Luring Tang Hao Out

Chen Xin furrowed his brows upon hearing this.

He did not like this aspect of Ning Fengzhi.

He disliked that the other man would calculate his own daughter into his schemes, and he disliked that the little princess he had doted on since she was small was being treated as a tool.

In his eyes, Ning Rongrong should live for herself, happy and joyful forever.

For this, he was willing to bear the burden and press forward.

Ning Fengzhi saw through Chen Xin's thoughts and offered comfort.

"Uncle Jian, as the Young Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, this is something Rongrong must experience."

This time, Chen Xin did not continue to insist.

Instead, he let out a heavy, long sigh and said.

"No wonder you would think to make a move against a commoner Spirit Master."

"But now, that Spirit Saint has already been defeated..."

"If it really comes to it, we will have to trouble Uncle Gu to make another trip after we return to the sect."

The evening wind was bleak; as it blew into the room, it caused the candlelight on the table to flicker incessantly.

The expressions of the two men at this moment were also cast in shifting light and shadow by the flickering flames.

The next day.

Shrek Academy.

Following the development of the original timeline, Oscar announced to everyone early in the morning that he had advanced to level 30, and Flender decided to take everyone to hunt for a spirit ring tomorrow.

Everyone was beaming with joy, having completely forgotten the conflict between Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai from the night before.

Afterward, following some "adaptive training"—which was essentially Flender forcing everyone to eat Oscar's sausages—the students were dismissed to go about their own business.

At this moment, Lin Yan seized the opportunity and called out to Tang San.

"Wait!"

"I think there is a problem with your Blue Silver Grass."

Tang San turned around, only then discovering that Lin Yan had been standing behind him without him noticing.

He did not speak, but instead scrutinized Lin Yan with a strange expression.

To this, Lin Yan explained.

"I have seen Blue Silver Grass Spirit Masters; they are all life-type healing Spirit Masters. Why are you a control-type?"

Tang San suddenly realized.

So that was it. He had been wondering why this guy had suddenly become so friendly; it turned out he was after the cultivation path of his Blue Silver Grass.

He looked at Lin Yan, his gaze shifting from his initial wariness to confidence, and the pride of someone eager to show off.

"This is the cultivation path my teacher planned for me."

"Naturally, you wouldn't understand."

Although Tang San was eager to show off his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, he held onto his "expert demeanor" and did not say too much.

Lin Yan took a few steps closer.

"Oh? I was quite curious before as to why you were able to cultivate to level 29."

"Logically speaking, if a person absorbs a spirit ring that contradicts the attributes of their martial soul, their cultivation of Soul Power should become slower and slower."

"And you..."

Lin Yan did not continue with the rest of his words, leaving plenty of room for Tang San's imagination.

Tang San frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Lin Yan:

"It's strange! Haven't you felt that your Soul Power cultivation speed has been getting slower and slower yourself?"

A brief silence fell over the scene.

Because, as it turned out, Lin Yan had hit the nail on the head regarding Tang San's situation.

It didn't matter if it was because of the increase in level or a change in his Blue Silver Grass martial soul.

All in all, with his innate level 10 Soul Power and the possession of a superior technique like the Mysterious Heaven Skill, being only level 29 at the age of 12 was indeed somewhat slow.

One had to know that Lin Yan was the same age as him, yet had already reached level 49.

Xiao Wu, who barely cultivated at all every day, still had Soul Power on par with his.

Therefore...

"Brother! He... he really makes sense."

"Blue Silver Grass shouldn't absorb poison-attribute spirit rings..."

Xiao Wu's words were the final straw that broke Tang San's psychological defenses.

"Xiao Wu, how could even you..."

"Impossible. The cultivation path my teacher laid out for me cannot be wrong. Don't try to alarm me with groundless talk."

"I am only twelve years old and have already reached level 29. Is this growth rate slow?"

Tang San shook his head repeatedly, denying the truth and attempting to escape reality.

At this moment, Lin Yan spoke up.

"What was your Innate Soul Power level?"

"Level 10!"

"I also had level 10 Innate Soul Power, and I am currently level 49."

"Ma Hongjun had level 9 Innate Soul Power, and he is currently level 29, just like you."

Lin Yan shook his head, his tone filled with regret.

He looked exactly like someone who had witnessed the fall of a genius with his own eyes, yet had been unable to stop it in time.

Lin Yan did not dwell on the matter further; leaving the bewildered Tang San behind, he turned and walked back toward the dormitory.

As he left, he tossed out one final remark:

"Your martial soul is very strange."

Not long after, Lin Yan returned to the dormitory.

He clenched his palms tightly, struggling to suppress the anxiety in his heart while carefully controlling the rhythm of his breathing.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Lin Yan leaned back into the sofa, feigning a nap with his eyes closed.

Wen Ruan lay in the bedroom, following Lin Yan's instructions to pretend she was asleep, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt.

Time slipped away slowly until a crisp bird call suddenly echoed from outside the window.

A deep, resonant mental transmission followed, ringing clearly in Lin Yan's mind.

"Come to the back mountain!"

The three brief words struck like a tolling bell, causing Lin Yan's sea of consciousness to churn violently.

Yet, there was not a hint of anger in Lin Yan's reaction; instead, there was a trace of hidden surprise.

You've finally arrived! Tang Hao!

Lin Yan rose from the sofa and exchanged a glance with Wen Ruan through the bedroom door. The two of them looked as if they had pre-arranged something, each displaying a different emotion.

Wen Ruan's expression was filled with worry, while Lin Yan's gaze burned with intensity.

That was right; everything Lin Yan had said to Tang San earlier—about cultivation speed and the development direction of Blue Silver Grass—was all intended to successfully lure out the Tang Hao hiding in the shadows.

And the purpose of luring out Tang Hao...

Was naturally to prepare for the arrival of other powerhouses from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future.

The plan had changed. Originally, Lin Yan intended to use the hands of the Spirit Hall to eliminate Tang Hao, which would allow him to kill Tang San and take Xiao Wu's spirit bone.

But after guessing Ning Fengzhi's intentions, Lin Yan had changed his mind.

Before long, at the academy's back mountain.

Deep within the dense forest, Lin Yan looked around, his eyes filled with just the right amount of confusion.

Suddenly, a figure shrouded in a tattered cloak appeared before him without warning.

Lin Yan's heart tightened.

Immediately after, he saw the nine spirit rings rising slowly from beneath the figure's feet.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red! The nine spirit rings pulsed in unison, churning the surrounding space like a millstone.

Lin Yan felt as though he couldn't even control his own breathing.

Damn it! Tang Hao's strength is actually this much greater than Ci Xue and She Long!

He lamented inwardly, yet on the surface, he feigned a look of cautious respect.

"A Title Douluo?"

"I am Lin Yan, of the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince's Guard. Greetings, Senior."

Lin Yan bowed in salute.

"Since you have graced us with your presence, Senior, may I ask if you have any instructions for me?"

"If there is anything I can assist with, I will certainly do my utmost."

Truth be told, Lin Yan had already lowered his posture as much as he possibly could.

With an attitude like that, no one could find any fault with him.

Tang Hao nodded slightly, then cleared his throat.

"What do you mean when you say there is a problem with Tang San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul?"

"Will the spirit rings he absorbs affect his cultivation speed?"

Hearing this, Lin Yan felt ecstatic inside.

He finally took the bait!