The back hill of Notting Academy.
In a clearing on the other side of the forest.
An old man and a young boy stood beneath the shade of a tree. They were Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.
"Little San, you've seen me use my Soul Skills in the Soul Hunting Forest, so I won't repeat myself!"
"When we spar later, I'll hold back as much as I can. I won't hurt you!"
"Thank you, teacher!"
Tang San thanked him aloud, but inwardly, he didn't think much of it.
Although Yu Xiaogang had Level 29 Soul Power, his Martial Soul was indeed an External Beast Martial Soul, which didn't strengthen his body much.
With his own footwork, even without using Hidden Weapons, he had nothing to fear from Yu Xiaogang.
If Yu Xiaogang could use Martial Soul Possession, he might have been a bit more troublesome.
"Luo Sanpao, go on. Don't hurt Little San!" Yu Xiaogang summoned his Martial Soul.
It was a purple creature that looked a lot like a dog. It was more than five feet long and just as wide, shaped like a ball.
Luo Sanpao had pale purple fur, drooping ears, big blue eyes, four short little legs, and a lump on top of its head.
In short, it looked like a purple dog fattened up like a pig.
Luo Sanpao grunted and snorted, seemingly responding to Yu Xiaogang.
The next moment, it charged at Tang San, barreling forward like a wild boar.
Seeing this, a Soul Ring lit up beneath Tang San's feet: [Blue Silver Entanglement]
Though Luo Sanpao was fast, Tang San had cultivated the Purple Demon Eye, giving him exceptionally sharp vision.
Several thick strands of Blue Silver Grass instantly sprang up beneath Luo Sanpao's feet.
"Sanpao, his Blue Silver Grass is poisonous. Use your Soul Skill!" Yu Xiaogang said.
"Fart like thunder, Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao!"
The Soul Ring beneath Luo Sanpao's feet lit up, and the entire pig leaped fifteen feet into the air.
With a rumble, a violent wave of Soul Power surged from Luo Sanpao—a shockwave like a dome of light.
Tang San had seen this Soul Skill before and didn't dare take it head-on. He used Blue Silver Grass Entanglement again.
This time, however, he wasn't trying to bind Luo Sanpao. He was using the Blue Silver Grass to block the force of Luo Sanpao's Soul Skill.
Sure enough, that thunderous fart was an area-of-effect attack, and the Blue Silver Grass blocked most of it.
Tang San used the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track footwork, easily finding the weakest point of the Soul Skill's range, then swiftly closed in on Luo Sanpao.
"What a stench!" Tang San frowned.
He had used Blue Silver Entanglement to block the Soul Power shockwave, but there was no stopping the stink of that fart.
He could only hold his breath and keep charging in.
"Teacher, watch out!"
Tang San gave a warning. His hands took on a jade-like sheen, and a purple hue rose in his eyes.
Luo Sanpao had used a Soul Skill and was badly winded. It hurriedly turned to dodge.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang felt greatly relieved.
"As expected of a genius with Innate Full Soul Power. I used only my First Soul Skill, and still couldn't deal with him."
"Only a disciple like this can inherit my legacy and spread my name throughout the continent!"
"But you've let your guard down, Little San. I never said I wouldn't use my Second Soul Skill."
His First Soul Ring was nowhere near as old as Tang San's Datura Snake, but his Second Soul Ring was well over four hundred years old.
Even though his Second Soul Skill was also an area-of-effect attack, if it hit Tang San, it would be enough to make him lose.
Feeling pleased with himself, Yu Xiaogang called out, "Sanpao, use your second Soul Skill—give him a parting fart!"
He and Luo Sanpao were connected in thought, so he didn't actually need to say it aloud; that would have caught Tang San off guard.
But this was only a spar with his disciple, so he decided to warn him, to keep Tang San from getting too badly hurt.
"Fart like smoke, put them to sleep, Luo Sanpao!"
Yu Xiaogang chanted the Soul Skill incantation, and a second yellow Soul Ring lit up beneath Luo Sanpao's feet.
Purple smoke billowed from Luo Sanpao's rear and quickly spread out.
The smoke could induce sleep and dizziness, putting opponents into a deep slumber.
Even Soul Beasts with cultivation of several decades or just over a hundred years couldn't withstand it. Tang San had already seen that for himself.
But Yu Xiaogang didn't know that ever since being reborn, Tang San had diligently cultivated the Purple Demon Eye every day.
His mental power was extremely strong, far surpassing that of those hundred-year Soul Beasts.
This kind of mental attack couldn't hurt Tang San at all.
Tang San pretended to be hit. He swayed unsteadily, as though he were about to fall.
Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly, thinking he had already won. He was getting ready to find the right words to comfort Tang San afterward.
After this spar, he believed his image in Tang San's eyes would become impossibly grand.
But just as he let his guard down, Tang San "came to" and rushed toward Luo Sanpao at astonishing speed.
"Oh no!" Yu Xiaogang cried out.
Luo Sanpao could fart three times a day, and it still had one left.
He could use his First Soul Skill again, striking Tang San with the shockwave and even injuring him.
But his Martial Soul had a flaw: he had to chant in coordination with his Soul Ring to activate his Soul Skills.
Tang San was so fast that Yu Xiaogang no longer had time to chant.
Tang San moved like a phantom, reaching Luo Sanpao in an instant. His hand gleamed jade-white as he swung it down with all his might.
Tang San knew all too well that dogs had iron-hard heads and tofu-soft waists.
So he struck Luo Sanpao right in its doggy waist, which was nothing but rolls of fat.
"┗|｀O′|┛Awooo~~"
Luo Sanpao let out a howl like a slaughtered pig. It held on for only a moment before its Martial Soul form vanished.
"Ah!" As soon as Luo Sanpao disappeared, it transferred the damage back to Yu Xiaogang.
That was the flaw of his Martial Soul. An External Beast Martial Soul couldn't strengthen his body, yet any injuries it suffered in battle affected him as well.
"My back!"
Yu Xiaogang cried out in pain, clutching his back as he leaned against a tree. His face was pale, and cold sweat covered his forehead.
"Teacher, are you all right?"
Tang San was startled. Yu Xiaogang and Luo Sanpao had cried out in such agony.
"Little San, I'm fine. I'm just getting old. My back's a little sore, that's all."
Yu Xiaogang's face was pale, but he still didn't want to lose face in front of his disciple, so he put on a brave front.
Over the past few days together, he had already realized that Tang San wasn't without a foundation.
His theoretical knowledge was exceptionally solid. Several times, Yu Xiaogang had nearly been unable to answer Tang San's questions.
"Those wretched people of Spirit Hall," Yu Xiaogang thought. "They must be hiding a lot of Martial Soul texts from me!"
He had never gotten over being driven out of Spirit Hall all those years ago, because he still hadn't found a way to fix the flaw in his Martial Soul there.
"I'm sorry, teacher. I hit you too hard just now. Let me help you back!" Tang San said obediently.
"No need. You go back first, Little San. I'll stay here and clear my head!"
Yu Xiaogang refused Tang San's help, still putting on a brave front.
"Very well. This disciple won't disturb your leisure, then!"
Tang San turned and left the forest. Yu Xiaogang's body went limp, and he collapsed onto the ground to ease his aching back.
Meanwhile, Tang San opened the system.
[Congratulations, host! You lightly injured Yu Xiaogang and gained 10 Filial Points!]
"I wonder what I can redeem in the System Shop. What can I get with these 10 Filial Points?"
Tang San opened the System Shop and looked through it.
Before you continue