I, Tang San, Will Not Lose!

"Headmaster, I heard from Wang Sheng that you wanted to see me."

When Cheng Xiao arrived at the headmaster's office, the door was open.

As he walked in, Headmaster Mano was reading a book. Hearing Cheng Xiao's voice, he slowly looked up and gave the young man before him a slight nod.

"You're here." Mano closed the book and smiled. "I have a small matter to discuss with you."

"Please go ahead, Headmaster," Cheng Xiao said.

"I heard that when you went to obtain your second soul ring, you didn't bring any of the Academy's teachers with you. So, did you successfully obtain your second soul ring and break through to Soul Grandmaster?" Mano asked curiously.

Under normal circumstances, unless a Soul Master was powerful enough, they would not hunt Soul Beasts alone to obtain a suitable soul ring. Yet Cheng Xiao before him was somewhat different.

What Mano could never have imagined was that Cheng Xiao had no need to hunt Soul Beasts for soul rings at all. Taking people along to hunt Soul Beasts was simply something that would never happen to him—unless the time came for something else...

"Yes, Headmaster. I got lucky. While hunting Soul Beasts, I came across a hundred-year Soul Beast on the verge of death. I saw that it suited my martial soul, so I absorbed it," Cheng Xiao casually made up.

"That truly is fortunate. It seems your luck has always been quite good." Mano smiled. "Then tomorrow morning, I'll arrange a sparring match between you and Tang San. I'd also like to see just how far the strength of Nuoding Academy's two genius students has progressed."

"No problem, Headmaster." Cheng Xiao nodded slightly, then asked in confusion, "Headmaster, are there any restrictions for the spar?"

"It's only a sparring match. There's no need for so many complications." Mano shook his head with a smile. "But I heard that you had two Short Swords made. Master told me that your Short Swords counter Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, so during the spar, the two of you may only use your martial souls. Don't use any weapons that could cause injury, lest you damage your friendship."

"All right, I understand," Cheng Xiao said with a smile.

The following morning.

Sunlight filtered through the green trees around the Playground, scattering mottled patches of light across the ground.

Since classes were in session, there were no students on the Playground apart from the four people standing there.

Master and Headmaster Mano stood in the center of the Playground, while Cheng Xiao and Tang San stood on opposite sides, facing each other from afar as their gazes met.

"Cheng Xiao, Tang San, you are both genius students of Nuoding Academy. After only two years at the Academy, you have already reached the rank of Soul Grandmaster. When I call for the match to begin, the two of you may start sparring." Mano's sharp gaze swept over them one by one as he reminded them, "Remember, you are classmates. Today is only a friendly spar. Injuries are unavoidable, understand?"

"Understood," Cheng Xiao and Tang San answered in unison.

Mano nodded slightly. "Good. Then let this friendly spar begin!"

"Wait." Hearing that, Master looked at Tang San. "Xiao San, you are not allowed to use any special weapons in this spar. The same goes for Cheng Xiao. This time, the two of you may only use your martial souls in battle."

"Understood, Teacher." Tang San nodded, then looked at Cheng Xiao. Purple light emerged in his eyes as he said, "I won't lose this spar."

Cheng Xiao could not help but smile faintly. "All right, then come on!"

As soon as he spoke, light flared deep within Cheng Xiao's eyes. He raised his right fist, and with the activation of Swift Walk, his speed suddenly surged. In the span of a single breath, his fist was already smashing toward Tang San's chest.

"What incredible speed!" Tang San's expression changed slightly. He had not expected Cheng Xiao's speed to increase so drastically after obtaining his second soul ring. If he had not activated the Purple Demon Eye in advance, he might not even have been able to catch the other's movements!

However, Tang San did not dodge. With the Tang Sect's peerless arts, he was confident that he would not lose to anyone!

Tang San swiftly raised his right arm. The instant he clenched his fist, it turned a lustrous milky white. This was the Tang Sect's hand-training art, the Mysterious Jade Hand, immune to a hundred poisons!

With a bang, their fists collided. A dull impact rang out as both of their bodies halted at the same time. Then Tang San staggered backward several steps before barely steadying himself. He stared at Cheng Xiao in shock. Even after using the Mysterious Jade Hand, he had still been at a disadvantage in that exchange!

Just how strong was Cheng Xiao's body?

Tang San gritted his teeth, unwilling to accept it, but he still had no intention of giving up. Since he could not match Cheng Xiao in physical strength, he would use his Soul Skill. He refused to believe that, without his twin swords, Cheng Xiao still had a way to break through his Blue Silver Grass Entangle!

"First Soul Skill, Entangle!"

Tang San shouted lowly as deep blue light poured from his palm. Immediately afterward, several stalks of deep blue Blue Silver Grass emerged from the blue glow.

After absorbing the Ghost Vine's soul ring, the blades of the Blue Silver Grass had become much thinner than before, and they were covered with many tiny purple-black thorns. These thorns were inherited from the plant-type Soul Beast, the Ghost Vine.

As two yellow soul rings slowly rose beneath Tang San's feet and circled his body, thick blue-black vines spread from his hands and surged toward Cheng Xiao from all directions.

"If there's no target, then your Blue Silver Grass loses its effect, doesn't it?" A smile curled across Cheng Xiao's lips. He vanished from where he stood in an instant, and every stalk of Blue Silver Grass rushing toward him struck empty air.

Having lost its target, even Tang San froze in place for a moment. Purple light blazed in his eyes. From the moment the spar began, he had been maintaining the Purple Demon Eye. Cheng Xiao's sudden disappearance now put him at a disadvantage.

How is this possible? Tang San was greatly alarmed. His first Soul Skill had not even touched Cheng Xiao. How was he supposed to use Parasite, his second Soul Skill?

Suddenly, a palpitating sensation surged from the depths of his heart. Tang San's face instantly went pale. For some reason, he felt as though he were being stared at by an abyss. Even the Soul Power within his body began to riot. In that instant, he seemed to see mountains of corpses and seas of blood. His body began to tremble uncontrollably, and even the Purple Demon Eye he had kept active was forcibly shut down.

"Looks like you can't use your Blue Silver Grass Soul Skills anymore." Cheng Xiao suddenly appeared before Tang San. With a low murmur, he activated Strike the Vital Point, and his clenched fist slammed heavily into Tang San's chest.

Bang!

A thunderous boom erupted as Tang San was sent flying like a fallen leaf. He rolled across the ground two and a half times before finally coming to a stop.

"Xiao San!" Seeing his disciple defeated so easily, Master, who had been watching from a distance, froze for a moment before hurriedly jogging over to Tang San and reaching out to pull him up.