Tang San Awakens, Beats Up the Great Master!

Qin Yun looked up at the sky, gauged the time, and seeing they could leave the Soul Hunting Forest before dark, he waved his hand.

"Mission accomplished. It is time for us to return to Nuoding City."

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Wang Sheng packed their bags, their faces beaming with the joy of a successful harvest.

Not only had everyone obtained a suitable soul ring on this trip, but Wang Sheng had also encountered a heaven-defying stroke of luck; he had not only acquired a soul bone but had also triggered an evolution of his martial soul.

To say they weren't happy would be a lie.

The four of them retraced their steps, weaving through the forest trails.

Taking advantage of the fact that Tang San and the others were chatting ahead and not paying attention to him, Qin Yun remained composed as he sank his consciousness into the system interface.

[Ding! Detected that the host has an unmerged Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear right palm. Do you wish to fuse immediately?]

"Fuse."

Qin Yun willed it, without a moment's hesitation.

Immediately, a sharp, dark-gold stream of light drilled directly into the palm of his right arm, merging perfectly with his bones and meridians.

The process was completely painless; instead, he felt a surge of incomparably sharp power.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear possessed a trace of Behemoth bloodline and carried the ultimate metal attribute; whether in defense or attack, it was a leader among its peers.

Generally speaking, it only required ten thousand years of cultivation to battle a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!

Within the circle of fierce beasts in the Star Dou Forest, only Lord Bear dared to bare his fangs at Di Tian; after all, while he had been beaten in the past, he had indeed managed to injure Di Tian.

However...

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was excellent in every way, but there seemed to be a curse surrounding it.

It was said that soul bones were rare, and external soul bones were even rarer.

But whenever a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear appeared, it was guaranteed to drop a right palm bone!

Fortunately, for me, this curse is a blessing!

After fusing with the external soul bone, not only did the power of his right arm skyrocket, but his claws could tear through metal and stone, carrying the triple effects of armor-piercing, rending, and crushing.

More importantly, as his cultivation level increased, the external soul bone would improve in tandem!

After all, the Sea God Eight Wings had also evolved step by step from the Eight Spider Lances.

From this perspective, the earlier one obtained an external soul bone, the better!

In a flash, the soul bone fusion was complete. Qin Yun left no trace, retracted all his aura, and quickly caught up to the three people in front.

The journey was silent, and by evening, the four of them finally walked out of the Soul Hunting Forest and arrived at the outer outpost.

After resting for a night at an inn on the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest, Qin Yun led the group directly back to Nuoding City early the next morning.

However...

Just as they returned the carriage at the station and before the four of them could go to the academy to report back, they were intercepted.

As they approached the gates of Nuoding Academy, a slightly hunched figure blocked their path, brimming with fury.

The familiar black robe, the familiar flat-top haircut—who else could it be but Gangzi!

Ever since he had met Tang Hao that day, received the Pope Token from him, and obtained Tang Hao's tacit approval, Yu Xiaogang had completely positioned himself as "Tang San's exclusive teacher," waiting at the academy all day to instruct Tang San.

He was determined to cultivate Tang San into a top-tier control-type soul master according to his own theories.

But he waited and waited, and not only did Tang San fail to come find him, but he instead bumped into Tang San returning from the outside with Qin Yun.

Looking closely, the fluctuations of soul power around Tang San were clearly visible; he had likely already absorbed a soul ring and broken through to become an official soul master!

My masterpiece, the masterpiece I am to prove myself to the world with! Qin Yun, how dare you!

Seeing this scene, Yu Xiaogang was instantly consumed by rage, his face turning ashen.

He stepped forward, pointed at Tang San, and scolded him sternly.

"Little San! You have some nerve!

As your teacher, I have not yet planned your soul ring or arranged a hunt, yet you went out privately to absorb one! Who gave you the courage?

Or rather, who instigated you!"

At the end of his sentence, Gangzi cast a pointed look at Qin Yun.

Wait, who the hell are you?

Tang San's brows furrowed instantly, his gaze cold; he was one step away from feeding the "Way of Seeking Death" to Gangzi.

