Xiao Chenyu and Tang San

Meanwhile, as Wang Qi underwent his transformation, Lin Yan, the manager of Blazing Fire City Great Soul Arena, was so anxious he was losing his hair.

Their plan was not complicated. It could even be called simple.

After Wang Qi absorbed the Whale Rubber and successfully obtained a thousand-year Second Soul Ring, Lin Yan would swear upon his Martial Soul at the convention to prove its authenticity. He would then make a deal with the Great Soul Arena, and the two would split the profits fifty-fifty.

With less than a month left before the convention, Wang Qi had hung a Do Not Disturb sign on the secret chamber.

Their plan was simple, but the details were extremely complicated. The reason Wang Qi had made a deal with the Great Soul Arena and handed over the secret of Whale Rubber for them to operate was so he could openly use his Second Soul Ring without arousing suspicion.

Thus, when they discussed the matter, they had sworn upon their Martial Souls that the moment Wang Qi obtained his Second Soul Ring, he had to attend the Great Soul Arena's semiannual convention and report this deal.

Should they break the oath, its restraint upon their Martial Souls would be immense, practically cutting off any chance for either of them to advance further.

With the convention drawing ever closer while Wang Qi continued cultivating in the secret chamber, how could Lin Yan not be anxious?

All Lin Yan could do now was pray that Wang Qi would emerge from seclusion soon.

Nuoding City, Fasno Province.

On a relatively open patch of ground behind Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, two figures were engaged in a fierce battle.

After several clashes, the slightly older youth staggered back several steps. Looking at the ordinary-faced youth with dark blue hair before him, he spoke softly.

"Little San, be careful now. I'm going to use my Martial Soul. Fire Wolf Possession!"

The Soul Mark between his brows flashed and vanished. Red and cyan energy poured into his body, and his frame gradually swelled. Veins bulged on the backs of his hands, his fingers grew longer, and his nails extended into razor-sharp claws. A scorching aura spread into the surroundings.

A yellow Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet, and a dense pressure bore down on the other youth.

The younger youth swiftly retreated. His right palm was raised as though supporting something, and a stalk of Blue Silver Grass, darker in color and edged with a sharp aura, rested above it.

Not far from where the two youths fought, a middle-aged man with a close-cropped haircut, a large mouth, and slightly protruding lips, along with a girl in Nuoding Academy uniform with a scorpion braid, watched the battle without blinking.

"Senior Brother Xiao, sorry. I broke through to Rank 16 a few days ago. My Soul Power is two ranks higher than yours now, so I'll definitely win this time. First Soul Skill, Entangling!"

"Little San, it seems you still don't understand the gap between Beast Martial Souls and plant-type Tool Martial Souls. Don't think you can challenge me just because you have Rank 16 Soul Power. Have you forgotten how you lost last time? First Soul Skill, Flame Bullet!"

The combatants were none other than Wang Qi's former roommate, Xiao Chenyu, and the protagonist of Douluo Continent, Tang San.

The spectators at the side were Martial Soul Theory Master Yu Xiaogang and Xiao Wu, the hundred-thousand-year-old rogue rabbit.

As he watched, Yu Xiaogang had a far broader view of the battle than Xiao Chenyu. He noticed that the Entangling Soul Skill Tang San used this time differed from usual.

The vines formed from Blue Silver Grass spread toward Xiao Chenyu. Xiao Chenyu did not hesitate either. Red light flickered over his chest as he gave a loud shout, and a basketball-sized fireball tore through the Blue Silver vines and flew toward Tang San.

With Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track beneath his feet, Tang San's figure flashed, and he evaded Xiao Chenyu's attack.

At that moment, Xiao Chenyu appeared in front of Tang San, smiling at him.

"Little San, you've lost again."

Tang San had been Yu Xiaogang's disciple for a year. During that year, the two had sparred nearly once every month, and Xiao Chenyu naturally won every time.

It could not be helped. Fire-attribute Soul Masters heavily countered plant-type Tool Martial Soul Masters. The moment vines touched flames, they withered, becoming as fragile as paper.

Afterward, it was as though they had fallen into a cycle. Tang San was a competitive person and never believed his Martial Soul could truly be completely countered, so he stubbornly continued fighting Xiao Chenyu with his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.

Every battle reached this point, and every spar ended with Tang San defeated here. But today was different.

Xiao Chenyu was smiling, and so was Tang San.

Just as Xiao Chenyu looked confused, cracks appeared in the ground beneath his feet. A vine condensed from Blue Silver Grass tightly bound him.

Tang San released his First Soul Skill, Entangling, once more and bound Xiao Chenyu's mouth shut. Looking happily at him, he said, "Senior Brother Xiao, if you don't want to blow your own mouth apart, don't use your First Soul Skill."

Xiao Chenyu struggled several times and found himself unable to break free. He gave Tang San a helpless look, his meaning obvious: he conceded defeat.

"Thank you for letting me win, Senior Brother Xiao."

"Not bad, not bad, Little San. After a year of practice, you've more or less mastered the Mind Splitting I taught you." Yu Xiaogang applauded as he walked over from nearby, his eyes full of satisfaction as he looked at Tang San.

"It was all thanks to Teacher. Without your guidance, I might never have thought that a Control System Soul Master could release Soul Skills this way, much less defeat Senior Brother Xiao."

Xiao Chenyu climbed up from the ground and stood beside Yu Xiaogang with his head lowered, like a student who had done something wrong.

"Xiao Chenyu, you're quite good as well. Being able to suppress Little San is enough to prove your talent. If you can break through to Rank 20 within five years, Teacher will take you to obtain your Second Soul Ring."

Yu Xiaogang perfunctorily consoled Xiao Chenyu before heading toward the academy grounds.

Xiao Chenyu was left standing alone, watching the three depart. A bitter smile could not help appearing on his face.

Someone suddenly came to mind. When Wang Qi had graduated, he had warned him that Yu Xiaogang was not suited to be his teacher. Now, it seemed that was indeed true.

Xiao Chenyu sighed helplessly and jogged after the three of them.

Before Yu Xiaogang met Tang San and accepted him as a disciple, he had treated Xiao Chenyu extremely well. After all, Xiao Chenyu held the potential to uncover a theory capable of changing the entire Soul Master world.

Using Soul Beast Soul Rings to promote Martial Soul Evolution—what a genius idea that was. With Xiao Chenyu as material, Yu Xiaogang believed that before he died, he would surely leave behind theories enough for the world to remember for a thousand years, perhaps even ten thousand.

Unfortunately, Wang Qi had chosen not to stay. Xiao Chenyu's talent was simply too poor. After cultivating for a year and a half, his Soul Power had only increased by two ranks. Yu Xiaogang could not wait any longer.

Especially after Tang San revealed his Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls, Yu Xiaogang became even less willing to wait.

What Yu Xiaogang wanted was not merely everlasting fame. He also wanted to enjoy the respect of the world while he was still alive. He wanted to personally nurture a disciple who would become a Titled Douluo, perhaps even a Super Douluo.

He wanted those who had once looked down on him to flatter him and respect him.

Thus, Xiao Chenyu, this nominal disciple, became nothing more than a sparring partner. From then on, Yu Xiaogang no longer cared for Xiao Chenyu as attentively as he had before meeting Tang San.