A Conversation with Tang Ya

"What's suitable for Tang San might not be suitable for others."

"Over the past ten thousand years, many people must have imitated Tang San, right?"

"But in the end, who became a god? Or became an even more powerful Super Douluo or Peerless Douluo?"

"Besides, how do you know Tang San's choice of Soul Rings was definitely correct?"

Huang Fei spoke calmly.

Tang Ya had no answer.

Because that was indeed the truth.

Since Tang San's time, the Tang Sect had never produced another particularly formidable Blue Silver Grass Titled Douluo.

There had been Titled Douluo, but the strongest among them had only reached somewhere short of Super Douluo.

Between Level 91 and Level 95.

In the later eras, there had not even been another Blue Silver Grass Soul Master at the Titled Douluo level.

"Let me tell you about my own understanding of Blue Silver Grass."

Hearing this, Tang Ya pricked up her ears.

Huang Fei's voice was calm, yet every word was clear:

"The core of the Extreme Life Flow lies in the word 'life.'"

"The First Soul Ring must come from a Soul Beast with a pure life attribute, establishing the foundation of the Martial Soul's Life Origin."

"The Second Soul Ring must likewise focus on life, further elevating the Martial Soul's life level."

"The Third Soul Ring, the Fourth Soul Ring... and all those afterward must follow the same principle."

"Only then can Blue Silver Grass gradually transform into a higher form of life through repeated evolution."

He paused.

"But Senior, all three of your Soul Rings are from the Control Type and Poison System."

"Your Martial Soul has already been fixed in the direction of 'control.' Not only has its Life Origin not improved, it has instead been suppressed even further by the conflicting attributes of your Soul Rings."

"If you want to switch to the Life System now..."

Huang Fei shook his head.

"It's too late."

Tang Ya's body swayed slightly.

Beibei quickly stepped out from behind the tree and supported her by the shoulder.

So he had been nearby all along.

Huang Fei glanced at Beibei but said nothing.

Tang Ya took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions in her heart.

"Is there really... no way at all?"

Her voice was soft and trembling faintly.

Huang Fei fell silent.

After a Long Time, he spoke.

"There is one way."

Tang Ya's eyes lit up.

"What is it?"

Huang Fei looked at her and spoke word by word.

"Destroy your own Soul Power and start cultivating again from scratch."

"Wha..."

Tang Ya's pupils suddenly contracted.

Beibei's expression changed. "Huang Fei!"

"I'm only telling the truth."

Huang Fei's tone remained calm.

"A Soul Master's foundation lies in the fusion of their Martial Soul and Soul Rings."

"After every Soul Ring is absorbed, it leaves an irreversible imprint upon the Martial Soul."

"Senior's Martial Soul has already been thoroughly fixed by three Control Type Soul Rings."

"If you want to start over on the Life System path, the only way is to disperse all the Soul Power in your body, return your Martial Soul to its initial state, then absorb pure life-attribute Soul Rings anew."

He looked at Tang Ya.

"But there are three problems with doing this."

"First, destroying your own Soul Power is extremely risky. One wrong move could destroy your meridians and leave you unable to cultivate for the rest of your life."

"Second, even if you successfully destroy your Soul Power, there is no guarantee that your Martial Soul will completely return to its initial state. If any traces remain, the newly absorbed Soul Rings may conflict with them, and the consequences would be unpredictable."

"Third..."

He paused.

"Senior, you're fifteen this year, right?"

Tang Ya nodded.

"The golden age for a Soul Master's cultivation is from six to twenty."

Huang Fei's voice was flat, yet it felt like cold water poured over her head.

"If you destroy your Soul Power and start again, it will take at least three or four years to return to your current level. By then, Senior will already be nineteen. Even if you succeed, the time left for your subsequent cultivation will be compressed to the limit."

"But if you continue down your current path, with Senior's talent and the Tang Sect's resources, you could hope to become a Soul King before thirty and a Soul Emperor before forty. If you're lucky, you might even touch the threshold of Soul Saint."

