Chatting and an Invitation

After returning from the Soul Guidance Department Testing Area, Xue Lingyun first removed his Bracelet and weighted vest, then went into the bathroom for a shower.

The hot water washed away most of the afternoon's fatigue.

He had spent quite a while in the Testing Area, engraving array formations and demonstrating attacks. He did not feel tired, but he had definitely worked up a sweat.

After washing up and changing into clean, dry clothes, he had barely sat down on the sofa when someone knocked on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock."

The rhythm was familiar—heavy first, then light. After knocking, they would wait two seconds, and if no one answered, they would knock again.

Xue Lingyun got up and opened the door.

Sure enough, Huo Yuhao stood outside with a cloth bag in hand. Wang Dong followed behind her, holding a wooden basin filled to the brim with towels and clean clothes.

"Bro Lingyun." Huo Yuhao greeted him. "Can I use your bathroom?"

"Come in." Xue Lingyun stepped aside.

The two entered with practiced ease. As Wang Dong walked in, she muttered, "Your place is still better. No need to squeeze in with anyone else."

This knocking signal had been Wang Dong's idea. She had said something about "having a sense of ceremony."

Xue Lingyun had felt it was unnecessary, too sneaky and suspicious, but Wang Dong had insisted. In the end, they had started knocking like that.

Huo Yuhao set the cloth bag by the bathroom door and began taking things out.

Wang Dong set down the wooden basin as well. She rummaged through Huo Yuhao's towels, picked one up, and examined it. "Your towel's already torn up this badly. Why haven't you replaced it?"

The edges of Huo Yuhao's towel had frayed, and loose threads could even be seen in several places.

It was indeed quite worn-out.

"It still works." Huo Yuhao took the towel from her. "Even torn, it's still a towel."

Wang Dong curled her lips and said nothing more, carrying her own things into the bathroom first.

Huo Yuhao waited outside. Xue Lingyun pointed at the sofa. "Sit down. Why are you standing?"

Huo Yuhao sat down with both hands on his knees, still maintaining that reserved posture.

Even after coming here so many times, he had never shaken that habit. Every visit, he sat perfectly straight, as if he were a guest.

"How has your cultivation been lately?" Xue Lingyun asked.

"Not bad." Huo Yuhao said, "I'm level thirteen now. It feels much smoother than before."

Xue Lingyun nodded. The effects of the Mystic Water Pill should still be lingering. Coupled with how hard that kid worked, rapid progress was only natural.

Huo Yuhao fell silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "Bro Lingyun, last time you said that... the Mandala Snake might not be suitable for Blue Silver Grass. I thought about it for several days after going back, but I still don't really understand."

Xue Lingyun looked at him.

Huo Yuhao said, "Teacher Tang Ya's Third Soul Ring came from a Mandala Snake. Beibei and I went with her back then and watched her hunt it. I thought it was pretty impressive at the time, but after hearing what you said, I started thinking about it."

Xue Lingyun leaned back.

"What did you figure out?"

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "Nothing. I just feel like... maybe it really isn't right? But I can't explain what's wrong."

Xue Lingyun did not answer immediately.

Huo Yuhao continued, "That snake Teacher Tang Ya hunted was incredibly tight when it wrapped around someone, and it had great toughness. I thought back then that if Blue Silver Grass could be like that, it would definitely be powerful. But last time, you said Blue Silver Grass might need more than just that."

Xue Lingyun nodded.

"For all these years, the Tang Sect has followed Tang San's path when choosing Soul Rings," he said. "Mandala Snakes, Ghost Vines, Man Faced Demon Spiders—Tang San used those Soul Rings, so later generations followed suit. But have you ever considered that just because Tang San could make that path work doesn't mean everyone else can?"

Huo Yuhao froze for a moment.

"Tang San's Blue Silver Grass could reach that level because his Martial Soul was not ordinary Blue Silver Grass," Xue Lingyun said. "His was the Blue Silver Emperor, and its innate vitality was far greater than that of ordinary Blue Silver Grass. On top of that, Blue Silver Emperor bloodline lay dormant within him. It simply had not awakened in the early stages. And he had Innate Full Soul Power, so his Soul Power constantly nourished his Martial Soul."

