Chapter 7: The Embarrassed Grandmaster
This...
Grandmaster froze on the spot.
Wait, this isn't how the script was supposed to go. Shouldn't it be me explaining how awesome my theories are, followed by Tang San bowing his head in acceptance? Where did things go wrong? I was actually rejected on the spot by a six-year-old child! Although the refusal wasn't absolute, it truly made him lose face.
Thinking about his deduced conclusions and the changes Tang San might bring him, Grandmaster took a deep breath, controlled his emotions, and said, "Child, don't be too quick to refuse me. It's not too late to see my capabilities first. I can't let such a good seedling go. After all, you are the third person with twin spirits in the last hundred years."
Tang San: ...What he says doesn't seem wrong, Brother Ling did indeed awaken later than me.
Although he was complaining internally, Tang San was indeed somewhat shocked.
"Are you curious why I know you have twin spirits?" As he spoke, he shook the certificate in his hand. "It's because of this certificate. Perhaps others can't see the flaw in it, but if even I couldn't see it, then I wouldn't deserve the title 'Grandmaster'."
"I once investigated..." What followed was Grandmaster's long string of data-based theoretical analysis. "...Therefore, I am certain that you should have another spirit, and it must be an extremely powerful one."
"There are exceptions to every rule. Why can't I be a special case?" Tang San retorted.
"Correct, there are exceptions to every rule, but your spirit is Blue Silver Grass..."
Tang San listened attentively. He felt there was nothing wrong with what Grandmaster said, yet something felt strange.
Suddenly, Tang San thought of something and asked respectfully, "May I ask, Grandmaster, what level of Spirit Master are you?"
Hearing this question, Grandmaster's previously confident face became somewhat unnatural. His lips twitched, revealing an awkward smile. "Me... A level 29 Grand Spirit Master. Because my research into spirit theoretical knowledge is quite outstanding, my peers flatter me by calling me Grandmaster."
Tang San fell silent. Over the past few years, the sentence Xia Tianling had nagged him about the most was – Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. Even the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record warned Tang Sect disciples that the knowledge of various poisons and herbs was accumulated bit by bit through experiments by generations of Tang Sect ancestors, costing countless lives.
Although he didn't know much about spirits, he learned from chatting with Old Jack's two guards last night that the most powerful beings in this world were Titled Douluo above level 90. Only Spirit Masters at the Spirit Emperor level or above could be considered truly strong.
A level 29 Grand Spirit Master, to put it bluntly, wasn't even comparable to many students in intermediate academies. Therefore, as someone at the bottom rung of the Spirit Master world, it was highly unlikely he could research actual subjects; he could only rely on data to make conjectures without proof.
Isn't this so-called theory just a castle in the air? Lacking the foundation of practice, it's bound to collapse sooner or later.
Besides, where did this Grandmaster get this so-called data? With his strength, how could he possibly obtain this data? Is the data he obtained even accurate? Conclusions drawn from research based on incorrect data can be vastly different from reality. It had to be said, his speculation was already extremely close to the truth of the matter.
Thinking this, Tang San was about to refuse.
Grandmaster seemed to notice Tang San's hesitation and quickly added, "Little San, how about this? I'll accept you as my nominal disciple. You listen to my lessons for a while first, then decide whether to stay or leave, how about it?"
Tang San wavered slightly. Just a nominal disciple. If his judgment was wrong, he could still formally become his disciple; if his judgment was correct, they could part ways sooner rather than later.
Seeing this, Grandmaster struck while the iron was hot. "Little San, you haven't obtained your first spirit ring yet, right? How about this, Teacher will help you obtain your first two spirit rings, okay?"
"Alright then, I agree," Tang San thought about his stalled Mysterious Heaven Skill, gritted his teeth, and agreed. "I still don't know your name?"
"Your teacher is Yu Xiaogang."
"Nominal disciple Tang San greets Teacher Yu." Tang San raised his fist in a salute and bowed. Although he had only temporarily agreed to be a nominal disciple, proper etiquette couldn't be neglected.
Grandmaster's stiff lips twitched. This kid really isn't giving me face, he thought. But he consoled himself, Nominal disciple is fine too. After a few months, he will surely be convinced by my profound theoretical knowledge.
"Good, good. Let's go, I'll take you to the administration office to register." Although he felt uncomfortable inside, Grandmaster still enthusiastically took Tang San's hand and walked towards the office.
Just as depicted in the original story, as they left, Tang San overheard other teachers gossiping about Grandmaster behind his back. Compared to the mockery in the original story, the current Tang San actually felt some agreement with their words.
He truly felt that this teacher of his was just a tiny bit unreliable.
On the way to the dormitory, feeling the small cloth pouch Old Jack had given him near his chest, Tang San couldn't resist opening it for a look. Usually calm, he almost cried out in shock!
A full one hundred gold spirit coins!
This was one hundred gold spirit coins! Grandpa Jack had just given them to him like that! Although he knew that due to Xia Tianling, the Spirit Hall had likely given Old Jack a large sum of money, these one hundred gold spirit coins were undoubtedly a huge amount for the current Tang San, enough for him to eat and drink well at the academy every day for these five years.
Tang San clenched the small pouch tightly, holding it close to his chest. Compared to this unreliable, convenient teacher of mine, Grandpa Jack and Brother Ling, you are truly too good to me.
However, Tang San didn't know that for the current Old Jack, one hundred gold spirit coins really wasn't a large sum. If news about Xia Tianling hadn't been suppressed by the Spirit Hall, the number of people coming daily to offer gifts and curry favor would likely have worn down his doorstep.
On the morning of Tang San's second day of enrollment, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Xia Tianling, traveling by carriage, arrived in Nuoding City at Old Jack's residence.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Old Jack, two old men with vastly different statuses and appearances, surprisingly hit it off while chatting about how outstanding Xia Tianling was. When Chrysanthemum Douluo heard Old Jack bragging about how he was called a prophet back in the village, but could only predict the weather, he roared with laughter.
Xia Tianling suddenly felt extremely awkward, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into. What prophet? That was just used to fool Tang San back then, a definite dark past. But thinking about it carefully, maybe this prophet identity could be made real? It might be quite useful at certain times.
"Young Master, you don't know, yesterday the Master took that friend of yours for enrollment..." After Xia Tianling fled outside due to embarrassment, Hou San approached him and reported what happened when Old Jack took Tang San for enrollment yesterday.
After listening, Xia Tianling smiled softly and silently checked the system's record panel. Sure enough, there was a notification that Grandmaster's fate trajectory had been altered.
It seems Grandmaster's attempt to take a disciple was likely rejected by Tang San. I wonder if Tang San will still go to Shrek later? Is there such a thing as worldline convergence?
"Let's go, Tianling. We'll head to the Spirit Hunting Forest northeast of Nuoding City. The spirit beasts there are all raised by our Spirit Hall, none exceeding ten thousand years, perfectly suitable for a novice like you hunting their first spirit rings." Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice sounded, calling Xia Tianling to depart.
"Aye, coming!"
The Spirit Hunting Forest near Nuoding City, the timing was also just right, perfectly fitting the script Xia Tianling had in mind.
"Tianling, follow your Grandpa Chrysanthemum and cultivate well! You must become a powerful Spirit Master! Make our Holy Soul Village truly live up to its name!"
Hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo smiled. Spirit Saint? Too small, the scope is too small. Tianling is a genius destined to become a Super Douluo in the future.
(End of Chapter)