Xu Qianqian, Tang San, Xiao Wu (Part 2)

Xiao Wu, who was standing nearby, immediately perked up when she heard someone was about to speak ill of Yu Xiaogang.

She also felt that Yu Xiaogang's theories were rather unreliable. After learning how knowledgeable Xu Qianqian was, along with their previous friendship over those gold coins, she immediately dragged Tang San over.

Besides, she was a hundred-thousand-year Soft-Boned Rabbit. Could she possibly know less than Yu Xiaogang, a human? But she could not reveal that.

Blue Silver Grass absorbing a beast martial soul from the very beginning sounded wrong no matter how she thought about it.

"Does this Master have some... uh, extraordinary past?"

Xiao Wu pressed on, but when she saw Tang San's dark expression, she involuntarily shifted the topic slightly.

"I don't know whether you two are aware, but he and I both used to be rather special honorary teachers at this academy."

"However, that Master had his honorary teacher title revoked by vote several years ago."

"Revoked? Why?" Tang San was stunned. His teacher was so learned and talented—were the people of Notting Academy all fools?

"Master... let me tell you something." Xu Qianqian sighed heavily.

"A few years ago, Master Yu ruined a soul master student through his teaching. Not long after that student withdrew from the academy, he took his own life."

In fact, this matter was somewhat connected to Xu Qianqian herself. Her abilities were so remarkable that she could even help people identify the age of spirit rings.

Then, someone had believed Yu Xiaogang, who had also been an honorary teacher at the time, and absorbed an unsuitable spirit ring—essentially becoming a guinea pig.

The problem was, not every martial soul was like the Blue Silver Emperor in Tang San's hands. Even before awakening, it was still no ordinary thing.

And so, that student met a tragic end.

"N-No way!" Xiao Wu covered her mouth, her face full of disbelief.

"Impossible... How could Teacher..."

Tang San had initially been angry, but upon hearing this, his pupils dilated.

Xu Qianqian sighed. "He had a student with a beast martial soul absorb the spirit ring of a plant-type spirit beast, causing problems with that student's martial soul."

"Although the academy suppressed the matter, as a teacher, I still learned about it."

Seeing that Tang San and Xiao Wu were still dumbstruck, Xu Qianqian continued, "The path is yours. You should think carefully about how to walk it yourselves."

"I also admire Master Yu's knowledge, but I cannot approve of him using students as experiments for his own theories."

"Of course, choices go both ways. Since that student trusted Master Yu at the time, there is not much we can say."

"How could this be?" Tang San's head buzzed.

He did not think Xu Qianqian had any reason to deceive him. There was no conflict of interest between them.

All it would take was some verification to uncover clues.

"Little San..." Xiao Wu looked at Tang San worriedly. The current Xiao Wu was not like in the original story; she had not yet acknowledged Tang San as her brother. Besides, she had obtained her first hundred-year spirit ring even sooner than Tang San.

"Xiao Wu, my mind is a little muddled." Tang San rubbed his temples.

After interacting with Master Yu Xiaogang for so many days, he had gained a fairly thorough understanding of his theories.

Yet here, he had received another explanation. Yu Xiaogang might not necessarily be right.

And could a plant martial soul really absorb an animal spirit ring?

Tang San began to harbor doubts.

The librarian before him was no ordinary student or teacher. She had also gained quite a reputation within the academy.

There were even rumors that if not for her inability to cultivate, she would likely have achieved great things.

Even now, she was practically Notting Academy's encyclopedia.

Her understanding of spirit beasts, spirit rings, martial souls, and cultivation was incredibly profound.

This had been verified by many sources, making her far more convincing than someone like Master, who merely proclaimed himself so.

"S-Senior Sister, then do you have any suggestions regarding my choice of spirit rings?"

By then, Xu Qianqian had already withdrawn her martial soul and was gazing quietly at Tang San.

"My suggestion would be to focus on life and healing."

"A support soul master?" Tang San asked in surprise.

