Yu Xiaogang: He Can Reach at Most Level Nineteen!

"Xiao San, go get the fourth book from the left on the second shelf of the bookcase on the left. Your task these next few days is to finish it. It contains my research on Tool Martial Souls and should be helpful to you... Hmm? Xiao San, Xiao San!"

Yu Xiaogang had originally intended to assign Tang San some homework, but when Tang San failed to respond for a long while, he looked up and found him completely distracted.

"Hmm? Teacher, what did you just say?" Tang San jolted back to his senses.

"What has been wrong with you these past few days? Why have you been so absent-minded?" Yu Xiaogang frowned.

Tang San opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he could only force a bitter smile.

"A few days ago, you went with that Cheng Xiao to hunt a Soul Beast, didn't you? Were you injured?" Yu Xiaogang thought back and asked.

"No. I wasn't hurt. Cheng Xiao hunted a Soul Binding Vine. It wasn't very difficult, it's just..." Tang San was dejected. "Teacher, I'm starting to doubt whether taking the path of a Control System Soul Master was the right choice."

Yu Xiaogang's expression turned solemn. His disciple had begun doubting the Soul Master path he had chosen for him. That was not a good sign.

Whatever had happened a few days ago must have been serious. Otherwise, it would never have driven Tang San into self-doubt. Yu Xiaogang understood this disciple's temperament well enough.

"What happened? Tell me in detail."

"A few days ago, Xiao Wu and I helped Cheng Xiao hunt a five-hundred-year Soul Binding Vine, and then..."

"Wait, did you say five hundred years? Are you sure you weren't mistaken?" Yu Xiaogang interrupted.

"There's no way I was wrong. Teacher has taught me for so long, don't you know that? I remember Soul Binding Vines, as plant-type Soul Beasts, being extremely sturdy. There's no chance of error."

Yu Xiaogang sprang to his feet, his eyes flashing with excitement. Five hundred years—a five-hundred-year first Soul Ring! That meant physical strength truly could affect the upper limit of a Soul Ring! No wonder that boy trained himself so desperately every day!

He needed to publish a paper as soon as possible and give the Soul Master world a small shock.

No, that boy could at most count as an isolated case. He needed a second case before it would be convincing enough. And that second case had to take place under fully controlled conditions to persuade everyone.

And that second case...

Yu Xiaogang's gaze fell on Tang San. His breathing quickened. No one was more suitable than his disciple!

"Isn't this a good thing? He proved that Over-Limit Absorption is possible, yet this is enough to discourage you?" Yu Xiaogang smiled and shook his head, consoling him. "Don't forget what I taught you before. Although Soul Ring age is important, it is nowhere near as important as a Soul Master's path. As long as you choose the right direction, the disadvantage in Soul Ring age can be compensated for."

"Besides, he helped us verify the feasibility of Over-Limit Absorption. We can safely try it later. Don't worry, I'll arrange all your training plans so that you can make up for these gaps with your later Soul Rings."

Tang San shook his head and forced a smile. "Thank you, Teacher. But that isn't why. It's because... I lost to him."

Tang San then recounted every detail of that day's sparring match to Yu Xiaogang.

After hearing Tang San's account, Yu Xiaogang fell silent. He had never expected that a Mutated Martial Soul with only one level of Innate Soul Power could perform so outstandingly. It truly exceeded his expectations.

But that was as far as it went. One level of Innate Soul Power was still one level of Innate Soul Power. No matter how astonishing the first soul skill was, it could not conceal the fact that it belonged to trash.

After a long silence, Yu Xiaogang spoke again. "Xiao San, Teacher does not blame you for this defeat. But you should never have become so despondent these past few days. Do you even regard me as your teacher?"

Tang San was startled. Those words were serious. He immediately knelt before Yu Xiaogang. "Teacher, what are you saying? How could Xiao San possibly not regard you as my teacher? A teacher for a day, a father for life. Since Xiao San has taken you as my teacher, that will never change for the rest of my life."

