Chapter 12 Notting Academy
The Academy gate is impressive.
In the center of the archway hung four large characters: "Notting Academy".
A gatekeeper dressed in a brown, close-fitting outfit stood at the entrance, with a short knife tucked into his waistband.
"Stop!"
"What are you people doing?"
The gatekeeper glanced at them sideways.
Seeing Old Jack and Tang San's simple attire, he arrogantly questioned them, but when he saw Tang Chuan, who was neatly dressed and handsome, his tone unconsciously softened considerably.
"Young man."
"We're from Holy Soul Village; we brought this child here for work-study..."
Old Jack quickly stepped forward, smiling apologetically, and took out the admission certificate issued by the Spirit Hall from his pocket and handed it over.
"Holy Soul Village?"
"That small village that supposedly produced a Soul Saint?"
"Hmm, so this proves it might be fake, right?"
The gatekeeper sneered, his contempt even more obvious, and pointed at Tang San: "Especially this kid, he doesn't look like he has any spirit power at all."
Tang San frowned.
Just as he was about to step forward to argue, Tang Chuan gently tugged at his sleeve.
Just then, a somewhat hoarse voice rang out: "What's going on? Why are you all gathered at the door?"
Everyone turned around and saw a middle-aged man in a gray robe walking over.
He was slightly thin, with short black hair, an ordinary appearance, and a lingering sense of despondency in his eyes.
"Master, you're back."
Upon seeing the newcomer, the gatekeeper immediately greeted him respectfully and defended himself, saying, "This old country man is using a fake certificate to deceive people..."
Yu Xiaogang glanced at the certificate in Old Jack's hand, his pupils contracting slightly.
He walked closer and took it.
He carefully examined the certificate, especially the lines about innate spirit power and Spirit, and then looked up at Tang San and Tang Chuan.
"It's proven to be true."
"Come with me, I'll lead you two inside."
Yu Xiaogang forced a smile at Tang San and Tang Chuan, but his smile was rather ugly.
After saying a few words of farewell to Old Jack, the two followed Yu Xiaogang into the Academy gate.
The school paths of Notting Academy were paved with bluestone slabs and lined with lush trees. Occasionally, students in school uniforms passed by, and the autumn wind blew, causing fallen leaves to rustle onto their shoulders.
Yu Xiaogang walked in front.
The path they chose became increasingly winding, gradually drifting away from the main road where people came and went, until finally stopping under a wall covered with vines.
Yu Xiaogang turned around.
His eyes, which had held a hint of dejection, now gleamed with confidence as he stared intently at the two brothers.
"You two possess more than one Spirit, don't you?"
"Um?"
Tang San suddenly looked up, his pupils shrinking sharply.
He had only mentioned the matter of twin Spirits to his father and brother; even Grandpa Jack didn't know about it.
The Academy teacher he'd never met before actually saw through it all. Do all the teachers at Notting Academy have such great insight?
Having observed Tang San's reaction, Yu Xiaogang became even more convinced of his judgment.
"As far as I know."
"Even with a mutated Spirit, Blue Silver Grass could never support innate full spirit power, so you two brothers both have twin Spirits."
"Only this explanation can explain why Blue Silver Grass possesses innate full spirit power."
"Because your true talent belongs to another, more powerful Spirit!"
Upon hearing this, Tang San's newly risen expectations were dashed.
I thought this middle-aged man, whom the gatekeeper called a master, was some kind of amazing expert, but it turns out he was just making wild guesses, and he was wrong...
"Who says Blue Silver Grass can't possess innate full spirit power?"
Tang San thought to himself, "My brother's Blue Silver Grass Spirit has been recognized by the God of Food, making it far more precious than twin Spirits!"
The surprise in his eyes disappeared, and he began to question the teaching standards of Notting Academy.
Tang Chuan glanced at Yu Xiaogang indifferently, shook his head and said, "I don't have twin Spirits, I only have one Blue Silver Grass Spirit."
"Impossible!"
Yu Xiaogang immediately retorted, taking half a step forward, his eyes filled with a persistent, inquisitive gaze: "I've studied Spirits for thirty years, and I've investigated 647 people whose Spirit is Blue Silver Grass..."
He went on and on, trying to prove that his deduction was correct.
Seeing this, Tang San frowned.
Having been treated differently by Tang Hao since childhood, he was more sensitive to emotions.
He could clearly sense that ever since his brother denied having twin Spirits, the master's tone had turned cold, and the expectation in his eyes had turned into doubt.
This change in attitude made Tang San very uncomfortable.
My brother never lies, and even if it's twin Spirits, what does it have to do with you, an outsider?
"Teacher, if my brother says it's not true, then it's not true."
Tang San stepped forward, blocking Tang Chuan's side, and said firmly, "He really only has one Spirit."
Yu Xiaogang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and retorted, "Impossible!"
"I have conducted in-depth research on the Blue Silver Grass Spirit, and its limit is definitely insufficient to generate innate full spirit power; this contradicts my theory!"
Clearly, Yu Xiaogang was extremely confident in his theoretical research.
"Theory?"
Tang Chuan interrupted him, saying, "The facts are right in front of us. The Spirit Hall's awakening certificate clearly states that both Xiao San and I possess Blue Silver Grass Spirits and have innate full spirit power."
"This only shows that your theory is flawed, not that you are trying to force me to believe that I have twin Spirits."
"Does everyone's Spirit have to conform to your theory?"
Tang Chuan's rebuttal left Yu Xiaogang speechless.
These words directly struck at the very foundation of Yu Xiaogang's theoretical system.
He had spent half his life studying the theory of Spirit Masters, and he valued data and logic the most.
When more than one exceptional case occurred, it proved that his research was incomplete and inaccurate, and his theory became empty talk.
He stared at Tang Chuan for a few seconds, opened his mouth but couldn't utter a rebuttal.
Then he turned to look at Tang San.
"Your brother said he doesn't have twin Spirits, but you didn't deny it yourself."
"So, what is your second Spirit?"
Yu Xiaogang became more enthusiastic towards Tang San, even a little anxious, wanting to prove that his judgment was correct.
Tang San's displeasure deepened.
One second the other person was questioning his brother, and the next second they were asking him about his second Spirit, clearly not taking his brother seriously.
But then he thought about it again.
My brother still has to study at the Academy. If we offend this person, what if he has acquaintances at the Academy who might cause trouble for my brother in the future?
After weighing the options, Tang San suppressed his anger.
He pointed at Tang Chuan, then patted the bulging bundle on his back, and said in a calm tone, "Teacher, you guessed wrong again."
"There is no such thing as a second Spirit."
"My Blue Silver Grass Spirit is weaker, and my talent is not as good as my brother's. I'm just here to send my brother to school. I'll go back after I finish the enrollment procedures."
"Impossible!"
Yu Xiaogang frowned, certain that Tang San's reaction just now was definitely something he was hiding.
"Show me your Spirits."
Tang San was even more displeased and felt a sense of unease.
My brother's first spirit ring is a deep purple thousand-year spirit ring. Once it's revealed, this person in front of us will definitely hold onto it and cause a lot of trouble.
But if we don't do as he says, given his stubbornness, he probably won't be able to leave today.
[end of the chapter]