"Little brother Ping'an, before we came, didn't you say you'd let Bing'er and me each fight Tang San?
Why wouldn't you let us fight after your match?"
After parting ways with Tang San, Dugu Yan stared at Gu Ping'an, thoroughly annoyed.
After seeing her martial soul and soul rings, Yu Xiaogang had kept asking her for information about her martial soul.
If she hadn't been worried about interfering with Gu Ping'an's plan, she could have folded Yu Xiaogang into thirds with a single punch.
Recalling his spar with Tang San, Gu Ping'an's expression grew solemn.
He had underestimated techniques like Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and the Hundred Solutions to Hidden Weapons.
Combat on the Douluo Continent tended toward an exchange of soul skills, one from you, one from me.
Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record effectively gave him another means of attack beyond his martial soul.
If his soul skills failed, he still had hidden weapons.
Especially in the early stages, soul masters possessed few soul skills, while he had a complete system of martial arts attacks.
Once their soul skills proved useless, they were practically standing on the side of defeat.
"Let me work out some more offensive and defensive techniques first. At this stage, you'll have a hard time beating Tang San if you suppress your soul power."
Gu Ping'an's gaze settled on Shui Bing'er and Dugu Yan.
"Of course, you don't need to worry. The stronger you become, the less useful hidden weapons are.
Once you become gods, hidden weapons will essentially lose their usefulness."
"Gods?" Shui Bing'er's and Dugu Yan's mouths formed little O's.
Xiao Wu's beautiful eyes widened. "That evil little brat Tang San is that powerful?"
Equally shocked, She Long turned to look at Gu Ping'an.
"So when you face Tang San, don't let your guard down, no matter how much lower his soul power is than yours.
Later, I'll try to work out new techniques to counter his advantage in hidden weapons."
For now, the Five Elements Rotation Technique was only a technique for cultivating soul power, with the additional benefits of nourishing the body and improving physical strength somewhat.
"Then what are we doing next?" Xiao Wu skipped over to Gu Ping'an's side.
"Hiding soul bones!"
"Then secretly steering Tang San toward finding them."
Meanwhile, Tang San excitedly sought out Yu Xiaogang.
"Master, I've discovered why Gu Ping'an can absorb soul rings beyond his age limit."
"Xiao San, you found it? Tell me quickly. I'll analyze it for any problems. If there aren't any, you'll be able to use it too."
Yu Xiaogang clamped both hands onto Tang San's shoulders, gripping so hard that veins bulged on the backs of his hands.
His face flushed red, and he could no longer conceal the excitement in his eyes.
"Master, a little gentler."
Tang San shifted his shoulders uncomfortably.
"Sorry, I got carried away. Making this method for absorbing soul rings beyond the age limit public would undoubtedly benefit the entire soul master world."
"Make it public?" Tang San stopped just as he was about to speak, his expression gradually freezing.
If it became public, wouldn't I lose the chance to use it to widen the gap between myself and everyone else?
Unacceptable!
Completely unacceptable!
"Xiao San, what's wrong?"
Seeing Tang San freeze, Yu Xiaogang excitedly grabbed his shoulders again and shook him.
As long as he published the method for absorbing soul rings beyond the age limit under his own name, the name Yu Xiaogang would surely shake the continent.
Then the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect would certainly ask him to return to the family with the utmost courtesy.
"Xiao San, didn't you say you'd found the method for absorbing soul rings beyond the age limit? Tell me!"
Tang San stared at the flushed zombie face Yu Xiaogang had thrust before him, his mind racing.
Stupid brain, think!
If I'd known, I would've said I hadn't managed to get an answer yet.
"Master, it's soul bones!"
After a long while, Tang San wilted like a deflated ball.
In such a short time, he couldn't come up with another method that sounded plausible yet couldn't be verified.
"Soul bones!"
"So it's soul bones! Why didn't I think of that?"
"I must write this into my Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. Then I'll rename it the Eleven Core Competencies of Martial Soul."
Suddenly, as though something had occurred to him, Yu Xiaogang whipped his head toward Tang San.
"Xiao San, you said the reason he can absorb soul rings beyond the age limit is soul rings? Doesn't that mean Gu Ping'an has a soul bone?"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes burned with eagerness. "Xiao San, next time you see Gu Ping'an, have him come to me. I have something to discuss with him."
"Yes, Teacher. If there's nothing else, I'll go cultivate."
"Go on, Xiao San."
Only after Tang San left did Yu Xiaogang raise his hands, trembling with excitement.
Publishing the method for absorbing soul rings beyond the age limit would surely make his name shake the continent.
And there was a soul bone, too. Absorbing it might give him a chance to break through his rank-thirty soul power bottleneck.
Soul bones and fame-he, Yu Xiaogang, wanted them all.
At the gates of the Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy.
Tang San glanced around, then slipped out through the gates somewhat furtively.
"There are a lot more Spirit Hall people on the streets."
Within Tang San's field of vision, several people dressed in Spirit Hall uniforms hurried along, their eyes searching in every direction.
"They're looking for something." After reaching that conclusion, Tang San's breathing gradually grew heavier.
Soul bones!
Someone really did hide soul bones near Nuoding City.
"You're hiding the soul bones here? Are you sure that evil little brat Tang San can find them?"
Xiao Wu looked up at the waterfall before her.
According to Gu Ping'an, there was a cave behind the waterfall.
"My lord, if you hadn't told me, even I probably wouldn't have discovered the cave behind the waterfall if I passed through here."
She Long marveled inwardly. His lord not only possessed extraordinary talent, but even his methods of hiding things were beyond the reach of ordinary people.
"How strange. Why does this place look man-made?" Dugu Yan turned toward Gu Ping'an.
She suspected this was a cave he had dug beforehand.
"Wait, could this be where that evil little brat Tang San's father hid Auntie Blue Silver?"
Xiao Wu covered her mouth, her expression both sorrowful and shocked.
The cave was dark and damp. The only place where a little light could be seen was a small opening in the ceiling.
Beneath the opening was a mound of earth that looked like the spot where the Blue Silver Emperor had once been planted.
It probably received only a few minutes of sunlight a day.
"This place isn't suitable for blue silver grass to grow at all."
"Xiao Wu, do you know this place?" Shui Bing'er moved closer to Xiao Wu and asked softly.
"Yes. My Auntie Blue Silver was deceived by Tang Hao..." Xiao Wu began recounting the story Gu Ping'an had once told her.
Gu Ping'an glanced over without paying them any further attention, then dug a hole where the Blue Silver Emperor had originally been planted and buried six jade boxes.
After filling the hole back in, he looked up at the tiny opening above.
Unfortunately, he had already eaten the Blue Silver Emperor. Otherwise, he could have played Tang San's fake father for a while.
Back in Nuoding City.
Gu Ping'an used blue silver grass to check on Tang San and Yu Xiaogang again.
Tang San was wandering around Nuoding City, going wherever there were more Spirit Hall personnel.
It was a clever idea. He was alone, while Spirit Hall had more people and more comprehensive information. Following its members in their search gave him a better chance of finding the bones.
Yu Xiaogang, on the other hand, had remained holed up in his room, doing who knew what.
Gu Ping'an frowned slightly, feeling that something was off.
There were six soul bones. There was no way Yu Xiaogang wouldn't be tempted.
Why would he keep hiding in his room?
Gu Ping'an didn't know that Tang San and Yu Xiaogang each had their own agenda.
Tang San hadn't told Yu Xiaogang about the six soul bones.
Yu Xiaogang, meanwhile, was wholly focused on publishing the method for absorbing soul rings beyond the age limit.
"No! I have to go take a look!"
Before you continue