Grandmaster's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, fixed firmly on Ling Feng's face, missing not the slightest change in his expression.
His calmly voiced doubt carried an unquestionable certainty, as though he had already seen through appearances to the truth beneath.
The work-study students around them hardly dared to breathe.
Wang Sheng nervously rubbed his hands, looking from Grandmaster to Ling Feng.
Xiao Wu's large, glossy black eyes darted between the two. She, too, felt that Ling Feng's stalk of Blue Silver Grass had been a little... too ordinary, so ordinary that it utterly failed to match his formidable fighting ability.
Ling Feng sighed inwardly.
Sure enough, he could not fool a theory fanatic like this.
Although the system allowed him to perfectly simulate the appearance and presence of Blue Silver Grass, that very "ordinariness," so at odds with his strength, was his greatest flaw.
Stubbornly insisting it was Blue Silver Grass would only deepen Grandmaster's suspicions and leave him pestering endlessly.
Revealing a little would instead satisfy his curiosity for the moment and provide a "reasonable" excuse for Ling Feng's subsequent rapid improvement.
As thoughts flashed through his mind, Ling Feng made his decision.
A perfectly measured hint of "hesitation" and "struggle" appeared on his face, as though he had undergone a fierce internal battle.
Grandmaster immediately caught this subtle change. The probing look in his eyes deepened, but he did not press him, merely waited patiently.
Finally, as though he had made up his mind, Ling Feng slowly exhaled and met Grandmaster's gaze. "Your eyes truly are as keen as a torch, Grandmaster."
He paused, lowering his voice until only those directly before him could hear clearly. "Blue Silver Grass... really isn't my primary martial soul."
"What?!"
"Primary martial soul?"
"Could it be..."
The work-study students instantly erupted, their eyes widening.
Wang Sheng abruptly clapped a hand over his mouth, barely stopping himself from crying out.
Xiao Wu's little mouth fell open in surprise as well.
Not his primary martial soul? What did that mean? Could it be...
An unbelievable thought surfaced in everyone's minds.
Grandmaster's breathing abruptly quickened. He even leaned forward slightly in excitement, a flush rising on his stiff face. "You... you mean..."
His voice trembled with disbelief.
Ling Feng did not answer directly.
He glanced around at the work-study students, all pricked ears and curious faces, and said to Grandmaster, "Grandmaster, there are too many eyes and ears here."
Grandmaster immediately understood. Forcing down the towering waves within his heart, he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! I was too impatient!"
The way he looked at Ling Feng had completely changed, filled with an almost pilgrim-like fervor and anticipation.
He abruptly turned to the other work-study students. His tone regained its usual sternness, though it held a barely perceptible urgency. "Everyone, return to your beds! Not a word of anything you saw or heard today is to leave this room! Otherwise, you will be severely punished under academy rules!"
Though curiosity clawed unbearably at them, the work-study students obediently dispersed before Grandmaster's authority and returned to their beds. Yet every one of them craned their necks, constantly glancing over.
Grandmaster then looked at Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu immediately planted her hands on her hips, entirely unapologetic. "I'm involved too! I want to hear!"
Grandmaster frowned, but seeing that Ling Feng showed no objection, he said nothing more. At that moment, all his attention was fixed on Ling Feng.
He took a deep breath and told Ling Feng, "Come with me."
With that, he turned and led the way out of Dorm Seven, walking much faster than usual.
Ling Feng followed.
Like a little tail, Xiao Wu immediately skipped after them, even turning back to make a face at Wang Sheng and the others.
The three soon left Dorm Seven, crossed the academy's paths, and reached a secluded, deserted grove.
It was already evening. The sunset's lingering glow filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, casting dappled light and shadow on the ground.
All was quiet around them, save for the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Grandmaster stopped and abruptly turned, staring intently at Ling Feng. His voice sounded slightly hoarse from his desperate effort to suppress his excitement. "Can you tell me now?"
His heart raced. A concept that existed almost solely in legends within the Soul Master World echoed wildly through his mind.
Twin martial souls!
This boy was very likely a one-in-ten-thousand possessor of twin martial souls!
Otherwise, there was no explaining his theoretical intuition and physical abilities, which were utterly incompatible with "Blue Silver Grass"!
Ling Feng stood amid the dappled light and shadow, his expression calm.
He knew the scene that followed had to be sufficiently shocking to firmly establish his "genius" persona and keep this Grandmaster from probing too deeply into his secrets for the time being.
He said nothing, merely raised his right hand slowly.
His awareness sank into his body, connecting with the mighty power slumbering deep within his bloodline.
This time, it was no simulated Blue Silver Grass.
A heavy, domineering presence, brimming with a sense of power, suddenly surged from his body!
The surrounding air seemed to thicken instantly. The invisible pressure made Xiao Wu, standing a short distance away, instinctively retreat half a step, her beautiful, large eyes filling with astonishment.
Grandmaster's pupils abruptly contracted to pinpoints!
Black light poured like a tide from Ling Feng's palm, rapidly gathering and changing shape...
