"Master, let's leave it at that for now. A true powerhouse needs to overcome hardships."
"While I was growing up, I encountered countless opponents, but in the end, I defeated them all."
"And Su Ze looks like he has what it takes to be Little San's whetstone."
At the figure who had suddenly appeared, Yu Xiaogang's expression changed.
"Clear Sky Douluo, so you really are Little San's father!"
Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted slightly, and he rose to his feet.
He looked at the somewhat disheveled Tang Hao before him.
Yu Xiaogang sincerely admired Tang Hao, who had once sent Qian Xunji to his death with a single swing of his hammer.
"That's right. With Little San's talent, I believe he'll surely be able to defeat Su Ze in the future. Overcoming hardship is something every powerhouse must go through."
"I understand. You want Su Ze to be Little San's whetstone, is that it?"
A look of understanding flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
At the same time, he felt that his earlier anger had been rather ridiculous.
That was right. Tang San had Twin Martial Souls and was Douluo Tang Hao's son.
He would surely become incredibly powerful in the future.
Su Ze was just a lucky commoner. Even if he could get ahead for a while,
he would surely be left far behind by Little San someday.
No matter how powerful Su Ze's Mutated Lightning Attribute Martial Soul was, it couldn't possibly surpass the Clear Sky Hammer.
It was the number-one tool-type Martial Soul on the Douluo Continent.
What was more, Little San was the wielder of Twin Martial Souls.
The anger had completely vanished from Yu Xiaogang's face.
Seeing that Master had calmed down, Tang Hao continued, "I have to go away for a while. I'm entrusting Little San to you, and I'm confident he'll be in good hands."
Tang Hao spoke with Yu Xiaogang a little longer about Tang San, then disappeared without a trace.
Looking around the study, now that he was alone,
Yu Xiaogang sat back down. He fixed his gaze on Su Ze's name, a look of disdain in his eyes.
Su Ze, you lucky bastard.
Enjoy your moment of triumph.
Just wait until the future, when Little San wields the Clear Sky Hammer and bears nine Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings—or even Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings.
A smug smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face.
Su Ze!
Then you'll realize that not taking me as your master was your greatest loss.
With that thought, Yu Xiaogang stood and headed for the dormitory where Tang San was recuperating from his injuries.
Inside Tang San's dormitory,
the severely injured Tang San lay in bed, his entire body wrapped in bandages.
When Yu Xiaogang came in, Tang San struggled to sit up.
Yu Xiaogang immediately helped him.
"Master, I'm sorry!"
Shame showed on Tang San's face beneath the bandages covering it. He had Twin Martial Souls, had been reincarnated with his memories intact, and had even used Tang Sect Hidden Weapons.
With all those advantages, he had still lost to a child.
It was truly humiliating.
Yu Xiaogang comforted him. "Little San, there's no need to be upset. A defeat is only temporary."
"A true powerhouse has to overcome all kinds of hardships."
"And don't forget, your talent is even greater than Su Ze's. The future belongs to you."
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San immediately remembered his Twin Martial Souls. His dispirited expression brightened, and he said, "Teacher, you mean my Twin Martial Souls?"
At Tang San's words, Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"Exactly, Tang San. As the wielder of Twin Martial Souls, you only used Blue Silver Grass today."
"But remember, Blue Silver Grass is merely a stepping stone. Your future lies with the Clear Sky Hammer, the greatest tool-type Martial Soul in the world."
"Su Ze only beat you because it was an unfair victory. If he faced you using the Clear Sky Hammer, he'd surely be no match for you."
At Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
That was right. He had only used one Martial Soul.
Even though he had used Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, he still hadn't fought with all his strength.
That guy Su Ze had won unfairly.
Once he used both Martial Souls, that child named Su Ze would surely be no match for him.
At the thought, Tang San regained his confidence.
As the wielder of Twin Martial Souls, he had no reason to be discouraged by a temporary defeat.
In the future, Su Ze wouldn't even be able to see his back.
What was more, that brat had dared to steal his Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night.
He deserved to die!
A vicious glint flashed through Tang San's eyes.
In the dormitory, Su Ze emptied out the contents of Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night.
There were a few Gold Soul Coins inside, along with some Hidden Weapons.
Looking at these Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, Su Ze decided to sell them.
After all, he didn't know how to use Hidden Weapons.
Besides, they had been carefully crafted by Tang San with high-quality materials. Su Ze could tell as soon as he picked them up that they'd fetch a good number of Gold Soul Coins.
The cold Hidden Weapons had turned into warm Gold Soul Coins.
How could that deal not be profitable?
He fastened Twenty-Four Bridges around his waist, then glanced at the Gold Soul Coins on the table.
Su Ze's favorable impression of Tang San increased.
A Money Boy like this should send him gifts a few more times.
With the Hidden Weapons and Gold Soul Coins from the Soul Tool, Su Ze wasn't short on money for the time being.
So he changed his plans and decided to keep Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night as storage space.
After taking care of what was in front of him,
Su Ze began thinking about his next steps.
With Tang San's money, he wasn't short on funds for now.
Next, he could focus on cultivation.
He was already close to level 14, and he was confident he could reach it within a week at most.
Then, in a year or two at most, he should be able to break through to level 20.
At that point, reaching level 20 at age eight without any outside help
would make him a genius even by the standards of the Douluo Continent.
In the Original Work, Tang San reached level 20 at age nine, with the help of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Xiao Wu, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast Incarnation, had also reached level 20 at around age nine.
He had caught up with the first tier of geniuses on the Douluo Continent right from the starting line.
Next, Su Ze thought, he should use the Plot Information he knew to give himself a cheat.
He had two goals in mind.
The first was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
Tang San was a Money Boy
who had given him the precious Spatial Soul Tool.
And the Blue Silver Emperor, his mother,
giving him a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone would be perfectly reasonable too.
Su Ze planned to keep challenging Tang San in the days ahead, using those encounters to test whether Tang Hao was still by his side.
Once he confirmed Tang Hao wasn't anywhere near Tang San, he'd leave before graduation and head straight to Sacred Soul Village.
Then he'd make a run for Heaven Dou Imperial City.
The Douluo Continent was so vast that Tang Hao might not find out right away.
If Tang Hao caught up with him in Heaven Dou Imperial City,
he'd defect and report Tang Hao's whereabouts to Qian Renxue, the Heaven Dou Crown Prince.
The Soul Martial Hall would surely be very interested in Tang Hao.
And once he was in Heaven Dou Imperial City, he could also join Heaven Dou Royal Academy along the way.
That would complete his second goal:
getting close to Dugu Bo and snatching the Immortal Herbs.
Su Ze hadn't forgotten that even a Hundred Year Thunderous Nether Vine had unlocked his ultimate move.
So the legendary Immortal Herbs would surely let him unlock his Storm Dragon King form.
Before you continue