Tang San's Contempt for Mixed-Breeds

Inside Yu Xiaogang's study, Yu Xiaogang started frantically rummaging through his roomful of books like an overexcited husky on stimulants.

He kept muttering, "I remember putting it here."

The once-neat study was instantly turned into a complete mess by Yu Xiaogang's searching.

Meanwhile, Tang San stood amid the piles of books, wondering whether he ought to tidy them up.

"Finally, I found it!"

After turning over nearly every book in the room, Yu Xiaogang finally unearthed an exquisitely made yet ancient-looking volume.

Then he casually took out another book he had found earlier from his Storage Soul Tool and walked toward Tang San with both books.

"Xiao San, look. After much thought, I have roughly reached three conclusions."

Yu Xiaogang opened both books and placed them before Tang San.

Tang San could not help being drawn in and looked over.

"First, it concerns bloodlines. This is the core secret of many Soul Master families and is usually strictly forbidden from being revealed in the slightest."

Yu Xiaogang handed the book he had taken from the Storage Soul Tool to Tang San.

Tang San accepted it.

"When it comes to bloodlines, the most representative example would be Wolf Bandits.

For ordinary Soul Masters, although our Martial Souls may take all sorts of strange forms, we are still fundamentally human.

Yet there is a kind of aberration among them. They possess human bloodlines, but Soul Beast blood also flows through their bodies.

Wolf Bandits are the most common branch of this kind. They are generally born when Swift Wind Magic Wolves forcibly mate with human women.

They possess human bloodlines while also inheriting the blood of Swift Wind Magic Wolves, making Wolf Bandits far stronger than ordinary Soul Masters.

They can almost contend with Swift Wind Magic Wolves of the same level."

Holding the book, Tang San's gaze fell upon the description of Wolf Bandits. His brows drew together slightly, but what filled him was more curiosity toward such aberrant beings than any other emotion. His fingertips brushed across the page as he said quietly:

"Human bloodlines and Soul Beast bloodlines... no wonder their strength differs from ordinary people."

Yu Xiaogang added from the side:

"The existence of Wolf Bandits is itself a distortion. They inherit the ferocity of Swift Wind Magic Wolves but lack complete beast instincts, making their actions even more cruel. But as you can see, Lin Xuan does not possess that violent aura, so he clearly does not belong to this kind.

However, we cannot rule out the possibility that his ancestors had a similar bloodline, only for it to suddenly manifest in him."

"Human-Beast Mixed Blood... if Lin Xuan truly became strong because of that, then this is interesting."

When Tang San considered the possibility that Lin Xuan might be some mongrel, his mood could not help improving slightly.

Of course, this was only his and his teacher's speculation. They did not yet know the truth, but that did not stop him from imagining Lin Xuan as a hybrid.

The thought that Lin Xuan might not even count as a pure human, that he had exchanged his humanity for power, made Tang San laugh inwardly.

Tang San nodded and shifted his gaze to the page on "Body Martial Souls." Regarding such rare Martial Souls, he was more curious about their underlying principles.

"A Martial Soul awakened by attaching itself to one's own body part? If it were an arm or torso, that would indeed explain his terrifying strength.

But if that were the case, wouldn't Lin Xuan have Twin Martial Souls?"

Tang San frowned. It was bad enough that Lin Xuan's immense strength could suppress him, but if he also possessed Twin Martial Souls, would that not mean Tang San's last remaining advantage was gone?

"That is somewhat possible. Otherwise, there is simply no way to explain why his strength is so great. Innate Divine Strength alone could not possibly achieve this.

But his Innate Soul Power is too low. Every Twin Martial Soul possessor discovered throughout history has been a genius with Innate Full Soul Power.

His Soul Power..."

Yu Xiaogang found it difficult to equate Lin Xuan with Twin Martial Souls, but who could truly understand the peculiarities of a Body Martial Soul?

Perhaps a pairing of a Body Martial Soul and an ordinary Martial Soul did not necessarily grant Innate Full Soul Power.

"As for a Shapeshifted Soul Beast..."

Yu Xiaogang's voice grew heavier.

"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast taking human form and concealing itself among humans is theoretically possible, but exceedingly rare. They must cultivate Soul Power from the beginning, and their initial progress is often slower than that of true geniuses. Yet the solidity of their foundation is far beyond anything humans can compare to."

Tang San raised his eyes. There was no unnecessary emotion in them as he analyzed calmly:

"Lin Xuan only reached Level 8 after two years. If he were a Shapeshifted Soul Beast, that speed would be far too slow."

Tang San was not boasting. Although Lin Xuan's current cultivation speed appeared quite good, the accumulation of a Soul Master and a Soul Grandmaster was different.

At this rate, by the time Lin Xuan broke through to become a Soul Master, Tang San might already have become a Soul Grandmaster.

If a Hundred-Thousand-Year Shapeshifted Soul Beast was only this capable, then just how pathetic would that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast have to be?

Besides, Lin Xuan was a genuine, native-born farm boy from Sacred Soul Village.

Seeing how clear-headed he was, Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction.

"It is good that you can analyze things calmly. No matter what Lin Xuan's situation is, to you, he is merely a whetstone to temper yourself against. Your advantages lie in your Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power.

You are destined to become a Titled Douluo in the future, while he will likely struggle even to become a Soul Ancestor. Do not let a momentary victory or defeat disrupt your state of mind."

"This Disciple understands."

Tang San closed the book, and sharpness gathered once more in his eyes.

"No matter how strong he is, there will always be a limit. Once I break through Level 20 and obtain my Second Soul Ring, I may not lack the strength to fight him.

If Level 20 is not enough, then Level 30. Level 40. Sooner or later, I will surpass him."

What he had always considered was not the mystery of Lin Xuan's identity, but how to completely overwhelm him in strength, skill, and even Soul Power.

He even considered subduing Lin Xuan and bringing him under his wing afterward.

After all, although Lin Xuan did not have much talent on the path of Soul Masters, he was indeed monstrous when it came to forging.

If such a person forged Hidden Weapons for him, his strength would definitely rise to unimaginable heights.

At that moment, Lin Xuan was sitting in the dormitory, weighing several newly forged steel pellets in his hand, completely unaware of Tang San's thoughts.

He was telling Xiao Wu about what had happened that day.

He did not know when it had started, but aside from matters that were too important, he would generally tell Xiao Wu about anything that happened to him.

"Tang San came looking for you again today? He is so annoying!

And he wanted you to forge something for him?

Don't make anything for him. That guy might be planning to use the things you forge to beat you up."

"I am not that stupid. I shut him down as soon as he brought it up."

Lin Xuan tossed a steel pellet in his hand as he played with it.

"He even wanted to use Yu Xiaogang helping me choose Soul Rings as leverage. Does he really think I need that?"

Xiao Wu curled her lips.

"Exactly. His teacher is only good at theory. If it came down to actual combat, he probably could not even beat you as you are now."

Lin Xuan smiled but did not respond.

What concerned him more now was how to obtain Rare Metal. In his memories, Tang Wulin had already begun forging Rare Metal.

The threshold of Thousand Refinements was right before him. Though he could not reveal it yet, he ought to begin gathering materials. As for Tang San's little competitive obsession, it was merely something to add a bit of amusement to his dull cultivation life.

Moonlight quietly streamed in through the window, illuminating the utterly different thoughts of the two youths—one fixated on surpassing his opponent, the other focused on breaking through himself. And the undercurrent swirling around them had only just begun to spread.