Conflict

"Was Yu Chen using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track?"

Tang San replayed Yu Chen's footwork in his mind.

His movements had been too fast. His toes turned inward first, then his heels pivoted outward, and his body leaned sideways with the momentum.

It was unmistakably Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!

In that instant, Tang San's mind thundered, as though someone had struck him with a heavy hammer.

He clenched his fists until his fingers turned white.

Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track was a closely guarded secret of the Tang Sect!

In his previous life, it had taken him an entire year just to grasp the basics. After coming to this world, he had practiced day and night, and even then had barely mastered the first level.

Including their first fight in the dormitory, he and Yu Chen had only fought twice.

Could Yu Chen have learned it after watching just a few times?

No... it should just be a coincidence.

Tang San suppressed the shock in his heart.

After dodging the arrowhead, Yu Chen leaned his left shoulder back and hastily stepped forward, nearly falling.

"Phew-"

Tang San inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Chen's ability to predict his footwork meant that he possessed extraordinary talent, but also that Tang San's own mastery was lacking.

But learning it after just a couple of glances?

Tang San felt he might as well find a block of tofu and bash his head against it until he died.

Just as Tang San's thoughts began to settle, a thunderous rebuke rang out.

"Tang San, you've gone too far!"

Ming Dashan strode onto the platform, his face livid and his eyes practically spitting fire.

Feeling the pressure of a Soul Ancestor, Tang San instantly broke into a cold sweat, his breath catching for a moment.

Ming Dashan picked up the arrowhead and turned it over a few times.

The arrowhead was about three inches long, honed to a keen edge, its tip gleaming black.

"This was only a spar, yet you used a metal weapon? And you even coated it in poison?"

His voice was grave.

Before Soul Masters reached rank thirty-or, more precisely, before they obtained a Thousand-Year Soul Ring-their bodies had limited strength.

Twenty archers working together effectively could shoot a Soul Grandmaster dead.

A Soul Master in the teens was only a little sturdier than an ordinary adult.

Tang San lowered his head, his lips moving a few times.

"Principal, I..."

At that moment, he felt both guilty and afraid.

He had genuinely lost his temper during the fight.

The pebbles had struck Yu Chen without any effect, and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track had been broken through as well.

All he had been thinking was I can't lose, and he had instinctively used his Sleeve Arrow.

If I'd really hurt Yu Chen...

A chill ran down Tang San's back, and he did not dare pursue that thought.

It was not entirely concern for Yu Chen's safety. More than anything, it was because Ming Dashan was a Soul Ancestor.

Against someone at that level, he had no power to resist.

He could not withstand even a casual slap from him.

"Dashan."

Yu Xiaogang hurried over and placed a hand on Ming Dashan's arm.

"San is only a child. He got carried away for a moment. He didn't mean to hurt anyone."

Ming Dashan glared at Yu Xiaogang. His lips moved, but in the end, he did not erupt.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang immediately scolded Tang San. "San, hurry up and apologize to Yu Chen."

Knowing his teacher was helping him out of this predicament, Tang San got up from the ground and bowed to Yu Chen.

"Boss Yu, I'm sorry, I..."

"It's fine. I wasn't hurt anyway," Yu Chen interrupted.

He shrugged, his tone relaxed. "Besides, even if I had been hurt, isn't it normal for Soul Masters to bleed in a fight?"

"I..."

Tang San looked up at Yu Chen, his emotions tangled.

The other boy's magnanimity instead stirred a few traces of genuine guilt within him.

Yu Chen was not truly unbothered.

Given the relationship between Ming Dashan and Yu Xiaogang, Ming Dashan would at most give Tang San a scolding.

Back in the Soul Hunting Forest, Yu Chen had already noticed some of Tang San's little movements.

Even when facing someone as powerful as Ming Dashan, he had dared to make a move, although he had not actually launched an attack.

Perhaps Tang San was not bad at heart and had not truly intended to hurt anyone.

But these instinctive actions could not lie.

The Tang Sect of that martial world had a strict hierarchy and a cruel system. As an outer disciple, Tang San had probably been bullied often, and had even needed to learn martial arts in secret.

Growing up in such an environment, guarding himself and striking back had become instincts engraved into Tang San's bones.

And those instincts made Yu Chen rather uncomfortable.

