Chapter 145: 162. Yu Xiaogang's Registered Disciple
Not long after Lou Gao and his followers decided to join the Spirit Hall, they packed their belongings and set out by carriage toward Spirit City.
However, their carriage was ambushed in the forest outside the city.
A group of black-clad men rushed out of the trees, blocking their path.
Without saying a word, they immediately attacked Lou Gao and his people.
But in the next moment, a ghostly shadow flickered between their shadows. Each time it crossed a figure, that person collapsed lifeless to the ground.
By the time the last few realized they were under attack, it was already too late—the ghostly figure appeared and swiftly killed them all.
"Courting death. You actually dare to assault someone from the Spirit Hall," Ghost Douluo said disdainfully, killing them as effortlessly as crushing ants.
"Thank you, Ghost Douluo His Majesty, for saving us," Si Long quickly said in gratitude.
"No need. I merely act under orders from Her Holiness the Pope." After finishing, Ghost Douluo pointed at the corpses and asked, "Aren't you going to see who these assassins were?"
Si Long snapped to attention, stepped forward, and pulled away their masks and clothing. He froze—these people were all from the Strength Clan, and every one of them was missing an arm.
"It's them?" Si Long gasped in horror.
Lou Gao walked up to the corpses. Titan hadn't come personally, but his clansmen had—which also meant Titan's will.
Lou Gao and Titan had been friends for decades. But simply because he chose to join the Spirit Hall, Titan had sent assassins after him, ignoring years of friendship.
This chilled Lou Gao's heart. From that moment on, their relationship was completely broken.
After the attempted murder, Lou Gao was escorted to Spirit Hall under Ghost Douluo's protection.
Later, he received direct teaching from Qian Renxue on soul tool crafting. His students were all geniuses gifted in mechanics. Once mastering the craft, they advanced rapidly in the soul tool field.
They, in turn, applied what they learned to aid Spirit Hall—creating soul tools and nurturing new talents in the field of soul engineering. But that is another story.
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
Over a year earlier, Yu Xiaogang had taken in a registered disciple named Lin Chen.
The reason Yu Xiaogang, after decades of degenerate idleness, decided to take a disciple was that he had overheard a Spirit Hall deacon drunkenly brag about awakening two civilian-born siblings with innate level 9.5 spirit power. For that feat, the deacon was promoted three ranks within Spirit Hall.
Hearing that made Yu Xiaogang suddenly reconsider the value of commoner spirit masters.
Although these lowborn mud-legs were unworthy of his instruction, allowing them to serve as experimental material to verify his theories would be an honor for them.
With that mentality, Yu Xiaogang began accepting students.
Although Spirit Hall had already stripped him of his "Master" title, in a world where information traveled at a snail's pace, Yu Xiaogang still didn't know. Naturally, the common folk didn't either.
The "Master" reputation still carried weight. Once word spread that Yu Xiaogang was accepting disciples, countless people showed up to seek his tutelage.
Facing these eager young seekers of knowledge, Yu Xiaogang proudly straightened his back—and kicked every single one out of his door.
What a joke! He, Yu Xiaogang, born of the noble Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family and hailed as the Grandmaster of Spirit Theory, would only accept those with innate spirit power of at least level 8! Yet all he received were pathetic nobodies.
At last, having no better option, Yu Xiaogang reluctantly took in a boy with level 6 innate spirit power and a plant-type martial soul called Spirit Breath Grass as a registered disciple.
Though level 6 was pitiful, Yu Xiaogang never truly intended to treat the boy as a real student. His purpose was to use him as a research subject for martial soul studies.
Yu Xiaogang firmly believed his destined disciple would walk toward him someday—and to that student, he would impart all his knowledge. Through that disciple, Yu Xiaogang would achieve eternal fame across the continent.
Meanwhile, Lin Chen deeply respected him and diligently learned by his side. When he finally reached level 10, Yu Xiaogang took him to hunt his first spirit ring.
"According to my theory," Yu Xiaogang said, "your Spirit Breath Grass is a fragile plant-type martial soul. Therefore, you must find an animal-type spirit beast to enhance its resilience. Preferably a serpent—one that strengthens flexibility and grants a poisonous attack. Best if it's venomous."
Soon, Yu Xiaogang found the target—a 35-year-old Arrow Viper. For a ten-year beast like Luo Sanpao, it was easily manageable.
Yu Xiaogang commanded Luo Sanpao to let out a gaseous blast, stunning the snake, then placed his hands behind his back and said to Lin Chen, "Go ahead. This is the first spirit ring I've chosen for you."
Since most started with ten-year rings, Lin Chen didn't doubt it. He took out a dagger, killed the viper, and a faint white spirit ring emerged from its body. Lin Chen drew it in and absorbed it.
After absorption, Lin Chen exclaimed excitedly, "Teacher, I did it!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded with satisfaction. "Show me your first spirit skill."
"Understood." Lin Chen summoned his Spirit Breath Grass, turned to a nearby stone, and said, "First Spirit Skill—Spirit Binding!"
The green vines of Spirit Breath Grass emerged from the ground and coiled around the stone… but nothing else happened.
Yu Xiaogang nodded approvingly. "Not bad. As I expected, plant-type martial souls can indeed absorb animal-type spirit rings."
However, neither knew the hidden danger. Like Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, Lin Chen's Spirit Breath Grass had a life attribute. But unlike Tang San, who could endure it, adding a venomous ring nearly destroyed his martial soul. Lin Chen was practically crippled.
Yu Xiaogang, of course, had no idea. In his bald head, he was already plotting. Now that his theory was proven, this lowborn peasant was useless. Keeping such a student would only tarnish his name. He decided to expel Lin Chen immediately.
Just then, a loud hiss echoed through the forest—a massive serpent, thirteen meters long, poked its head out and fixed its gaze on Yu Xiaogang and Lin Chen.
(END CHAPTER)
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