Chapter 6: Perception Gained Through the Spider

Tang San calmly glanced at Ye Qiu's back before turning his gaze back to Yu Xiaogang.

"Since you are not a teacher at the academy, how should I address you?"

"They call me 'Grandmaster.' I have long since forgotten my real name."

Yu Xiaogang paused here, his eyes burning with intensity as he looked at Tang San.

The moment of truth had arrived.

"If you truly wish to call me teacher, I won't refuse."

Tang San met Yu Xiaogang's gaze without a ripple of emotion.

He wouldn't act until he had the advantage.

Yu Xiaogang forced a stiff smile, rubbing the stubble on his chin as he carefully examined Tang San.

Then, without hesitation, he dropped a bombshell.

"Aside from your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, what is your other Martial Soul?"

"!!"

Tang San's pupils trembled violently, shock surging through his heart.

Beneath his clothes, the hidden sleeve dart on his left wrist silently disengaged its safety.

Friend or foe?!

A chilling intent slowly emerged in the depths of Tang San's eyes.

Even as the urge to kill rose within him, his face remained composed. He probed cautiously, "How did you know?"

Yu Xiaogang had no idea that his name was already flickering on the Book of Death.

Yet, he remained calm and collected.

Forcing a friendly and approachable demeanor, he lifted the Martial Soul Certificate in his hand.

Then, he began to boast.

He had traveled the countryside, researched hundreds of Blue Silver Grass Martial Souls, dedicated himself to the study of Martial Souls, and proposed the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls.

No one understood the cultivation of soul masters better than him!

He was the undisputed number one theorist in the soul master world!

After delivering a long self-introduction, he confidently reached his conclusion:

"Therefore, I am certain—you possess another incredibly powerful Martial Soul. You are the third recorded Twin Martial Soul owner in history!"

Tang San's heart shook violently, and his killing intent crumbled.

To deduce so much from just a Martial Soul Certificate—his title as the number one theorist was truly well-deserved!

Still, a final doubt lingered in Tang San's mind.

He raised his right hand, summoning a small, swaying blue vine. He looked up at Yu Xiaogang and asked, "Master, everyone says my Blue Silver Grass is a useless Martial Soul. But can a useless Martial Soul truly be cultivated?"

"Heh..."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head with a soft chuckle, clasping his hands behind his back. Straightening his posture, he gazed up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle.

"Remember this—"

"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless soul masters!"

At those words, Tang San smiled.

MacArthur would have smiled too.

This man was qualified to be his teacher!

Tang San disengaged the safety of his silent sleeve dart and took a few steps back.

Then—thud!

He dropped to his knees.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three respectful kowtows resounded.

Ye Qiu, who had just returned, swore he heard Tang San shouting something absurd.

"Father—!"

If you do not abandon me, I am willing to acknowledge you as my foster father!

Yu Xiaogang stood frozen on the spot.

"What are you doing? Kneeling is reserved for kings and parents."

"A teacher for a day is a father for life! Please accept my respects, Master!"

Bang!

Tang San struck his head against the ground once more, his forehead reddening.

"Good! Good!"

"A teacher for a day is a father for life—well said!"

Overjoyed, Yu Xiaogang quickly bent down to help up the new disciple he had just swindled.

"Xiao San, what's going on?"

Ye Qiu slowly walked over, feigning surprise.

"Ye Qiu?"

Tang San turned to him, his gaze flickering slightly. Instead of explaining, he simply asked,

"When did you return?"

"Huh?"

Ye Qiu blinked, his heart turning cold. He shook his still-damp hands helplessly.

"Just now, obviously. I was just wondering why you suddenly dropped to your knees. You're not abandoning Uncle Hao, are you?"

Tang San frowned. He had no patience for Ye Qiu's nonsense. Raising his hand, he introduced, "This is my newly acknowledged teacher."

"A newly acknowledged teacher?"

Ye Qiu looked at Yu Xiaogang with feigned confusion.

Yet, inwardly, his thoughts turned icy.

Over the past three months, he had gained two abilities through his connection with the spider.

One of them was an extraordinary sense of perception.

Tang San's killing intent was subtle—

But not hidden from him.

Tsk.

So cautious.

Ye Qiu had already given him plenty of space, yet he still reacted this way?

Hah. Ungrateful brat!

Is this the so-called 'care' Tang Hao asked of me? Care through hidden sleeve darts?

Yu Xiaogang and Ye Qiu locked eyes.

Seeing the clarity in Ye Qiu's gaze, Yu Xiaogang's mind began working again.

"According to your Martial Soul Certificate, your name is Ye Qiu?"

"Yes."

Ye Qiu nodded.

Yu Xiaogang smiled mysteriously.

"Do you really believe your Martial Soul is a useless one?"

"Hm?"

Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow, offering only a questioning glance without a verbal reply.

Tang San, however, suddenly realized something.

He had Twin Martial Souls, as well as Xuantian Gong. But what about Ye Qiu?

How did he possess Innate Full Soul Power?!

Yu Xiaogang had already considered this.

His deduction about Tang San's Twin Martial Souls was based on the fact that his Blue Silver Grass had not mutated—it was an ordinary Martial Soul.

But Ye Qiu's Martial Soul was one he had never seen before.

It might look like a useless Martial Soul—

But there was no way a commoner like Ye Qiu could have been born with Innate Full Soul Power.

Eliminating all other possibilities, there was only one answer.

Yu Xiaogang confidently declared:

"Ye Qiu, I've never seen your Martial Soul before. But I can confirm—it must be a mutated Martial Soul. Otherwise, with your background, there's no way you could have Innate Full Soul Power!"

"Mutated Martial Soul?!"

Ye Qiu widened his eyes in an exaggerated display of shock—while internally rolling them.

Tang San also suddenly understood.

So Ye Qiu's Martial Soul was a mutation!

Master truly lived up to his reputation!

Yu Xiaogang was pleased with their reactions.

Few people in the soul master world ever listened to his theories with such awe. Most called him a fraud.

But the more they doubted him, the more he was determined to prove them wrong!

"Ye Qiu, I am the foremost expert on Martial Soul mutations. You are new to this world and lack understanding. Having a wise teacher and good companions will only benefit you.

Tell me—will you become my disciple?"

Yu Xiaogang assumed the posture of a grandmaster, waiting for Ye Qiu's answer.

Tang San also looked over.

If Ye Qiu became his junior brother, protecting him would become natural.

Ye Qiu, however, shook his head with an exasperated sigh.

"I'll pass. Since Xiao San has already taken you as his teacher, I won't settle for second place. Unless he's willing to be my junior instead?"

Tang San's face darkened.

There was no way he would accept Ye Qiu as his senior.

Yu Xiaogang frowned.

After all that effort, he still couldn't get a second disciple.

But his pride prevented him from begging.

"Very well. One can only acknowledge one master in a lifetime. You should consider it carefully."

A double-edged remark.

One that reminded Tang San—

"You are already my disciple! You can't escape me now!"

"Come. I'll take you to register."

With that, Yu Xiaogang led them away.

The destination—

Dormitory No. 7.

Where everything would begin.