Return to Holy Soul Village

"Roar!!!!"

A black shadow swung down from above. With a thunderous boom, the ground split apart as if a bomb had exploded. Dust billowed, and chunks of stone flew everywhere.

"Haha, Xiao San, looks like your Blue Silver Grass still can't restrain me." A deep yet eerie voice, carrying a hint of youthful quality, came from the center of the dust cloud.

"Heh, that's not certain."

A large patch of Blue Silver Grass suddenly surged upward, completely covering the figure in the dust.

Soul-Dispersing Iron Claw!

Several golden flashes tore the Blue Silver Grass apart, and a huge figure charged out of the dust.

Smack!

"Ah!"

The figure that had charged out seemed to trip over something and fell face-first onto the ground. The momentum of his charge carried him nearly three meters forward.

"Grass Field combined with Grass Knot. This combination is a little difficult for a Beast Martial Soul Soul Master like you to counter—your body is strong, but you're not agile enough."

Tang San crouched in front of Gu You. Gu You raised his head. The scales on his face had protected him from any scratches, but his nose was still bleeding from the impact.

"Counting this time, you've already lost thirty matches in a row. Even without using Soul Skills, your combat experience can't deal with this combination at all."

Gu You's Martial Soul Possession faded. He did not get up, instead rolling over to lie on his back.

"If I'd known Blue Silver Grass could be used like this, I never would have told you. It's basically me beating myself up." Gu You sounded a little depressed.

Tang San raised his hand, and the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around Gu You. Vitality, stamina, and Soul Power flowed through the Blue Silver Grass into Gu You's body.

"That idea of yours is pretty interesting," Tang San said with a sigh. "You pour vitality into the Blue Silver Grass on the ground, making it grow luxuriantly. You don't need to control it—just use it to block the enemy's vision. Then you weave your stronger Blue Silver Grass into knots to trip enemies trying to charge out of the grass. Such a simple combination can effectively disrupt the enemy formation and their subsequent movements."

"That's right." Gu You reached out a hand toward Tang San. Tang San smiled and grabbed it, then pulled Gu You to his feet with a single tug.

"Self-Created Soul Skill: Grass Field. In theory, any Soul Power containing life-force properties can accomplish this."

"Self-Created Soul Skill: Grass Knot. Any Plant Type Martial Soul with linear parts capable of growth can accomplish this."

"And my Soul-Dispersing Iron Claw. In theory, anyone with sharp claws can learn it."

"By the way, Xiao San, did you finish yours?" Gu You seemed to remember something and turned to ask Tang San.

Tang San shook his head. "No. It's too difficult. I can't cover my entire body."

"Mm~~ Then I guess there's only that one move."

Gu You was just about to say something when the two of them heard Xiao Wu's voice.

"Xiao You, Xiao San, the teacher wants everyone to assemble."

"Okay, we'll be right back." The two exchanged a glance, then took off toward the Sports Field.

When they arrived, they happened to be the last two there.

"Today is our final class. After class, everyone can pack up and go home for the New Year. Next semester will begin on January fifteenth. Don't be late."

"Yes~" "We can finally go home." "Do you want to come back with me?"

Hearing that the holidays had begun, everyone was delighted and started chattering about their vacation plans.

Tang San nudged Gu You with his elbow. "Xiao You, when are we going back?"

Gu You replied, "We'll leave in a bit. I sent Grandpa a letter a few days ago, telling him that our vacation starts today. We'll pack our things and wait at the academy entrance."

The two of them chatted as they walked toward the Seventh Dormitory.

When they returned to the Seventh Dormitory, Tang San saw Xiao Wu leaning against the headboard with nothing to do and asked, "Xiao Wu, today's the start of vacation. Aren't you going to pack your things and go home?"

Xiao Wu leaned against the bed, a trace of loneliness showing in her eyes. She was completely different from her usual lively and cheerful self. "I'm not going home. Maybe I'll just stay at the academy."

Tang San froze for a moment. "It's been half a year. You still aren't going home to take a look?"

