If you want a fight, then a fight it is!
Tang San had no objection to solving problems with violence, even if this was his first proper fight against another person.
But to keep Xiao Wu from pestering him any further, Tang San had no choice but to fight.
"Hah!"
Tang San's low shout shook the field. He suddenly thrust out a palm, unleashing a surging gust that enveloped Xiao Wu.
As the wind from his palm howled, dust rose from the ground in an instant, sweeping across the field with the force of a raging storm.
On closer inspection, his palm seemed to be encased in blue-silver jade, carrying a hint of endlessly renewing vitality.
"Well, look at you, Xiao San! You actually had a trump card like this."
Unfazed by the pressure, Xiao Wu smiled when she saw that Tang San had finally made his move.
Then she activated Martial Soul Possession. Her seemingly delicate legs blurred into afterimages, and with a thought, she appeared before Tang San, evaded the force of his palm, and lashed out with a kick.
Tang San immediately changed his move, raising his palm to block Xiao Wu's kick.
As expected of a rabbit martial soul, the strength in her legs was not to be underestimated.
Tang San was forced to retreat two steps before he dispersed all the force.
For some reason, he felt as though he had fought a hundred battles. Facing a stronger opponent from a weaker position did not feel unfamiliar at all.
Xiao Wu was surprised as well. Was this really the same Tang San who had once been so shaky and timid?
That palm strike had left a mark on Xiao Wu's leg, where an endlessly renewing force kept eating away at her.
"Whew! Again!"
This was the first time Xiao Wu had suffered such a hidden setback, and at the hands of Tang San, whom she had always looked down on, no less.
Her temper flared, and she closed in on him again.
Despite being driven back, Tang San's presence remained undiminished. His movements flowed seamlessly as he countered Xiao Wu's attacks.
Their fists and feet crossed in a flurry, moving too quickly for the eye to follow.
"Whoa! Tang San is fierce! Is he really still just a Soul Scholar?"
"Sister Xiao Wu is a One-Ring Soul Master, yet Tang San can hold out against her for this long. No wonder he's Grandmaster's personal disciple."
"Hmph, Sister Xiao Wu hasn't used her soul skill yet. That single soul ring is the biggest difference between a Soul Scholar and a soul master."
The spectators' chatter did not affect the two combatants. They darted and shifted without straying more than a few steps, their swift movements dazzling the onlookers.
During this exchange, Tang San gained further insights into combat and martial arts.
Martial arts was an exceedingly rare concept on the Douluo Continent, since most soul masters cared only about their soul rings and soul skills.
Martial arts, or rather, martial techniques, were skills Grandmaster had developed and compiled to avoid being helpless when soul skills could not be used.
He had once seen someone with an extremely rare body martial soul who could display considerable strength even without soul skills.
Tang San still had no soul ring, yet he had already succeeded in mastering martial techniques. Even Grandmaster marveled at his aptitude.
But only Tang San himself knew that he was no genius. Whenever he cultivated, all sorts of experience surfaced in his mind for him to understand and absorb.
That was why Tang San could now fight Xiao Wu, a One-Ring Soul Master, with cultivation only around the peak of level four.
"Hi-yah!"
Xiao Wu could not stand it anymore. She still had not managed to defeat Tang San, so she used her soul skill without any restraint.
First Soul Skill, Waist Bow.
In an instant, Xiao Wu's speed rose to another level, catching Tang San off guard.
A vicious kick struck his chest, leaving him gasping for breath.
But the healing effects of the Blue Silver Creation Dao soon took hold, steadying Tang San's breathing and rapidly replenishing his soul power.
That tremendous staying power was another reason he could fight Xiao Wu.
"That's enough!"
At that moment, a Director of Education stepped forward and stopped the fight.
He was not stepping in out of some heroic sense of justice. He simply felt that the spar had gone on long enough.
If it continued, Tang San, whom Grandmaster had asked them to keep a closer eye on, might well get hurt.
"Xiao Wu, you used a soul skill against Tang San when he hasn't even obtained a soul ring yet. That goes beyond the bounds of a spar."
"What?! It's not my fault he doesn't have a soul ring! Besides, I'm recruiting a lackey. Why are you getting in my way?!"
Xiao Wu spoke with considerable displeasure, waving her little fists in protest.
"Then would you like to have a match with me?"
The Director of Education released three soul rings, and the imposing aura of a Soul Elder cowed everyone present.
Xiao Wu was not particularly affected, but she made no further move either. She pursed her lips, then led the others off to find amusement elsewhere.
Xiao Wu gave the Director of Education a headache too. Most teachers felt that she was only a child, and a genius at that, so they let her do as she pleased.
But if a soul master could not be properly disciplined even at school, who knew what they would become once they entered society?
"Tang San, are you all right?"
Putting his worries about Xiao Wu aside, the Director of Education turned to check on Tang San.
"I'm fine. I'm feeling much better now."
Tang San bore no resentment over the Director of Education only showing up now.
After all, Xiao Wu had come specifically to make trouble for him. With her temperament, it would not have mattered who tried to stop her.
Fights were a frequent occurrence in the soul master world, and everyone was accustomed to them. Tang San had to recognize that.
It was enough that the Director of Education had stepped in at the critical moment.
Besides, he had gained a great deal from this fight.
Perhaps he could break through to level five soul power today.
Or even higher!
Meanwhile, Grandmaster was conducting a survey in the Soul Hunting Forest. After all, soul beasts did not remain unchanging forever.
Moreover, places controlled by established powers, such as the Soul Hunting Forest, had stricter safety requirements.
Grandmaster regularly visited the nearby Soul Hunting Forest to carry out observations and prevent accidents.
He was not doing this for free. It was a commission from the local Spirit Hall.
Grandmaster had harbored a trace of doubt about it, but on second thought, they had no reason to go to such roundabout lengths to target him.
He could do something good and earn money at the same time, so why not? Besides, he intended to take the opportunity to scout out Tang San's first soul ring.
According to Grandmaster's estimate, Tang San would reach the threshold of level ten by the end of the year.
An ordinary level-three soul master would be unlikely to manage it, but Tang San had a cultivation method he had worked out himself: the Blue Silver Creation Dao.
With it, he could cultivate faster than others his age who possessed the same aptitude.
Under the protection of two Soul Elders, Grandmaster soon surveyed more than half the area. He discovered a Century Mandala Snake on the outskirts and drove it deeper into the forest.
"As expected of Grandmaster! You saw through that Mandala Snake's disguise so quickly."
One of the accompanying guards voiced his admiration.
"Exactly. Who would have thought that the Mandala Snake would turn the tables and disguise itself as a Snake Vine Flower, which normally mimics it? That beast is getting cleverer and cleverer."
The other guard was impressed as well. Grandmaster had truly taught them a lesson.
"Soul beasts themselves are constantly evolving, but they're still far too slow compared to humanity's development."
"Perhaps in ten thousand years, soul beasts may become rare species."
Grandmaster's tone carried concern, but ten thousand years was still far too distant.
"Oh, found it!"