The Master was momentarily stunned again, unsure exactly what Jiang Chen was trying to say, but he still nodded.
"They all say my theories are unbeatable. While I wouldn't boast so recklessly, I am confident that no teacher in this academy can surpass me."
There was a powerful confidence radiating from his words, contagious enough to affect even Tang San standing beside him.
"What if your theory doesn't apply to me?" Jiang Chen countered.
The Master shook his head vehemently. "Impossible. My research covers a vast range and includes nearly a century's worth of cases. The data is authoritative. My Top Ten Core Competitiveness of Martial Souls cannot be wrong."
"Alright then, let me ask you—what is the maximum age limit of the first soul ring a soul master can absorb?"
The Master was surprised by Jiang Chen's unexpectedly professional question, and his impression of the boy shifted somewhat.
Without hesitation, he replied, "Based on nearly a hundred years of case studies, every soul ring absorbed at each level has a limit. For the first soul ring, that limit is four hundred and twenty-three years."
Jiang Chen smiled slightly. "Then let's make a bet. If I prove your theory wrong, I won't become your disciple. Deal?"
"Deal!" The Master agreed readily, clearly intrigued. He was eager to see how Jiang Chen would disprove his theory.
This disciple was already his.
Jiang Chen took two steps back. "Watch closely."
As his words fell, a purple soul ring rose gently from beneath his feet, swirling softly around him.
"This… how is this possible!" The Master shouted, utterly shocked.
Tang San stared in amazement at the purple soul ring surrounding Jiang Chen. So this was what a soul ring looked like.
He still didn't quite understand the meaning of a purple soul ring, or else his reaction wouldn't have been much different from the Master's.
Jiang Chen retracted the soul ring and looked calmly at the still-shocked Master. "That's why I don't need to become your disciple. And not just this soul ring—I'm confident every soul ring I absorb in the future will surpass the limits you claim."
Even Tang San's gaze toward the Master held a new, complicated meaning after hearing Jiang Chen's words.
Suddenly, the Master lunged forward wildly, grabbing Jiang Chen's shoulders and shaking him. "Tell me, how did you do it?"
Jiang Chen frowned, watching the Master's excited expression. Things seemed to be getting worse.
"Ahem… I'm out of line," the Master realized, quickly releasing Jiang Chen's shoulders.
"Let me take you both to the academic affairs office to register."
Recalling the earlier bet, the Master knew it would be difficult to accept this boy as his disciple, but he was determined to find out how Jiang Chen's first soul ring could be a millennium old.
It was two or three times longer than the four hundred and twenty-three years he had painstakingly researched. He seriously wondered if Jiang Chen was even human.
Watching the Master walk away, Tang San hesitated slightly. Jiang Chen gave him a nudge.
"Come on, why are you still standing there? You're not regretting becoming his disciple already, are you?"
The Master's footsteps noticeably paused, then resumed.
Tang San hesitated a moment, then nodded firmly. "One day as teacher, a lifetime as father."
A satisfied smile appeared on the Master's face as he led the way.
Jiang Chen was somewhat speechless. Tang San was definitely a bit old-fashioned, but the Master was the most important figure in Tang San's growth. So Jiang Chen still hoped Tang San would become the Master's disciple.
"Actually, I don't think the Master's theory is wrong. It's just that I'm too abnormal. To have reached this level, I might be the only one like me in the world," Jiang Chen said shamelessly.
Tang San glanced at Jiang Chen and thought to himself, That's probably true. Jiang Chen has never been normal since he was a kid. He really is a freak.
With that thought, Tang San felt a little more at ease.
"By the way, what's with that soul ring of yours? Didn't you say you have to kill a spirit beast to get a soul ring? When did you go kill one?" Tang San fired off a string of questions.
Jiang Chen smiled and shook his head. "That's a secret, can't say."
…
The Master led Jiang Chen and Tang San to the academic affairs office before taking his leave.
Once it was known that Tang San's teacher was the Master, a few teachers in the office couldn't help sneering and mocking.
Jiang Chen was unconcerned, brushing it off easily. After completing the registration formalities with Tang San, he headed toward the dormitory building.
Halfway there, Jiang Chen suddenly stopped.
"Tang San, you go to the dorm first. I still have some things to take care of."
"What's the matter?" Tang San asked with curiosity. It was their first time at the academy, after all. What could Jiang Chen possibly have to do here?
"None of your business. I'll come back soon," Jiang Chen replied with a smile.
Tang San nodded without pressing further and headed toward the dormitory.
Jiang Chen smiled to himself and, following a faint sensation in his heart, walked into a small grove nearby.
He sensed Jing Wuming was here.
No sooner had he entered than sharp sounds pierced the air, as if the atmosphere itself had been torn.
Not far ahead, Jing Wuming was tirelessly repeating the stabbing sword technique, like an unwearied machine.
Sweat soaked his clothes, yet each thrust was steady, every angle and height nearly identical.
Jiang Chen deliberately made his footsteps audible.
Jing Wuming snapped his head around, his cold, piercing eyes like twin blades slicing toward Jiang Chen.
When he recognized him, his tense expression melted into surprise. "Young Master, what brings you to Notting Academy?"
"I came here to study," Jiang Chen said calmly. "By the way, what are you doing here?"
Before Jiang Chen, Jing Wuming seemed like a normal teenager. "Young Master, you once told me to interact more with peers, so I enrolled in Notting Academy."
Jiang Chen understood—it was that one sentence he had said that brought this about.
With Jing Wuming's strength, he was undoubtedly the top student in the entire academy. After all, the junior academy allowed graduation as soon as the first soul ring was obtained.
Jiang Chen found a spot to sit and patted the ground beside him, inviting Jing Wuming to join.
"Tell me about the recent situation with the Spirit Hall."
He had been busy training these past two months and hadn't paid attention to Spirit Hall affairs. He was curious about what was happening now in Notting City's Spirit Hall.
Out of respect for Jiang Chen, Jing Wuming hesitated to sit.
"Sit!" Jiang Chen commanded firmly.
Only then did Jing Wuming take a seat.
"Young Master, the position of Spirit Hall branch leader here in Notting City has been vacant for months. It's finally about to be settled."
"Oh? Is it Maxiu Nuo?"
Jing Wuming nodded. "Yes. Actually, this should've been resolved long ago, but the higher branch was busy and kept delaying. Only recently did they have time to handle it."
"In three days, an envoy from the Spirit Hall branch will arrive in Notting City to hold the election ceremony for the branch leader."
"Maxiu Nuo has the longest tenure in the Notting branch. Most of the other officers have studied under him, so this election is essentially his by default. Poor Sisi girl—she naïvely thought she had him enchanted, but she was just a plaything to him."
Jiang Chen sighed. "Ah, the real pity is Brother Tao. By the way, you've been visiting Maxiu Nuo's office often lately, right?"
Jing Wuming nodded. "To help monitor Maxiu Nuo's every move for Young Master, I go every day."
Jiang Chen suddenly smiled meaningfully. "How's the show between Maxiu Nuo and Sisi? Entertaining?"
Jing Wuming was caught off guard, then blushed deeply. Still, he answered respectfully, "Very entertaining."
Jiang Chen stood and patted Jing Wuming on the shoulder, his voice earnest. "Young man, remember to practice restraint!"