Therefore, after Yu Xiaogang arrived in Notting City, Dean Zhang invited him to serve as a Guest Elder—drawing a salary, eating for free, and living comfortably without doing much of anything.
After Ma Xiunuo and Dean Zhang had been seated and chatting for a few minutes, the sound of footsteps approached.
Yin Zhang turned his head—and sure enough, it was Yu Xiaogang.
Dean Zhang immediately spoke to Ma Xiunuo and Yin Zhang.
"This is the Grandmaster, a renowned authority in spirit theory. After hearing about Xiao Zhang, he wished to meet him, so I took the liberty of introducing you."
Ma Xiunuo frowned.
"You're the Grandmaster?"
Internally, he couldn't help sneering.
A well-known freeloader, and someone actually calls him a Grandmaster?
Wanting to meet Xiao Zhang? The intention was obvious—he wanted to take him as a disciple. Anyone could see through that.
"Greetings, Hall Master Ma Xiunuo. I am Yu Xiaogang."
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, forcing a stiff smile onto his face.
Ma Xiunuo's brows remained knitted together. He didn't respond at all.
If he'd known this would happen today, he wouldn't have brought Yin Zhang to the academy even a day early.
He turned to Dean Zhang and said bluntly,
"Dean Zhang, why did you arrange for this so-called Grandmaster to meet us? If there's something to say, say it plainly."
Standing behind Ma Xiunuo, Yin Zhang looked at Yu Xiaogang with unconcealed disdain.
Though Yin Zhang was currently only a Rank 16 Soul Master, compared to Yu Xiaogang, he had already surpassed him by a wide margin.
Even if Yu Xiaogang's soul power cultivation was slightly higher, Yin Zhang already possessed four soul skills. If Yu Xiaogang dared to release that pig martial spirit and fight him, Yin Zhang was confident he could handle it with ease.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's expression darken, Dean Zhang coughed lightly and said to Ma Xiunuo,
"Hall Master Ma, since that's the case, I'll speak directly. Xiaogang believes Xiao Zhang is extremely suitable for spirit theory research and wishes to take him as a disciple. What is your opinion?"
Yu Xiaogang glanced at the cold-faced Ma Xiunuo and spoke arrogantly,
"Hall Master Ma, though I am untalented, I once published the Ten Great Spirit Theories, which are famous across the continent. I believe I am more than qualified to guide a child who has only just awakened his martial spirit."
Ma Xiunuo let out a cold laugh.
"First, Xiao Zhang is seven, not six."
"Second—hmph. Since you're so impressive and worthy of the title Grandmaster, why are you stuck in this remote backwater? You're nothing more than a freeloader waiting to die. Do you really take yourself that seriously?"
"I'll be blunt. After Xiao Zhang awakened his martial spirit, his information was already reported to headquarters. If not for his filial nature and his desire to stay by his grandfather's side for a few more years, experts from Spirit Hall would have taken him away long ago to study at the Spirit Hall Academy. Who do you think you are?"
Ma Xiunuo's tone was still restrained—at least he hadn't outright cursed.
Hearing this, Dean Zhang looked troubled.
That's true…
With Yin Zhang's talent—Innate Full Soul Power and a top-tier beast martial spirit—if he were Spirit Hall, he'd absolutely be tempted as well.
Dean Zhang hesitated as he looked at Yu Xiaogang.
Should he persuade him to give up?
Over the past ten years, Dean Zhang had come to understand Yu Xiaogang's temperament all too well.
What he feared most was that Yu Xiaogang would stubbornly persist and insist on taking Yin Zhang as a disciple regardless of the consequences.
If that happened, it would inevitably offend Spirit Hall.
Compared to Spirit Hall, the two of them were nothing.
No—not even grasshoppers. They were like fireflies before the bright moon, utterly insignificant.
The moment Yu Xiaogang heard the words Spirit Hall, resentment immediately filled his eyes.
Spirit Hall.
Qian Xunji.
Yu Xiaogang firmly believed that the reason Bibi Dong had abandoned him back then—aside from looking down on him—was because her teacher, Qian Xunji, had obstructed him at every turn and humiliated him repeatedly.
Ignoring Ma Xiunuo's disdainful gaze, Yu Xiaogang stepped forward and addressed Yin Zhang.
"Two months ago, in that restaurant, you may have thought I was seeking fame… but now, allow me to formally introduce myself—"
Yin Zhang merely watched coldly as Yu Xiaogang rambled on about his so-called glorious past—claiming noble lineage and unrestricted access to Spirit Hall's library.
Both Ma Xiunuo and Dean Zhang exchanged skeptical looks.
A noble family? Free access to Spirit Hall's library?
Do you think we're idiots?
If that were true, would he have ended up stuck in a place like Notting City?
If that were true, why would his martial spirit be a pig completely incompatible with himself?
Seeing that Yin Zhang remained unmoved, Yu Xiaogang grew anxious and blurted out without thinking,
"What you care about is Spirit Hall, nothing more! What's so great about Spirit Hall anyway? Their rigid training methods will only waste your potential! My spirit theory research has already reached perfection. On the Douluo Continent, if I claim second place, no one would dare claim first!"
"Become my disciple, and I'll design the optimal cultivation path for you—allowing you to crush Spirit Hall's so-called geniuses of the same age in every aspect!"
Yin Zhang was genuinely speechless.
Optimal cultivation path?
You mean sealing soul power, running laps, and tossing me into the Great Soul Arena to be free-range farmed?
He nearly laughed out loud.
Just as Ma Xiunuo was about to rebuke Yu Xiaogang, Yin Zhang spoke first.
"Even if what you say were true—so what?"
"No matter how beautiful your words sound, they're still just illusions. On the Douluo Continent, strength is supreme."
"What practical use does your so-called spirit theory have? If you were really that capable, you wouldn't be hiding in a small place like Notting City. You even look down on Spirit Hall—what qualifications do you have to do so?"
"And furthermore—"
Every word Yin Zhang spoke struck directly at Yu Xiaogang's sore spots.
Yu Xiaogang lowered his head, fists clenched tightly.
He never imagined that one day, he would be humiliated by a mere child.
Humiliation and resentment flooded his heart, his stiff face turning beet red.
Ma Xiunuo stood up and let out a cold snort.
"Xiao Zhang, let's go. What a mood killer."
Watching the two of them leave, Dean Zhang sighed softly.
Regret filled his heart.
If he had known that Yin Zhang had already been targeted by Spirit Hall's higher-ups, he would never have agreed to Yu Xiaogang's request.
This time, not only did he fail to deepen his relationship with Ma Xiunuo, he had instead created a rift between them.
Turning back, Dean Zhang saw that Yu Xiaogang had already clenched his fists and left as well.
Dean Zhang sighed again.
"What a mess… In the end, I didn't please either side."
As for Yin Zhang, after returning to Ma Xiunuo's residence, he opened his attribute panel.
Sure enough—
The age of his first soul ring had increased by two hundred years, reaching seven hundred and twenty years.