Lin Mu's gaze sharpened, keenly detecting Tang San's subtle movement.
He inwardly exclaimed, 'What a piece of work, truly befitting the Tang Sect's style.'
"Xiao San, as long as you become my disciple, I will definitely train you to become the most powerful soul master on the entire continent."
Speaking more and more excitedly, Yu Xiaogang reached out and grabbed Tang San's shoulders, his eyes filled with urgency, completely unaware that Tang San was preparing to make a move against him.
Right at this moment, Lin Mu spoke up.
"A 29th-rank Great Soul Master shouldn't be spouting nonsense here. To educate others, one must first educate oneself. You yourself are a failure. What qualifications do you have to teach a genius with innate full soul power?"
Upon hearing this, bulging blue veins appeared on Yu Xiaogang's forehead, his eyes turned bloodshot, and he panted like an ox.
As the renowned Martial Soul Theory Master of the soul master world, to be called a failure to his face by a junior...
It was simply a monumental disgrace.
Tang San, standing to the side, secretly nodded in agreement, a wave of relief washing over him. He had almost been fooled by this old geezer.
Earlier, when this old man had discerned he possessed twin Martial Souls, he thought he had encountered a true expert.
Now it seemed it was most likely just a lucky guess.
"Brat! You say I'm not qualified to teach him? Could it be that you will teach him how to cultivate?"
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Yu Xiaogang decisively employed a tactical retreat.
In his view, this young man was only in his teens. What qualifications could he possibly have to teach anyone?
For now, the priority was to force him to leave, then figure out a way later to trick Tang San into staying.
"Compared to a swindling 'Master' like you, I at least won't waste his talent."
Saying this, Lin Mu walked slowly up to Tang San and said softly, "Tang San, are you willing to become my disciple?"
These words left both Yu Xiaogang and Tang San stunned.
Yu Xiaogang had originally thought this person was just a hater of his, hence the constant attempts to undermine him. He never imagined this fellow's target was Tang San.
This was the perfect disciple he had been dreaming of, his only chance to prove he wasn't a failure.
If he missed this disciple, he would never be able to shake off the label of 'failure'.
The reason Tang San was stunned was Lin Mu's extreme youth. He looked only about ten years older than himself, not even reaching the age he had been in his previous life.
"Ridiculous! You're barely in your teens and already want to take on a disciple? You'll only lead the student astray." Yu Xiaogang said with a look of disdain.
A mere youngster versus a Martial Soul Theory Master—any normal person would know whom to choose.
"Ambition isn't measured by age; lacking ambition, one may live a hundred years in vain. You haven't even figured out your own Martial Soul. You're nothing but an old fool presuming on his age."
In Lin Mu's view, Tang San's journey to becoming a Title Douluo and even a god had little to do with Yu Xiaogang.
Any instructor with strength above the Soul King level wouldn't have performed worse than Yu Xiaogang.
"'Ambition isn't measured by age; lacking ambition, one may live a hundred years in vain...'"
Tang San silently repeated the phrase, his gaze towards Lin Mu gaining a trace of recognition.
"Utter nonsense! With an innate soul power of half a level, I cultivated to the 29th rank. I am already a genius among geniuses!"
As he spoke, a genuine hint of pride appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. If his innate soul power had been above level five, he would at least be a Soul Sage by now.
Surely, it was his world-shaking intellect that provoked heaven's jealousy, hence his innate soul power being only half a level.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's smug expression, Lin Mu and Tang San exchanged a glance and, with mutual understanding, distanced themselves from him.
Extreme arrogance combined with extreme self-absorption—he was completely a madman living in his own world.
Yu Xiaogang, growing more excited as he spoke, strode up to Lin Mu and declared with an air of righteousness:
"In the end, you're just a little brat in your teens. How many books have you even read? How could you possibly understand the brilliance of my Martial Soul theories? A mountain cannot be measured with a ruler!"
"Fine. As an elder, this Master is magnanimous. I won't hold it against you this time. Leave Nuoding Academy at once."
Immediately after, Yu Xiaogang turned his back, placing his hands behind him, striking a pose of a lofty expert.
As a Martial Soul Theory Master, he didn't believe he couldn't intimidate these two.
"A mere 29th rank, yet he dares call himself a 'Master'? I have never seen someone so shameless."
After this harsh rebuke, Lin Mu still felt it wasn't enough. He extended his right hand and released his Martial Soul.
As fire elements from the surroundings gathered, a strangely shaped red metallic object materialized from his palm, hovering above his hand.
"What kind of Martial Soul is this?"
The self-proclaimed Master Yu Xiaogang was instantly dumbfounded. He had never seen this type of Martial Soul before.
Just by appearance, it looked like an ordinary piece of metal.
Thinking this, Yu Xiaogang sneered inwardly. Calling him a failure? How much better was this guy himself?
But the next second, he was utterly stunned.
Four spirit rings rose and began to circle at Lin Mu's feet—two yellow, two purple. A perfectly standard configuration.
This signified that Lin Mu was a Four-ringed Soul Ancestor!
But this guy looked to be at most seventeen or eighteen.
How could he possibly have cultivated to the Soul Ancestor level? Even within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, there was no such outstanding genius.
"Yu Xiaogang, do you still believe you are not a failure?"
These words pierced Yu Xiaogang's heart like a sharp sword.
The immense psychological disparity made it hard for him to breathe. His eyes glazed over as he stood there stupidly, for the first time doubting whether his Martial Soul theories were flawed.
He didn't understand.
This person clearly had a mutated Martial Soul like him, and the quality of the Martial Soul didn't seem high either.
So why could he cultivate to the Soul Ancestor level at such a young age?
"Could it be... that I really am a failure?"
Suffering such a heavy blow, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but begin to question his life.
If he had found spirit rings compatible with Luo Sanpao, perhaps he wouldn't have been stuck at the 29th rank.
But what's done is done; breaking through to the 30th rank in this lifetime is almost impossible.
Seeing the four spirit rings rising and circling, Tang San's eyes were filled with shock, even mixed with a trace of admiration.
Even Soul Master Su Yuntao, who had awakened his Martial Soul, was only a Two-ringed Great Soul Master.
Most crucially, Lin Mu was even younger than Soul Master Su Yuntao.
Reaching the Soul Ancestor level at such an age was sufficient proof that his understanding of Martial Souls was not lacking.
At the very least, he was more reliable than this swindling 'Master'.
Having reasoned it through, Tang San decisively knelt before Lin Mu, then kowtowed heavily three times.
"Teacher, please accept me as your disciple."
Having lived two lifetimes, Tang San was no fool who understood nothing.
Currently, with no one to rely on, if he wanted to become a powerful soul master, taking a young Four-ringed Soul Ancestor as his master was the best choice.
Seeing Tang San kneel before Lin Mu, begging to be taken as a disciple, Yu Xiaogang's heart turned to ashes.
He stumbled back two steps in disbelief, feeling an urge to vomit blood.
Without this perfect disciple possessing twin Martial Souls and innate full soul power, what could he use to prove his Martial Soul theories?
Lin Mu raised a hand, gesturing for Tang San to stand up. "From now on, address me as Master. Do not call me Teacher."
"Yes, Master."
Without the slightest hesitation, Tang San called out with a respectful expression.
Just as Tang San completed the act of becoming a disciple, the panel before Lin Mu's eyes changed.
[Main Mission completion has reached five percent. Reward: Soul Power increased by one level.]