Tang San's Show-off

Mo Bai turned around and saw Tang San.

In an instant, Mo Bai sensed that Tang San had changed. The aura around him was different.

"You... successfully absorbed a Spirit Ring and became a Spirit Master?"

Mo Bai got straight to the point and asked Tang San directly.

Tang San's expression shifted slightly at his words. Once again, he felt that Mo Bai was no ordinary person—he had even noticed that Tang San had advanced.

Only then did Tang San look at Mo Bai and nod. "That's right. With Master's help, I successfully absorbed my First Spirit Ring! And it was a four-hundred-year Spirit Ring!"

There was an obvious trace of showing off in Tang San's tone. He was flaunting that he had chosen a good teacher, which was why he had not only absorbed his First Spirit Ring so quickly, but had even obtained a four-hundred-year Spirit Ring.

They had both been chosen by Master before. In the end, Tang San had become Master's disciple, while Mo Bai had refused—or rather, had been refused.

So when facing Mo Bai, Tang San could not help wanting to compare himself to him and let him know that his own choice had been the right one.

Mo Bai paused slightly at that, then looked at Tang San and smiled. "Then congratulations. Did you absorb the Spirit Ring of a Plant Spirit Beast or an Animal Spirit Beast?"

"I saw Master's book in the library these past few days. He mentioned that Plant Martial Souls can also absorb the Spirit Rings of Animal Spirit Beasts. Master should have had you verify his theory, right?" The implication was clear: You were used as a guinea pig, weren't you?

Tang San frowned slightly upon hearing Mo Bai's words. He kept feeling that Mo Bai was taking a jab at him somehow.

But Tang San could not figure out what Mo Bai meant, so he simply smiled. "You actually read Master's book? Good. Master's theory is correct. My First Spirit Ring came from a four-hundred-year Mandala Snake!"

"It really worked? Can I see your Blue Silver Grass now?"

Although Mo Bai had already expected it, he still acted shocked, his face full of disbelief.

Of course, he was mainly putting on that surprised expression for Tang San to see, letting him feel pleased with himself. Mo Bai wanted to learn what changes Blue Silver Grass underwent after absorbing a Mandala Snake Spirit Ring.

Seeing Mo Bai's astonished expression, Tang San immediately felt a burst of satisfaction.

Now he knew how impressive Master was, right?

"Of course!"

Tang San then readily summoned his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and explained to Mo Bai the changes it had undergone after absorbing the Mandala Snake Spirit Ring.

Tang San was so straightforward because, while he wanted Mo Bai to understand how formidable Master was, he also hoped Mo Bai could use his own Blue Silver Grass to absorb an Animal Spirit Beast's Spirit Ring. With one more person verifying it, Master's theory would become even more convincing.

He would let those people who mocked Master know that they had all been wrong!

More importantly, there was nothing worth hiding about the changes Blue Silver Grass underwent after absorbing its First Spirit Ring. Its concealment capabilities were not particularly strong. Once Tang San fought someone, they could easily analyze it, so there was no need to hide it.

"Tang San, you absorbed your First Spirit Ring too?"

"Not bad, not bad. You've got half the bearing of Sister Xiao Wu!"

While Mo Bai and Tang San were talking, Xiao Wu had somehow run over. She patted Tang San on the shoulder and spoke with a broad grin.

Behind Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng and the others were all staring at Tang San in surprise.

They had clearly noticed Tang San's arrival and seen his Hundred-Year Spirit Ring, leaving every one of them astonished.

It was one thing for Sister Xiao Wu to obtain a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring, but Tang San had gotten one too.

Boss Xiao and the other upperclassmen were even more stunned.

This year's Work-Study Students were truly hiding dragons and crouching tigers. They could not be provoked.

"Sister Xiao Wu, we'll be leaving then!"

"If anything comes up at the academy in the future, just give us your orders, Sister Xiao Wu!"

Not wanting to stay any longer and suffer more blows, Boss Xiao bid Xiao Wu farewell and hurried away.

"Mo Bai, among the three of us with Innate Full Soul Power, you're the only one left without a Spirit Ring!"

Xiao Wu ignored Boss Xiao and the others. She turned around, patted Mo Bai on the shoulder again, and teased him with a smile.

She even sounded a little like she was disappointed in him for failing to meet her expectations.

"..."

Mo Bai was utterly speechless. He tossed out a few perfunctory replies before quickly leaving.

"No, I need to absorb my First Spirit Ring as soon as possible too!"

"I'm doing it so I can continue cultivating, not because those two got under my skin!"

After returning to the dormitory, Mo Bai secretly made up his mind.

He could not delay getting his First Spirit Ring any longer.

However, his First Spirit Ring definitely would not be the same as Tang San's.

After Tang San's Blue Silver Grass evolved, its toughness and slight poison [Paralysis Effect] had increased. That was not what Mo Bai wanted.

He needed greater toughness too, but if it only became tougher, then it could not be used as a Hidden Weapon.

Moreover, Mo Bai remembered that Tang San being able to absorb an Animal Spirit Beast's Spirit Ring did not necessarily mean that he could do the same.

That was because Tang San possessed Twin Martial Souls. He also had a Tool Martial Soul, something Mo Bai had forgotten before.

Now that he remembered, Mo Bai temporarily did not dare risk trying to absorb an Animal Spirit Beast's Spirit Ring!

Over the next few days, Mo Bai continued spending his time in the library. As he absorbed more knowledge, he discovered another key point.

That was the importance of physical fitness. Other books in the library mentioned it relatively little, but Master's book discussed it much more. Master simply had not singled it out; instead, he had woven it into the so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. More than half the theories in it mentioned the importance of physical fitness.

For example, the limit on how many years a Spirit Ring could have was also related to physical fitness.

A few days later, Mo Bai finally found something suitable for himself in the Spirit Beast guides available in the library.

Sword Bamboo.

A type of Plant Spirit Beast.

Its name alone made it clear what kind of Spirit Beast it was.

Its bamboo leaves were like swords—light, thin, and sharp.

It had a cold, aloof nature and disliked being disturbed.

Whenever a Spirit Beast or human approached, Sword Bamboo would attack, its bamboo leaves raining down like swords upon the enemy.

The Spirit Skill produced by its Spirit Ring was the group attack skill, Sword Bamboo Rain.

Few people obtained the original Spirit Skill. Usually, it underwent some changes according to the user's Martial Soul, though the general method of attack remained the same.

However, few Spirit Masters absorbed it, because while the Spirit Skill looked dazzling, its killing power was far too weak.

Mo Bai chose it first because it was also a Plant Spirit Beast, and second because its characteristics were what he wanted.

As for the Spirit Skill being too weak?

Mo Bai did not care. The martial arts techniques he had mastered were already decent Spirit Skills. Whether he had a powerful Spirit Skill was not important.

What mattered was that his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul could evolve, allowing him to use Blue Silver Grass as a Hidden Weapon.

"Teacher Ma, I would like to apply for the academy's help in hunting my First Spirit Ring!"

The next morning after class, Mo Bai found Teacher Ma, who taught their class, and submitted his request.

Thanks to Mu Yuanyuan, 15119023027591, Dimension Sky Fox, 20170501003237149, End King of Time, Yun Buyu, 00JH00, New Buddhist Bookworm, and the others for their tips!