Undercurrents and the Budding of a Combination Skill

The anomalies in the Soul Hunting Forest and the appearance of the mysterious man in gray were like a Giant Stone dropped into a tranquil lake, causing quite a stir throughout Nuoding Academy and even the local branch of Spirit Hall.

The academy heightened its security and even temporarily assigned additional teachers to patrol. Spirit Hall sent higher-ranking deacons deep into the forest to investigate. In the end, they seemed to conclude that "a powerful soul beast passing through had briefly caused the disturbance," but the specifics were not made public.

Master neither confirmed nor denied that conclusion. He merely warned Tang San and Xiao Xiaoxiao not to approach that area again and told them to devote more energy to cultivation. After surviving that life-and-death crisis, both of them understood the importance of strength more deeply.

Tang San cultivated even more diligently. Not only did his Soul Power steadily improve, but he also devoted more time to researching and crafting those Hidden Weapons. The tools and materials Xiao Xiaoxiao had given him proved extremely useful.

Xiao Xiaoxiao focused on improving the precision of her Mental Interference and her resistance to interference. When facing the flock of Dark Demon Crows, her interference had seemed powerless against their overwhelming numbers. It made her realize that the "quality" of a skill mattered more than its "quantity." She began trying to condense her interference into a thread aimed at a single target, or release weak area-wide interference to probe her surroundings.

Life seemed to return to its previous course, but some things had quietly changed.

Tang San's instinctive move to shield her behind him during that crisis had taken root in her heart like a seed. The way she looked at him now carried an increasingly undisguised dependence and admiration.

As for Tang San, though he remained quiet and reserved, his attention toward Xiao Xiaoxiao seemed to contain an extra layer of subtle protectiveness. During morning training, he would occasionally point out where her movements and exertion were improper, and would even personally adjust her posture for her—though every time, Xiao Xiaoxiao would blush and her heart would race for ages afterward. In class, if she struggled to answer a question, he would offer the key point in the simplest terms. In the cafeteria, he would still silently pick the shredded ginger she disliked out of her food and place it in his own bowl.

Xiao Xiaoxiao carefully treasured every one of those little details, savoring them over and over until they became the source of her daily happiness.

Xiao Wu was still the same lively and cheerful Xiao Wu. She still loved clinging to Tang San and fooling around with him, and she still shared every fun thing with Xiao Xiaoxiao. She seemed completely unaware of the subtle shift in the atmosphere between the two of them. Or perhaps she had noticed, but simply did not care. She continued laughing carefree, claiming them both as her "property."

That afternoon, they had practical combat training.

The teacher arranged a two-on-two sparring exercise. By coincidence, Tang San and Xiao Xiaoxiao were assigned to the same team. Their opponents were two upperclassmen whose Soul Power had both surpassed level fifteen—one from the Assault System and one from the Agility Attack System. They worked seamlessly together.

"Little Sanzi, Xiaoxiao, be careful! If you can't win, just surrender. It's not embarrassing!" Xiao Wu shouted encouragement from outside the arena, though it sounded a little more like deflating them.

The two students across from them also wore relaxed expressions. Clearly, they did not take these two lower-year Work-Study Students seriously, especially Xiao Xiaoxiao, a Control System student who looked easy to bully.

The match began!

The Assault System student roared and charged straight at Xiao Xiaoxiao. The Agility Attack System student flickered and circled toward the flank like Gui Mei, waiting for an opportunity.

"Xiaoxiao!" Tang San barked. With a shift of his feet, he stepped in front of Xiao Xiaoxiao. Blue Silver Grass surged forth instantly, trying to block the frontal charge.

However, their opponents were both higher-level and more experienced in coordination. The Assault System student suddenly changed direction, feinting before revealing that his true target was Tang San on the flank! Meanwhile, the Agility Attack System student shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, pouncing on the temporarily "isolated" Xiao Xiaoxiao!

"Oh no!" Xiao Wu cried from below the stage.

Seeing the opponent about to close in on Xiao Xiaoxiao, she hurriedly unleashed Mental Interference!

The ripple swept past, and the Agility Attack System student's body stalled slightly. But the gap in their levels greatly weakened the interference's effect. He merely shook his head, his speed barely slowing as his claws reached Xiao Xiaoxiao's face!

Frightened, Xiao Xiaoxiao shut her eyes and instinctively stepped back.

At that very instant!

"Entangling!"

Tang San's calm voice rang out. He seemed to have predicted their tactics. The Blue Silver Grass that appeared to be blocking the Assault System student suddenly changed direction, coiling around the Agility Attack System student's feet with precision like venomous snakes bursting from the ground!

At the same time, Tang San used Mysterious Jade Hand to take the Assault System student's strike head-on. Borrowing the force, he retreated and instantly closed the distance to Xiao Xiaoxiao.

The Agility Attack System student was tripped to the ground, while the Assault System student's rhythm was disrupted by Tang San's clever response.

"Interfere with him! Left side!" Tang San's voice sounded beside Xiao Xiaoxiao's ear, brief and urgent.

Without a second thought, Xiao Xiaoxiao immediately unleashed her strongest Mental Interference toward the left side of the Agility Attack System student, who had just climbed back up!

The student was preparing to circle around from the left when the sudden interference struck him head-on. The world spun around him, his feet staggered, and he nearly fell again. His offensive was halted once more.

In that brief delay, Tang San had fully stabilized his footing. The Blue Silver Grass moved as though alive, sometimes blocking, sometimes harassing, tightly restraining the two opponents who were stronger than him and leaving them unable to break through for the moment!

