Tang San remained unaware of why his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, had suddenly become so agitated: "Teacher, what is the matter?"
Yu Xiaogang cast a disdainful glance at Tang Yi, then took Tang San's hand and spoke in a cold tone: "Little San, earlier you kept recommending your younger brother to me. I assumed he possessed talent on par with yours!"
"I, Yu Xiaogang, am a Grandmaster—not someone who accepts every mediocre fool as a disciple! Your brother Tang Yi has dull aptitude. He can only be taught by the academy's ordinary instructors!"
In that instant, Yu Xiaogang lost all interest in taking him as a student.
Tang Yi was rendered speechless. He could not fathom where this Yu Xiaogang derived such unwarranted confidence and arrogance.
Yu Xiaogang himself possessed only a pitiful half-rank of innate soul power—by what right did he look down on someone with rank-one innate soul power?
"What nonsense Grandmaster! Even if you begged me to become your disciple, I would never enter your tutelage!"
Having thoroughly studied the original novel, Tang Yi knew full well that becoming Yu Xiaogang's disciple would mean being subjected to brainwashing and irreparable harm!
Fortunately, studying systematically at Notting Junior Soul Master Academy suited him perfectly.
As an institution with a long and venerable history, the academy offered a well-developed curriculum. Its foundational and comprehensive courses were ideal for children who had only recently awakened their soul power, allowing them to build a solid base and consolidate their learning.
Beyond that, Tang Yi had his own considerations.
Given that his homeland of Great Xia had bestowed upon him so many valuable resources, he was determined to repay the nation properly!
During his time at Notting Junior Soul Master Academy, Tang Yi planned to meticulously record all the foundational soul master knowledge he acquired, compile it into volumes, and transmit it back to Great Xia.
"Perhaps this soul master knowledge could enable the entire population of Great Xia to achieve transcendence!"
Such thoughts filled his mind.
On the other side, Yu Xiaogang pulled Tang San away, refusing to continue arguing with Tang Yi.
In Yu Xiaogang's opinion, soul masters lacking exceptional talent were simply not worth cultivating.
On the return journey, Yu Xiaogang continued lecturing Tang San: "Little San, in the future you should associate less with your younger brother! His talent is far too poor—he will surely drag you down."
Still fixated on the prospect of that single gold soul coin subsidy, Tang San replied somewhat reluctantly: "Teacher, earlier Tang Yi mentioned your Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls. The second theory states: there are no waste martial souls—only waste soul masters!"
"Although my younger brother's martial soul is considered waste, with your careful guidance, he should at least be able to become a rank-ten soul master! Just as you yourself, with only half-rank innate soul power, have grown into a twenty-ninth-ranked great soul master!"
Yu Xiaogang inwardly scoffed: "Little San, the only reason I reached rank twenty-nine was by seizing cultivation resources that rightfully belonged to my father, the Title Douluo Yu Yuanzhen!"
Moreover, during his early years, Yu Xiaogang had cultivated within one of the Upper Three Sects—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—where resources were extraordinarily abundant!
He had essentially been piled high with resources until he reached rank twenty-nine.
"Little San, though your words are reasonable, a person's energy is finite! By focusing entirely on teaching you, I can devote myself wholeheartedly!"
"If I were also to instruct your dull-witted younger brother, it would inevitably divide my attention and hinder your progress."
"Furthermore, did your brother not speak with such arrogance earlier? Let him train under the academy's ordinary teachers. After completing the six-year program, he might—just might—have a slim chance of reaching rank ten!"
Yu Xiaogang rationalized to himself.
In truth, given his current impoverished circumstances, Yu Xiaogang possessed no meaningful cultivation resources to offer.
Tang San's plan had fallen through. He could only nod helplessly: "Understood, Teacher. I will follow your guidance!"
Yu Xiaogang, seasoned and cunning, naturally perceived Tang San's underlying thoughts. To pacify his sole disciple, he tossed out an enticing incentive: "Little San, you need not concern yourself with that single gold soul coin subsidy. As a twenty-ninth-ranked great soul master, I receive ten gold soul coins per month from the Spirit Hall!"
"I cannot possibly spend all ten myself. Therefore, from now on, you may take one gold soul coin each month for your personal expenses!"
Upon hearing this, Tang San's face lit up with joy, his smile radiant: "Thank you, Teacher! You truly treat me well!"
Yu Xiaogang placed his hands behind his back and gave a meaningful smile: "Of course! Little San, the affection and concern I hold for you are of the negative-distance variety! You must cultivate diligently!"
Tang San was momentarily stunned. As someone with the mindset of an ancient, he had only ever heard of "zero distance."
"Negative distance?"
He grumbled inwardly but chose not to inquire further.
...
