Chapter 24: I Thought “Grandmaster” Was His Title

Tang San stepped forward upon hearing this: "Li Xun, my teacher once taught me that having more soul rings and more bones provides more techniques and power. Now that you lack active skills, you are indeed at a disadvantage in combat."

He had also caught a hint of the teacher's intention to take on a disciple. However, this did not affect him, and he was more than willing to stand up for his teacher.

Yu Xiaogang nodded with satisfaction at his disciple Tang San's actions: "Li Xun, your Wood Carving martial soul should have been an auxiliary type; it only gained the ability to control plants due to a mutation. My disciple, Tang San, is also a plant-type soul master like you, so there should be many commonalities in your choices regarding martial souls."

"Now that you have missed out on two offensive soul rings, you must not lead yourself astray!"

Li Xun looked at Yu Xiaogang, then at Tang San. He realized that both of them possessed immense self-confidence, firmly believing that everything they did was correct.

"Grandmaster, I would like to ask you a question." Li Xun gathered his thoughts. "What role do you think mere century-level first two soul rings play in late-stage combat? Are you intending to use your first soul skill to fight a Titled Douluo?"

Seeing that Yu Xiaogang had not yet recovered, Li Xun pressed on: "Take Tang San's Blue Silver Grass as an example. This plant is inherently fragile. Instead of thinking about improving the quality of the martial soul to build a solid foundation and expand the advantages of the Blue Silver Grass, you only care about increasing superficial combat power. What use will it be in the mid-to-late stages when an opponent can break free with a simple struggle?"

Li Xun's words stunned both Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. They had not expected Li Xun to raise such a point. Tang San thought about the toughness of his Blue Silver Grass and found that Li Xun's words actually held some truth. However, this created another problem: what about early-stage combat? The Clear Sky Hammer had no soul rings—would he have to rely solely on hidden weapons?

"All soul masters develop this way; are you saying they are all wrong? Setting aside the nine skills of a Titled Douluo, how can you even compare yourself to other soul masters at the level thirty stage?" Yu Xiaogang snapped back, anger rising in his heart.

Li Xun was using his own disciple as an example, which was undoubtedly a denial of his own life's work. If he were to admit that Li Xun's viewpoint was correct, it would prove that the theories he taught Tang San and the choices for those first two soul rings were wrong. This was a result he could not accept.

"Grandmaster, after level thirty, with the quality and passives of my martial soul, even if I only had one skill, it would not be something an opponent could easily resist." Li Xun glanced at Yu Xiaogang indifferently. "Moreover, as levels increase, the effect of an opponent's first two soul rings will only diminish, while my first two soul rings serve as passive nourishment, making my other skills grow stronger."

There was one more thing he didn't say. Judging by the performance of soul masters, he had no fear of early-stage combat. In truth, neither did Tang San; in the Soul Master Tournament, it was the hammer and hidden weapons that decided the outcome, while the Blue Silver Grass could only handle minor opponents.

"Hmph! Stubborn and thick-headed! This is experience gained from the practice of countless soul masters, yet you turn it into a flaw. If you have no means in the early stages, how can you obtain soul rings and defend against evildoers?"

Yu Xiaogang's face was cold as he pointed a finger at Li Xun. "Just regarding combat, how could you possibly know that the first two soul rings won't play a role in the later stages?"

*Sorry, but I actually do know.*

Li Xun frowned as he saw Yu Xiaogang pointing at him. It was an extremely impolite gesture; even for a teacher lecturing a student, it showed a lack of breeding. Besides, they were not even close.

"I am merely a level twenty-three Great Soul Master, so discussing future realms is indeed a bit premature. Both in combat experience and level, I certainly cannot compare to the Grandmaster." Li Xun composed his expression and bowed to Yu Xiaogang. "However, the situations of Tang San and myself are clearly different from ordinary soul masters. How can we be taught using the same methods?"

"The world changes every moment. Even a Titled Douluo must consider practical circumstances when teaching! We must not be bound by the experiences of our predecessors. Furthermore, even if we were to take the wrong path early on and lack the ability to hunt for soul rings, do we not still have our teachers to shelter us from the wind and rain?"

