Chapter 29: This Child Must Not Be Kept
The words "Spirit quality" deeply stung Tang San, causing his expression to dim.
"That's right."
"My Spirit quality is what it is—just Blue Silver Grass, a common weed found everywhere on the roadside."
"What more can I hope for?"
Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Do you know why I chose a spirit ring with added poison and enhanced toughness as your first Spirit Ability?"
Tang San shook his head.
Yu Xiaogang explained, "Because as your spirit power Rank continuously increases, your first two spirit rings will eventually be eliminated. This is an unavoidable problem for all Spirit Masters."
"However, adding toxicity and enhancing toughness belong to the strengthening of the Spirit itself."
"A strong Spirit Ability is only temporarily strong; only when the Spirit itself is strengthened is it a lifelong matter. My goal is not some Spirit Ability, but to change your Spirit quality."
Tang San's pupils contracted. Change Spirit quality? Can that really be done?
"Your Blue Silver Grass's quality is what it is. If its quality cannot be improved, then in the Late Stage, it will inevitably fail to keep up with your progress. Therefore, improving its quality is the top priority."
"My idea is very simple: continuously add poison-attribute spirit rings to it, turning it into a highly poisonous Blue Silver Grass that kills anyone who touches it."
"I admit I took a gamble, but facts prove I won. This plan is feasible; it is transforming in the direction I envisioned."
The more Yu Xiaogang spoke, the more confident he became, and by the end, he had even excited himself.
Tang San fell silent.
Grandmaster's words were not without reason, but Li Tian's words also made sense.
Who should he believe?
It seems Li Tian was right; I really should read more books, otherwise, I won't be able to distinguish right from wrong.
And if I understand myself, I don't have to rely on others for everything.
After all, relying on mountains, they crumble; relying on people, they run. Only oneself is worth trusting.
Yu Xiaogang's lips curved slightly.
He knew Tang San had been convinced by him, but that alone wasn't enough.
What he wanted was a blindly obedient Puppet Disciple.
Not a person with independent thought and self-learning ability.
An obedient Disciple is a good Disciple.
Only with absolute trust in him could he safely use the other party for experiments.
He did not accept questioning.
Yu Xiaogang said seriously, "Little San, remember, whatever I do, there must be a plan you haven't thought of. You can ask if you don't understand, but you cannot question."
Tang San's expression changed slightly.
After a moment of thought, he still felt Grandmaster was more reliable. After all, someone who could see that he had twin spirits at a glance, no matter how useless, couldn't be that useless.
How long had Li Tian been in contact with Cultivation? How long had he known him? How could he truly understand him?
Tang San bowed and apologized, "Teacher, I'm sorry. It was my fault for listening to a villain's slander. I shouldn't have questioned you. I promise there will never be a next time."
"Oh?"
Yu Xiaogang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who is this so-called villain you speak of?"
"It's Li Tian."
To mend their relationship, Tang San unhesitatingly sold out Li Tian, completely forgetting his previous promise.
Yu Xiaogang's face sank.
"Damn Li Tian. It's bad enough he refused to take me as his teacher, but he even dared to stir up trouble between Little San and me."
"What did he say?"
Tang San's expression froze, and he hesitated, "Teacher, his words were very unpleasant. How about…"
Yu Xiaogang raised a hand to interrupt him.
Helpless, Tang San could only reveal the many questions Li Tian had raised.
Yu Xiaogang's face grew even uglier.
Not because of Life Qi or anger, but fear. That kid actually guessed his thoughts.
This child must not be allowed to live.
He could guess to this extent based on just a few partial understandings.
Keeping him would be a disaster sooner or later.
Tang San lacked conviction. If he were to expose his shortcomings a few more times, it would probably be difficult to trick him back.
Killing him might be a bit of a pity, but there's no other way.
Since he could accurately guess his thoughts, there was basically no possibility of subduing him.
Since that's the case, there's no need to try too hard.
Getting rid of him would at least ensure that Tang San and Xiao Wu could be taken in.
If he didn't kill him, he might end up with nothing.
Of two evils, he chose the lesser. He would have to send Li Tian, this peerless Genius, on his way.
Who told him not to know what was good for him?
I can accept him not wanting to be my Disciple, but you secretly slandered me.
This is your Dao to death.
However, he couldn't openly get rid of him; he had to secretly eliminate him.
It wasn't that he was afraid of what trouble killing him would bring.
Who was Yu Xiaogang? The son of Yu Yuanzhen, Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong's beloved.
Let alone a Genius who hadn't grown up yet, even if he slaughtered the entire Nuoding City, nothing would happen to him.
He only cared about his reputation.
Openly getting rid of Li Tian might make outsiders mistakenly believe that he killed Li Tian because Li Tian refused to take him as his teacher.
Once this news spread, his reputation would be completely ruined.
"Teacher?"
Tang San cautiously called out. He saw killing intent in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
However, he didn't mind it.
Being slandered like this, anyone would find it unbearable. If it were him, he definitely wouldn't endure it.
"The actions of a villain are not worth bothering with."
Yu Xiaogang waved his hand, "In the future, stay away from him. Such a person is not to be deeply befriended."
Li Tian and Tang San were from the same village.
Even if Yu Xiaogang decided to kill him, he absolutely could not let Tang San know.
Otherwise, it would easily affect his image in Tang San's heart.
After all, he was the great and glorious Grandmaster. How could he harm a child because of some innocent childish words?
Things that damage one's image must be done secretly.
Tang San tentatively asked, "Then, Teacher, will you still take Li Tian as a Disciple?"
"Hmph!"
Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly, "Not every rotten fish and shrimp is qualified to be my Disciple."
"If one's character is lacking, high talent is useless."
"You just need to build a good relationship with Xiao Wu and not let her be led astray by that Li Tian."
Tang San said, "Teacher, I understand."
...
Shortly after Li Tian returned to his dormitory, he was called to the Notting Dean's office.
The Dean had agreed to his leave of absence.
Calling him in was merely to meet him, deepen the impression, and maintain the relationship.
Lest he forget about this matter after leaving.
How to deepen the impression?
Mere verbal care would certainly not be enough.
Notting Dean gave him a set of books. This set of books covered various aspects.
As long as Li Tian read all the books and memorized them.
Then he could basically solve most of the problems concerning Spirit Masters.
Of course, these were just some insignificant gifts.
Besides those books, Notting Dean also gave him a scholarship of five hundred gold coins.
Don't think five hundred gold coins doesn't seem like much.
You should know that, on Douluo Continent, three gold coins are basically enough for a common family of three for a year's expenses.
Five hundred gold coins was already a huge sum.
If it weren't for the Xiao Family's investment, Li Tian would dare to venture into Heaven Dou City with just these five hundred gold coins.
There was nothing else.
After all, Notting Dean's strength was limited, so he couldn't have too substantial a fortune.
Being willing to part with five hundred gold coins was already very surprising to Li Tian.
[end of the chapter]