Li Han's eyes immediately lit up.
This was a real treasure.
With this, he could go to the Soul Hunting Forest whenever he wanted.
He could pick up medicinal herbs and Soul Rings whenever he needed them, without having to get a token from the academy and go through all that trouble.
"Fine, I agree."
Seeing that Li Han had agreed, Tang San brightened and looked at Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"Go on, Xiao San. Today is the day you surpass Li Han."
"Yes, teacher!"
Tang San stepped forward and released his Martial Soul.
"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Level 13 control-type Soul Master."
A flash of blue light passed, and Blue Silver Grass emerged from Tang San's right palm. In the faintest glimpse, a Datura Snake's phantom could be seen.
The Yellow Soul Ring shimmered, adding considerable force to the Blue Silver Grass.
"So he really did absorb a Datura Snake Soul Ring?"
Li Han muttered inwardly as he revealed his own Martial Soul.
"Martial Soul: Heavenly Thunder Bamboo. Level 13 tool-type Soul Master."
Li Han didn't reveal his true cultivation. Instead, he kept his Soul Power at around level thirteen.
The deep-yellow Soul Ring gave off a fair amount of pressure, making Tang San start in surprise.
"His Soul Ring is actually darker than mine. Could it be over four hundred years old?"
Tang San wondered to himself.
Yu Xiaogang looked equally astonished.
"Strange. What kind of Soul Beast did he absorb? How is his Soul Ring so dark?
"Judging by the color, it's definitely over four hundred years old."
Yu Xiaogang couldn't figure it out, so he asked directly, "What Soul Beast did your First Soul Ring come from?"
"A Hundred-Year Lone Bamboo."
"Lone Bamboo? Hmph, you still chose the wrong answer.
"Xiao San, your Soul Ring came from a Datura Snake, whose strength far surpasses that of a Lone Bamboo.
"I'm sure your Soul Skill is stronger, too.
"Go on. Show him what you can do."
Tang San nodded slightly, then turned to Li Han.
"Let's begin. First Soul Skill, Bind!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's right palm grew wildly, shooting toward Li Han.
Purple patterns ran along the grass, giving it a sinister look. It was clearly laced with poison.
Yu Xiaogang nodded with satisfaction.
"After Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass absorbed the Datura Snake Soul Ring, it gained flexibility and poison, greatly increasing its strength.
"Once Li Han is caught by the Blue Silver Grass, the outcome will be clear."
Yu Xiaogang could practically see Tang San winning, but the next moment left him stunned.
Li Han neither dodged nor retreated. He gripped the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo in his right hand, covered that hand with his left, and aimed the bamboo at Tang San.
"First Soul Skill, As-You-Will! Shoot him down! God Spear!"
After all this time training, Li Han had mastered his First Soul Skill completely.
This was the lengthening ability of As-You-Will.
The few meters between them were enough for Li Han to accelerate the bamboo to its limit.
Whoosh!
The Heavenly Thunder Bamboo flashed with a green light, and its stalk instantly stretched out.
It was so fast that it happened in the blink of an eye!
In the next instant, the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo pierced straight through the Bind of the Blue Silver Grass and struck Tang San in the chest!
Thud!
Tang San was sent flying, and the Blue Silver Grass vanished all at once.
"Xiao San!"
Yu Xiaogang was horrified. He hurried over to examine Tang San, who lay motionless on the ground.
The white lightning stored in the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo had passed into Tang San's body with that strike.
Now, lightning coiled around him from head to toe, leaving him unable to move.
"Don't worry, Tang San is fine.
"It's only a little paralysis from the lightning. He'll recover soon.
"Grandmaster, I won. Give me the token."
Li Han had already put away the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo and walked up to Yu Xiaogang.
"Y-you... How can your Soul Skill be so powerful?" Yu Xiaogang exclaimed.
"Because I chose a Soul Ring that suited me."
As he spoke, Li Han looked at Tang San.
"Blue Silver Grass's greatest strength is its tenacious vitality. If you really want to cultivate it, you should follow the support-type path.
"Have you ever heard of the Nine-Heart Begonia?
"It's a Martial Soul dedicated to healing others, with an extraordinarily tenacious vitality.
"In the support system, it even ranks above the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.
"I think that path would suit you better."
Tang San was moved by his words.
Life?
"What nonsense are you spouting? Blue Silver Grass is meant to follow the poison-attack path! Don't think that just because you beat Xiao San, you can come here and talk rubbish!"
Yu Xiaogang hurriedly cut Li Han off, his face full of anger.
Then he tossed the Level Three Token to Li Han.
"Here's your token. But next time, Xiao San will definitely beat you!
"He only lost because he just got his Soul Skill and hasn't mastered it yet."
Li Han shrugged indifferently, took the Level Three Token, and left.
By then, Tang San had recovered the ability to move and sat up.
"Xiao San, are you all right?"
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, concerned.
Tang San shook his head.
"I'm fine, teacher. Do you think Li Han was right?"
The last time they fought, he'd held out for several exchanges.
This time, he'd been defeated in a single move.
And that was after he'd used his Soul Skill.
Tang San suddenly felt that Li Han might be an unbeatable opponent.
"What does he know! He was just lucky enough to get a relatively powerful Soul Skill.
"Xiao San, the path I've set out for you is absolutely the best!
"I'll stake my title as Grandmaster on it!"
Yu Xiaogang hurried to explain, afraid that Tang San might doubt his expertise.
"Teacher, I believe you."
Tang San nodded firmly, choosing in the end to trust Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief.
"Li Han's strength really did exceed my expectations.
"But it doesn't matter. I'll intensify your training.
"It won't be long before you can beat him!
"Don't forget, you still have Twin Martial Souls.
"Your future is beyond anything Li Han could ever hope to match.
"A temporary setback means nothing."
After Yu Xiaogang's encouragement, Tang San suddenly felt confident again.
"You're right, teacher. From now on, I'll cultivate even harder. I'll surpass Li Han in the shortest time possible!"
"Good! With that kind of spirit, you're worthy of being my, Yu Xiaogang's, disciple! Hahaha!"
Yu Xiaogang was overjoyed.
Meanwhile, Li Han toyed with the Level Three Token in his hand, a new plan taking shape in his mind.
"My Soul Power is about to break through level seventeen. In three months at most, I'll reach level twenty.
"Then I can take this token to the Soul Hunting Forest and look for a second Soul Ring.
"This time, I'll go alone.
"With my current strength, I should be able to handle Hundred-Year Soul Beasts easily.
"But I might struggle against a thousand-year-old Soul Beast.
"Still, if I make some talismans as trump cards, I should be fine.
"Right, I can try turning Heavenly Thunder Bamboo Leaves into a Dharma Artifact.
"I remember the Artifact Refining Compendium describes a one-use Dharma Artifact called the Heavenly Thunder Bead.
"It's made by gathering the lightning power of a thunder-attributed heavenly treasure into a bead about the size of a thumb.
"When thrown, it's like a bolt from the blue, with formidable power.
"Anyone below Soul Ancestor gets taken out on sight.
"Aren't Heavenly Thunder Bamboo Leaves a thunder-attributed heavenly treasure?
"I can try turning them into Heavenly Thunder Beads.
"That way, I'll be completely prepared."
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