"Yes. Blue Silver Grass can be considered an inferior substitute for the Blue Silver King."

"Although it has relatively strong compatibility, every spirit beast and martial soul has its own strengths and weaknesses."

"Abandoning its strengths to deliberately bolster its weaknesses is not a wise choice, in my opinion."

"Let me give you an example." After thinking briefly, Xu Qianqian said, "Suppose someone's martial soul is a shield. Do you think they should increase the shield's defensive power, or sharpen its edges so that swinging it could produce powerful damage?"

"Then... definitely its defensive power!" Tang San thought for a moment before saying, "But in certain situations, it might also need some offensive capability."

"You're right." Xu Qianqian nodded. "But defense should remain the priority. Offense is only used as a last resort to preserve one's life."

"A shield is fundamentally meant for defense. While increasing its offensive power may give it some strength, the returns are not great."

"If you sharpened the edges of the shield, it could likewise be used as a blade. But that would be abandoning its strengths in favor of its weaknesses."

"That was also why the academy teachers did not accept Master Yu's theories."

Xu Qianqian paused for a moment, giving the two time to think before speaking again.

"I'm only giving an example. How you choose is still up to you."

"Thank you very much, Senior."

Tang San sincerely expressed his gratitude. If not for this conversation, he truly would not have known about Yu Xiaogang's past.

Tang San and Xiao Wu left the library.

"What will you choose, Tang San?" Xu Qianqian looked at the empty entrance, recalling what had just happened.

She was somewhat curious about Blue Silver Grass's versatility, but that was all.

Besides, life- and healing-type soul beasts were not so easy to find.

Blue Silver Grass's strong compatibility also meant that even if it absorbed a healing-type soul beast, its soul ring skill was not necessarily guaranteed to be a healing one.

On the way back.

"Third Brother, I think Senior has a point," Xiao Wu said cautiously.

"If something like a student dropping out and committing suicide had never happened, Senior couldn't possibly have made it up."

"I understand." Tang San nodded. "It's just that... Master's kindness..."

A teacher for a day, a father for life.

If not for Master this time, he probably would not have been able to enter Notting Academy.

What Xu Qianqian said made a great deal of sense.

Perhaps Blue Silver Grass truly was stronger in healing and life-related aspects.

But she had overlooked one thing.

I, Tang San, am a member of the Tang Sect. Compared to being a support-type soul master, he hoped to become a battle soul master—preferably one whose martial soul could carry poison.

This was also what he and Master had unanimously decided after discussing it.

Blue Silver Grass could become a control-type battle soul master, and soul beasts like the Mandrake Snake were among the few Master had selected. Tang San found them fairly satisfactory as well.

"Xiao Wu, there's no rush. I'll talk to Master first."

"Third Brother, you still trust him?" Xiao Wu's eyes widened.

"Master saved my life. Even if something goes wrong with my martial soul cultivation, I still want to verify Master's theory once."

Though he said that, what Tang San cared about most was not becoming a support-type soul master.

That did not align with the Tang Sect's philosophy.

Several more days passed, and Notting City's lockdown was lifted.

Tang San and Xiao Wu did not visit the library during that time either.

However, one morning, not long after Xu Qianqian entered the library, a man dressed in a black robe and wearing a patterned mask appeared inside.

The moment she sensed him approaching, Xu Qianqian's heart sank, but she pretended not to notice.

Only when he stood before her did she reveal a surprised expression. "May I ask who you are, Senior...?"

"Go back and make your preparations. Tomorrow at this time, you will accompany me to the Soul Beast Forest."

"I need your ability to appraise soul beast ages. If you refuse, the consequences will not be something you or Notting City can bear."

As he spoke, a terrifying pressure bore down on Xu Qianqian.

"Yes, Senior."

Xu Qianqian bit her pearly teeth, her face pale as she nodded.

After the black-robed man left, Xu Qianqian slammed her palm onto the table, anger rising on her cheeks.

"So what if you're a Title Douluo? Tang Hao, I'll remember this."