The First Martial Soul Class

Notting Academy, Dorm Seven.

Tang San had originally intended to just take a look at the textbooks sent over by Martial Soul Hall.

As he read, however, more and more people gathered around him.

Wang Sheng leaned against the bed, his eyes fixed on Soul Power Introduction and Meditation, reading with more focus than he ever did in class.

Several other work-study students crowded together nearby.

Those who couldn't read the characters asked those who could to read aloud.

When the reader reached the line, "Soul power must not be forced through the meridians," Wang Sheng's expression shifted.

"No wonder my stomach hurts every time I finish cultivating."

Tang San glanced at him.

"How were you cultivating before?"

Wang Sheng scratched his head.

"Just... forcing it in."

Tang San fell silent.

A work-study student nearby whispered, "That's how we all practice."

Once those words were spoken, Tang San finally understood the weight of these books.

They were not profound secret manuals.

They contained no shortcuts to reach the heavens in a single step.

But for these commoner Soul Masters who lacked family legacies or teachers to guide them hand-in-hand, they were incredibly useful.

At the very least, they could save them from taking many unnecessary detours.

Xiao Wu sat to the side, resting her chin on her hand as she looked through the Low-Level Soul Beast Illustrated Handbook.

She hadn't originally felt any goodwill toward the items sent by Martial Soul Hall.

But after flipping through a few pages, her expression turned somewhat strange.

The book did not portray all Soul Beasts as things that ought to be killed.

On the contrary, it stated quite clearly:

[Soul Beasts also have their own habits.]

[Unless required for soul hunting, one should not slaughter them without cause.]

[Juvenile Soul Beasts must not be hunted at will, unless they actively harm humans or have become uncontrolled due to pollution.]

Xiao Wu stared at these lines for a long while.

"Martial Soul Hall actually writes things like this?"

Her voice was very soft.

Tang San looked up.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

Xiao Wu closed the book, but her eyes were not as relaxed as they had been before.

She had heard of Martial Soul Hall.

In the perception of Soul Beasts, Martial Soul Hall was a very dangerous place.

Powerful Soul Masters.

Soul Hunting Squads.

Title Douluo.

And the greed that was most lethal to a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Yet, these textbooks before her were different from the Martial Soul Hall she had imagined.

At the very least, the person who wrote this book did not view Soul Beasts as mere materials.

This made her feel somewhat uneasy.

Wang Sheng had by now flipped to the Soul Hunting Safety Regulations.

The first rule read:

[Before hunting a soul, one must confirm the required soul ring attribute and age; blind hunting is prohibited.]

The second rule:

[Low-Rank Soul Masters must not enter the Soul Beast Forest without authorization.]

The third rule:

[Do not hunt Soul Beasts for the sake of showing off.]

After Wang Sheng finished reading, he couldn't help but say, "This is written way too specifically."

Tang San nodded.

"Specific is a good thing."

Xiao Wu glanced at him.

"You think so?"

"Mm."

Tang San said, "At least it doesn't just teach people how to kill Soul Beasts."

Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment.

She then lowered her head to look at the page, saying nothing more.

Outside Dorm Seven.

Grandmaster stood at the doorway, listening quietly for a long time.

His expression was not very pleasant.

It was not because these textbooks were wrong.

On the contrary, many things within them were correct.

Moreover, they were written very clearly.

So clearly that even a child just beginning to touch upon Soul Master cultivation could directly understand them.

That was exactly where the trouble lay.

In the past, commoner children lacked basic knowledge.

A person who could clearly explain Soul Master theory naturally carried a lot of weight in their eyes.

But now that Martial Soul Hall had printed these things into textbooks and delivered them into the children's hands, many things that used to be awe-inspiring were no longer rare.

Grandmaster looked at Tang San.

This child was still very special.

Blue Silver Grass, Innate Full Soul Power.

This was by no means a normal situation.

He had originally planned to use his own theories to guide Tang San step by step, letting Tang San realize that he was different from others.

But now, Tang San had already learned one thing from the books first.

The name of a Martial Soul is not equal to its essence.

Blue Silver Grass might not necessarily be just Blue Silver Grass.

