Tang San Provoked: You Have Courted Death

It was another monthly sparring session. On the back mountain of Nuoding Academy, Tang San yawned boredly.

"Teacher, Xiao Chenyu probably isn't coming, right? I've barely seen him this past month."

In Tang San's mind, an enemy he had already defeated was destined to be unable to oppose him. After sparring with Xiao Chenyu many times over such a long period, Tang San had gradually grown tired of this predetermined victory.

"No. If Xiao Chenyu had really left, he certainly would have—"

"Teacher, Junior Brother Tang San, it seems I'm not late." Xiao Chenyu, dressed in Nuoding Academy's uniform, leaped down from a tree. His red hair and taller, more slender figure made him look completely different.

"You are... Xiao Chenyu? Your hair color—did you dye it? No, that's not it. What exactly have you been doing this past month? How did you change so drastically?" Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted rapidly, from confusion to realization, then to fervent excitement.

As the Martial Soul Theory Master, Yu Xiaogang knew that changes in one's Martial Soul could affect the Soul Master as well. Whether in temperament or appearance, Xiao Chenyu's transformation proved that he had undergone a complete rebirth over the past month.

And this kind of change was precisely the Martial Soul Evolution Yu Xiaogang had pursued.

Watching Yu Xiaogang's changing expression, Xiao Chenyu recalled Wang Qi's instructions when she had left.

[Since you chose to swear allegiance to me, I won't hide it from you. My first purpose in returning to Nuoding City this time was to see you, my old friend. My second purpose was to obtain something from Yu Xiaogang.]

[You don't need to cooperate. Just keep your oath and take part in tomorrow's Soul Fighting match with Tang San. They will investigate the rest themselves.]

[Whether it's Tang San or Yu Xiaogang, they would rather believe information they uncover themselves. If you voluntarily reveal it, they may not choose to believe you.]

[Don't worry. As long as you display your changes, they'll definitely take the bait. At the same time, they won't take the initiative to ask how your Martial Soul evolved.]

Returning to the present, Xiao Chenyu looked at Yu Xiaogang, who stood there deep in thought, and Tang San, whose face was filled with confusion as he prepared to ask about the sparring match. Then Yu Xiaogang spoke.

"What incredible fortune. Your Martial Soul actually evolved. Little San, Chenyu, today's sparring will continue. I happen to want to see how much your Martial Soul Evolution has enhanced your strength, Chenyu."

Martial Soul Evolution? Chenyu? Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang in confusion. Is this person really Xiao Chenyu? Could a mere Martial Soul Evolution really cause such a massive change in him?

Xiao Chenyu's appearance had changed greatly. To sum it up in one sentence, he had become much more handsome. Tang San felt that in the world of Soul Masters, appearance was merely an accessory; strength was everything.

"Are you really Chenyu?" Tang San circled Xiao Chenyu and confirmed again.

"Of course I am. Little San, would I deceive you about my identity? As for why I changed so much, it's naturally because of my Martial Soul. Since Teacher wants us to spar first, let's begin. Fire Wolf Possession!"

Xiao Chenyu stomped hard on the ground. The flame Soul Mark between his brows surged as his body rapidly transformed, flames wrapping around him. When the Martial Soul Possession was complete, the flames exploded outward.

Xiao Chenyu's hands had turned into wolf claws, while flames burned between his brows. He looked tremendously formidable.

"Little San, be careful. This is my first time attacking, so I may not be able to control my strength properly. Here I come!"

Xiao Chenyu drove off with both legs, charging toward Tang San like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Yu Xiaogang lacked combat experience. He could only tell that Xiao Chenyu was somewhat faster than before, without any clear sense of exactly how much faster.

Tang San, however, had fought Xiao Chenyu dozens of times over the past two years and knew every aspect of his physical abilities perfectly well. Xiao Chenyu's speed was at least thirty percent greater than before.

Seeing this, Tang San no longer hesitated. He retreated swiftly, Blue Silver Grass held in his right palm. His first Soul Ring lit up beneath his feet as several Blue Silver vines shot toward Xiao Chenyu. A few more hid beneath the dirt, hoping to defeat Xiao Chenyu with the same methods as before.

But this time, Tang San was destined to be disappointed. Before the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline awakened, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was not even as strong as the Blue Silver King. Moreover, plant-type Soul Masters were naturally restrained by fire-type Soul Masters. This left Tang San's control-focused Blue Silver Grass almost completely useless before Xiao Chenyu.

As the vines approached, the flames on Xiao Chenyu's hands immediately blazed more fiercely. The vines were destroyed almost instantly, and even the vines that suddenly emerged beneath his feet to entangle him had barely any effect.

When Beast Martial Souls underwent Martial Soul Possession, their enhancement to physical abilities was naturally stronger than that of Tool Martial Souls. Even though Xiao Chenyu's Soul Power was inferior to Tang San's, the distance between them continued to shrink.

Not good. If this continues, I'll definitely lose.

As Tang San retreated, he repeatedly unleashed his first Soul Skill, Entangling, to stop Xiao Chenyu from closing in. Just as he was preparing to win through Soul Power consumption, an orange-yellow ball of fire the size of a basketball shot toward him.

No, I can't dodge it. Damn it, how could trash like Xiao Chenyu receive such an opportunity? If I had been given the chance for Martial Soul Evolution, if my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had evolved, then it would definitely be even stronger.

One who steals another's opportunity—Xiao Chenyu, you have courted death! Mysterious Jade Hand.

Though countless thoughts raced through his mind, the incoming fireball gave Tang San no time to think. Left with no choice, he revealed the secret technique of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Codex, the Mysterious Jade Hand.

His hands turned jade-like. A cold glint flashed through Tang San's eyes as he exerted all his strength, activating his Soul Skill to block the fireball.

With a boom, it exploded. The fireball was blocked, but Xiao Chenyu used the instant of the explosion to close in. His flaming wolf claw pressed against Tang San's neck, and an infuriatingly smug smile appeared on his face.

"Little San, you lost. I never expected there would be a day in my life when I could defeat you. Hahaha! Come on, Little San. To celebrate my victory, go get Xiao Wu. I'll bring Teacher, and we'll go out for a good meal."

The more smug Xiao Chenyu looked, the more stifled Tang San felt. Whether in his previous life or this one, Tang San had always been proud and unwilling to bow beneath others.

To be defeated head-on by someone he had once beaten left Tang San deeply humiliated. Looking at Xiao Chenyu's triumphant expression, Tang San even wanted to use the Silent Sleeve Arrow to give him a taste of it.

It was all because of Martial Soul Evolution. If Xiao Chenyu's Martial Soul had not evolved, if my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul could evolve as well, then I would definitely be the one who won.

"Xiao Chenyu, you concealed the secret of Martial Soul Evolution from me. You are too despicable. As fellow disciples, you were selfish and self-serving. You have courted death."