Preserving the Dark Gold Ironclad Ant's soul would not only allow Tang Tianlin to draw out the Soul Ring's power to the fullest, but also let him cultivate a fighter who feared neither life nor death.
Yet another two birds with one stone.
Six hours later, Tang Tianlin's eyes snapped open, a golden gleam flashing through their depths.
An ink-black Soul Ring circled his body. On its surface, a miniature Dark Gold Ironclad Ant could be seen running endlessly in the direction of the ring's rotation.
It was the beast soul he had preserved.
"Tianlin, how do you feel?" Tang Hao stepped forward at just the right moment to ask with concern.
Tianlin was probably the first person in history to absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring at the Soul Grandmaster stage.
"Very good."
Tang Tianlin briefly assessed his current condition. "After absorbing the Dark Gold Ironclad Ant's Soul Ring, my Soul Power rose by three levels, and my physique improved somewhat too."
"Only three levels?"
Surprise crossed Tang Hao's face.
When he had first absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring as a Soul King, his Soul Power had risen by four levels.
Yet Tianlin had only gained three?
On second thought, however, the quantity and quality of Tianlin's Soul Power far surpassed those of others at his level. An increase of three levels was already quite good.
"Big Brother, what's your Soul Skill?" Tang San asked curiously from beside him.
Tang Tianlin had no intention of hiding it. "The Soul Skill I obtained is called Dark Gold Tyrant Body. It's an enhancement-type Soul Skill. When used, it increases all my attributes by one hundred percent, with an additional thirty-percent increase to strength."
"It lasts about sixty seconds."
After hearing Tang Tianlin's explanation, Tang Hao's eyes widened until they nearly popped out of their sockets.
A divine skill! An absolutely divine skill!
Not only did it enhance all attributes, but it also provided an additional attribute boost.
The combined effect of the two far exceeded one plus one.
Tang Hao hardly dared imagine how powerful Tianlin would be if he used the Clear Sky Hammer after activating this Soul Skill.
His Clear Sky Sect had truly produced a True Dragon!
Tang Hao left again.
Unlike his previous departure without a word, this time he at least said goodbye.
Tianlin now had the strength to protect himself, so staying any longer would be superfluous.
Moreover, his injuries had now mostly healed, allowing him to better help his eldest nephew search for the treasures needed to advance his bloodline. It would also count as continuing to atone for his sins against the sect.
Three days later, Tang Tianlin and Tang San returned to Nuoding Academy.
Unexpectedly, they had barely stepped through the gates when they ran into a familiar figure.
It was none other than Yu Xiaogang.
After some time apart, Yu Xiaogang looked noticeably more dispirited than before. Coupled with his thin, unkempt face, he could give the old Tang Hao a run for his money.
Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was a vagrant from the roadside.
Ever since Tang San had refused to become his disciple, Yu Xiaogang had sunk into profound self-doubt.
Especially after a single look from Tang Tianlin had frightened him into wetting himself, he had begun to wonder whether he really was a useless good-for-nothing.
But the experiences of the first half of his life had long since forged an incomparably strong heart. A mere setback was nothing more than a little wind and frost.
He believed that as long as he persisted, he would move Tang San one day.
Unfortunately, Tang San had left with Tang Tianlin after entering the academy, leaving him searching for ages.
But heaven did not fail those who persevered. After waiting painstakingly for nearly half a month, Yu Xiaogang finally saw the figure he had been longing for and hurried forward.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang approach, Tang San couldn't help recalling the scene from that day. His brows furrowed slightly, and he instinctively took a step back.
Noticing Tang San's movement, Yu Xiaogang's smile froze.
Only then did he realize that Tang San's aura was considerably stronger than before.
"Tang San, you've already added a Soul Ring to your Blue Silver Grass? What Soul Ring is it? Quick, let me see!"
Yu Xiaogang's tone was urgent.
