Interesting.
Zhou Tong realized that the plot of the original work had already begun; Tang San and Xiao Wu had already obtained their spirit rings, and it was even highly likely that they had already become disciples of Yu Xiaogang.
He collected his Spirit Hall subsidy and then headed toward Nuoding Academy.
Now that he was a Spirit Master, he could technically graduate from the Spirit Master academy immediately.
However, he hadn't decided where to go yet, so he remained at Nuoding Academy for the time being.
Just as he returned to the academy, Zhou Tong saw quite a few students gathered around the playground, each of them wearing an expression of excitement.
Curious, Zhou Tong squeezed into the crowd of onlookers.
It turned out to be Xiao Wu battling Xiao Chenyu.
There was no suspense; Xiao Wu completely crushed Xiao Chenyu, drawing gasps of amazement from the crowd.
This farce ended quickly, and Zhou Tong turned to leave.
However, a figure stepped out from the crowd and abruptly blocked his path.
"You're Zhou Tong?"
"I am the Grandmaster's disciple, Tang San."
"You dared to insult the Grandmaster."
"I want to challenge you on the Grandmaster's behalf. If you lose, I want you to kneel before the Grandmaster and kowtow in apology."
Zhou Tong looked back to see a thin, frail youth standing before him, his face full of gloom, as if he were ready to kill at any moment.
In particular, the sneer at the corner of Tang San's mouth exposed his true thoughts.
In Tang San's view, a teacher for a day is a father for life; since Zhou Tong dared to mock his teacher, he had already invited his own death.
Only making Zhou Tong kneel and kowtow was him being magnanimous.
After all, with so many people in the academy watching, it would be a huge hassle if Tang San actually killed someone.
Even if he were to kill, it would be better to do it when no one was around.
Tang San had lived two lives, yet both were filled with beastly behavior and a tendency toward being a homicidal maniac; he would resort to killing at the slightest disagreement.
Now, he had simply learned how to put on a facade.
Zhou Tong, however, laughed. "You want me to fight, so I have to fight you?"
"You giant man-child, what on earth is going on in that head of yours?"
Zhou Tong looked at Tang San as if he were an idiot. This person actually wanted to coerce him; how could Zhou Tong possibly fall for it?
Tang San was a giant man-child who wanted to act like a thug while finding a high-sounding excuse for himself, and Zhou Tong wasn't about to indulge him.
He wanted to see what kind of tricks this abstract Tang Biesan was planning to pull.
"Are you afraid?"
"You're a coward!"
Tang Biesan was well-versed in the art of provocation. He believed that children of this age were the least capable of resisting a challenge, and he felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with using a few underhanded tactics to deal with Zhou Tong.
Once Zhou Tong took the bait, he would beat him severely, perhaps even use some hidden weapons to secretly cripple him, and take the opportunity to establish his own prestige.
It was killing two birds with one stone.
Zhou Tong laughed again.
"You giant man-child, you have criminal tendencies."
"You're constantly provoking people and talking about killing; has your brain been squeezed by a door?"
"Go see a doctor as soon as possible; don't go around biting people like a rabid dog."
"Besides, you said if I lose I have to kneel, but what happens if you lose?"
"Don't tell me you, this giant man-child, are just going to turn tail and run if you lose?"
"And even if I did lose, so what? You're nothing; you have no right to make me kneel."
"I think, since you've at least grown a human body, why are your habits like a dog's, always wanting to kneel?"
Mocked by Tang Biesan, Zhou Tong sneered coldly; he wasn't about to tolerate the little brat at all.
This retort was logical, well-founded, and highly mocking, causing the crowd to burst into laughter.
"This Tang San, he's just a little kid and he's already acting like a thug."
"Is this the disciple the Grandmaster took in?"
Facing the crowd's chatter, Tang San's expression turned gloomy, and he gritted his teeth. "Then what will it take for you to agree to a match?"
He felt that this Zhou Tong was very troublesome; he hadn't fallen for the trap and had even exposed his scheme.
Tang San suppressed a fire in his heart; as long as Zhou Tong agreed to a duel, he would make sure to teach him a lesson.
"Zhou Tong, what conditions do you need to accept the challenge?"
Xiao Wu, who had been standing by his side looking somewhat chubby and cute, said coldly.
"If you want to fight, fine. We'll only use our martial souls. If you lose, give me your belt."
"If I lose, I'll compensate you with ten gold soul coins."
Zhou Tong pointed indifferently at the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges on Tang San's waist and spoke.
"This is a soul tool; it's worth far more than ten gold soul coins!"
"You're here for a soul fight, why are you so demanding?"
Xiao Wu hopped out, singing in harmony with Tang San, which made people feel nothing but disgust.
Zhou Tong felt a deep, genuine loathing for this love-struck rabbit.
Her brain didn't work; she was hoodwinked by a swindler like Tang San, following him around like a dog and mindlessly snapping at others.
He sneered, "If you don't want to fight, then get out of my way."
"If you provoke me, you have to pay the corresponding price!"
"You were the ones who demanded this. Whether I agree or not is entirely up to me."
His mockery immediately sent the surrounding crowd into a roar of laughter.
"Hahaha, Zhou Tong has backbone!"
"Exactly! You're the ones looking for trouble; did you think others would just let you run wild?"
Many people had long held grievances against Tang San and Xiao Wu; the two of them were far too overbearing.
They were thrilled to see the two of them made a laughingstock.
"I accept."
Tang San said.
He was very confident. In his past life, he had stolen the Tang Sect's secret techniques for hidden weapons and the Mysterious Heaven Skill; he was certain he could handle a child of the same age.
"Good, it's a deal."
Tang San never once considered that he might lose.
With his hidden weapons, the Mysterious Heaven Skill, and the enhancement of his Datura soul ring, how could he possibly lose to a little brat?
He even felt that he could defeat Zhou Tong within a few moves.
When that time came, he would reclaim the Grandmaster's reputation.
In his eyes, the Grandmaster was a true master of theory.
After all, the Grandmaster had known he possessed twin martial souls just by looking at a certificate from the Spirit Hall; his theories were undoubtedly flawless.
As for this Zhou Tong, he had acted on his own, ignored the Grandmaster's advice, and obtained a soul ring by himself—he was nothing but a fool.
Today, he would trample Zhou Tong underfoot and make a name for himself.
"Then let's begin!"
Zhou Tong said calmly, a pale golden vine manifesting in his hand, ready to strike at any moment.
Since Tang San wanted to gift him a soul tool, why should he refuse?
And so, under the gaze of everyone present, Zhou Tong and Tang San stood in the center of the training ground.
"Zhou Tong, you refuse to acknowledge the Grandmaster; you will regret this for the rest of your life!"
Tang San's eyes were cold. A common stalk of Blue Silver Grass appeared in his hand, and a yellow soul ring hovered beneath his feet.
"Tang San, life is long. You don't know a damn thing. The one who will truly regret this is definitely you!"
Zhou Tong was practically dying of laughter.
This Tang Biesan had been swindled by Yu Xiaogang and still thought he had found a treasure.
Once he realized the truth, he would surely regret it to his dying day.
"Zhou Tong, Martial Soul: Thunderous Hell Vine, Level 13 Battle Soul Master!"
"Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, Level 13 Control System Soul Master!"
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