Within Notting Academy, over the course of the past month, Tang Yi had followed the academy's curriculum in an orderly manner—attending classes, listening attentively, taking detailed notes, reviewing material to gain new insights, and applying it through practical cultivation.
The theoretical knowledge taught at a junior soul master academy was not complex, but it was classic, foundational, and highly practical.
Every day, Tang Yi consumed one vial of special-grade gene enhancement potion while simultaneously cultivating the Nine Yang True Scripture!
This gene enhancement potion, a product of advanced technology, produced exceptional results. Rather than crudely boosting raw strength, it optimized the body from the deepest levels of life in a manner akin to precision engineering.
Upon ingestion, the potion transformed into a gentle, warm current that first nourished the internal organs.
The heartbeat grew steadier and more powerful, each contraction pumping greater volumes of energy-rich blood.
Liver detoxification efficiency increased dramatically, leaving Tang Yi feeling remarkably light and agile.
The spleen and stomach doubled their capacity to absorb and convert nutrients, extracting far more essence even from ordinary food.
With strengthened viscera providing an unprecedented foundation of endurance and recovery, the medicinal power then permeated the skin, muscles, tendons, and bones.
The skin became denser and more resilient; ordinary scrapes and minor wounds left no trace.
Muscle fibers were microscopically restructured and reinforced, their lines flowing smoothly and perfectly, brimming with balanced explosive power.
Bone density continued to rise, taking on a faint jade-like luster and greatly enhanced impact resistance!
The gene potion served as the ideal "supplement" for cultivating the Nine Yang True Scripture!
Whenever Tang Yi focused his mind and circulated the scripture, the strand of supremely yang and rigid internal energy in his dantian began to flow.
This internal energy coursed joyfully through meridians that had been widened and fortified by the potion, encountering no obstruction whatsoever.
Wherever it passed, it not only cleansed the meridians and tempered the flesh but also synergized with the lingering active essence of the potion, giving rise to even more vigorous vitality.
Tang Yi could clearly sense a warm breath constantly gathering and lingering in his dantian, slowly growing with each cycle of inhalation and exhalation.
This pure and supreme Nine Yang internal energy not only kept his limbs and body perpetually warm and free from cold, granting him far greater vitality than ordinary people, but also quietly erected an invisible defensive barrier within him.
The combination of gene potion and Nine Yang True Scripture was silently laying for Tang Yi a foundation far surpassing that of any peer—and even exceeding that of many mid- to high-tier soul masters.
"Hu!"
Exhaling a long, turbid breath, Tang Yi opened his eyes, joy flickering within them.
"According to the records of the Nine Yang True Scripture, my current martial cultivation realm has reached the first stage: Foundation Establishment Realm!"
"Drawing heaven-and-earth yang qi into the dantian to establish the foundational internal energy cycle!"
"If placed in the ancient martial world, my current level of skill would allow me to fight ten opponents at once—qualifying me, albeit barely, as a third-rate martial practitioner!"
To clarify: "one against ten" here did not mean repelling ten children, but rather single-handedly defeating ten elite soldiers clad in heavy armor, wielding blades and swords, and trained in formal military discipline.
Yet Tang Yi was only six years old—his body still possessed tremendous plasticity!
Of course, achieving the Foundation Establishment Realm so rapidly was not solely due to the gene potion's catalysis.
The abundant heaven-and-earth spiritual energy present throughout the Douluo Continent universe provided an indispensable助力!
"Blue Star has essentially entered an era of spiritual energy depletion, approaching the end of dharma!"
"Though the Douluo Continent is often mocked as the 'floor tile of xianxia,' it nonetheless stands at the threshold of a true fantasy world! The density of spiritual energy here is at least one hundred times greater than on Blue Star!"
Tang Yi sighed with emotion.
Even the wealthiest elites and scions of great families on Blue Star, despite having access to gene potions and other technological aids, could never replicate heaven-and-earth spiritual energy. The cultivation of national martial arts and ancient body-refining techniques remained extraordinarily difficult.
"Being in the alternate spacetime of the Douluo Continent while still connected to my homeland of Great Xia allows me to draw advantages from both worlds!"
"It will not be long before I stand at the pinnacle of the Douluo universe!"
Tang Yi brimmed with confidence.
With his martial dao breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, his soul power had naturally risen to rank nine!
"In just over a month, I have advanced from innate rank-one soul power to rank nine! Only one more level, and I can obtain my first soul ring!"
Tang Yi felt genuine delight.
If Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were to learn of this progress, their jaws would surely drop in shock!
...
As the sun climbed high, Tang Yi concluded his cultivation session. A faint sense of hunger stirred in his stomach.
His gaze swept across the nearby bushes, where several fluffy, pink-furred, plump rabbits were rustling about in search of food.
"A meal that has delivered itself right to me," Tang Yi thought, his eyes brightening.