They had actually taken it upon themselves to add a Soul Ring to Tang San without consulting him.
If anything went wrong with Tang San, wouldn't he be doomed to remain a good-for-nothing for the rest of his life?!
At those words, Tang San's brows knitted even more tightly.
Martial Souls and Soul Rings were a Soul Master's greatest secrets.
This so-called Da Shi had not only exposed the secret of his Twin Martial Souls, but was now asking about his Soul Ring as well.
He was simply provoking him!
If not for his big brother's instructions, Yu Xiaogang would already have been a dead man.
Yu Xiaogang also realized that his question had overstepped somewhat, and softened his tone. "Tang San, while I'm not very strong, when it comes to research on Blue Silver Grass, if I call myself second, no one would dare claim first."
"I'm asking about the Soul Ring you added partly for research, and partly because I'm worried you'll choose the wrong development path for your Blue Silver Grass and waste your talent for nothing."
This spiel from Yu Xiaogang actually stirred a trace of uncertainty in Tang San.
Could this Grandmaster really have my interests at heart?
Seeing that his big brother had no intention of speaking, Tang San said gravely, "Then tell me, what path should my Blue Silver Grass take?"
At this, Yu Xiaogang immediately perked up. He promptly clasped his hands behind his back and raised his head, assuming the posture of a scholar.
"You've asked the right person. Based on my survey of six hundred and thirty-one people whose Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, I concluded that for Blue Silver Grass to possess combat capabilities, it should receive Soul Rings that improve its toughness or add toxins."
Hearing this familiar spiel, Tang Tianlin's expression turned strange.
In the original story, Tang San had believed Gangzi's advice and followed the path of control and potent poison, leaving him unable to bring out Blue Silver Grass's advantage in vitality.
As a result, by the middle stages, Tang San discovered that anyone could tear his Blue Silver Grass apart, while its toxins could only cause numbness.
Only then did he realize that Yu Xiaogang had led him into a pit, and he began considering switching to cultivating the Clear Sky Hammer.
If Tang Hao hadn't taken Tang San to the Blue Silver Forest in time to evolve his Blue Silver Grass into the Blue Silver King, Tang San really would have been ruined.
"Control and adding toxins?"
Tang San muttered to himself, his gaze growing increasingly contemptuous as he looked at Yu Xiaogang.
What a bullshit path. It doesn't come close to Big Brother's suggestion.
Blue Silver Grass inherently possessed the purest life attribute. Adding potent poison would only clash with that life attribute and weaken its potential.
This was simply trading Blue Silver Grass's long-term ceiling for a meager scrap of early combat strength.
Seeing their blank expressions, Yu Xiaogang thought they had been stunned by his genius theory. He immediately puffed out his chest and struck while the iron was hot:
"So, Tang San, as long as you become my disciple, I can tell you more about the development paths for Blue Silver Grass. I wouldn't dare promise to make you a peerless powerhouse, but I can at least spare you twenty years of detours!"
After speaking, he deliberately adopted the bearing of a lofty expert.
"Pfft!"
Tang Tianlin finally couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed aloud.
Hearing the laughter, Yu Xiaogang's face darkened.
But out of fear of Tang Tianlin's strength, he didn't dare lash out and could only say gravely, "What? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
Tang Tianlin countered with a question. "Da Shi, let me ask you: what attribute does Blue Silver Grass have?"
"Well..."
Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly. "According to my years of research, Blue Silver Grass should predominantly possess the life attribute."
"Then let me ask you, what's the relationship between toxins and life?" Tang Tianlin asked again.
Something suddenly occurred to Yu Xiaogang, and his face went deathly pale. He stammered, "Th-they should counteract each other, shouldn't they?"
"So even Da Shi knows they counteract each other?"
Tang Tianlin sneered and said mockingly, "You clearly know the two counteract each other, yet you recommended that Tang San add Soul Rings containing toxins."
"Aren't you harming him?"
Before you continue