Qian Yu and Tang San stepped onto the academy grounds together.
"Wait a moment…" A voice suddenly called out behind them.
Qian Yu turned around and saw a man of average height and slightly thin build, who had somehow appeared beside them without making a sound. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with short black hair neatly parted.
His face was unremarkable, yet he carried a peculiar air about him. His eyes, heavy with weariness and a touch of laziness, made him stand out despite his plain appearance.
From the context, Qian Yu immediately recognized the man as Yu Xiaogang—infamously known across the Douluo Continent as the biggest scumbag. Unlike others, Qian Yu harbored an even deeper disdain for him.
Despite having lived through nine lives and experienced relationships with many women, Qian Yu had always treated them with respect, welcoming them into his life and never betraying them. Yu Xiaogang, on the other hand, had not only broken Bibi Dong's heart but had also entangled himself with his own blood-related sister.
Qian Yu found this unforgivable and utterly repulsive.
Adding to his contempt, Yu Xiaogang styled himself as "Grandmaster," claiming to be the foremost theorist of Martial Souls on the continent.
Lacking personal strength, he relied on Tang San to validate his theories, and Tang San eagerly played the part of his loyal disciple. Qian Yu couldn't help but sneer inwardly—indeed, birds of a feather flock together. He had no interest in interacting with this so-called Grandmaster.
Having read the Douluo Continent novel in a past life and accumulated vast real-world experience in this one, Qian Yu's knowledge of Martial Soul theory was certainly not inferior. After nine lifetimes of cultivating to godhood, he couldn't fathom how the shallow insights of a mortal could be deemed superior.
With these thoughts, Qian Yu glanced at Yu Xiaogang, openly displaying his disdain.
"Hello, Teacher. Is there something you need?" Tang San asked politely. Unlike Qian Yu, Tang San always tried to stay on everyone's good side. He had done the same with Qian Yu when they first met, though Qian Yu had responded with cold indifference.
Tang San was cunning; sensing that this Grandmaster figure might hold influence within the academy, he hoped to benefit from associating with him. Thus, when Yu Xiaogang approached, Tang San greeted him respectfully.
Yu Xiaogang gave a small smile and said, "I'm just a resident here who depends on the academy for food and lodging. You can call me Grandmaster—everyone does. I've almost forgotten my real name by now."
Then, without missing a beat, he added, "By the way, could you show me your Martial Soul certificates?"
It was clear he had been paying close attention to Qian Yu and sensed something unusual about him. This curiosity had driven him to rush over in hopes of confirming his theories.
Qian Yu responded calmly, "There's no need. My certificate was issued by the Spirit Hall. Since you're not a teacher at this academy, I don't see why I should show it to you."
Yu Xiaogang was momentarily stunned by Qian Yu's bluntness. Though not an official instructor, he expected a degree of respect as an elder.
The child's rudeness caught him off guard, but recalling Qian Yu's overwhelming presence when confronting the gatekeeper earlier, Yu Xiaogang felt a bit intimidated.
Meanwhile, Tang San quickly handed over his Spirit Hall certificate. The moment Yu Xiaogang saw it, his eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Teacher, is something wrong?" Tang San asked.
Yu Xiaogang collected himself and replied, "Don't call me Teacher. There's a significant difference between a Teacher and a Grandmaster.
You mustn't confuse the two—unless..." He paused, eyes burning with anticipation. "Unless you're truly willing to let me be your teacher."
Tang San tilted his head slightly. "You want to teach me how to cultivate my Martial Soul?"
Yu Xiaogang stopped walking and turned to face him. "Then, are you willing?"
Tang San naturally halted as well. Looking up at Yu Xiaogang, he observed his large mouth and thick lips, choosing to remain silent. He neither accepted nor refused.
Yu Xiaogang noticed the intensity in Tang San's gaze and smiled faintly. "Good. You are indeed a clever child."
His silence spoke volumes—it meant he wasn't eager to reject the offer outright, but he also needed a reason to accept. He was clearly waiting for an explanation of why he should become Yu Xiaogang's disciple.
Sensing this, Yu Xiaogang reached out and ruffled Tang San's hair. "So talented, and so clever. It seems I must be persistent this time. After all, you're only the third person in a hundred years to possess Twin Martial Souls."
Tang San's eyes widened in shock. His expression changed, and his left wrist twitched slightly, his eyes filling with suspicion and uncertainty.
Yu Xiaogang's calm expression didn't waver. "You're probably wondering how I know you have a Twin Martial Soul," he said, waving the certificate Old Jack had given him.
"It's because of this certificate. Most people wouldn't notice the inconsistency, but if I couldn't, I wouldn't deserve the title of Grandmaster."
"I've studied 647 individuals with Blue Silver Grass as their Martial Soul. Of them, only sixteen had any Soul Power at all—less than three percent. And even then, none of those sixteen had Soul Power above level one. But you, you possess innate full Soul Power—level ten. One of the core principles of Martial Soul theory, which I developed, states that the level of innate Soul Power is directly proportional to the quality of one's Martial Soul. Blue Silver Grass doesn't qualify, so there must be another reason. I'm certain you have another, far more powerful Martial Soul."
Tang San's expression steadied, and he challenged the claim, "There are exceptions to every rule. Why can't I be one?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded solemnly. "You're right—exceptions do exist. But in your case, Blue Silver Grass clearly isn't one. In the last hundred years across the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, there have only been two cases of Twin Martial Souls, but nineteen individuals born with innate full Soul Power. I've analyzed them all. None had weak Martial Souls."
"Of those nineteen, fourteen came from powerful lineages, inheriting exceptional Martial Souls. The other five were anomalies—people of humble birth with no known bloodline advantages. Their unique cases were due to mutated Martial Souls. But in all my years of research, not a single case has involved Blue Silver Grass mutating. And your Martial Soul is ordinary Blue Silver Grass, no variation. Therefore, my conclusion is certain."
He looked Tang San in the eye.
"So, are you willing to become my disciple?"
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