A Wager with Master

Chen Xin's gaze fell on Wang Chuan, his tone several degrees more serious than before. As he corrected the way he held his saber, he solemnly instructed, "Xiao Chuan, remember this—your Spirit is a Soul Master's most closely guarded secret, more important than your life itself." He paused and lightly tapped Wang Chuan's saber sheath with his fingertip. "If you casually reveal your Spirit to others, they can study its characteristics, devise techniques to counter you, and even discover your weaknesses. Unless it is a matter of life and death, or the person is someone you trust completely, never reveal your Spirit lightly. Do you understand?"

Wang Chuan tightened his grip on the saber and nodded seriously. "I understand, Master. I will never let others study my Spirit so easily again."

During the gap in the master and disciple's conversation, Tang San, who was sitting cross-legged not far away, slowly opened his eyes. A faint glimmer from absorbing the soul ring still lingered in his gaze, while the Soul Power fluctuations around him had stabilized. Clearly, he had successfully absorbed the Mandala Snake's soul ring into his body.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang immediately stepped forward to confirm Tang San's condition. Then he turned to Chen Xin, his eyes filled with urgency and anticipation. "Your Excellency Sword Douluo, you just said Xiao San's soul ring was 'putting the cart before the horse.' Then I would like to take this opportunity to show you my theory—what kind of special soul skill can arise when a plant-type Spirit absorbs the soul ring of a Beast Martial Soul?"

Afraid that Chen Xin might refuse, he hurriedly added, "This is the theory I have been most proud of throughout my years of research. If you do not mind, I can have Xiao San use his soul skill on you once, so you can personally experience its effects."

Chen Xin glanced indifferently at Tang San, his tone carrying the composure of a Titled Douluo. "No matter. A one-ring Soul Master who has just absorbed his first soul ring cannot harm me. Let him come at me."

"Xiao San, use your First Soul Skill on Your Excellency Sword Douluo," Yu Xiaogang immediately instructed Tang San.

Tang San focused at once and shouted, "First Soul Skill, Blue Silver Entanglement!" As the words fell, several pale-blue vines suddenly surged from his palm. Tiny thorns covered them as they lashed rapidly toward Chen Xin like living creatures.

But the moment those Blue Silver Grass vines reached Chen Xin, they were stopped by an invisible Soul Power barrier. Chen Xin did not even move a finger. He merely released the slightest trace of Soul Power, and the Blue Silver Grass struck it as though it had hit a wall of bronze and iron. It could not advance another inch before finally drooping weakly to the ground.

Chen Xin withdrew his Soul Power and looked toward Yu Xiaogang, his voice utterly calm. "Blue Silver Grass is originally a plant-type Spirit with exceptionally vigorous life force. It can draw upon the power of nature to grow and recover. Yet your disciple's soul skill has abandoned this core advantage in exchange for only a weak toxin and barely passable toughness." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Blue Silver Grass on the ground. "Its only possible merit is that the vines entangle a little faster than ordinary Blue Silver Grass, but that is precisely putting the cart before the horse. Any plant-type soul beast skilled in restraint could have granted him a better soul skill, perhaps even one that preserved Blue Silver Grass's vitality. Yu Xiaogang, your disciple's soul ring truly cannot be called good."

Yu Xiaogang disagreed. Instead, he stepped forward, his eyes firm. "Your Excellency Sword Douluo, the quality of a soul skill cannot be judged solely by what is before us! Its advantages may not be apparent at low levels, but once Xiao San's Soul Power reaches level thirty, or even higher, its potential will far surpass that of ordinary plant-type soul skills—because its adaptability is stronger, allowing it to evolve continuously alongside the combinations of his future soul rings." At this point, he took a deep breath as though making up his mind. "Therefore, I would like to make a wager with you. Would you be willing?"

Chen Xin raised a brow, his tone turning somewhat serious. "Oh? What do you wish to wager?"

"I wager that when our disciples each reach level thirty, they will have a match." Yu Xiaogang spoke each word distinctly. "If Tang San wins, I ask that Your Excellency Sword Douluo personally issue a statement publicly supporting my Spirit theory. If Wang Chuan wins, I will offer you my lifelong research into the Twin Martial Soul Cultivation Theory, without holding anything back."

Yu Xiaogang had already calculated everything carefully in his heart. If he won, he would gain the public support of a Titled Douluo and have his theory fully recognized by the Soul Master world. If he lost, although that Twin Martial Soul Cultivation Theory had cost him years of painstaking effort, the only known possessors of Twin Martial Souls in the entire Soul Master world were Tang San and Bibi Dong. It was nearly useless to everyone else. Giving it to Chen Xin would not be much of a loss. It was practically a guaranteed profit.

