Cheng Xiao Has No Chance of Winning

Nuoding Academy, Headmaster's Office.

"Xiao Gang, Tang San has already obtained his second soul ring. Don't you want to see how strong he is now?" Mano set down the documents in his hand and spoke to Master, who sat ahead of him reading a book.

"Nothing worth seeing." Closing the book, Master looked up at Mano and said calmly, "Xiao San has sparred with Cheng Xiao in private, but every match ended in defeat."

"But this time, Xiao San's second soul ring gave him Ghost Vine's Parasite ability. Once activated, it will catch people completely off guard. Moreover, when paired with his first Soul Skill, it can achieve an unexpected effect. Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass previously lacked the ability to decide a battle's outcome, but with Parasite, Cheng Xiao will no longer have any possibility of winning."

Hearing this, Mano frowned slightly. "Xiao Gang, Cheng Xiao is still a genius with Innate Full Soul Power, and he possesses a top-tier beast Martial Soul."

"As far as I know, Cheng Xiao left the academy half a month ago and took another genius with Innate Full Soul Power to hunt Soul Beasts on their own. I don't think their strength can be as poor as you say."

"Besides, didn't you say Tang San had sparred with Cheng Xiao in private and lost? In my opinion, now that they have both obtained their second soul rings, they should have a proper match and see who is stronger—Tang San or Cheng Xiao. What do you think?"

"Xiao San won't lose." Master shook his head and said indifferently, "If you want to watch, then arrange it. I also want to see what effects Xiao San's second Soul Skill will have on the human body once used."

"That's more like it, Xiao Gang." Mano laughed heartily. "Then it's settled. Once Cheng Xiao and Xiao Wu return from hunting Soul Beasts, I'll arrange it right away."

At this, Master nodded. Then he rose to his feet, gave Mano a slight nod, and left the Headmaster's Office.

"Teacher, you wanted to see me."

Tang San gently knocked open Master's door. The moment he entered, he saw Master seated in a chair, staring at him with burning eyes.

"Xiao San, you're here." Master rose from his chair, walked over to Tang San, and reached out to pat his head.

After two years together, Master had already come to regard Tang San as his own son, so patting Tang San's head had become a habitual gesture.

"Take a rest. Your cultivation speed is already astonishing." Master pulled Tang San down to sit beside him. Looking at Tang San, who had yet to reach his shoulder, Master could not help but sigh inwardly. An eight-year-old child had reached the Soul Grandmaster realm after only two years of cultivation, while he... had cultivated for decades before barely reaching it.

"Teacher, I'm not tired." Tang San shook his head gently, then smiled. "Teacher, without your guidance, I couldn't have cultivated so quickly. If you ask me, it's all because you taught me so well."

"You child." Hearing Tang San's flattery, Master smiled in satisfaction. "The headmaster of Nuoding Academy wants to watch a sparring match between you and Cheng Xiao. As your teacher, I should inform you in advance so you can prepare yourself mentally."

Tang San said, "Teacher, Cheng Xiao and I have sparred many times. His Martial Soul is very unusual. I've never seen what he looks like when using Martial Soul Possession. Most of the time, he relies on the two Short Swords he forged to fight."

"Oh? A beast Martial Soul that has never used Martial Soul Possession?" A sharp light flashed through Master's eyes as he fell into thought.

"That's right." Tang San nodded. "Based on my observations, his first Soul Skill should be a self-enhancement ability that can strengthen both his body and weapons."

"His first Soul Skill is a self-buff skill? What kind of Soul Beast did he hunt for his first soul ring to be so foolish?" Master could not help shaking his head, finding Cheng Xiao's choice of a buff-type skill for his first soul ring utterly laughable.

After all, he had not taken him as his teacher. He was only an eight-year-old child—how could he possibly understand Martial Soul theory thoroughly? His first soul ring had given him a buff-type Soul Skill, and it had even come from a hundred-year Soul Beast. Master did not dare imagine just how weak the enhancement from such a hundred-year Soul Skill would be.

"Forget it, Xiao San. Let's not talk about Cheng Xiao. Let's talk about you." A wise gleam appeared in Master's eyes. "Xiao San, after obtaining Ghost Vine's soul ring, your Blue Silver Grass has become thinner and tougher than before, hasn't it?"

"Yes, Teacher. After absorbing Ghost Vine's soul ring, my Blue Silver Grass has indeed become tougher than before." Tang San nodded and raised his hand, intending to summon his Martial Soul.

"Wait." Master pressed down Tang San's outstretched hand, then looked out at the bright, sunny window and said leisurely, "Let's go to the academy's back mountain. I happen to want to see the effects of your second Soul Skill as well." With that, Master led Tang San out of the room and to Nuoding Academy's back mountain. Since it was afternoon, there was no one there, making the place very quiet.

"Come, Xiao San. Release your Martial Soul and let me see it." Master raised a hand and gestured to Tang San.

Tang San nodded slightly, then slowly spread open his right hand. As blue light flickered, Blue Silver Grass, now deep blue rather than pale blue, emerged and swayed softly in his palm.

"Just as I expected." Seeing the changes in Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, Master leaned forward and examined it carefully, muttering to himself, "My Martial Soul theory is indeed correct. After absorbing Ghost Vine's soul ring, Blue Silver Grass has gradually begun to take on Ghost Vine's appearance."

Taking a deep breath, Master calmly pointed to a large tree nearby. "Xiao San, use your Blue Silver Grass to wrap around that tree, then pull hard and see how tough it is."

"Alright, Teacher." Hearing Master's words, Tang San obediently did as instructed. A strand of Blue Silver Grass shot from his palm, and within a single breath, it had wrapped around the tree Master indicated. As Soul Power surged within him, he pulled hard with his hand, and the tree bound by Blue Silver Grass gradually bent.

Watching Tang San obediently comply, Master nodded in satisfaction. He then walked to the tree wrapped in Blue Silver Grass, examined it carefully, and gestured for Tang San to come over.

Tang San withdrew his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and walked to Master's side.

Pointing at the tree bent by the Blue Silver Grass, Master said calmly, "Not bad. Although your Blue Silver Grass has become thinner, its toughness has improved considerably. Look at the part of the trunk wrapped by the Blue Silver Grass. Do you see that patch of scorched black? I believe that after absorbing the second soul ring, your Blue Silver Grass acquired Ghost Vine's corrosive toxin. Combined with the Mandala Snake's neurotoxin that you gained from your first soul ring, the two poisons together will be enough to deal with most Soul Masters you face."

"Alright, Xiao San. Use your second Soul Skill and let's see how effective Parasite is."