Determine the Route

"My advice to you is to pursue a speed-based route while supplementing it with control-type abilities. This way, in Soul Master duels, you can harass the enemy with control skills while they are unable to touch you, creating opportunities for your teammates."

"Grandmaster's insight is profound!" Tang Yin put away his Martial Soul without a change in expression. He did not want to argue with Yu Xiaogang; their ways of thinking were simply not on the same channel, and saying anything more would just be a waste of breath.

Because Yu Xiaogang was desperate to prove himself, his goal in training disciples had always been the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

Consequently, his Martial Soul guidance was entirely predicated on the stage of team arena battles. As for what these disciples would do after leaving the academy, he never considered it.

The real world of Soul Masters is not a tournament where both sides shout "Brothers, activate your Martial Souls!" and then charge in while yelling about brotherhood or bonds in a tiny ring.

If his Sharp-Tailed Swift were to truly obtain soul rings according to Yu Xiaogang's method, it would end up with no attack power, control skills that others would mistake for a speed bump, and an inability to run away when needed.

For the Speed Clan, walking the path of extreme speed is, at least for now, absolutely the optimal solution. Since there is no combat power to speak of, one might as well max out the escape skills.

Perhaps there is no combat power, but as long as you can swallow your pride and go to Heaven Dou City to deliver packages or run food deliveries for the nobles, at least you won't have to worry about food and clothing. Isn't that much more practical than that bullshit elite tournament?

"Very good, your Sharp-Tailed Swift will tentatively follow this route." Seeing Tang Yin accept his ideas, Yu Xiaogang felt a sense of self-satisfaction, secretly praising his own world-shaking wisdom.

He had originally wanted to suggest a path that balanced speed with poison, but he suddenly remembered the inherent repulsion beast-type Martial Souls had toward poison and changed his mind.

"By the way, Grandmaster, may I look at the books on these shelves?" Tang Yin asked, pointing to the nearby bookshelf. This was his true objective.

Yu Xiaogang was currently completely immersed in studying the Martial Souls of the other two, so he waved his hand casually: "You may look, just don't make a mess of them."

Afterward, while Tang Yin read, Yu Xiaogang provided guidance to Xiao Wu and Tang Sanmei respectively. They were just like in the original story: one focused on agility-attack, the other on control.

As for Tang Yin, who was on the side, he remained unbothered, save for the occasional shock from Yu Xiaogang's unique "world-shaking wisdom."

Before they knew it, the bright moon was already hanging high outside the window. Yu Xiaogang stopped his fountain pen, still feeling a bit unfulfilled, and nodded with satisfaction as he looked at the three people present.

It had been a long time since he had spoken so freely and eloquently in front of others. Tang Yin went without saying—mature and steady, quietly reading on the side. Tang Sanmei was also a qualified listener, listening with great focus. As for Xiao Wu...

Yu Xiaogang turned his gaze toward Xiao Wu, and then the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. It was only then that he realized that when Xiao Wu nodded during his theoretical explanations, it wasn't because she found them reasonable, but simply because she was dozing off.

Forget it, she was just an extra anyway, he comforted himself, then looked at Tang Sanmei on the side with even more satisfaction. She truly was an excellent student.

"It is getting late, so we will end today's guidance here." Yu Xiaogang closed his notebook, stood up, and added: "I will inform the Dean tomorrow; you won't need to attend regular classes anymore. From now on, you are free to cultivate every morning, and in the afternoon, you will come here to receive my specialized instruction."

"Especially you two," Yu Xiaogang looked at the Tang siblings: "You both have Innate Full Soul Power and can obtain soul rings directly. In three days, I will take you to the Soul Hunting Forest."

"We understand, Grandmaster!" Tang Yin nodded and put down his book.

The three bid farewell to Yu Xiaogang and strolled along the bluestone path under the cover of night.

Seeing that they were far from Yu Xiaogang's residence, Tang Yin looked at Tang Sanmei. Since a moment ago, Tang Sanmei had seemed to be deep in thought.

"Sanmei, what do you think of the theories Grandmaster taught today?"

Tang Sanmei rubbed her chin and frowned slightly: "Brother, although this lecture lasted less than three hours, I feel that others have a great misunderstanding of Grandmaster."