At his words, an imperceptible smile flashed through Chen Xin's eyes. How could he not know that Wang Chuan possessed Twin Martial Souls? In his view, Yu Xiaogang's proposal was simply a benefit delivered right to his door. He looked down at Wang Chuan beside him and thought, How could Xiao Chuan, who possesses a God-Tier Spirit, possibly lose to Blue Silver Grass supported by nothing but theory?

"Fine, I accept." Chen Xin agreed to the wager almost without hesitation.

The two men each harbored their own thoughts, yet neither noticed that the two children beside them had already gathered together. Tang San cupped his fists toward Wang Chuan, his tone filled with sincere gratitude. "Brother Chuan, if you had not stepped in so righteously today, my teacher and I would likely have been swallowed by that snake. I, Tang San, will remember this kindness. I have nothing with which to repay you now, but from this day onward, whenever and wherever you need me, I will come at your call!"

Wang Chuan waved a hand, speaking casually. "No need to be so polite. It was only a small effort."

"To me, it was not a small effort. It was a life-saving debt." Tang San remained insistent, his gaze serious. "So you must accept this repayment."

Seeing how resolute he was, Wang Chuan could only nod helplessly. "All right, all right. I'll accept it. If there's a chance in the future, keep in touch."

He did not know that Tang San had already made other plans. Wang Chuan possessed such strength at such a young age, and he even had a master like Sword Douluo behind him. He was undoubtedly a powerful ally worth befriending. Since they had met, Tang San naturally had to find a way to establish a connection. He could not let them become strangers after this.

Of the four people present, Wang Chuan alone remained in the dark. He neither knew of the wager between his master and Yu Xiaogang nor noticed Tang San's intentions. He only felt that he had gained much from the battle and his master's teachings, and his thoughts were wholly occupied with how to become stronger.

After talking a while longer, the two groups went their separate ways. Yu Xiaogang needed to help Tang San familiarize himself with his newly acquired soul skill, while Chen Xin continued guiding Wang Chuan in saber practice. As they walked, Chen Xin suddenly stopped and said to Wang Chuan, "For the next few days, you do not need to practice the Seven Kill Saber Technique. Focus first on the basic saber technique I taught you."

He paused before adding, "During the day, repeatedly refine the basic moves until the angle and force of every strike are perfectly precise. At night, do not sleep. Meditate instead—meditation can both restore Soul Power and consolidate your cultivation realm. It will improve you faster at your current stage."

Over the following days, Wang Chuan indeed followed Chen Xin's instructions. By day, he practiced until his arms ached, and by night, he sat cross-legged in meditation without even a moment to rest. Yet he never uttered a word of complaint or showed the slightest slackness. It was not because he did not understand the importance of balancing work and rest, but because a fixation lay hidden in his heart: becoming stronger, stronger than anyone else! Only then could he protect his family far away in his hometown and prevent past regrets from happening again.

While Wang Chuan devoted himself entirely to cultivation, he did not notice a subtle change quietly occurring within the aura of emptiness released by his Spirit, Nothingness. Within that originally pure gray-white void, an extremely faint trace of blue-green had appeared at some unknown time. It was so pale that it was nearly invisible, yet like a seed, it had taken deep root in the void. It contained the longing deep within his heart to protect—to protect his family and the people around him whom he cared about.

As the days passed, Wang Chuan's saber technique gradually began to change amid his daily practice. He no longer followed the basic saber technique Chen Xin had taught him completely. Instead, without realizing it, he incorporated into it the moves Huang Quan had taught him in his memories. Those moves carried a strange rhythm, combining the agility of the Huang Quan Saber Technique with the steadiness of the basic saber technique, gradually forming a saber art unique to him alone.

One day, as Chen Xin watched Wang Chuan practice, he suddenly frowned and asked, "Xiao Chuan, the saber technique you just used was exquisite in its movements and unique in its rhythm. Who taught it to you? Why have I never heard you mention it before?"

Wang Chuan sheathed his saber, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked at Chen Xin in confusion. "Master, you have already asked similar questions several times. This saber technique was taught to me by that older sister named Huang Quan."

"Huang Quan?" Chen Xin's expression changed instantly. He stepped forward and stared intently at Wang Chuan, his voice carrying a trace of urgency. "I know almost every renowned expert in the Soul Master world, yet I have never heard the name Huang Quan. And you say I have 'asked several times'? This is the first time I have asked you about this!"

"But..." Wang Chuan wanted to explain, but Chen Xin interrupted him.

"Something's wrong!" Chen Xin's face darkened as unease surged through him. There was a discrepancy in his memories, and he had heard of a Huang Quan he had never known before. This was no minor matter. Without further hesitation, he immediately grabbed Wang Chuan's wrist, his voice urgent. "Come, we are returning to the sect now!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Chen Xin took Wang Chuan with him. With a tap of his toes against the ground, his figure became a streak of white light as he raced toward the sect. He had to return as quickly as possible and uncover the truth, or the consequences would be unthinkable.