He paused. "Ordinary Blue Silver Grass has none of that. If it blindly copies Tang San's path, then either it won't withstand the backlash when absorbing high-year Soul Rings, or it will remain trapped at low levels for life."

After a moment of silence, Huo Yuhao asked, "Then what path should Blue Silver Grass take?"

Xue Lingyun picked up a cup from the table and gestured with it.

"For plant-type control Martial Souls—such as vine-type, grass-type, and tree-type Martial Souls characterized by dense growth and wild proliferation—there are actually two paths to choose from."

"The first path is to mainly absorb beast-type Soul Beasts, such as snakes and spiders. The characteristics of these Soul Rings are high toughness, great strength, and powerful additional poison and binding effects."

"This path pursues the strength of a single control attempt. Once an enemy is bound, it becomes very difficult for them to break free. With a high enough level and good enough Soul Ring configuration, it can even make opponents of the same rank completely unable to escape."

He paused. "Moreover, beast-type Soul Rings also improve a Soul Master's physical body. Those who absorb beast-type Soul Rings generally have stronger physiques. This is very important for people pursuing individual combat power and higher Soul Ring years."

Huo Yuhao nodded.

"The second path is to primarily absorb plant-type Soul Beasts," Xue Lingyun said. "For example, all kinds of vines, grasses, and trees. The characteristics of these Soul Rings are abundant vitality and rapid growth. The plants they release will be denser and more resistant to depletion. If they are cut down, they can grow back immediately. If they are burned away, another layer can quickly spread out."

He looked at Huo Yuhao. "This path does not pursue the strength of a single control attempt, but the frequency and area of control. You might only bind an enemy for one second at a time, but you can bind them once every second."

"You do not even need precise hits. As long as you cover the battlefield with plants, the enemy will get tangled up wherever they go, and your teammates can attack however they want."

Huo Yuhao listened intently.

"Then which of those two paths is better?"

"Neither is absolutely better," Xue Lingyun said. "It depends on what suits the Martial Soul itself. Some Martial Souls are born with high toughness, so taking the beast-type path gives them even greater advantages. Some Martial Souls possess abundant vitality, so the plant-type path better brings out their strengths."

He paused. "But Blue Silver Grass is different."

Huo Yuhao looked at him.

"Blue Silver Grass's innate vitality is too weak," Xue Lingyun said. "It is like a cup with very limited capacity. No matter what you pour into it, it can only hold so much."

"You can give it the finest Mandala Snake Soul Ring. It can absorb it and become stronger, but the cup's capacity does not change. No matter how full you make it, it is still only one cup of water."

He made an expanding gesture. "Tang Ya is already over level thirty. If she keeps taking this path, continuously piling on toughness and strength, how far can she go? Soul Ancestor? Spirit King? What about beyond that?"

Huo Yuhao fell silent.

"What Blue Silver Grass truly needs is not to fill this cup of water as much as possible," Xue Lingyun said. "It is to make the cup itself larger."

"How do you make it larger? Through vitality. Absorb Soul Rings with abundant vitality, continuously nourish the origin of the Blue Silver Grass, and let it gradually evolve from ordinary Blue Silver Grass into a higher-level Martial Soul."

"That is the path Blue Silver Grass should take."

He looked at Huo Yuhao. "The Mandala Snake is indeed powerful. Its venom is potent and its toughness is high. But what it can bring Blue Silver Grass is 'filling this cup more fully.' What Blue Silver Grass needs is 'making the cup larger,' not 'filling it with more water.'"

Huo Yuhao lowered his head and did not speak for a long while.

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

After a while, Wang Dong pushed open the door and came out. Her hair was still dripping as she wiped it with a towel. She had changed into clean clothes and looked much fresher.

"So comfortable." She flopped onto the sofa and let out a long breath.

Huo Yuhao stood up. "My turn."

He walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Before long, the sound of running water came from inside.

Wang Dong tilted her head toward Xue Lingyun. "What were you two talking about just now? I think I heard something about Blue Silver Grass from inside?"

"Just chatting," Xue Lingyun said.

Wang Dong did not press further. She leaned against the sofa and continued drying her hair. She was far more relaxed than Huo Yuhao. Staying here felt just like staying in her own dorm—she lay down whenever she wanted and slouched whenever she wanted.

After a moment, she suddenly said, "Oh, right. I'll make another door plaque later and hang one outside your door too. That way, we won't have to knock and ask every time we come over."

