"Their origins were not noble, yet they also possessed innate full soul power. And this anomaly is the existence of a mutant Martial Soul. Based on my many years of research on mutant Martial Souls, no Martial Soul can mutate from a Bluesilver Grass Martial Soul. And since your Bluesilver Grass Martial Soul is the ordinary variety, I am completely certain that my judgment is correct."
"Mutant Martial Soul, what is that?" Tang San asked.
Grandmaster patiently explained, "This has to do with how Martial Souls are inherited. A person's Martial Soul is directly related to their parents' Martial Souls. The most common scenario is inheriting either the father's or the mother's Martial Soul. This is familial inheritance of Martial Souls. Within this, some exceptions are what we call mutant Martial Souls. They originate from the parents' Martial Souls as well, only because there is some mutative compatibility between the father's and the mother's Martial Souls, the inheritor's Martial Soul can become mutated, forming a new Martial Soul. Mutant Martial Souls can become powerful enough to even possess innate full soul power. But the vast majority of mutant Martial Souls tend to be weaker. A mutant Martial Soul is like the offspring of close relatives marrying; there's a high chance of idiocy, but there is also the possibility of producing individuals far smarter than average."
Tang San nodded, and then suddenly, he stepped back to open the distance between him and Grandmaster, followed by dropping to his knees and respectfully kowtowed three times to Grandmaster.
Now it was Grandmaster's turn to be stunned. "What are you doing?"
"Teacher," Tang San respectfully called out, "please accept me as your disciple."
Grandmaster laughed, a very satisfied laugh, and bent down to pull Tang San up, "Silly boy, why kowtow to take a master? Don't you know that this ritual is only for the king and one's parents? A simple bow would suffice."
The customs in Soul Land were evidently different from Tang San's previous life, but Tang San did not feel his actions were excessive, and said seriously, "A teacher for a day is a father for life. You deserve my kneeling."
The Tang Sect had very strict teachings regarding rituals; having been raised with that education, it had left a deep imprint in Tang San's heart.
Grandmaster was moved as he looked at Tang San, "A teacher for a day, a father for life, good, good, it seems I really didn't make the wrong choice." The saying goes that the details reveal much; details determine success or failure. Although the master and disciple hadn't spent much time together, Grandmaster had already formed quite an understanding of this child before him.
"Let's go, I'll take you to the Academic Affairs Office to register," Grandmaster said as he took Tang San's hand again, his normally dry and rough hand slightly sweaty with excitement.
Notting Primary Soul Master Academy wasn't as large as it appeared from the outside, consisting mainly of a few areas: the main teaching building, a sports field, and the dormitory building to the east of the field.
Even though it was just a Primary Soul Master Academy, the requirements for students here were also very strict; even if a student's home was next to the academy, they had to reside within the academy, under unified management.
The Academic Affairs Office was located on the first floor of the main teaching building. There was a teacher who seemed to be over sixty in charge of receiving new students, assisted by two young teachers in their thirties.
Grandmaster placed the proof on the desk and said to the elder teacher, "Director Su, this is the work-study student sent by Saint Soul Village this year. Please help him register."
Director Su greeted him with a beaming smile, "Grandmaster, what brings you here, a rare visitor indeed! Have a seat."
Grandmaster shook his head and said to Tang San, "You register here by yourself; these teachers will tell you what to do. I'll take my leave now, and I'll come to find you later."
Tang San nodded and respectfully said, "Goodbye, teacher."
Grandmaster left with a smile, patting Tang San on the head before departing.
Hearing Tang San's address to Grandmaster, Director Su seemed quite interested, "Young man, you call Grandmaster 'teacher'? He's not one of our academy's teachers."
Tang San said, "But he is my teacher."
Director Su paused, "You've taken Grandmaster as your master?" His expression was somewhat funny, as if he wanted to laugh but was holding it back.
Tang San inquired, "Is there something inappropriate? Teacher."
Director Su shook his head repeatedly and laughed, "No, no. I never thought Grandmaster would take on a disciple. However, you are still a student of the academy, and you have to comply with the academy's rules and regulations from now on, do you understand?"
Tang San nodded.
One of the younger teachers beside Director Su, who couldn't hide his amusement as well as he could, peeked at the proof from Martial Soul Hall, "Tang San, right? As an academy teacher, I must remind you. Masters aren't chosen casually. Any Soul Master, whether graduated from the academy or not, can only recognize one master. Otherwise, they will be spurned by society. Do you really think Grandmaster is appropriate? Oh, you have innate full soul power. It's too bad that your Martial Soul is Bluesilver Grass."
Upon seeing the words 'innate full soul power' on the certificate, surprise showed on the faces of all the teachers present, but Bluesilver Grass turned their surprise into pity.
Tang San looked at the three academy teachers in front of him with some bewilderment, "What is inappropriate?"
Director Su glared at the younger teacher beside him and said, "Although Grandmaster is a bit peculiar, from a certain perspective, he is an 'invincible' presence in the realm of Martial Souls. Since your Martial Soul is also Bluesilver Grass, there's no harm in taking him as your master. All right, that's that. Here is your stuff, issued free by the academy. You are assigned to Room Seven of the dormitory. The teacher in charge there will arrange your work-study duties. Off you go."
"Thank you." After receiving the items from Director Su, Tang San bowed and turned to leave the Academic Affairs Office.
The items Director Su gave him were a standard set of Notting Primary Soul Master Academy uniforms, white and appearing very clean. Just as Tang San stepped out of the Academic Affairs Office, he faintly heard the voice of the younger teacher who had spoken earlier coming from inside.