Chapter 9: The Ignored "Grandmaster"
Nuoding Academy, Dorm Seven.
Early the next morning, Zu Zong awoke from cultivation.
Opening his eyes and glancing around, he noticed there were still two empty beds in Dorm Seven.
Seeing this, a strange smirk curved Zu Zong's lips as he chuckled inwardly:
'Looks like the welcome gift I gave to Tang San yesterday was quite the generous one. He's probably still trembling in some dark room somewhere—cold, hungry, and scared!'
After brushing his teeth and washing up, Zu Zong didn't bother greeting anyone and walked out of Dorm Seven on his own.
He headed straight to the Director's Office.
Before even reaching the door, he could already hear the voice of a middle-aged man yelling from afar.
"Outrageous! Completely out of line! How could someone just toss a new student into some dark room without any care?"
"Director, this really needs to be dealt with. That kid was locked in a dark room all night. If I hadn't gotten up to use the bathroom and heard him crying, who knows what might have happened by morning? Nuoding Academy is a place for low-level Soul Masters to study, not some personal kingdom for people to abuse power. Just a few days ago, I even saw him asking for 'favors' from students' parents."
A second middle-aged man responded. His tone was low, weathered, and entirely devoid of energy.
"Then, Grandmaster, what do you suggest we do?"
"Without rules, there's no order. Expel him and make a public announcement to the whole academy. Have him bow and apologize to my student!"
"But that Horton (alias for the gatekeeper) is the nephew of the Spirit Hall branch master in Nuoding City. That might be a bit…"
"So what if he's with Spirit Hall? Even the Pope can't get away with this kind of thing! @#￥" (just imagine all the words cursing Spirit Hall!)
Bibi Dong: Why am I getting dragged into this for no reason?
Outside the office, Zu Zong touched his flawlessly white chin and muttered in his mind,
'Seems like the one arguing with the Director must be the so-called "Grandmaster."'
'Could it really be fate at work? Even like this, Yu Xiaogang still manages to run into Tang San!'
'And judging by his tone, it sounds like he's already accepted Tang San as a disciple.'
Fate truly is strange.
Knock knock. Zu Zong knocked on the Director's office door.
Click. The door opened.
Standing before him was a refined-looking middle-aged man. From the four long swords engraved on the badge on his chest, Zu Zong immediately recognized him. He was the Director of Nuoding Academy—thirty-second ranked Battle Soul Elder, Franklin.
As a model youth excelling in moral, intellectual, and physical development, Zu Zong was not only charming on the outside but noble in spirit.
Naturally and very politely, he greeted the Director.
"Good morning, Director!"
"Good! Good! I remember you—you're the new student who enrolled yesterday, Zu—Zong, right? Don't just stand out there, come in quickly."
The Director seemed quite warm, not only welcoming Zu Zong inside with genuine friendliness but also pouring him a cup of hot tea.
Only the heavens knew—
Franklin had only just started work this morning, hadn't even eaten breakfast, and was immediately dragged into the office by this so-called "Grandmaster," who wouldn't stop ranting. Worse still, the man had the audacity to publicly criticize the Spirit Hall and even the Pope, making Franklin's heart race with anxiety.
So when he heard someone knocking, it felt like salvation. He didn't even bother saying "Come in"—he ran to open the door himself.
Zu Zong accepted the teacup, took a symbolic sip, and was just about to speak when Franklin interrupted.
"Come, Grandmaster, let me introduce you. This student, Zu—Zong, also enrolled just yesterday. Not only that, he's a genius with innate full soul power. Didn't your disciple awaken a Blue Silver Grass spirit with innate full soul power? Well, this young man here also awakened Blue Silver Grass, but his is a powerful mutated version."
Innate full soul power and mutated Blue Silver Grass? Yu Xiaogang had originally thought the Director was brushing him off, but now his eyes lit up.
That stiff face of his pulled into his signature awkward smile, like he had just seen some priceless treasure. He stared at Zu Zong from head to toe.
With every look, he nodded again.
Not bad, not bad! Exceptional bone structure! Truly one in ten thousand, a born genius with unparalleled potential. Only my invincible theories are worthy of shaping such talent.
His confidence swelling, Yu Xiaogang made up his mind. He was going to take this likely fourth-ever twin spirit holder as his second disciple.
Off to the side, Zu Zong shuddered under Yu Xiaogang's greedy gaze.
'What the hell? Is this "Grandmaster" guy into men or something? Is he lusting after my good looks?'
The thought gave Zu Zong the chills. If the Director weren't here, he might have already shown this creep what Konoha-style taijutsu felt like.
Zu Zong cleared his throat and spoke up,
"Ahem, um, Director, this old guy next to you… he's the dorm janitor, right? I wanted to ask for a few days off—maybe he can help me register the leave?"
Hearing the word "janitor," Director Franklin almost burst out laughing. He glanced at Yu Xiaogang's twitching mouth.
Honestly, with that outfit and style, the guy really did look like a dorm custodian.
Franklin didn't bother explaining and instead asked gently,
"Zu Zong, you just started school yesterday—why are you requesting time off already? What are you planning to do?"
Zu Zong replied,
"I'm going to hunt for my first spirit ring."
Franklin nodded in understanding.
"That makes sense. It's already been three months since your spirit awakened. If you delay any longer, it could slow your progress. I happen to have some free time these next few days—how about I take you myself?"
Zu Zong thought for a moment and didn't refuse.
That would save him a lot of trouble. He could probably trick Su Yuntao into giving him a pass, but the guards at the Spirit Hunting Forest and those rogue cultivators wouldn't take him seriously.
"Alright. Thank you, Director!"
The two of them chatted casually, completely ignoring Yu Xiaogang, who was still pondering how to take on a second disciple.
Every time he tried to speak, Zu Zong cut him off with a blunt,
"Janitor Grandpa, let's talk later."
By the time they finished talking and left for breakfast, Yu Xiaogang hadn't gotten a single word in.
Standing at the doorway, Yu Xiaogang watched Zu Zong's figure disappear into the distance.
Hidden inside his sleeve, his fist clenched tightly.
"No, I can't give up yet! I, Yu Xiaogang, will prove myself! Yes! I still have Xiao San. Tomorrow, I'll take him to get his first spirit ring. Once we return, I'll have them compete. When he sees the difference, he'll naturally fall at my—er—enter my tutelage! Haha, I'm a genius!"
Far off, walking beside Director Franklin, Zu Zong glanced back in Yu Xiaogang's direction.
Seeing the man waving his arms around like a madman, he asked Franklin,
"Director, that janitor grandpa is standing there waving his hands like crazy—he's not mentally ill, is he?"
To be honest, Franklin held little respect for this so-called "Grandmaster," who was the principal's eccentric friend.
The guy was in his forties or fifties and hadn't even broken through level thirty, yet he still went around boasting about his "invincible theories."
If not for the principal's favor, Franklin wouldn't even give the guy the time of day.
That talented Tang San from yesterday had already been tricked into becoming his disciple.
Franklin didn't want Zu Zong following the same path, so he didn't correct the misunderstanding.
Without much hesitation, Franklin replied,
"Nothing serious. He's just getting old—probably hitting menopause."
(End of Chapter)