Chen An looked at the bewildered Luo Xiaoshi, his expression cool. He grabbed the boy and dragged him down as well, then told Ning Rongrong to follow.
"Master, what's wrong with Senior Brother?"
When Luo Xiaoshi's aura had surged to its peak just now, the power he'd let loose had left her trembling with fear.
She'd felt like an ant peering at the sky from inside its hole, or a young rabbit staring at a tiger—utterly powerless.
"It's nothing. Just a small matter."
Chen An didn't want to tell her about Little Stone's situation just yet. It involved matters beyond this world, and telling her would only add to her worries.
Back in the waiting area, the day's matches had all ended, but Chen An's expression remained grim.
Luo Xiaoshi had continued to improve during this time, and his performance was better than before. But with this fighting style and this state of mind, it was hard for Chen An not to suspect that he'd fallen under some demonic influence.
Now that he'd regained his senses, Luo Xiaoshi had something on his mind and didn't dare look at Chen An.
"Don't hang your head. At least you won."
Chen An closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Only after calming himself did he speak.
He couldn't blame Luo Xiaoshi entirely. Given the circumstances, he was partly responsible too.
"When we get back, tell me everything that's happened lately."
That would have to do for now. He couldn't start scolding the boy the moment the match was over, especially not in front of so many people.
After speaking, Chen An collected himself and turned to the other students, who were waiting quietly for him to say something.
"Children, you did well. Most of you won. Those who lost, go back and think hard about what went wrong."
Praise when praise was due, and call people out when they needed it.
Chen An went on to sum up what they'd done well that day, and pointed out where they'd fallen short.
"Dean Chen, I should be going. It's getting late."
After Chen An brought the children back to their temporary lodgings, Ning Fengzhi spoke with hesitation and worry written across his face.
He'd wanted to ask if Meng Yiran's techniques could be taught, but remembering what he'd said earlier, he'd abandoned the idea.
But after watching the match between Tang San and Meng Yiran that day, he'd pieced together most of the connections. Now he had two paths before him: cling tightly to a powerful ally, or work with Tang San in private.
After seeing them in the arena, how could he not understand the value of those Hidden Weapons? To the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they were treasures.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's disciples had always been weak. In real combat, they could only hide behind the others and use Soul Skills.
That was what had left him torn. Ning Rongrong had been a pleasant surprise, and more people might apply to Phantom Star later, but they would still be a minority.
Working with Tang San, on the other hand, would benefit most of the sect.
"Sect Master Ning, it seems something's weighing on your mind."
He'd come in person to say goodbye, and there was no one else around, so Chen An asked.
The resources the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had sent over this past while amounted to nearly a hundred million, if not more. They were now Phantom Star's biggest customer and ally.
They were more practical than Spirit Hall. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had sent about three times as many resources as Spirit Hall, and asked for nothing in return.
They hadn't even mentioned what they wanted Phantom Star to do. It seemed more like a pure investment.
"The dean is remarkably perceptive," Ning Fengzhi praised.
He briefly explained the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's current predicament, as well as how much he'd admired the Hidden Weapons he'd seen that day.
Every sentence circled back to Hidden Weapons, and every word led to Meng Yiran. As for Tang San, he didn't mention him.
"I see. I think what your sect needs most is weapons," Chen An said with a smile.
Ning Fengzhi looked puzzled at first, then seemed to understand. He nodded, unconsciously adopting the courtly manners he'd learned from dealing with the Imperial Family.
"I wonder if the dean has any thoughts on the matter. I'd be grateful to hear your advice."
Chen An shook his head and modestly said that he wouldn't presume to offer advice.
Then he took a sheet of paper from his Storage Ring. Drawn on it was the crossbow he'd researched earlier.
It was a basic crossbow design. He pointed to it and said,
"This weapon is called a crossbow."
He handed the drawing to Ning Fengzhi, then continued,
"Even the finest weapon depends on who wields it. If you're serious, you could have your sect's disciples build up their strength and then learn archery."
As he spoke, he took out a short bow and led Ning Fengzhi outside.
"Try drawing the bow and nocking an arrow without using Soul Power. Then shoot at that tree."
Ning Fengzhi didn't understand what this was about, but he did as instructed. He drew the bow with all his strength and loosed the arrow.
It flew and sank a third of the way into the tree.
Chen An shook his head inwardly with a sigh. The people of Douluo really were lacking when it came to improving their physical abilities.
"Now try infusing the arrow with Soul Power."
At that, Ning Fengzhi seemed to understand. His eyes sharpened at once.
The next arrow pierced right through the tree, and it was clearly not the limit of Ning Fengzhi's ability.
With the idea planted in his mind, Ning Fengzhi's thoughts raced. He began considering the longbow and basic tricks like rapid firing.
None of this was a secret. Bows and arrows were common in the military, but they were mostly used by ordinary people or low-ranking Soul Masters.
"This is just an ordinary short bow. What if you kept improving the bow, the shaft, and the arrowhead?"
Chen An offered him a few more ideas to consider.
Ning Fengzhi grew even more animated. He stared at the bow in his hand as if a whole new door had opened before him.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master Chen."
Ning Fengzhi bowed. Chen An responded with a light laugh—it was a small thing. Once it was done, he returned to his room.
The next day, while everyone else was still recovering, Chen An called Luo Xiaoshi out alone. He had something to ask him.
Luo Xiaoshi kept his head low, trying to figure out how to tell Chen An.
"Master, could you give me a little time to think about how to explain it?"
"Of course."
There was nothing Luo Xiaoshi couldn't tell Phantom Star or Chen An. He just didn't know how to put it into words.
After a long while, he finally spoke.
"Master, there's another soul inside my body."
Chen An wasn't very surprised. He'd already guessed as much, so he asked, "When did you discover it? Tell me everything."
Luo Xiaoshi then began to explain.
"I first noticed signs when I absorbed my Second Soul Ring, but nothing else happened afterward, and I couldn't find any proof. So I stopped looking into it.
"It wasn't until two days ago, when the Great Sage Scripture broke through, that something strange happened. After I examined it closely, I found that when I pushed myself to my limit, I could borrow its power."
Chen An listened without speaking. When Luo Xiaoshi had finished, he asked, "So yesterday was the first time you used this ability?"
"Yes. I just didn't expect borrowing that power would put me in a state like battle frenzy," Luo Xiaoshi said with a nod.
From his description, it sounded just like borrowing Kazan's power in the dungeon.
But the problem was, if he was borrowing power, he should have been drawing it from some monkey king. Why had he gone berserk?
"Oh, right, Master. When I borrowed the power, I couldn't stop thinking about a monkey. He was covered in black armor, with two long tufts of hair sticking up from his head."
The details Luo Xiaoshi added made Chen An furrow his brow slightly.
That description did sound like that monkey. But why the black armor?
"Never mind. Hold out your hand."
Rather than keep wondering, Chen An decided to examine him directly.
Luo Xiaoshi obediently held out his hand. Chen An took his pulse and examined him.
The more he examined him, the stranger it seemed. There was nothing unusual about his body. The only strange thing was the soul inside Little Stone.
In the end, Chen An concluded that there was no immediate problem. They would have to wait until Luo Xiaoshi reached level thirty and absorbed another Soul Ring to know more.
"You seem fine. Don't borrow that power again."
Chen An had already made up his mind: when Luo Xiaoshi absorbed his next Soul Ring, he would lay down a special formation, lure that mad monkey out, and confront him.
"Yes, Master."
Before you continue