"Ning Rongrong..." Seeing Ning Rongrong about to turn away, Oscar immediately called out.
Ning Rongrong turned back and said coldly, "What is it?"
Oscar kept staring at Ning Rongrong, still clinging to a shred of hope. "Zi Long just told me that all partners of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must be attack-type Soul Masters. Is that true?"
Hearing Oscar's words, Ning Rongrong, who had never felt anything for him to begin with, decided to make him give up completely. "It's true. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda belongs to Support Soul Masters, so even if you like me, we can never be together. My father and the sect would never agree."
"So it really is true?" A trace of desolation appeared in Oscar's eyes.
Zhao Zilong was speechless. "Damn it, you thought I was lying to you? Besides, we were only here practicing hidden weapons. I haven't even thought about pursuing her, yet you already see me as a rival?"
As soon as Zhao Zilong said that, Meng Yiran, standing beside him, looked somewhat aggrieved. Her guard toward Ning Rongrong grew even stronger. Over the past few days, Meng Yiran had learned that Ning Rongrong was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. In terms of status and background, she far surpassed Meng Yiran, so naturally, Meng Yiran was extremely wary of her.
Hearing Zhao Zilong's words, Ning Rongrong also shot him a resentful look. Was I really that lacking in charm? He hadn't even considered pursuing me?
But seeing Oscar in this state, Ning Rongrong did not say it aloud. She felt somewhat sorry for him. Though she truly did not like Oscar, he had helped her quite a bit at the academy, and they were classmates after all. Ning Rongrong did not want to make things awkward between them. "Xiao Ao, I know you really like me, but we truly can't be together. You're very talented—Innate Full Soul Power, and already a 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 even more heartbroken. Attack power. Because he was a Support Soul Master, he and Ning Rongrong were fated to have no future together. The thought that Ning Rongrong might one day marry someone else stabbed at his heart.
Before Ning Rongrong, Tang San, and the others came to Shrek Academy, Oscar often frequented pleasure houses with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. He had dated quite a few beauties, and Dai Mubai had introduced him to several girlfriends as well.
But Oscar had only been playing along with those women. His feelings for Ning Rongrong, however, had truly been love at first sight. Yet fate had toyed with him so cruelly.
Oscar looked at Ning Rongrong expectantly. "If I gain attack power, does that mean we might have a chance?"
Ning Rongrong was speechless at Oscar's words. She had already given him an out, so why would he not let it go?
Without waiting for Ning Rongrong to answer, Oscar walked up to Zhao Zilong. "Zi Long, please teach me hidden weapons too."
Zhao Zilong was somewhat speechless. "Teaching you is no big deal. As a food-type Soul Master, learning some hidden weapon techniques would give you a little more ability to protect yourself."
"But if you want to improve your attack power by learning hidden weapon techniques so that you can be with Ning Rongrong, then you should give up. Hidden weapon techniques can give you some means of self-defense, but their power is limited in the end. And clinging to Ning Rongrong like this isn't good either. You can't bind Ning Rongrong's best years over one possibility of yours."
Hearing Zhao Zilong's words, Ning Rongrong decided to make things clear with Oscar as well. She said firmly, "That's right, Oscar. There's no possibility between us. You're a food-type Soul Master. Even if you learn hidden weapon techniques, how strong could you become? We're Support Soul Masters in the end. It's simply impossible."
Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Oscar fell into despair once more. With a dejected look, he said, "I understand. I'm sorry. I won't disturb you anymore." With that, Oscar glanced at the three of them, turned, and left.
Elsewhere, Tang San had been called to the office by Master Yu Xiaogang, where he received a scolding for rashly entering the Star Dou Great Forest. Tang San could only listen in silence.
Seeing Tang San's obedient appearance, Yu Xiaogang felt even more gratified. The luckiest thing in his life had been taking in 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 is probably a Twin Martial Souls wielder like you."
"Teacher, I think so too," Tang San agreed.
Furthermore, over the past few days, Tang San had watched Zhao Zilong teach Meng Yiran and Ning Rongrong hidden weapon techniques. They were indeed very similar to those of the Tang Sect. Although Tang San was reluctant to think so, he might not be the only transmigrator in this world. Perhaps Zhao Zilong was one as well, and might even have come from the Tang Sect.
However, what Tang San could not understand was that Zhao Zilong's footwork differed from Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. This made Tang San very curious about Zhao Zilong's identity. He could only wait for an opportunity to probe indirectly and see whether he could uncover anything.
Still, Zhao Zilong's talent and his skill with hidden weapons alone had already made Tang San want to recruit him into the Tang Sect.
Tang San continued, "Teacher, there's something else. I was originally about to break through to level thirty, but while I was in the Star Dou Great Forest, my Soul Power suddenly weakened for no apparent reason. It dropped by one level, down to level twenty-eight. Fortunately, after working hard in secluded cultivation these past few days, my Soul Power has returned to level twenty-nine."
"What? Your Soul Power regressed?" Yu Xiaogang was somewhat sensitive to hearing about Soul Power regression. His own Soul Power had now regressed to only a little over level ten. Looking at Tang San, he asked, "Has your Soul Power recovered now?"
"Yes." Tang San nodded.
For the time being, Yu Xiaogang did not intend to tell Tang San about the decline of his own Soul Power. Standing with his hands behind his back, he explained, "There are generally four circumstances in which Soul Power regresses."
"Four?" Tang San was startled. He had only thought of two possibilities. He had not expected there to be four.
"First, severe injuries causing Soul Power to decline. Second, Soul Power regression caused by excessive exhaustion or excessive indulgence. Third, regression caused by side effects after using external medicine to force rapid progress. Fourth, regression caused by an unstable foundation and failure to break through a bottleneck."
"Xiao San, in your case, the most likely possibility is the fourth. Level twenty-nine to level thirty is a bottleneck. Once Soul Power reaches level thirty, you can obtain your third Soul Ring and become a Soul Elder."
"However, it could also be the second possibility—excessive exhaustion. I often saw you staying up late to forge hidden weapons. Xiao San, you're still young, and your talent is exceptional. You must balance work and rest, understand?"
Listening to Yu Xiaogang's instruction, Tang San nodded. "I understand, Teacher."
Yu Xiaogang said again, "Pay attention to rest from now on and try not to stay up late so often. You're still young. You should focus on improving your Soul Power."
"Yes, Teacher."
Before you continue