"Yes, teacher."
Tang San nodded vigorously, not daring to delay for a moment, then recounted everything he had seen that day in meticulous detail.
He described the entire spar between Lin Mo and Xiao Wu.
This included the unusual changes in Lin Mo's body after Martial Soul Possession, as well as his terrifying strength, far beyond that of an ordinary person...
He left nothing out.
Once he finished, Tang San remained standing quietly where he was, waiting for Yu Xiaogang's response.
But at that moment, an inexplicable sense of loss welled up inside him.
Could Lin Mo's unknown Mutated Martial Soul be the truly powerful, top-tier Martial Soul?
Compared with Lin Mo's, his own Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul seemed especially mediocre, far inferior.
He knew all too well that without using Hidden Weapons, and relying solely on their Martial Souls in a fight, he would never be Lin Mo's match.
During their earlier spar, when Xiao Wu used her Soft Skill at close range, he had been nearly powerless to resist and was tossed aside.
Yet Xiao Wu's greatest strength, her Soft Skill, had barely worked on Lin Mo. It couldn't move him in the slightest.
Yu Xiaogang was perceptive. With a casual glance, he immediately noticed the disappointment and self-doubt in his disciple's heart.
He raised a hand and patted Tang San on the shoulder, patiently reassuring him. "Don't sell yourself short."
"Judging by Martial Soul talent alone, your Twin Martial Souls are the most top-tier talent in the world!"
"All you need to do now is take one step at a time and cultivate diligently. Don't let other people distract you. Just focus on being yourself."
"Twin Martial Souls are a once-in-a-century rarity, with boundless potential. They're the top-tier talent countless Soul Masters dream of.
Your talent is no weaker than anyone else's. I don't want you to doubt yourself just because of a temporary gap in strength..."
"Yes, teacher." Tang San abruptly came back to himself and nodded firmly. The disappointment in his heart vanished at once, replaced by a feeling of gratitude unlike anything he had ever felt before.
After his emotions settled, Tang San remembered the main purpose of his visit and hurriedly asked:
"Teacher, what about Lin Mo...?"
At this, a faint smile lifted Yu Xiaogang's lips.
"If he wants to come along, then let him. I'm quite interested in his Martial Soul, too!"
It wasn't every day he encountered such an unusual and unknown Martial Soul. Naturally, he wouldn't pass up the chance to observe it up close.
Time flew by, and two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Outside Notting City.
Lin Mo and Tang San had just finished buying supplies for their journey in Notting City. The two stood side by side in an open space outside the city.
Tang San had taken charge of storing and managing all the supplies they had bought.
He had just received a Storage Soul Tool called Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges from Yu Xiaogang.
It had plenty of storage space and was easy to carry, making it perfect for holding all their supplies and greatly simplifying their journey.
Under the shade of the trees beside the main road, Yu Xiaogang had been waiting for some time.
A carriage stood beside him, its body clean and intact. A middle-aged coachman stood nearby, his expression respectful.
"Greetings, Grandmaster." Lin Mo stepped forward and bowed slightly.
This was the first time Lin Mo had examined Yu Xiaogang's appearance and bearing at close range. After taking a careful look, he couldn't help feeling a subtle sense of disappointment.
The Yu Xiaogang before him was noticeably different from the image he remembered.
Yu Xiaogang had a bit of blue stubble, and beneath his gray knitted cap was a head of white hair.
A thick gray scarf was wrapped around his neck. He wore a loose, light-gray top beneath a long black sleeveless vest.
His complexion was pale, and an air of seemingly unshakable melancholy lingered between his brows.
"Since you're here, get in the carriage.
On the way, I can also give you both an overview of Soul Hunting Forest and some knowledge about Soul Beasts," Yu Xiaogang said.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Grandmaster." Lin Mo dipped his head slightly and replied politely.
With that, the three of them climbed aboard in turn and took their seats in the spacious, steady carriage.
The coachman lightly flicked his whip, and the carriage set off slowly, heading toward Soul Hunting Forest.
The nearest Soul Hunting Forest was more than four hundred li from Notting City.
The journey wasn't especially long, but it wasn't short, either.
It wasn't until noon the following day that the three finally arrived at their destination.
Throughout the long journey, Yu Xiaogang didn't keep anything to himself or hold back because Lin Mo had joined them at the last minute.
He patiently explained all kinds of basic knowledge to Lin Mo and Tang San, introducing them to some of the fundamental rules of Douluo Continent.
When the carriage stopped by the roadside to rest, and everyone got down to stretch their legs, Yu Xiaogang, just as expected, took the initiative to ask about Lin Mo's Martial Soul.
Lin Mo was prepared for his questions.
He immediately handed Yu Xiaogang the certificate Su Yuntao had given him at his Martial Soul Awakening, which he had prepared beforehand.
Then, following Yu Xiaogang's instructions, he demonstrated the full process of Martial Soul Possession right in front of him.
Lin Mo had no issue cooperating and felt no resistance whatsoever.
Body Martial Souls were exceptionally rare, and in this era, even fewer people knew they existed.
Without ever having encountered another Martial Soul of the same kind, Yu Xiaogang couldn't determine the true nature of Lin Mo's Martial Soul by observation alone.
Besides, the innate talent he had possessed since his Martial Soul Awakening—Inversion of Three—had completely changed the appearance of his Body Martial Soul during possession.
Ordinary Body Martial Souls didn't cause any especially noticeable physical changes after possession.
But after Inversion of Three took effect, Lin Mo's entire body changed drastically when his Body Martial Soul possessed him, making him completely unlike ordinary Body Martial Soul Masters.
These unusual changes made it much harder for others to identify his Martial Soul.
If Yu Xiaogang could still see through the true nature of Lin Mo's Martial Soul under these circumstances, then Lin Mo would sincerely have to call him Grandmaster.
Before long, under Yu Xiaogang's guidance, the three arrived safely at the main entrance to Soul Hunting Forest.
The entrance was guarded by a checkpoint belonging to Spirit Hall, where several guards in uniform were checking visitors.
Yu Xiaogang presented the Soul Hunting Warrant. Once the guards had inspected it, the three officially entered Soul Hunting Forest.
The instant they stepped into the forest, the clamor of carriages and the noise of the outside world were cut off.
Before them, ancient trees towered into the sky. Thick trunks rose densely from the ground, stretching straight up toward the heavens.
Lush branches and leaves overlapped, weaving into a dense canopy that blocked the blazing sun and kept the forest cool.
A gentle breeze drifted through the woods, accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds and the faint rustle of the wind.
Lin Mo stretched his limbs and drew a deep breath of the fresh forest air, feeling the tension leave his entire body.
Surrounded by this pristine, natural landscape, he felt his body and mind unfurl, and a deep sense of comfort washed over him.