The air seemed to fall silent for a few seconds. The yellow Soul Ring around Tang San's small body shone dazzlingly bright.
"A hundred-year Soul Ring?!"
Greenhead's throat seized up, and he forcibly swallowed the rest of his words.
"How old is he? He already has his first Soul Ring?"
"That yellow ring... is it really a hundred-year Soul Ring?"
"Isn't he that work-study student with full Soul Power? Is Blue Silver Grass that strong?"
More and more spectators gathered around, their buzzing voices erupting into a clamor. Tang San pressed his lips together and flicked his small hand.
The Blue Silver Grass shot out as though alive, so fast it left only a streak of green, and instantly wrapped around their ankles.
Before Greenhead and his companions could react, they were already losing their footing.
They struggled to summon their Soul Power, their faces flushed crimson. But the harder they pushed, the faster their Soul Power drained away. Their limbs weakened, and they toppled to the ground one after another.
"My Soul Power... he's absorbing my Soul Power!"
"Damn it, what kind of demonic grass is this?!"
"Stop struggling! The more you struggle, the weaker you get!"
Within a few breaths, students lay sprawled across the ground. Greenhead lay on his stomach, his lower lip trembling uncontrollably. Even the look in his eyes had changed as he raised his head toward Tang San.
Tang San withdrew his hand, and the Blue Silver Grass swished back into his palm.
He stood there, his little face still slightly flushed, and swallowed nervously. Then he turned to Xiao Wu, his eyes sparkling. "Xiao Wu, you weren't hurt, were you?"
Xiao Wu's mouth fell open. She stared for a long moment before throwing her arms around Tang San. "Little San, you're amazing! When did you get so good at fighting? A little cutie like you can fight too?"
"I... I was just trying it out," Tang San whispered, flustered by her embrace.
Standing behind them, Li Hanqiu swept a glance over the older students sprawled every which way on the ground, his expression impassive. "Still not leaving? Want another round?"
The older students scrambled to their feet and ran without looking back.
Li Hanqiu looked at Tang San. "Take Xiao Wu back to the dormitory first. Don't wander around tonight."
Tang San nodded emphatically. "Okay!"
Xiao Wu released Tang San and looked him up and down, admiration practically spilling from her eyes. "Little San, where did you get your Soul Ring? You have to tell me all about it."
Tang San smiled with his lips pressed together. "All right. I'll tell you when we get back."
In the distance, Yu Xiaogang happened to be strolling past.
He was carrying a teapot and had been walking along perfectly contentedly, but when he heard the commotion near the school gates, he slowly wandered over to take a look.
The moment he rounded the flower bed, he stopped dead.
He saw the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's palm, and he saw that brilliant yellow hundred-year Soul Ring.
He saw Tang San send several older students rolling across the ground using nothing but Blue Silver Grass, along with that strange Soul Skill that absorbed Soul Power.
From the moment Tang San released his Martial Soul to the defeat of those older students, who were also Soul Masters, fewer than five seconds had passed. The older students had lost before they could even release their Martial Souls.
"A hundred-year Soul Ring... a Soul Skill that absorbs Soul Power..."
Yu Xiaogang's throat bobbed, his eyes widening further and further.
He had originally thought Tang San was merely a gifted little boy with full Soul Power, and had planned to intimidate him a little with his "Grandmaster" title, then slowly wear him down.
Who could have imagined that after just one day out of sight, this child would already have a Soul Ring-and a hundred-year one at that?
Such talent, such a rate of growth.
"This boy must be a prodigy seen only once in a hundred years!"
Yu Xiaogang's fingers whitened around the teapot. He leaned farther forward, his gaze glued to Tang San's retreating back like a wolf that had spotted meat.
"No..."
He muttered under his breath, greed flaring in his eyes.
"I must snatch him away from Li Hanqiu!"
A gust of wind pressed his gray robe against his body, making him look even more unsavory.
Meanwhile, Li Hanqiu seemed to sense something and glanced back.
Yu Xiaogang hurriedly ducked behind the flower bed, leaving only his eyes exposed as he stared sinisterly at the master and disciple by the school gates.
