Deep into the Soul Hunting Forest

Yet Tang San still suppressed his disgust for Yu Xiaogang and asked.

"Dean, what exactly is so special about this 'Grandmaster'?"

Since arriving at Notting Academy, Tang San had heard the name of this "Grandmaster" Yu Xiaogang many times, and had also heard many people advise him to stay away from him.

It seemed that Yu Xiaogang's reputation at Notting Academy was not good at all.

Coupled with the fact that this Yu Xiaogang was persistently clinging to Tang San and Li Luo like a lingering ghost.

Tang San felt a deep aversion toward him, yet he was genuinely curious about what kind of infuriating things Yu Xiaogang had done to earn such universal resentment.

At the mention of Yu Xiaogang, Notting Dean found his opening.

"Yu Xiaogang, he was a friend I met in my early years. I was only at level twenty then, and I met him when he was also at level twenty."

"Yu Xiaogang came from a major sect within a great clan, but his martial soul was a pig that could only fart. His talent was abysmal, and it took a massive amount of resources just to barely reach level twenty."

Blah, blah, blah.

Notting Dean recounted Yu Xiaogang's background, their shared experiences, and Yu Xiaogang's illogical theories.

When speaking of Yu Xiaogang's theories, Notting Dean looked at Li Luo and Tang San, earnestly cautioning them.

"You must not be fooled by that load of nonsense Yu Xiaogang calls theory."

"The idea that beast martial souls can absorb soul rings from plant-type soul beasts, or that tool martial souls can absorb animal-type soul rings—isn't that just utter rubbish?"

"No one says the two cannot be interchanged, but a martial soul must choose a soul ring that is more suitable for its own nature. Forcibly absorbing a ring that conflicts with your martial soul's attributes just to be different will certainly backfire and damage a soul master's potential."

Although Notting Dean was only a level forty-something Soul Ancestor, he was, after all, the dean of a soul master academy, and his foundational knowledge of soul master cultivation was very solid.

"Yu Xiaogang is a pure daydreaming idealist with no practical foundation whatsoever. Especially his so-called Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul—most of them are unsubstantiated and lack any experimental data sources."

"Li Luo, Tang San, you two are once-in-a-millennium geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power. Do not be intimidated by Yu Xiaogang and become his test subjects."

Although the outside world rumored that the relationship between Notting Dean and Yu Xiaogang was unusual, they were actually just ordinary acquaintances. As a descendant of a major power, how could Yu Xiaogang possibly look up to a Soul Ancestor from a small backwater place?

As for why he had been able to loaf around Notting Academy for so many years, it was nothing more than someone from above pulling strings.

Therefore, Notting Dean did not hold back at all when badmouthing Yu Xiaogang.

"Remember, practice is the only criterion for testing truth. To talk of theory without practice is just empty talk on paper; it has no practical feasibility."

Right there in the carriage, Notting Dean gave Li Luo and Tang San their first lesson since entering the soul master academy.

Although Li Luo was a top student in his previous life and was well-versed in the plot of Douluo Continent.

If one were to delve into the specific knowledge of the world, he knew nothing beyond what the plot touched upon.

Therefore, this rather knowledgeable Notting Dean possessed a wealth of precious information for him to learn.

"Dean, what kind of soul beast do you think is best for the first soul ring of Little San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul?"

Having only enrolled for two days, Li Luo had not yet attended formal classes or visited the academy library to look up books, so he did not know much about plant-type soul beasts.

In any case, he would never let Tang San absorb the poison-attribute Datura Snake; it would contaminate the origin of Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor.

Notting Dean pondered for a moment, then spoke.

"It is common knowledge that Blue Silver Grass is a trash martial soul, but since Tang San's Blue Silver Grass could awaken with Innate Full Soul Power, it is certainly not ordinary."

Notting Dean did not conclude that Tang San had Twin Martial Souls, as that was simply too inconceivable.

"If one were to choose a soul ring for Blue Silver Grass, one would generally develop it along the paths of support or control."

"However, Blue Silver Grass itself is weak and easily broken, and it lacks any specific attributes. Its advantage lies in its exceptionally tenacious vitality, capable of endless growth."

"Therefore, I believe there are two types of soul rings suitable for Tang San's Blue Silver Grass. The first is bamboo-type soul beasts. The characteristic of bamboo-type soul beasts is hardness, which can effectively enhance the toughness of the Blue Silver Grass. If the quality of the absorbed soul ring is high enough, it could even alter the characteristics of the Blue Silver Grass, thereby setting him on the path of a power attack or control type."

"But it is also easy to end up with a very mediocre effect, where the soul skill is average and the increase in hardness is insufficient. Thus, absorbing a bamboo-type ring is not the optimal choice."

"On the contrary, the Blue Silver Grass's traits of endless growth and tenacious vitality are very prominent."

"Therefore, I believe the best choice for the first soul ring is one provided by a plant-type soul beast that focuses on healing."

"Such soul beasts are relatively rare in the Soul Hunting Forest. We will look for them first; if that fails, I will take Tang San to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a ring."

Notting Dean scratched his head, hesitating, but eventually made up his mind. A child with Innate Full Soul Power like Tang San was something he had encountered for the first time; he was well worth the investment.

Notting Dean's words were exactly what Li Luo wanted to tell Tang San, but he had no reason to explain why he knew so much or why he understood Yu Xiaogang so well. Now, it seemed more appropriate for Notting Dean to say it.

The carriage soon arrived at the Soul Hunting Forest, which was kept by the Empire for soul beasts. As a Soul Ancestor, Notting Dean naturally possessed his own soul hunting token.

After the guards verified the token, Notting Dean led Tang San and Li Luo into the Soul Hunting Forest.

Following the man-made path deep into the Soul Hunting Forest, the three of them soon encountered the first soul beast suitable for Tang San.

Notting Dean pointed to a bamboo stalk in front of them and introduced it.

"This is a ten-year Lone Bamboo. Its characteristic is toughness, which is very suitable for Tang San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul. However, the age is still too low. With Tang San's talent of Innate Full Soul Power, he must absorb a soul ring of at least 400 years, or a century-old soul ring from a relatively rare and precious soul beast."

The three ignored the ten-year Lone Bamboo and continued deeper.

As they ventured further, Notting Dean kept his Martial Soul Possession active at all times. Some weaker soul beasts sensed Notting Dean's aura and dared not approach.

Li Luo and his companions did not encounter any ten-year wolf packs.

After traveling a bit further, a rustling sound suddenly echoed through the forest.

"Watch out!"

Notting Dean warned Li Luo and Tang San, shielding the two behind him.

A Datura Snake, a full four meters in length, lunged out from the forest, rapidly striking in the direction of the trio.

"It's a Century Soul Ring Datura Snake! Be careful!"

"Second Soul Skill, Gale Slash."

Notting Dean's Martial Soul was a mantis; at this moment, the second Century Soul Ring on his body flickered, and two mantis blade-arms appeared on his forearms, slashing toward the incoming Datura Snake.