A thousand thoughts flashed through Tang San's mind, but in the end he did not erupt. Instead, after calming his mood, he asked:
"Senior, I don't quite understand what you mean. Do you think there's something wrong with my teacher?"
Hearing this, the smile on Oscar's face had long since disappeared. What remained was only a faint expression tinged with regret.
"Tang San, even though you've just entered the academy and we don't have much of a bond yet, since you've joined Shrek, you're already my junior. As your senior, and as a scholar, I feel I have a responsibility toward you."
"My words may touch your bottom line, they may even harm your teacher's reputation… In short, I can say them, but whether you choose to listen or not is up to you."
Pausing for a moment, Oscar patted Tang San on the shoulder. "To be honest, the moment I learned your teacher was Yu Xiaogang, I knew we might not walk the same path."
"Because I can see that you're someone who respects his teacher deeply. Just now, when I merely made a few disparaging remarks about him, you revealed a trace of killing intent toward me. That shows just how high a place your teacher holds in your heart."
"I actually admire this kind of character. Someone loyal and righteous is a great companion to anyone. But… your path should not be like this."
Tang San listened quietly. He neither argued nor interrupted, but he could clearly tell that his senior held unfavorable views of his teacher.
In fact, this wasn't the first time. Back at Nuoding Academy, whether teachers or students, everyone looked down on his teacher.
Back then, Tang San only thought it was because they didn't know how capable his teacher really was.
But now, hearing Oscar's words, a trace of doubt stirred in his heart. Could it be… that his teacher really had some flaws?
Other than being a little stubborn, hadn't his teacher treated him well?
Oscar, of course, didn't know Tang San's thoughts. He continued:
"I won't judge your teacher just yet, but I can tell you a plain fact. Once you hear it, with your intelligence, you'll understand why I feel regret."
Tang San didn't argue. He did want to know why Oscar thought so poorly of his teacher.
"Then I'll listen carefully," Tang San replied faintly.
Oscar didn't mind his tone. As long as Tang San didn't lash out at him with 'you have chosen the path to death,' there was still hope to 'save' him.
Right now, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass only had two spirit rings. They were still very basic, so there was room to correct things later.
Oscar knew Tang San was an adult, capable of independent thought. He had clung to Yu Xiaogang's words only because Tang Hao had given him no theoretical guidance, leaving Yu Xiaogang to fill that role.
And since Yu Xiaogang had guessed his twin spirits at first sight, in Tang San's eyes, this "illiterate" man became like a god.
Naturally, Tang San gave him blind trust, and the deeper he went, the more he followed the wrong path.
If not for the later resurrection of Xiao Wu, which allowed Tang San to replace his useless early spirit rings with stronger ones, his strength would have been severely limited.
Even though his spirit rings didn't change in type, the leap from century level to ten thousand year level compensated for his bloodline's potential.
Now, since Tang San had calmed down and was willing to think instead of lashing out, Oscar saw hope.
Not that Oscar was being kind after all, he had already taken Tang Hao's soul bones. Some compensation was necessary.
But if Tang San was truly stubborn, Oscar wouldn't interfere further. The choice lay in Tang San's own hands.
After a moment of silence, Oscar finally spoke slowly:
"I already hinted to you earlier. Your Blue Silver Grass is not an ordinary Blue Silver Grass. The appearance of your twin spirits isn't due to mutation, but another reason."
Tang San frowned slightly, puzzled, but remained silent. He wanted to hear more.
Oscar continued:
"The conditions for twin spirits are even rarer than innate full soul power, and also very unique.
For a spirit master to inherit both parents' spirits, their parents' spirits must be of equal quality, preferably even of the same type."
"Blue Silver Grass, though a plant type, falls under the same broad category of tool spirits as your Clear Sky Hammer. That can explain part of it."
"As for equal quality take the Clear Sky Hammer, for instance. As the direct inheritance of the once number one sect, its quality is unquestionable. And you yourself were born with full soul power."
"So, based on these conditions, your Blue Silver Grass cannot possibly be ordinary. It only appears so due to some special reason."
By now, Tang San's resolve was wavering. Oscar's words didn't sound false. Though it was his first time hearing that twin spirits required parents of equal quality, the rest matched what he knew.
Oscar pressed on:
"Didn't you yourself say your teacher investigated hundreds of Blue Silver Grass spirit masters? Did any of them reach above level 20 soul power? And you at only twelve years old, your Blue Silver Grass has already reached level 29."
"Think about it. Is that something an ordinary Blue Silver Grass could do?"
Tang San couldn't hold back anymore. Though he didn't fully understand, he could tell Oscar had no reason to deceive him.
And… Oscar truly seemed concerned for him.
So… was it true? His teacher?
