Without warning, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass assumed the posture of a subject before its sovereign, leaving everyone present utterly stunned.
No one could have imagined that the blue silver king, so glorious and imperious a moment ago, would become a groveling subject the very next instant.
Tang San watched the scene, his pupils trembling violently.
His thoughts flew back to a few days earlier.
At the time, he and his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, had been hunting for soul rings in the Star Dou Great Forest. Then his father, Tang Hao, suddenly approached him and said he wanted to let him see his mother.
Only then did Tang San learn that his father had been following him all along. His father simply wasn't good with words and could only clumsily express his paternal love in the most primitive way.
By always staying by his side.
Moreover, his father had brought him good news.
His martial soul wasn't merely ordinary Blue Silver Grass. It carried the bloodline of the legendary blue silver sovereign and could evolve into the Blue Silver Emperor.
But when he and his father returned to his mother's burial site, the sky came crashing down.
Because his mother, Ah Yin, had actually left.
She had actually chosen to leave with someone else, even saying that she wasn't a worthy wife or a worthy mother.
Even the keepsake his mother had left him-a hundred-thousand-year right leg soul bone-had been given to that man by his mother...
That day, his father, Tang Hao, had looked every bit the helpless husband, burying his face in his hands and sobbing in the little patch of earth where his mother had once grown.
Afterward, his father took him to an unnamed forest, hoping to help him awaken as the Blue Silver Emperor.
But to both his and his father's surprise, the Blue Silver King told him that the Blue Silver Emperor of this era had already appeared.
Even with the Blue Silver Empress's bloodline, he could not become the blue silver sovereign.
And so, the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul that should have been his, and the motherly love that should have been his, had all vanished because of one person.
The onlookers' chatter continued, needling Tang San without pause:
"How is this possible?!"
"Didn't Grandmaster say Tang San's Blue Silver King was already the strongest Blue Silver Grass martial soul?"
"Why would the Blue Silver King be afraid of what Grandmaster called ordinary mutated Blue Silver Grass?"
"Could Chen Ci's Blue Silver Grass be something more than an ordinary mutation?"
"I remember Chen Ci arguing with Grandmaster the day he left the academy. He said his Blue Silver Grass wasn't an ordinary mutation and couldn't absorb control-type soul skills."
"Could Chen Ci be the real grandmaster?"
"A six- or seven-year-old understands martial souls better than an old fellow who's studied them for decades."
"Shh, do you have a death wish? Grandmaster is the dean's honored guest. Do you still want a place in this academy?"
"..."
The onlookers' chatter was also needling Yu Xiaogang. At that moment, even a hundred mouths couldn't have helped him defend himself.
The facts had proven just how utterly helpless Tang San's Blue Silver King was before Chen Ci's Blue Silver Emperor.
Still, there was a chance to turn things around.
Yu Xiaogang lowered his head, keeping everyone from seeing his expression so they wouldn't know what he was thinking.
As long as he could stall for time and come up with a reasonable explanation, he, Yu Xiaogang, would remain a revered Grandmaster!
Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang noticed Tang San's reaction and realized that Tang San seemed to know something.
Little San, your teacher has wronged you, but to save my dignity, I have no choice but to do this.
Yu Xiaogang raised his head with complete confidence and looked at the surrounding onlookers:
"It seems I can't keep this hidden after all.
"Yes, as you've all seen with your own eyes, Chen Ci's martial soul isn't ordinary Blue Silver Grass. As for why I told him that day to absorb control-type soul skills..."
An onlooker said, "I remember Grandmaster saying that day that Chen Ci's Blue Silver Grass was just ordinary mutated Blue Silver Grass. He also said all Blue Silver Grass soul masters throughout history had taken the control path."
"Do you have a death wish? What if you get expelled?"
"Shh! Watch what you say!"
Hearing their whispers, Yu Xiaogang could only force himself to continue:
"It was actually just to test him and temper his character. But in the end, he failed my test and couldn't become my disciple.
"As for what his martial soul is, I'll let Little San tell you."
When Tang San heard Yu Xiaogang's words, he hadn't wanted to admit all of this here.
But bound by the teachings he had received, Tang San chose to follow Yu Xiaogang's instructions and speak this humiliating truth himself:
"Chen Ci's martial soul...
"Isn't ordinary mutated Blue Silver Grass. It's the Blue Silver Emperor, the sovereign of Blue Silver Grass."
At that moment, Chen Ci's Blue Silver Emperor fully manifested.
Everyone immediately turned to look at the Blue Silver Emperor, exclaiming in wonder:
"Heavens, this Blue Silver Grass is beautiful.
"It looks as though it was carved from a blue-and-gold gemstone. Its vines are thicker, and rich life force flows through them..."
Upon hearing Tang San's answer, Yu Xiaogang immediately pieced together an explanation. He stepped forward, silenced the others' discussion, and said:
"Everyone, listen to me.
"I could tell from the very first blade of grass that Chen Ci's martial soul was the Blue Silver Emperor, the sovereign of Blue Silver Grass that exists only in legends. Compared with Chen Ci's Blue Silver Emperor, Little San's Blue Silver King is indeed somewhat weaker.
"But Little San, don't be afraid!
"In this world, there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters!
"Your Blue Silver King being inferior to Chen Ci's Blue Silver Emperor doesn't mean you can't beat him!
"You followed my plan and absorbed control-type soul skills that are an excellent fit for the Blue Silver King. You can definitely defeat Chen Ci!"
There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters...
Hearing those words, Tang San was deeply shaken.
Likewise, all the onlookers were taken in by Yu Xiaogang.
Silence fell over the gathering.
Suddenly, a small voice broke in at an awkward moment:
"There are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters.
"Then why is Grandmaster only level twenty-nine when he's already over fifty...?"
"Pfft!"
Those words woke the dreamers with a start, and stifled laughter rose from the crowd one after another.
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened as well. Hadn't saying that amounted to insulting himself twice?
But Tang San wasn't affected by anything happening on the sidelines. Whether his martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, the Blue Silver King, or the Blue Silver Emperor, it wasn't what he relied on. His greatest strength was the hammer in his other hand.
And the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record...
As long as I defeat Chen Ci, I can bring Mother back.
Tang San glared at Chen Ci, grinding his teeth, his eyes nearly splitting with rage:
"So you were the one who stole my Blue Silver Emperor!"
Chen Ci looked at Tang San and said with amusement:
"Opportunities in this world have always gone to those with the fortune to claim them. Nothing has ever been destined to belong to any particular person.
"Besides, that isn't the only thing I took."
Tang San exclaimed, "What?!"
The next instant, Tang San saw a beautiful woman in a blue dress beside Chen Ci.
She was none other than his mother, Ah Yin...
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