Tang San's Thoughts

The carriage traveled for a full day and night.

Only at dawn the next day did the group finally reach the Soul Hunting Forest.

Yu Chen jumped down from the carriage. Before him lay a bustling marketplace, with numerous barracks and several watchtowers built within it.

Travelers, merchants, soldiers...

They streamed past without end.

Farther away, an iron fence stretched beyond sight, enclosing the entire forest.

At the entrance.

Two squads of soldiers in regulation armor stood holding spears, their expressions vigilant.

"Principal Ming, you've actually come to lead your students on a soul hunt yourself?"

The captain at their head spotted Ming Dashan and the others and approached with a smile.

Ming Dashan was not merely the principal of Nuoding Academy, but also a powerful level forty-six Soul Ancestor.

Who in all of Nuoding City did not recognize its strongest expert?

"Mm."

Ming Dashan nodded and took a Soul Hunting Writ from inside his robes.

Although Ming Dashan was a Soul Ancestor, he still could not disregard the rules.

The Soul Hunting Forest was jointly managed by the Empire and Spirit Hall. As a noble, he naturally had to uphold the Empire's laws in his words and deeds whenever he traveled.

The captain inspected the writ. After confirming everything was in order, he plastered another smile across his face.

"Principal Ming, would you like me to send a squad of soldiers to help?"

Ming Dashan waved him off. "We're only hunting for two hundred-year soul rings. There's no need to muster an army."

The gate opened.

Ming Dashan led the others into the Soul Hunting Forest.

"Those two boys both look like something special!"

The captain watched their retreating backs and sighed in admiration.

Tang San was small and thin, looking seven or eight at most, yet he had already reached level ten soul power?

Yu Chen was sturdy and composed, brimming with vitality from head to toe. One glance was enough to tell he was unlike ordinary children.

"Perhaps both of them will follow in Principal Ming's footsteps and gain admission to Heaven Dou Royal Intermediate Academy!"

Inside the forest.

The air was damp, and the trees blotted out the sky and sun.

"Yu Chen, Tang San, from now on, neither of you is to stray more than three meters from me."

Ming Dashan spoke sternly.

The next moment, a Green Single-Edged Sword appeared in his hand.

As his soul power surged, gust after gust of fierce wind rose, making his robes snap and flutter.

Four soul rings rose from beneath his feet, two yellow and two purple.

Yu Xiaogang summoned his martial soul as well. The plump Luo Sanpao appeared and immediately rubbed affectionately against his trouser leg.

"Whoosh~"

With a thought from Yu Chen, white light flashed, and Xiao Bai appeared on his shoulder.

"Flap, flap-"

Sensing the soul beast forest's atmosphere, Xiao Bai fluttered her wings and let out a cheerful "Eeya."

Seeing the Xiao Bai Dragon again, Tang San still found her fascinating.

Teacher said that Soul Masters with detached martial souls have fragile bodies. They can't absorb too much of a soul ring's energy and can only rely on their martial souls for protection.

Once I absorb my first soul ring, I should be able to close the gap between Yu Chen's physical abilities and mine. With hidden weapons as well, I should be able to defeat him.

Tang San thought to himself.

The group set off again.

Luo Sanpao scouted ahead, with everyone following close behind.

"Luo, luo, luo-"

Before long, Luo Sanpao sounded a warning.

Ming Dashan focused his gaze. A soul beast seemed to be hiding in the undergrowth ahead.

"First soul skill, Wind Blade!"

His first soul ring lit up. He thrust his sword, sending a white blade of light shooting forward.

Boom!

The entire patch of undergrowth, along with a large rock, was cleaved apart.

A green figure sprang out, a string of bright red blood droplets scattering through the air.

"Mandala Snake!"

The moment Yu Xiaogang saw the soul beast, his eyes lit up.

It was over five meters long, with four dark black markings on its belly!

Almost four hundred years old!

Yu Xiaogang had not expected such good luck. They had encountered a Mandala Snake after only walking a short distance.

"Dashan, take it down!"

Yu Xiaogang shouted excitedly.

Ming Dashan's gaze sharpened, and his fourth soul ring lit up.

His disabled left leg did not hinder his movements in the slightest. His figure flashed as he rushed to the Mandala Snake's side.

"Swish, swish, swish-"

The long sword martial soul danced in his hand. In an instant, fierce winds erupted all around him.

"Fourth soul skill, Wild Wind Hundred Slashes!"

Under the wind blades' cutting assault, more than a dozen wounds instantly opened across the Mandala Snake's body, leaving it on the brink of death.

Against a powerful Soul Ancestor, it could not even flee.

"Tang San, do it now!"

Ming Dashan gave the order.

Holding a short knife, Tang San drove it into the Mandala Snake's eye.

Bright yellow motes drifted from the soul beast's corpse, gathering into a soul ring.

"Little San, hurry and absorb the soul ring. With your teacher here, no one will be allowed to disturb you!"

Yu Xiaogang clenched his hands, speaking with barely contained excitement.

