Tang San's Gift

Tang San was puzzled. "This Soul Beast is common in the Storm Rift, so how am I supposed to obtain this Soul Ring? Do I have to go to the Forbidden Zone of Life?"

"No, no, of course not." Gu You shook his head. "I checked the records here and found that the Spirit Beast Forest southwest of Nuoding City happens to have both of these Soul Beasts. If the records are correct, their ages are also perfect for us. Don't worry."

"What if their ages aren't right, or they've already been killed?"

"What else can we do? We'll just pick another kind of Soul Beast. I've prepared a second plan too; it's just not as good as these two carefully selected ones. I've already spoken with Grandpa Ma Xiunuo. Tomorrow morning, he and Brother Tao will take us to the Spirit Beast Forest."

Tang San was somewhat moved. Ever since he had come to this world, Gu You had been the kindest person to him. Compared to the indifferent attitude of this body's father, as well as the mockery from the other villagers and children, Gu You's treatment of him, along with Old Jack's, was especially precious.

If Old Jack's concern and pity as an elder came from Tang San's background, intelligence, and good behavior, then Gu You, who was still just a child himself, treated him out of genuine friendship. Whether it was before Tang San awakened his Martial Soul or after he awakened his Twin Martial Souls, Gu You's attitude had remained unchanged.

Because of this, Tang San gradually revealed his true self during his time with Gu You. Aside from flaws in his personality, such as being poor with words and extremely cold toward strangers, he did not even avoid Gu You when cultivating Tang Sect techniques like the Purple Demon Eye.

And in truth, Gu You had indeed been just as Tang San had hoped. Not only had he not pressed too much about Tang San's secrets, he had not told anyone else about them either, including Old Jack. (After all, Gu You did not want to inexplicably court death.)

Now, Gu You had not only helped plan the development of his Martial Soul, but had also asked others to help him hunt for a Soul Ring. Tang San understood very clearly that the Spirit Hall master agreeing to help him hunt Souls had nothing to do with him being a genius with Innate Full Soul Power. After all, he had not chosen to join Spirit Hall. It was because of Gu You that he was willing to help.

Tang San also understood clearly that Gu You greatly admired Spirit Hall's actions, both openly and implicitly. Yet because of Tang San and this body's father, Gu You had not joined Spirit Hall.

Gu You had helped him so much. Now, it was time for him to repay him.

With countless thoughts running through his mind, Tang San took a book from his clothes and handed it to Gu You.

Gu You found it strange. After knowing Tang San for so many years, he had never seen him read a book, much less hand one over. But the odd feeling in his heart did not stop the nonsense coming from his mouth. Taking the book, he said, "Xiao San, this isn't some dirty book, is it? That won't do. I only ignored you for three days, and you already—"

When Gu You saw the words on the cover clearly, he could no longer continue his nonsense. "Mysterious Heaven Skill?"

When Gu You had first met Tang San, he had considered obtaining this technique from him. After all, in the original story, the Mysterious Heaven Skill remained a top-tier cultivation method even into the interstellar era. But upon further thought, aside from Tang San, no one in Douluo I knew the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Not only that, Tang San had never taught anyone else his movement techniques either. He regarded Tang Sect teachings as more important than his life. There was no way Tang San would teach it to him.

As time passed, Gu You gradually let go of the idea. He had never expected happiness to arrive so suddenly, with Tang San abruptly deciding to teach him the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

Gu You had never realized how much of an impact his childhood habit of visiting Tang San every day and talking with him had made on Tang San, who at the time lacked fatherly love, had no companions, no one to speak with, and was at his loneliest. Gu You had fulfilled Tang San's most fundamental longing.

Unlike the Tang San from the original story, who regarded the Tang Sect, Tang Hao, and Yu Xiaogang as most important, the current Tang San did not need his time in the Tang Sect to numb his unhappy childhood. He did not need Tang Hao's recognition, much less the substitute fatherly love provided by Yu Xiaogang.

During the three days Gu You had spent researching Martial Souls, Tang San had not been idle either. He had copied out the Mysterious Heaven Skill he had learned from the Tang Sect, solely to repay Gu You's kindness and friendship.

Seeing Gu You stare silently at the book, Tang San recalled the books he had seen being hawked from the stalls on both sides of the marketplace when he had gone out to buy paper and brushes. Their covers bore titles like Overlord Art, World's Number One Skill, and Divine Speed Secret Art. He thought Gu You might suspect he had been deceived into buying some so-called peerless divine technique from a street vendor.

Thinking this, Tang San immediately said, "I didn't buy this from a stall. I wasn't scammed." Gu You was utterly baffled and had no idea what Tang San was talking about, only hearing him continue, "The old man who taught me Hidden Weapons gave me this Mysterious Heaven Skill as well. Once he confirmed that I had learned it, he burned the secret manual. This copy was rewritten by me."

Thinking Gu You might still not believe him, Tang San continued, "I've tried cultivating this Mysterious Heaven Skill. Its effects are better than the cultivation method Teacher Mo taught us. You can try it first."

Gu You suppressed the shock in his heart, nodded, and carefully read the Mysterious Heaven Skill that Tang San had copied out.

After finishing it, Gu You tried circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Although he was currently at level ten and could not feel any increase in Soul Power, he could clearly sense that his Soul Power flowed through his body far more smoothly than it did with the standard cultivation method.

After circulating his Soul Power for one full cycle, Gu You opened his eyes. "Thanks, Xiao San."

"Heh, you're welcome." Tang San smiled as he replied.

Since Gu You's research was finished, the two simply packed up their things. After having dinner at Spirit Hall, they returned to their dormitory to rest.

When Xiao Wu saw Gu You return to the dormitory, she leaped off her bed and skipped over to him. "Xiao You, where have you been these past few days? I asked Xiao San, but he wouldn't tell me either."

"It's nothing. I was just researching what Soul Rings Xiao San's and my Martial Souls need. The two of us are going to obtain Soul Rings tomorrow and become official Soul Masters."

Upon hearing that Gu You and Tang San would be hunting Soul Rings tomorrow, the other Work-Study Students all gathered around them, chattering about all kinds of stories they had heard from others about killing Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings.

Gu You noticed Xiao Wu quietly withdraw from the group and stand alone to one side, a trace of sorrow showing in her eyes.

Gu You wanted to say something, but ultimately kept quiet. Although he knew everything, he was still a newcomer to this world—weak, pitiful, and helpless. What could saying it accomplish? Raise Xiao Wu's affection for him?

Xiao Wu was quite cute, but for one thing, Gu You was a genuinely normal person, and his preferences were the same. For another, he did not possess the male protagonists' Talk no Jutsu from hot-blooded manga. He knew clearly that no matter what he said, it would be meaningless before the fundamental conflict between the two races. As long as humans needed power, the hunting of Soul Beasts would never stop.

If he wanted to change humanity's dependence on Soul Beasts for progress, he could only do so through continued research.

P.S. It was finally coming: the protagonist's First Soul Skill. From here on, research into Martial Souls, Soul Power, and Soul Skills could officially begin.

His family had dragged him to a symphony performance tonight, so there would be no update in the early hours tomorrow. Instead, there would be two updates tomorrow night. He was still asking for recommendation votes and bookmarks, and while he was at it, monthly votes too.