If not for remembering Qin Yun's teachings, given Tang San's original personality, the Silent Sleeve Arrow would likely already be embedded in Gangzi's head.

Yet, facing Tang San's undisguised killing intent, Gangzi remained completely oblivious.

He merely mistook Tang San's calmness for a disciple's obedience to his teacher.

Staring at Tang San, Gangzi, having calmed down slightly, asked urgently.

"Little San, I ask you, is the soul ring you absorbed a Mandala Snake?!"

"Are you following what I said and taking the poison control route?!"

In his heart, the Mandala Snake was the optimal choice for Tang San's first spirit ring.

Once absorbed, it would not only imbue the Blue Silver Grass with toxicity but also grant a binding-type spirit skill.

This would be the perfect validation of his theories!

Anything else was nothing but heresy.

Tang San didn't want to engage with him, but considering the man was an academy teacher and they would have to live here in the future, it wouldn't do to make things too awkward.

So, he replied coldly.

"No, I absorbed a Solitary Bamboo spirit ring."

"Solitary Bamboo?!"

Yu Xiaogang was stunned for a moment.

After all, in his theories, the Solitary Bamboo was considered decent.

But compared to a Mandala Snake, it was still lacking!

Sure enough, he still favored the Mandala Snake.

"Absurd! Absolutely absurd!

To ignore the Mandala Snake for the Blue Silver Grass and absorb a piece of trash bamboo instead? It's a complete waste of potential, ruining your own future!"

"San, do you have any idea? The Mandala Snake would have given you a potent poison attribute and a binding control skill, making you invincible in one-on-one fights at the same level!

What can a Solitary Bamboo give you? Useless, trash-like power. Qin Yun is harming you and ruining your life!"

"But it doesn't matter. It's just one spirit ring. As long as you follow my theories from now on and absorb a few more venomous snake-type spirit rings, the negative impact caused by the Solitary Bamboo can be cleared away!"

Gangzi grew more agitated as he spoke. To retaliate for previous slights, he belittled Qin Yun's arrangements until they were worthless.

Tang San had originally been too lazy to waste words on Gangzi, merely humoring him.

But hearing Gangzi dare to insult his Sect Master, the anger Tang San had barely suppressed flared up instantly.

"You clown, you really think you're someone important!"

Before Yu Xiaogang could continue his tirade, Tang San's eyes turned cold, and his fingertips twitched.

Without even activating a spirit skill, he simply focused his intent, and the Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground. Like a nimble serpent, it instantly coiled around Yu Xiaogang's limbs, hoisting him firmly into the air, leaving him unable to move.

Tang San's tone was indifferent, his words leaving Yu Xiaogang red-faced and speechless.

"Binding is just a basic ability; does it really need to take up a skill slot?"

Yu Xiaogang froze instantly, his face flushed with shame and rage.

In the face of the Blue Silver Grass's innate binding ability, his theory had become a complete joke!

Having lost all face, Yu Xiaogang was consumed by fury. He turned to glare at Qin Yun, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Qin Yun! You yellow-haired brat, you don't understand spirit theory at all, yet you insist on leading students astray! You will ruin Tang San!"

After cursing, he looked back at Tang San, roaring in desperation.

"San, you don't know, but your father once sought me out and entrusted your education to me!

I am your rightful teacher, and you dare to lay a hand on me!"

He had hoped to use Tang Hao to pressure Tang San into submission.

Unfortunately...

It would have been better if Gangzi hadn't mentioned Tang Ritian. The moment he did, Tang San's gaze turned even colder.

He had never cared for him growing up, but the moment he realized Tang San had value, he couldn't wait to jump out and play the father figure!

"Truly disgusting!"

Tang San shifted his feet, and the Blue Silver Pole Vault activated instantly.

The Blue Silver Grass transformed into a rigid pole, and Tang San used the leverage to vault into the air, slamming the pole down onto Yu Xiaogang without a shred of mercy.

"Bang!"

This time, it wasn't a downward strike, but a skillful flick.

With a dull thud, Yu Xiaogang was sent flying like a kite with a broken string.

"Ah! Just you wait! I will be back!"

"Sanpao, catch me~"