I... how did I just agree to that?!
Weren't you worried about Big Brother Su's safety? This still isn't the right time.
With Advice Listening taking effect, Zhu Zhuqing felt she had been far too impulsive just now. But she had already agreed, and it would be awkward to go back on her word.
"Zhu Zhuqing, take those pills. I'll give you something even better later. Once you've finished this bottle, I'll give you a special surprise," Su Ling said.
There were nine pills in a bottle. At one every seven days, they would last a little over two months, so two months from now would be the time to give Zhu Zhuqing an Immortal Herb.
"Thank you, Big Brother Su. Actually, I... I like you too. I felt something from the very first day I saw you. Perhaps that's what they call love at first sight." Blushing, Zhu Zhuqing accepted Su Ling's Intermediate Soul Power Pills.
Moving closer to Su Ling, Zhu Zhuqing rose onto her toes and gave him a kiss as light as a raindrop.
After all, Su Ling had forcibly bound Zhu Zhuqing to him on the very first day, sending her affection straight up to sixty. Naturally, her feelings had been different.
In a corner of Shrek Academy, Dai Mubai, who had just returned from Suotuo City, witnessed everything that happened between Su Ling and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Fine. Very good. Since you betrayed me first, don't blame me for showing no mercy. I can move that plan forward too." Dai Mubai clenched his fists, wishing he could kill Su Ling immediately.
Zhu Zhuqing was terribly shy in front of Su Ling, and Su Ling also saw the notification from the system.
After her affection rose above 90, the grade of chests he could obtain increased again, and his chances of receiving a Red Chest grew higher.
What surprised Su Ling even more was the notification that appeared after her affection reached 90.
Hopelessly in love with you, even if you have other women.
That sentence was practically a cheat, resolving the problem that had given Su Ling the biggest headache.
He had considered this before. As long as a woman was a goddess, he worked on raising her affection.
It might be fine at first, but what would happen once more goddesses fell in love with him? Would they be able to accept one another?
Su Ling had no desire to see his backyard go up in flames in the future.
Fortunately, that single sentence from the system perfectly resolved Su Ling's worries.
Aside from that, there was also a skill called Perception, which was useful enough.
"Big Brother Su, Zhu Zhuqing, the dean wants us to gather on the field."
At that crucial moment, Xiao Wu came jogging over, calling out loudly.
"Let's go over," Su Ling said.
"Mm!" Zhu Zhuqing obediently followed behind Su Ling.
"You go ahead. I'll get Rongrong," Xiao Wu said.
"Xiao Wu, don't. Rongrong is at a crucial point in her cultivation. Don't disturb her," Zhu Zhuqing said.
It was best not to interrupt cultivation after taking the pill Su Ling had given them. Zhu Zhuqing knew that better than anyone.
"All right, then. We'll have to ask for leave on Rongrong's behalf," Xiao Wu said.
The group soon reached the field. Besides the students, every teacher was present, along with Liu Erlong and several people from Blue Tyrant Academy.
Flender, Liu Erlong, and Grandmaster stood at the front.
"Everyone, after discussing it, we've decided to move the academy to Heaven Dou City and merge with Blue Tyrant Academy. Only then will we have the chance to take you to this year's Advanced Soul Master Tournament."
"This is Liu Erlong, the Horn of Slaughter of our Golden Iron Triangle. She founded Blue Tyrant Academy. However, once we move there, Blue Tyrant Academy will be renamed Shrek Academy."
"We'll leave for Heaven Dou City in three days. If you have any objections, you may raise them now," Flender said.
In less than two hours, the three of them had actually reached an agreement.
But Liu Erlong seemed to be in a poor mood, as though something was weighing on her mind. Most likely, it was still because of Yu Xiaogang.
Damn, what a dithering man. Su Ling really wanted to go over and slap him.
"We have no objections. If we get to see these youngsters compete in the Soul Master Tournament, it'll be worth it," Zhao Wuji said.
"Exactly! Exactly. It's been many years since we last visited Heaven Dou City." Shao Xin, Lu Qibin, and Li Yusong all nodded.
"I have no objections either," Su Ling said.
"Neither do we," Tang San and the others said.
