Martial Soul Mimicry Theory

"Ye Lan? I know him. He's three years ahead of you. I saw him when he enrolled, but for some reason, I hardly saw him around the academy afterward. What is it, Xiao San? Did you suddenly ask about Ye Lan because of his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul?" Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San in confusion.

Tang San lowered his head dejectedly. "Yes, because he has a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul too. Why couldn't I beat him when my soul power is three levels higher than his?"

"Xiao San, don't lose heart. Ye Lan has merely cultivated for a few more years than you. With Ye Lan's aptitude of Innate Soul Power Rank Three, it won't be long before your rank surpasses his by more than ten levels! Xiao San, you will become someone far beyond his reach. His future can only be spent looking up at you!" Yu Xiaogang patted Tang San's shoulder consolingly.

"Really? It's my first time encountering a Soul Scholar with such strong combat ability." Tang San's earlier dejection vanished.

"Of course. Xiao San, you possess Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls! A Titled Douluo is merely your lower limit, while with Ye Lan's aptitude, whether he can even break through Rank Thirty and become a Soul Elder is uncertain. Don't belittle yourself, Xiao San. You will always be your teacher's pride!"

"In a few days, I'll take you to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain your first Soul Ring. According to one of my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, the Martial Soul Mimicry Theory, Xiao San, your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul can not only absorb Soul Rings from plant-type soul beasts, but also Soul Rings from beast-type soul beasts. Though Blue Silver Grass is weak, its greatest advantage is its compatibility. As long as it absorbs a beast-type soul beast's Soul Ring, your Blue Silver Grass will definitely become a Martial Soul capable of combat."

"According to my Soul Ring Absorption Age Theory, as long as your first Soul Ring is no more than four hundred and twenty-three years old, there will be no danger to your life. When the time comes, your teacher will help you select a Soul Ring at the very limit!" Yu Xiaogang calmly laid out Tang San's plan for his first Soul Ring.

After hearing this, Tang San was filled with confidence as well. He thought to himself, Ye Lan, aside from the difference in our Innate Soul Power, the greatest gap between us is that I have a good teacher!

After listening to Yu Xiaogang's motivational talk, Tang San accepted the chicken leg Yu Xiaogang handed him, warmth filling his heart. After finishing it and bidding Yu Xiaogang farewell, he went to find Xiao Wu.

After Tang San left, Yu Xiaogang began pondering Ye Lan.

That child Ye Lan initially only had Blue Silver Grass with Innate Soul Power Rank Three. He had not caught my attention at first, yet he unexpectedly gave me a difficult problem. To defeat Xiao San, who has Innate Full Soul Power, with only Soul Power Rank Seven... does Ye Lan possess innate Divine Power?

Forget it. Whatever Divine Power it is, once Xiao San obtains a four-hundred-year Soul Ring, Ye Lan will merely be Xiao San's stepping stone. Xiao San's talent is exceptional, and his character is excellent as well. When Tang San becomes a Titled Douluo and gains fame across the continent, that will be the day I, Yu Xiaogang, am confirmed as the Number One Theory Master of the continent.

Yu Xiaogang began fantasizing about the glorious days ahead as the Number One Theory Master.

Half a month later, Ye Lan had originally planned to find Su Yuntao and buy more food produced by Food System Soul Masters.

Instead, he ran into Tang San, who had returned from the Soul Hunting Forest. Tang San's clothes were much neater now, and a black belt hung around his waist, its center set with twenty-four milky-white jade stones.

Tang San no longer looked as plain and simple as he had at the start of school. Confidence now radiated from his entire body.

Tang San was also taken aback when he saw Ye Lan, but he quickly challenged him with fighting spirit. "Ye Lan, how about we have another match? This time, I won't lose to you again."

"I'm not interested. I have things to do." Ye Lan replied without hesitation.

