Yu Xiaogang: As Long As You Apologize, I Can Teach You

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang had clearly recovered quite a bit; at the very least, they could walk normally, though the "pigeon-toed" gait remained obvious.

Zhao Linchuan stopped in his tracks, his gaze sweeping back and forth over their unique walking styles with keen interest. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he teased them in a relaxed tone:

"Yo, isn't this the Grandmaster and student Tang San? Haven't seen you two in a while—did you go out to pick up some part-time work for extra cash?"

"Looking at that posture, the job must have been hard on the legs, right?"

At these words, Tang San's body shuddered violently. The horrific images of those seven days of inhuman torture in the Hunting Soul Forest cave flashed through his mind instantly. His stomach churned, and his face turned several shades paler.

The cruel grins of those two green monsters, the omnipresent torment, the unspeakable humiliation... every detail was etched into his soul.

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms, using the sharp pain to force himself to stay calm.

Yu Xiaogang fared slightly better; he had been unconscious for most of that time, leaving his perception of the "details" of their ordeal blurry. His fear was derived more from Tang San's fragmented words and his own injuries after the fact.

However, the flippant use of the word "extra cash" still made him feel insulted, and his expression grew even gloomier.

Tang San took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, stepped forward, and said coldly, "Zhao Linchuan, enough with the nonsense."

"I, Tang San, formally challenge you to a soul duel!"

"If you lose, you must sincerely apologize to my teacher in public, admit your previous rudeness and shallowness, and... apprentice yourself to my teacher and become his student!"

Almost the exact moment Tang San finished speaking—

[Detected current plot node: 'Classmate Challenge'. Our God King Tang seems full of confidence in his first soul skill, 'Bind', and is preparing to use it to wash away his shame and vindicate his teacher.]

[Triggered Choice Mission:]

[Option 1: Defeat him with absolute strength, then humiliate him to your heart's content. Loudly declare that his so-called soul skill is nothing but laughable trash in your eyes, and thoroughly trample his pride.]

[Reward: Growth-type torso bone *1 (age grows automatically with the host's soul rings), Divine Weapon--Soul-Severing Blade, System Points *100,000.]

[Soul-Severing Blade: When an attack lands, there is a 2% chance to directly reduce the target's current life energy by 20% (effect is reduced against targets above god-level).]

[Option 2: Defeat him in a "clever" way, then act "suddenly enlightened." Pretend to "agree" with Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's theories and claim that you were "wrong." Lift this master and student up high, then... watch as they walk further and further down the wrong path, eventually becoming a laughingstock.]

[Reward: Growth-type torso bone *1 (age grows automatically with the host's soul rings), Holy Spirit Origin Flower *1, System Points *100,000.]

[Holy Spirit Origin Flower: Contains the pure origin of the Holy Spirit, which can greatly increase the cultivation and recovery speed of the Puni Martial Soul's "Holy Spirit Power".]

One hundred thousand points! As expected, as the protagonist levels up, the rewards rise accordingly.

Zhao Linchuan felt a surge of joy and quickly weighed his options.

The "Soul-Severing Blade" from Option 1 was a god-tier item for sneak attacks; though the probability was low, the effect was terrifying.

The "Holy Spirit Origin Flower" from Option 2 was a long-term nourishment for his core martial soul with immense potential.

He glanced at the stubborn-looking Yu Xiaogang and the eager-to-prove Tang San, and a mischievous plan formed in his mind.

Killing with kindness is often more interesting than direct suppression, and it makes for better harvesting. I choose two.

[...Rewards will be issued later.]

Exiting the system space, Zhao Linchuan put on a look of "surprise" and "interest" and said:

"A soul duel? Sure! I've got nothing better to do."

"However, since it's a challenge, there has to be a wager, right?"

"If I lose, I'll do as you say, but what if you lose?"

Tang San replied without hesitation, "Name your terms!"

"Straightforward!" Zhao Linchuan clapped his hands and said with a smile, "I won't make it too hard for you. If you lose, you have to get down on all fours and, like a beast that knows the way, crawl three full laps around the outer wall of our Notting Academy."

"How about it? Do you dare to accept?"

"Hmph! Why wouldn't I!" After obtaining his first soul ring, Tang San had truly felt the transformation of his Blue Silver Grass and was full of confidence in the control and toxicity of his "Bind" soul skill. "The clearing behind the mountain, let's fight!"

"Lead the way." Zhao Linchuan had no objections. He shoved his hands into his pockets and followed leisurely, thinking to himself, I used my right fist to knock him away last time. This time... I'll try using my left hand to see the effect.

In the clearing in the woods behind Notting Academy, a relatively flat area.

Zhao Linchuan and Tang San stood facing each other from north to south, about ten meters apart.

Yu Xiaogang stood to the side, enduring the discomfort in his legs and trying his best to stand straight as he acted as the referee.

A bright yellow soul ring rose from beneath Tang San's feet, rhythmically circling his body.

He extended his right hand, and a deep blue stalk of Blue Silver Grass sprouted from his palm. The leaves were thicker than before, deep in color, and faintly exuded a sense of resilience.

He announced his name in a deep voice, "Tang San, Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, Level 11 Tool Soul Master! Please advise!"

Zhao Linchuan tilted his head, seemingly considering whether or not to reveal his soul ring.

In the end, he decided to keep an ace up his sleeve.

He just flicked his fingers casually and said in a relaxed tone, "Zhao Linchuan, Martial Soul Glimmer. Please."

"Begin!" Following Yu Xiaogang's command, a sharp glint flashed in Tang San's eyes. He swung his right hand forward violently, and the Blue Silver Grass in his palm surged instantly. Over a dozen deep blue blades of grass, like agile snakes, shot toward Zhao Linchuan with a sharp whistling sound!

Zhao Linchuan, however, seemed to "react a beat too slow." Facing the incoming Blue Silver Grass vines, he didn't dodge or evade, instead "flusteredly" extending his right arm in an attempt to block.

With a few thwip sounds, several thick Blue Silver Grass vines easily "bound" his arm, then quickly coiled around it like living creatures. In the blink of an eye, they had wrapped around his right arm several times, with purple light faintly flowing along the vines.

Zhao Linchuan immediately "froze," a look of "shock" and "disbelief" appearing on his face. He looked down at the Blue Silver Grass that was tightly binding him and continuing to tighten, and exclaimed:

"Is... is this the Blue Silver Grass after obtaining a spirit ring? It can actually Bind and restrain on its own, and it even has toxins? It really is worlds apart from ordinary weeds!"

He raised his head and looked at Yu Xiaogang, who was wearing a smug expression on the side, and said in a "sincere" tone:

"Previously, I was like a frog at the bottom of a well, underestimating the Master's theories."

"Now it seems that the Master's saying, 'There are no trash spirits, only trash spirit masters,' and the approach of finding suitable animal spirit rings for plant spirits truly have their own unique merits! I was presumptuous!"

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang unconsciously straightened his back. A flush of excitement appeared on his pale face, and his eyes flickered with the fanatical glow of "finally being understood."

He cleared his throat with restraint and spoke in a tone of "the child is teachable": "Zhao Linchuan, it is not too late for you to realize this now."

"If you are willing to put aside your prejudices and sincerely take me as your master, I can teach you everything I know, just as I have guided Little San, and unearth the true potential of your spirit! I will ensure you no longer waste this talent of yours!"