He stared directly into Tang Ya's eyes.

"One path is a visible road ahead. Though its Upper Limit is not high, it is safe."

"The other is a Dead End of Nine Deaths, One Life. If you win the gamble, your Upper Limit will be higher! If you lose, you will have nothing."

"Whether it's worth it is for Senior to decide."

When his words fell, a deathly silence descended beneath the Phoenix Tree.

Tang Ya's face was pale, while Beibei's brows were tightly furrowed.

Even Xu Sanshi, hiding behind the tree, put away his usual frivolous expression and remained silent.

After a Long Time, Tang Ya spoke, her voice dry.

"If I destroy my Soul Power and start over... what are the chances of success?"

Huang Fei pondered for a moment before answering honestly.

"I don't know."

"But according to Ancient Books, of those who tried to destroy their Soul Power and cultivate anew throughout history, fewer than one in ten survived."

"Fewer than one in ten..."

Tang Ya murmured the words.

She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Beibei clenched her hand but said nothing.

Huang Fei watched quietly without urging her.

He knew how difficult this choice was.

If it were him, without the system backing him, he would never dare take this path either.

In his view, the path most suitable for Tang Ya was actually to follow the original story.

Let hatred blind her, fall completely into darkness, join the Holy Spirit Cult, and have her cultivation soar straight to Titled Douluo.

That was far easier than cultivating painstakingly.

If Huang Fei did not have the system, he would actually hope Zhong Liwu of the Holy Spirit Cult would pick him up and turn him into a Titled Douluo through corruption.

What an amazing shortcut.

Zhong Liwu was Tang Ya's Angel Investor and, more importantly, her greatest benefactor!

But he would not say any of that.

Nor did he intend to interfere too much.

After a while longer.

Tang Ya raised her head. Her eyes were slightly red, but she forced out a smile.

"I understand."

"Thank you, Huang Fei."

Huang Fei looked at her.

"Senior, have you thought it through?"

Tang Ya nodded.

"I have."

"I... don't have that kind of courage."

She took a deep breath, and her voice gradually steadied.

"I'm not someone who can stake everything on a gamble."

"I'm afraid of death, afraid of pain, afraid of ending up with nothing after failing."

"So..."

She smiled. There was relief in that smile, but also bitterness.

"Let me continue down this Wrong Path."

"At least I can keep walking beside Beibei for a few more years."

Beibei tightened his grip on her hand and said softly.

"I'll be with you."

Tang Ya looked at him. Tears shimmered in her eyes, yet her smile grew brighter.

Huang Fei quietly watched the scene.

A moment later, he suddenly said, "Senior, although you cannot take the Extreme Life Flow, that does not mean there is no other path."

Tang Ya was startled.

"What path?"

Huang Fei pondered.

"Your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, with attributes leaning toward darkness and poison."

"Although this path's Upper Limit is lower than the Life System, it has its own unique strengths."

"The ultimate state of Dark Blue Silver Grass is 'corrosion' and 'devouring.'"

"If you can reach that point, you may not be unable to Find Another Way."

He looked at Tang Ya.

"If Senior trusts me, then when you encounter a bottleneck in developing Soul Skills in the future, you can come find me."

"Though I do not cultivate this path, my understanding of the essence of Martial Souls may perhaps give you some inspiration."

A faint light appeared in Tang Ya's eyes.

"Really?"

Huang Fei nodded.

"I'll do my best."

Tang Ya took a deep breath and solemnly bowed to him.

"Thank you, Huang Fei."

"I will remember what you said today."

Huang Fei stepped aside to avoid her bow and shook his head.

"Senior, there's no need for this."

He paused, then added.

"But this path of destroying your Soul Power and starting over..."

"Senior, do not try it."

"Fewer than one in ten is not an exaggeration."

Tang Ya nodded heavily.

"I know."