When Yu Xiaogang saw that Jing Shanshan remained silent, he showed not the slightest anxiety. He lifted his chin, and his tone deepened.
"I know what you're thinking. My Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, was indeed judged to be trash. My Innate Soul Power was only half a level, and I'll struggle to break through level thirty in my entire lifetime. You think I'm unworthy of teaching you, don't you?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression showed his certainty in this explanation, with no intention of explaining the apparent reason. With his hands behind his back, he took a step, his voice growing steadier instead.
"Remember, there are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters. That is the one saying I, Yu Xiaogang, have believed in all my life. If you believe it, come with me. If you don't, turn around now. I won't stop you."
After saying this, Yu Xiaogang lowered his head to look at the blond child who was much shorter than him.
A faint, elusive smile hung on Jing Shanshan's face. As though acknowledging something, Jing Shanshan shook his head helplessly, then asked a question that had not the remotest connection to what Yu Xiaogang had just said.
"Do you know under what circumstances a Soul Ring would shatter on its own shortly after a Martial Soul absorbed it?"
At this, a peculiar expression swiftly appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. Clearly, this question was outside his expectations. Jing Shanshan had not thought or responded along the lines of his spiel, and this feeling of something slipping beyond his control made him somewhat uncomfortable.
In the end, Yu Xiaogang still frowned and began thinking seriously.
"A conflict in Soul Power attributes? No, if that were the problem, the person couldn't possibly be standing here looking perfectly fine...
"Rejection by the Martial Soul? Even less likely. If that were the case, the Martial Soul would knock the Soul Ring away as soon as the person began absorbing it..."
The knowledge Yu Xiaogang had read in Spirit Hall's library flashed rapidly through his mind, and he finally reached a conclusion.
Yu Xiaogang rapidly sifted through the knowledge he had read in Spirit Hall's library, comparing it point by point, and finally reached a conclusion.
He, the great theoretical Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, was actually being toyed with by this child. If word got out, where could he possibly put his face!
A nameless anger rose in Yu Xiaogang's heart, and he scrutinized Jing Shanshan.
Jing Shanshan had no intention whatsoever of concealing his Soul Power fluctuations, so other Soul Masters could easily tell his Soul Power Level.
Level sixteen, lower than a level-twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster like him!
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists, his gaze locking onto Jing Shanshan once more.
He saw that Jing Shanshan had produced a golden chair from somewhere at some point and was already sitting on it, his legs casually crossed, his elbow resting on the armrest, his head tilted slightly against the back of his hand. His expression said, "Just as expected," and he was examining Yu Xiaogang with a flicker of interest in his eyes.
"A theoretical Grandmaster... heh. I think I understand the extent of your abilities now. I imagine asking anything further would be a waste of breath."
Jing Shanshan laughed.
"Luo Sanpao!"
Jing Shanshan's words questioning his knowledge had undoubtedly struck the fatal weakness of Yu Xiaogang's obsession.
Veins throbbed one by one on Yu Xiaogang's forehead. The Soul Power inside him circulated rapidly, and two yellow Soul Rings appeared beside him.
"Not bad. Two Hundred-Year Soul Rings, no less."
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang looked ready to teach him a proper lesson, Jing Shanshan spoke in an even tone.
"First Soul Skill, Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao!"
A cloud of yellow smoke spurted from the rear of Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul, but somehow, a gust of wind sprang up instead and blew that yellow smoke toward Yu Xiaogang himself.
At the sight, Yu Xiaogang's face could be said to have turned several shades paler. He hurriedly tried to recall his Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, only to feel an immense force of gravity press down on him at that very instant. Caught off guard, he fell to his knees with a thud.
At the same time, Luo Sanpao's yellow smoke had already enveloped Yu Xiaogang.
Only Yu Xiaogang's agonized coughing could be heard from within the yellow smoke.
After a long while, the yellow smoke dispersed. Yu Xiaogang was still kneeling on the ground, drool running from the corner of his mouth, his eyes somewhat vacant, his clothes somewhat disheveled. He was a complete wreck. If Jing Shanshan had to describe him, Yu Xiaogang now looked like a woman who had been violated.
"I heard that Soul Masters have some resistance to their own moves. Looks like that's true."
Jing Shanshan looked thoughtful.
Comparing the sight of the robber instantly collapsing earlier with Yu Xiaogang's current state, still retaining a little awareness, Jing Shanshan confirmed this piece of knowledge he had read in a book.
He rose and walked over to Yu Xiaogang, who was kneeling on the ground without any ability to resist.
"Do you know why this king would waste his time on someone like you?"
As he spoke, a ring of golden ripples appeared above Yu Xiaogang, and a gentle green light enveloped him.
The healing was controlled to the bare minimum, just enough to keep Yu Xiaogang from losing consciousness completely.
"You..."
At this very moment, Yu Xiaogang was undoubtedly furious.
"It's because of the pleasure hidden deep within you!"
For a moment, Yu Xiaogang could not wrap his head around it.
"A trash Martial Soul, Innate Soul Power of only half a level, and struggling your entire life to break through level thirty. I'm guessing perhaps the others in your family looked down on you. You refused to accept it and always wanted to prove yourself, so you studied hard and obtained this so-called title of theoretical Grandmaster.
"Afterward, you wanted to teach outstanding students to prove to certain people that your theories weren't wrong, that you weren't trash."
As Jing Shanshan said these things, his tone was unhurried.
When he had heard the people at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy gossiping about Yu Xiaogang, he had begun to harbor some doubts about Yu Xiaogang's title of theoretical Grandmaster.
Through their brief interaction just now, he had gradually gotten a grasp of Yu Xiaogang's character, becoming even more convinced that this title of theoretical Grandmaster was considerably watered down.
If a true theoretical Grandmaster taught students, why would he need particularly gifted students for them to understand his lectures?
"Yes, that is what I yearn for."
In his current state, any display of anger from Yu Xiaogang would look like a joke to others, so he suppressed his anger, gulped down air to recover his strength, and admitted that Jing Shanshan was right.
"No, that isn't what you've hidden deep inside. Those are all boring things anyone can see on the surface at a glance."
Yu Xiaogang abruptly raised his head and glared at Jing Shanshan, shaking his head firmly. He spoke each word with ringing force.
"That is what I yearn for deep down. I know my own thoughts very clearly. I want everyone else to know that I, Yu Xiaogang, am not trash! Even if I have to take another path, I can still achieve something!"
Hearing this, Jing Shanshan shook his head, revealing a trace of disappointment. Yet he did not leave, instead sitting back down on the golden throne.
"But that isn't what I see..."
"What do you know about m-"
"Shh, don't speak yet!"
Jing Shanshan raised a finger to his lips.
Yu Xiaogang did not even notice that he had subconsciously obeyed Jing Shanshan and involuntarily shut his mouth.
"People often can't see themselves clearly, while an onlooker sees clearly. Put your hand on your heart and ask yourself: is that really what you think? Not because of some reason or because you can't let go of your pride."
Jing Shanshan's speech gradually slowed as he continued.
"Could it be that you hate every genius? If not for those geniuses, would you have suffered the scorn of those around you? Would you still so urgently need to prove to the world that even if your talent for Soul Power is trash, you, Yu Xiaogang, can still receive others' respect and admiration?"