In his previous life, one of Tang Yi's side professions had been that of a chef at a five-star hotel. Culinary arts were among his strongest skills. Even in this alternate world, with limited seasonings, creating delicious food came naturally to him.
Tang Yi moved subtly—still as a maiden when motionless, swift as the wind when in action.
His post-cultivation physique far surpassed that of an ordinary person, and his targets were merely a few soft pink rabbits.
With almost no effort, he soon held three plump, tender pink-furred rabbits in his hands.
Finding a sheltered, dry clearing, he gathered dry branches and started a fire using the most primitive method of friction.
Once the flames were steady, Tang Yi deftly skinned and cleaned the rabbits, then gathered several nearby aromatic herbs, crushed them to extract their juices, and used the liquid for a simple marinade.
Without complex spices, success depended entirely on mastery of heat control and respect for the ingredients' natural flavor.
Tang Yi skewered the rabbits on cleanly whittled branches and rotated them slowly and evenly over the fire.
The fat sizzled and dripped under the flames' caress, gradually turning a tempting golden-brown. The rich, meaty aroma mingled with faint herbal notes, wafting on the breeze and stirring the appetite.
Just as the meat reached the perfect stage—nearly done, with aroma at its peak—footsteps approached from a distance.
"What a wonderful smell!"
The newcomer was none other than Tang San.
Tang San had been on his way to the cafeteria and happened to pass by.
Inhaling the irresistible scent of roasted meat, Tang San's gaze locked onto the golden, glistening roasted rabbits in Tang Yi's hands. His throat bobbed involuntarily as saliva gathered.
"Little brother, your skill at roasting rabbits is impressive!"
Tang San stepped closer, forcing a smile onto his face while speaking in a tone that assumed compliance: "I haven't eaten yet either. Why don't you share two with me to try?"
Tang Yi lifted his eyes and observed Tang San's drooling yet pretentious expression. A wave of disgust rose within him, but he did not respond immediately. Instead, he continued calmly turning the skewers.
Moreover, Tang San's lack of courtesy was striking!
There were only three roasted rabbits in total, yet he immediately demanded two?
"What a greedy 'good brother,'" Tang Yi sneered inwardly.
Seeing that Tang Yi did not reply, Tang San interpreted it as tacit consent and reached out directly to take the two most succulent-looking rabbits.
Tang Yi swiftly blocked his hand: "Brother, these are my roasted rabbits! I haven't eaten yet, and you simply reach out to take them?"
Tang San gave an awkward laugh: "Little brother, I am your elder brother, after all!"
Just as Tang Yi was about to drive him away, a sudden realization struck him.
According to the original plot, one year earlier—when Tang San first enrolled at Notting Academy—he should have already encountered and befriended Xiao Wu, the hundred-thousand-year Soft-Boned Rabbit who had taken human form, in the working-student dormitory.
After a full year of development, Tang San and Xiao Wu's relationship should be quite close by now.
Of course, at this moment, Tang San was still completely unaware that Xiao Wu's true form was that of a soul beast—the Soft-Boned Rabbit!
Recalling these details, Tang Yi suddenly smiled: "Since Brother enjoys eating them so much, please take two! After all, we are brothers!"
Tang San's face immediately broke into a delighted grin. Without hesitation, he seized the two roasted rabbits: "Little brother, you speak truly—we are brothers!"
Tang San promptly began devouring them voraciously, tearing into the meat in large bites and chewing with gusto.
There was no denying Tang Yi's culinary mastery. Tang San ate until his mouth was slick with grease, thoroughly satisfied. Spitting out a rabbit leg bone, he praised: "Little brother! I never realized your cooking skills were this excellent!"
"The roasted rabbit you made is truly delicious! Back home we only ever had porridge every day—I had no idea rabbit meat could be so flavorful!"
Tang San let out a contented burp!
At that precise moment, another voice—clear, melodious, yet trembling with barely contained fury—exploded like thunder behind them:
"You—what are you doing?!"
Tang Yi and Tang San turned simultaneously.
Standing not far away was a pretty young girl who appeared to be around their age.
She wore her long hair in a scorpion braid. Her large eyes were now wide with shock, fixed unblinkingly on the roasted rabbit in Tang San's hands and the several discarded pink rabbit pelts beside the fire. Her small face flushed crimson with rage, and her eyes even showed the beginnings of a reddish tint.
This girl was none other than Xiao Wu.
Her chest heaved violently with anger as she pointed at Tang San, her voice shaking and rising in pitch:
"Third Brother! How could you eat rabbit?!"
Tang San remained oblivious. The meat was so delicious—why shouldn't he eat it?
"Xiao Wu, you're here! This is my younger brother Tang Yi—he's excellent at roasting rabbits! I'll have him roast one of the pink-furred ones for you too!"
Tang San's blockheaded mind had yet to notice that Xiao Wu was teetering on the edge of an outburst.