Tang San had actually considered taking other paths.
When Su Yun had explained Soul Master knowledge to him, he'd slipped in far too many ideas from the modern world. It had broadened Tang San's thinking and changed the way he saw things.
So when planning the development of his Blue Silver Grass, the first things Tang San had thought of were Hidden Weapons and poison.
As an expert of the Tang Sect, he could hurt people with even a flower or leaf. The first thing that came to mind was developing his Blue Silver Grass along those lines.
Su Yun had told him that Spirit Rings produced by Spirit Beasts formed Spirit Skills suited to the Martial Soul itself, based on the beast's traits or instincts while alive and the Soul Master's will.
That gave Tang San the idea of killing Spirit Beasts like caterpillars to obtain their Spirit Rings.
Ordinary caterpillars shed their body hair as part of their natural renewal, and the hairs drifted away on the wind.
Most importantly, those hairs were poisonous. Even after falling off, they remained toxic. If they drifted onto someone, they could cause reactions like red, swollen skin.
If he absorbed such a Spirit Ring, there was a good chance his Blue Silver Grass would become poisonous, growing venomous fuzz on its surface. Perhaps the Spirit Skill would launch the hairs at his enemies. Such Hidden Weapons, nearly invisible to the naked eye, would be hard to defend against.
Tang San had even thought of absorbing a poisonous Spirit Beast that could explode, turning his Blue Silver Grass into Pear Blossom Rain Needles.
Poison and Hidden Weapons—those were practically a perfect match for Tang San's tastes.
But after Su Yun's analysis, Tang San ultimately gave up on the idea. Su Yun was right.
Compared to other Martial Souls, Blue Silver Grass was extremely weak. When planning its development, it was better to play to its strengths and avoid its weaknesses. Blue Silver Grass's advantages were its low energy consumption and strong vitality.
So he should plan toward evolution, continually strengthening its vitality until it became a king and emperor among Blue Silver Grass: the Blue Silver King and the Blue Silver Emperor...
After Su Yun finished speaking, Tang San's thoughts began stirring again.
If it could evolve, why did it have to evolve into the Blue Silver King or the Blue Silver Emperor?
Couldn't it evolve into an Immortal Herb instead?
Tang San already had a target in mind: the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot.
As for why he'd chosen those two and not others, it was because he liked poison.
All in all, thanks to the ideas Su Yun had slipped in, Tang San's thinking was already somewhat different from that of the local Soul Masters.
The two chatted for a while longer, then both started training.
Aside from physical training, Su Yun had Tang San release his Blue Silver Grass and try controlling it, making it perform some Entanglement movements. Yes, Su Yun was already preparing in advance to undermine Yu Xiaogang.
Tang San naturally knew nothing about this. He provided Su Yun with another 16 Friendship Points.
At noon, the two agreed to train together again that afternoon, then Tang San went home to cook for Tang Hao.
Su Yun, of course, didn't need to cook. As soon as he got home, Old Jack had already prepared the meal.
When Old Jack saw Su Yun return, he greeted him with a smile and invited him to eat.
Three dishes and a soup, with both meat and vegetables.
That was a lavish spread for the village. Normally, even Old Jack, as the village chief, couldn't afford to eat like that all the time.
It was all thanks to Su Yun. Of the original owner's bag of Gold Soul Coins, he'd kept a hundred and given the rest to Old Jack.
Old Jack hadn't wanted to accept it, but Su Yun was too persuasive.
I'm still young. It's dangerous for me to carry so much money around. Grandpa Jack, could you keep it for me?
I'm still young and growing. I need to eat more meat.
Those two lines had Old Jack wrapped around his finger, and the meals grew more lavish each day.
That afternoon, the two continued training on the hillside.
But Tang San was a little out of shape and couldn't keep going for long.
Seeing this, Su Yun pondered. It seemed he'd thought of something.
So, early the next morning.
On top of a large rock.
"Here~
Little San Gege, you haven't eaten breakfast, have you?
I made this myself, but it's my first try, so I don't know if it tastes good. I hope you don't mind."
After saying that, Su Yun put on just the right look of bashfulness and handed Tang San a bowl of black rice porridge and two big meat buns.
Tang San first glanced at the food being offered, then lifted his gaze to Su Yun's smiling face, still dusted with a little flour. His eyes reddened again.
[Friendship Points from Tang San +47.]
"Thank you, Yun."
Tang San's voice was a little hoarse. He took the breakfast from Su Yun, turned slightly so his back was to him, then began eating in big mouthfuls.
[Friendship Points from Tang San +11.]
[Friendship Points from Tang San +13.]
[Friendship Points from Tang San +15.]
Almost every bite brought in Friendship Points.
The smile on Su Yun's face grew brighter and brighter.
As expected, fortune favored the prepared. Just six yuan had earned him so many Friendship Points. He was making a killing!
But should he actually learn how to cook porridge and steam buns? Su Yun was afraid he'd be found out.
Truthfully, he had intended to make breakfast himself that day. He'd even gotten up early, and the flour on his face was proof.
Unfortunately, his skills weren't up to it. He'd wasted a lot of ingredients without managing to make anything, so Su Yun had given up and bought the finished food from the system.
Ten minutes later.
Tang San had finished breakfast. Not only had he eaten the two big meat buns, he'd licked the lunchbox clean. Su Yun even thought there was no need to wash it.
"Thank you, Yun."
Tang San, his emotions finally settled, thanked him again.
Su Yun waved a hand and asked, blinking his bright eyes,
"Was it good?"
"Mhm, it was delicious."
Tang San answered with complete seriousness.
At that, the smile on Su Yun's face grew even brighter, his eyes narrowing into crescent moons.
"As long as you liked it. If Little San Gege likes it, I'll bring you breakfast every day."
[Friendship Points from Tang San +19.]
Tang San felt his heart stir again, but he still refused.
"No, that would be too much trouble for you, Xiao Yun."
"It's no trouble."
Su Yun shook his head repeatedly.
As if! One breakfast had earned him 134 Friendship Points. Even if the amount dropped later, it definitely wouldn't fall below 50.
To put it in the currency of his previous life, it was like making 5,000 yuan for one breakfast. What trouble?
He could just think of it as bringing breakfast for his son. He'd done it plenty of times back when he was in school.
While Su Yun was secretly pleased, Tang San silently swore once more.
"I absolutely have to protect Xiao Yun!
I won't let anyone hurt her!
Anyone!"
As the sky began to brighten with the first light of dawn, Tang San began cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill, while Su Yun started training.
Time passed quickly.
The next day, Su Yun brought breakfast again, and Tang San gave him another 65 Friendship Points—about what he'd expected. Then they went about their usual training.
The third day was much the same. Su Yun earned a little fewer Friendship Points after bringing breakfast, but he learned the Konoha Great Whirlwind.
The fourth day was much the same again. After breakfast, the Friendship Points dropped to 55. Tang San could now control his Blue Silver Grass and use Blue Silver Entanglement, but since it hadn't evolved, it wasn't resilient enough and could be broken free of easily.
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