The Grandmaster Takes an Interest in the Panda Martial Soul: Three Questions Before Becoming His Disciple

"You might not live past ten."

Yu Xiaogang's voice was not loud.

Yet the academy gates fell silent in an instant.

The color drained from the old village chief of Iron Bamboo Village's face.

"Lord Soul Master, you mustn't say something like that lightly!"

"Dong Jian was perfectly fine yesterday. How could he not live past ten?"

Dong Shan had not come along.

He had entrusted the old village chief with bringing Dong Jian to the academy, so naturally the old man could not stand by and watch the child be frightened by a single remark.

Dong Jian himself, however, did not panic.

His Panda Martial Soul was still sitting on the ground behind him.

But its golden eyes, previously languid, were now fixed intently on Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's earlier assessment had not been entirely correct.

But he really had guessed that the two forces might be out of balance from the fluctuations of black and white Soul Power alone.

That proved he had seen records on the subject.

"What was the Martial Soul of the Soul Master you mentioned?"

Dong Jian asked.

"The records are incomplete."

Yu Xiaogang slowly shook his head.

"All I can say for certain is that it was a Beast Martial Soul with two opposing attributes."

"Everything was normal immediately after its awakening."

"As the Soul Power increased, the two forces began to repel each other."

"After the first loss of control, that Soul Master became short-tempered, and his Martial Soul would appear on its own without being summoned."

Li Man's pen paused for a moment.

Those symptoms were strikingly similar to Dong Jian's condition a few days earlier.

"Did the final loss of control happen after he absorbed his First Soul Ring?"

she asked.

"That's right."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Dong Jian's Panda Martial Soul.

"That Soul Master chose a bear-type Soul Beast that enhanced strength."

"The Soul Ring rapidly strengthened one of the two attributes, completely destroying the existing balance."

"In less than a year, his meridians and mind collapsed one after the other."

The old village chief of Iron Bamboo Village grew even more anxious as he listened.

"Then Dong Jian can't absorb a Soul Ring?"

"It's not that he can't."

Yu Xiaogang said:

"It's that he can't choose one at random the way someone with an ordinary bear-type Martial Soul would."

"His First Soul Ring must accommodate both attributes as much as possible."

"At the very least, it must not overwhelmingly strengthen one side."

This time, Dong Jian did not object.

The "Earth Savage Bear" suggested by the Divine Dragon Secret Realm corresponded to a path of balance.

That meant the secret realm and Yu Xiaogang had arrived at a similar direction on this point.

But the same direction did not mean the process was reliable.

"Can you determine my First Soul Ring for me?"

Dong Jian asked.

"I need more data."

Yu Xiaogang said:

"The change in weight after Martial Soul Possession, physical exertion, the flow of Soul Power, and what stimuli affect each of the two attributes."

"Once the basic records are complete, I can narrow down the range of Soul Beasts for you."

"I can also organize the information from that incomplete case for you."

Tang San stood beside them, his approval of Yu Xiaogang even more evident in his eyes.

Yu Xiaogang had not only recognized his Twin Martial Souls at a glance, but had also discovered the danger hidden in Dong Jian's Martial Soul.

That was definitely not something an ordinary academy teacher could do.

"Your Martial Soul is also valuable for research."

Yu Xiaogang continued:

"You may sit in on my classes."

"If you're willing, I can also take you as a nominal disciple."

The old village chief's eyes lit up.

Although he did not know exactly who the "Grandmaster" was, a man who commanded such respect from the academy's gatekeeper and possessed such extensive knowledge of Martial Souls was clearly no ordinary person.

Dong Jian, however, did not agree immediately.

"Before becoming your disciple, I'd like to ask three questions."

Yu Xiaogang's brow twitched.

"Go ahead."

"First question."

Dong Jian recalled his Panda Martial Soul.

"Without a case involving the same Martial Soul as mine, how do you intend to prove that your Soul Ring plan is safe?"

Tang San frowned.

As he saw it, Yu Xiaogang had offered to help, yet Dong Jian was treating him as if he were under interrogation.

Yu Xiaogang did not get angry.

"I cannot prove it with absolute certainty."

The answer took Dong Jian somewhat by surprise.

"There is no such thing as absolute safety when absorbing a Soul Ring."

Yu Xiaogang said:

"What I can do is reduce the risk based on the Soul Beast's attributes, the Soul Master's physical strength, the Martial Soul's direction of development, and past cases."

"The Soul Master must still bear the consequences of the final choice."

"So all you can offer is a plan with a lower risk, not one that is absolutely correct?"

"Yes."

Yu Xiaogang nodded.

Dong Jian nodded as well.

"I accept that answer."

Tang San's frown eased slightly.

At least Dong Jian was not disagreeing simply for the sake of disagreeing.

