Chapter 13: Tang San’s Apprenticeship
Chapter 13: Tang San's Apprenticeship
However, Bibi Dong's expectations ultimately fell short!
A week before the start of the new term at Nuoding Academy, Su Mo finally succeeded in completing a cultivation session without using his martial soul, relying solely on his physical body. Although the speed of absorbing external energy without the guidance of a martial soul was much slower, it was still a success.
"Haha, I did it!"
Despite the slower speed, Su Mo was ecstatic.
Because even if it was slow, it meant he had succeeded.
The slow speed was simply because it was a newly developed technique. As he became more proficient, the speed would surely increase.
Moreover, the energy absorbed using his body wouldn't consume his martial soul's innate talent.
This meant that after reaching his daily limit using the traditional soul power cultivation technique, he could continue to cultivate using the new physical cultivation technique he developed.
As a result, the amount of soul power he could improve daily would no longer be limited by his martial soul's talent.
The only question now was how much this new cultivation method could enhance his growth.
"I just wonder if this method could break the level cap. If it can, that would be amazing!"
Su Mo voiced his concern, referring to the level cap that a soul master could reach due to the limitations of their martial soul talent.
For example, some soul masters might reach a certain level and then find themselves stuck, unable to advance further for the rest of their lives.
This issue most commonly appeared at major breakthrough points, such as levels 39, 49, and 59.
However, regardless of the outcome, Su Mo now saw hope for improving his slow cultivation speed.
As for the level cap issue, he decided to worry about it when he actually reached that point.
Moreover, after developing this new cultivation method, Su Mo didn't give up on physical training.
He continued practicing Tai Chi stances and spear techniques.
Su Mo noticed that his new cultivation method relied even more on physical fitness than the traditional soul power cultivation technique.
The stronger his physical condition, the more effective his new cultivation method would be.
"How is this possible…"
"That little brat actually succeeded. He managed to develop a new cultivation method that doesn't rely on a martial soul…"
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong, who had been monitoring Su Mo from within his martial soul space, was stunned by his success.
Her long-held beliefs were shattered, leaving her questioning everything.
"Damn it, now this brat is going to be even more arrogant!"
After the initial shock, Bibi Dong felt both annoyed and embarrassed.
Although she hadn't explicitly told Su Mo that he couldn't succeed, his success still felt like a slap in the face.
"So what if it worked? Even if it did, the effectiveness is far inferior to the traditional martial soul cultivation method."
"And what's the point of faster cultivation if the problem of martial soul talent still can't be solved? Once he reaches a certain level, it'll still be difficult to break through!"
"To become a high-level soul master, he'll still need Xiaogang's help to solve the fundamental problem!"
Bibi Dong remained unwilling to acknowledge Su Mo's achievements, convinced that while he might have temporarily increased his cultivation speed, the underlying issue of martial soul talent remained unresolved.
...
A week later, Su Mo successfully enrolled in Nuoding Academy as a first-year student at the Junior Spirit Master Academy.
Upon entering Nuoding Academy, Su Mo had to stay in the dormitory.
However, since Su Mo wasn't a working student, he didn't live in the working student dormitory, so he wouldn't be staying with Tang San and Xiao Wu.
On the same day that Su Mo officially entered Nuoding Academy, an old man and a young boy from the countryside arrived at the academy gates.
"Martial soul Blue Silver Grass? And innate full soul power? What a joke, that's utterly ridiculous. I've never heard of an innate full soul power student whose martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. This certification from Spirit Hall must be a forgery."
As expected, Tang San's talent certification was met with skepticism and ridicule from the gatekeeper.
Old Jack naturally argued for his case, but the gatekeeper refused to listen, firmly believing they were frauds.
Wham—
In the end, Tang San couldn't stand it anymore and intervened, unexpectedly pushing the gatekeeper to the ground during the argument with Old Jack.
"You little brat, you're asking for it." Being knocked over by a child was humiliating, and in his anger, the gatekeeper got up and charged toward Tang San.
"Enough, stop." At this moment, a raspy voice rang out, stopping the gatekeeper in his tracks.
"The certification is real. Sir, I apologize on behalf of the academy for what happened. Please leave the child to me."
At the last moment, Yu Xiaogang arrived on cue, stopping the gatekeeper and confirming that Tang San's certification was genuine.
