Yu Xiaogang: Was I Really Overthinking It?

"Life?" Tang San was bewildered as he looked toward Yu Xiaogang.

"Why life?" Yu Xiaogang asked.

"Any farmer knows this principle: Wildfires cannot burn it all away; when the spring breeze blows, it grows again. Blue Silver Grass is an exceptionally tenacious plant. Even if farmers burn it, new Blue Silver Grass will still grow from the scorched earth."

"So you're saying I was wrong, aren't you?" Yu Xiaogang interrupted Lin Hao.

Lin Hao shook his head slightly. "I didn't say that. Adding resilience to Blue Silver Grass is the right choice. After all, resilience is one of its traits. It's just that it has better options, along with even more powerful traits."

Yu Xiaogang was speechless.

Tang San felt even more conflicted.

After recovering from his surprise, the headmaster of Notting Academy reached out and patted Lin Hao on the shoulder, laughing happily. "Lin Hao, I never expected you to have the makings of a Grandmaster!"

Uh!

Lin Hao was nearly startled by the headmaster.

What did he mean, the makings of a Grandmaster?

That he could become someone like Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang in the future?

Lin Hao shot Yu Xiaogang a sidelong glance. Though he knew the headmaster did not mean it that way and was merely praising Lin Hao for his unique insights into Martial Soul theory, he still disliked Yu Xiaogang. That included disliking anyone comparing him to Yu Xiaogang.

He disliked even more the idea of someone treating Grandmaster as the ultimate goal of Lin Hao's future achievements.

"Teacher..." Tang San hesitated.

Every word Lin Hao had said made sense, backed by sound reasoning without any flaws to pick apart. Tang San was hesitating over whether he should develop toward the life system.

At first, Yu Xiaogang had planned for Tang San's Blue Silver Grass to develop toward the control system.

Tang San had been pleased because he possessed the Tang Sect's hidden weapons. He felt that if he used Blue Silver Grass to restrain enemies before firing hidden weapons at them, they would become living targets.

But as Tang San gradually came to understand Spirit Masters more deeply, especially after hearing Lin Hao's words, he suddenly felt that Blue Silver Grass could also develop toward the life system.

If Blue Silver Grass developed toward the life system, then he, Tang San, possessed a second Martial Soul—the Clear Sky Hammer.

The Clear Sky Hammer's offensive power was beyond question.

Blue Silver Grass could be endowed with vitality and heal him during battle, while the Clear Sky Hammer focused on offense and developed toward the path of ultimate attack.

Perfect!

Tang San suddenly felt that developing his two Martial Souls this way was extremely reasonable.

Yu Xiaogang's tone changed slightly as he stared at Lin Hao. "Did you do this deliberately?"

"What do you mean?" Lin Hao asked.

"You have ill intentions, boy. Little San has already added his first Spirit Ring, and its attributes are poison and control. Yet you're telling him to pursue the life system. It's impossible for him to follow the life system's path of evolution now. You didn't say this earlier, nor did you say it later—you only said it now. I suspect you deliberately said these things to interfere with Little San's cultivation." Grandmaster truly was a Grandmaster; he quickly found an argument favorable to himself.

"You can't put it that way either. I haven't been at the academy for very long. These realizations only came to me recently. Still, there is one thing you said wrong."

"Is that so?" Yu Xiaogang's lips twitched. Confident as he was, he did not think there had been anything wrong with what he had just said.

Lin Hao nodded seriously. "When used properly, poison can save lives. Every living thing carries a certain degree of toxicity. If Tang San wishes to follow the life system's path of evolution now, then theoretically, it is possible."

This was not empty nonsense.

But Yu Xiaogang was clearly growing anxious. He said loudly, "Enough. He is my student. He has acknowledged me as his teacher. I am the one guiding his Martial Soul cultivation, not you."

Yu Xiaogang did not want to continue talking with Lin Hao.

As far as he was concerned, he did not care what Tang San's future would be like. He only wanted to prove to the Spirit Master world that his theories were more than just theories.

Tang San was thinking. He was analyzing Lin Hao's words.

Should Blue Silver Grass follow the control system or the life system?

In future battles, should he rely mainly on hidden weapons or the Clear Sky Hammer?

"Little San..." Yu Xiaogang reached out and patted Tang San's shoulder. "Don't overthink it. The Ghost Vine's Spirit Ring is very suitable for your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. Its age has just surpassed seven hundred years. According to my theory, the second Spirit Ring should be below seven hundred and sixty-four years. If you give up this Spirit Ring, it will be difficult to find another seven-hundred-year Spirit Ring that also suits your Martial Soul!"

Tang San froze for a moment, then nodded. "Teacher, I'll listen to you. I'll absorb this Spirit Ring!"

As he spoke, Tang San no longer hesitated and moved to end the Ghost Vine's life.

Before long, a yellow Spirit Ring bearing seven patterns floated up from the Ghost Vine's corpse.

Tang San sat cross-legged and focused his mind on his Martial Soul.

Nearby, the headmaster and Yu Xiaogang stood guard for Tang San. Lin Hao sat beside the headmaster.

Perhaps because of what had just been said, Yu Xiaogang deliberately kept his distance from Lin Hao and sat with his back facing him.

The headmaster said quietly, "Lin Hao, your opinion was very good. It's a pity Tang San didn't accept it!"

"I merely said what needed to be said." Lin Hao smiled meaningfully and turned his head to look at Yu Xiaogang behind him.

Shattering the bond among the three was not something that could be done overnight.

Yu Xiaogang had been right about one thing: Lin Hao had done it deliberately.

Lin Hao had deliberately advised Tang San at this moment. His goal was to drive a wedge between Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.

Although Tang San had ultimately decided to evolve his Martial Soul according to Yu Xiaogang's plan, a seed that would fracture their relationship had already been planted in Tang San's heart.

Time passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, three days had gone by.

Three days later, in the Star Dou Great Forest.

The sun slanted across the sky, and ripples glittered on the water.

Beside a small lake, Lin Hao sat cross-legged. A flood dragon lay beside him.

It was over ninety feet long, its entire body a flowing indigo blue. White watery gleams shimmered along the edges of its scales, and a pair of crystal horns curved backward from its head.

This was no ordinary flood dragon. It was called the Indigo Tide Profound Flood Dragon.

Legend had it that a trace of true dragon blood flowed through its body. So long as the opportunity came, it could transform into a true dragon.

A moment later, Lin Hao opened his eyes, his gaze brimming with excitement.

Tang San stepped forward and asked curiously, "Lin Hao, what is your second soul skill?"

The Indigo Tide Profound Flood Dragon was a dragon subspecies, several levels above the Ghost Vine. This was Tang San's first time seeing someone absorb a dragon subspecies' Spirit Ring, so he curiously asked Lin Hao.

The headmaster hurriedly cut in. "Soul skills are a person's means of preserving their life. Tang San, that was presumptuous. How could you ask Lin Hao about his second soul skill like that?"

"This is different. Tang San and I are from the same village; we're fellow villagers. He isn't an outsider, so there's no need to guard against him so much." Lin Hao revealed a brilliant smile.

I refuse to believe that, with my intelligence, I can't toy with Tang San and Yu Xiaogang!