At this point, Li Xun smiled broadly, looking at Yu Xiaogang with deep meaning: "You are a Titled Douluo, and my teacher is the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As disciples of you two, why should Tang San and I worry about soul rings? Why would we ever need to trouble others to help us obtain them?"

Li Xun even glanced at the Dean of Notting Academy as he spoke. Although there was a smile on Li Xun's face, Yu Xiaogang felt it was pure mockery. It felt like a knife stabbing into his heart, leaving him suffocated.

"You..." Yu Xiaogang's face turned livid, his raised arm trembling slightly. He opened his mouth several times, only to find himself speechless.

"Grandmaster, are you alright?" Li Xun's expression turned anxious, his tone filled with concern.

"Li Xun, are you truly ignorant, or just pretending?" Yu Tianheng stepped forward, gritting his teeth as he pointed at Li Xun. "Don't tell me the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacks intelligence on our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect!"

"What intelligence?" Li Xun looked at Yu Tianheng in confusion.

"Ahem, Xiaoxun, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang is not a Titled Douluo. Due to his own circumstances, his level has been stuck at twenty-nine, unable to advance." Seeing the awkward situation, Qin Ming coughed and stepped forward to explain.

Li Xun looked completely ignorant, his eyes clear as he turned to Yu Xiaogang: "Oh? I thought 'Grandmaster' was his title! But since his soul power is stuck at twenty-nine, how does he know what it feels like after level thirty?"

Hearing the words "Grandmaster" and "Titled" placed together, Yu Xiaogang's breathing became rapid. He clenched his fists, veins bulging on his hands, his body trembling uncontrollably as he stared fixedly at Li Xun.

Over the years, he had heard plenty of sarcasm and ridicule. He had thought he was long used to it. But today, the words of this child made him feel as if he had been stripped bare and stood in front of everyone. The truth he had most wanted to avoid was being peeled away, layer by layer, in such a naked fashion.

Qin Ming glanced at Yu Xiaogang's state and pondered for a moment: "'Grandmaster' is the title given to him by the outside world. The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls you have heard in class were authored by him. Li Xun, you must not be disrespectful."

"Oh! So he is the 'Grandmaster' who compiled the textbooks. My apologies." Li Xun bowed to Yu Xiaogang. "No wonder the Grandmaster speaks with such certainty; it turns out he truly has the knowledge."

Yu Xiaogang wanted to lash out several times, but the child opposite him wore an innocent expression. Though he could see the boy was faking it, he had nowhere to vent his anger.

"Li Xun, you will surely regret the choices you made today. My disciple, Tang San, is destined to be a goal you can never reach in your lifetime." Yu Xiaogang silently loosened his fists and turned around with difficulty. His once-upright waist was no longer straight, and his voice was slightly hoarse.

Qin Ming sensed that Yu Xiaogang was not in a good state and quickly tried to mediate: "Grandmaster, don't be angry. Li Xun is still just a child; children speak without thinking!"

Tang San had been immersed in Li Xun's remarks about martial souls, but seeing his teacher's pale face, he became extremely anxious. Level twenty-nine soul power had always been his teacher Yu Xiaogang's deepest sorrow. Now, in front of everyone, it had been laid bare by a child, and the hurt to his teacher was undoubtedly immense.

Tang San stared at Li Xun. Although Li Xun's theory about soul rings had some merit, it had not been tested, unlike his teacher's theory, which he had already verified. Moreover, his teacher had been incredibly kind to him. Seeing his teacher humiliated, Tang San's heart surged.

It is said that a teacher for a day is a father for life. Seeing his master insulted, a murderous intent suddenly arose in Tang San. He slowly raised his arm, aiming his sleeve-mounted arrow at Li Xun.

The third rule of the *Mysterious Heaven Record* states: if an enemy is confirmed and they have a path to their own destruction, one should not show mercy. At the same time, he pondered how to evade Qin Ming's pursuit after killing Li Xun.

"Hmm? Murderous intent." Li Xun suddenly sensed a cold, chilling energy locking onto him. Through the memories of Hashirama, he knew this feeling meant someone had developed a murderous intent toward him.

"Is this really necessary? A simple argument and you want to kill me..." Looking at the arm Tang San had aimed at him, Li Xun was left speechless.