Several thick strands of Blue Silver Grass burst from the ground like snakes emerging from their holes and wound toward Li Yuan's feet.
This was the "control-type" Soul Skill Yu Xiaogang had carefully chosen for Tang San. It was meant to restrict his opponent's movement and create an opening for the next attack.
Below the stage, Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly, pleased with Tang San's execution of the tactic.
Then he boasted confidently to the Dean beside him, "Dean, don't worry. Under my careful guidance, Xiao San will become the finest genius Notting Academy has seen in ten years—no, a hundred, a thousand, even ten thousand years!"
Dean Chen Gang could only laugh awkwardly and agree. "Yes, yes. You've taught him well, Xiao Gang. Xiao San is extraordinarily gifted. His future is bright, very bright..."
Beside them, Director Mo Hen couldn't listen anymore and rolled his eyes.
What the hell does Tang San's talent have to do with you?
He already had Innate Full Soul Power when he arrived.
Would he somehow not be a genius without you?
Besides, you're a Soul Grandmaster who nearly got himself killed taking Tang San Soul Hunting. Then you came back with the nerve to claim you'd been badly hurt protecting him.
A level-29 Soul Grandmaster couldn't even beat a hundred-year-old Mandala Snake, and you still dare take credit?
Faced with the onrushing Blue Silver Grass, Li Yuan neither dodged nor moved aside.
Everyone below the stage stared in bewilderment.
"What? Why isn't Brother Li Yuan dodging?"
"Brother Li Yuan, get out of the way!"
"Stinking Tang San, did you use some dirty trick on our brother?"
Below the stage, Xiao Wu looked worried. "What's Xiao Yuan doing? Dodge!"
A cold smile touched Li Yuan's lips. He called softly, "Ah Bai, come out. Get ready to strike, get ready!"
No sooner had he spoken than—
Hiss!
A soft hiss sounded as a white figure wreathed in seven-colored light emerged, its body longer and more agile than before.
It was Ah Bai, the evolved Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python hatchling!
The moment the Blue Silver Grass touched him, his slender tail lashed out like a whip and snapped it apart.
The terrifying force even raised a sharp rush of wind.
Tang San froze, then stared in astonishment. "Impossible! Li Yuan, how can your White Snake... be so strong?!"
Li Yuan chuckled. "Because you're a frog at the bottom of a well, ignorant of the world beyond!"
"Li Yuan, don't think destroying my Blue Silver Entanglement with the full power of your Martial Soul means you can beat me. You're still too green!"
Tang San assumed Li Yuan had only destroyed his First Soul Skill by expending a great deal of Soul Power, hoping to frighten him into backing down.
But who was he, Tang San?
In his previous life, when his theft of the Tang Sect's secret manuals was exposed and he jumped from Ghost Sorrow Cliff, he hadn't so much as furrowed his brow.
And now, for Xiao Wu, what did it matter how powerful Li Yuan's Martial Soul was?
He would not lose!
"Second Soul Skill: Parasite!"
Tang San activated his Second Soul Skill.
The shattered Blue Silver Grass vanished at once, turning into countless tiny thorned vines that burrowed toward Li Yuan's body like maggots clinging to bone.
"Got you, Li Yuan!"
Tang San was overjoyed. He could almost see the dawn of victory.
"Interesting."
Li Yuan tested the toughness of the Ghost Vine with his hand. It was strong, certainly, but it could not hold him.
Seeing that Li Yuan had not broken free, Tang San laughed smugly. "Heh, stop wasting your strength. Even a Soul Elder couldn't escape my Second Soul Skill, Ghost Vine Parasite!"
As he spoke, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. His right hand quietly moved toward the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist, ready to launch a surprise attack with Tang Sect Hidden Weapons.
Below the stage, Yu Xiaogang slapped his thigh in excitement, as though victory were already assured. "Beautifully done, Xiao San! That's it! There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters. Even the weakest Blue Silver Grass won't lose to a Beast Martial Soul!"
Excitement surged through him.
It was as though he could already see his theory becoming famous throughout the world.
