The Great Stage of Douluo, My Name is Qian Xunji

The reason Tang Hao didn't strike wasn't out of kindness or a soft heart; as a Title Douluo, he was simply afraid that he might accidentally kill Yu Xiaogang.

Tang Hao held a grudge against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and it was Yu Yuanzhen who had been the most aggressive in hunting down Ah Yin.

As the son of Yu Yuanzhen, Yu Xiaogang naturally became a target for Tang Hao's displaced anger.

However, Tang Hao also knew that Tang San's growth required Yu Xiaogang's help, so he spared his life.

Twin Martial Souls were extremely rare, and every known possessor had died from their bodies exploding during the cultivation process.

The only exception was Bibi Dong; she was the only one who had survived and grown into a Soul Douluo.

Tang Hao needed the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls that Bibi Dong possessed.

But Martial Soul Hall would never tolerate a half-human, half-beast hybrid like Tang San. If they found out, they wouldn't just withhold the cultivation method—they would likely kill Tang San on the spot.

Tang Hao had no choice but to take a roundabout path and approach Bibi Dong's ex-boyfriend.

Although Martial Soul Hall had claimed the Saintess had died, the truth was no secret among the major powers.

Since Yu Xiaogang had been able to entice the Saintess of Martial Soul Hall, Bibi Dong, to abandon everything to be with him, it stood to reason that obtaining the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls shouldn't be difficult for him.

Did Yu Xiaogang know the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls?

Back then, after being driven out of Martial Soul Hall, he had focused entirely on his own theories, completing missions with the Golden Iron Triangle, and watching Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong fight over him; he truly hadn't paid any attention to the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls.

To him at that time, the method was useful to too few people and lacked influence; even if he published it as a theory, it wouldn't have made much of a splash.

So, even though he could have obtained the answer by simply asking, Yu Xiaogang had never cared.

He only cared about himself.

Every possessor of Twin Martial Souls in historical records had died from their bodies exploding during cultivation, and his girlfriend Bibi Dong was also a possessor of Twin Martial Souls, yet he had never concerned himself with the matter, subconsciously ignoring it to enjoy the romance of the moment.

He couldn't produce the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls, but he didn't dare tell Tang Hao, so he could only stall and hope for a chance to get it from Bibi Dong later. (Yu Xiaogang had no intention of running away; he wouldn't easily give up on Tang San, a rare experimental subject who could help him become a true master.)

Tang Hao likely never imagined that Yu Xiaogang would be so absurd; the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls concerned the life and death of his own girlfriend, yet this guy knew absolutely nothing.

It was precisely because of this that Tang Hao left without suspicion.

After seeing Tang Hao off, Yu Xiaogang let out a sigh of relief and sat by the table to sip some tea.

He pondered what to do next.

"Tang San has Innate Full Soul Power, so I should help him obtain his first Soul Ring first. As for the cultivation method for Twin Martial Souls, I'll just have to find an opportunity to see Bibi Dong."

Chapter 37: This Child Is Not Simple Either

The next day, early in the morning.

At the gates of Nuoding Academy, two figures, one large and one small, departed from the school.

The journey was somewhat long, and along the way, Tang San asked many questions, showing great respect for his teacher, Yu Xiaogang.

Every time he called him "Teacher," it filled Yu Xiaogang with joy; the boy was studious, respectful, and a genius to boot.

Yu Xiaogang felt so flattered that, in a moment of excitement, he took out his own Soul Tool and gifted it to Tang San.

"Little San, this is for you."

Tang San looked down to see a belt.

The belt was entirely black with dark patterns that were difficult to distinguish without a close look. Embedded evenly across the belt were twenty-four milky-white jade stones, each the size of an adult's thumbnail and perfectly round. The luster was warm and moist; it was clearly a rare and precious jade.

Tang San accepted it and thanked him, "Thank you, Teacher."

Fearing that Tang San wouldn't know what a Soul Tool was, Yu Xiaogang took the time to explain it to him.

Watching Tang San's happy and grateful expression, Yu Xiaogang felt a complex mix of emotions; this was a good student.

It was a pity...

Having lived for so many years, Yu Xiaogang had long since tasted the coldness of human nature.

He had been mocked and looked down upon for years, and he could tell that Tang San truly respected, cared for, and trusted him.

This moved Yu Xiaogang, and his resolve wavered slightly, though only for a moment.

To make Yu Xiaogang abandon his theories, admit his failure, and live as a loser for the rest of his life would be worse than killing him.

Along the way, the master and student got along quite pleasantly.

By the time they reached the Soul Beast Forest, Tang San, who was hunting for a Soul Ring for the first time, was extremely curious. He couldn't help but ask about the permits and team formations. These were basic common sense, which Yu Xiaogang answered with ease, making him even fonder of his student.

They passed through the bustling market and arrived at the entrance of the Soul Beast Forest.

They saw that the perimeter of the forest was enclosed by a massive steel fence, with rows of sharp spikes pointing toward the forest. The fence was over ten meters high and looked incredibly sturdy.

That wasn't all; outside the fence, a squad of a hundred soldiers was patrolling. These soldiers were all clad in full-body refined iron armor, holding long spears, and maintaining strict military discipline. The hundred steel-clad warriors standing together gave off a chilling, murderous aura.

Yu Xiaogang lowered his voice to explain the rules and origins of the Soul Beast Forest.