"Sure." Xue Lingyun nodded.

Wang Dong lounged around for a bit longer, draped the towel over her shoulder, and stood up. "I'll head back first. When Huo Yuhao finishes washing, let him leave on his own."

"Mm."

Wang Dong walked to the door, pulled it open, and left.

The water continued to run in the bathroom.

Xue Lingyun leaned against the sofa and went over everything he had just said in his mind.

After a while, the water stopped.

The bathroom door opened, and Huo Yuhao came out dressed in fresh clothes. His hair was still wet, but he looked more put together than Wang Dong had.

"Bro Lingyun, I'll head back first," he said, standing beside the sofa.

Xue Lingyun nodded.

Huo Yuhao walked to the door, then suddenly turned back. "What you said... I'll think about it more when I get back."

"Mm."

The door closed, and the room fell completely silent.

Xue Lingyun leaned against the sofa and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.

That kid Huo Yuhao really was thinking things through.

That was better than simply listening without thinking.

As for Tang Ya's situation... he had seen it coming long ago.

The Mandala Snake was not a good choice for Blue Silver Grass, but so what? The path had already been chosen, and the Third Soul Ring had already been hunted. It was not as if she could turn back now.

How much of what he had said Huo Yuhao took in was up to him.

As for Tang Ya herself, he could bring it up later if there was a chance. If there was not, then it would remain mere idle conversation.

Just as he was about to get up and grab a book, a sudden "knock, knock" sounded from the window.

Xue Lingyun turned his head.

The window had already been pushed open. Ma Xiaotao swung one leg inside, flipped down neatly, and after landing steadily, casually shut the window behind her.

"It's really cold outside." She rubbed her hands together, then looked up and saw Xue Lingyun watching her. "What are you looking at? It's not like this is the first time."

Xue Lingyun withdrew his gaze and leaned back against the sofa. "Can't you use the door?"

"Using the door is no fun." Ma Xiaotao strode over carelessly and sat opposite him. She held an exquisite Invitation Letter in her hand and slapped it onto the coffee table. "This is for you."

Xue Lingyun picked up the Invitation Letter and looked it over. Delicate Soul Guidance patterns were printed on the cover, with the words "Core Disciple Exclusive Session" in the middle.

"Treasure Appreciation Meeting?"

"Mm." Ma Xiaotao crossed her legs. "Shrek City holds several Treasure Appreciation Meetings every year, split into three types. The academy procurement session is for teachers; the Inner Court student session has the best stuff, but the requirements are high; the Core Disciple session is for those Outer Court students with potential who are being specially cultivated."

She paused and looked at him. "The official Core Disciple list will not be decided until after the Freshman Assessment, but with your strength, it's a certainty. I figured the sooner you go, the sooner you can get the benefits, so I got you an Invitation Letter."

Xue Lingyun held the Invitation Letter without speaking.

Ma Xiaotao continued, "You can't enter the Inner Court session. That's for Inner Court disciples. But if people from the Inner Court want to attend the Core Disciple session, no one will stop them. It's just that the Inner Court session has better things, so they do not care for this one. So it's basically just us having fun."

Her tone was casual as she said it. She did not put on airs as an Inner Court disciple, nor did she mention her identity as one of the Shrek Seven Monsters.

"Have you been before?" Xue Lingyun asked.

"I went once last year and picked up a few little trinkets," Ma Xiaotao said. "This time, we can go together. I'll show you the way."

Xue Lingyun thought for a moment. "When?"

"The night after tomorrow." Ma Xiaotao stood up. "I'll come get you then."

She walked to the window and opened it. The night wind rushed inside. She glanced back at him. "Oh, right. That place has all kinds of stuff, a real mixed bag. If there's something you want to buy, do your homework beforehand. Don't go there and waste money blindly."

Xue Lingyun nodded.

Ma Xiaotao waved, flipped out the window, and moved as nimbly as a cat stalking through the night.

She pulled the window shut behind her, producing a soft click.

The room fell silent again.

Xue Lingyun lowered his head and looked at the Invitation Letter in his hand.

The Treasure Appreciation Meeting... the Core Disciple session...

He put away the Invitation Letter, walked over to the desk, and sat down. He picked up Basic Variations of Soul Tool Core Array and turned to the dog-eared page.