"Xiao San, you go on ahead. I'll take a stroll around the campus."
Lu Feng didn't wait for Tang San's reply and began walking off on his own.
"Faith?"
Lu Feng pondered silently in his heart: "In the original story, the Angel God annihilated the fallen soul masters, founded the Spirit Hall, and eventually ascended to the Divine Realm thanks to the collective faith of all soul masters on the continent."
He scanned through his Fragment Inventory. Amidst the many white fragments, one stood out oddly — the [Faith Fragment], sitting all alone in its own corner.
"Huh? [Faith] can't be synthesized? Each fragment is independent?"
"Where the hell did this thing come from?"
Lu Feng turned his gaze back toward the school gates and saw the young gatekeeper still watching him from a distance.
"Could it be him?" Lu Feng wondered.
"That young man offended a student. Even though he's just a working student, if Old Jack or Tang San really pursued it, he'd definitely lose his job."
"To me, it's nothing — just lifting a finger. But to that young man, it's a decent job — maybe even the pillar of his family."
"What is this? Am I supposed to start doing daily good deeds?"
"If I become emperor and enact benevolent policies to help the suffering masses, does that mean I could just ascend to godhood in broad daylight?"
Lu Feng shook his head and dismissed that ridiculous thought.
In a fantasy world where individual strength reigned supreme — equality for all?
Better not.
In essence, soul masters were part of the exploitative class.
Where there are people, there are interests. Even without exploitation, class barriers are still hard to overcome.
"Poseidon's path to godhood makes more sense. Sea Soul Beasts may not understand faith, but they sure know how to respect strength!"
---
"A teacher for a day, a father for life. You should receive my bow of respect."
Near the teaching building, Lu Feng watched Tang San kneel down on one knee. He immediately felt like a flock of crows was flying over his head.
Just a moment ago at the school gates, they hadn't run into Yu Xiaogang. Lu Feng had thought Tang San had missed out on getting himself a "godfather."
Who would've thought — fate's gears had still turned as intended.
Across from Tang San, a man in his forties with a military buzz cut and black attire was crying tears of joy.
"Good child, good child!"
"Come, let me take you to the Academic Office," Yu Xiaogang said excitedly as he held Tang San's hand.
At this moment, Tang San also noticed Lu Feng. With a hint of pride, he said, "Lu Feng, this is my new teacher — a great and wise powerhouse."
Back in his former life in Tang Sect, being accepted as a disciple by an inner sect elder would have been a tremendous honor.
After some conversation, Tang San was completely convinced by Yu Xiaogang's vast knowledge. He assumed Yu must be a hidden powerhouse residing in the academy.
"…," Lu Feng was left speechless.
Great?
Wise?
Powerhouse?!!
None of these words had anything to do with Yu Xiaogang.
If back when he was rejected by Bibi Dong, Yu Xiaogang had declared, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river!" and then smashed his head under the Angel God's statue, Lu Feng might've looked at him with some respect.
"Oh! So you're the Grandmaster? I've heard so much about you!"
Lu Feng widened his eyes and clasped his fists together, putting on an expression of excitement.
No matter how useless Yu Xiaogang was, he was still a Grandmaster — far beyond what a mere Soul Scholar like Lu Feng could provoke.
Lu Feng had no intention of acting like those time-travelers who went around spouting nonsense.
What if Yu Xiaogang got pissed and summoned Luo Sanpao to thunderstrike him? Wouldn't he have to transmigrate all over again?
"Oh? You've heard of my tales?"
Yu Xiaogang saw Lu Feng's "respectful" behavior and felt a wave of satisfaction in his heart.
What he loved the most… was being worshiped.
He straightened his back, clasped his hands behind him, and coughed lightly: "Come, let me see your Martial Soul Certificate."
Lu Feng inwardly felt like a stampede of grass mud horses was racing through his brain.
"I really had to poke the hornet's nest. What if Yu Xiaogang suddenly gets interested and wants to take me in as a disciple? Do I accept or decline?"
"If I accept, I gain a godfather for free. If I decline, would he fart lightning at me?"
"But seriously, even though Yu Xiaogang sucks in combat, he really does care for his disciples. And he's got decent background. Once the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan gets wiped, he and Liu Erlong become Supreme Elders."
"Still no good. My situation's way too unique — I can use other people's Martial Souls. Normally I can hide it, but once I start absorbing soul rings, I won't be able to. What if Yu Xiaogang gets curious and tries to dissect me?"
"Hmm, innate soul power level 5 — not bad," Yu Xiaogang said, interrupting Lu Feng's thoughts.
"Even though your Martial Soul is low quality, you mustn't give up on cultivation."
With that, he handed the certificate back to Lu Feng and walked away with Tang San toward the teaching building.
Their figures grew smaller in the distance, leaving Lu Feng alone on the field.
"Damn it! Did I just get rejected?"
At that moment, a ball of white light dropped from Yu Xiaogang's location:
> Acquired white item: [Top 10 Core Competencies of Martial Souls] Fragment *1 (1/10)
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"Dismantle it!"
"Break it down completely!"
---
At the admissions office.
Director Su handed Lu Feng a set of white school uniforms. "This is yours — issued for free. You'll be staying in Dorm Seven. The teacher there will assign your duties as a working student."
"Thank you, Director," Lu Feng said politely as he accepted the uniform.
Just as he was about to leave, Director Su grabbed his hand and asked quietly, "Lu Feng, your innate soul power is quite good. The Grandmaster didn't try to take you in as a disciple, did he?"
"Hm? What do you mean by that, Director?" Lu Feng asked in confusion.
Seeing Lu Feng's expression, Director Su let out a sigh of relief.
He pulled Lu Feng close and whispered, "That guy's not all there in the head. He's obsessed with taking in a genius disciple to prove himself. But all his theories are just paraphrased from books."
Then, with a serious look, he added, "Lu Feng, your innate soul power is level 5 — and your Martial Soul isn't some trash like Blue Silver Grass. Your future is bright, so don't go down the wrong path, alright?"
"Understood. Thank you, Director."
Lu Feng nodded and said his goodbyes before heading off to Dorm Seven.
He didn't care much about Yu Xiaogang. To Lu Feng, Yu's only value lay in his foundational knowledge of soul beasts. If he just spent some time wandering the dorm area collecting book fragments, he wouldn't need the man at all.
The dorm building was easy to find — there was only one, and Dorm Seven was located in the far back on the first floor, designated for working students.
As Lu Feng approached the door to Dorm Seven, he heard a ruckus coming from inside. The door was open, so he walked up and peeked in.
It was a spacious room, over 300 square meters, with a few dozen beds placed along the walls and a large open area in the center.
At the moment, two boys were wrestling in the open space, while more than a dozen others surrounded them, shouting encouragement:
"Da Xiong, punch his belly!"
"Go Da Xiong! Beat Wang Sheng and you'll be the boss of Dorm Seven!"
"Da Xiong, use an over-the-shoulder throw!"
Lu Feng watched for a bit before losing interest — the fight had no technique at all, just childish roughhousing. But what did catch his eye were the several clusters of white light scattered across the floor.
"Huh, now this Martial Soul is kind of interesting…"