A small, pitch-black hammer appeared out of thin air, its head covered in mysterious patterns. Its design was ancient and simple, yet it radiated a terrifying sense of might!
Its handle was roughly a foot and a half long, while its head was a full size larger than an adult's fist. It hovered silently above Ling Feng's palm, the very source of that domineering presence that seemed capable of suppressing all things!
"This... this is..."
Grandmaster's body began trembling violently. His eyes bulged as he stared fixedly at the small black hammer, his facial muscles twisting with such extreme shock that even their habitual stiffness shattered!
His mouth hung open, a rattling sound coming from his throat, but he was so overwhelmed that, for a moment, he could not speak!
As a grandmaster who had spent his life researching martial soul theory, how could he possibly fail to recognize this iconic hammer?
That shape, those patterns, that seemingly innate, domineering presence...
The world's foremost tool martial soul-the Clear Sky Hammer!
Several full seconds passed before Grandmaster finally dragged in a breath. His voice was so shrill it nearly lost its usual pitch, filled with unbelievable ecstasy and shock:
"The... Clear Sky Hammer! It's actually the Clear Sky Hammer!"
He jerked his head up, his gaze locking onto Ling Feng, his voice trembling fiercely. "You... you're actually from the Clear Sky Sect?! No! Why would a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect come to a backwater like Nuoding as a work-study student? You... what is your innate soul power?!"
As though something had occurred to him, he fired off questions like a barrage of cannonballs.
With a slight thought, Ling Feng restrained most of the Clear Sky Hammer's presence, leaving only a faint pressure, and answered calmly, "I'm not from the Clear Sky Sect. My innate soul power... should be at the maximum level."
"Innate... full soul power?!"
As though struck by a thunderbolt, Grandmaster froze in place, his expression completely stiffening.
The Clear Sky Hammer!
Innate full soul power!
The impact of those two terms together was enough to drive anyone with common knowledge of the Soul Master World mad!
A hundred years! No! A peerless genius who might not appear even once in several hundred years!
And he was standing right before him, alive and real!
In a remote little place like Nuoding City, no less!
Grandmaster felt as though his heart would leap out of his chest. Blood surged to his head, leaving him dizzy.
Looking at the boy before him, whose expression was far too calm, and at the Clear Sky Hammer in his palm, which emitted a faint black glow yet seemed capable of shaking heaven and earth, he was nearly overwhelmed by an immense, unreal sense of happiness mingled with unparalleled shock.
He murmured to himself, his voice drifting like dream talk. "The Clear Sky Hammer... innate full soul power... a once-in-a-century... no, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy... actually... actually exists..."
Xiao Wu stood nearby. Although she did not quite understand what the "Clear Sky Hammer" specifically meant, she understood "innate full soul power" and Grandmaster's nearly frenzied reaction of shock.
She stared at Ling Feng, her little mouth forming an O. So this guy... was that amazing?
No wonder he fought so fiercely!
Ling Feng watched Grandmaster, who had nearly fallen into a stupor, without much stirring in his heart.
Revealing the Clear Sky Hammer and his innate full soul power was part of his plan.
Only this way would his subsequent rapid growth in strength be attributed to "extraordinary talent," rather than drawing too much suspicion toward the system.
At the same time, it would help him gain a measure of attention and preferential allocation of resources from the academy.
Of course, he still kept his true trump cards deeply hidden.
Only after quite a while did Grandmaster slowly recover from his overwhelming shock.
When he looked at Ling Feng again, his eyes were filled with immensely complicated emotions.
There was ecstasy, excitement, envy, shock, and even a trace of... awe?
He took several deep breaths, struggling to calm the seas churning within him, but his voice still trembled noticeably. "Child... you... do you know what your talent means?"
Ling Feng nodded, then shook his head. "I know a little, but not entirely."
This answer calmed Grandmaster somewhat.
Yes, however monstrous this child's talent might be, he was still a child. His understanding of the Soul Master World was probably very limited.
But that made him the finest uncarved jade!
After that immense excitement, a powerful, irrepressible thought grew like wild grass in Grandmaster's heart!
Take him as a disciple!
He had to take him as a disciple!
What an honor it would be to nurture a peerless genius possessing both the Clear Sky Hammer and innate full soul power! It would prove once and for all that his, Yu Xiaogang's, theories were correct! That they were great!
It could even make up for the greatest regret of his life!
His gaze instantly grew intensely fervent, carrying an almost earnest hope. He stepped forward, his voice slightly hoarse with excitement. "Child! Your talent shines across the ages! But even the finest talent needs proper guidance and cultivation methods! Otherwise, it would be a sinful waste of heaven's gifts!"
He stared into Ling Feng's eyes, his tone utterly solemn, even trembling slightly. "Although my soul power is low, I, Yu Xiaogang, have devoted my entire life to studying martial soul theory. I am confident that no one on this continent can surpass me!"
