Tang San took a master

"What do you think Yu Xiaogang wanted with Tang San?"

Wang Sheng asked curiously.

"What else? He obviously wanted to take him as a disciple."

Yu Chen said with a shrug.

Yu Xiaogang was on good terms with the principal, so he surely knew about the new students.

Yu Chen guessed that if Tang San refused to become his disciple too, Yu Xiaogang would turn his attention to Xiao Wu.

Innate full soul power was a talent that appeared only once in a hundred years!

Who wouldn't covet it?

"Take me as a disciple?"

Tang San froze for a moment, then quickly understood.

In his previous life, the Tang Sect's elders had also been eager whenever they encountered exceptionally talented disciples. Some elders had even come to blows over the right to take a disciple.

Although his martial soul was only Blue Silver Grass, he possessed innate full soul power. It was perfectly normal for others to think highly of him.

Back then, Grandmaster Su had even tried to recruit him into Spirit Hall.

"Boss Yu, may I ask why you turned down this teacher?"

Tang San asked.

"Boss Tang San, just to correct you, Yu Xiaogang isn't a teacher at the academy. He's just a freeloader."

Wang Sheng kindly reminded him.

Tang San smiled, paying little heed to his words.

Although Wang Sheng and the others had said plenty of bad things about Yu Xiaogang, Tang San felt that anyone who could become the principal's friend must have some ability.

Looking at Tang San's curious gaze, Yu Chen felt a wave of bewilderment. Was this the bond between the "Child of Destiny" and "God's Teacher"?

No matter how many twists and turns they went through, they would end up together.

"Tang San, I heard from the principal that Yu Xiaogang came from a great family and had the most extensive theoretical knowledge of anyone teaching at the academy. As for why I refused..."

Yu Chen thought for a moment before offering a fairly balanced answer:

"Yu Xiaogang's strength is nothing special. His soul power is only rank twenty-nine. Principal Ming isn't even fifty yet, and he's already a Soul Ancestor. If I were going to take a master, I'd definitely choose the principal."

It would have been a lie to say Yu Chen didn't covet Yu Xiaogang's rare theoretical knowledge.

Nearly all the cultivation theories on the Douluo Continent were held by the great families. Ordinary commoners had little chance of accessing advanced theories.

In the original story, Qin Ming had been the second-youngest Soul Emperor, yet his fifth soul ring was only purple.

Had he lacked the strength to obtain a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?

Not necessarily.

Yu Chen guessed that Qin Ming simply hadn't realized the importance of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Perhaps, before Yu Xiaogang published his "Ten Great Theories," many commoner Soul Masters hadn't even known that their fifth soul ring could be ten thousand years old.

From that perspective, Yu Xiaogang certainly deserved to be called a grandmaster.

But...

It would have been fine if Gangzi had merely liked reading, but he just had to enjoy thinking for himself too.

If he had followed the books and listened to his elders, giving Luo Sanpao Dragon-type soul rings, he wouldn't have turned the Golden Sacred Dragon into a pig that could only fart.

And if Tang San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul had been given some high-grade plant soul rings, the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline within him might have awakened on its own, without the Blue Silver King's help.

Yu Chen worried that after he became Yu Xiaogang's disciple, some of his master's well-intentioned decisions would inadvertently land him in a pit.

"All right, I understand."

Tang San nodded.

Everyone had their own account, so he decided to see for himself.

The seventh rule of the General Outline of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record stated: what the ears heard could be false; what the eyes saw was real. A true hidden weapon master must exercise his own judgment at all times.

After lunch, Tang San remained in the dining hall to wait for Yu Xiaogang, while the others returned to the dormitory.

Inside Dorm Seven.

"I'm stuffed!"

Xiao Wu lay sprawled on the bare bedboards, her limbs spread wide, without a trace of ladylike grace.

She swore she would never experience an empty stomach again.

"Xiao Wu, you don't have any bedding yet, do you? Did you forget to bring it?"

Wang Sheng asked kindly.

"Well..."

Xiao Wu sat up, looking a little embarrassed.

She hadn't known the academy wouldn't provide bedding, and she had no money either.

Seeing Xiao Wu's predicament, Yu Chen shook his head helplessly.

He wondered whether Soul Beast transformation washed their brains clean as well.

Had she made no preparations whatsoever before sneaking into the human world?

Judging by Xiao Wu's behavior today, it was truly difficult to associate her with a "Ten-Thousand-Year Old Monster."

Was she deliberately putting on an act?

If so, she was far too terrifying!

"Xiao Wu, I'll lend you some money to buy bedding. Remember to pay me back later."

Yu Chen took a Silver Soul Coin from inside his clothes and placed it on Xiao Wu's bed.

