Master Theory

Ye Xiaobao watched as his teacher brought him down before the two men, then obediently stood behind her.

The moment he heard the middle-aged man call out those three words, he recognized the pair before him.

Tang San! Yu Xiaogang!

He had never expected to run into Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.

Bibi Dong looked at Yu Xiaogang with complicated eyes and said coldly,

"I never expected to see you here. What, with your strength, you brought someone here to hunt a soul ring?"

"Aren't you afraid of dying in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Her words were full of disdain.

Yu Xiaogang's expression turned somewhat awkward at Bibi Dong's mockery.

"Bi..."

Seeing the sharp gaze of the woman he had once loved, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly changed how he addressed her.

"Thank you, Your Holiness the Pope, for saving our lives. I brought my disciple here to hunt a soul ring. This is my disciple, Tang San."

After saying that, he turned back and said,

"Little San, come quickly and greet His Holiness the Pope."

Tang San had not expected that the teacher he had just taken on would actually know the Pope of Spirit Hall. He hurriedly bowed and said,

"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope."

Bibi Dong snorted coldly and flung the Mandala Snake before Tang San.

With a smack, it struck the ground and sent dust flying.

The two hurriedly backed away several steps in fright.

"Yu Xiaogang, since you came to obtain a soul ring for your disciple, this soul beast is yours. Leave as soon as he finishes absorbing it."

Ye Xiaobao was rather speechless.

His teacher was still too soft-hearted. If it were him, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang would not live to see tomorrow's sun.

Tang San was not thinking that much. He turned to Yu Xiaogang and asked,

"Teacher, can my Plant Martial Soul absorb a Beast Martial Soul too?"

That question struck right at Yu Xiaogang's heart. He raised his head and said proudly,

"Little San, my research has revealed that soul rings can be absorbed according to soul ring mimicry."

"In other words, your Plant Martial Soul can absorb snake-type martial souls. This is precisely the Soul Ring Mimicry Theory among the ten core competencies that I proposed years ago!"

After saying that, he observed the others' expressions. Seeing that they were all listening, he continued with satisfaction,

"Moreover, this Mandala Snake's toughness and venom are exactly what you need. The limit for a soul master's first soul ring is four hundred and thirteen years, and this snake is just right."

The more Yu Xiaogang spoke, the more animated he became. He stood with his hands behind his back, looking utterly confident, while Tang San gazed at his teacher with admiration for his vast knowledge.

Even Bibi Dong's eyes revealed a trace of appreciation.

Ye Xiaobao felt somewhat depressed.

You're only a level twenty-nine Great Soul Master. Where did all these theories come from?

Who knows whether you learned them at Spirit Hall.

Only Tang San has a cheat. Give that snake someone weaker, and it would score a double kill.

So you're cramming his head with theories and using Tang San as a lab rat.

What if he croaked?

What exactly does Bibi Dong like about Yu Xiaogang?

He truly could not understand it.

Tang San was not one to dawdle. He nodded at Yu Xiaogang, stepped forward, and stabbed the Mandala Snake seven inches below its head.

In an instant, blood flowed out.

A yellow soul ring slowly rose into the air.

Tang San then silently sat cross-legged on the ground, summoned his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, and began absorbing the soul ring.

Ye Xiaobao could see that Tang San was struggling somewhat as he absorbed it.

He knew this Mandala Snake had to be fairly old.

But how exactly had the limit of four hundred and thirteen years for a first soul ring been calculated? It was oddly specific.

Still, to be fair, with his current abilities, he definitely could not defeat Tang San.

His greatest problem was his lack of combat experience. Besides, Tang San had plenty of Hidden Weapons on him.

When Bibi Dong saw that the disciple of the man she had once loved possessed a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, her eyes also showed some regret.

Before long, Tang San finished absorbing the soul ring and stood up excitedly.

"Teacher, it worked! It really can be done."

Yu Xiaogang nodded proudly.

"Very good, Little San. What soul skill did it grant you? Quick, try it and see what it does."

Tang San nodded. A soul ring immediately appeared beneath his feet, and Blue Silver Grass emerged from his right hand.

"Blue Silver Entanglement!" In an instant, blue vines wrapped around the Mandala Snake's corpse.

After testing it and feeling the changes to his martial soul, Tang San's face was full of excitement.

"Teacher, you were right. Its toughness has indeed increased considerably, and it also carries poison!"

"Just as I said, my theory could not possibly be wrong!"

"Little San, remember this: there are only useless soul masters, never useless martial souls!"

Yu Xiaogang looked extremely proud as he furtively glanced at Bibi Dong.

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's catchphrase, Ye Xiaobao almost laughed.

He had never seen someone whose catchphrase could call himself useless twice.

And he was still putting on airs.

Standing behind Bibi Dong, a cunning glint flashed through his eyes.

Then he spoke to Bibi Dong.

"Teacher, I think my first soul ring can absorb one that is two thousand years old. Please help me catch a two-thousand-year-old ape-type soul beast."

Bibi Dong turned around and looked at Ye Xiaobao with a puzzled expression.

Ye Xiaobao merely grinned.

This was not something Ye Xiaobao had said casually. He had estimated it based on his body's strength and the strength of his martial soul.

He estimated that he could absorb a three-thousand-year soul ring.

To play it safe, absorbing a two-thousand-year one would definitely not be a problem.

Tang San could absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring as his fourth soul ring.

That also showed that by then, he did not agree with Yu Xiaogang's soul ring limit theory.

After Yu Xiaogang had just declared that the limit for a first soul ring was four hundred and thirty-two years, this little brat wanted to absorb a two-thousand-year one. He felt as though he had been slapped in the face, and his face flushed red.

"Is your disciple obtaining his first soul ring?"

Yu Xiaogang could not really be blamed. After all, Ye Xiaobao looked much older than Tang San.

Bibi Dong nodded, tacitly acknowledging it.

"Impossible. According to my many years of research, the limit for a first soul ring is four hundred and thirty-two years. Your Holiness the Pope, he is still young and doesn't understand. Don't harm him!"

Yu Xiaogang had absolute confidence in his theory.

His tone even carried the air of someone acting for her own good.

Bibi Dong also felt that something was off. Although Yu Xiaogang's theory made some sense, was her disciple an ordinary person?

"Yu Xiaogang, you have too much confidence in your theory. I believe my disciple can do it."

Ye Xiaobao had not expected his teacher to defend him even in front of Yu Xiaogang, and he felt a little comforted.

He had no intention of sparing Yu Xiaogang's pride. With an innocent expression, he said,

"Teacher, this uncle is wrong. I think there's no problem with my first soul ring absorbing one that's two thousand years old."

Yu Xiaogang truly had not expected this little brat to be so infuriating. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned around and said,

"Little San, let's go. If he wants to die, let him."

Tang San nodded and silently followed behind Yu Xiaogang.

"Wait! Uncle, what if my first soul ring can absorb one that's two thousand years old?"

Ye Xiaobao had no intention of letting Yu Xiaogang off and hurriedly called out to stop them.

Yu Xiaogang had not expected this little brat to repeatedly make him lose face before the woman he loved. He abruptly turned back.

"Impossible! My theory cannot possibly be wrong!"