Tang San could not help but question, "Teacher, does this Soul Hunting Forest belong to the Martial Soul Hall or the empire?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted slightly, and he made a shushing gesture toward Tang San. "Do not ask such questions when we are outside. Regarding the Martial Soul Hall and the empire..."

Before he could finish, a voice interjected from the side, "The Soul Beast Forest was built from start to finish with the money and effort of the Martial Soul Hall; it has nothing to do with the empire. Of course, the empire could build its own Soul Beast Forest, but they simply haven't."

Some people always prefer vague answers. Just like the ownership of the Soul Beast Forest, the way they talk about it makes it sound as if the Martial Soul Hall had snatched the Soul Beast Forest away from the Heaven Dou Empire.

In reality, this is entirely a charitable act by the Martial Soul Hall. The people of the Heaven Dou Empire use the forest built by the Martial Soul Hall for free, yet they still curse the Martial Soul Hall for having wild ambitions and not handing the forest over to the Heaven Dou Empire.

If it were truly handed over, within a month, this place would likely become a private hunting ground for noble soul masters, and commoner soul masters would never be able to enter.

Tang San looked up in the direction of the voice.

It was Kai!

Judging by the direction, he was coming out from inside the Soul Beast Forest.

Could it be that he came to the Soul Beast Forest to hunt for a soul ring last night?

Yu Xiaogang said sternly, "Why are you here alone?"

In truth, what Yu Xiaogang wanted to ask was why Kai was emerging from the Soul Beast Forest. Without a teacher from the academy leading the way, and as a child from the countryside with no soul masters in his family, how did he get in?

As expected, this child was not simple either.

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Chapter 38: Are You Crazy?

For some people, obtaining a permit to enter the Soul Beast Forest is not difficult, though the process is a bit troublesome.

First, one must go to the Martial Soul Hall for testing to prove that their soul power has indeed reached the peak of the current stage and that they need to hunt a soul beast to advance.

Then, you need a recommendation from at least three nobles.

This, of course, is a requirement put forward by the Heaven Dou Empire to indirectly control the Soul Beast Forest.

However, this is not very difficult for noble soul masters. In the Heaven Dou Empire, soul masters certified by the Martial Soul Hall can proactively obtain noble titles from the empire after reaching level 30, and many teachers in the academy are nobles themselves.

There are also many Soul Elders who act as low-level barons and collect these recommendation fees.

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It may look easy, but it is very difficult for those true commoner soul masters.

They have no money and no connections; why would the nobles bother to help them write recommendation letters?

For most commoner soul masters, the only way to obtain a soul ring is to follow their teachers to the Soul Beast Forest at the end of the term to hunt soul beasts together. Even if they reach the promotion level, they can only wait.

The silver-haired boy looked behind him, and saw a person slowly walking out of the Soul Beast Forest.

Yu Xiaogang recognized this person.

"Dean!" Yu Xiaogang said in surprise.

The person who arrived was a middle-aged man wearing a long robe. His appearance was slightly more handsome than Yu Xiaogang's, his chin protruded slightly, and he wore a gentle smile on his face.

It was none other than the Dean of the Nuoding Academy. Although Yu Xiaogang looked down on the ordinary teachers of the Nuoding Academy, as a teacher hired by the academy, he still recognized the Dean.

The Dean also knew about Yu Xiaogang's theoretical research, and out of respect for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect behind him, he chose to accept this master.

"I am also bringing a student to hunt for a soul ring. This is Kai, who just enrolled yesterday. His martial soul is a blade, and he has Innate Full Soul Power," the Dean introduced happily.

"Is that so?" Yu Xiaogang's usually stiff face cracked slightly.

"Is this your newly accepted disciple?" The Dean's gaze shifted to Tang San.

"This is my newly accepted disciple, Tang San. He also has Innate Full Soul Power. Tang San, this is the Dean." Yu Xiaogang introduced Tang San but did not mention his martial soul. Subconsciously, he did not want to mention the trash martial soul, Blue Silver Grass, but the Clear Sky Hammer could not be revealed either.

"Hello, Dean!" Tang San greeted politely.

The Dean patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder. "Alright, I wish you success. I'll be going now."

After saying this, he glanced at Tang San before heading in another direction.

In fact, he had already reviewed all the information on the new students who enrolled this year yesterday. As two of the only three geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power, Tang San and Kai had naturally caught his attention.

As long as these three children obtained their soul rings, they would directly meet the graduation requirements.

If the Nuoding Academy could cultivate two geniuses and recommend them to an intermediate soul master academy, there would naturally be benefits.

One of the students, named Tang San, had actually been noticed by Yu Xiaogang the moment he enrolled and had immediately become his disciple.

Although the Dean felt it was a pity, he did not care much. In his view, a soul master with a Blue Silver Grass martial soul had limited potential and strength.

He would not fall out with Yu Xiaogang over such a student, so he naturally let it go.

The Dean had known from the beginning what Yu Xiaogang's purpose was in coming to the Nuoding Academy: he wanted to use the students here to verify his theories.

However, because the man had such high standards and the Nuoding Academy was only an elementary soul master academy in a small city with average student quality, there had been no one who caught his eye until now.

He hadn't expected three students with Innate Full Soul Power to arrive this year, but fortunately, the one he had his eye on was Tang San, not Kai.