Old Tom had given him quite a bit of money before leaving, and Ming Dashan had given him some more in the principal's office.

Yu Chen now had a fairly substantial purse.

He had also paid for lunch, leaving Wang Sheng both excited and grateful.

"Boss Yu, you're so awesome!"

Xiao Wu picked up the Silver Soul Coin, her eyes shining.

Mom was right after all. The human world was very dangerous, but there were plenty of good people too!

"Boss, if you're so rich, why are you a work-study student?" Wang Sheng asked in confusion.

"My elders arranged it. They said it would temper my will."

Yu Chen answered frankly.

His elders arranged it? Work-study places were allocated by the Empire, and there were only so many. Some villages even had to share a place. What kind of elders could interfere directly in the academy's administration...?

At those words, Wang Sheng's heart couldn't help churning.

He'd stumbled into the house of royalty...

"Come on. I need to head out anyway."

Yu Chen said.

"Boss Yu, are you going to help me carry everything too? I'm so touched!"

Xiao Wu said with a smile.

Thump!

Yu Chen rapped her on the head.

"In your dreams! I'm going to cultivate. Do you think everyone's like you, only knowing how to lie around after eating?"

Yu Chen said disdainfully.

"Ow, ow, ow! That hurt!"

You rotten Yu Chen! Once Sister Xiao Wu gets her soul ring, I'll challenge you. Let's see how cocky you are then!

Clutching her head and whimpering, Xiao Wu secretly made up her mind.

In a small grove on the hill behind the academy.

"Xiao Bai, use a flame attack!"

At Yu Chen's command, energy gathered in Xiao Bai's mouth, blazing with searing light.

Boom!

Orange-red flames jetted out, instantly reaching more than ten meters away. They struck a large tree, which immediately began billowing thick smoke.

Before long.

The tree, over three meters tall, had burned away, leaving nothing but charcoal scattered across the ground.

"Great work, Xiao Bai! Here's your reward!"

Laughing, Yu Chen took a small cake from inside his clothes and tossed it into the air.

You little brat. You really are treating me like a puppy.

Gu Yuena watched the airborne cake, a cold glint flashing through her eyes.

The next moment.

She leaped up and swallowed the cake.

So sweet!

As Gu Yuena felt the little cake melt in her mouth, she narrowed her eyes. Her two little wings fluttered as though she were about to take flight.

Seeing Xiao Bai enjoying herself, Yu Chen also smiled.

Little cakes like these didn't exist on the Douluo Continent. They were his own creation.

Xiao Bai really did like them!

"Xiao Bai, your flames are very powerful, but their force is a little scattered..."

Yu Chen stroked Xiao Bai's head as he explained.

"There are plenty of ways to increase the power of flame attacks, such as adding an explosive property. Soul rings can help with that."

"Xiao Bai, what do you think about hunting a Flame Wolf for my first soul ring?"

Yu Chen asked excitedly.

"Or absorbing a soul ring with a lava attribute, from something like a Lava Hound."

"Fire and earth together would not only make the flames stronger, but also greatly improve survivability. I just don't know whether the Soul Hunting Forest has that kind of Soul Beast."

Gu Yuena closed her eyes, inwardly dismissive.

When it came to elemental control on the Douluo Continent, if she claimed second place, who would dare claim first?

A little brat like Yu Chen actually dared lecture her?

Still...

Yu Chen was reasonably clever.

Gu Yuena had also leafed through some of the books in Yu Chen's home.

They mainly contained basic theories, with little information on Soul Beasts, and most of that consisted of introductions to ordinary Soul Beasts.

She hadn't expected Yu Chen to think of combining elements.

Was this human wisdom?

"Boss Yu, so this is where you were! I've been looking everywhere!"

Just then, Tang San jogged over from the distance.

"Tang San, what is it?"

Seeing him panting, Yu Chen asked in confusion.

"My teacher and the principal asked me to tell you that we're going to the forest first thing tomorrow morning to hunt Soul Beasts."

Tang San explained.

"Your teacher? You became Yu Xiaogang's disciple?"

Yu Chen was a little surprised.

He hadn't expected Tang San to become Yu Xiaogang's disciple after all.

It really was a turtle eyeing a mung bean-they'd taken a shine to each other!

"Yes. My teacher is very knowledgeable, and he's nothing like everyone says he is. I admire him!"

Tang San said earnestly.

His teacher had deduced that he possessed twin martial souls from a single martial soul certificate.

Across two lifetimes, Tang San had never met anyone so wise.

"All right, I understand. I'm going to keep cultivating."

Yu Chen said with a nod.

"Okay."

Tang San answered, then turned to leave.

Halfway away, he looked back at the charred tree.

So this was Yu Chen's true strength!

Truly terrifying!

But with my teacher's theories to help me, I would definitely surpass him!