Using the Hammer in His Left Hand to Protect the Grass in His Right?

"Control-type Soul Masters might seem unsuited to offense, but in one-on-one fights against opponents of the same rank, they're invincible!

"Once you're ensnared by Blue Silver Grass and its poison takes effect, no opponent can fight back. They can only wait to be slaughtered!"

Taking advantage of how inconspicuous Blue Silver Grass was, Gangzi would open with—his dear mother... no, Blue Silver Entanglement. Before his opponent could even struggle free, the poison coating the grass would quickly take effect.

Whenever he thought of his battle strategy, Gangzi couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement.

After all, it was all thanks to him!

But...

Were control-type Soul Masters really that strong?

They weren't exactly weak. At the very least, in the early stages—that is, below Soul Saint—they really were, as Gangzi had said, practically invincible in one-on-one fights.

On that point, Gangzi hadn't been wrong.

But what about later?

Once a Martial Soul Avatar was unlocked and Soul Masters' combat strength began to soar, even ordinary attacks could cause widespread destruction. At that point, control-type Soul Masters' dominance on the battlefield began to plummet.

Especially in the later stages, true powerhouses depended on their own strength above all else!

Otherwise, after Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul evolved into the Blue Silver Emperor, he wouldn't have gone out of his way to develop an offensive Soul Skill like the Blue Silver Overlord Spear!

And later, once he began adding Soul Rings to his Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul and obtained the Sea God Trident, the Blue Silver Emperor that Gangzi had crippled could only end up gathering dust in the storeroom.

So, some of Gangzi's theories could only apply to Soul Saints at most.

They were fine for students competing against each other or ganging up on someone.

But to true powerhouses, they were pure bullshit.

Still, it was understandable that Gangzi had fallen into this misconception.

After all, he was only a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster. He had never experienced the power of a true powerhouse himself, so how could he hope to guide one?

"Besides, Xiao San has Innate Full Soul Power and an exceptional cultivation speed.

"Haotian Crown, as long as you raise him according to my methods, Xiao San is certain to become one of the continent's top control-type Soul Masters!

"He may even reach the rank of Titled Douluo!"

Yu Xiaogang spoke with earnest conviction, every word brimming with confidence as he tried to persuade the Clear Sky Douluo before him with his theories.

What Gangzi didn't know was that Tang Hao had never cared about Tang San's Blue Silver Grass in the first place.

What he truly valued was the Clear Sky Hammer hidden inside Tang San, inherited from the Clear Sky Sect.

Use the hammer in his left hand to protect the grass in his right?

He'd only said it. You actually believed him?

There were two main reasons Tang Hao was bothering to talk to Gangzi.

First, because of Qian Xunji, Tang Hao had thoroughly offended Spirit Hall, and the Clear Sky Sect had been forced to seal its gates as well.

At such an awkward time, unless their ancestor Tang Chen returned or the Clear Sky Sect grew strong enough to reopen its gates, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul absolutely couldn't be exposed.

Using Blue Silver Grass to conceal his identity in the early stages of cultivation was naturally the best option.

Second, unlike the Douluo II era, when Twin Martial Souls were common, in the Douluo I era, Tang Hao had also come up with the idea of using one chicken to lay another egg when faced with a once-in-a-century genius like this!

Once Tang San had cultivated his Blue Silver Grass to a certain level—at least Soul Emperor, and Soul Saint at a minimum—he would be able to withstand Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.

Then, at that point, he could switch to cultivating the Clear Sky Hammer!

The number one weapon-type Martial Soul under heaven!

With the Clear Sky Hammer's strength, what kind of existence would Tang San become if he added nine Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings—or even Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings?

Such a powerhouse could not only help the Clear Sky Sect reopen its gates, but also let Tang Hao return to his roots!

As a fellow sect slave, Tang Hao's obsession with returning to his roots was almost as strong as Tang San's desire to make the Tang Sect great again!

So no matter how well Blue Silver Grass developed, to Tang Hao it was just an irrelevant sideline.

Seeing that Yu Xiaogang had a clear plan and was entirely focused on Tang San's cultivation and growth, with not a hint of ill intent, Tang Hao couldn't be bothered to say more.

He had only come to check on things. As long as this man sincerely taught Tang San and didn't ruin his foundations, that was enough.

Tang Hao said no more. With a turn of his wrist, a jet-black token appeared in his hand, carved with images of a sword, a hammer, a dragon beast, and other figures. He casually tossed it to Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang hurriedly reached out to catch it. The moment his fingertips touched the token and he saw its carvings, Gangzi shuddered all over again and almost dropped it.

The Pope Token!

The Pope's personal token of Spirit Hall. Whoever held it enjoyed privileges equal to the Pope's throughout Spirit Hall's territory. No one dared block their way or lay a finger on them!

Tang Hao's voice rang out again, low and heavy, with one final reminder.

"Take it. From now on, no one on this continent will dare make trouble for you lightly.

"Just remember to look after Tang San and keep him safe as he cultivates. Don't let him get caught up in the conflicts too soon."

As soon as he finished speaking, before Yu Xiaogang could say another word, Tang Hao's figure slowly faded away like mist, vanishing without a sound or trace, as though he had never been there at all.

The only person left in the room was Yu Xiaogang, standing rooted to the spot, clutching the Pope Token as everything that had just happened echoed through his mind. For a long while, he couldn't come back to himself.

But then Gangzi could no longer suppress his excitement. Clutching the Pope Token, he burst into raucous laughter in the dormitory.

"Hahaha!

"So what if Qin Yun beat me? His father's already agreed. What could an outsider like you do to stop Tang San from becoming my disciple?!

"Xiao San, you're mine!"

Meanwhile, after leaving Yu Xiaogang's teachers' dormitory, Tang Hao reined in the vast pressure of a Titled Douluo. He turned into a shadow, dark and indistinct.

He avoided the students and instructors coming and going around the academy, his figure drifting like the wind as he silently slipped out through the walls of Nuoding Academy.

With Tang Hao's strength, Qin Yun and the others' movements were as clear to him as the lines on his palm. He already knew that Qin Yun disliked the crowded academy dormitories, which were unsuitable for cultivation, and had specially rented a quiet, elegant little courtyard nearby for Tang San and the others.

In that respect, Qin Yun had treated Tang San rather well.

"Pity that commoners will always be commoners. You two belong to different worlds!"

Beneath the cover of night, Tang Hao's disheveled figure crept along the wall. The reek of stale liquor clinging to him blended into the darkness, and no one noticed a thing.

Before long, Tang Hao reached the rented courtyard.

The courtyard gate stood ajar, and the warm yellow candlelight inside cast the shadow of a slender youth across the window paper.

Tang Hao lifted his feet without making a sound. Like a ghost, he pushed the door open and walked straight inside.

Inside, Tang San was busy packing his belongings. He put the clothes and travel gear Qin Yun had bought for him into the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, a gift of great significance to him.

Whenever he thought of Qin Yun, Tang San's heart filled with warmth and gratitude.

Since arriving in Nuoding City, Qin Yun had stood up for him when the gatekeeper made things difficult. Qin Yun had generously gifted him the treasured Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges. Qin Yun had accepted him into the Tang Sect's inner sect and taught him the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record. And Qin Yun had carefully analyzed the future of his Martial Soul, planning a suitable path for his Soul Rings.

Even without his favorability already locked in, Tang San would still have seen Qin Yun as both mentor and friend, the person he trusted and relied on most in this unfamiliar world.