Words Like Swords, Characters Like Blades!

"Su Sanjia, explain this to me. How did you absorb a Soul Ring beyond your level?"

The dagger was finally revealed! Yu Xiaogang could no longer tolerate it. He desperately wanted to get his hands on this secret method! How could such a supreme technique be kept entirely by Su Sanjia alone? This was something that could truly change the landscape of the continent, and naturally, someone had to spread such a thing. For the future of the entire continent, Yu Xiaogang could only reluctantly—joyfully, ecstatically—use his reputation, even going so far as to classify it as the Eleventh Core Competency Theory of Martial Souls!

At those words, the others from Shrek all pricked up their ears and turned their eyes toward Su Sanjia. A secret that could raise the age limit of Soul Rings one could absorb? Who would not want something like that? Never mind how much it could improve oneself—if this information were applied within the forces backing them, it would be an enormous boon! Ning Rongrong in particular, usually as mischievous as a little witch, did not even dare breathe too loudly now.

"Teacher, this..."

Tang San's expression was conflicted. Having studied under Yu Xiaogang for so long, he knew full well how important that so-called secret method was. No matter how Su Sanjia had done it, such a method belonged to him in the end. Tang San could not claim to be an upright man, but he had owed Su Sanjia a huge favor not long ago. He wanted to say something, but when he saw Yu Xiaogang's gaze and considered the importance of that secret, he forcefully swallowed the rest of his words.

"Su Sanjia, I hope you understand that a method for absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's level will affect Soul Masters across the entire continent! It can benefit countless living beings. You should share it!"

Yu Xiaogang spoke with righteous conviction. Oscar, standing beside Su Sanjia, was so furious that his face had gone red. Just as he was about to speak, Su Sanjia pressed a hand onto his shoulder.

"Brother Sanjia?"

Oscar looked utterly confused. Su Sanjia shook his head at him, then looked at Yu Xiaogang with a teasing expression.

"A method for absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's level? Benefiting Soul Masters across the continent? Heh. More likely, the moment I tell you, before it can even spread through the continent, it will become the Eleventh Core Competency Theory of Martial Souls, won't it?"

"Yu Xiaogang, you call yourself a master and have established yourself in this world with the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls. But I'm curious: as someone who has not even broken through to Soul Elder, where did you get cultivation experience regarding Soul Elders, Soul Ancestors, and Soul Masters of even higher ranks? Where did you get so much research material? Don't tell me you collected it all yourself!"

Yu Xiaogang wanted Su Sanjia's method for absorbing Soul Rings beyond his level, while Su Sanjia aimed directly at the theories Yu Xiaogang was so proud of!

It was unknown whether the people of Douluo Continent simply did not like thinking or whether there was some hidden reason, but no one had ever questioned theories published by a level-29 Soul Grandmaster! Never mind whether those theories were true or not—where had Yu Xiaogang, by himself, obtained all those vast quantities of documents and research materials?

"Of course I created them by consulting enormous amounts of literature, combined with this master's wisdom! Su Sanjia, don't change the subject!"

A flicker of guilt passed through Yu Xiaogang's eyes. Could Su Sanjia know some inside information? No, impossible! He was only a fourteen-year-old brat. Flender had never said Su Sanjia came from any prominent family either. He was merely a commoner!

"Is that so? Then Master truly possesses astonishing wisdom!"

Su Sanjia sneered. That expression instantly ground away the little comfort Yu Xiaogang had just found. Yu Xiaogang was certain Su Sanjia knew some of the truth, but so what? Never mind Yu Xiaogang's backing—once he obtained the method for absorbing Soul Rings beyond his level, he would still be that lofty Master, and his fame would far surpass what it had been before!

"The method for absorbing Soul Rings beyond one's level is simple! As everyone knows, the age limit of the Soul Rings a Soul Master can absorb is directly proportional to their physical strength. If you want to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring or Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring beyond your level, you only need a body strong enough to match it!"