Tang San, in particular, was exceptionally excited after learning about the Advanced Soul Master Tournament.
"In that case, you're dismissed," Flender said.
"You're Su Ling?" Yu Xiaogang walked straight up to him.
How should he describe Yu Xiaogang's appearance? He really looked more or less the same as he did in the animation.
Dressed entirely in black, with a crew cut, he looked to be in his forties.
His appearance really wasn't much to speak of.
Still, he did have some knowledge, and Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong really fell for that.
But was his knowledge truly that good?
There was no denying that he knew a thing or two, but not everything he knew was correct.
He had simply read a lot of books and stood on the shoulders of giants.
Tang San had become his test subject. According to the novel, it had been a success: he had trained Tang San to follow a different path.
But was that really the right way to cultivate Blue Silver Grass?
Yu Xiaogang stood before Su Ling with an air of superiority.
"That's right. That's me," Su Ling replied directly.
"My name is Yu Xiaogang. Everyone calls me Grandmaster. I'm Tang San's teacher. Could we speak alone?" Yu Xiaogang asked.
"Sure!"
"Come with me!"
Su Ling followed Yu Xiaogang, curious to see just what he intended to do.
They reached the edge of Shrek Academy, where Yu Xiaogang began, "Release your Martial Soul. Let me see it."
"As you wish!"
Su Ling released his Martial Soul and held the Five Elements War Bow in his hand. "This is my Martial Soul, the Five Elements War Bow. Would you like to try it?"
"Uh, there's no need."
"I heard about your Martial Soul Evolution from Flender. I've also read a detailed account of that senior from your Water Moon clan in a book."
"He did indeed forge a different path, and the Five Elements War Bow is a fine Martial Soul. Although that ancestor of yours evolved his Martial Soul through absorption, the Soul Rings he absorbed afterward weren't ideal."
"And?" Su Ling looked at Yu Xiaogang in puzzlement.
"That caused his later development to stray somewhat off course. According to the records, he apparently remained stuck at level eighty-nine until his death, unable to advance another step," Yu Xiaogang said.
"So what?" Su Ling asked.
"I can guide your future Martial Soul cultivation and give you a chance to become a Titled Douluo," Yu Xiaogang said bluntly.
"Give me a chance to become a Titled Douluo? Really? Then what do I need to do?" Su Ling deliberately put on a delighted expression.
Looking solemn and serious, Yu Xiaogang said, "Why would I lie? In the team Shrek Academy forms in the future, I'll assign you as Tang San's deputy. As a control-type Soul Master, Tang San should take the leading role. Although his Soul Power is lower than yours now, that gap will keep shrinking."
"Tang San became a Soul Elder before he even turned thirteen. I believe you've seen his potential. By the time he reaches your age, his Soul Power certainly won't be below level fifty."
"If you're willing to serve as the team's deputy, I can help with your future cultivation. What do you say?" Yu Xiaogang asked directly.
Over the past two months or so, Yu Xiaogang had heard Su Ling's name countless times, and Flender had also been praising how good he was.
But in his eyes, no matter how gifted Su Ling was or how great his potential, could he compare to Tang San, who had Twin Martial Souls, the Clear Sky Hammer, and innate full Soul Power?
No matter how he looked at it, Tang San was better suited to leading a team.
That was why he wanted to persuade Su Ling on the very first day they met. Fortunately, while researching Martial Souls, he had come across the Five Elements War Bow in Spirit Hall's books.
They also contained detailed records of the first person to possess the Five Elements War Bow.
With Su Ling following that path, Yu Xiaogang believed he could easily get him under his thumb.
"You certainly have tempted me, but may I ask what qualifies you to teach me? What level is your Soul Power?" Su Ling asked.
At that, Yu Xiaogang said, "Level twenty-nine, but that isn't important. What matters is that I know the best way to cultivate your Five Elements War Bow from here on. Don't you want to become a Titled Douluo?"
"Your Soul Power is level twenty-nine, and you dare talk about becoming a Titled Douluo?" Su Ling said mildly.
"If you were really that capable, you wouldn't be only level twenty-nine."
"Also, you helped Tang San choose the Soul Rings for his Martial Soul, didn't you?" Su Ling asked.
