"What are you all doing, making such a racket?!"
A slightly angry voice rang out, and a young teacher stepped out from the dining hall.
Xiao Chenyu was just about to report the earlier incident, but then caught sight of Xiao Wu giving him a sweet smile while playfully shaking her little fist at him.
He immediately chickened out and shut his mouth.
Seeing no one respond, the young teacher frowned slightly and left a warning: "If I catch you fighting outside the dining hall again, you can all go clean the toilets!"
With that, he turned and went back inside.
Xiao Wu skipped cheerfully back to Qi Lin's side and said with a grin, "Wasn't I amazing? One day, and I've already united the entire Nuoding Academy!"
"You're the best!" Qi Lin gave her a big thumbs up.
Behind them, Wang Sheng and the others echoed in unison,
"Sister Xiao Wu is awesome!"
On the other side, Xiao Chenyu was gnashing his teeth as he watched Xiao Wu—who had been so fierce just a moment ago—act all sweet and gentle with Qi Lin.
'That little punk is definitely a player. Wherever he goes, he flirts with girls. No way, I'm telling my sister to stay far away from him!'
After that little incident, Qi Lin and the other members of Dorm Seven entered the cafeteria.
As their boss, Xiao Wu waved her hand grandly. "Lunch is on me today!"
But when it came time to pay, she reached into her pocket and only found one silver soul coin and a few copper ones. Her face fell with embarrassment.
She'd ordered too much!
Left with no choice, she turned to Qi Lin with a pitiful look.
"Brother Qi Lin…"
Qi Lin pinched her soft cheek and paid the bill. "How are you treating us if you've got no money?"
"I'm the big sister of Dorm Seven! I gotta keep up appearances!"
As they left the cafeteria, a man in his forties or fifties with a crew cut and average appearance walked toward them.
Qi Lin glanced at him, thinking he looked oddly familiar.
Then, the man waved in their direction, calling Tang San over.
Ah! That's when Qi Lin realized who he was.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang!
Characters like him from the novels and anime never really made a deep impression on Qi Lin. Even if the internet mocked Tang San and the Grandmaster endlessly, Qi Lin didn't care.
In fact, he kind of admired Yu Xiaogang.
He was only a Rank 29 Soul Master, yet somehow managed to attract both Liu Erlong and Bibi Dong—two top-tier beauties and powerhouses.
Qi Lin took a closer look at the Grandmaster before he left.
'Hmm…'
'Pretty average.'
'Could it be he didn't age well?'
'He's stiff, plain-looking, and not very powerful.'
'Could he really have won over Liu Erlong and Bibi Dong with just his talent and brains?'
'Wasn't it said that most of the Grandmaster's so-called "Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls" were just borrowed from the Spirit Hall library?'
Qi Lin believed Yu Xiaogang was knowledgeable, sure. But in a world where strength meant everything, women naturally leaned toward the strong.
Yet despite all that, Liu Erlong and Bibi Dong both fell for him?
That was exactly what Qi Lin found most impressive about him.
Still, Qi Lin had his own opinion.
The Grandmaster definitely wasn't a responsible man to either of them—and that, Qi Lin could not endorse.
Meanwhile…
After taking Tang San with him, the Grandmaster suddenly recalled the boy who had been watching him closely earlier and asked Tang San about his name.
Tang San frowned slightly.
His teacher was also interested in Qi Lin?
But Tang San believed in loyalty to his teacher—"Once a teacher, always a father"—so he answered honestly.
"His name is Qi Lin. His martial soul is a mutated form of Blue Silver Grass."
Yu Xiaogang narrowed his eyes.
"Do you know what his innate soul power level is?"
Tang San shook his head. "No, but I'd guess it's Rank 10."
"What do you mean?"
So Tang San recounted everything that had happened in Dorm Seven.
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's expression grew even more serious. "I can't believe a small Dorm Seven produced three with full innate soul power!"
Especially that Qi Lin boy—could a mutated Blue Silver Grass really allow him to reach full soul power?
Even if it was a positive mutation, it shouldn't be that strong…
Unless…
He also had twin martial souls!
The thought made Yu Xiaogang's eyes blaze with excitement. His breathing quickened.
'Heavens above, how you favor me, Yu Xiaogang!
Not only did I find one twin martial soul in Tang San, but now there might be a second one right here in Nuoding City!'
If he could take Qi Lin as a disciple too, and have him and Tang San prove his theories to the world—then one day, when their names shook the continent, who would dare look down on Yu Xiaogang?
He would be known as the true Grandmaster of the entire Douluo Continent!
Yu Xiaogang's chest swelled with pride. A sense of destiny filled him—as if all the heroes of the world were about to fall into his grasp.
As for whether Qi Lin would agree?
Yu Xiaogang had faith that his knowledge would win him over.
Later, in his dorm, Yu Xiaogang had Tang San release his second martial soul.
The moment he saw the Clear Sky Hammer, he instantly recognized it—and even guessed who Tang San's father was.
Tang Hao!
Though he knew Tang Hao was a sworn enemy of Spirit Hall, the Grandmaster remained calm.
He was determined to make his name known across the continent—to leave a lasting legacy!
How could he back down over something like Tang San's parentage?
Besides, he was confident that even if Bibi Dong learned the truth, she wouldn't harm Tang San.
Maybe this is the privilege of being the favored one.
Afterward, the Grandmaster gave Tang San a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Blue Silver Grass, helping him establish its future path: Control-Type Soul Master.
But the martial soul was too weak.
To make it more effective, it needed something extra—poison.
Adding toxicity would increase both its attack and control power.
Tang San's eyes lit up.
Poison? That perfectly matched his skill set!
The two quickly hit it off.
From now on, the Blue Silver Grass would be poison-enhanced. Even if it couldn't restrain the enemy, it could still poison them to death.
What neither of them considered, however, was…
Would this mean the Blue Silver Grass becomes neither tough enough to compare to other plant martial souls, nor toxic enough to rival dedicated poison-based ones?
After all, in every field, specialization is key.
Trying to turn a life-force-type martial soul into a poison-focused? If Tang San weren't the protagonist, no one in their right mind would even try this!
When Tang San finally left, Yu Xiaogang sat behind his desk and let out a long breath.
He had finally "persuaded"—no, wait—convinced Tang San with his wisdom!
Just as he was about to close his eyes for a nap, both doors of the room suddenly burst open with a gust of wind, startling him wide awake.
"Who's there?!"
Yu Xiaogang shouted.
The only reply was a quiet, elegant voice.
From the shadows emerged a graceful figure, exuding nobility and a sacred aura.
"Xiaogang… it's been a long time."