Xiao Wu watched Li Yuan anxiously and murmured, "Tang San's several levels above Xiao Yuan. Was this too much after all?"
Just when almost everyone thought Li Yuan's defeat was certain—
"Oh? I don't think so."
"First Soul Skill: Bad Wind!"
Li Yuan raised a hand slightly. On his shoulder, Ah Bai opened his mouth and unleashed dozens of Wind Blades.
The dense blades instantly shredded the Ghost Vine attached to Li Yuan, sending fragments drifting through the air.
This was the first time he had used his altered First Soul Skill since his Martial Soul Evolution.
Before, his First Soul Skill had released only a single Wind Slash. Its power had been nothing remarkable.
Now, his First Soul Skill, Bad Wind, could grow stronger.
As long as he had enough Soul Power, he could release several times as many Wind Blades, and their combined power would rise with their number.
"Impossible! How could your First Soul Skill break through my Ghost Vine?!"
Tang San watched his prized Second Soul Skill crumble in an instant. His face went deathly pale, his eyes wide with shock.
Then realization struck him. "Wait! Your Soul Skill... how did it change?!"
Li Yuan strolled forward, calm and composed. His voice was even, yet it carried an invisible pressure. "Has it occurred to you that you've never seen me at my full strength?"
The whole crowd was stunned!
"No wonder that kid hardly ever attended the academy's combat classes all these years. He's been hiding his strength!"
"See? I told you that child was going places from the start!"
"Exactly! He kept quiet until the moment he could amaze everyone!"
Below the stage, many teachers felt a shared thrill of pride at having taught a student like him.
Only Yu Xiaogang looked as though he'd eaten three pounds of shit. His lips trembled as he stared in disbelief at the majestic Ah Bai on the stage.
Then he compared Ah Bai to his own Luo Sanpao.
Why, when they both had Beast Martial Souls that could leave their bodies, could Luo Sanpao only fart?
How was Li Yuan's Martial Soul so powerful?
Yu Xiaogang had seen Li Yuan's Martial Soul at the start of the school year. It had been nothing more than an ordinary Little White Snake.
Why?
Had I judged it wrong?
Was his White Snake not an ordinary Martial Soul at all, but a hidden, top-tier one?
For the first time, Yu Xiaogang doubted himself.
But only for a second. Then he rejected the thought.
No. Impossible!
I'm the Grandmaster!
Even Bibi Dong, the Pope of Spirit Hall, was captivated by the brilliance of my theories. How could my theories be wrong?!
Li Yuan must be hiding a great secret.
Yes, that must be it!
Breathing hard, his face flushed, Yu Xiaogang gazed greedily at Li Yuan on the stage and prayed inwardly, Xiao San, you have to win!
You must win! You're my disciple, Tang San. You can't lose!
If you defeat Li Yuan, perhaps he'll ask me to be his teacher. Then I might learn his secret!
"So what if that's true? I still have Tang Sect Hidden Weapons!"
Tang San forced down his shock. Ruthlessness flashed in his eyes as he swept both hands forward.
"Mysterious Jade Hand!"
"Hundred Solutions of Hidden Weapons!"
In an instant, countless silver needles and Bone-Piercing Nails flew toward Li Yuan's vital points in a dazzling shower, like a celestial maiden scattering flowers.
Facing a Hidden Weapon attack he could not dodge, Li Yuan swiftly recited the Golden Light Incantation in his mind:
Heaven and Earth, the Profound Origin; Root of the Ten Thousand Qi. Through countless eons of cultivation, I attain divine power!
In an instant, a dense layer of golden light covered Li Yuan's body.
Clang, clang, clang!
The sharp Hidden Weapons struck the golden light with a string of crisp impacts, but failed to leave a single mark. Every one bounced away.
"What's going on?! My Hidden Weapons can't even pierce his defense?!"
Tang San was utterly dumbfounded. His bewilderment reached its peak. This was completely beyond anything he knew.
Li Yuan's strange defense was simply unheard of!
Before you continue