Grandmaster, You Took Another Spirit Bone Meant for Tang San!

Yu Xiaogang rose and stepped closer, his gaze settling on the claws.

He took a silver metal block from his Storage Soul Tool.

Holding it in his palm, he offered it to Ye Lin's right hand. "Here, give it a light scratch."

Ye Lin extended his right hand and lightly brushed the outermost claw against the silver metal.

A long, narrow slit appeared in the block without a sound. Its edges were as smooth as tofu sliced with a knife, without a single burr.

Yu Xiaogang studied the slit for two seconds, then drew the block back and turned it over to inspect the other side of the cut. His smile deepened.

"As expected of a Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear's claws. They're incredibly sharp."

He put the block back into his Storage Soul Tool and clapped his hands, though his eyes remained on Ye Lin's right hand.

"You really found a treasure. With this Spirit Bone, your attack power will rise several levels."

He paused, then added in a calmer tone,

"When you face opponents with tough bodies, those claws will be your best way to break through their defenses."

Ye Lin nodded and retracted the claws.

"You're right, teacher. I was thinking the same thing."

"Oh, right. You said earlier that I shouldn't absorb one next time."

"So if I come across another External Soul Bone, I shouldn't absorb it?"

Yu Xiaogang looked awkward at once.

He coughed and rubbed the tip of his nose.

"Of course you should absorb it right away."

"Whatever kind of External Soul Bone it is, absorbing it can only benefit you."

"An External Soul Bone's main function is to greatly strengthen the body. That's especially valuable for someone with a Body Martial Soul like yours."

He paused and tapped a finger lightly on the table.

"And for you, this External Soul Bone has another advantage."

"What advantage?"

"You don't need to hide it."

Ye Lin froze. "I don't need to hide it? Why?"

"If I show it, won't people find out? That could put me in danger. Someone might want to take it."

Yu Xiaogang smiled.

He leaned back in his chair.

"They might covet it if it belonged to someone else, but not you. Don't forget, your Martial Soul is your body."

"Body Martial Souls are rare enough these days, and people who've successfully cultivated them are rarer still. Spirit Hall's records don't have a single previous case. Even I've never seen one, let alone anyone else."

"So if a claw appears on your hand, people will assume that claw is your Martial Soul. No one will imagine it's an External Soul Bone."

Ye Lin's eyes lit up.

He looked down at his right hand, then back at Yu Xiaogang. A smile slowly spread across his face. "That's my teacher for you!"

Yu Xiaogang waved him off.

"That's enough flattery."

"Remember what I said. From tomorrow onward, as far as everyone else is concerned, your Martial Soul is the Dark Gold Dreadclaw."

"You can use that claw openly in battle, no matter who's watching."

Ye Lin nodded firmly.

"But Spirit Hall has my records. They say my Martial Soul is my own body, and some people already know I have a Body Martial Soul."

Yu Xiaogang gave a soft snort.

"Just say you didn't notice it before and only figured it out now. No one will think of an External Soul Bone. Hardly anyone even knows they exist."

"As for Spirit Hall..."

"Hmph."

"I'll handle it."

"Now, go get ready for dinner."

"Afterward, get a good night's sleep. We're heading back early, and I've prepared a gift for you."

Ye Lin nodded. "Yes!"

A gift? What kind of gift?

Ye Lin hadn't expected that. His teacher had only gone along to help someone else assess a Spirit Ring. What gift could he have brought back?

Everyone ate at a restaurant outside the hotel, filling every seat around a long table.

The meal was nothing lavish, but it was far better than chewing dry rations in the Star Dou Forest.

Dai Mubai ordered a jug of wine. He poured a cup for each of the teachers, then one for himself.

Ma Hongjun kept his head down and shoveled food into his mouth, his bowl piled high with meat.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing ate slowly, occasionally exchanging a few quiet words.

Xiao Wu sat beside Ye Lin and slipped food into his bowl from time to time.

Tang San sat at the other end of the table, eating at a steady pace. He seldom reached for another dish, but the rice in his bowl kept dwindling.

He looked up at no one and said nothing more.

After dinner, everyone returned to their rooms.

Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Flender woke them all.

They gathered outside the hotel, yawning. Yu Xiaogang counted everyone and, once he was sure no one was missing, led the group toward Nuoding City.

By evening, Shrek Academy's crooked wooden gate came into view.

Everything looked just as it had when they left.

But as they crossed the threshold, every one of them walked with a steadier step.

Oscar immediately let out a groan.

"Oh, I can't take it. I need a proper night's sleep."

"I barely slept at the hotel last night. It felt like I'd only just closed my eyes when they woke us to hit the road."

Flender laughed.

"All right, you'll have the next two days off."

"Classes officially begin in three days. Go get some rest."

Everyone cheered and scattered.

Ma Hongjun disappeared into his dorm without looking back, slamming the door behind him.

Dai Mubai stretched and glanced toward Zhu Zhuqing. She had already turned toward her room, walking with a light step and never looking back.

Ye Lin was about to head to his room when Yu Xiaogang called to him from behind. "Ye Lin, come to my room."

Ye Lin answered and followed Yu Xiaogang into the quiet little courtyard behind the academy.

Once inside, Yu Xiaogang sat at his desk, took a square box from the Storage Soul Tool on his wrist, and set it on the table. He pushed it toward Ye Lin.

"Remember when I told you I'd prepared a gift?"

As Ye Lin looked at the box, a familiar feeling surfaced.

His teacher had used a box just like this when he gave him the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone.

Could this be another Spirit Bone?

His heart beat faster. "I remember."

Yu Xiaogang tipped up his chin. "Open it."

Ye Lin slowly lifted the lid.

A Spirit Bone lay quietly inside.

It was purple, like a polished gemstone, with a deep luster across its surface. It had the shape of a tiny spider.

Eight slender legs spread from its central body.

The tip of each leg curved slightly, giving it a naturally vicious look.

Ye Lin's pupils contracted.

This... this...

Teacher, you took another Spirit Bone meant for Tang San!