Yu Xiaogang nodded. "That's right. I did. What do you think? Blue Silver Grass is one of the lowest-grade Martial Souls, yet I've brought out its greatest possible effectiveness. In the future, I'll make Tang San's Blue Silver Grass the strongest control-type Martial Soul on the continent."
"Really? Then Tang San is truly lucky. If it were me, I certainly wouldn't have made him absorb those lousy Soul Rings. You aren't helping him. You're harming him."
"How am I harming him?" Yu Xiaogang asked in confusion.
"Control, toughness, and the like aren't actually Blue Silver Grass's greatest strengths. On the contrary, they're its weakest aspects, inferior even to other ordinary weeds. Blue Silver Grass's greatest strength is its vitality. Wildfire cannot burn it all away; with the spring breeze, it grows again. Its vitality is top-tier."
"You ignored its top-tier vitality and instead pursued changes to its weakest traits, control and toughness, even adding poison."
"How is that helping Tang San? You're outright harming him."
"A future Soul Master with the strongest life attribute on the continent, ruined just like that by you." Su Ling shook his head helplessly.
Not far away, Tang San had been secretly listening to the conversation between Su Ling and Yu Xiaogang.
At the start, Yu Xiaogang had told him to take on the team's leading role. But with Su Ling around, his overwhelming strength meant there was no way that role would fall to Tang San.
Tang San had chosen to give up on it, but Yu Xiaogang had ordered him to take the leading role and leave everything to him. Tang San himself was feeling quite helpless.
In fact, before approaching Su Ling, Yu Xiaogang had also spent some time discussing the matter with Flender.
Flender trusted Yu Xiaogang, and he trusted his knowledge as well.
Yu Xiaogang had told Flender that with Su Ling leading the team, they could achieve excellent results within the Heaven Dou Empire, but not across the entire continent, especially against Spirit Hall Academy.
To go further, Tang San had to lead the team! Moreover, his leading position should ideally be established from the outset, allowing them to practice tactics without changing it in the future.
After several rounds of persuasion, Yu Xiaogang had actually convinced Flender. But Flender would not persuade Su Ling himself; Yu Xiaogang would have to do that.
That was why Yu Xiaogang had now approached Su Ling directly to lecture him.
Should I have taken the life-attribute path? Tang San was stunned by what he heard. Su Ling's argument seemed perfectly sound.
The life-attribute path might be focused on support, but he had the Clear Sky Hammer.
Two Martial Souls, one for support and one for offense-wouldn't that be ideal?
Meanwhile, Tang Hao, who was secretly watching over Tang San, also heard Su Ling's words. Was I wrong too? Ah Yin focused on Blue Silver Grass's life attribute.
Looking at Tang San now, where was Blue Silver Grass's life attribute? It seemed a perfectly good Martial Soul had been ruined.
Originally, Su Ling had not intended to bring up this issue.
But who could have known Yu Xiaogang would come looking for trouble himself? In that case, Su Ling would not hold back.
Besides, it didn't matter if he said it now. Tang San had already absorbed three Soul Rings.
Switching to the life-attribute path was no longer possible. Now, he could only follow this road all the way into darkness.
"Utter nonsense! I've researched Martial Souls for decades. How many Blue Silver Grass Martial Souls can compare to Xiao San's? Hmph..." Yu Xiaogang was clearly getting agitated.
"Think whatever you like. That's how I see it, anyway. It's only my personal opinion. You don't need to get so angry," Su Ling said calmly.
This is the Grandmaster from the novel? Su Ling thought.
Isn't he far too pathetic?
Selfishly making me give up the position I deserve just so his disciple can take charge of everything.
He claimed it was for his disciple Tang San, but to put it plainly, Tang San was merely his test subject, a means to verify the results of his research.
The more Tang San achieved in a leading role, the better his research results would look, wouldn't they? On the surface, everything was for Tang San, but in reality, it was all for himself.
"You, you... Hmph! Ignorant! I can't be bothered to explain it to you. You don't understand Martial Souls at all! Utterly ignorant!"
Humiliated into anger and beside himself with rage, Yu Xiaogang could only turn and leave.
Before you continue