Su Sanjia did not keep pressing Yu Xiaogang over the truth behind his Soul Master theories. What fun was there in exposing the truth before Tang San and the others? Revealing it before all eyes would be truly entertaining! As for the so-called secret method Yu Xiaogang wanted, Su Sanjia had told him already. This really was the truth!

However, Yu Xiaogang naturally refused to believe such an answer! A level-20 Quasi-Soul Grandmaster possessing the physical strength of a level-30 Quasi-Soul Elder? That was simply the ramblings of a madman! It was utterly impossible!

Yu Xiaogang was certain this was not the truth.

Yet the others all showed looks of realization.

They knew exactly how strong Su Sanjia's body was. With merely a few Self-Created Soul Skills, he had become a terrifying existence capable of winning a hundred consecutive battles in the Soul Fighting Arena. Su Sanjia's body was even more monstrous than his talent!

"That is absolutely impossible!"

Using a powerful body to absorb a Soul Ring beyond one's level as early as the second Soul Ring? In theory, it was indeed possible, but these days, what decent person still believed in theories?

At any rate, Yu Xiaogang did not believe it!

Having failed to obtain the secret method he wanted, Yu Xiaogang naturally could not let the matter rest. He still tried to use righteousness and the greater good to force Su Sanjia's hand, but Su Sanjia completely refused to buy it. Yu Xiaogang's argument gradually rose from changing the current state of the Soul Master world to historical development, even dragging in things like safeguarding love and peace in the world...

But that had absolutely nothing to do with Su Sanjia!

It was only when Yu Xiaogang brought up that line of his again—"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters!"—that Shrek's opinion of Master improved somewhat. After all, Tang San was proof enough. At the very least, being able to cultivate Blue Silver Grass to such a degree showed that this man had some real ability.

"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters? Hahahaha!"

Su Sanjia's voice interrupted Yu Xiaogang's impassioned speech. He threw back his head and laughed, his laughter filled with utter mockery.

"What are you laughing at? Did this master say anything wrong?"

"Of course you did! You were completely wrong! You say there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters? Then may I ask, Master, what exactly are you?"

He spoke such grand and lofty words, yet had forgotten that he himself was the perfect example. Yu Xiaogang truly was something else, and Su Sanjia had no intention of letting him off so easily!

"A Blue Silver Grass Soul Master who reached Soul Elder at only twelve years old is indeed remarkable. But what does that have to do with you? Tang San was a genius from the start. He got where he was today through his own efforts! If you wanted to prove your theories, why didn't you find a child with poor talent?"

Every word from Su Sanjia struck straight at Yu Xiaogang's heart. Yu Xiaogang's face turned pale, and for a moment, he did not know how to retort.

"Su Sanjia, don't view my teacher so narrowly! I dare say that even someone with poor talent would achieve something under my teacher's guidance! It is only because no such person has become my teacher's disciple yet!"

Tang San lied. He knew that back at Nuoding Academy, although many students looked down on Yu Xiaogang, quite a few still wanted to try their luck with him, hoping to receive the guidance of Yu Xiaogang, whose theories were said to be unrivaled. But how could the proud Yu Xiaogang agree? Never mind teaching students—after spending so many years at Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy, he had not taught a single class!

"Th-that's right. It's only because there was no opportunity!"

Yu Xiaogang stubbornly echoed him.

At that moment, Su Sanjia found everything laughable to the extreme!

"Interesting. Truly interesting!"

"Master, do you really not remember me? Nuoding City, Martial Soul Radiant Light, Innate Soul Power level three! Do you remember my letter of apprenticeship? Then again, how could a lofty Master notice a piece of trash with only level-three Innate Soul Power, someone only slightly stronger than himself?"

Su Sanjia grinned savagely. The stifled resentment in his heart finally found a measure of release.

At those words, Yu Xiaogang looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He stared at Su Sanjia, his lips trembling violently. His legs gave way beneath him, and he actually fell to the ground. His eyes went blank as he finally caught hold of a fragment in his memories that he had nearly forgotten!

"It... it was you!"