Lin Mu's gaze sharpened, keenly noticing Tang San's subtle movements. He inwardly exclaimed, 'Good heavens, this is typical of the Tang Sect!'
"Little San, as long as you become my disciple, I will definitely train you to become the most powerful Spirit Master on the entire continent!"
Growing increasingly excited, Yu Xiaogang grabbed Tang San's shoulder. His eyes were filled with urgency, and he was completely unaware that Tang San was mere seconds away from attacking him.
Just then, Lin Mu spoke up.
"A mere Rank 29 Great Soul Master shouldn't spout such nonsense. To educate others, one must first educate oneself. You are nothing but trash yourself; what qualifications do you have to teach a genius with Innate Full Soul Power?"
Hearing this, veins bulged on Yu Xiaogang's forehead. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he began to pant heavily.
As a renowned theoretical master in the Martial Soul world, to be called trash to his face by a junior was an utter disgrace.
Tang San, standing to the side, secretly nodded, feeling a surge of relief; he had almost been fooled by this old man.
Previously, when this old man realized he possessed Twin Martial Souls, Tang San thought he had encountered a true master. Now, it seemed the man had most likely just guessed by accident.
"You brat, you say I'm not qualified to teach him? Are 'you' going to teach him cultivation?"
Seeing the situation turning against him, Yu Xiaogang decisively used a strategy of retreating to advance.
In his view, this young man was only a teenager; how could he be qualified to teach others? The only thing to do now was to force him away first, and then figure out a way to persuade Tang San later.
"Compared to you, a charlatan master, at least I won't waste his talent."
Saying this, Lin Mu slowly walked up to Tang San and said softly, "Tang San, would you be willing to become my disciple?"
Upon hearing this, both Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were stunned.
Yu Xiaogang had initially thought this man was just a hater of his, which was why he kept undermining him; he never expected this guy to actually be after Tang San.
This was the perfect disciple he had always longed for, his only chance to prove he wasn't a waste. If he missed this disciple, he would never be able to shake off the label of "trash."
Tang San was stunned because Lin Mu was simply too young. He looked only about ten years older than Tang San, not even as old as Tang San was in his previous life.
"Ridiculous! You're only a teenager, yet you want to take on disciples? You'll only mislead the younger generation," Yu Xiaogang said disdainfully.
Between a greenhorn and a self-proclaimed master of Martial Soul theory, any normal person would choose the latter.
"Ambition knows no age; a life of a hundred years is wasted without it. You haven't even figured out your own Martial Soul; you're just an old fool relying on your seniority."
In Lin Mu's view, Tang San's journey to becoming a Titled Douluo and even a God had little to do with Yu Xiaogang. Even a Soul King or higher wouldn't be worse than Yu Xiaogang in terms of teaching.
"Ambition knows no age..."
Tang San murmured, a hint of agreement in his eyes as he looked at Lin Mu.
"Nonsense! I've cultivated to Rank 29 with only half a rank of Innate Soul Power; I'm already a genius among geniuses!"
As he spoke, a genuine hint of pride appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. If his Innate Soul Power had exceeded rank five, he would at least be a Soul Saint by now.
It must be that his extraordinary wisdom had aroused the jealousy of the heavens, which is why his Innate Soul Power was only half a level.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's smug appearance, Lin Mu and Tang San exchanged a glance and tacitly distanced themselves from him.
Extremely arrogant and self-centered, he was completely a madman living in his own world.
Yu Xiaogang became more and more excited as he spoke. He strode up to Lin Mu and said confidently, "In the end, you're just a teenager. How many books have you read? How could you possibly understand the power of my Martial Soul theory? It is immeasurable!"
"Very well. As an elder, this Grandmaster is magnanimous and will not hold it against you this time. Leave Notting Academy immediately."
Immediately, Yu Xiaogang turned around, hands behind his back, striking a pose of superiority. As a master of Martial Soul theory, he didn't believe he couldn't intimidate these two.
"A mere Level 29, yet you dare call yourself a master? I've never seen such a shameless person."
After cursing, Lin Mu still wasn't satisfied. He extended his right hand to release his Martial Soul.
As the surrounding fire elements gathered, a strangely shaped red metallic object emerged from his palm, hovering above it.
"What kind of Martial Soul is this?"
The self-proclaimed Master Yu Xiaogang was instantly dumbfounded. He had never seen this type of Martial Soul before; just by looking at it, it appeared to be a piece of ordinary metal.
Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang sneered inwardly. 'If he calls me trash, how much stronger can he possibly be?'
But the next second, he was completely thunderstruck.
Four Soul Rings rose up from Lin Mu's feet and swirled around him: two yellow and two purple. A perfect, standard configuration.
This meant that Lin Mu was a four-ring Soul Ancestor!
But this guy looked to be no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. How could he have cultivated to the Soul Ancestor level? Even in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, there wasn't such an outstanding genius.
"Yu Xiaogang, do you still think you're not a piece of trash?"
These words pierced Yu Xiaogang's heart like a sharp sword. The immense psychological gap left him breathless. His eyes glazed over as he stood there, dumbfounded. For the first time, he doubted the validity of his Martial Soul theory.
He didn't understand.
This person clearly had a mutated Martial Soul just like him, and the quality of the Martial Soul didn't seem high either. How could he have cultivated to the Soul Ancestor level at such a young age?
"Could I really be a piece of trash?"
Suffering such a major blow, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but begin to doubt his life.
If he had found a Soul Ring that matched Luo Sanpao's attributes perfectly, he might not have stopped at Level 29. But what was done was done, and it was almost impossible for him to break through to Level 30 in this lifetime.
Seeing the four Soul Rings swirling up, Tang San's eyes were filled with shock, mixed with a trace of admiration.
Even Su Yuntao, the deacon who awakened his Martial Soul, was only a two-ring Great Soul Master.
Most importantly, Lin Mu was younger than Su Yuntao. To have cultivated to the Soul Ancestor level at such a young age was enough to show that his research on Martial Souls was profound.
At least he was more reliable than this swindling "Grandmaster."
After thinking it through, Tang San decisively knelt before Lin Mu and kowtowed three times.
"Teacher, please accept me as your disciple."
Having lived two lives, Tang San wasn't a fool. Now, with no relatives or friends in this circle, becoming a powerful Spirit Master by apprenticing under a young four-ring Soul Ancestor was the best choice.
Seeing Tang San kneeling before Lin Mu, begging to become his disciple, Yu Xiaogang felt utterly hopeless. He took two steps back in disbelief, feeling an urge to vomit blood.
Without a perfect disciple with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, how could he ever prove his Martial Soul theory?
Lin Mu raised his hand, signaling Tang San to stand up, and said, "From now on, call me Master, not Teacher."
"Yes, Master."
Without the slightest hesitation, Tang San respectfully replied.
Just after Tang San completed the apprenticeship ceremony, the system panel in front of Lin Mu updated.
[Main quest completion rate reached 5%. Reward: Soul Power increased by one rank.]