"Senior, what proof do you have?" Tang San asked excitedly.
Oscar chuckled softly. "Tang San, I don't need to prove anything to you. Though I regret your wasted talent, I'm no saint. If you believe me, I'll teach you the best way to cultivate.
If you don't, I'll act as if I've never seen anything. Only… the spirit master world may lose a true genius."
Tang San understood. His suspicion and hostility earlier had clearly displeased his senior. But Oscar was right if he didn't believe him, why would Oscar force anything on him?
That very attitude made Tang San more inclined to trust him.
After some hesitation, Tang San said awkwardly:
"Senior, it's not that I don't believe you. It's just that I can't accept this truth all at once. I must ask my teacher. If… if what you say is true, then I…"
Oscar replied coolly: "After you confirm, if you choose to trust me, I'll personally guide your cultivation."
Tang San did not feel this arrogant. He could see Oscar truly had real knowledge, perhaps even more than his teacher.
And from Oscar's words, it seemed his teacher was not the person he thought he knew…
Oscar saw Tang San's hesitation and pressed further:
"Tang San, let me tell you something about your teacher Yu Xiaogang. Do you dare listen?"
Tang San froze, then nodded heavily.
"Please speak, senior. No matter what you say, I'll verify it directly with my teacher. If you slander him, I'll leave the academy of my own accord."
Oscar was not angered. Instead, he smiled.
"Good. I like that determination. I hope one day you'll respect me the same way."
Tang San frowned slightly. If Oscar truly had real talent while his teacher had none, then why not respect him as a teacher?
But if Oscar was lying, then according to the Tang Sect rules insulting one's teacher deserved death!
Oscar continued:
"I once studied countless texts on spirit beasts and cultivation theories, and consulted many respected elders. I learned quite a bit about your teacher."
"Your teacher's name is Yu Xiaogang. He was born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the three great clans. His father is the current clan master."
"He should have inherited the family's powerful martial spirit, but fate played a cruel trick. When his spirit awakened, it mutated into a defective form. His innate soul power was only half a level."
"Because of this, he could never break past level 30 in his life. So, he turned to spirit theory. With his clan's connections, he went to Spirit Hall, studied there, and even fell in love with a high ranking woman. Through her, he accessed many of Spirit Hall's archives. Later, he summarized what he read, added a few of his own thoughts, and compiled what became the so called 'Ten Core Competencies of Spirits.'"
"But in truth, his 'achievements' were just stolen from the work of previous scholars. He passed them off as his own."
At this, Tang San was stunned. He didn't know these things, and though they sounded made up, he had no proof otherwise.
Oscar had no reason to lie. They'd only just met today, on his first day at Shrek. The only reason Oscar told him all this was regret that his Blue Silver Grass talent was being wasted.
Tang San didn't flare up in anger this time. He only thought deeply.
If all this was true… what kind of man was the teacher he respected most?
Oscar continued:
"From what I see, your teacher is just a charlatan. He claimed the fruits of others as his own and shamelessly declared them his original research."
"Think about it how could a mere level29 'grandmaster,' who could never break through level 30, have the authority to create such theories?"
"Oh, and you probably don't know. Yu Xiaogang has already been expelled from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. They will not support him.
The only reason he can still live under the title of 'Grandmaster' is because his father is a Titled Douluo. If not for that, someone who stole others' work would've been eliminated long ago."
Oscar then recounted many of Yu Xiaogang's flaws. Tang San's world was collapsing.
One thought filled his mind: he must find his teacher and ask him directly.
Oscar dealt the final blow:
"Tang San, I can assure you Yu Xiaogang took you as his disciple not just to prove himself by teaching a so called 'waste spirit' into a genius. He also coveted your second spirit.
If you had only Blue Silver Grass, even with full soul power, he might never have looked at you. Without your second spirit, you'd have no chance of becoming truly powerful."
This was blunt, almost ruthless, stripping Yu Xiaogang of all dignity. But this time Tang San didn't explode.
Because… he believed Oscar might be telling the truth.
Could it be? The teacher he admired so much… was such a person?
"There are no useless spirits, only useless spirit masters"was that just Yu Xiaogang's empty slogan?
If that were true, then why couldn't he himself, despite all his effort and despite his father being a Titled Douluo, ever surpass level 30?
And how could Tang San, with a supposedly useless Blue Silver Grass, already be level 29 at age twelve?
It was only because Tang San knew too little about this world. He had been fooled.
Tang Hao, too strong in power but dull in mind was the kind of man who would let his son worship a mere level29 grandmaster as a teacher.
After a long time, Tang San finally calmed down.
After digesting Oscar's words, he spoke only one sentence:
"Senior, I will seek the truth from my teacher."
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