"Second question."

Dong Jian continued:

"Is the upper age limit for a Soul Master's First Soul Ring an absolute rule, or a statistical result drawn from past cases?"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent for a moment.

"It is a safety limit derived from data on a large number of Soul Masters absorbing Soul Rings."

"The limit for the First Soul Ring is approximately four hundred and twenty-three years."

"Beyond that age, it is difficult for a Soul Master's body and mind to withstand the Soul Beast's residual will."

Li Man immediately asked:

"How large was the sample?"

"Were different Martial Souls, different levels of Innate Soul Power, and different levels of physical strength recorded separately?"

"Among the failed cases, how many were caused by a Soul Ring's age being too high, and how many by conflicting Soul Beast attributes?"

Three questions came in rapid succession.

Yu Xiaogang did not answer immediately.

Li Man opened her record book.

"Without that data, four hundred and twenty-three years can only represent the highest recorded successful case."

"It cannot represent a universal limit for every Soul Master."

"Even when absorbing Soul Rings that are both four hundred years old, an ordinary Tool Martial Soul and a top-tier Beast Martial Soul cannot have exactly the same capacity to withstand them."

Yu Xiaogang looked at her for a long time.

"The original data came from Spirit Hall and several major sects."

"Many of those records are not available to the public."

"I could only access the compiled results."

"In other words, you didn't personally examine the original data?"

Li Man asked.

"I didn't examine all of it."

Yu Xiaogang's voice grew a little quieter.

Tang San could not help speaking up:

"Results compiled by Spirit Hall and the major sects are already far more reliable than what an ordinary Soul Master has."

"Do you really have to see every case with your own eyes before you can use these theories?"

"They can be used."

Li Man said:

"But their sources and limitations need to be specified."

"Otherwise, people will take an empirical limit for an absolute limit that applies to everyone."

Tang San frowned again.

"You keep stressing that nothing is absolute."

"But when a Soul Master absorbs a Soul Ring, a choice still has to be made."

"Should we do nothing just because we can't be one hundred percent certain?"

"That's not what we're saying."

Dong Jian looked at him.

"We're saying you can't present something uncertain as though it could never be wrong."

Tang San said in a low voice:

"Grandmaster has already admitted that choosing a Soul Ring involves risk."

"So he has answered the second question too."

Dong Jian did not continue arguing with Tang San.

Yu Xiaogang really had not concealed the source of his information.

At least for now, he had not dressed speculation up as absolute truth to defend his authority.

"Third question."

Dong Jian looked at the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's palm.

"If Blue Silver Grass can't explain innate full Soul Power, why must a Second Martial Soul be the explanation?"

Tang San's expression changed.

This question touched on his secret.

Yu Xiaogang nevertheless answered:

"Because Twin Martial Souls are currently the most reasonable explanation."

"The quality of a Martial Soul determines the foundation of one's Soul Power."

"Ordinary Blue Silver Grass cannot produce full Soul Power out of thin air."

"If there is no apparent mutation, the power can only come from another Martial Soul."

"What if his bloodline hasn't fully awakened?"

Dong Jian asked.

"What if his Martial Soul might evolve a second time in the future?"

"Or what if he has cultivated some method that allows him to accumulate Soul Power in advance?"

Tang San's hand, hidden in his sleeve, abruptly clenched.

The last possibility was already very close to the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Yu Xiaogang, too, studied Dong Jian seriously for the first time.

"Do you think a six-year-old child could actively cultivate Soul Power before Martial Soul Awakening?"

"I'm only suggesting possibilities."

Dong Jian said:

"I don't dispute your claim that Twin Martial Souls are the most reasonable explanation."

"But most reasonable doesn't mean the only one."

Li Man wrote in her record book:

Twin Martial Souls: a high-probability hypothesis, not yet directly verified by a Second Martial Soul.

When Tang San saw the line, he felt clear displeasure.

The Clear Sky Hammer did indeed exist in his left hand.

Yu Xiaogang's judgment had also been correct.

Yet Dong Jian and Li Man still wouldn't let go of the fact that it "couldn't be conclusively proven."

As Tang San saw it, they were already being deliberately difficult.

"Suppose it's ultimately proven correct. That would show that Grandmaster's judgment was valid."

Tang San spoke.

"It would prove it was valid this time,"

Dong Jian replied.

"It wouldn't prove it will be valid every time in the future."

"You keep stressing that Grandmaster could be wrong."

Tang San stared at him.

"But when we ran into danger just now, you couldn't guarantee that every judgment you made was correct either."

"That's why I need Li Man to keep a record,"

Dong Jian said:

"If I'm wrong, I correct it."

"Instead of assuming I won't be wrong in the future just because I was right before."

The atmosphere grew tense.

But Yu Xiaogang raised a hand to interrupt them.