"Mm."

Tang San summoned his Blue Silver Grass martial soul and began absorbing it.

Yu Chen stood to one side, silently observing Tang San's reactions.

The thought that he, too, would soon become a Soul Master filled him with anticipation.

Before long, Tang San finished absorbing it.

"Little San, how do you feel?"

Yu Xiaogang asked eagerly.

"Teacher, it was just as your theory predicted. After absorbing the Mandala Snake's soul ring, my martial soul became much tougher."

Tang San's first soul ring shone. Dozens of strands of Blue Silver Grass, each as thick as a forearm, grew around him and stretched toward a large tree.

Crack!

The Blue Silver Grass vines coiled around a branch and tore it clean off.

"This is wonderful!"

Yu Xiaogang pumped his fist, his face alight with excitement.

Judging by Tang San's demonstration, his Blue Silver Grass was already as strong as an ordinary vine martial soul.

"Not only that, my Blue Silver Grass also carries the Mandala Snake's venom, which can paralyze enemies. Against weaker opponents, it might even bring them down outright!"

Tang San spoke excitedly.

Ming Dashan nodded as well. "Tang San, it seems this soul ring suits you very well."

As far as he knew, a martial soul like Blue Silver Grass could only follow the support system path.

Tang San had blazed a different trail by choosing to absorb a Mandala Snake's soul ring.

With his talent of innate full soul power, perhaps he really could become a powerful control system Soul Master in the future.

"Tang San, let me check your soul power."

Ming Dashan took Tang San's right hand and examined it carefully.

Tang San's eyes flickered. He silently controlled the circulation of his Mysterious Heaven Skill, trying to keep the flow of soul power as steady as possible.

After absorbing his first soul ring, his Mysterious Heaven Skill had broken through its first layer.

It had even reached what seemed to be the middle stage of that layer.

Tang San was unsure whether Principal Ming could detect the internal energy of his Mysterious Heaven Skill.

This was his greatest secret. Naturally, he would never let anyone discover it.

"Hm?"

After sensing it for a while, Ming Dashan looked surprised.

"Dashan, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with Little San's body?"

Yu Xiaogang asked anxiously.

Seeing Ming Dashan's reaction, Tang San grew nervous as well.

His left hand was behind his back. His index finger flicked open the trigger mechanism of his Sleeve Arrow, but he made no further move.

The Mysterious Heaven Skill absolutely must not be exposed!

But facing a powerful Soul Ancestor, he had no confidence whatsoever.

Heh.

Tang San really is a scheming little devil.

Yu Chen stood behind Tang San, watching every one of those little movements.

In the original story, Tang San wanted to kill Yu Xiaogang in the Soul Hunting Forest because he feared his hidden weapons would be exposed. Now he wants to attack Principal Ming?

Looks like I'd better keep my distance from him.

Yu Chen made up his mind.

Once he had learned the basics and cultivated to level twenty, he would leave Nuoding City.

"Phew~"

Ming Dashan took a deep breath, steadying his emotions.

"Tang San's soul power is far beyond level eleven now. He's around level thirteen!"

Gaining three levels of soul power after absorbing his first soul ring was simply unheard of!

"Level thirteen!"

"Well done, Little San!"

Yu Xiaogang spoke excitedly, tears glimmering in his eyes.

"This soul ring must suit Blue Silver Grass so perfectly that it let Little San's soul power rise three levels in a row!"

"Hahaha, my theory was right after all!"

Yu Xiaogang's voice brimmed with excitement.

His Luo Sanpao martial soul had undergone a detrimental mutation, leaving him with only half a level of innate soul power. His fellow clansmen had looked down on him since childhood.

Later, when he published his theories, countless people mocked him because his own strength was so low.

Yu Xiaogang had silently sworn that, since his own strength was lacking, he would raise an outstanding disciple and prove his theories were not wrong!

Prove that he was not worthless!

"That's right. After absorbing this soul ring, I feel like my whole body is overflowing with strength!"

"Teacher, the best soul rings for the Blue Silver Grass martial soul really aren't ordinary plant soul rings, but those from snake soul beasts!"

Tang San followed Yu Xiaogang's lead.

At the same time, he inwardly sighed in relief.

As long as the Mysterious Heaven Skill hasn't been exposed!

When I break through the later layers of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, the unusual signs will be even more pronounced. Perhaps I can attribute all of them to Teacher's theories.

Tang San thought to himself.

"Tang San, congratulations on becoming a Soul Master. Let's keep moving."

Ming Dashan spoke.

"Yes. Thank you, Principal, for helping me kill the soul beast. I will certainly repay this kindness someday!"

As he spoke, Tang San bowed to Ming Dashan.

"Hahaha, you're Xiaogang's disciple, which makes you half a disciple of mine, too."

"Forget about repaying me. As long as you and Yu Chen don't forget that you came from little villages once you've grown, that will be enough."

Ming Dashan patted Tang San's head and spoke with a smile.