How to Use a Spirit Bone

Nothing happened overnight. The next day, after Gu You and Tang San endured Xiao Wu's gaze and finished their morning classes, they hurried to Spirit Hall.

The moment they entered, they happened to run into Yu Xiaogang, who had just collected his Soul Master subsidy.

The two nodded at Yu Xiaogang. Not wanting to speak with him, they prepared to walk around him.

"Have you two obtained your Soul Rings?" Yu Xiaogang sidestepped and asked them.

Gu You turned his head away, not wanting to say a word. Tang San, however, thought that while Yu Xiaogang could not compare to Xiao You, he was the dean's friend and might hold some influence at the academy. To avoid making trouble for their school life, Tang San still answered, "Yes. With the help of Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo and Grandmaster Su Yuntao from Spirit Hall, we successfully obtained our Soul Rings."

Yu Xiaogang frowned without hiding it, his face showing clear disdain. "What good Soul Beasts could those two possibly find for you? What Soul Beasts did your Soul Rings come from?"

Seeing Yu Xiaogang frown, Tang San thought, They went through all that trouble to help us obtain our Soul Rings. What are you, someone who neither teaches classes nor takes disciples, unhappy about?

"My chosen Soul Beast was Lightning-Struck Wood. Xiao You chose a Hunting Wolf."

Yu Xiaogang's brows relaxed slightly. Gu You's Soul Ring came from a Hunting Wolf, so he likely gained a wolf-type Soul Beast's attack ability or a status-enhancing Soul Skill. But Tang San chose Lightning-Struck Wood. It only has lightning resistance and hardness. His Soul Skill is probably useless. Hmph, this is what happens when you ignore my arrangements and decide on your own Soul Skill.

Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San from the corner of his eye and did not bother with pleasantries. "Hmph. Who told you to choose a Lightning-Struck Wood Soul Ring? Didn't I tell you to choose a poisonous animal-type Soul Beast? Why did you take the Soul Ring of such a useless Soul Beast?"

The moment Tang San heard Yu Xiaogang's words, he understood that Yu Xiaogang had not considered Lightning-Struck Wood's vitality at all. He had only noticed its physical toughness and mistakenly assumed Tang San's Soul Skill was merely related to toughness.

Tang San was now completely disappointed in Yu Xiaogang. He did not fully understand the traits of Soul Beasts, lacked any spirit of innovation, stubbornly clung to his own views, and treated others harshly the moment he heard Tang San had not chosen the Soul Ring he expected and assumed he lacked talent. How had someone like Yu Xiaogang earned the title of "Grandmaster"?

Just as Tang San was about to refute Yu Xiaogang and reveal the Soul Skill he had gained, Gu You noticed what he intended to do. He bumped Tang San with his shoulder, nodded to Yu Xiaogang, then pulled Tang San into Spirit Hall.

Watching their retreating backs, Yu Xiaogang still wore that deadpan expression, but his twitching brows showed that he was far from calm.

"Again! They rejected me, Yu Xiaogang, again! Two ungrateful brats. You've only obtained your first Soul Rings, yet you already dare disrespect me and refuse to follow my arrangements in obtaining Soul Skills. The two of you will be ruined sooner or later." The more Yu Xiaogang thought about it, the angrier he became. He wanted to rush over and attack the two children, but when he noticed the unfriendly looks from the guards on either side, he could only snort coldly, flick his sleeve, and leave.

"Xiao You, why did you pull me away?" Tang San had been ready to curse Yu Xiaogang out, but Gu You interrupted him and dragged him away, leaving him somewhat dissatisfied.

Gu You said, "What would it accomplish even if you told him about your Soul Skill and my theories? He can't offer us any help. His attitude is terrible, and his character does not seem very good either. I'm even worried that if he learns about my theories, he'll steal them and publish them first."

Tang San thought about the difference in Yu Xiaogang's attitude toward him before and after. He realized Gu You was right. At first, Yu Xiaogang had been enthusiastic because he suspected Tang San possessed Twin Martial Souls. After Tang San denied it, Yu Xiaogang still spoke to him, but his eyes and attention had shifted entirely to Gu You. Then, just now, when he heard Tang San's first Soul Ring came from Lightning-Struck Wood and assumed Tang San's Martial Soul was useless, the contempt in his expression had been unmistakable.