Meanwhile, under Tang San's short instructions, Xiao Xiaoxiao continuously released interference. Though she could not inflict decisive damage, she always managed to disrupt the opponents' coordination at just the right moment or create room for Tang San to dodge and counterattack.

"Front right, the ground!" Tang San instructed again.

Xiao Xiaoxiao immediately released interference into the empty ground ahead to the right.

The Assault System student had been about to step onto that spot and launch a fierce attack. The instant his foot landed, he felt an inexplicable mental daze. The force he was gathering was abruptly cut off, and his body stiffened involuntarily!

"Now!" A sharp light flashed in Tang San's eyes. The thickest strand of Blue Silver Grass burst from beneath the Assault System student's feet. This time, it did not Entangle him—it lashed viciously across his ankle like a whip!

"Bang!" The Assault System student cried out in pain and dropped to one knee.

At the same time, Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade the Agility Attack System student's sneak attack. He struck back with a palm, Mysterious Jade Hand landing precisely on the opponent's wrist and forcing him back.

For a moment, neither side could gain the upper hand.

The audience below fell silent. Everyone was dumbstruck. Two Work-Study Students at levels eleven and twelve had actually relied on such uncanny coordination to hold back two upperclassmen above level fifteen?! Though they seemed to be at a disadvantage, their defense was flawless!

The two upperclassmen could not save face. Roaring furiously, they erupted with Soul Power and prepared to use stronger soul skills.

"Enough, stop!" The teacher interrupted the match at the right moment. "This is only a spar. We'll end it here."

The two upperclassmen stopped unwillingly, their eyes filled with shock, suspicion, and resentment as they looked at Tang San and Xiao Xiaoxiao. They had nearly suffered at the hands of two lower-year students!

Tang San withdrew his martial soul, his breathing steady. Xiao Xiaoxiao let out a sigh of relief. Her little face was flushed from Soul Power consumption and tension, but her eyes shone brightly.

That feeling just now... was too wonderful! She had completely trusted Tang San's instructions, while Tang San always seemed able to predict the exact place and timing where her interference would achieve the best effect! Their coordination felt as seamless as if they had practiced it thousands of times!

"Wow!!!" Xiao Wu was the first to rush onto the stage. Excitedly, she hugged Xiao Xiaoxiao. "Xiaoxiao! Little Sanzi! You were amazing! You worked together so well! I was completely stunned!"

The other Work-Study Students also gathered around, praising them all at once.

The teacher walked over as well, his eyes filled with approval. "Very good. Tang San, your combat awareness and command ability exceeded my expectations. Xiao Xiaoxiao, your timing in releasing soul skills and your willingness to trust your teammate were also excellent. Your coordination just now already has the beginnings of a 'Combination Skill.'"

A Combination Skill?

Tang San and Xiao Xiaoxiao exchanged a glance. Tang San's eyes held thoughtfulness and agreement, while Xiao Xiaoxiao's were full of excitement and anticipation.

"Of course, this is only the most basic form of coordination," the teacher added. "A true Combination Skill requires resonance between soul skills, multiplying its power. You can give that direction more thought."

On the way back after class, Xiao Wu kept chattering excitedly. Xiao Xiaoxiao, however, was somewhat distracted, still reliving the feeling of fighting side by side with Tang San.

"Tang San," she finally asked softly, "how did you know where to tell me to interfere just now?"

Tang San did not stop walking. Looking ahead, he answered calmly, "Calculation. Based on their movement habits, the characteristics of their soul skills, and the range and activation time of your interference, I calculated the optimal probability points."

Xiao Xiaoxiao: "..." Fine. She did not understand the world of top students. But it did not diminish her admiration for him in the slightest.

"Then... can we practice this kind of coordination more in the future?" she asked expectantly.

Tang San turned to look at her. Seeing her bright eyes filled with hope, he nodded. "Mm. Your interference is very useful."

Very useful!

Those simple three words made Xiao Xiaoxiao so happy that she nearly jumped up! This was the greatest affirmation of her worth!

From that day on, their training gained another activity—coordination drills.

Sometimes Tang San attacked while Xiao Xiaoxiao interfered and supported him. Sometimes Xiao Xiaoxiao tried to set "mental traps" with weak interference while Tang San was responsible for luring the enemy in. They continued adjusting to each other, trying to weave the other's combat rhythm into their instincts.

Xiao Wu joined them sometimes, but she was better at fighting alone or meeting force with force. This kind of cooperation, which required precise calculations and trust, instead felt somewhat unnatural to her. She often disrupted their rhythm. After trying a few times, she simply sat nearby to watch or practiced her Soft Skill on her own.

Watching the two of them coordinate more and more seamlessly in the field, Xiao Wu propped up her cheeks, her large eyes blinking. Then she suddenly muttered, "It feels like the way Xiaoxiao looks at Little Sanzi is different from how she looks at everyone else..."

Her voice was very soft, drowned out by the wind.

Xiao Xiaoxiao was entirely absorbed in working with Tang San and did not hear her.

She only knew that another tightly binding link seemed to have formed between her and Tang San.

Something called "tacit understanding" was quietly beginning to grow.

Perhaps the days of "fighting side by side" and "sweetly leveling up and defeating monsters" from her dreams were truly not far away.

Beneath the academy's seemingly peaceful life, the shadow of the Soul Hunting Forest's anomaly had yet to completely fade. Yet the feelings and strength of the young boys and girls were quietly growing, intertwining like vines as they climbed upward.

The road ahead might still hold storms, but for now, the sunlight was just right.