Grandmaster was silent for a moment, then walked inside.

The children in Dorm Seven immediately quieted down.

Wang Sheng whispered, "Grandmaster."

Tang San also stood up.

"Grandmaster."

Grandmaster nodded and looked at the textbook in Tang San's hand.

"How is the reading going?"

"I understand some parts, but there are others I don't."

Tang San answered truthfully.

Grandmaster asked, "What don't you understand?"

Tang San picked up the Martial Soul Basic Identification and flipped to a page.

"It says here that the development path of a Martial Soul cannot be determined solely by its appearance; one must also look at the nature of the Soul Power, the affinity of the Martial Soul, and the compatibility of the Soul Rings."

"So, must Blue Silver Grass necessarily follow the Control System path?"

Grandmaster was taken aback.

This question was deeper than he had expected.

He had originally intended to tell Tang San that although Blue Silver Grass was weak, it could follow a Control System path by increasing its toughness, toxicity, and Entanglement capabilities.

But Tang San was not just listening to him now.

He was asking.

Must Blue Silver Grass necessarily follow the Control System path?

Grandmaster pondered for a moment and said, "Not necessarily."

Tang San's eyes lit up.

Grandmaster continued, "However, considering the inherent characteristics of Blue Silver Grass, the Control System is the most suitable path."

"Blue Silver Grass is spread across the entire continent, possesses tenacious vitality, and exists in vast quantities."

"Its advantages lie neither in offense nor defense, but in flexibility and extension."

"If it can be paired with the right Soul Ring, it could produce unexpected effects in the future."

Tang San listened attentively.

These words aligned with some of the content in his textbooks.

Grandmaster was certainly not just speaking at random.

Tang San asked, "Then what should I choose for my First Soul Ring?"

Grandmaster looked at him.

"A Datura Serpent."

Xiao Wu's eyes flickered slightly.

Tang San asked, "Why?"

Grandmaster said, "If Blue Silver Grass is to follow the Control System path, the first step must be to reinforce its restrictive capabilities."

"The Datura Serpent is venomous, its body is tough, and its method of attack is well-suited to enhancing the Entanglement effect of your Blue Silver Grass."

"If the absorption is successful, your Blue Silver Grass will no longer be mere ordinary blades of grass; it will possess both toxicity and toughness."

Tang San lowered his head to ponder.

Grandmaster's explanation was quite comprehensive.

However, Tang San did not agree immediately.

He flipped the Soul Hunting Safety Regulations to the page regarding Soul Ring age limits.

"The book says that for a First Soul Ring, it is best not to blindly pursue the maximum age limit."

"Is the Datura Serpent dangerous?"

Grandmaster was silent for a moment.

"It is."

Tang San looked up.

Grandmaster said, "But risk and reward coexist."

Tang San nodded.

"I understand."

Grandmaster looked at this child, his heart feeling somewhat complicated.

Tang San had not refused.

But he also hadn't, as Grandmaster had anticipated, placed his full trust in him simply because he had presented a theory.

He was cross-referencing.

Cross-referencing with his textbooks.

Cross-referencing with his own judgment.

This was, of course, a good thing.

A truly intelligent disciple should be exactly like this.

Yet, a vague, indescribable feeling rose in Grandmaster's heart.

Martial Soul Hall's move was far too precise.

They had not stopped anyone from teaching Tang San.

Nor had they forcibly taken Tang San away.

They had simply sent over a few basic textbooks.

But it was these very textbooks that had taught Tang San to compare from the very beginning.

They taught him not to believe blindly.

Grandmaster suddenly felt a sense of unease.

He wanted to prove his theories.

And Tang San was the most suitable child he had seen in all these years.

But if the shadow of Martial Soul Hall remained present throughout Tang San's growth, would Tang San ultimately still become the disciple he envisioned?

"Tang San."

Grandmaster suddenly spoke.

"Are you willing to take me as your master?"

Dorm Seven fell silent all at once.

Wang Sheng and the others all widened their eyes.

Xiao Wu also looked toward Tang San.

Tang San did not answer immediately.

He was indeed interested in Grandmaster.