"Ah, get up." Yu Xiaogang sighed softly and patted Tang San's head. "Xiao San, remember this. I am your teacher. From now on, whenever you have any doubts about cultivation, you should speak to me at once. As your teacher, I will point out your shortcomings and help you improve your future training."

"Yes, Xiao San understands. Xiao San knows he was wrong." Tang San nodded heavily.

"Xiao San, this loss was not your fault. You still lack real combat experience, so you suffered greatly because of it. Once you have more experience in the future, you will naturally find ways to deal with it. Take Cheng Xiao, for example. Do you think his soul skill is truly flawless?"

Tang San hesitated for a moment. Although he had not found a way to break it, he still instinctively believed Cheng Xiao's first soul skill was not without weaknesses.

"I can analyze three flaws in that soul skill in an instant." Yu Xiaogang raised three fingers.

"First, although a shadow follows a person, his shadow ability must be constrained by the shadow's size and darkness. If you rise into the air, wouldn't your shadow shrink and become lighter? At that point, the binding power of the shadow would naturally be greatly reduced."

"Second, the shadow must be limited by his Soul Power. From what you just described, the height of his shadow tentacles only reached your waist. Only after you fell could they bind you completely. Doesn't that mean their height has a limit? As long as you react immediately and jump, you may be able to avoid the tentacles' restraint."

"And most importantly, the third point: since the shadow has already become tangible, you can no longer treat it as a shadow. You should see it as a rope. And if it is a rope, it must have a limit to what it can withstand. If your Soul Power and strength are powerful enough, you can directly shatter the shadow tentacles."

Regardless of Yu Xiaogang's character, after studying theoretical knowledge so diligently for so many years, he did possess insight. He had actually analyzed Cheng Xiao's soul skill weaknesses and even ways to counter it. If Cheng Xiao had been there, he might even have applauded Yu Xiaogang.

However, all of that analysis rested on the premise that Cheng Xiao's Martial Soul was merely its current "crippled version." Once he truly unleashed the Shadow King, every soul skill's power would undergo a qualitative leap.

If someone really devised tactics against the current "crippled version," they would be carving a mark on a boat to find a lost sword. Cheng Xiao would probably laugh himself unconscious.

Tang San, however, knew none of this. After hearing his teacher's guidance, he immediately felt enlightened, and all the troubles that had plagued him vanished without a trace.

"Teacher, thank you for your guidance. I understand now!" Tang San said excitedly.

Sure enough, his teacher had been right. In the future, he could no longer casually doubt the path his teacher had chosen for him. His teacher had immersed himself in theory for so many years—how could he possibly have given Tang San the wrong path?

"Also, don't pay too much attention to Cheng Xiao. His Innate Soul Power is only at level one, yet I've seen him train himself to exhaustion every day. He is overtaxing his potential." The image of that figure who trained himself until utterly spent each day surfaced in Yu Xiaogang's mind. He declared with certainty, "I dare say that in this life, he can reach at most level nineteen!"

He squeezed himself dry every day without consuming large quantities of rare Soul Beast meat or medicinal herbs to replenish himself. Once he squandered all his potential, he would never be able to make another breakthrough.

"Are you really going to treat a Soul Master who will remain one for his entire life as your opponent? Don't waste your thoughts on him. You possess Twin Martial Souls. Barring accidents, you will surely become a Titled Douluo in the future. Your opponents should be the young geniuses of this continent, and those Titled Douluo who have long since made their names!"

Tang San nodded heavily. Right, why had he valued someone who could only ever remain a Soul Master so highly? That guy was simply unworthy of being his opponent!

The gap between them would only grow wider. By then, Xiao Wu would only become increasingly dependent on him, her brother, rather than Cheng Xiao!

For a moment, Tang San was in excellent spirits. The oppression Cheng Xiao had brought him was swept away.

"I understand, Teacher!"