Huang Tian's words left everyone present stunned. Yu Xiaogang looked puzzled, while the Principal had no idea what was going on.
Tang San suddenly had a terrible premonition.
His voice trembled slightly as he urgently demanded:
"Don't you also have a Ten-Year Soul Ring?"
"Huh? You mean this?
Well, my Soul Ring is a little special. I can change its color at will, like this.
I have Innate Full Soul Power. Why would my teacher let me add a Ten-Year Soul Ring? Wouldn't that be a terrible waste?
The reason it showed up white before was that I was worried you'd be afraid I was too strong, and no one would want to play with me."
Huang Tian quickly released his Martial Soul. A white ring of light appeared beneath his feet, then rapidly changed to yellow, purple, black, red, and gold, cycling through more than a dozen colors in quick succession, like a neon sign.
Even unusual colors such as cyan, blue, brown, green, and gray appeared, each lingering for two or three seconds on average.
At last, it settled on yellow—and not the pale yellow of a Soul Ring that had barely reached a century. It was a deep, pure yellow.
The scene fell silent once more. You could hear a pin drop.
The others were merely astonished, but Bie San and Yu Xiaogang instantly flushed crimson as blood rushed to their faces. Their whole bodies trembled violently.
Gangzi clenched both fists until his knuckles turned white. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. In the end, he closed his eyes in pain.
Tang San lunged straight at Huang Tian.
He lowered his head and leaned close to the Soul Ring, even using his Purple Demon Eye to examine it over and over.
After a long while, he went wild. His teeth chattered as he roared in despair:
"Impossible! This can't be real! How can a Soul Ring change color? You must be lying to me, right?"
Despair mingled with the faintest trace of pleading.
What could be more agonizing than suffering terrible luck yourself while your enemy sailed smoothly ahead?
"Lying to you? Why would I lie to you? What would I get out of it?
It really isn't a Ten-Year Soul Ring, and you've seen my skill, too. Could a Ten-Year Soul Ring possibly produce a skill like that?"
"Ahhh~~~"
When he learned he had to add a Ten-Year Soul Ring, Sanzi hadn't collapsed. But now, seeing that Huang Tian's Soul Ring wasn't a Ten-Year Soul Ring, he completely broke down.
His roar shook the heavens and earth.
"Why? Why did you show me white and trick me? You liar! This is all your fault."
"My fault? What does this have to do with me? Your teacher calls himself a Grandmaster of theory. Don't tell me he doesn't even know the first ring should be a century-old one?"
"Die! I'll kill you!"
Even with his Purple Demon Eye activated, both of Tang San's eyes had turned blood-red. He gritted his teeth, his face twisted with rage.
He wouldn't even listen to an explanation. He simply swung his fist.
Huang Tian didn't indulge him. Striking first despite moving second, he slammed a fist into Tang San's chest and sent him flying. As he opened the distance, his Soul Ring charged up and shone brighter.
A two-meter-long Blue Gold Great Spear appeared out of thin air in his palm, its blade gleaming with a chill light.
The attack jolted Yu Xiaogang back to his senses. He hurriedly opened his eyes and shouted:
"Xiao San, calm down!"
But Tang San didn't hear him. Even though his chest hurt so badly he could barely breathe, he charged forward without hesitation. Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track flashed at full power, leaving three afterimages in its wake.
Another kick sent him even farther away. His body rolled across the ground several times before finally coming to a stop.
That finally helped him calm down a little.
He was still furious, but now there was uncertainty in his eyes, too.
Tang San could clearly feel that Huang Tian's strength this time was completely different from before.
If Huang Tian were still at the same level as last time, then after his Soul Ring strengthened him, Tang San should have been faster when attacking at full power. His opponent shouldn't have been able to react in time.
In other words, during their Soul Fighting match, Huang Tian had hidden not only his Soul Ring but some of his strength as well. He'd been playing with him the whole time.
That made sense. A Ten-Year Soul Ring's boost was already considerable, and a Hundred-Year Soul Ring would only be stronger.
Seeing that his disciple was no longer ruled by anger, Yu Xiaogang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He stepped between them and spread his arms to hold them back.
"Xiao San is in no state to continue. I don't think there's any need to go on with this Soul Fighting match. Let's call it a draw.
Xiao San, you have plenty of time. With my guidance, you'll stand at the top of the continent sooner or later. There's no need to compete over who's stronger in this moment. Let's go back.
Starting tonight, you'll begin studying the knowledge of Soul Masters systematically. We can't afford to waste much time."
Gangzi's words didn't calm things down. They only added fuel to the fire.
Tang San had already felt resentment toward Gangzi, and now it reached its peak.
He didn't think there were any other reasons he couldn't beat Huang Tian. With Martial Skills at his command, he should have won instantly. There was only one reason: the difference between their Soul Rings.
The limit for a First Soul Ring was four hundred and twenty-three years, nearly five times ninety. If you also counted the fundamental difference between a Ten-Year and a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, the gap might be close to tenfold.
A whole ten times over!
Pure and Innocent San cursed him furiously in his heart.
If you weren't such a useless piece of trash, would Huang Tian have been able to beat me so badly?
The Principal just said he was willing to step in.
You couldn't beat a Century Soul Beast. Couldn't you even ask someone for help?
Once a teacher, a father for life. Is this how you treat your disciple? Is my future really less important than your pride?
Bastard, scum, useless trash...
Tang San was so aggrieved he could burst. Tears welled in his eyes, and he wanted to go on a killing spree, but he didn't dare show any of it on his face.
The ruler, the sovereign, one's parents, and one's teacher all deserved reverence. Besides, he still needed Yu Xiaogang to teach him other things.
During their last Soul Hunting trip, Yu Xiaogang had shown himself to be quite learned.
With nowhere to vent his anger, Tang San could only glare furiously at Huang Tian.
Tang San took two deep breaths, felt the searing pain in his chest and abdomen, then gently stroked his left arm with his right hand.
Huang Tian, you didn't see this coming, did you? I have Hidden Weapons in addition to Martial Skills. You can't defend against my Hidden Weapons, can you?
Don't blame me. You brought this on yourself.
Go to hell! Hahaha.
He circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill with all his might, pretending to think things over. More than ten seconds passed. When he felt the pain ease a little, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track suddenly flashed.
An afterimage stayed behind as he nearly teleported beside Yu Xiaogang. He activated his First Soul Skill, and three Blue Silver Grass vines shot out rapidly in a triangular formation.
Using the Soul Skill to cover his movements, he slapped the spot near his left wrist with his right hand. Beneath the three vines, which were pressed close together in a triangular formation, three Refined Iron Crossbow Bolts shot out at even greater speed.
The instant the Sleeve Arrows flew, a sinister smile curled across Pure and Innocent San's lips.
If a genius dies, is he still a genius?
Huang Tian had known about Hidden Weapons all along. The mental power of his Second Martial Soul had spread across the whole area, monitoring even the slightest movements around him.
He thought, Just as I expected, and was about to turn his spear to block them.
At that moment, the space around them suddenly seemed to freeze completely. Even moving a finger—or shifting one's gaze—met with immense resistance. Nothing could move at all.
A stunning woman in an elegant white robe had appeared above them at some point. Flecks of light shimmered on one of her fingers.
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