This man could identify the issues with Blue Silver Grass and could also propose specific directions for cultivation.

But taking on a master was a significant matter.

In the Tang Sect, one could not decide on a mentor lightly.

This world should be the same.

Tang San was silent for a moment, then said, "Grandmaster, I would like to first understand the academy and martial soul cultivation."

Grandmaster's expression stiffened slightly.

Tang San added another sentence.

"If I confirm later that you are suitable to teach me, I will consider it seriously."

These words were spoken very politely.

But the meaning was also very clear.

He would not take him as a master for now.

Grandmaster looked at Tang San, and after a moment, he nodded.

"Very well."

"On the path of cultivation, being cautious is correct."

Having said that, he turned and left Dorm Seven.

His silhouette seemed heavier than when he had arrived.

Xiao Wu looked at Tang San.

"Why didn't you take him as a master?"

Tang San looked down at his textbook.

"I don't understand him yet."

Xiao Wu smiled.

"You really overthink things."

Tang San did not refute her.

He did indeed think a lot.

Because he knew that every step in cultivation could not be casually placed in someone else's hands.

Dorm Seven became lively again.

Wang Sheng was still flipping through his book.

Xiao Wu sat beside Tang San, looking at the Low-Level Soul Beast Illustrated Handbook, and suddenly asked:

"Tang San, when you hunt soul beasts in the future, will you kill them just because you feel like it?"

Tang San looked up.

This question was somewhat sudden.

He thought for a moment and said, "No."

"If I must obtain a soul ring, I will try my best to choose a suitable target."

"But I will not kill for fun."

Xiao Wu looked at him.

"Really?"

Tang San nodded.

"Really."

Xiao Wu lowered her head and gave a soft "Oh."

For some reason, her mood improved a little.

Martial Soul City.

Inside the Pope's Palace.

Meow Meow watched the images transmitted back from the Soul-Calming Bell, his tail swaying slowly.

"He didn't take him as a master."

Bibi Dong sat behind her desk, and upon hearing these words, she raised her eyes. "Who did you say?"

"Tang San hasn't apprenticed under Yu Xiaogang."

Meow Meow grinned.

"At least, not yet."

Bibi Dong's expression remained calm.

"Are you happy about that?"

"A little."

Meow Meow admitted it frankly.

"It's not that I don't want him to learn from Yu Xiaogang's teachings."

"Some of Yu Xiaogang's theories are indeed useful."

"But he shouldn't be led to believe from the very beginning that Yu Xiaogang is the only one who is right."

"That would easily lead to trouble."

When Bibi Dong heard the name Yu Xiaogang, her expression faltered for a fleeting moment.

It was very subtle.

But Meow Meow saw it.

He hopped lightly onto the desk and reached out a paw to pat the back of Bibi Dong's hand.

"The past is the past."

Bibi Dong lowered her eyes.

"And what do you know of it?"

"I know a little."

Meow Meow did not play dumb.

"But I don't intend to say it now."

"When you want to hear it one day, I will tell you."

Bibi Dong looked at the small paw resting on the back of her hand, remaining silent for a long time.

In the end, she simply gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.

Meow Meow did not continue the topic either.

He knew that the thread connecting Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang could not be torn apart by force.

It had to be done slowly.

Bibi Dong was already much more stable than she had been originally.

But some old wounds could not be made to disappear just by saying "don't think about it."

The image on the Soul-Calming Bell flickered to life once more.

Inside Notting Academy, Xiao Wu and Tang San had already begun to mingle with Wang Sheng and the others.

The rules of Dorm Seven still dictated a fight.

Only this time, before Tang San made his move, he closed the Martial Soul Hall textbook and set it on the head of his bed.

Xiao Wu won very quickly.

Wang Sheng lost just as decisively.

The new boss of Dorm Seven was still Xiao Wu.

Meow Meow watched with amusement.

"That rabbit has quite a lot of combat power."

Bibi Dong said indifferently, "A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form naturally has superior physical constitution in the early stages."

Meow Meow glanced at her.

"You really shouldn't set your sights on her."

Bibi Dong did not respond.

Meow Meow stared at her.

Bibi Dong finally said, "I won't move for the time being."

