Another Way to Win

A week later, at Nuoding Academy's training ground, the sun shone brightly, but a sudden confrontation filled the air with tension.

After finishing their Soft Skill practice, Lin Xuan and a group of Work-Study Students were about to head to the cafeteria when a familiar figure blocked their path.

It was Tang San, back from the Soul Hunting Forest.

He wore a clean academy uniform, and his aura was far steadier than before. Soul Power fluctuations from his recent, still-unstable breakthrough faintly lingered all over his body. He had clearly become a genuine Soul Grandmaster above Level 20.

Seeing Tang San blocking the way, Lin Xuan sighed helplessly.

The Work-Study Students behind him instantly erupted, all of them glaring furiously.

"Tang San! What are you here for again?

"You just broke through to Soul Grandmaster and came here to show off? You've got some nerve!"

Xiao Wu was so angry that she put her hands on her hips. If Lin Xuan had not promptly pressed down on her shoulder, she probably would have rushed forward to fight Tang San first.

Tang San completely ignored everyone's anger. Calm and composed, he fixed his gaze on Lin Xuan, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Lin Xuan, I'm back.

"I told you before that once I succeeded in hunting a spirit beast, I'd show you what I could do. Do you dare spar with me again?"

"You've gone too far!"

Xiao Wu could not help but scold him.

"You're already a Level 20 Soul Grandmaster. What kind of skill is it to bully a Level 12 Soul Master like Lin Xuan?"

The other Work-Study Students also chimed in, accusing Tang San of bullying the weak.

Lin Xuan held back the restless crowd behind him, one brow lifting slightly.

Naturally, he could not back down. Back when Tang San had still been a Soul Master, he had known he was no match for Lin Xuan, yet he had constantly sought him out for paid sparring matches. Now that Tang San merely had one more Soul Ring, if Lin Xuan retreated and admitted defeat, where would he put his pride?

As if he had expected this, Tang San curled his lips into a calculating smile.

"Of course, if you want to admit defeat, that's fine too."

He paused before stating his conditions.

"Return all the money you won from our previous sparring matches, or forge materials for me free of charge from now on. Then I'll pretend this never happened and let you off today."

"In your dreams!"

Before Lin Xuan could speak, Xiao Wu shot back.

"You want our Boss to admit defeat, and you want money and materials too? Why don't you just rob us?"

Lin Xuan shook his head, his gaze firm.

"It's absolutely impossible for me to surrender.

"If you want to fight, then fight fairly. But if you want to spar now, the price goes up."

Lin Xuan held out his hand.

"Before, it was one Gold Soul Coin per match. Now that you're a Soul Grandmaster, you're harder to fight. It'll be ten Gold Soul Coins."

"You!"

Tang San was dumbfounded and furious, his face flushing red. He had only just received his first ten Gold Soul Coins and had only just gotten to feel what it was like to have money.

"You're deliberately raising the price!"

"If you're willing, you pay. No one's forcing you. Besides, now that you're a Soul Grandmaster, is there really any difference between ten Gold Soul Coins and one?

"Either way, if you lose to me, you'll have nothing left.

"No, you'll at least still have your Soul Grandmaster cultivation, won't you?"

Lin Xuan spread his hands.

"Of course, if you don't want to pay, then get lost. Don't hold up our meal."

Tang San stared at Lin Xuan through gritted teeth.

He had absorbed the Ghost Vine Spirit Ring in the Soul Hunting Forest, and his confidence had swelled. He firmly believed he could crush Lin Xuan.

Sooner or later, he would get these ten Gold Soul Coins back with interest.

After thinking for a moment, he abruptly pulled ten Gold Soul Coins from his Money Bag and viciously slapped them into Lin Xuan's hand.

"Fine! Ten it is! When you lose, you'll pay me back double!"

Lin Xuan put away the Gold Soul Coins, weighing them in his hand as he reassured Xiao Wu and the others.

"Don't worry. It'll be over soon."

Then he turned to Tang San and flashed a broad, toothy grin.

"But this is payment for sparring, not a wager. Whether I win or lose, I'm not giving it back."

The two stood facing each other in the middle of the training ground. Students quickly gathered around to watch. Everyone was curious whether Level 12 Lin Xuan could withstand Tang San, who had just advanced to Soul Grandmaster.

"Begin!"

At the command of a Teacher watching from the side, Lin Xuan moved instantly.

They were already used to Lin Xuan and Tang San sparring. Acting as referees was nothing new to them either.

At that instant, Lin Xuan did not hesitate in the slightest. Like an arrow loosed from a bow, he charged at Tang San, several times faster than before.

