Yu Xiaogang forcibly suppressed the wild joy in his heart and assumed the imposing yet magnanimous air of an expert above worldly affairs. He waved a hand at Tang San:
"Xiao San, although Xiao Xuan's Martial Soul is mediocre, I see that he has a hardworking disposition and the potential to be shaped into something."
"I intend to make an exception and take him as my second disciple, so the two of you can become fellow disciples and receive my careful instruction together."
"Go and find him. Tell him I'm willing to give him a few pointers! I imagine he won't refuse!"
"Yes, Teacher."
Tang San respectfully accepted the order. Though he felt a faint pang of discomfort at having to share his teacher's attention, out of respect for his teacher and his teachings, he still hurried off to carry it out.
At noon, classes ended beneath a blazing sun.
The morning's academic lessons had just ended, and Xiao Xuan had packed up his books and was planning his afternoon.
Just as he stepped out the back door of the classroom, a lean, quiet figure abruptly stepped sideways and blocked his path.
It was Tang San.
Xiao Xuan frowned almost imperceptibly.
Usually, to avoid attracting Tang Hao's attention, Xiao Xuan had always kept his distance from Tang San and Xiao Wu, never approaching them for conversation.
Why had Tang San come up to him like a tiger blocking the road today?
"Xiao Xuan, please wait."
Tang San's expression was calm, but his tone brooked no argument.
"My teacher heard that you've become an official Soul Master and is willing to give you some pointers. Come with me to see him now."
He wants me to go accept Gangzi's pointers?
What could a level twenty-nine waste like him possibly teach me?
The moment Xiao Xuan heard this, he immediately guessed most of what Gangzi had in mind.
Could Gangzi have heard about my Martial Soul Mutation and decided to take me as his disciple?
Xiao Xuan calmly stepped around Tang San and said in an even tone:
"Sorry, I don't have time. After lunch, I need to hurry back to the dormitory to sit and meditate. I appreciate the Grandmaster's kindness, but let's talk about it another time."
With that, Xiao Xuan strode past Tang San and walked away without so much as looking back.
"You..."
Tang San froze where he stood, his expression darkening instantly.
In his eyes, his teacher Yu Xiaogang was well versed in the past and present and knew all the Martial Souls under heaven. He was the most esteemed of scholars.
Normally, his teacher paid no attention to anyone except Tang San, his sole disciple.
Today, his teacher had condescended to send him with an invitation, yet Xiao Xuan had turned it down so swiftly and decisively, without even a second's hesitation?!
This was an enormous slight and insult to his revered teacher!
"Tang San, what did you want with that Xiao Xuan? He's always off on his own. You can tell at a glance he's a weirdo!"
With that sweet voice, Xiao Wu came over, her long scorpion-tail braid trailing behind her. Her two big eyes stared at Xiao Xuan's retreating back.
Tang San suppressed the anger in his heart and said with a frown, his voice low:
"Teacher wanted to take Xiao Xuan as a disciple, but he... seems to have quite a prejudice against my teacher. How am I supposed to explain this to him?"
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Xiao Wu frowned.
"That weirdo Xiao Xuan probably thinks he's a genius just because he has a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, so he looks down on the Grandmaster!"
At that point, Xiao Wu stopped.
A sly gleam flashed in her eyes. She tugged at the hem of Tang San's clothes and came up with an idea, grinning mischievously.
"Xiao San, how about this? Let's go block his path, and you can fight him!"
"Fight him?" Tang San was slightly taken aback.
"That's right!" Xiao Wu raised her little fist and urged him on, utterly convinced she was in the right:
"Make a bet with him! If he loses, he has to go bow his head and admit he was wrong to the Grandmaster, then properly become his disciple!"
"That way, you can knock that kid down a peg and prove how formidable the skills the Grandmaster taught you are. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?!"
Tang San's eyes flickered as he silently considered it for a moment.
Indeed, without a display of real skill, this arrogant fellow would never understand that beyond the heavens lay higher heavens, and beyond the strong stood stronger people!
"All right, I'll do as you say."
Tang San nodded, then headed to the dining hall with Xiao Wu.
The large dining hall on the first floor of Nuoding Academy.
It was the height of the lunch rush. The dining hall was a sea of heads, steam rising into the air amid the aroma of food and waves of clamor.
Standing on tiptoe, Xiao Wu scanned the vast crowd with her big eyes.
"Didn't that guy say he was coming to the dining hall for lunch? We've already searched the whole place twice. Where is he?!"
Tang San frowned as he repeatedly searched the serving windows and every row of long tables, a trace of irritation passing through his heart.
Xiao Xuan's "I don't have time" had been thrown in Tang San's face, and a fire was already smoldering inside him. All he wanted was to exchange a few moves with the arrogant fellow, knock him down a peg, and win back his teacher's face while he was at it.
But as it turned out, the kid wasn't even in the dining hall?!
"Excuse me."
Tang San patiently stopped a student who was usually close to Xiao Xuan and politely cupped his hands. "Have you seen Xiao Xuan? Didn't he come to the dining hall for lunch?"
The student chewed on a steamed bun as he replied casually:
"Xiao Xuan? He took the afternoon off and went home."
"What? He took the afternoon off and went home?!"
Hearing this, Tang San nodded, his expression gloomy.
"All right."
Meanwhile, on the street.
Xiao Xuan made his way to the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City as he mulled things over.
Ever since absorbing the Whale Rubber that night, successfully washing his tendons and cleansing his marrow, and strengthening his body, Xiao Xuan had been eager to practice spear techniques.
That was right, spear techniques!
His Martial Soul was Lone Bamboo, and its ultimate goal in the future was bound to be evolving toward the Atlas Spear.
After two fusions and evolutions, Xiao Xuan's Lone Bamboo Martial Soul was already no less sharp or hard than most Tool Martial Souls.
So it was important to master spear techniques ahead of time.
Not only would this greatly increase his combat strength, it would also allow him to make the most of his Martial Soul's advantages.
Over the past few days, he had buried himself in the academy library, turning every booklet on weapon techniques inside out.
Unfortunately, Nuoding Academy was only a junior academy in the end. The books on spear techniques in its library contained nothing but the most rudimentary "basic spear thrusts" and "essentials of the straight thrust."
They were the same two or three pages of nonsense over and over, with no more advanced combat combinations or tips on advanced force application.
As for searching the city's bookstores?
That was even further out of the question. Nuoding City was such a small place that it didn't even have a decent bookstore.
After turning it over in his mind, Xiao Xuan thought of one place that was sure to have them.
The Spirit Hall!
Across the entire Douluo Continent, who could compare to the Spirit Hall in the depth of its book collection, its inheritance of secret manuals, and the abundance of its resources?!
Last time at the Nuoding Spirit Hall Branch, Su Yuntao had patted his chest and given Xiao Xuan his solemn word on the spot.
"If you run into any trouble or have any questions in the future, come find me anytime!"
Though he didn't know whether it would actually work, Xiao Xuan decided to give it a try.
Before long, Xiao Xuan arrived at the Nuoding Spirit Hall Branch.
From the female attendant who had handled his certification last time, he learned that Su Yuntao happened to be in his personal office on the second floor today.