"Their backgrounds aren't particularly noble, yet they still possessed Innate Full Soul Power. And this kind of anomaly exists because of Mutant Martial Souls. Based on my many years of research on Mutant Martial Souls, no Martial Soul would produce a mutation with Blue Silver Grass. And your Blue Silver Grass is nothing more than ordinary Blue Silver Grass. So I can be completely certain that my judgment is correct."
"A Mutant Martial Soul? What's that?" Tang San asked.
The Great Master patiently explained, "First, we need to discuss how Martial Souls are inherited. The Martial Soul a person possesses has a direct relationship with their parents' Martial Souls. The most normal situation is inheriting the Martial Soul of either the father or the mother. This is the family-style inheritance of Martial Souls. But there are exceptions—what we call Mutant Martial Souls. The source is still the parents' Martial Souls, but because there is a certain mutability between the father's and mother's Martial Souls, the inherited Martial Soul can undergo a mutation, producing an entirely new Martial Soul. A Mutant Martial Soul can mutate to become powerful, even manifesting as Innate Full Soul Power. But the vast majority of Mutant Martial Souls only become weaker. A Mutant Martial Soul is like the product of a consanguineous marriage—there's a high chance of producing someone who's foolish, but it's also possible for someone far more brilliant than ordinary people to be born."
Tang San nodded. Then suddenly, he took a step backward, widening the distance between himself and the Great Master. He dropped to both knees, bowed his head to the ground, and respectfully kowtowed three times.
This time, it was the Great Master who was stunned. "What are you doing?"
"Master," Tang San called respectfully. "Please accept me as your disciple."
The Great Master smiled—a very satisfied smile. He bent down and pulled Tang San to his feet. "Silly boy, why are you kowtowing for a master-disciple ceremony? Don't you know that's a ritual reserved for emperors and parents? A simple bow would have sufficed."
The customs of Soul Land were clearly different from those of Tang San's first life, but Tang San didn't think he had gone overboard. He said solemnly, "A teacher for a day is a father for life. You deserve my kowtow."
The Tang Sect's teachings on etiquette had been extremely strict. Having grown up under that kind of education, it was already deeply branded in the depths of Tang San's heart.
The Great Master looked at Tang San, visibly moved. "A teacher for a day is a father for life. Good, good. It seems I truly chose well." They say that small details reveal the bigger picture, and details determine success or failure. Though these two had not spent much time together, the Great Master already had a considerable understanding of this child before him.
"Come, I'll take you to the Academic Affairs Office to register." The Great Master took Tang San's hand once more. His originally dry hand had broken into a faint sweat from excitement.
Nuoding Elementary Soul Master Academy wasn't as large as it appeared from the outside. It was mainly divided into several areas: the main teaching building, the athletic field, and the dormitory building to the east of the field.
Even though this was only an elementary Soul Master Academy, the requirements for students were very strict. Even if a student's home was right next to the Academy, they still had to live on campus and accept unified management.
The Academic Affairs Office was on the first floor of the main teaching building. The teacher in charge of welcoming new students appeared to be over sixty, and two younger teachers in their late twenties assisted him.
The Great Master placed the certificate on the desk and said to the older teacher, "Director Su, this is the work-study student sent from Sacred Soul Village this year. Could you please help him register?"
Director Su's face broke into a broad smile. "Great Master, what brings you here? What a rare visit! Please, sit for a while."
The Great Master shook his head and turned to Tang San. "You register here yourself. These teachers will tell you what to do. I'll be leaving now. I'll come find you later."
Tang San nodded. "Goodbye, Master."
The Great Master smiled, patted him on the head, and turned to leave.
Hearing how Tang San addressed the Great Master, Director Su seemed quite interested. "Young man, you call the Great Master 'Master'? He's not a teacher at our Academy."
Tang San replied, "But he is my master."
Director Su was taken aback. "You've taken the Great Master as your master?" His expression was somewhat peculiar—the look of someone trying hard not to laugh.
Tang San asked, "Is there something wrong about that, sir?"
Director Su shook his head quickly, laughing. "No, no. I just didn't expect the Great Master to take on a disciple. But you are still a student of this Academy, and from now on you must follow the Academy's rules and regulations. Do you understand?"
Tang San nodded.
The two younger teachers beside Director Su didn't have nearly as much composure. One of them picked up the Spirit Hall certificate and looked it over, then said with a laugh, "Tang San, right? As a teacher at the Academy, I should give you a word of caution. A master isn't someone you just casually take on. Any Soul Master, whether they graduated from an Academy or not, can only acknowledge one master. Otherwise, they'll be condemned by society. Are you really sure the Great Master is suitable? Oh, you have Innate Full Soul Power too. What a pity—your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."
Upon seeing the words "Innate Full Soul Power" on the certificate, the teachers present all showed expressions of surprise. But Blue Silver Grass turned that surprise into regret.
Tang San looked at the three Academy teachers before him with some confusion. "What's not suitable about it?"
Director Su shot a glare at the young teacher beside him. "The Great Master may be a bit eccentric, but from a certain perspective, when it comes to Martial Souls, he's essentially 'invincible.' Your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass anyway, so there's nothing wrong with taking him as your master. All right, that's settled. Here are your things—they're provided free by the Academy. You'll be staying in Room Seven of the dormitory building. The teacher there will arrange your work-study duties. Go on."
"Thank you." Tang San accepted the items Director Su handed him, bowed, and walked out of the Academic Affairs Office.
Director Su had given him a standard Nuoding Elementary Soul Master Academy uniform. The white fabric looked very clean. Just as he stepped out of the office, Tang San faintly heard the voice of the young teacher who had spoken earlier drifting out from inside.
(End of Chapter)