Xiao Wu's eyes suddenly lit up. "Xiao You, Xiao San, isn't your home fairly close to the academy? How about I go back with you and visit? What do you say? There's no one to play with me if I stay at the academy anyway."

"Why would we take you back?" Gu You glanced at Xiao Wu and continued forcefully stuffing the quilt into his luggage. "Our village is poor, and there's nothing delicious to eat. A rabbit like you that only knows how to eat won't find it interesting there."

Already used to Gu You's sharp tongue, Xiao Wu ignored him and asked, "Xiao San, what do you think?"

Tang San smiled. "Come if you want. But I'll warn you first—my dad doesn't have the best temper. He might throw you out when you get there."

Feeling that this might scare Xiao Wu, he thought for a moment and added, "But Xiao You's grandpa has a good temper. He's a good man. He can even accept someone as strange as Xiao You, so he'll definitely like someone as cute as you."

Ignoring Gu You's protests from behind—"What do you mean, I'm strange? What's strange about me?"—Xiao Wu jumped off the bed and began packing her luggage as well.

"Hehe, I'm so cute. Your father and Xiao You's grandpa will definitely like me."

Looking at Xiao Wu stuffing all her clothes and quilt into her bag in one go, Gu You thought, Seriously? Are you that eager to throw yourself at danger?

Thinking about Grandpa and the other villagers in the village, as well as Tang Hao, who was currently in a Schrödinger-like state, Gu You felt that Xiao Wu, busily packing her luggage, looked like a rabbit rushing to ram into a tree stump.

Although their time together had made Gu You regard Xiao Wu as a friend, he looked at his own thin arms and legs, then compared them with Tang Hao's thick arms, which he had seen before.

Mm~~~

If she wants to go, let her go. Better that a friend dies than me. As a one-ring little Soul Master, I have the will but not the strength.

Thinking this, Gu You said nothing more. He called over Tang San, who had already finished packing, to help him stuff the quilt into his bag.

After packing their luggage, the three of them went to the dining hall for lunch. Afterward, Gu You also packed a portion for Old Jack, who might not have eaten lunch.

"Xiao You, Xiao San."

"Grandpa!" Gu You had been chatting with Tang San while ignoring Xiao Wu when he turned around in surprise. Old Jack was driving a horse-drawn carriage parked right behind him.

"Grandpa, I missed you so much."

Gu You ignored the luggage on the ground, jumped into the carriage, and threw himself into Old Jack's arms.

"Oh, Xiao You, have you been eating properly at the academy? Did any of the other children bully you?" Old Jack stroked Gu You's head, his voice full of concern.

Gu You did not lift his head as he replied, "No. I'm a genius. How could they bully me? Grandpa, did you receive the Gold Soul Coins I asked Brother Niu to bring back?"

"I did. Xiao You, you don't need to keep sending money home. There's nowhere in the village where I need to spend it. You need money more in the city."

"Grandpa Jack, sorry to trouble you by coming to pick us up and take us back to the village." Tang San picked up Gu You's luggage, walked over to the carriage, and greeted Old Jack.

"It's no trouble." Old Jack smiled at Tang San. "You've grown stronger. Looks like you haven't been slacking off."

As he spoke, Old Jack noticed Xiao Wu following behind Tang San. "And this girl is...?"

Tang San introduced her. "Grandpa Jack, this is Xiao Wu, our classmate. She doesn't plan to go home during the vacation, so she wants to visit Holy Soul Village with us."

P.S. I changed the age requirement, number of tournaments, and Hu Liena's age for the Soul Master Tournament as a personal adaptation. Otherwise, being level fifty-something at twenty-five would feel unworthy of the title of Martial Soul Hall Saintess.

I didn't expect even this to be discovered. I thought it would only be noticed later, when I revealed it myself. (covers face)

I feel like my padding skills have improved, but writing without mixing in some actual content is really difficult. (cries) Please keep voting, collecting, and sending monthly tickets.