"You are innate full soul power, a twin martial soul holder. Release your other martial soul and let me see."
Yu Xiaogang sat behind the desk, smiling as he spoke.
Tang San nodded, then raised his left hand. Instantly, a surge of black light erupted.
It condensed into a small, unremarkable hammer.
Upon seeing this hammer, Yu Xiaogang, who had been calm moments before, shot to his feet, his expression filled with excitement.
"Tang San, Tang San, surnamed Tang…"
He then fixed his burning gaze on Tang San's eyes and asked:
"What does your father do?"
Tang San, looking at the excited Yu Xiaogang, replied instinctively:
"My father is the village blacksmith."
"Blacksmith?" Yu Xiaogang's excited expression faltered instantly, replaced by a strange, complicated sigh.
"A hammer, a blacksmith… quite fitting, I suppose."
Zhou Fan watched Yu Xiaogang's series of emotional shifts with a critical eye.
"Hmph, quick at changing expressions, aren't you? If Tang San had directly said his father's name was Tang Hao, you, Yu Xiaogang, would probably be groveling right now."
Zhou Fan lay on his side on the ground, propping his head up with one hand, relentlessly critiquing in his mind.
"And that so-called 'Ten Core Competitiveness' is full of hot air. Most of those theories are known by any moderately powerful family. You look down on your own martial soul, yet have the audacity to claim 'there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters.'
"Taking Tang San as a disciple is just because you saw his talent, wanting to use him to prove you're not a failure.
"Such a hypocrite, truly disgusting."
After his mental tirade, Zhou Fan couldn't help but spit metaphorically.
But unfortunately, neither Yu Xiaogang nor Tang San could hear these thoughts.
After learning about Tang San's other martial soul, Yu Xiaogang began to ponder.
The Spirit Hall's records mentioned that for twin martial souls to appear, the quality of the parents' martial souls must be very close. The disparity between the Clear Sky Hammer and the Blue Silver Grass is like heaven and earth. Perhaps Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass isn't so simple; it might be a mutated martial soul.
Thinking this, Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San again and gestured for him to summon his martial soul.
"Xiao San, summon your Blue Silver Grass for me to see."
Tang San nodded and naturally raised his right hand.
Instantly, a burst of sapphire-blue light erupted, condensing into a Blue Silver Grass about twenty centimeters tall with three tender leaves.
Yu Xiaogang immediately leaned in closer for a look, but then a look of confusion appeared on his face.
"Size and appearance are no different from ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Could my guess be wrong?"
At the same moment, Zhou Fan, who had been mentally criticizing, suddenly felt his vision blur.
When his sight cleared, he found Yu Xiaogang's face right before his 'eyes.'
Zhou Fan was stunned for a moment, then grinned:
"Such a good opportunity can't be wasted."
The next second.
Slap!
A crisp sound echoed through the office.
Causing both individuals present to freeze.
Yu Xiaogang covered his swollen cheek, looking at Tang San with disbelief.
"Xiao San, you…"
Before he could finish, another crisp sound rang out.
Yu Xiaogang's other cheek also swelled up.
"Ding—Emotional Value +3…"
Hearing the system prompt, Zhou Fan's 'eyes' practically sparkled with gold.
Slap!
Another crisp sound followed.
But this time, it wasn't Zhou Fan's doing.
It was Yu Xiaogang slamming the desk as he stood up, glaring furiously at Tang San.
By now, both of Yu Xiaogang's cheeks were swollen, his angry eyes almost shooting flames.
"Tang San!"
Tang San instinctively withdrew the Blue Silver Grass, then looked somewhat awkwardly at the furious Yu Xiaogang.
He wanted to explain but didn't know how to begin.
Finally, he could only weakly say:
"Teacher, I can testify for you… the Blue Silver Grass made the first move…"
Hearing Tang San's reply, Yu Xiaogang could no longer suppress the rage in his heart, roaring:
"Tang San, do you think you're being funny? I thought you were a well-mannered, sensible child, but I never expected you to…"
Yu Xiaogang stopped mid-sentence.
