Time came to noon, and at Wang Sheng's suggestion, everyone went to the cafeteria to eat together.
Zhao Liuyun was loaded with money, having accumulated at least a thousand Gold Spirit Coins from dozens of thefts.
However, since the subsidized students banded together, he did not plan to be an outlier, as this would increase the risk of attracting attention.
After getting his food, Zhao Liuyun suddenly saw an eye-catching figure descending the stairs from the second floor.
He looked about forty or fifty years old, with short black hair, and a thin frame wrapped in a simple long gown. His appearance was unremarkable, but his brow carried a hint of laziness and dejection.
The most striking features, however, were undoubtedly his stiff face and thick lips.
Zombie face, thick lips...
The Grandmaster?
Tang San also saw his teacher arrive and quickly walked over: "Teacher, did you also come to eat?"
Zhao Liuyun's eyes subtly moved; it really was him.
Mediocre talent, crude appearance—Bibi Dong must have been blind to fall for him.
"Xiao San." The Grandmaster pulled at the corners of his mouth, forcing out a smile on his stiff face that was nothing short of alarming.
After the two finished their pleasantries, when Tang San returned to his seat, Wang Sheng's expression grew strange upon hearing the news of his apprenticeship:
"You actually took the Grandmaster as your teacher?"
"I heard he hasn't broken through to the Spirit Grand Master rank even close to fifty years old, with only Spirit Power Level 29. He's just coasting here on the Dean's connections, waiting to die..."
Tang San reacted strongly, solemnly warning Wang Sheng to stop talking.
Zhao Liuyun heard it all, secretly scoffing that someone was directly challenging him and courting death, but he didn't show the slightest hint of it on his face, simply keeping his head down to eat.
He did not intend to get involved in any of the Grandmaster's troubles.
Indeed, in the eyes of a Transmigrator, the Grandmaster was nothing more than a fraud who plagiarized family secrets and Spirit Hall's confidential knowledge, adding common sense of the Spirit Master world to piece together the so-called "Ten Core Competencies."
But...
What does that have to do with me, Zhao Liuyun?
Mocking the Grandmaster might bring some momentary satisfaction, but it had no practical benefit.
On the contrary, it could unnecessarily provoke Tang San's hostility and sow the seeds of conflict with Bibi Dong—a truly unprofitable venture.
It was better to wait until the day he reached the summit; then, with a flip of his hand, he could crush this fraud into powder.
After eating, everyone went their separate ways.
Tomorrow was the opening ceremony, and formal classes wouldn't start until the day after, so now was free time.
Zhao Liuyun planned to go home to get his bedding and inform Old Man Bai that he had enrolled.
At the same time, "Grandmaster" Yu Xiaogang brought Tang San back to his dormitory.
He lived on the top floor of the dorm building. The room was not large, only about thirty square meters, but the two rows of bookshelves lining the walls were stacked high with various classics, faintly emitting the fragrance of ink.
This subtly added an air of scholarship to him.
He truly looked like a theoretician.
After feeding Tang San a steamed bun and two large chicken drumsticks, Yu Xiaogang, following a brief inquiry and conversation, and having personally witnessed the legendary Clear Sky Hammer, wasted no time and immediately began today's lesson.
"The Blue Silver Grass seems weak and is often classified as a trash spirit, but you must remember that any spirit has its unique properties and potential..."
Halfway through his speech, the Grandmaster's expression suddenly became solemn, and his voice turned a few degrees sterner:
"Xiao San, remember well: in this world, 'there are no trash spirits, only trash people'!"
"Mhm!" Tang San nodded heavily, his gaze fervent, his eyes filled with reverence.
Sure enough, how could students like Wang Sheng understand these things?
Strength requires personal, step-by-step accumulation, while theory must draw upon the wisdom of predecessors.
"Theoretical Invincibility"—this must be my teacher!
The teaching atmosphere gradually warmed up, and they soon moved on to the direction of spirit development.
After giving examples to illustrate the difference between tool spirits, Yu Xiaogang said:
"Every Spirit Master has a direction for development, such as Food System, Reconnaissance System, Combat System, Control System, and so on. This choice is best decided before obtaining a spirit ring."
