Chapter 15 "Grandmaster" Visit, Collection of Abstract Words and Actions
In the Nuoding City Spirit Hall, Ma Xiunuo lay on a lounge chair, chatting idly with his subordinates.
"Hall Master Su is really lucky. That kid he adopted had his Spirit Awakening a few days ago. Guess what the result was."
Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo's white beard twitched slightly, his face filled with envy.
The subordinate Spirit Hall deacon played along appropriately.
"Please tell me about it, elder."
Very satisfied with the other's role as a foil, Ma Xiunuo said proudly.
"It's an Innately Full Spirit Power. But..."
Before he could finish bragging, he was interrupted by sudden work.
"Is anyone there? I'm here to collect the Spirit Master subsidy."
Ma Xiunuo was clearly unhappy about being interrupted, but relying on his high professional integrity, he forcibly suppressed his anger.
"Bring your Spirit Master credential over. Let me check the date of your last collection."
Spirit Hall had its own regulations; to collect the Spirit Master subsidy, one must carry the Spirit Master credential from the last time they received gold coins. Otherwise, given the difficult information exchange on the Douluo Continent, some Spirit Masters could easily collect a subsidy in one city's Spirit Hall and then run to another to fleece them.
Looking up and seeing the person's face clearly, Ma Xiunuo's eyebrows rose slightly.
It was this guy, rumored to have some connection with the Holy Maiden. After recognizing the other's identity, his tone softened a bit.
"Give me the credential."
Standing in front of the processing counter was a middle-aged man who looked no more than forty years old. He wore an old, shabby robe that, combined with his decadent and listless aura, complemented him perfectly.
His complexion was somewhat sallow, and his eyes were very dim, as if he had suffered some major blow.
He took out a crumpled piece of paper from the belt at his waist and handed it to Ma Xiunuo.
This old gentleman spent a long time searching that crumpled paper for the information he wanted.
Shaking his head helplessly, he instructed the subordinate beside him.
"Go get him ten gold coins."
Ma Xiunuo turned back to write a new credential on the paper and handed it to the decadent middle-aged man. "Take it."
"Alright."
This was the second time the middle-aged man spoke. His voice was harsh and monotone, like rotting wood.
After a while, the bag containing ten gold coins reached the middle-aged man's hands. He didn't even say a word of thanks and left without looking back.
As he turned around, a faint light emanated from his eyes.
Innately Full Spirit Power, the perfect candidate for my Disciple.
Watching the man leave and recalling the name registered on the credential, "Yu Xiaogang," Ma Xiunuo couldn't help but curl his lip.
Seeing the change in the old man's expression, the deacon beside him immediately asked sensibly.
"Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo, was there something wrong with that person?"
"Nothing much, just a person with connections that the higher-ups asked me to look after slightly."
"By the way, don't call me Grandmaster. I don't deserve such an honorable title. There is only one Grandmaster on the entire continent."
"Never mind, let's not talk about that person with connections. Let's talk about the kid from the Hall Master's family. Although he has full spirit power, it's a pity his Spirit is a Body Martial Soul; his cultivation value isn't that great."
"It's hard to say. No matter how weak a Body Martial Soul type is, at the very least, an Innately Full Spirit Power should have no problem cultivating to a Spirit Saint. There's also a high probability for a Spirit Douluo. His future is still promising."
"That makes sense."
Ma Xiunuo stroked his beard, beaming with joy.
"Fortunately, my relationship with that kid isn't bad. I just don't know if I'll live to see that little guy truly grow up and join the ranks of the continent's powerhouses."
...The congested muscles emitted wisps of heat, and various sensations of soreness, numbness, and swelling constantly flooded Tang Shan's heart.
Supporting his entire body with one hand, he slowly lowered himself.
The clear muscle contours appeared on a child who had just celebrated his sixth birthday, looking quite out of place.
"Fifty-one, fifty-two, fifty-three..." Drops of sweat gathered into streams, flowing from Tang Shan's skin and dripping onto the ground.
His clothes were already soaked. There was no doubt that with just a little effort, one could easily squeeze water out of them.
As the last one-handed push-up was completed, Tang Shan, slowly standing up, couldn't help but exhale.
Was it bitter?
It was bitter, but also very exhilarating.
Feeling his own strength grow bit by bit gave him an unparalleled sense of achievement.
Looking at Su Yuntao, who was doing a Horse Stance nearby, Tang Shan approached and carefully observed his movements.
"Brother Tao, how is it? Is the effect obvious?"
Su Yuntao was also drenched in sweat by now. Hearing Tang Shan's inquiry, he squeezed out two words with difficulty.
"Very good!"
Judging Su Yuntao's state, after about another five minutes, Tang Shan stepped forward, supporting him while saying, "Alright, that's enough for today."
Hearing this, Su Yuntao's entire body instantly went limp. If Tang Shan hadn't been prepared, he might have plopped right onto the ground.
"Little brother... why... didn't you... let me train like this before..."
Looking at his big brother, who hadn't even caught his breath yet but was asking with difficulty, Tang Shan pointed to himself.
