It was a dark and windy night.
Inside a private office at Nuoding Academy.
Yu Xiaogang was grumbling as he packed his bags.
"Two damned brats, actually daring to look down on me."
After being spotted by several teachers, Yu Xiaogang had been carried to the infirmary.
A Healing System Soul Master had treated him, and he was now fully recovered.
That Soul Master's level wasn't high—possessing only a single white Soul Ring—but for a minor fainting spell, the treatment was more than sufficient. It was precisely because Soul Masters in this world possessed such convenient means that Yu Xiaogang was able to wake up so quickly.
By now, Yu Xiaogang had made up his mind: he would head to Shrek Academy to prove himself. Flender had mentioned in a letter that he had a genius disciple with a top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the Evil Fire Phoenix.
Additionally, there was a Food System Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power.
With just a bit of thought, Yu Xiaogang realized that the talent of these two students was not inferior to Xiao Lin or Tang San.
First of all, no matter how strong Xiao Lin's Horned Dragon Staff was, it was still a metal staff. Metal struggled to withstand high temperatures. Even if the Horned Dragon Staff itself was immune to heat, could its owner, Xiao Lin, truly be unaffected?
When the time came, would he even be able to hold an iron staff that had been heated to a glowing red?
Furthermore, a Food System Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power was far more powerful than Tang San's Blue Silver King. He firmly believed that such a Food System Soul Master's support capabilities would be no less than that of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
He simply didn't believe Tang San's Blue Silver King could exceed the trash martial soul Blue Silver Grass by much. Could it really become an extremely strong Control System martial soul? Without his guidance, Tang San would be a loser for the rest of his life.
At this thought, the corners of Yu Xiaogang's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a wretched smile.
The mere idea made him a bit excited.
"Heheh, there are still eight years left. That's enough time to turn my students into the most monstrous geniuses on the continent."
"As for the other students, if I can train another genius like Qin Ming, who would dare to oppose me when I call myself 'Grandmaster'?"
As Yu Xiaogang's thoughts raced, his murmuring turned into a normal voice, and he finally ended with a roar-like shout.
"I oppose it. What of it?"
At that moment, a voice saturated with pressure rang directly in Yu Xiaogang's ear. Suddenly, a burly middle-aged man clad in a black robe appeared behind him.
Yu Xiaogang nearly wet himself; cold sweat instantly drenched his back.
A person had appeared in this small office, and he hadn't even noticed. Swallowing hard, Yu Xiaogang looked back nervously, wanting to see exactly who it was.
"You'd better not turn your head. Otherwise, I'll have to kill someone."
This time, Tang Hao had no intention of entrusting Tang San to Yu Xiaogang, and naturally, he didn't want to reveal his true face. If he weren't worried about attracting the attention of Spirit Hall, he really felt the urge to hammer Yu Xiaogang to death.
"Who are you, sir?"
Tang Hao had just warned Yu Xiaogang, yet Yu Xiaogang risked death to ask anyway.
It gave Tang Hao the feeling that he had encountered an idiot. However, Tang Hao didn't speak this time. Instead, he placed his right hand on Yu Xiaogang's shoulder and pressed down lightly.
Bang!
Under Tang Hao's monstrous strength, Yu Xiaogang couldn't withstand the pressure at all. His knees buckled, and he collapsed directly into a kneel on the floor.
"I don't want you getting close to Xiao Lin or Tang San. And you'd better stop prying into their affairs."
"If I find out something has happened to them, then Yu Yuanzhen will be the next Qian Xunji. Understand?"
Hearing Tang Hao's words, Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank violently in fear.
There were very few people in the entire Douluo Continent who could boast about making Yu Yuanzhen end up like Qian Xunji. In Yu Xiaogang's mind, the person who left the deepest impression seemed to be right behind him.
"You... You are the Clear Sky..."
"Hmph!"
Tang Hao didn't want to say more; he only wanted to hear Yu Xiaogang swear an oath upon his martial soul. After a cold snort, a Soul Power pressure comparable to a Soul King directly crushed down on Yu Xiaogang.
This Soul King-level pressure was something Yu Xiaogang—who was only Rank 29 and possessed a middle-aged physique that hadn't been exercised in years—could not handle at all. Beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripped from his face.
His body trembled uncontrollably under Tang Hao's aura.
"W... Why?"
"Could it be..."
Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang seemed to realize something, and his eyes lit up.
"Is Xiao Lin your son?"
In his excitement, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but look back at Tang Hao to confirm the truth.
Sure enough, the moment Yu Xiaogang turned around, a flicker of blankness appeared on Tang Hao's face.
He guessed right.
Seeing Tang Hao remain silent, Yu Xiaogang became even more certain.
The Clear Sky Hammer martial soul must have mutated into the Horned Dragon Staff.
Although the two were completely different weapons, one could tell from the Innate Full Soul Power that the Horned Dragon Staff was a martial soul not inferior to the Clear Sky Hammer—perhaps even superior.
Unbeknownst to himself, Yu Xiaogang recalled that seemingly ordinary push from Xiao Lin that had knocked him over.
A six-year-old child could never have such strength unless Xiao Lin was already a Soul Master with a Soul Ring dedicated to increasing strength. This was exactly the same as the Soul Skill choices of the Clear Sky Douluo. Xiao Lin intended to go all-in on strength.
As for why Xiao Lin was surnamed Xiao instead of Tang, Yu Xiaogang assumed Tang Hao wanted to hide and protect his son.
Yu Xiaogang felt extremely smug.
He hadn't expected Xiao Lin to be the son of his idol. If that were the case, the flames of ambition began to roar in his heart again.
Yu Xiaogang said excitedly, "Clear Sky Excellency, if you let me teach your son..."
"Mind your own business."
At this point, Tang Hao didn't even want to explain.
He grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the shoulder and tossed him out.
"Make your oath and get lost."
Tang Hao's stance was clear.
No matter what Yu Xiaogang thought, he wouldn't let the man near Tang San, lest his plan for resurrection fail.
However, this heartless toss caused Yu Xiaogang's mentality to shatter. In his heart, the image of the invincible Clear Sky Douluo had collapsed. As he lay by the door, Yu Xiaogang's face was filled with disbelief.
Even the Clear Sky Douluo looked down on him? Fine...
He would leave!
"I, Yu Xiaogang, swear upon my martial soul Luo Sanpao—if I let a third person know about Xiao Lin and Tang San's affairs, let my martial soul shatter and let me suffer a fate worse than death."
He violently pushed open the office door, his face full of resentment, and left without looking back.
Damn it, damn it, damn it!
Yu Xiaogang's mood had gone through massive highs only to crash into rock bottom. Even if it was his idol, he would still harbor resentment if the man wouldn't entrust his son to him to be trained into the strongest Titled Douluo.
The hope he felt when he guessed Xiao Lin was Tang Hao's son had now transformed into pure hatred for both Tang Hao and Xiao Lin.
Tang Hao had destroyed his hope of becoming a true "Grandmaster."
Damn it! Why!
I've clearly worked so hard...
If it's the Clear Sky Douluo's child, Flender's talented kids won't stand a chance of winning. It looks like I'll have to use my strongest training method: limit-running with heavy weights.
Yu Xiaogang thought to himself, a flash of grim determination crossing his face.