In his previous fights with Tang San, he had kept his strength hidden, always suppressing his Qian Jun power by half and using only 500 Jin of force.

But this time, he wanted a quick victory. Unwilling to reveal more Trump Cards, he struck with full force.

This sudden burst of speed made Tang San's previously smug expression change drastically.

Though Lin Xuan had "tempered" him for three years, giving him reaction speed far beyond that of his peers, Tang San had never expected Lin Xuan's speed to surge to such a terrifying degree.

At the critical moment, he activated his first soul skill without hesitation and shouted, "Blue Silver Bind!"

In an instant, the Blue Silver Grass in his hand swayed and expanded wildly. Dozens of thick Blue Silver Vines spread from his hand and plunged into the ground.

Then they burst from the earth again, like massive earthworms constantly changing direction under the cover of the ground.

At the same time, like octopus tentacles, they spread frantically outward with Tang San at the center. The gaps between the vines were compressed to the minimum, densely sealing off every possible route. Clearly, he feared Lin Xuan would use the Rabbit Fighting Style to rush him head-on.

After being enhanced by the Second Soul Ring, this Blue Silver Grass was twice as thick as before, and its toughness far exceeded its former state. Yu Xiaogang had once declared that it would take at least the strength of a Soul Elder to break free.

But this time, Lin Xuan had no intention of dodging.

Facing the dense mass of Blue Silver Vines, he charged straight in.

A trace of mockery had just flashed through Tang San's eyes when he saw this.

Courting death!

But in the next second, the smile froze on his face, replaced by incredulous horror.

As Lin Xuan reached the vines, both hands shot out like lightning, each grabbing a thick Blue Silver Vine before he suddenly exerted force!

"Crack! Crack!"

Sharp snapping sounds rang out One After Another. Under Tang San's horrified gaze, the enhanced Blue Silver Grass Yu Xiaogang had placed such high hopes on was forcibly torn apart by Lin Xuan, translucent sap still glistening at the breaks.

"That's impossible!"

Tang San stared in disbelief, his mind going blank. This was Blue Silver Grass that had been enhanced twice after he became a Soul Grandmaster. How could a Soul Master tear it apart with his bare hands?

Before he could recover from his Shocked state, the backlash from his forcibly severed Martial Soul struck him. Soul Power all over his body convulsed violently, his chest churned, and he nearly spat out blood.

This was his first time experiencing the pain of damage to his Martial Soul. The tearing sensation, as though his soul itself had been ripped apart, made his face turn pale at once.

Lin Xuan gave Tang San no chance to react. After tearing apart the vines, he did not stop, continuing to charge toward Tang San.

His speed remained fierce. In the blink of an eye, he broke through the Blue Silver Vines' blockade and was about to reach Tang San.

The surrounding students had already erupted into chaos, their discussions rising One After Another.

"My god! Boss Lin actually tore apart a Soul Grandmaster's Blue Silver Grass with his bare hands?

"Is Boss Lin just too strong, or is Blue Silver Grass simply too useless?"

"That strength is completely insane! How did we never realize he was this strong before?"

"Wasn't Tang San's Blue Silver Grass enhanced? How could it be so vulnerable?"

Xiao Wu and the Work-Study Students, meanwhile, were ecstatic. Their earlier worries had vanished completely as they cheered for Lin Xuan.

"Boss is awesome!"

"Beat him up! Show him what happens when he gets cocky!"

Tang San looked at Lin Xuan, now right before him, his eyes filled with terror and confusion.

He could not understand how Lin Xuan's strength had suddenly become so much greater.

Just half a month ago, when they had sparred, Lin Xuan had mostly avoided the Blue Silver Grass. How had he gained such terrifying explosive power in such a short time?

In his panic, Tang San instinctively activated his first soul skill again, and the remaining Blue Silver Grass Entangled upward once more.

He himself quickly hid within the Blue Silver Grass Patch.

This was also a weakness for Martial Soul users like Tang San.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass could be used as either an enhancement type or a summoning type.

Enhancement meant enhancing the Martial Soul itself, strengthening it and extending its use.

The advantage was easier control, but the drawback was obvious: if the extended portions of the Martial Soul were damaged, the backlash would affect the Soul Master himself.

The other option was the summoning type. Although having such a soul skill shattered would not affect the Soul Master himself.

Its control was more difficult.

And against an agile opponent like Lin Xuan, Tang San instinctively used the Martial Soul enhancement that was easiest to control.

The Martial Soul was connected to its owner's body. Once it was damaged, the Soul Master himself would suffer backlash as well.

When Lin Xuan saw this, his eyes instantly lit up!