With the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang, completely obsessed with the enigma of the "White Ring Genius," Lin Feng and Xiao Wu began their private mentorship. This arrangement gave Lin Feng unparalleled access to the continent's most detailed theoretical knowledge, which he immediately utilized to strengthen his position and deepen the Grandmaster's loyalty.
The initial weeks were spent with the Grandmaster meticulously examining Lin Feng. He performed every test possible, and the results were always the same: Level 14 Soul Power, a perfectly stable White Soul Ring (the disguise), and a Martial Soul (the Fusion Phoenix in its humble chicken guise) that showed astonishing, yet inexplicable, growth potential. This paradox was torture for the theorist.
Lin Feng used the Infinite Fusion System (IFS) not to deceive the Grandmaster, but to validate him. He knew all of Yu Xiaogang's theories were ultimately flawed, rigid, and incomplete, but they contained fundamental kernels of truth.
Lin Feng began to fuse the Grandmaster's 'Flawed Theories' with 'Small Pieces of Truth from Godly Cultivation' that he recalled from his plot knowledge. He then presented these fused concepts as his own "unique realizations" that proved the Grandmaster was almost right, needing only a slight conceptual shift.
For example, when the Grandmaster insisted that a White Ring could only provide a minor boost, Lin Feng countered: "Master, perhaps the quantity of the soul ring energy is fixed, but what if the quality can be refined to a divine level through a unique meditation, bypassing the standard limits? My White Ring is simply a high-quality vessel containing refined energy." This completely shifted the Grandmaster's focus from his theory's failure to its potential refinement.
The Grandmaster was ecstatic. He believed he had finally found a genius whose very existence confirmed that his lifelong research, though derided by the world, was correct and merely lacked practical demonstration. Lin Feng became his obsession, his validation, and his living masterpiece.
The Grandmaster's fanatical focus on Lin Feng meant the complete omission of Tang San. The Grandmaster had briefly observed Tang San's Blue Silver Grass and noted his Innate Full Soul Power, but Lin Feng had successfully poisoned his perception.
Lin Feng continuously reinforced this bias, subtly disparaging Tang San's potential. "Master, I worry about Tang San," Lin Feng would mention casually. "His reliance on twin martial souls is too unstable, too chaotic. He should have focused on his primary one. The sheer volume of energy needed to sustain two separate paths is inefficient. It's a niche case, prone to backlash."
This perfectly aligned with Yu Xiaogang's own theory that one perfect martial soul was superior to two imperfect ones. The Grandmaster wholeheartedly agreed, dismissing Tang San as an interesting, but ultimately "too unstable" specimen unworthy of his time. He began actively discouraging Tang San from seeking him out, focusing entirely on unlocking the secrets of Lin Feng's White Ring power.
Xiao Wu's Position and Lin Feng's Control
Xiao Wu, training daily alongside Lin Feng, benefited immensely from the focused attention. The Grandmaster, viewing her as an extension of Lin Feng's training environment, provided her with excellent conventional knowledge.
Lin Feng further enhanced her training, secretly using the IFS to fuse her 'Rabbit Martial Soul' with 'Heightened Spiritual Awareness,' boosting her natural instincts and ensuring her progress remained far ahead of the original timeline. Xiao Wu's devotion to her "Big Brother Lin Feng" intensified, secured by both the emotional bond and the clear, undeniable path to power he provided. She happily served as a buffer, ensuring the Grandmaster's attention never drifted.
Lin Feng had achieved his goal: he hadn't just stolen a mentor; he had created a brilliant, utterly devoted academic drone whose sole purpose was now to serve the Fusion Phoenix's ascension. The Grandmaster, believing he was uncovering cosmic truth, was merely deciphering the lies crafted by the system.