Two beams of light shot out from the panel. One was yellow, containing the age of a Soul Ring, and flew toward the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul in his left hand, merging into the Mandala Snake Soul Ring.
The Mandala Snake Soul Ring trembled slightly. Its original yellow hue gradually deepened, slowly shifting toward purple.
The other beam, a white one, merged into the space between Luo Sanpao's brows. Luo Sanpao's eyes immediately drooped, and he curled up on the spot, falling into a deep sleep.
A quarter of an hour later, the absorption was complete. The Mandala Snake Soul Ring on his left hand had fully turned purple, while Luo Sanpao, curled up on the ground, had woken completely. His eyes sparkled with intelligence.
Two streams of information then flooded Yu Xiaogang's mind. After absorbing them, he couldn't help but look pleased.
After the Mandala Snake Soul Ring advanced to a Thousand Year Soul Ring, its power had increased tremendously. The attack range of the Soul Skill Thunderous Poison Dragon Claw had nearly doubled, and it could now unleash claw-shaped blasts to strike enemies from a distance.
As for Luo Sanpao, he had awakened an entirely new ability called "Mist Seed."
These Mist Seeds were compressed from highly concentrated gas. They could be mixed into the first and second Soul Skills when released. Once an enemy had come into contact with enough of them, Yu Xiaogang could activate them at will, turning them into strands of gas that wove together into a net of mist to ensnare the enemy.
"The Mist Seed ability comes from the Martial Soul itself. That means it can be combined with any Soul Skills he acquires in the future. With that, I can develop Luo Sanpao into a Control System Martial Soul."
At the thought, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.
He planned to replicate Tang San's setup, using the system to assign all of Blue Silver Grass's remaining Soul Rings to Luo Sanpao. As for the Clear Sky Hammer's Soul Rings, he would have to choose one to break down, then assign all the rest to the Blue Electric Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.
"Doesn't that make me little Tang San?"
Thinking about the story ahead, he figured the system's options would probably include Soul Bones, Immortal Herbs, Domains...
Yu Xiaogang nodded to himself. He wasn't at all opposed to becoming little Tang San; in fact, he was looking forward to it.
"This is the right way for Teacher Tang San to get started!"
"Keep it up. The good life is just around the corner!"
Yu Xiaogang sat cross-legged with his eyes closed and resumed grinding away at his Mysterious Heaven Skill cultivation.
Time flew by as he cultivated. Before he knew it, another three years had passed.
In the morning, warm sunlight spilled over the buildings of Nuoding Academy.
The square in front of the Teaching Building, usually quiet and nearly deserted, was now packed with people.
The graduating boys and girls had gathered in groups, chatting with one another, their faces beaming with youthful smiles.
One section on the left side of the square was more crowded than the areas around it.
At the center of the crowd stood two figures. One was dressed in a pink dress, her smooth hair braided into a scorpion-tail plait that fell naturally down her back.
With her long legs, slim waist, slightly developed bust, and pretty, rounded face, the girl's youthful, vibrant air made her the undisputed center of attention.
She was Xiao Wu. Now twelve years old, she stood over a meter and seventy centimeters tall and had blossomed into a young woman.
The slightly shorter boy beside her was, of course, Tang San.
He wore a simple light-blue outfit, with Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night tied around his waist. His long black hair fell to his shoulders, and his lean, capable build, paired with his gentle smile, gave him an air that was both approachable and powerful.
As the academy's big sister, Xiao Wu was giving a speech to everyone, reminiscing about the past.
Tang San stood quietly beside her, watching with a smile.
After Xiao Wu finished her speech, a boy near the back of the crowd asked, "Sister Xiao Wu, Brother Tang San, have you decided which intermediate Soul Master Academy you're going to?"
Xiao Wu paused. "I think a few intermediate Soul Master Academies did invite us, right, Xiao San?" She turned to look at Tang San.
Tang San smiled and said to their classmates, "We've received quite a few invitations, but we haven't decided where we'll go yet."
"Sister Xiao Wu and Brother Tang San are so amazing!"
"Twelve-year-old Soul Grandmasters are among the very best, even at intermediate Soul Master Academies."
"I'm so jealous!"
Everyone chimed in with admiration. Just then, a slightly hoarse voice suddenly rang out.
Tang San looked toward the voice. As soon as he recognized the person, he stepped out of the crowd and walked toward two figures at the edge of the square.
"Teacher, you're here!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded, then handed Tang San a letter.
"Set off in three days for Suotuo City in the Balak Kingdom and take the entrance exam for Shrek Academy. Once you pass, give this letter to the dean."
"I have something else to take care of, so I won't be going with you."
Tang San took the letter, glanced at the envelope, and put it away in Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlight Night. Then he asked, "What exactly is this Shrek Academy...?"
"You'll find out when you get there."
Yu Xiaogang naturally wanted to keep him guessing. Beside him, Klay had also put aside his usual boisterous manner. He wore a faint smile and said nothing.
After patting Tang San on the shoulder, Yu Xiaogang and Klay left the square and headed to a private room on the second floor of the cafeteria.
They ordered a table full of delicious dishes, then ate and drank as they chatted. Before long, they were reminiscing about the past.
"Ah, watching these kids takes me back to when I was young. Back then, I was quite the handsome fellow at Spirit Hall!"
Klay took a sip of rice wine and couldn't help reminiscing.
"Really? I seem to remember you were near the bottom of the class most of the time."
Yu Xiaogang teased him with a laugh, then picked up a piece of fish and ate it, washing it down with a sip of rice wine.
"Still better than you, who came in last!"
Klay snorted, then continued, "But you really did take on a fine student. Tang San is the most outstanding student I've ever seen. He'd be just as exceptional even at Spirit Hall."
"Oh, right. You said yesterday you were going to the Martial Soul Sacred Hall in Heaven Dou City?"
"That's right. I'm going there to gather information about Martial Soul cultivation and see if there have been any Soul Masters in history who cultivated a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, so I can give Xiao San some guidance," Yu Xiaogang replied.
"To access the records at the Martial Soul Sacred Hall, you'd need to be an Elder, wouldn't you? Where'd you get that kind of clearance?"
"I have a Spirit Hall Elder Token."
At that, Klay immediately set down his wine cup and stared at Yu Xiaogang in shock.
For a moment, it was as if a veil of mystery had fallen between them, making it hard for him to recognize his old friend.
But in the next instant, Klay seemed to remember something. He narrowed his eyes slightly, and a gossipy look appeared on his aged face.
"Ooh, so you're still in touch with her!"
Seeing Klay's expression, Yu Xiaogang knew he was thinking of Bibi Dong, so he denied it at once. "Don't get the wrong idea. This Elder Token has nothing to do with her. By the time I left Spirit Hall, she and I were already through."
"Come on, no need to explain. I get it!"
Klay leaned forward and poured Yu Xiaogang a cup. "Have a drink, brother!"
Yu Xiaogang sighed. He knew that the more he protested, the worse it sounded, so he ignored Klay.
In fact, the Elder Token he had was left to him five years ago by Tang San's father, Tang Hao.
Tang Hao had most likely left him the token so he could use Spirit Hall's records to raise Tang San more effectively.
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