"What about the Support System?" Tang San pondered, thinking of the new student, Zhao Liuyun.
"Hmm?" Yu Xiaogang was slightly surprised and paused before saying, "Where did you hear about the Support System?"
"There is indeed such a direction for development, but Support System Spirit Masters lack combat power, making self-preservation difficult, and it doesn't align well with the Control path of the Blue Silver Grass."
"I know." Tang San nodded, then explained:
"It's the new subsidized student. His name is Zhao Liuyun, with Innate Level 5. His spirit is a very beautiful flower called 'Moonlit Lotus' ."
Yu Xiaogang understood why Tang San brought this up and quietly repeated, "Moonlit Lotus..."
After a moment of contemplation, he turned and pulled a heavy volume from the bookshelf, quickly flipping through a few pages, but ultimately shook his head:
"I haven't heard of this spirit either. What's special about it?"
Tang San recalled the subtle, refreshing floral fragrance: "The flower's scent can soothe the mind, making people feel a unique tranquility."
"Zhao Liuyun said, 'Every night, I can release my spirit and use this scent to help us enter meditation faster.'"
"Teacher, what do you think?"
Tang San admitted that it was useful, but not knowing much about the Spirit Master world, he didn't dare make a decision on his own.
So, he came to ask the "Grandmaster."
"Calms the mind, aids meditation..." Yu Xiaogang stroked the short stubble on his chin.
"Does it merely calm emotions and make people feel relaxed?"
The Spirit Master world did not lack plant-type spirit beasts that could interfere with human emotions.
But it could also just be a simple floral scent.
An elegant and moderate scent would be suitable for everyone.
A fleeting, unspeakable sense of shame crossed Tang San's mind as the image of Xiao Wu's delicate pink face surfaced in his thoughts, and his ears felt slightly warm. He immediately nodded definitively: "Just that."
Recalling Zhao Liuyun's words, he continued:
"He also said, 'Cultivation speed is limited by talent, concentration, mental杂念 and other factors. The floral scent can only calm emotions; it might not necessarily have an effect.'"
Yu Xiaogang also agreed with this statement, but he emphasized talent, stressing: "That is true, but talent is the first priority!"
"Someone with innate full spirit power like you, Xiao San, gets an effect from a single meditation session that is unimaginable for an Innate Level 1 Spirit Master."
Let alone someone with Innate Level 0.5—oh, the tears!
Tang San steered the conversation back to his own question: "Then should I accept his offer to use his spirit to assist our cultivation?"
"Of course, you can." Yu Xiaogang was delighted to see his disciple growing at a faster pace.
He noticed the tiny, fleeting abnormality on Tang San's face earlier—a blush?
This floral scent came at just the right time!
"Children's minds are often scattered and emotions unstable. Even though you, Xiao San, are precocious and sensible, you will inevitably be influenced by emotions at times."
"Instincts as a human are unavoidable, and this is an excellent auxiliary means."
"Your luck is good, Xiao San."
Yu Xiaogang himself had used similar incense when his spirit power stagnated and his mood was anxious and restless.
In major sects, there was never a shortage of treasures that could calm the mind and soothe the spirit.
Though these items could calm emotions, they were ultimately only supplementary.
They offered slight benefits to cultivation, but their efficacy was limited, so they wouldn't attract greedy eyes.
Currently, Tang San didn't have the resources, but having a substitute was good too.
With the Grandmaster's approval, Tang San finally felt at ease, a genuine smile unconsciously curving on his lips.
His teacher was right; he was indeed very lucky.
After jumping off the cliff, he could be reborn and arrive in the bizarre, spirit-filled Douluo Continent.
Upon first entering the academy, he met his esteemed teacher, "Grandmaster" Yu Xiaogang, and also encountered Zhao Liuyun, who could aid his future cultivation...
Moreover, for some unknown reason, a faint, vague image of a small figure who wanted to share a bed with him also surfaced in Tang San's heart.
This...
How was this not also a form of luck?
Tang Hao, who was quietly watching his son, also nodded slightly at this moment.
Able to aid meditation and accelerate leveling, regardless of what happens later, the "Moonlit Lotus" was a decent spirit, at least during childhood.