Long Chen had controlled Tang San and made him mutilate himself, leaving a deep scar in his heart.
They might not run into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team during the Soul Master Competition, but there was no ruling out the possibility.
Tang San wanted revenge.
He constantly reminded himself that he had to defeat Long Chen and wipe away his humiliation.
But he knew full well that, with the Shrek Seven Devils' current overall strength, defeating the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team with Long Chen on its roster would be no easy feat.
So he had to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
Tang San thought of a way to help his teammates improve their Soul Power faster.
He would teach them a little cultivation technique.
Tang San knew full well that the Mysterious Heaven Skill could aid cultivation, but it was his own secret art.
Even to those closest to him, he wouldn't teach it lightly.
Besides, mastering the Mysterious Heaven Skill took time. They wouldn't make much progress in the short term.
However, based on that technique, Tang San had devised a simple method for circulating Qi through the limbs.
With this simple technique, as long as they practiced diligently, they could improve their Soul Power faster than ordinary Soul Masters.
That evening, Tang San called everyone to his room.
Dai Mubai asked,
"Xiao San, you've been shutting yourself in your room a lot lately. What have you been working on? Have you made any progress? Is that why you called us all here?"
Tang San smiled.
"Boss Dai, you guessed right. You've all seen how my Soul Power has improved faster than yours through diligent practice lately."
Ning Rongrong looked at Tang San expectantly.
"Third Bro, you really found a way to improve our Soul Power?"
Tang San nodded and continued,
"I did come up with a technique for circulating Qi through the limbs. It helps us circulate Soul Power more effectively and speeds up our cultivation. It'll have an immediate effect on our overall strength. I plan to teach it to you. As long as you practice diligently, you'll definitely improve even more."
Ma Hongjun chuckled.
"Really? Third Bro, you're amazing."
Dai Mubai patted Tang San on the shoulder.
"Xiao San, you've always been the one with the best ideas among us. Whatever you say we should do, we'll do. We all trust you."
Tang San nodded slightly, then began explaining the technique in detail, from how to regulate their breathing to how to guide Soul Power through their bodies.
At the end, he reminded them,
"The key to practicing this technique is perseverance. Don't try to rush your progress. Practice for at least two hours every day, and with time, you'll feel the benefits. Remember, this is a secret between us. Don't tell anyone else."
"Okay, we understand."
Afterward, with Tang San leading the way, the Shrek students trained and cultivated even harder. Sure enough, their Soul Power began improving faster than before.
~~~~~~~~~
The days passed, and the opening of the Soul Master Competition drew closer.
The unusual improvement in Soul Power of Long Chen, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan made their teammates envious and suspicious.
But Long Chen wouldn't tell them the truth. He just made up some excuse to fob them off.
One day, Dugu Bo came to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
When he learned that Long Chen's Soul Power had reached level fifty-five, Dugu Bo was surprised.
"Kid, you're not even sixteen, yet your Soul Power has already reached level fifty-five. That's incredible. But this is extremely dangerous for you, too. It's not a good idea to reveal your strength in front of those people from Spirit Hall too soon. So I still recommend that you don't enter the Soul Master Competition. Besides, you have no chance of winning the championship."
Long Chen smiled nonchalantly.
"If I don't compete, won't Lingling and your granddaughter get bullied? Can you bear to see that?"
Dugu Bo shook his head gently.
"The Soul Master Competition is only a contest among low-level Soul Masters. It's not that dangerous. Besides, Yanyan's Soul Power has already reached level forty-six. She's among the stronger competitors.
"The reason I say you won't win the championship is that this year's Spirit Hall Academy Team is in a league of its own.
"As far as I know, all seven of their main team members have Soul Power above level forty-five. They're known as the Martial Soul Hall Golden Generation.
"Moreover, three of them, like you, have reached level fifty or higher. They're known as the Martial Soul Hall Three Heroes.
"Judging by individual strength alone, those three might not be a match for you.
"But the Soul Master Competition is a team event. Their overall strength is far greater than that of your Royal Fight Team One. If you run into them, you won't win."
Long Chen had known all this for a long time, but he was still going to compete.
"How can we know who'll make it to the end without giving it a shot?"
"Looks like you won't give up. Do you know what the championship prize is this year? Soul Bones—and not just one, but three. Those three Soul Bones could've been made for the Martial Soul Hall Three Heroes. No one else can win the championship."
Long Chen knew that Pope Bibi Dong had specially prepared those three Soul Bones for the Martial Soul Hall Three Heroes.
The Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull was perfect for Hu Liena, a control-system Soul Master.
The Chasing Wind Left Leg Bone was perfect for Xie Yue, who specialized in both assault and agile attacks.
The Explosive Burning Flame Right Arm Bone was perfect for Yan, a fire-attribute Soul Master.
The Sixty Thousand Year Spirit Skull was the most precious of them all.
For Soul Masters, every Soul Bone was priceless—an extraordinary treasure that one could only hope to encounter.
Long Chen wanted to protect Ye Lingling.
Of course, winning the Soul Master Competition and claiming those three Soul Bones would be great, too.
"Oh, there's something I forgot to tell you. The poison in Dugu Yan's body is under control for now, but I can't guarantee it won't flare up again once she reaches level seventy. Once she can unleash her Martial Soul Avatar, the poison in her body will become even more terrifying."
Dugu Bo was startled by this.
"Kid, you're not joking with me, are you?"
"Of course not. But don't panic yet. I have another way."
"What way?"
"Just get her a Soul Bone. If it really comes to that, she can force some of the poison into the Soul Bone, just like you did."
"A Soul Bone..."
Dugu Bo furrowed his brows, deep in thought.
Long Chen smiled.
"If we win the Soul Master Competition, we can give one of the prizes to Dugu Yan."
"Kid, you sound pretty confident."
"Of course. Come with us when the time comes. Oh, and I have another surprise for you."
Dugu Bo's eyes lit up, and he looked at Long Chen expectantly.
"What surprise?"
"Let's go back to the Medicine Garden together. You'll find out when we get there."
"I wonder what you're up to this time, kid."
Afterward, Dugu Bo and Long Chen returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well together.
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