"Blue Silver Grass, innate full soul power…"
"This doesn't make sense, it's impossible…"
"There must be something more to it. The quality of a martial soul should correlate with innate soul power…"
"This child's martial soul is definitely more than just Blue Silver Grass. If it truly is Blue Silver Grass, then there's only one other possibility—he has twin martial souls…"
*Chapter 14: Tang San's Master*
No one could tell just how excited Yu Xiaogang was at that moment; his hands trembled slightly as he held the certification.
With Yu Xiaogang's intervention, it was easy for him to resolve the issues between Old Jack and the gatekeeper.
After comforting Old Jack, Yu Xiaogang personally led Tang San into Nuoding Academy.
"Thank you, teacher," Tang San said to Yu Xiaogang once they entered the academy.
"Teacher? I'm not a teacher at this academy," Yu Xiaogang replied, glancing down at Tang San with a faint smile.
"Not a teacher? But didn't you say you were representing the academy just now?" Tang San asked, confused.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head, and for the first time in a long while, forced a rare and somewhat awkward smile. "Who says you have to be a teacher to represent the academy?"
Tang San, realizing something, said, "I understand. Then you must be the principal or one of the academy's leaders."
Yu Xiaogang chuckled, "You're a smart six-year-old, but you're still wrong."
Tang San asked in confusion, "Then who are you?"
Yu Xiaogang explained, "I'm just someone who freeloads here. Like everyone else, you can call me Master. That's what everyone calls me now. I've even forgotten my real name. The certification from Spirit Hall says you're Tang San, right? Tang San, you need to understand that the title 'Master' and 'Teacher' are worlds apart, so don't confuse the two. Unless…"
At this point, he paused, his eyes burning with intensity. "Unless you truly want me to be your teacher."
"Are you offering to teach me how to cultivate my martial soul?" Tang San asked.
Yu Xiaogang stopped walking and turned to face Tang San. "Well, would you be willing?"
From the moment Tang San called him "teacher," Yu Xiaogang had been laying the groundwork. Now, he finally voiced what he truly wanted to say.
Though there was a bit of manipulation involved, Yu Xiaogang felt that if he could take Tang San as his disciple, it would be worth being insincere for once.
Unfortunately, Tang San wasn't so easily swayed. He didn't immediately respond, instead carefully observing Yu Xiaogang.
Seeing that Tang San wasn't falling for it, Yu Xiaogang forced a stiff smile, "You really are a clever child."
He had to praise Tang San to keep the conversation going.
Just like Old Jack had done earlier, Yu Xiaogang raised his hand and ruffled Tang San's hair. "Exceptional talent and so clever—looks like I need to be persistent this time. After all, you're the third twin martial soul in a hundred years."
Yu Xiaogang struck a pose, feigning profoundness.
However, upon hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San immediately grew cautious, even preparing to kill Yu Xiaogang to keep his secret safe.
Thankfully, Yu Xiaogang's subsequent explanations made Tang San realize just how knowledgeable and formidable Yu Xiaogang was—not in terms of power, but in terms of wisdom.
Impressed by Yu Xiaogang's knowledge, Tang San took a step back, creating some distance between them. Then, he knelt down on both knees and respectfully kowtowed three times.
"Teacher," Tang San said respectfully, "Please accept me as your disciple."
And so, just as in the original story, Tang San was persuaded and accepted Yu Xiaogang as his master.
"Good, good, good!"
Yu Xiaogang was overjoyed at having successfully taken Tang San as his disciple.
Neither of them noticed that nearby, a stunning woman was watching the scene unfold, her beautiful eyes filled with hatred as she stared at Tang San.
"Tang San…"
After leaving Su Mo's body, Bibi Dong had come out searching for Yu Xiaogang, only to find herself face-to-face with the one she hated most—Tang San.
She had expected to encounter Tang San eventually, but she hadn't anticipated running into him on her first day at Nuoding Academy.
If she had the power to act now, Bibi Dong would have killed Tang San without hesitation.
Thinking of the pain Tang San had caused her in the future, Bibi Dong's heart filled with rage.
Everything that had been destroyed was because of Tang San. She had died at Tang San's hands, and her daughter, Qian Renxue, had her godhood shattered and fell from grace. The future was uncertain.
All of it was Tang San's doing.
And Tang San's growth was inextricably linked to Yu Xiaogang's help!
So, watching the harmonious relationship between Yu Xiaogang and Tang San filled Bibi Dong with a sudden desire to no longer stay by Yu Xiaogang's side.
At least for now, she couldn't bear to watch this scene.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort of disdain, Bibi Dong turned her divine sense away and left.
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