"Enough."

He looked at Dong Jian.

"The questions you've raised are not without merit."

"No theory can encompass every Martial Soul on the continent."

"But a Soul Master can't wait until every question has an answer before beginning to cultivate."

"What truly matters is choosing the path with the greatest chance of success based on the evidence available."

Dong Jian nodded.

"On that, I agree."

A flicker of surprise passed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes.

"Then are you willing to become my nominal disciple?"

"No."

Dong Jian answered without the slightest hesitation.

The old village chief nearly choked on his own saliva.

Yu Xiaogang's expression also froze for a moment.

"Why?"

"Because the fact that your knowledge is useful to me doesn't mean all your judgments are right for me,"

Dong Jian said:

"I can sit in on your lessons, and I'm willing to give you data on the Panda Martial Soul that doesn't involve anything private."

"In exchange, I need access to information on Martial Souls with opposing attributes."

"But becoming your disciple would mean you have the final say over the direction of my cultivation."

"I can't accept that."

Li Man looked up and glanced at Dong Jian.

This was also the kind of cooperation she approved of.

Exchange data.

Verify conclusions.

Never hand over the power to make judgments entirely to anyone.

Yu Xiaogang was silent for a long time.

"You certainly have a mind of your own."

"I hope that a few years from now, you won't regret the decision you made today."

"The choice was mine."

"The consequences should be mine to bear too."

Dong Jian replied.

Yu Xiaogang did not try to persuade him further.

He turned to Tang San.

"What about you?"

Tang San was slightly taken aback.

"You're willing to teach me?"

"If I can see that you have Twin Martial Souls, I can plan the order in which you develop them."

Yu Xiaogang said:

"The greatest danger of Twin Martial Souls isn't the choice of Soul Rings."

"It's that the Soul Power produced by the two Martial Souls exceeds the body's limit."

"Without the correct cultivation method, you'll very likely die in the future from a conflict between your Martial Souls."

Tang San remembered his father's warning before he left.

Until he was strong enough, he must never attach a Soul Ring to the Clear Sky Hammer.

Yu Xiaogang, standing before him, clearly knew the true risks of cultivating Twin Martial Souls.

Tang San hesitated no longer.

He stepped back and dropped to his knees.

With the utmost respect, he kowtowed three times.

"Teacher."

"Please accept me as your disciple."

A genuine smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face for the first time.

He helped Tang San to his feet.

"Good."

"From today onward, you are my only disciple."

As Tang San stood up, he glanced at Dong Jian.

His gaze held both wariness and a hint of a desire to prove that he had made the right choice.

Dong Jian paid it no mind.

Tang San becoming Yu Xiaogang's disciple had been expected all along.

What truly concerned him was the incomplete record Yu Xiaogang had mentioned.

"Could we take a look at that case involving Martial Souls with opposing attributes?"

Li Man asked.

"No."

Yu Xiaogang answered without hesitation.

"The material includes internal records from Spirit Hall."

"I promised the person who gave it to me that I wouldn't hand the original over to anyone else."

"What about an excerpt?"

"Once I've reorganized it, I can tell you the parts that concern Martial Souls."

Li Man frowned slightly.

Without seeing the original, she couldn't confirm whether the record had been altered or had anything removed, nor could she judge whether Yu Xiaogang's understanding was accurate.

Yu Xiaogang seemed to see what she was thinking.

Before leaving, he stopped.

"At the end of that record, there was a line."

"It may be useful to Dong Jian."

Dong Jian looked at him.

Yu Xiaogang spoke slowly:

"Black and white twins, neither beast nor human."

"When the two Qi contend, one must perish."

Li Man's expression changed abruptly.

"Was that line handwritten or printed?"

Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly.

"A handwritten excerpt."

"Did the person who wrote it have a habit of drawing three dots before a conclusion?"

"How did you know?"

Li Man did not answer.

She immediately opened the old notebook she carried with her.

It was one of the few things her father, Li Ze, had left behind.

Before every experimental conclusion that had yet to be verified, there were three dots, each smaller than the last.

It was a record-keeping habit unique to Li Ze.

The incomplete case Yu Xiaogang had seen-

Very likely came from her father's hand.

And the reason the Return to One Society had given for Li Ze's death was that he had met with an accident while out Soul Hunting.

Li Man closed the notebook, her voice taking on unmistakable urgency for the first time.

"Who gave you that material?"

Yu Xiaogang looked at her.

"A Martial Soul researcher who disappeared many years ago."

"What was their name?"

Yu Xiaogang fell silent for a moment.

"The person who gave me the material wasn't named Li Ze."

"She was a woman."

Dong Jian's heart jolted.

Yu Xiaogang's gaze fell on him.

"The name she left was-"

"Lin Yu."