This Is a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo

First, Qi Dao was a Commoner Soul Master with a clean background. Joining Spirit Hall was one strong option.

He also had an advantage: he, too, had a Mutated Martial Soul and only half a level of Innate Soul Power.

Once he made a name for himself, Bibi Dong might easily take notice, see a striking resemblance to someone from her past, and give him an important role.

But if Bibi Dong looked into his background, she would inevitably discover that he and Yu Xiaogang were hardly on friendly terms. That could make the whole plan backfire.

Besides, Bibi Dong's state of mind was far from normal.

The best way to deal with someone so unstable was to keep his distance!

Next, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was another option.

Its direct descendants possessed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul. Because they lacked the ability to protect themselves, the sect recruited talented Surnameless Disciples in large numbers.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin was also in the sect.

As the only Titled Douluo in Douluo I to achieve Man and Sword as One, Sword Douluo's understanding of Swordsmanship would undoubtedly help Qi Dao immensely.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had its drawbacks, though.

Namely, Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Operation.

Judging by his current cultivation speed, Qi Dao had no confidence that he would be strong enough to protect himself by the time Spirit Hall launched it.

That left the major advanced Soul Master Academies.

The most famous advanced Soul Master Academies in the Heaven Dou Empire were Heaven Dou Academy and the Five Element Academy.

But apart from Skywater Academy, which admitted commoners, not one of those academies accepted commoner students.

(As mentioned in the original work.)

Skywater Academy, however, only admitted female students with water attributes.

So he had to rule it out too.

Blue Tyrant Academy was actually one of the few advanced Soul Master Academies that admitted commoners and had a strong teaching staff.

If he joined Blue Tyrant Academy, having Liu Erlong lead his Soul Hunting trips would make them much safer.

But given Liu Erlong's relationship with Yu Xiaogang, joining Blue Tyrant Academy would be asking for trouble.

So that was out as well!

After turning it over in his mind, a name suddenly surfaced.

Qian Renxue!

No—he should call her Xue Qinghe now!

She might be a good choice!

First, if he entered Qian Renxue's service, he would no longer have to worry about Soul Rings.

Second, she could give him a way to meet Sword Douluo.

Third, a connection to Qian Renxue would greatly reduce the risk of being killed before he could grow stronger.

After all, both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Spirit Hall had killed gifted members of opposing forces.

As for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?

That clan was interesting. Its members were exceptionally proud. To put it bluntly, with Qi Dao's Innate Soul Power, they probably wouldn't give him a second thought.

With his mind made up, Qi Dao sighed.

At this rate, he probably wouldn't be able to stay until he finished sixth grade. He would have to leave early.

He was Level Nineteen now, but he would break through the Level Twenty bottleneck in six months at most.

(There is a bottleneck every ten levels. In the original work, Dai Mubai was stuck at the Level Forty bottleneck and broke through with the help of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Level Thirty, Level Seventy, and Level 90 are major bottlenecks.)

Once he reached Level Twenty, the sooner he absorbed a Soul Ring, the better.

He could continue accumulating Soul Power without absorbing one, but the amount a Level Twenty Soul Master accumulated in a day was not the same as what a Level Twenty-One Soul Grandmaster accumulated.

After absorbing a Soul Ring, both the body and Martial Soul grew stronger, so the rate at which one absorbed Soul Power naturally increased.

Just as Qi Dao reached his decision, Yu Xiaogang led Tang San into a room tucked away in a corner of the dormitory's top floor.

It was Yu Xiaogang's room. At a little over thirty square meters, it was not large, and bookshelves filled it.

Once inside, Yu Xiaogang took out a paper-wrapped parcel and handed it to Tang San.

A savory aroma drifted from the parcel. Tang San opened it and found two chicken drumsticks and a steamed bun.

His eyes instantly grew moist.

His teacher treated him so well. He had even brought him chicken drumsticks and a bun!

It was a warmth his father had never given him!

In that moment, Tang San felt nothing but respect for Yu Xiaogang. The sliver of doubt Wang Sheng had planted vanished like smoke beneath the chicken drumsticks' assault.

Yu Xiaogang was practically a second father to him!

Seeing Tang San's face full of gratitude, Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed with delight.

Now this was a good child!

He clearly knew how to be grateful!

Once he grew up, I'd be living in comfort.

After Tang San finished eating quickly, Yu Xiaogang smiled. "Release your Twin Martial Souls. Let me have a look!"

Tang San nodded, then released the Clear Sky Hammer.

The moment it appeared, Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted.

"This... this is the Clear Sky Hammer!"

"Tang San, Tang..."

"What is your father's name?"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement.

Tang San was curious to see Yu Xiaogang so shocked, but he answered, "My father is Tang Hao. He's just a village blacksmith!"

Yu Xiaogang drew a deep breath. He looked at Tang San with a strange expression, his eyes brimming with enthusiasm.

He had never imagined Tang San was that man's son!

No wonder he had Innate Full Soul Power.

He had known it—a commoner could hardly possess Innate Full Soul Power.

It was almost impossible!

Innate Full Soul Power, Twin Martial Souls, and the Clear Sky Douluo's son!

This was the disciple I'd dreamed of!

Yu Xiaogang was wild with joy inside, but his face remained composed. He said gravely, "Xiao San, you must never reveal your hammer lightly in front of outsiders. Understand?"

Tang San answered solemnly, "Teacher, I understand!"

Yu Xiaogang nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Tomorrow, I'll take you to absorb your First Soul Ring!"

Tang San immediately grew excited.

Once he absorbed a Soul Ring, he could truly call himself a Soul Master!

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. They were in the Soul Hunting Forest!

"Teacher, what kind of Soul Beast's Soul Ring should I absorb?" Tang San asked curiously.

A faint smile tugged at Yu Xiaogang's lips. He pointed to an emerald-green bamboo stalk ahead. "Xiao San, this is a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo. Its defining trait is toughness. It isn't very aggressive, but its defenses are decent."

"Then are we going to hunt this Solitary Bamboo?"

Yu Xiaogang stroked his chin.

"If we can't find another Soul Beast suited to you, this Solitary Bamboo would be a decent match for your Blue Silver Grass!"

Yu Xiaogang had never taken Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul seriously.

To him, the Blue Silver Grass was merely a stepping stone. The Martial Soul Tang San would mainly use in the future had to be the Clear Sky Hammer.

So if they truly could not find another suitable Soul Beast, Tang San ought to be satisfied with absorbing a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo!

Meanwhile, in a dark corner behind the two of them...

Hearing their conversation, Tang Hao's eyes turned bloodshot with rage, and he breathed like an ox.

"Damn you, Yu Xiaogang. If you really dare let Xiao San absorb a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo's Soul Ring, I'll twist your neck off!"

He also regarded the Blue Silver Grass as merely a stepping stone, but he did not want his son's First Soul Ring to be only a Ten-Year Soul Ring!

Especially when Tang San now carried his hopes of returning to the sect.

How could he possibly tolerate Yu Xiaogang letting Tang San absorb a mere Ten-Year Soul Ring?