Yu Xiaogang Gets a Taste of His Own Medicine

Yu Xiaogang slowly came to, his face still somewhat pale. The Mandala Snake's poison had already been cured by Tang San.

The first thing he did upon waking was look at Tang San with concern. "Xiao San, how did absorbing the Soul Ring go?"

Seeing that Yu Xiaogang was all right, Tang San finally felt relieved.

He then channeled his Soul Power, and a yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet. He gave a low shout. "First Soul Skill, Bind!"

Several thick strands of Blue Silver Grass abruptly burst from the ground and swiftly wrapped around a nearby sapling, binding it tightly.

At the sight, Yu Xiaogang rushed over without a thought for his wound and examined it closely, his brows drawing together slightly.

"The strength and speed of the Bind have both reached the standard of a Hundred-Year Soul Ring. Perhaps even better..."

"But it seems you didn't inherit the Mandala Snake's most distinctive neurotoxin."

His voice carried a trace of unmistakable regret. "What a pity. If it had the toxin, your Blue Silver Grass's control would have reached another level."

Tang San fell silent. He had sensed it too. Though the Blue Silver Grass's Bind Soul Skill was quite good, it still felt as if something was missing.

He couldn't help recalling how the Mandala Snake had suddenly slowed down, and his gaze unconsciously flicked toward Gu Han.

Yu Xiaogang sighed, temporarily setting aside his regret, and looked at Gu Han.

"Gu Han, your Martial Soul is a Mutated Martial Soul. I can't be certain what kind of Soul Ring you need."

"But since we're already here, we can help you look for a suitable one. Even a Ten-Year Soul Ring will let you officially become a Soul Master."

Yu Xiaogang thought to himself, I've never seen Gu Han's Martial Soul in any book. His disposition is difficult to assess, and he seems to have some sort of rift with Xiao San.

Since he doesn't want to become my disciple, I'll just find him a Ten-Year Soul Ring to help him advance to Soul Master. That'll fulfill my responsibility for bringing him to the Soul Hunting Forest and keep people from criticizing me.

Gu Han had seen the subtle changes in the Grandmaster's expression and the intentions he was hiding. He sneered inwardly.

His face calm, he said, "No need to trouble yourself, Grandmaster. I already have my Soul Ring."

As he spoke, to the astonished gazes of Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and Xiao Wu, who had just run over, Gu Han slowly raised his right hand.

The phantom of the Karma Scissors, wound with golden threads, slowly appeared.

At the same time, a rich purple Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet, radiating a heart-pounding surge of Soul Power.

"A Th-Thousand-Year Soul Ring!" Yu Xiaogang cried out. His eyes and mouth were wide enough to swallow an apple, and all the color drained from his face. He looked even worse than when he'd been poisoned.

"How is this possible? How could anyone absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as their first Soul Ring?! Are you... human or a Soul Beast?"

One of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul that Yu Xiaogang had devoted his life to researching was the theory of the limits to which a Soul Master could absorb a Soul Ring.

Gu Han's first Soul Ring was a Thousand-Year Soul Ring. It completely overturned everything Yu Xiaogang knew and turned the theory he'd been so proud of into a joke!

Tang San's pupils contracted sharply. His fists clenched, and he was just as shaken.

His first Soul Ring is a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? How did he do that?

Didn't the teacher tell me that the highest age anyone could absorb for their first Soul Ring was a little over four hundred years? There's never been a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as a first Soul Ring in the history of Soul Masters.

Could the theory my teacher has always stood by be wrong? Or was the theory he told me all a lie? At that moment, a storm raged in Tang San's heart. He even began to doubt his teacher.

[ Ding! Congratulations, host! You've shaken Yu Xiaogang's worldview! Reward: 200 Modified Points ]

[ Congratulations, host! You've made Tang San doubt Yu Xiaogang. Reward: 50 Modified Points ]

Xiao Wu covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes carrying a hint of fear. "Gu Han, you... how did you get your Soul Ring?"

Gu Han had, of course, noticed that hint of fear in Xiao Wu's eyes. But he didn't explain. He simply withdrew his Martial Soul and Soul Ring with an air of indifference. He'd already achieved his goal of putting them in their place. He'd let Yu Xiaogang and the others figure out the details for themselves.

Looks like Xiao Wu's got the wrong idea. I'll come up with an explanation for her later.

On the way back to Nuoding Academy, the mood was somewhat heavy. Gu Han's Thousand-Year Soul Ring had dealt Yu Xiaogang a serious blow, and he remained silent the whole way.

Tang San was preoccupied too, occasionally eyeing Gu Han warily.

Xiao Wu was quiet as well, seeming somewhat dejected.

Just as they were about to leave the Soul Hunting Forest and had begun to relax a little...

"Roar!"

A furious beast's roar exploded from the woods to one side. A Thorn Boar with blood-red eyes charged out.

It seemed to have been provoked somehow. Without a thought for its own safety, it barreled toward Xiao Wu, who was closest to it. Two sharp tusks gleamed coldly!

"Xiao Wu, watch out!" Gu Han reacted in a flash. His threads of karma had already foretold that danger was coming.

Xiao Wu was still dejected and hadn't reacted in time. Gu Han lunged forward, shoved her hard behind him, and raised an arm to shield himself.

"Thud!"

A heavy impact rang out.

Although Gu Han had managed to defend himself in time, the Thorn Boar's charge was immensely powerful. His chest tightened and his throat turned sweet. He staggered backward several steps, and the boar's spikes cut several gashes into his arm. Blood instantly stained his sleeve red.

"Gu Han!" Xiao Wu regained her footing after being shoved aside. Seeing that Gu Han had been hurt protecting her, she cried out and hurried over to support him, her face full of worry and anxiety. "Are you all right? You're bleeding!"

The frenzied Thorn Boar tried to attack again, but Tang San reacted in time and briefly restrained it with the Blue Silver Grass's Bind. The Grandmaster also forced himself to rally and directed Luo Sanpao to drive it away.

"I'm fine. It's just a surface wound." Gu Han shook his head, gesturing for Xiao Wu to let go.

But Xiao Wu ignored him. She stubbornly took a clean handkerchief from her little bundle and carefully wiped the blood from his arm. Her eyes reddened slightly, and her voice was full of concern. "Thank you, Gu Han. Why did you jump in front of me?"

After Gu Han had risked himself to save her, Xiao Wu had clearly grown closer to him and more reliant on him. The dejection she'd felt over the Soul Ring had vanished without a trace.

Tang San watched Xiao Wu fuss over Gu Han, asking after him with tender concern. For some reason, he felt deeply uncomfortable.

At last, the group returned to Nuoding Academy without further incident.

However, as soon as they reached the area near Dorm Seven, they heard a string of arrogant shouts from inside, along with the work-study students' restrained cries of anger.

"Wang Sheng, do you want another beating?"

A few older students led by Xiao Chenyu were blocking the entrance to Dorm Seven, shouting menacingly at Wang Sheng and the other work-study students inside.

Gu Han watched the scene, then glanced at the wound on his arm, which had already stopped bleeding. His eyes turned cold.

"Looks like some people never learn."