His attitude had changed so drastically, respectful before and arrogant afterward. Tang San realized Yu Xiaogang truly might publish Gu You's theories before him.

Thinking that he might have made a grave mistake for the sake of momentary satisfaction, Tang San broke out in a cold sweat.

"Thanks, Xiao You. I nearly made a huge mistake."

"It's nothing. We're brothers." Gu You patted Tang San's back, showing that he did not mind.

As they spoke, they arrived at Ma Xiunuo's office. Gu You knocked hard on the door, then entered without waiting for anyone inside to respond.

Both Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao were in the office. Seeing the two enter, Ma Xiunuo said with a bitter smile, "You little brat, you came in again without waiting for my permission. You might as well stop knocking altogether."

Gu You replied with a mischievous grin, "How could I do that? Knocking is respect. I came straight in because I know Grandpa Ma Xiunuo couldn't possibly be anywhere else."

"You little rascal." Ma Xiunuo smiled and scolded him, then rose from behind his desk. "Come on. We're going to the basement."

Tang San was the only one who did not know what was happening, but when he saw Gu You give him a reassuring look, he relaxed and followed them toward the basement.

Ma Xiunuo opened the basement door and let the two boys enter first. Then he said quietly to Su Yuntao, "Guard this place. Do not let anyone enter." Su Yuntao nodded. Only then did Ma Xiunuo enter the basement and lock the door from the inside.

Ever since he had handed the storage room key to Gu You, Ma Xiunuo had never entered it again. Upon walking in, the first thing he saw was the enormous blackboard and the two massive regular hexagons labeled "Ultimate Conductor Tyranno" and "Blue Silver Grass." For secrecy, Gu You had erased the Hammer before leaving.

Noticing Ma Xiunuo's gaze on the hexagons, Gu You explained, "Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, this is a method I came up with to judge a Martial Soul's strengths and weaknesses. What is written above is—"

Just as Gu You was about to introduce it, Ma Xiunuo raised his hand to stop him. He rubbed Gu You's head and said kindly, "Xiao You, there's no need to explain it to me. Grandpa will see it whenever you publish it in the Martial Soul Daily."

Walking over to the table, Ma Xiunuo saw the materials spread across it and the sheets filled with all sorts of writing. Once again, he confirmed that his decision had been correct.

Ma Xiunuo raised his hand, took a wooden box from his ring, and gently set it on the table.

"This is...?" Tang San did not understand why Ma Xiunuo was presenting them with a box so solemnly. A faint fluctuation of Soul Power came from within it.

Ma Xiunuo gently opened the box. Tang San saw that the object inside emitted a faint green glow, and he could clearly feel his Blue Silver Grass suddenly becoming more active.

"A Spirit Bone?!" Once Tang San saw what Ma Xiunuo took from the box, he could no longer contain his emotions and cried out.

Ma Xiunuo nodded, took Tang San's left hand, and solemnly placed the Spirit Bone into it.

"This Spirit Bone was discovered by Gu You. While you were absorbing your Soul Ring, Gu You found it inside the fallen Lightning-Struck Wood."

Ma Xiunuo paused, then continued, "Only the four of us were present at the time. No one else knows about this Spirit Bone. With the talents Yun Tao and I possess, we would only bury its potential. So you, who killed the Soul Beast, and Xiao You, who discovered the Spirit Bone, should decide how to use it."

After saying that, Ma Xiunuo looked reluctantly at the Lightning-Struck Wood Left Leg Bone in Tang San's hand one last time, then resolutely turned and left the basement.

P.S.: By investing in two geniuses while also avoiding being killed by Tang Hao, Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao had achieved two goals at once. They might just become the biggest winners.

This was today's first update. My book actually made it onto the new-book rankings in the light novel section. I feel that both my writing and pacing are inferior to those of the other great authors, which makes me a little nervous. Still, I have to keep asking for votes. Please give recommendation votes, add it to your collection, and send monthly votes.