"I... I hope you will accept me as your master! I will give everything I have and teach you the highest theoretical achievements of my lifelong research without reservation! I will plan the most perfect soul ring configuration for you! Uncover your martial soul's greatest potential! I will surely enable you to stand at the pinnacle of this continent someday, and even... touch that legendary divine realm!"
His words brimmed with temptation and confidence, fierce flames burning in his eyes.
He was almost certain that any child aspiring to follow the path of a soul master could not possibly refuse an offer of discipleship from such a theoretical grandmaster, coupled with the promise of so glorious a future!
Xiao Wu also looked at Ling Feng in surprise, feeling that this seemed like a good opportunity.
Yet Ling Feng's expression remained calm.
He quietly watched the excited Grandmaster, his eyes clear and entirely unruffled.
Only after Grandmaster finished and looked at him expectantly did he slowly, firmly shake his head.
"Thank you for your kindness, Grandmaster." His voice was steady, betraying neither pleasure nor anger. "But I... would like to try learning on my own first."
"..."
The air froze instantly.
The excitement, anticipation, and confidence on Grandmaster's face instantly stiffened.
It was as though a basin of ice water had been poured over his head, instantly cooling half his burning heart.
He... refused?
He actually refused?
A theoretical grandmaster had personally offered to take him as a disciple, and he actually refused?
Why?
Grandmaster could not understand at all, his eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief. "W-why? Finding your own way could very easily lead you down the wrong path! You would waste your talent! You have the finest martial soul and the finest talent. Only with the finest theoretical guidance can you achieve true perfection!"
His tone carried urgency and incomprehension.
Ling Feng met his astonished gaze, his tone still mild, yet carrying an unquestionable resolve. "I believe in your theories, Grandmaster. But I would rather first understand and experience my martial soul in my own way. If... if I encounter a problem I cannot understand in the future, I will certainly come to you for advice at once."
These words were courteous, yet watertight.
They affirmed Grandmaster's standing while firmly preserving Ling Feng's independence.
Accept him as his master?
Impossible.
He had the system's comprehensive planning, whose precision and efficiency far surpassed Grandmaster's theories.
Taking a master would only bind his hands and feet, and he would also have to explain why he could always "perfectly" meet theoretical requirements, or even exceed them.
Maintaining a relationship of discussion, "both teacher and friend," was the optimal solution.
It would let him make use of Grandmaster's resources and connections while preserving his own secrets and freedom.
Grandmaster was completely stunned.
Looking into Ling Feng's calm yet resolute eyes, he suddenly understood.
This child possessed maturity and independent judgment far beyond his years.
He was hardly ignorant of everything. Quite the opposite-he might have his own unique ideas and plans.
His refusal was not arrogance, but a kind of... confidence?
Grandmaster opened his mouth, wanting to persuade him further, but when he saw the look in Ling Feng's eyes that left no room for negotiation, all his words lodged in his throat.
An immense sense of loss and regret welled up in his heart.
Missing out on such a disciple would probably be the greatest loss of his life.
But he was no ordinary person, after all. Forcing down his distress, he let out a long sigh and looked at Ling Feng with complicated eyes. "Very well... everyone has their own aspirations. Since your mind is made up, I won't force you."
His tone was thick with regret.
"However," he changed tack, his expression turning extremely grave, "your martial soul and talent are matters of enormous consequence! Remember, until you are strong enough, you must never casually reveal them again! Especially the Clear Sky Hammer! Otherwise, you will surely invite tremendous trouble! Even a fatal calamity! Do you understand?"
It was a heartfelt warning.
Ling Feng nodded seriously. "I understand. Thank you for the warning, Grandmaster."
Grandmaster nodded and gave him another long, deep look, as though trying to engrave him upon his heart. Only then did he slowly turn and leave, his steps somewhat heavy, carrying loneliness and regret.
Xiao Wu watched Grandmaster's retreating figure, then looked at Ling Feng. Blinking her large eyes, she suddenly leaned closer and asked quietly, "Hey, Boss Ling Feng, why didn't you agree? Wouldn't having a teacher be pretty good?"
Ling Feng glanced at her without answering, merely saying lightly, "We're going back."
With that, he turned and walked toward Dorm Seven.
Xiao Wu watched his retreating figure and pouted, then hurried after him. Like a curious little rabbit, she bounced around beside him, asking questions nonstop.
"Your hammer looks really powerful!"
"Does innate full soul power mean you cultivate especially fast?"
"Were you going easy on me just now?"
Her chatter was giving Ling Feng a bit of a headache, and he quickened his pace.
Yet he was turning something else over in his mind.
After what had just happened, things with Grandmaster had been steadied for the time being.
But the shock caused by the "Clear Sky Hammer" and "Innate Full Soul Power" probably would not subside so quickly.
Su Yuntao on one side, Grandmaster on the other...
With a mighty river-crossing dragon like him barging in, undercurrents had already begun to stir in the pool that was Nuoding Academy.
I need to get stronger as soon as possible.
He subconsciously touched his chest, where the system interface seemed ready to be summoned at any moment.
Tonight, I should find somewhere to check in.