Right now, every other word was "Boss Yu." After a while, it would probably become "Yu Chen."

Once Tang San's strength surpassed his, he would likely become "Little Dirt."

From now on, I'd better keep my distance from Tang San.

"All right."

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward to smooth things over.

"Tang San didn't do it on purpose, and Yu Chen wasn't hurt. This matter ends here. You're all training partners. Don't let a spar damage your friendship."

He took a book from inside his robe. Its pages were yellowed, and the cover read "Illustrated Guide to Subdragon Soul Beasts."

"Yu Chen, haven't you been studying Dragon-type Soul Beasts? Take this book back and read it first. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me."

As Yu Xiaogang spoke, a trace of reluctance flashed in his eyes.

He had brought this book out of his sect. Even within his clan, only disciples of the main family were permitted to study it.

Yu Chen accepted the book and flipped through it.

It was filled with Soul Beast Pokédex entries and annotations. Some page corners were curled, clearly from having been turned many times.

"Thank you, Grandmaster."

Smiling, Yu Chen tucked the book into his robe.

He had not expected any compensation in the first place, so getting a book was a pleasant surprise.

"All right."

Yu Xiaogang clapped his hands and called everyone into the field.

"Next, I'll create individualized training plans based on each of your performances today."

And with that, the incident was put to rest.

Night fell.

In the teachers' dormitory, the oil lamp's flame flickered in the gentle breeze.

"San, what did you think of today's training?"

Yu Xiaogang adjusted the wick to brighten the lamp a little, his voice gentle.

Tang San rested both hands on his knees and lowered his head respectfully.

"The Principal's combat techniques were very practical. The timing of Soul Skills, calculating Soul Power consumption-all of it taught me a great deal."

Then his tone shifted. "But what I gained the most from was your lesson on tactical coordination, Teacher. During the team battle, I felt the power of a control system Soul Master for the first time."

During the later part of that day's training, Yu Xiaogang had divided everyone into two groups for a team battle.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Xiao Chenyu formed one team, while Yu Chen, Liu Long, and Ling Feng formed the other.

Tang San had stood at the rear of his team, using Blue Silver Grass to control the entire battle.

Xiao Wu was not as strong as Yu Chen, but under Tang San's guidance, she had actually managed to fight him on even terms.

Although Xiao Chenyu was the weakest, with support from Blue Silver Grass, he had roamed around the field and found some opportunities to attack.

In the end, they had won.

Of course, Yu Chen had still been forbidden from using his fire abilities.

"Mm."

Yu Xiaogang nodded, a satisfied smile touching his lips.

"One person's strength is ultimately limited. A team is what Soul Masters can truly rely on."

He recalled his days traveling and gaining experience.

He, Flender, and Liu Erlong had formed the Golden Iron Triangle, and the three of them had enjoyed great renown in the Soul Master World.

"San, once you graduate, I'll recommend you to an Intermediate Academy. There, you'll find more suitable companions!" Yu Xiaogang said.

"You mean Shrek Academy, the one you mentioned before, Teacher?"

Tang San's eyes lit up.

Then he frowned and asked, "Teacher, will Yu Chen go too?"

Yu Xiaogang shook his head regretfully. "No. The Principal plans to have him pursue a career in government."

Hearing this, Tang San actually breathed a sigh of relief.

Wherever Yu Chen was, no matter how brilliantly Tang San performed, the other boy would steal his limelight.

Although they had won today's team battle, Yu Chen had kept them under pressure almost the entire time. In the end, he had only withdrawn because he had consumed too much Soul Power.

"Teacher, my Martial Soul is still far too inferior to Yu Chen's."

Tang San lowered his head, his voice muffled.

During their individual duel that day, he had been utterly stunned when Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track was broken through.

In his previous life, countless experts had studied the Tang Sect Secret Arts, and there had indeed been ways to counter them.

But he did not believe a six-year-old child could unravel them.

As far as Tang San was concerned, the Xiao Bai Dragon Martial Soul must simply have been too powerful.

Yu Chen's body and mental power had been greatly enhanced, giving him sufficiently fast reactions and sharp judgment.

Surely a six-year-old child could not have seen through his Tang Sect Secret Arts through experience and intelligence alone!

Tang San felt a sour ache in his heart, unable to tell whether it was envy or resentment.