Lin Chuan: He Couldn't Hold It In-He Just Couldn't Stop Laughing!

A flicker of anger passed through Tang San's eyes.

Brother Lin Chuan had already said he wouldn't fight, yet this little girl still dared to make a move?

And she went straight for a vicious throat-locking move?

His brother was a master of the sword. How could he lower himself to the level of a little girl like her?

Naturally, such trivial matters would be handled by him, the younger brother!

Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and instantly caught Xiao Wu's wrist.

Then he unleashed the Crane-Controlling Dragon-Capturing Force, borrowing her momentum to fling her away.

The two exchanged several moves in an instant.

Xiao Wu's Soft Technique was exquisite, while Tang San's footwork was elusive.

In the end, Tang San held back because she was a girl and did not strike too heavily.

Xiao Wu was also astonished by Tang San's strength, and the two retreated from each other.

Xiao Wu looked at Tang San, a spark of excitement flashing through her eyes.

"You're amazing!"

"You're much stronger than that guy sitting there doing nothing! I'm not challenging him anymore. I want to challenge you!"

Tang San stood before Lin Chuan and stared coldly at Xiao Wu.

"You can challenge me, but you are not allowed to disturb my brother's rest."

"And my brother isn't making a move because you're simply not qualified to make him draw his sword."

"If he did make a move, you'd already be a corpse."

Tang San's stern expression startled Xiao Wu. She stuck out her tongue.

"Tch, what a braggart. Fine, then don't fight."

Lin Chuan sat behind them, watching Tang San act so fiercely protective, and his heart blossomed with amusement.

[Ding! Detected Tang San actively defending the host's dignity and repelling Xiao Wu.]

[System feedback: Host's movement technique +1.]

Lin Chuan stood and patted Tang San on the shoulder.

"All right, Xiao San."

"We're all classmates. Stop while you're ahead."

"Xiao Wu, right? You can be the boss, but from now on, you're responsible for Dorm Seven's cleaning."

"Why!" Xiao Wu protested.

Lin Chuan said seriously, "The boss has to be responsible for cleaning. That's the custom here!"

"If you don't believe me, ask Wang Sheng, the previous boss!"

Xiao Wu looked at Lin Chuan, then at the stern-faced Tang San, feeling that something was off.

Nearby, Wang Sheng nodded meaningfully, pressing his lips together without saying a word.

He was afraid he would break character.

Tang San secretly thought, Why had Brother Lin Chuan suddenly started pranking people too?

Early the next morning.

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang arrived outside Dorm Seven.

"Xiao San, are you ready?"

"Today, I'll take you to Soul Hunting Forest to obtain your first Spirit Ring."

Grandmaster had changed into a set of fitted clothes, making him look much more capable.

Tang San had long since packed up.

But he did not agree immediately.

Instead, he looked toward Lin Chuan, who was still sleeping in bed.

Tang San said respectfully, "Teacher."

"Could you bring Brother Lin Chuan along too?"

"He also has Innate Full Soul Power and needs to obtain a Spirit Ring."

Grandmaster frowned slightly.

To be honest, he was still bothered by Lin Chuan refusing to take him as a teacher yesterday.

In his view, although Lin Chuan was highly talented, he was far too arrogant.

People like that would never understand the importance of theory until they suffered a setback.

Grandmaster said solemnly, "Tang San, Soul Hunting Forest is no child's game."

"Taking care of you already takes considerable effort. If we add one more..."

Tang San suddenly dropped to his knees.

"Teacher!"

"Please! Brother Lin Chuan gave up becoming your disciple because of me."

"If he doesn't obtain a Spirit Ring, we won't be able to cultivate together."

"If you won't take him, then I... I won't go either!"

Grandmaster froze. He had not expected Tang San to be so stubborn.

He glanced at Lin Chuan and found that Lin Chuan was already awake.

The child was sitting up and rubbing his eyes, looking completely innocent.

Grandmaster sighed. To appease his beloved disciple, he could only compromise.

Grandmaster said, "Fine."

"But let me make this clear first, Lin Chuan. Since you are not my disciple, you must obey instructions in the forest."

"If something happens to you because you run around recklessly, I won't be responsible."

Lin Chuan yawned and slowly put on his shoes.

"Don't worry, Grandmaster. I'm terrified of dying. I'll definitely hide behind you."

In truth, Lin Chuan had been worrying about how to get himself a Spirit Ring.

The system could grant attribute points, but Spirit Rings needed a plausible public source.

Tagging along with Grandmaster would conveniently conceal the truth.

Along the way.

Grandmaster tried to regain face in front of Lin Chuan.

And also to teach Tang San.

So he began enthusiastically lecturing about his theoretical knowledge.

"Look, that's a Variegated Cat, a ten-year soul beast. It isn't very aggressive."

"That's Lone Bamboo, a plant-type..."

Grandmaster went on and on, while Tang San listened attentively and took notes.

Lin Chuan, meanwhile, let it go in one ear and out the other, idly waving a foxtail grass stem in his hand.

At last, they came across a Lone Bamboo.

"Tang San, look at this Lone Bamboo."

Grandmaster pointed at a bamboo stalk beside the road that glimmered with a bluish light.

"Although it only has ten years of cultivation, Lone Bamboo is tough. If you absorb it, your Blue Silver Grass will become tougher. This fits the control-system path I designed for you."

Tang San nodded thoughtfully.

"Toughness is indeed what Blue Silver Grass lacks."

Grandmaster shot Lin Chuan a smug glance.

The meaning was obvious: this was the power of theory.

Yet Lin Chuan suddenly snorted with laughter.

"What? Do you have a different opinion?" Grandmaster's expression darkened.

Lin Chuan shrugged.

"Grandmaster, I don't understand theories."

"I just think, what's the greatest trait of grass? Vitality!"

"Wildfires can never burn it all away; with the spring breeze, it grows again."

"You're looking for bamboo in pursuit of toughness."

"Then why not just use a hammer? Isn't a hammer harder than bamboo?"

Lin Chuan casually continued, "I think the essence of Blue Silver Grass is Endless Life."

"If that vitality could be developed to its fullest, then whether it was binding or defense, who could break it?"

"Even if it were broken, it would grow back instantly. Wouldn't that be the most disgusting kind of control?"

Those words were like lightning flashing through Tang San's mind.

Vitality... with the spring breeze, it grows again...

Tang San looked at the Blue Silver Grass in his hand and fell into deep thought.

Grandmaster taught him to make Blue Silver Grass like rope, like vines, pursuing poison and toughness.

But what Brother Lin Chuan said struck directly at its origin!

That was right!

Blue Silver Grass was weak because it could be found everywhere.

But precisely because it could be found everywhere, its vitality was the most tenacious.

If I abandoned its life attribute in pursuit of poison and hardness, wouldn't I be putting the cart before the horse?

Grandmaster, however, scoffed at Lin Chuan's words.

"Childish! A life attribute? Do you know how difficult it is to find soul beasts with life attributes?"

"Life attributes have no offensive power in the early stages. Do you want Tang San to become a support Soul Master who can only heal?"

"Blue Silver Grass is already an ordinary martial soul. If he doesn't follow the control-and-poison route to increase its lethality, then it truly will be useless!"

Grandmaster felt that he had seized upon Lin Chuan's weak point and fiercely refuted him.

Tang San was caught in the middle, torn between the two.

His teacher made sense, but his brother made even more sense.

Lin Chuan did not argue. He merely said mildly, "Practice is the sole criterion of truth."

"Xiao San, listen to your teacher. After all, he's the professional."

For some reason, the word "professional" sounded particularly grating to Grandmaster.