Wang Ping was overjoyed. "Hurry!" he urged Wang Li while thanking the doormen. "Catch up to that teacher and go to the Academic Affairs Office together!"
Wang Li, however, had no intention of getting entangled with Yu Xiaogang and Tang San. The fate surrounding them was too turbulent, and he knew that in stories like this, ordinary people who got too close to the protagonist often ended up as cannon fodder. Why would he willingly walk into that? He didn't even have a single Spirit Ring yet.
Of course, he couldn't say any of this to the village chief. Carrying his bags, he said his goodbyes to Wang Ping and walked briskly into the academy. He kept his head down, deliberately avoiding looking toward Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.
But despite his efforts, they waited for him. As Wang Li drew near, Yu Xiaogang spoke, his voice stopping the boy in his tracks.
"Come here, kid. Let me see your Spirit Hall certificate."
A feeling of dread washed over Wang Li. He had no choice but to stop in front of Yu Xiaogang and hand over his certificate. Hoping to leverage some authority, he said, "This was issued to me by Master Su Yuntao of Spirit Hall."
Could it be? Wang Li thought frantically. Yu Xiaogang's own Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit mutated and left him with barely any Spirit Power. Does he see that my Blue Silver Grass evolved and gave me Level 3, and now wants to take me as a test subject?!
Wang Li was confident that the Grandmaster couldn't see his secret system, but if the man decided to use his authority to coerce him, he would be powerless to resist.
Yu Xiaogang stared at the certificate: Wangjia Village, Wang Li. Martial Spirit: Mutated Blue Silver Grass. Innate Spirit Power: Level 3. His eyes gradually sharpened. He had studied 647 cases of Spirit Masters with Blue Silver Grass and found that only sixteen of them even had Spirit Power, with none exceeding Level 1. This had led him to the firm conclusion that a "waste spirit" like Blue Silver Grass had zero variability.
Just moments ago, he had used that exact conclusion to deduce that Tang San's Level 10 Spirit Power couldn't have come from his Blue Silver Grass, but from a second, more powerful Martial Spirit. He had to possess Twin Spirits.
Now, the sudden appearance of Wang Li and his "mutated" Blue Silver Grass was a sharp slap in the face. It made Yu Xiaogang, a man who prided himself on being the foremost theorist in the Spirit Master world, feel his cheeks burn.
He narrowed his eyes. Su Yuntao... he thought with disdain. Anyone dares to call himself a 'master' these days. To mistake simple luck for a spirit mutation... the quality of Spirit Hall's personnel is truly declining.
He reaffirmed his belief. Blue Silver Grass has no mutability. This child, Wang Li, was probably just lucky to be born with Level 3 Spirit Power. With a Martial Spirit like that, his future achievements were severely limited; it was doubtful he could ever break through to Rank 30.
Under normal circumstances, Yu Xiaogang might have taken Wang Li on as an apprentice—not a disciple, as not just anyone was worthy of that title—to observe him. But now, he had found the far superior Tang San. A boy with only Blue Silver Grass and Level 3 Spirit Power was simply not enough to support his grand theory of the Ten Core Competencies.
A glimmer of pity flashed in his eyes. You're an unlucky one, he thought. You've missed the chance to receive guidance from me, the Grandmaster of Spirit theory. Thinking this, he handed the certificate back to Wang Li and said calmly, "There's no problem. Go on and register. The Academic Affairs Office is just ahead. It's a bit of a walk, but you can't miss it."
Wang Li was a little surprised by the easy dismissal but didn't hesitate. He took back his certificate, grabbed his bags, and left quickly.
After he was gone, Tang San looked at his retreating back and asked Yu Xiaogang, "Teacher, his Blue Silver Grass mutated. Can Martial Spirits really do that?"
Yu Xiaogang's attention returned to Tang San. Thinking of the boy's incredible talent, a surge of excitement rose in his heart, and a rare smile touched his lips. "Martial Spirits are inherited through bloodlines," he explained firmly. "Usually, the stronger of the two parents' spirits is passed down. However, if their qualities are similar, they can influence each other, a process called mutation. This can be for good or for ill, but..."
He paused, thinking of Wang Li. His belief in his own theory remained unshakable. "...the inherent weakness of Blue Silver Grass gives it no variability. It cannot affect other Martial Spirits, nor can it be affected by them. That child was merely lucky to possess Level 3 Spirit Power, which allows him to cultivate. But his talent is not even one-ten-thousandth of yours. With your gifts and my guidance, he will never be able to reach the heights you are destined for!"
Upon hearing this, Tang San completely forgot about Wang Li. For the first time in two lifetimes, someone truly recognized his genius. He was elated. With the guidance of Yu Xiaogang, whose understanding of Martial Spirits was unparalleled, and the secret arts of the Tang Sect he'd brought from his past life, he could combine the two and reach a height he'd never even dreamed of. It was a shame the Tang Sect elders who once condemned him would never see it.
…
Meanwhile, Wang Li let out a long sigh of relief. Perhaps my spirit and talent just weren't enough to attract his attention, he thought. He was more than happy with that outcome. He had his own system; he didn't need to latch onto a mentor. First things first, I need to get registered and learn the academy's basic meditation method.
Thinking of this, he quickened his pace.
Nuoding Academy was large, but the layout was simple. Wang Li quickly found the Academic Affairs Office. The teacher at the desk initially offered a polite smile, but it vanished into a cold expression the moment he saw Wang Li's shabby clothes.
Wang Li placed his Spirit Hall certificate and the work-study quota letter, co-signed by his village chief and those of several nearby villages, on the desk. "Hello, teacher," he said respectfully. "I'm a new work-study student here to register."
The middle-aged teacher took the two documents. He looked slightly surprised to see "Mutated Blue Silver Grass" and "Level 3 Spirit Power," but said nothing. He began filling out a form.
"From today, you are a first-year student at Nuoding Academy. The work-study dormitory is Dormitory 7; find it yourself. Work-study students are responsible for cleaning parts of the campus. A teacher will come to assign your duties soon. Get familiar with the dormitory and campus today. Don't be late for the opening ceremony tomorrow."
"I understand," Wang Li replied politely. "Thank you, teacher."