Yet Tang San refused to let it go. "I bet you don't know what I obtained with Teacher's help, do you? I'm ridiculously strong now!" Tang San proudly raised his chin.

Looking at the face of someone flushed with early success, the Nameless Fire in Ye Lan's heart flared up again. For some reason, Ye Lan desperately wanted to crush the person before him.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Ye Lan curled his lips and stated the fact of Tang San's previous defeat. "What did you obtain? Nothing can change the fact that you, as a Soul Scholar, are inferior to me."

Tang San ignored him and extended his right hand. A strand of Blue Silver Grass appeared in his palm.

Tang San's Blue Silver Grass was thicker than ordinary Blue Silver Grass, about five centimeters thick. Its leaves were also much broader and thicker. The blue patterns on the grass had disappeared, replaced by markings like snake scales that covered its entire body, giving it a somewhat unsettling appearance.

"See? This is the new change in my Martial Soul. Blue Silver Grass has become much stronger. It doesn't hurt to tell you in advance, since Teacher will eventually reveal his theory to all Soul Masters across the continent anyway. My Blue Silver Grass became this powerful because it absorbed a Soul Ring from a beast-type soul beast. Ye Lan, you never expected that, did you? According to Teacher's Martial Soul Mimicry Theory, plant-type Martial Souls can absorb Soul Rings from beast-type soul beasts!" Tang San wore an expression of utter reverence for Yu Xiaogang.

Seeing Tang San like this, Ye Lan nearly burst out laughing. With an innocent expression, he asked, "Tang San, let me ask you something. Are there hammer spirits or staff spirits in this world?"

"No. What does that have to do with anything?" Tang San looked utterly confused, unable to understand Ye Lan's train of thought.

"Good, there aren't. Then let me ask you this: what kind of Soul Rings do hammer, staff, and Scythe Martial Souls on the Douluo Continent absorb?" Ye Lan continued.

"Not hammer spirits or staff spirits, anyway!" Tang San did not know what type of Soul Rings Martial Souls like those should use.

At that moment, Ye Lan finally revealed his point. "Let me tell you. Since there are no hammer spirits or staff spirits, Tool Soul Masters discovered long ago that Tool Martial Souls can absorb Soul Rings from beast-type soul beasts. Since Tool Martial Souls can absorb Soul Rings from beast-type soul beasts, isn't it common sense that Blue Silver Grass, which is classified as a Tool Martial Soul, can absorb Soul Rings from beast-type soul beasts?"

"I... I won't allow you to slander Teacher! Most plant-type Soul Masters on the continent absorb Soul Rings from plant-type soul beasts. After I absorbed the Mandala Snake, my Martial Soul became incredibly powerful! So Teacher's theory is not wrong!" Tang San knew he could not refute Ye Lan. There was no flaw in what Ye Lan said—after all, his Clear Sky Hammer could hardly search the entire world for nonexistent hammer spirits.

Ye Lan had no intention of explaining the existence of the Blue Silver Emperor to Tang San. Adding a Poison Attribute to the Blue Silver Emperor? Wasn't that a joke? Poison and the Life Attribute were clearly incompatible. This was also why, even after Tang San awakened the Blue Silver Emperor later on, it only became a utility Martial Soul for him to add Soul Rings and increase his rank. What he used most was still the Clear Sky Hammer.

Ye Lan then walked past Tang San and headed for the door.

But Tang San grabbed Ye Lan's shoulder, refusing to let him leave. "You're not allowed to go. Let's have a match. I'll prove to you that Teacher's theory is correct!"

Ye Lan was thoroughly annoyed by Tang San, and the Nameless Fire in his heart rose again. He shook off Tang San's hand and looked at the serious Tang San. "Fine. One last time. If you lose this time, don't ever come bother me again."

Tang San agreed eagerly, not believing that he would lose. After putting some distance between himself and Ye Lan—

"Tang San, Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, Rank Eleven Tool Soul Master!"

"Ye Lan, Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, Soul Power Rank Seven."