"That's because I awakened a Body Martial Soul. It was only through a deeper mastery of my body that I researched this training method."
This was indeed the truth. Although the Horse Stance Tang Shan researched seemed simple, there was a lot to it.
If the Horse Stance is done correctly, it can stabilize the lower body and strengthen the physique. But if done incorrectly, let alone strengthening the body, it would be lucky not to waste Qi and blood, not to mention the unparalleled damage an incorrect Horse Stance does to the knees.
Tang Shan was just an ordinary person in his past life. How could he know the correct Horse Stance posture? He had only learned it from a PE teacher back in school.
But whether the posture was correct was another matter. One must know that everyone's constitution is different, and body proportions vary. A Horse Stance that is correct for one person might be wrong for another.
Tang Shan first experimented on himself, and after confirming that his Horse Stance had no major issues, he extracted the key points and then made specific adjustments for his big brother's body.
The more he researched body-tempering methods, the more Tang Shan felt his control over his own body was insufficient.
To improve body control in a short time, he could probably only wait until after absorbing a spirit ring and obtaining the desired Spirit Ability Only then can it be achieved.
Su Haichao walked into the house and nodded with satisfaction at the two brothers supporting each other. Just as he was about to speak, there was a knock on the door of the small attic.
Tang Shan was a bit surprised. It was almost nightfall; who would come to disturb others at this time?
"You two go inside first; I'll go see."
Tang Shan and Su Yuntao nodded and were the first to enter the living room.
Faint sounds of conversation reached his ears. Tang Shan's brow furrowed slightly. One voice was naturally his father's, and he didn't recognize the other, but that unpleasant voice left a very deep impression on him.
"Hall Master Su, I heard that your son has extraordinary talent and I wish to take him as my Disciple. I believe that under my guidance, your son can definitely become a powerhouse who will be famous throughout the continent in the future."
Listening to the incessant words of the decadent middle-aged man beside him, a hint of impatience appeared in the depths of Su Haichao's eyes.
What a joke. A person with connections like you wants to train my son? Are you worthy? You should know my son is a Grandmaster who researched the Five Theories of Spirits. On what basis do you think you can teach him?
Although he didn't think much of this person with connections in his heart, Su Haichao still maintained a good front. After all, he was a connection of the Holy Maiden. Before clarifying the exact link between the two, it was better to maintain harmony.
The "Grandmaster," devoid of any self-awareness, continued to talk incessantly. Upon seeing Tang Shan sitting on a chair in the living room, his eyes lit up.
Seeing such a distinctive face and those iconic hands clasped behind his back, Tang Shan's eyes subconsciously narrowed.
"Shan Zi, let me introduce you. This is Yu Xiaogang, a Spirit researcher staying at Nuoding Academy."
Su Haichao's words seemed ordinary, but they carried a lot of meaning.
Since he was a Spirit researcher, being a teacher shouldn't be a problem. But he specifically said he was "staying" there rather than teaching at Nuoding Academy, which implied a lot.
But what Su Haichao didn't know was that Tang Shan probably understood the middle-aged man in front of him better than he did.
After all, many of the Spirit theories he wrote were expanded based on this "Grandmaster's" research. He just didn't know how, in this life, without the support of Spirit theories, the man still had the face to come over and talk about taking him as a Disciple.
Seeing his future "Disciple" indifferent toward him, Yu Xiaogang almost spoke up to scold him for being disrespectful to his elders, but remembering that he wasn't familiar with this family after all, he forcibly suppressed the unpleasantness in his heart.
"I am Yu Xiaogang, born of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, once conducting Spirit research in the Spirit Hall of Spirit City. You can call me Master Yu."
Tang Shan's expression was a bit stiff; he felt there were so many things to criticize but didn't know where to start.
Let's not even talk about your actual theoretical achievements. If you want to take me as a Disciple, you should at least show your own skills first. Every other word is either Spirit Hall or Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. What, are you trying to threaten me?
Although Yu Xiaogang wasn't a good person, he wouldn't go as far as to use power to pressure others. It was just that in his view, once a Genius from this small place learned of his background, they would naturally bow down and worship him, with no need to display his knowledge.
Facing a certain "Grandmaster's" abstract behavior, Tang Shan naturally wouldn't choose to confront him head-on. He wasn't a child who had to show off and slap someone's face directly.
Moreover, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect behind him might not care about his mockery, but that crazy woman was a different story.
To her, Yu Xiaogang was her "White Moonlight." Furthermore, after the experience in the "Secret Room," Yu Xiaogang's status in her heart had soared rapidly.
What one cannot have is always in a state of flux. After the Hell-like experience, Yu Xiaogang had become Bibi Dong's spiritual support and a ray of hope.
Otherwise, how could someone with no looks, no talent, and no strength possibly influence the "Supreme Pontiff"?
"Uncle Yu..."
Tang Shan, feeling awkward no matter how he addressed him, quickened his speech.
"Since you are doing research at Nuoding Academy, I'll take the liberty of calling you Teacher Yu."
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