"Oh? How so?" Tang Yin's eyes flickered, and he sighed inwardly. Sure enough, it was bound to happen.

The problem with Yu Xiaogang's theories is that he always copies theories that have stood the test of time from predecessors, then adds a bit of his own personal bias.

Because of this, his theories are laughable to those who truly understand the field, but for someone like Tang Sanmei, who is clever but just starting out, it is a "dimension-reduction strike."

This is similar to the "civilian scientists" on forums from his past life; these things can't fool the experts, nor can they fool the ignorant, but they can certainly confuse a specific group.

If Tang Yin didn't know the original story, he might have been just like Tang Sanmei.

Thinking of this, he pondered slightly, feeling it necessary to wake his sister up.

"Sanmei, in terms of knowledge about the Soul Master world, I definitely cannot compare to Grandmaster. That is the only reason I agreed to accept his guidance today, but that is where it ends."

Tang Sanmei was slightly startled: "Brother, do you think there is a problem with Grandmaster's suggestion for the Blue Silver Grass to follow the control path?"

"That's not what I mean," Tang Yin shook his head: "Because of its unique nature, the Blue Silver Grass does not easily conflict with any soul power. That is its advantage."

"Grandmaster is not wrong to use this advantage to have the Blue Silver Grass follow the control path, but all of this is predicated on those Blue Silver Grass Soul Masters whose Innate Soul Power is only one or two levels and who can never break through to high levels." At this point, Tang Yin paused and looked at Tang Sanmei.

"Brother, are you saying I don't fall into that category?" Tang Sanmei instantly realized that she not only had Innate Full Soul Power but was also a Twin Martial Soul user.

"Correct. Other Blue Silver Grass Soul Masters, due to their Innate Soul Power, mostly struggle to break through to the Soul Grand Master level in their entire lives, but you are different."

"We are different. With Innate Full Soul Power, the lowest we will reach is the Soul Douluo level. Once we reach a high level, what use will that little bit of control and poison from hundred-year or thousand-year soul rings have?"

Having said this, Tang Yin glanced at Xiao Wu, who had been incredibly quiet since they left, and then said pointedly: "Besides, are you really just a simple Blue Silver Grass Soul Master?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Sanmei's pupils shrank sharply. After Tang Yin's prompt, she instantly woke up.

That's right! She was a Twin Martial Soul user with Innate Full Soul Power. According to what their father said, she would eventually stand at the pinnacle of the continent's Soul Masters, and the enemies she would face should be of the same level.

If she really followed Yu Xiaogang's method, perhaps it would give her combat power in the early stages, and she might even stand out among her peers due to her rapid leveling.

But, was this what she wanted?

"Brother, then what path do you think I should take? I'll listen to you!" Tang Sanmei looked at Tang Yin, her eyes filled with reverence.

"Good. My advice is for your Blue Silver Grass to follow the path of extreme life. It is best to attach the first few hundred-year and thousand-year soul rings to status skills that buff yourself and your teammates. That way, even in the later stages, your soul skills will still be useful."

This was originally the preparation Tang Yin had made for his own Blue Silver Grass awakening, but unfortunately, fate had other plans.

In the original story, Yu Xiaogang had Tang San absorb a skill that netizens mocked as "Mother's Binding." In Tang Yin's view, that was complete nonsense.

Why waste a skill slot on something like "Binding"? Isn't that something that comes with the plant itself? As long as a Soul Master exercises their control over soul power a little, they could do that!

"Ah? This..." Tang Sanmei hesitated upon hearing this. If she followed her brother's recommended route, it meant she would have no combat power in the early stages and could only act as a support.

"Open your perspective. Do you want to show off while playing house at the academy, or do you want to truly compete on the path of Soul Masters in the future?"

"I understand, Brother." Tang Sanmei took a deep breath. On second thought, even if her Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had no attack power, she still had hidden weapons and the Clear Sky Hammer.

Although the Clear Sky Hammer couldn't have soul rings attached for the time being, her father had taught her a unique skill called the Chaotic Cloak, which could also be used to hammer people in critical moments.

"But Brother, what about Grandmaster in three days when we go to the Soul Hunting Forest..." Tang Sanmei voiced her concern.

"It doesn't matter. He is only our mentor, not our master. He only has the authority to guide us; whether we accept it or not depends on us."