"Rongrong..." Seeing Ning Rongrong about to turn away, Oscar immediately called out to her.
Ning Rongrong heard him and replied coldly, "What is it?"
Oscar continued to look at Ning Rongrong, still holding on to a glimmer of hope. "Zhao Zilong just told me that partners of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must all be Attack-type Soul Masters. Is that true?"
Hearing Oscar's words, Ning Rongrong, who had never had feelings for him in the first place, decided to make him give up completely. "It's true. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda is a Support-type Martial Soul, so even if you like me, we can't be together. My father and the sect would never agree."
"So it really is true?" Oscar said, a trace of dejection appearing in his eyes.
Zhao Zilong listened, speechless. "Damn, you still think I was lying to you? Besides, we're just practicing Hidden Weapons here. I haven't even thought about pursuing her, and you've already made me your imaginary rival!"
As soon as Zhao Zilong said this, Meng Yiran, standing beside him, looked at him with a resentful gaze. She eyed Ning Rongrong, who was standing nearby, with even greater wariness. Over the past few days, Meng Yiran had learned that Ning Rongrong was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Her status and background far surpassed Meng Yiran's, so naturally, she was extremely wary of her.
Hearing Zhao Zilong's words, Ning Rongrong also shot him a resentful look. Am I really that unattractive? He hasn't even thought about pursuing me?
But seeing Oscar like this, Ning Rongrong didn't say those words aloud. She felt a little sorry for him. Although she truly didn't like Oscar, he had helped her a lot at the academy, and they were classmates, too. Ning Rongrong didn't want to sour their relationship, so she said, "Xiao Ao, I know you like me a lot, but we really can't be together. You have great talent and Innate Full Soul Power, and you reached Soul Elder at fourteen. I'm sure you'll meet a girl who likes you someday. Let's just be friends!"
Hearing this, Oscar felt his heart shatter all over again. Attack power. Because he was a Support-type Soul Master, he was fated to have no chance of being with Ning Rongrong. At the thought that Ning Rongrong might one day marry another man, a pang of pain stabbed through his heart.
Before Ning Rongrong and Tang San had come to Shrek Academy, Oscar had often gone with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun to places of pleasure, and had met plenty of beautiful women. Dai Mubai had even introduced him to several girlfriends.
But Oscar had only ever treated those women as casual flings. He had fallen for Ning Rongrong at first sight, yet fate had toyed with him like this.
Oscar looked at Ning Rongrong with hopeful eyes. "If I had attack power, would we have a chance?"
Hearing Oscar's question, Ning Rongrong felt speechless. She had already given him a way to save face, so why wouldn't he let it go?
After saying this, Oscar didn't wait for Ning Rongrong to answer. He went over to Zhao Zilong and said, "Zi Long, please teach me Hidden Weapons, too."
Zhao Zilong felt a little speechless. "I don't mind teaching you. As a Food-type Soul Master, learning a few Hidden Weapon techniques could give you a little more ability to protect yourself."
"But if you're hoping to improve your attack power by learning Hidden Weapon techniques so you can be with Rongrong, then give it up. Hidden Weapon techniques can give you some ability to protect yourself, but their power is limited. And it's not right to keep pestering Rongrong like this. You can't use a mere possibility on your part to hold Rongrong back during the best years of her life!"
Hearing Zhao Zilong's words, Ning Rongrong decided to make things clear to Oscar, and said firmly, "That's right, Oscar. There's no chance for us. You're a Food-type Soul Master. Even if you learn Hidden Weapon techniques, how strong can you really become? We're both Support-type Soul Masters. It simply can't happen."
Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Oscar fell into despair once more. His eyes downcast, he said, "I understand. I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore." After saying this, Oscar glanced at the three of them, turned around, and left.
Meanwhile, Tang San had been summoned to Master Yu Xiaogang's office and reprimanded for recklessly venturing into the Star Dou Great Forest. Tang San could only listen in silence.
Seeing how sensible Tang San was, Yu Xiaogang felt even more gratified. The luckiest thing in his life had been taking such a disciple.
Yu Xiaogang said, "By the way, Xiao San, Zhao Zilong's Martial Soul is also Blue Silver Grass, and at such a young age, his Soul Power is even higher than yours. He may well have Twin Martial Souls, just like you."
"Teacher, I think so, too," Tang San said, agreeing completely.
What was more, in recent days Tang San had seen Zhao Zilong teach Meng Yiran and Ning Rongrong Hidden Weapon techniques. They really were very similar to those of the Tang Sect. Although Tang San was very reluctant to think this way, he wasn't necessarily the only transmigrator in this world. Zhao Zilong might be one, too, and he could very well have come from the Tang Sect.
However, Tang San couldn't understand why Zhao Zilong's footwork was different from Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. This made him even more curious about Zhao Zilong's identity. He could only wait for a chance to sound him out indirectly and see if he could learn anything.
But just Zhao Zilong's talent and his skill with Hidden Weapons had already made Tang San want to bring him into the Tang Sect.
Tang San continued, "Teacher, there's something else. I was actually about to break through to level thirty, but while I was in the Star Dou Great Forest, my Soul Power suddenly weakened by one level for no apparent reason and dropped to level twenty-eight. Fortunately, after I diligently cultivated in seclusion these past few days, my Soul Power returned to level twenty-nine."
"What? Your Soul Power regressed?" Hearing that his Soul Power had regressed, Yu Xiaogang became somewhat sensitive about it. His own Soul Power had already fallen until only a little over ten levels remained. Looking at Tang San, he asked, "Has your Soul Power recovered now?"
"Mm." Tang San nodded.
Yu Xiaogang wasn't planning to tell Tang San about his own declining Soul Power for the time being. With his hands clasped behind his back, he turned away from Tang San and explained, "Soul Power usually regresses for only four reasons."
"Four?" Tang San was startled. He had only thought of two reasons and hadn't expected there to be four.
"First, a serious injury can cause Soul Power to regress. Second, excessive fatigue or excessive indulgence can cause it to regress. Third, using external medicines to force rapid growth can lead to regression as a side effect. Fourth, an unstable foundation and a failed breakthrough can cause Soul Power to regress."
"Xiao San, in your case, the last one is the most likely. Level twenty-nine to level thirty is a bottleneck. Once your Soul Power reaches level thirty, you can obtain your third Soul Ring and become a Soul Elder."
"However, it could also be the second reason: excessive fatigue. I often saw you staying up late to forge Hidden Weapons. Xiao San, you're still young, and your talent is outstanding. You must balance work and rest, understand?"
Listening to Yu Xiaogang's advice, Tang San nodded. "I understand, Teacher."
Yu Xiaogang continued, "Make sure you get enough rest from now on, and try not to stay up late. You're still young. You should focus on improving your Soul Power."
"Yes, Teacher."
Before you continue