He glanced at the bowed Tang San, then let out a heavy sigh.
After a long while, he spoke again:
"Tomorrow is the opening ceremony. Classes officially start the day after, but for you, that would just be a waste of time. I will inform the academy. Early tomorrow morning, I will take you to the Spirit Beast Forest to obtain your first spirit ring. Alright, you may go now."
"Yes."
Although somewhat dissatisfied with Yu Xiaogang's attitude, Tang San knew he was in the wrong. He responded softly and left the office.
Now only Yu Xiaogang remained in the office.
"Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass might have mutated towards intelligence, similar to my Luo Sanpao, only its form remains that of ordinary Blue Silver Grass.
"Twin martial souls, Clear Sky Hammer… Xiao San's background is definitely not simple…"
Yu Xiaogang's mood had calmed.
He gazed down the now empty corridor, his eyes flickering with a profound light.
Suddenly, the corner of his mouth twitched, pulling at the muscles on his face.
"Hiss—Next time, I must stay farther away from that Blue Silver Grass. That really hurt!"
...
Tang San returned to Dormitory Seven and sat on his bed, lost in thought.
He felt extremely frustrated. (Ding—Emotional Value +1)
He had thought that by becoming a disciple of a knowledgeable teacher, he could learn about this world's knowledge more smoothly.
Who would have thought something like that would happen.
"I've been feeling strange since before coming to the academy. The teacher mentioned martial soul mutation earlier. Could my Blue Silver Grass have mutated?"
Tang San once again summoned the Blue Silver Grass into his hand.
However, no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't find anything unusual.
Meanwhile, Zhou Fan was happily admiring the emotional value on his system panel, completely unaware of the changes around him.
"Not bad, not bad. I gained twenty-one emotional points this time. Only ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine points left to go for the Transformation Pill. A long and arduous road ahead."
At that moment, Xiao Wu returned from outside the dormitory.
Seeing the frustrated Tang San, she immediately went over to inquire.
"Huh? Xiao San, why do you look so glum? Who bullied you? Sister Xiao Wu will stand up for you!"
Hearing Xiao Wu's voice, Tang San immediately forced a smile onto his face and said:
"N-no, it's nothing. I'm just a bit tired, that's all."
Hmm? Xiao Wu.
Zhou Fan, hearing the conversation nearby, immediately dismissed the system panel.
Before his 'eyes' appeared a face both familiar and unfamiliar.
A pair of large eyes was now examining him with great curiosity.
Zhou Fan looked at Xiao Wu, then at the somewhat awkward Tang San.
A bold idea suddenly sprang to mind.
"Since we're going for thrills, let's go all the way."
The next moment.
The previously docile Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's hand suddenly extended three tender leaves, directly sweeping towards Xiao Wu's lower body.
"Not again!"
Tang San, seeing this, was instantly horrified.
He immediately retracted the Blue Silver Grass.
However, by now, Xiao Wu's face was already flushed crimson with embarrassment and anger.
Clearly, Zhou Fan had succeeded in his 'attack.'
"Xiao San! You! You! I challenge you to a duel!"
Xiao Wu, her face bright red, immediately ran out of the dormitory.
"Sister Xiao Wu, let me explain!"
Tang San, with a bitter expression, got up and chased after her.
(Emotional Value +3, +2…)
Wang Sheng and the others, returning from outside at that moment, happened to witness this scene.
They all showed expressions of admiration.
"As expected, the more talented people are, the more diligent. It's so late, and they're still planning to hone their practical combat skills."
"But Brother Wang, I think I heard Tang San saying something about an explanation…"
"Did you? I clearly heard Tang San say 'you're definitely dead tonight.'"
"Was it like that…"
"With that look and outfit, who else could it be but that hypocrite Yu Xiaogang?"
*(End of Chapter)*