Nuoding Academy, the Peerless Pair (4)
On the first day of school, the first class was Martial Soul Theory.
The teacher was none other than Yu Xiaogang.
The classroom was packed with first-year students, all chattering away. Lin Chen and Xiao Wu sat by the window in the back row. Xiao Wu lay on her desk, playing with a paper rabbit Lin Chen had folded for her, while Lin Chen flipped through his textbook, his expression calm.
Tang San sat near the front in the middle, his back straight as he studied his book.
When the class bell rang, Yu Xiaogang walked in carrying his lesson notes. He wore a gray robe and a stern expression. His gaze swept across the classroom before settling on Lin Chen in the back row, and his eyes darkened slightly.
"Quiet." Yu Xiaogang set his notes on the desk. His voice was not loud, but it carried a measure of authority. "Today we'll cover the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. It is the foundation of a Soul Master's cultivation and the essence of my life's research, so listen carefully."
The classroom fell silent at once. Every student sat up straight and looked at Yu Xiaogang with reverence.
The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul was the continent's universally acknowledged bible of Martial Soul Theory.
Yu Xiaogang began his lecture, starting with the classification of Martial Souls, then moving on to corresponding Soul Ring ages and the basic patterns of Soul Power circulation. His explanation was clear and orderly, making profound concepts easy to understand. The ordinary new students listened, spellbound, nodding again and again.
Tang San listened with even greater concentration, nodding in agreement from time to time. In his eyes, Grandmaster's theories were precise and original, opening a brand-new door for him.
After lecturing for about half an hour, Yu Xiaogang changed tack and suddenly raised his voice. "Of course, theory is not set in stone, but its foundations must never be shaken. Some people think they know everything and speak recklessly of Martial Soul Evolution and absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's level. It is all sensationalist heresy, and it won't take them far."
The words were clearly aimed at Lin Chen.
The classroom fell silent in an instant. All the students turned instinctively to look at Lin Chen in the back row.
Xiao Wu frowned and was about to stand up and argue, but Lin Chen pressed a hand to her shoulder.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang curled his lips in a nearly imperceptible sneer and called Lin Chen's name. "Lin Chen, stand up and answer this. What is the maximum age of a Soul Ring a level-ten Soul Master can absorb? What is the basis for it?"
He was deliberately making things difficult. This was a basic question from the Ten Core Competencies, and the answer was four hundred and twenty-three years. If Lin Chen answered incorrectly, he could scold him in front of everyone for having a shaky foundation and being arrogant. Even if he answered correctly, it would only prove he had memorized the textbook, hardly a display of skill.
All eyes turned to Lin Chen.
Lin Chen slowly stood up and spoke calmly. "The standard limit is four hundred and twenty-three years, based on the tolerance threshold of the human body's meridians and the Martial Soul, which is determined by Soul Power Level."
Yu Xiaogang snorted. "At least you know the basics. Then tell me, are there any exceptions?"
"Yes," Lin Chen said evenly. "Top-tier Martial Souls, special physiques, and tempering the body with heavenly treasures can all raise the limit. For example, someone with an Ultimate Attribute Martial Soul can absorb a Soul Ring over seven hundred years old at level ten. If their flesh has been tempered with Immortal Herbs, even a Thousand-Year Soul Ring isn't impossible."
"Absurd!" Yu Xiaogang slammed his palm on the desk, his face darkening. "Utter nonsense! Since the Soul Master system was established, there has never been a precedent for absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring at level ten! You're misleading the students!"
"A lack of precedent doesn't mean it's impossible." Lin Chen looked at him, his tone still steady. "Grandmaster's theory describes general patterns drawn from the vast majority of ordinary Soul Masters, but it isn't absolute truth. Speaking only of the general rule and ignoring exceptions will only limit the students' horizons."
"You!" Yu Xiaogang's chest heaved with anger. He had not expected Lin Chen to dare talk back to him in front of everyone in class.
The classroom was so quiet a sparrow could be heard. The students stared in disbelief. To dare speak to Grandmaster like that-wasn't Lin Chen far too arrogant?
Tang San frowned as well. He thought Grandmaster's theory was right, but what Lin Chen said also seemed to make some sense. He could not help thinking of his own Twin Martial Souls and the records in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record-all things in the world were never absolute.
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. "Fine," he said coldly. "You say there are exceptions. Then tell me, what kind of Martial Soul counts as top-tier? And what is an Ultimate Attribute Martial Soul? Can you explain it in detail?"
He was certain Lin Chen could not answer. The concept of Ultimate Martial Souls was something he had only just begun to grasp after years of research, and he had never made it public. How could a six-year-old child possibly know about it?
But Lin Chen spoke, his voice carrying clearly throughout the classroom. "Ultimate Attributes are divided into four categories: ultimate assault, ultimate control, ultimate agility attack, and ultimate defense. Ultimate Fire, Ultimate Ice, and Ultimate Earth are all Ultimate Attributes. The Soul Power of these Martial Souls is far purer than that of ordinary Martial Souls, so naturally they can withstand stronger Soul Rings. For example, the legendary Ice Phoenix Martial Soul possesses Ultimate Ice and can absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as its First Soul Ring."
Yu Xiaogang's expression changed completely.
The classification of Ultimate Attributes was almost identical to the results of his private research! Even the example of the Ice Phoenix matched his own conjecture!
How could he possibly know?!
Lin Chen looked at his pale face but said no more. He stopped there; he did not want to make Yu Xiaogang look too bad, since he still had five years to spend at the academy.
"Grandmaster, am I right?" Lin Chen asked softly.
Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth, but he could not find any words to refute him. He could hardly say that a six-year-old child had correctly described something he had spent half his life researching.
After a moment's stalemate, he abruptly swept his sleeve and said in a grave voice, "Those are all vague, baseless legends. They can't be taken as truth. Sit down!"
With that, he turned back to continue the lecture, but his voice was noticeably stiff, and his earlier composure was gone.
For the remaining half of the class, Yu Xiaogang lectured somewhat absentmindedly, his thoughts wandering from time to time. Lin Chen's words were like a needle that had pierced the shell of the theories he was so proud of. He felt both shocked and doubtful, along with a trace of jealousy he could scarcely conceal.
As soon as the bell rang, Yu Xiaogang practically fled the classroom, forgetting even to take his lesson notes.
The classroom erupted.
The students crowded around Lin Chen, all talking at once. "Lin Chen, you're incredible! You even stumped Grandmaster!"
"Do Ultimate Martial Souls really exist?"
"How do you know so much?"
Xiao Wu lifted her little face proudly. "Of course! Brother Lin Chen is the best!"
Lin Chen smiled and gave a few casual replies before taking Xiao Wu out of the classroom.
At the end of the corridor, Tang San stood waiting, seemingly for him.
When Lin Chen approached, Tang San stepped forward and asked earnestly, "Lin Chen, are Ultimate Martial Souls and absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's level really possible, like you said?"
"They are." Lin Chen nodded.
Tang San fell silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Then is it really possible for Blue Silver Grass to evolve?"