Tang San Brims with Confidence and Challenges Qin Yun

Flender saw that Yu Xiaogang paid it no mind.

He let the subject drop.

Then he took Yu Xiaogang aside to catch up.

Qin Yun returned to his room.

Having just broken through, he needed to stabilize his Soul Power.

He sat on the edge of his bed, crossed his legs, and settled his breathing, drawing his focus inward to his four newly formed black soul rings.

The changes brought by his fourth soul ring ran deeper than he had expected.

Soul Power felt entirely different as it flowed through his meridians.

It had grown steadier and denser, each strand carrying a palpable weight.

He could clearly sense the elements drifting in the air: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and more.

They floated slowly around him like countless tiny points of light.

With a thought, he nudged an oxygen molecule. Its point of light trembled, then drifted gently in the direction he willed.

The corners of Qin Yun's mouth lifted.

The foundation laid by his four Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings had taken his control over the elements a great step beyond finesse, giving it real depth.

He closed his eyes and continued regulating his breathing.

He remained that way all afternoon, until the sunlight outside his window turned orange-red.

Qin Yun slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

His whole body felt clear, and his mind was refreshed.

At dusk, a jumble of footsteps and the chatter and laughter of young voices came from beyond the courtyard gate.

Zhao Wuji had returned with Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others.

Yu Xiaogang strode out of Flender's room.

The moment he heard the gate, he could no longer sit still.

He hurried toward Tang San. The gloom vanished from his face, replaced by an almost urgent anticipation.

He caught Tang San by the arm and looked him up and down.

"Xiao San, how did the trip go?"

"Tell me everything."

Tang San's eyes warmed when he saw Yu Xiaogang. He had always regarded his teacher with respect and affection.

They sat on the stone steps beside the field, and Tang San recounted his experiences in Star Dou Great Forest in detail:

He had unexpectedly encountered the Titan Giant Ape, been ambushed by a Man Faced Demon Spider, devised a way to kill it, absorbed its thousand-year soul ring, and gained a third soul skill, Spiderweb Binding, whose effects and power he described.

As he spoke, he gestured and drew a strand of Blue Silver Grass from his fingers. Faint, intricate dark patterns showed on the vine.

Finally, he described the extra spider legs he had gained from the Man Faced Demon Spider.

Yu Xiaogang nodded repeatedly as he listened, his eyes growing brighter.

He slapped his knee, unable to hide the delight in his voice.

"Good! Excellent! The Man Faced Demon Spider is among the most vicious spider-type soul beasts. Your Blue Silver Grass martial soul absorbed its ring, and their attributes are compatible. You couldn't have chosen a better ring!"

He spoke with the certainty and excitement of a man whose theory had been proven right yet again.

At Yu Xiaogang's approval, a relieved smile spread across Tang San's face.

Then his expression grew complicated, as though something had occurred to him.

"Teacher, there's something I want to ask you," he said quietly.

"You taught me that a Soul Master's first two soul rings have strict age limits—the first no older than four hundred and twenty-three years, and the second no older than seven hundred and sixty-four."

"But I met someone whose first three soul rings are all purple thousand-year rings."

Yu Xiaogang turned, fixing his gaze on Tang San's face.

"Three thousand-year soul rings?"

Tang San nodded.

"His name is Qin Yun. He's a student at Shrek Academy too."

At the name Qin Yun, Yu Xiaogang's brow twitched. He recalled Flender mentioning at noon that he had taken in a gifted student.

He had thought little of it then. However talented the boy was, surely he could not compare with Tang San.

Now Tang San's words had piqued his curiosity. He wondered how Qin Yun had been able to obtain thousand-year soul rings from the start.

Yu Xiaogang fell into thought.

Tang San suddenly said, "Teacher, after the boost from my third soul ring, I'm confident I can beat him."

He raised his eyes toward Qin Yun's room, his gaze burning.

"Tomorrow, I'm going to challenge him again."

He still remembered how Qin Yun had sent his Dragon Whisker Needle flying back at him, forcing him to swallow his anger.

Now that he had broken through, that anger surged up again.

He had lost decisively that day and been badly injured by Qin Yun.

But he was no longer the same fighter.

His new soul skill, Spiderweb Binding, had formidable restraining power.

The Man Faced Demon Spider's legs were an unexpected killing move.

He refused to believe he would fall again without being able to fight back.

Yu Xiaogang emerged from his thoughts and saw the fighting spirit in Tang San's eyes. He did not try to dissuade him.

"All right," he said.

"Actual combat is the best test of your progress."

Tang San nodded firmly. "I know."

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Qin Yun stepped out of his room.

He wore a crisp white fighting outfit with fitted cuffs, giving him a clean, sharp appearance.

He walked onto the training field and found all the academy's students there.

Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the other four were present, along with Yu Xiaogang and Flender.

Flender had always given Qin Yun plenty of freedom.

Though he had accepted Qin Yun into the academy, he rarely interfered with the boy's training.

For one thing, he could not make heads or tails of the Periodic Table of Elements martial soul; reckless advice might only lead the boy astray.

For another, Qin Yun was steady and sensible, never giving anyone cause for worry. Flender had simply let him find his own way.

For eight years, Qin Yun had planned almost all his training himself. Flender had only provided money and support when it mattered.

Now, sitting beneath the eaves, Flender watched Qin Yun approach with undisguised admiration in his eyes.

As soon as Tang San saw Qin Yun,

he stepped forward.

"Qin Yun, I want to challenge you to a match!" he called.

Xiao Wu clenched her fists and shouted at Tang San's back.

"You can do it, Xiao San!"

The onlookers reacted in different ways.

Ma Hongjun leaned toward Dai Mubai and muttered, "Boss Dai, Tang San killed a Man Faced Demon Spider in Star Dou Great Forest and got a thousand-year soul ring. He even sprouted a few spider legs. It does look pretty strange."

"But beating Qin Yun..."

He grinned and swallowed the rest, though his face plainly said, Not a chance.

Qin Yun had left far too deep an impression on him.

These days, even mentioning Qin Yun made the fat boy lower his voice.

Dai Mubai folded his arms across his chest.

"Not necessarily. Tang San's no pushover either."

Qin Yun met Tang San's burning gaze but did not answer at once.

He turned his head toward Flender beneath the eaves.

Flender glanced at Yu Xiaogang.

"Go on, then. Have a match with Tang San," he said.

He paused, then added,

"Just don't hit him too hard."