A Show of Force, and Thoughts on Tang San's Martial Soul

Hearing Lu Yi's words, Tang San frowned and discreetly released the safety on the Sleeve Arrow in his left hand with his right.

"Your little tricks might work on ordinary people, but against Soul Masters, they're nothing but cheap gimmicks!"

As Tang San slightly raised his left hand, Lu Yi casually waved, and a ring of water swiftly wrapped around his entire left arm, firmly pinning the Sleeve Arrow to his wrist.

"This!"

Looking at the water around his left hand and the Sleeve Arrow restrained by it, a flicker of panic crossed Tang San's eyes.

"These little tricks are nothing worth playing with. Another day, I'll show you my Ballista. Now that's true violent aesthetics—it can blast straight through a city gate in one shot!"

"I don't know where you learned these underhanded things, but the people around you will all be your family in the future. There's no need to use such vicious stuff!"

Hearing the voice by his ear, Tang San abruptly looked up and saw that Lu Yi had somehow appeared in front of him, smiling as he grabbed Tang San's right hand, which had been reaching for the Poison Powder.

"Yes, Senior Brother. I was wrong!"

Looking at Lu Yi before him, Tang San knew he was no match for Lu Yi right now and could only lower his head in apology.

"Ah, why say that between martial brothers? When we get back, I'll teach you a couple of Self-Created Soul Skills. Don't use this kind of lowly stuff anymore!"

Seeing Tang San lower his head and admit his mistake, Lu Yi waved his hand indifferently.

Lu Yi had carefully considered whether to teach Tang San Self-Created Soul Skills. In the end, he decided he should. After all, a large number of students in the academy had already learned his Tackle.

If he taught the academy's students but kept it from his own junior brother, what kind of sense would that make?

Of course, he would not teach them for free. Lu Yi intended to use the moral high ground gained from these two Self-Created Soul Skills to trade Tang San for an illustrated record of Immortal Herbs.

"What happened, Xiao Yi?"

Seeing Lu Yi suddenly burst forward to Tang San's side, Yu Xiaogang asked with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing, Teacher. I was just discussing something with Xiao San!"

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Lu Yi released Tang San, stepped away from him, and came to Yu Xiaogang's side.

"Teacher, Junior Brother's understanding of society is a little off. You should spend more time teaching him about that!"

After coming to Yu Xiaogang's side, Lu Yi lowered his voice and spoke to him.

At Lu Yi's words, a strange gleam flashed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes, but reason quickly suppressed it. Lu Yi even seemed somewhat disdainful of him; he did not seem like someone who would compete with his junior brother for favor. Recalling the scene of Tang San fighting the gatekeeper at Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang ultimately decided to pay closer attention to this aspect of Tang San in the future.

Only after seeing Yu Xiaogang subtly nod at him did Lu Yi withdraw his gaze.

"Xiao San, release your second Martial Soul and let us have a look. Since your senior brother has already guessed it, there's no point hiding it!"

After committing Lu Yi's words to heart, Yu Xiaogang looked at the wary Tang San and slowly spoke.

"Yes, Teacher!"

Though Tang San was somewhat unwilling, when he thought of how a teacher for a day was a father for life, he ultimately nodded and agreed.

Tang San did not delay any longer. He directly opened his left hand and summoned the Clear Sky Hammer.

"This is... the Clear Sky Hammer!?"

Looking at the hammer in Tang San's left hand, Yu Xiaogang exclaimed in surprise.

After hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Lu Yi did not respond. Instead, he carefully examined the small black iron hammer in Tang San's hand. It was black as ink from end to end, with ancient dark patterns coiling over its surface. It looked like a heavy forging hammer.

"Alright, Xiao San, put away your Martial Soul. Remember, never reveal it before others again!"

"Without my permission, you must never attach Soul Rings to this Martial Soul. You must remember that!"

Yu Xiaogang stared at the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's hand with an excited expression, his tone stern.

"My father said the same thing. Why can't I attach Soul Rings to this Martial Soul?" Tang San asked Yu Xiaogang in surprise.

"What does your father do?"

Hearing Tang San's question, Yu Xiaogang did not rush to answer. Instead, he excitedly asked Tang San.

"My father is the village blacksmith!" Tang San said somewhat blankly.

The excitement in Yu Xiaogang's eyes slowly faded. He shook his head and said, "A blacksmith and a hammer—it is quite a fitting match. You don't need to know so much right now. You only need to know that forbidding you from attaching Soul Rings to this Martial Soul is for the sake of your future!"

Hearing Master's words, Tang San looked at the hammer in his left hand. His father had said the same thing, and now his teacher was saying it too. Tang San's trust in Master could not help but increase by a few degrees.

"But Teacher, logically speaking, if one Martial Soul is strong and the other is weak, shouldn't the stronger Martial Soul squeeze out the weaker one?"

"Xiao San's second Martial Soul is so strong, so his Blue Silver Grass shouldn't be weak either, right? Could Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass have some special bloodline?"

Watching Yu Xiaogang become completely occupied with thoughts of the Clear Sky Douluo after seeing the Clear Sky Hammer, Lu Yi could not help speaking up.

As his junior brother, Lu Yi would certainly give Tang San a hand. If he could keep Tang San from taking that path of contaminating his bloodline in the future, then he should. He believed that when he, as Tang San's senior brother, took away some of Tang San's future opportunities, Tang San surely would not blame him.

"A special bloodline!"

Hearing Lu Yi's words, Yu Xiaogang came back to his senses and fell into thought. Since eating Dragon Beast flesh had allowed Luo Sanpao to successfully grow dragon horns, Master had become especially sensitive to the word "bloodline."

"What are your thoughts?" Yu Xiaogang asked Lu Yi, who had stopped speaking after giving him that reminder.

"I was thinking, carps have Magikarp, and Jade Phosphorous Serpents have Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperors. Could Blue Silver Grass have a Blue Silver King or a Blue Silver Emperor?"

"If we give Xiao San additional plant-type Martial Souls to build up his Martial Soul's foundation, or directly make all of Xiao San's Soul Rings come from Blue Silver Grass Soul Beasts, could his Martial Soul evolve?"

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's question, Lu Yi directly voiced his speculation. He had been curious about this in his previous life.

If Tang San did not give his Martial Soul so many animal-type Soul Rings and only gave it plant-type Soul Rings, could his Martial Soul awaken on its own without the Blue Silver King's help?

"That makes sense!"

Hearing Lu Yi's words, Yu Xiaogang fell into deep thought.

"You two go back first. Xiao San, there's no need to rush getting your first Soul Ring. Let me come up with a new Soul Ring combination for you based on your senior brother's idea."

Looking at Lu Yi and Tang San idling around in his room, Yu Xiaogang directly waved them off.

"Yes, Teacher!"

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San nodded in reply.

"Then I'll be going first, Teacher!"

Lu Yi bid Yu Xiaogang farewell, then pulled Tang San away from Yu Xiaogang's residence.

"Come on, Xiao San! I'll take you to see my big treasure!"

Lu Yi pulled Tang San by the hand and ran toward the back mountain with a feverish expression.

Watching Lu Yi's expression gradually turn unsettling, Tang San tried in terror to shake off Lu Yi's hand. However, after Lu Yi's physique had been strengthened by Whale Rubber, he was far stronger than Tang San. Even using all his strength, Tang San could not break free.

In the end, Tang San could only be dragged toward the back mountain by Lu Yi with lifeless eyes. For some reason, Tang San felt that after tonight, his once-pure self might no longer exist.