"That's not enough."

Meow Meow said.

"At the very least, as long as she doesn't actively pose a threat to Martial Soul Hall, you don't move."

Bibi Dong looked at Meow Meow.

Meow Meow looked back at her.

At this moment, the Pope's Palace fell silent.

If Bibi Dong were following her past way of thinking, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form should certainly be captured.

Soul Rings and Soul Bones were both priceless treasures.

But now, Meow Meow was right in front of her.

He was also a soul beast.

Moreover, he was a soul beast she had personally brought back.

Bibi Dong remained silent for a long time.

"Very well."

Meow Meow breathed a sigh of relief.

That "very well" had not come easily.

A system notification sounded quietly.

[Ding, Bibi Dong's attitude toward the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form has shifted.]

[Bibi Dong's radicalization value has decreased.]

[Meow Wish Value +100.]

Meow Meow's eyes brightened.

He had profited.

However, he did not show it too obviously.

If he were to suddenly act happy at a time like this, it would seem very heartless.

Thus, he simply rubbed his head against the back of Bibi Dong's hand in a very natural manner.

Bibi Dong did not push him away.

Notting City.

Construction had already begun on the temporarily erected Martial Soul Hall Primary Academy.

The Branch Hall Master attached great importance to it.

He even came over personally to supervise for half a day.

The craftsmen did not know why the higher-ups had suddenly decided to build an academy in Notting City, but since Martial Soul Hall paid generously and their requirements were clear, they worked very efficiently.

The academy was located in the south of the city.

It was not far from Notting Academy.

It was also not far from the Martial Soul Hall branch.

In the future, if children of commoners did not want to enter an academy directly, they could come here first to learn the basics.

Su Yuntao stood beside the construction site, watching the wooden frames being erected, feeling an indescribable sensation in his heart.

He was just an ordinary deacon.

The thing he had done most in the past was going to various villages to awaken children's martial souls.

Most of the time, it ended as soon as the awakening was over.

There were few children with soul power.

There were many children without soul power.

He had seen too much disappointment and too much helplessness.

But now, things were different.

In the future, children with soul power would not just be dismissed with a "go try the academy."

Martial Soul Hall would give them a real starting point.

"This is what Martial Soul Hall should be like."

Su Yuntao whispered.

The Branch Hall Master beside him glanced at him.

"Work hard."

"If the trial in Notting City is successful, your contribution will not be overlooked."

Su Yuntao nodded quickly.

"This subordinate understands."

Just then, a crisp voice came from not far away.

"What is being built here?"

Su Yuntao turned his head and saw a little girl with a scorpion braid standing by the side of the road.

It was Xiao Wu.

She had originally only come out to buy some things, but passing by and seeing the people from the Martial Soul Hall constructing a building, she couldn't help but come over to take a look.

Su Yuntao said gently, "The Martial Soul Hall Primary Academy."

"An academy?"

Xiao Wu blinked.

"What do they teach?"

"They teach children who have just awakened their martial souls how to understand their martial souls, how to cultivate soul power, and also how to get along with soul beasts."

Xiao Wu's eyes widened slightly.

"Get along with soul beasts?"

"Mm."

Su Yuntao nodded.

"Lord Holy Cat has said that soul beasts are not just wild beasts that only know how to hurt people."

"And Soul Masters shouldn't only think about killing soul beasts."

Xiao Wu was stunned.

Lord Holy Cat?

Who was that?

Su Yuntao did not explain further, simply continuing, "If you are interested in the future, you are welcome to come and attend the public lectures."

Xiao Wu neither agreed nor refused.

She simply looked at the academy that had yet to be completed, her heart in a state of confusion.

Martial Soul Hall teaching people how to get along with soul beasts?

That sounded far too strange.

Yet, that deacon had spoken with such sincerity.

It didn't seem like a lie.

Xiao Wu stood there for a while before turning to leave.

On the road, she muttered under her breath:

"What kind of place is Martial Soul Hall, really..."

No one answered her.

But Meow Meow, far away in Martial Soul City, heard her.

He lay on the table, his tail giving a gentle flick.

"Just watch and see."

"This time, it will be different."