Tang San froze.
Ten years?
He might have been a novice in the Soul Master World.
But he knew that the older a Soul Ring was, the more powerful it became.
And he had Innate Full Soul Power.
In theory, his First Soul Ring could be over four hundred years old.
Why choose a plant that was only ten years old?
Yu Xiaogang seemed to see Tang San's confusion.
He smiled faintly.
He wore an air of inscrutable wisdom.
"I know what you're thinking."
"You think this Lone Bamboo is too young, don't you?"
Tang San nodded.
He answered honestly.
"Yes, Teacher."
"I read that the First Soul Ring should be as close to the limit as possible."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head.
A hint of disdain for conventional wisdom showed in his eyes.
"That's how mediocre people think."
"Xiao San, remember this."
"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters."
"And you can't choose a Soul Ring based on its age alone."
He pointed at the Lone Bamboo again.
His tone turned certain.
"Your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."
"As everyone knows, it's the very model of a Trash Martial Soul."
"You may have Innate Full Soul Power, but your Martial Soul itself is too fragile."
"If your First Soul Ring comes from a Soul Beast with energy that's too violent,"
"even a century-old Mandala Snake,"
"your Martial Soul will probably be unable to withstand it and burst apart."
Yu Xiaogang walked over to the Lone Bamboo.
He reached out and patted its stalk, which looked as though it would snap at a touch.
"But this Lone Bamboo is different."
"It's only ten years old."
"It has a gentle nature."
"More importantly, Lone Bamboo has the property of toughness."
"That's exactly what Blue Silver Grass lacks right now."
"It may only be a Ten-Year Soul Ring."
"But it can give you greater control."
"You're a Control System Soul Master. Control is king."
"You don't need much attack power at this stage."
"Listen to your teacher."
"This Ten-Year Lone Bamboo might as well have been made for you."
"It's perfect for you to absorb."
Yu Xiaogang finished speaking and looked at Tang San expectantly.
He waited for his disciple's admiration and agreement.
Tang San fell silent.
He walked up to the Lone Bamboo.
He crouched down.
He examined this supposedly "perfect Soul Beast" closely.
It really was weak.
Tang San circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
A faint purple glint flashed through his eyes.
Through his Purple Demon Eye,
he saw that the Lone Bamboo held a pitiful amount of energy.
It was like a candle about to burn out.
Its flame was feeble.
Tang San even felt
that he would not need to use his Martial Soul.
A light swing of the short sword in his hand
would be enough to end the plant's life.
Could a Soul Ring like this really make me stronger?
A huge question mark hung in Tang San's mind.
He glanced down at his right hand without thinking.
Blue Silver Grass slowly appeared in his palm.
It was weak.
But it was a Martial Soul nourished by Innate Full Soul Power.
Tang San could feel
that the Lone Bamboo held even less energy than his Martial Soul itself.
If he absorbed it,
it would be like dropping a speck of ink into a bucket of clear water.
Not only would it fail to make him stronger,
it would lower the purity of his Soul Power.
Was his teacher's theory really correct?
The thought flashed through Tang San's mind.
He remembered what Grandpa Jack, the village chief, had said.
He remembered Deacon Su Yuntao's assessment.
Everyone said Blue Silver Grass was a Trash Martial Soul.
Only the Grandmaster before him
had seen at a glance that he possessed Twin Martial Souls
and had been willing to take him as a disciple.
Tang San drew a deep breath.
The opening precept of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record surfaced in his mind.
A teacher for a day was a father for life.
In this world,
apart from his missing father, Tang Hao,
the man before him was the elder closest to him.
Since he had accepted him as his teacher,
he should trust him without question.
Perhaps his teacher had reasons he could not understand.
Perhaps this "toughness" really could turn rot into wonder.
It was his own understanding that was too shallow.
Tang San gave himself a harsh dressing-down in his heart.
He forcibly suppressed his doubts.
He stood up.
He bowed respectfully to Yu Xiaogang.
"Teacher, your knowledge is profound."
"Your disciple has learned much."
"If you say it's suitable, then it must be."
Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction.
His smile grew broader.
That was more like it.
As long as the boy obeyed
and cultivated according to his theories,
he would one day prove those theories were unbeatable.
"Go on."
"Make it quick."
"This Lone Bamboo can barely fight back."
"You only need to pierce its roots."
Yu Xiaogang stepped back a few paces.
He made room for Tang San.
Tang San drew a plain-looking short sword from his clothes.
His expression turned solemn.
His opponent might be weak.
But this was his first time hunting a Soul Beast since coming to this world.
His first time obtaining a Soul Ring.
It meant a great deal.
Tang San sat down cross-legged.
He steadied his breathing.
The Mysterious Heaven Skill began circulating slowly through his body.
A white glow of Soul Power flickered around him.
He tightened his grip on the short sword.
His gaze fixed on the Lone Bamboo trembling in the wind.
Once he drove his sword into it,
a Soul Ring would appear.
Then he would become a true Soul Master.
Tang San hesitated no longer.
His wrist flicked.
The short sword flashed coldly toward the Lone Bamboo's roots.
The tip was less than an inch away
when something unexpected happened.
"Stop."
Just one word.
The voice was not loud.
Nor was it a hysterical roar.
Yet in their ears,
it sounded like thunder rolling down from the ninth heaven.
Boom! It exploded around them.
The air seemed to compress to its limit in that instant.
Then it burst outward.
A vast, mighty force swept across the clearing with brutal force.
The short sword in Tang San's hand struck what felt like an invisible wall.
Clang!
It flew from his grip.
It lodged in a distant tree trunk.
The shock wave hurled Tang San to the ground.
His blood churned inside him, and his face went pale.
Yu Xiaogang, standing off to the side, fared even worse.
His Soul Power was meager to begin with.
And he had little combat experience.
The sudden roar left his mind a complete blank.
His legs gave way.
He landed hard on his backside amid the dead leaves.
His chest tightened.
A coppery sweetness rose in his throat.
He nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Yu Xiaogang clutched his chest in terror.
He gasped for breath.
Who was it?
The Soul Hunting Forest was only a beginner-level Soul Beast forest.
Even its strongest creatures were no more than Thousand-year Soul Beasts.
How could someone so terrifying be here?
Before he could recover his wits,
the once-silent forest around him erupted into motion.
A continuous rustling rose on every side.
Armor scraped against armor.
Footsteps marched in perfect unison.
Countless dark figures burst from the bushes in every direction.
Black battle armor.
Spears gleaming coldly.
Every one of them radiated the ruthless, blood-soaked aura of war.
They were veterans tempered by real battle.
In the blink of an eye,
the once-open forest clearing was surrounded so tightly that not even water could get through.
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