Several days after the Celestial Screen ended, at Nuoding Academy...
"A teacher for a day is a father for life! Please accept my bow, Teacher!"
After going through the sequence of the gatekeeper making trouble, Grandmaster coming to the rescue, twin martial souls, secretly rising murderous intent, and a father for life...
Just as history had unfolded in The Legend of the Tang God-King, Grandmaster, whose "theories were unrivaled," met his worthy disciple, and Tang San made the choice that would affect his entire life.
"Teacher, I want to know why Dugu Feng could absorb a thousand-year second soul ring in the Celestial Screen without suffering any effects."
After some pleasantries and the standard warning that he "must not add any soul rings to his hammer martial soul," Tang San asked the question that had intrigued him most lately.
With the Celestial Screen's existence, Tang San had already gained a general understanding of a great deal of basic knowledge about soul masters.
For example, the soul ring configurations of ordinary soul masters.
But Tang San had his own pride, too. His twin martial souls and the Tang Sect Secret Arts made him consider himself inferior to no one.
Since Dugu Feng could absorb a thousand-year second soul ring, then he, Tang San, might well be able to do so too!
"A thousand-year second soul ring?" Yu Xiaogang frowned at the question, swiftly recalling the records in the Spirit Hall texts he had read before. He decisively shook his head and admonished him with some sternness in his voice:
"Xiao San, since you are my disciple, of course I must take responsibility for you."
"According to my theories, the age limit for the first soul ring a soul master absorbs is 423 years, and the age limit for the second soul ring is 764 years."
"Dugu Feng had no one to guide him and forcibly absorbed soul rings beyond his limits. His body must have hidden problems, and he has drained his potential prematurely. The Celestial Screen simply hasn't shown it yet."
"I know you have a genius's pride, but you absolutely must not ruin your future for the sake of a momentary contest."
As Yu Xiaogang spoke, he sighed softly. "Still, what a pity for Dugu Feng's uniquely blessed talent."
"Dugu Feng simply had no one to guide him. Xiao San, you must not follow his example. Even if you are lucky enough to encounter a severely injured soul beast of great age, you absolutely must not absorb its ring blindly."
"Otherwise, at best, you will exhaust your body's potential and squander your future. At worst, your body will explode and you will die."
"I understand, Teacher." A trace of relief flashed through Tang San's eyes. If he had not met his teacher, he really would have tried obtaining a thousand-year second soul ring.
Then, even if he succeeded, he would merely be wasting his potential without knowing it.
As expected, the path to becoming strong cannot do without the guidance of a renowned teacher. How fortunate I, Tang San, am to have met such a teacher.
"Mm, this child can indeed be taught." Feeling Tang San's admiring gaze, Yu Xiaogang kept his expression unchanged, maintaining the calm, unruffled bearing of an expert.
"Xiao San, go familiarize yourself with the campus today. Tomorrow, I'll take you to hunt for a soul ring. After that, come to me during your free time outside class to study theory."
"Yes, Teacher."
Seeing Tang San's obedient manner, Yu Xiaogang smiled in satisfaction and thought to himself, With Tiansheng and Xiao San here, how could my theories fail to flourish!
This recent stretch of time could be called Yu Xiaogang's most triumphant days.
First, Yu Tiansheng had appeared in the Celestial Screen, indirectly proving that the flaws in Yu Xiaogang's martial soul would soon be resolved. Then he had taken the worthy disciple Tang San under his wing.
When the time came, Yu Tiansheng and Tang San would prove his theories together. Two Douluo under one master, or even three, might well be possible!
"Director Su, this is the work-study student Holy Soul Village sent this year. Sorry for the trouble, but please help him register."
Casually pushing open the door to the academic affairs office, Yu Xiaogang placed Tang San's certificate on the desk and gave instructions to the elderly teacher inside with an indifferent expression.
Director Su froze at his words. Turning to look and discovering that it was Grandmaster, he immediately wreathed his face in smiles. "Grandmaster, what brings you here? We rarely see you! Would you like to sit for a while?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. Without responding to Director Su, he merely said to Tang San, "Register here yourself. These teachers will explain the specific procedure to you. I'll come find you later."
Tang San nodded and said respectfully, "Goodbye, Teacher."
At this, Yu Xiaogang pulled his lips into a smile, patted Tang San's head, and left without looking back.
"Young man, Grandmaster isn't a teacher at our Nuoding Academy." Director Su looked at Tang San with curiosity written all over his face, his tone somewhat odd.
Tang San said, "But he is my teacher."
"You accepted Grandmaster as your teacher?" Director Su's expression grew a little stranger. "Though, I suppose, with that recent business involving the Celestial Screen, you aren't losing out by accepting Grandmaster as your teacher."
"The Celestial Screen? What does Teacher have to do with the Celestial Screen?" Tang San was deeply interested in the Celestial Screen.
But he really did not know what connection the teacher he had just accepted had to the Celestial Screen.
Director Su did not answer, but another young teacher beside him chuckled and said:
"Hehe, you don't know yet, do you..."
"Ahem! Don't go talking carelessly about important people's affairs." Director Su reached out and gave the young teacher a hard smack on the head, closing the subject before picking up Tang San's certificate to read it.
"Tang San, correct? Martial soul, Blue Silver Grass. Innate... full soul power? Why is there another one... never mind." Looking at the child before him with some surprise, Director Su's voice took on a somewhat more reflective note.
"Perhaps Grandmaster really can help you, but..."
Director Su thought for a moment, then leaned close to Tang San's ear and said, "Grandmaster may indeed possess some extraordinary talent, but child, you must understand that cultivating your martial soul concerns your entire life. Don't be hasty."
Having said that, Director Su returned to his businesslike manner.
"All right, that will be all. These are your things, issued free of charge by the academy."
"You'll be staying in Room Seven of the dormitory building. The teacher in charge there will assign your work-study duties. Off you go."
"Thank you." Although he was curious about Grandmaster's connection to the Celestial Screen, seeing Director Su's attitude, Tang San could only bow before turning and leaving the academic affairs office.
Just after leaving the office, Tang San heard the young teacher's voice coming from inside.
"Director, why didn't you tell that child that Grandmaster is from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
"Enough. Because of that child named Yu Tiansheng on the Celestial Screen, many people outside are now secretly watching Grandmaster. We should stay out of matters involving him. If something were to..."
Silence returned to the academic affairs office.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? That person called Yu Tiansheng seemed to belong to that clan... Could Teacher have a connection to this clan?
With this question in his mind, Tang San strode toward Dorm Seven.
Bang!
Just as he reached Dorm Seven's doorway, Tang San heard the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground.
Dorm Seven's door was open. Tang San instinctively looked inside and saw a child considerably larger than others his age sprawled awkwardly on the floor.
Looking farther inside, he could see a child with long blue hair standing with their back to him.
"Mom..."
For some reason, the instant he saw that figure, Tang San could not help murmuring that word.
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