douluo, he simply rolled over and knelt on the ground.
"A teacher for a day is a father for life! Teacher, please accept this bow from Little San!"
"No! Please accept three bows from your disciple!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Tang San's forehead struck the blue bricks with three dull thuds. The surrounding passersby cast envious looks his way, completely forgetting the cruelty Lu Xuan had displayed moments before.
"This child became a Titled Douluo's disciple on his very first day of school! What incredible fortune!"
"I wonder whether my child could win His Eminence's favor too. Ah..."
"Are you stupid? Lu Xuan... no, no! How many years has His Eminence been teaching at Nuoding Academy? Has he ever lacked students?"
It had to be said: showing off one's might before an audience really did lift the spirits.
Listening to the chatter around him and watching Tang San remain on his knees, Lu Xuan suddenly revealed an intriguing smile.
Paired with his already handsome, fair face, it sent a whole crowd of young girls into excited delight.
That was human nature-all the world's bustling crowds came chasing profit!
When Lu Xuan had severed Yu Xiaogang's arm, they had been afraid.
But now that he was showing his gentler side and accepting Tang San as his disciple, they had all begun to feel envious instead.
Lu Xuan ignored them. He lifted Tang San with his soul power, then turned toward Yu Xiaogang, who was on the verge of breathing his last.
"Yu Xiaogang, do you have anything else to say?"
"I have now accepted Tang San as my disciple right before your eyes. Do you object?"
By now, Yu Xiaogang was exhausted in body and mind. The double blow had long since left his face ashen. How could he still have any thoughts of taking a disciple? The fact that he had not simply keeled over dead was already a testament to his thick skin.
"N-no!"
"Then do you object when I say your theories are garbage?"
"No!"
Yu Xiaogang muttered woodenly, like an impotent husband helpless in the face of mockery. Against Lu Xuan, who had forcibly taken Tang San as his disciple, he could muster even less resistance.
Seeing this, Lu Xuan took another small step forward.
"I only wanted to be an ordinary teacher, educating and nurturing students. Yet today, you ruined my mood."
"I severed your arm as a warning. In addition... your punishment is to hand over your Storage Soul Tool Belt!"
Before Yu Xiaogang could react, Lu Xuan beckoned, and the storage belt studded with twenty-four gemstones landed in his hand.
Seeing the faint stains still on it, Lu Xuan could not help showing disgust in his eyes.
He casually tossed the belt to Tang San, then used his soul power to clean the grime from his hand. "Little San, this is your teacher's welcoming gift. Do you like it?"
"I do! Thank you, Teacher! Thank you, Teacher!"
Overcome with excitement, Tang San hurriedly kowtowed in thanks.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
After several dull thuds, Tang San's forehead was covered in dust.
Lu Xuan smiled in satisfaction and dismissed his martial soul and soul rings.
"All right!"
"Everyone, disperse."
The lightning and thunder overhead vanished in an instant, revealing the sunlight.
Lu Xuan also returned to his usual appearance as a gentle, scholarly man and addressed the crowd:
"I don't like drawing too much attention. Just treat me as the same Lu Xuan I've always been. There's no need to spread the word!"
"Little San, don't think having me as your teacher means you can bully your classmates at the academy. If I discover even the slightest misconduct, don't blame me for disregarding our bond as teacher and disciple."
After this speech, both Tang San and the passersby felt that Lu Xuan's image had become incomparably noble, like a refined sage.
Lofty and serene, warm as jade.
Only Yu Xiaogang...
Damn it!
That bastard! Just wait... once I return to the sect and find my father, I'll show you what's what!
How strong can a Titled Douluo with a blue silver grass martial soul possibly be? In the end, you're nothing but a support Soul Master.
Once my father arrives, you'll pay! Then... I'll make you wag your tail and beg for mercy before the entire city!
Naturally, Lu Xuan could not hear Yu Xiaogang's thoughts, but he could hear the system notifications in his mind.
[Successfully accepted Tang San as a disciple. Side mission complete. Distributing rewards...] [Random dragon-bloodline second martial soul: Yazi!]
Yazi?
Yazi, one of the dragon's nine sons?
Lu Xuan still remembered some of the legends from his previous life. As he recalled them, information about Yazi surfaced in his mind.
Yazi! A sword clenched in his mouth, combative by nature! The strongest fighter among the nine sons. To think I'd obtain a martial soul like this.
This reward must have been chosen to match [Xuan Zi].
But if I remember correctly, Ge Long, the Heaven Dou Empire's current Grand General Protector, seems to have this martial soul too, doesn't he? I wonder how my Yazi differs from his.
In his memories of his previous life, many people had said that if Ge Long had been born in the Douluo II era, he might well have become a second Xuan Zi.
But who could say for certain when it came to martial souls?
Even people with the same blue lightning tyrant dragon martial soul had different levels of innate soul power. Otherwise, everyone would possess the same talent, and everyone could become a Titled Douluo.
Presumably, the reason Ge Long had become stuck at Soul Douluo without making an inch of progress also had something to do with his martial soul's quality.
Deep in thought, Lu Xuan considered how to confirm his martial soul's quality and how to develop it afterward.
The system notification sounded once more.
[Issuing side mission: Help Tang San obtain his first soul ring!] [Given that Xuan Zi's record includes leading soul hunting expeditions that resulted in heavy casualties, this mission must satisfy the following conditions:] [1. Tang San must absorb a soul ring over 400 years old!] [2. Tang San must hunt and kill the Soul Beast alone and pay a devastating price!] [Note: The host must not provide any assistance during the soul hunting operation, including advice on selecting a soul ring.]
Oho~
Now this is interesting!
An amused expression appeared on Lu Xuan's face.
The system had randomly selected the Xuan Zi template and would even issue missions based on Xuan Zi's history. As his student, Tang San would have plenty of suffering in store.
The same old saying still applied: if a man did not look out for himself, heaven and earth would destroy him!
Besides, he would not feel any guilt about tormenting Tang San.
"Let's go, Little San."
"I'll take you to register."
Lu Xuan put aside his thoughts and led the way into the academy through a passage the onlookers had cleared.
Tang San put away the storage belt, glanced at Yu Xiaogang, and hurried after him.
As he entered the campus, a gentle breeze brushed his face. For the first time in his twenty years in this world, Lu Xuan felt that the sunlight was so warm, the birdsong and fragrant flowers around him so delightful.
It would have been even more perfect if an "invisible killing intent" had not been hanging over him.
"Tang Hao, I'll come find you later!"
"For now, leave at once!"
Lu Xuan's steps remained steady, his manner calm and unruffled. To anyone watching, he merely seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll.
Little did they know that he had already unleashed the spiritual pressure of a rank 98 Super Douluo, driving it straight into the shadows.
Soon, that killing intent vanished completely, and Lu Xuan's slightly furrowed brow relaxed.
With nothing else to do, he suddenly spoke to Tang San behind him.
"If I'm not mistaken, you have twin martial souls, don't you?"
At those words, Tang San, who had been wiping the stains off his Storage Soul Tool, abruptly froze.
The next second, a fledgling killing intent emerged behind Lu Xuan with startling suddenness.
Lu Xuan's good mood vanished in an instant.
You were calling me your father just moments ago, and now you want to kill me because I mentioned your twin martial souls.
You and Tang Hao truly are father and son!
Tang San, oh, Tang San. I really won't feel the slightest guilt about using this Xuan Zi template on you.
Before you continue