Early the next morning, Tang San walked alone beneath the covered corridor, holding his books and reading.
These were the Beast Compendium Li Hanqiu had written himself, along with theoretical knowledge about Martial Souls. After all, Li Hanqiu was a transmigrator and had some understanding of the many mechanics and details of the Douluo Continent.
Combined with Li Hanqiu's own unique insights, the books progressed step by step from simple material to difficult concepts. Tang San was utterly engrossed in them.
The morning sunlight slanted into the corridor, casting his small shadow across the ground.
Yu Xiaogang appeared from somewhere and took two steps into the middle of the walkway, blocking his path. He had changed into another gray robe, but its collar was still shiny with grease, and his stubble was even thicker.
Yu Xiaogang plastered on a smile, bunching his wrinkles together. "Tang San, heading to class so early?"
Tang San clutched his books and took a small half-step back, watching Yu Xiaogang warily. "What do you want?"
"I can see that you have exceptional bones and peerless talent. Following Li Hanqiu is truly a waste."
Yu Xiaogang moved closer with a leering smile, and Tang San stepped back. Before long, the boy's back gradually pressed against a corridor pillar.
"That brat Li Hanqiu can only flap his lips. What could a nineteen-year-old greenhorn possibly teach you?"
Yu Xiaogang lowered his voice as though revealing some earth-shattering secret. "I have plenty of profound cultivation methods. I guarantee you'll become a Soul Elder in three years and reach the Soul King rank within ten. What do you say?"
Tang San hugged his books fiercely, his knuckles turning white. "I, I already have a teacher. I only listen to Teacher Hanqiu. Don't talk about him like that."
"What, am I wrong?" Yu Xiaogang's smile grew even more oily. "That Soul Skill of yours yesterday-if I saw correctly, it absorbs Soul Power, doesn't it?
"Ah, absorbing Soul Power sounds terribly sinister. To think Li Hanqiu let you learn such crooked, unorthodox methods. Even hearing about it makes me shudder for you."
Yu Xiaogang gesticulated wildly to frighten Tang San, speaking as though every word were indisputable fact.
Tang San lowered his head, the loose hair over his forehead hiding half his face, and bit his red lip with his pearly teeth.
"Come with me, and I'll lead you back onto the proper path. I have connections in the Spirit Hall, too..."
"No need."
Tang San abruptly cut him off, his voice quiet and fragile, yet extraordinarily firm.
"I, I recognize only Teacher Hanqiu as my master."
After speaking, he shrank back again and hugged his books tighter, as though protecting the conviction in his heart.
Yu Xiaogang's smile froze for a moment. He stepped forward, still trying to reach out and pat Tang San's shoulder.
"Tang San, you're still young. You don't understand how these things work. I'm only telling you this because I cherish talent..."
"Gangzi."
A cool, clear voice came from behind him.
Yu Xiaogang's hand hung in midair, his entire body seeming to freeze.
Li Hanqiu approached at an unhurried pace, the hem of his blue robe swaying gently. A little golden dog followed at his feet, baring its teeth at Yu Xiaogang as a low growl rumbled in its throat.
"Cornering my disciple first thing in the morning-have you no sense of propriety?"
Yu Xiaogang turned and stiffened his neck. "What do you mean, cornering? I cherish talent and want to take in a promising student. What's that to you?"
"Cherish talent?" Li Hanqiu sneered. "A few days ago at the registration office, who announced in front of an entire hall of people that his Blue Silver Grass was trash beyond trash?"
Yu Xiaogang faltered, stammering without managing an answer.
Naturally, innate full Soul Power was not the only reason he wanted to take Tang San as his disciple. According to his Ten Core Theories of Martial Souls, how could a Martial Soul as weak as Blue Silver Grass possess innate full Soul Power?
Then this little boy had to possess twin Martial Souls, and the quality of his second Martial Soul had to be extraordinarily high.
Of course, Yu Xiaogang would never say any of this aloud. If he let it slip and Li Hanqiu found out, there would be even less chance of him handing Tang San over.
Before you continue