"Since you're here..."
"Um, Grandmaster, sorry to interrupt, but you've misunderstood."
Smiling, Tang Tian cut off the lengthy lecture he was about to launch into.
"We just went to see the dean. Dean Zhang has already agreed to take us to the Soul Hunting Forest himself."
That inscrutable expression of Yu Xiaogang's.
Instantly froze on his face.
"...What did you say? The dean?"
"That's right."
With an innocent expression, Tang Tian landed another blow:
"The dean said we're all part of the academy, bound to run into each other wherever we turn."
"He wanted to invite you along too, to get some fresh air while we're at it."
Tang Tian deliberately emphasized "while we're at it."
Yu Xiaogang felt his face burn.
As though he'd been slapped.
The grandmaster airs he'd just put on instantly shattered all over the floor.
They hadn't come to become his disciples?
They hadn't even come to ask him for help?
They were only here to notify him that he was tagging along?
And only taking him "while they were at it"?
After the shame came fury!
"Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!"
Yu Xiaogang's face turned livid.
He snapped, flicking his sleeve angrily.
"For something as trivial as visiting the Soul Hunting Forest, having me lead the group is more than enough. Why trouble the dean?"
"This is clearly a waste of the academy's resources!"
"What's more, it shows a lack of trust in me!"
He was practically spraying spittle.
Watching Yu Xiaogang seethe in impotent rage, Tang Tian sneered inwardly.
Trust you?
If I actually trusted you and left Little San in your charge, that would really spell disaster!
In the original timeline, you were a rank twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster!
And you even came from a top-tier clan like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
You trumpeted your theories to the heavens, yet your actual combat performance couldn't have been worse.
A mere four-hundred-year-old Mandala Snake chased you until you practically pissed and shit yourself!
You even needed your six-year-old disciple, who'd only just awakened his martial soul, to save your life!
If Tang San hadn't been a transmigrator with the Tang Sect Secret Arts at his disposal!
The two of you probably would've become snake droppings that day!
And you still want to lead a group?
A group marching to its death?
For the sake of his little brother's life.
And to prevent any butterfly effects in this lifetime.
Tang Tian had to find a bodyguard who could actually fight.
The dean, whose rank was over forty, was ten thousand times more reliable than this "unrivaled in theory" Grandmaster, no matter how you looked at it.
"Surely you're joking, Grandmaster. The dean only means well. He's worried you'll get bored all alone at the academy."
Tang Tian ignored Yu Xiaogang's fury.
He waved a hand lazily.
Taking Tang San and the still-sniggering Xiao Wu along, he turned to leave:
"Now that we've delivered the message, we'll be off."
"See you at the academy gates tomorrow morning. Don't be late, Grandmaster!"
Watching the three retreating figures.
Especially Tang Tian's nonchalant manner.
Yu Xiaogang trembled all over with rage, his fingers gripping the doorframe so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Rotten wood! Beyond carving! Utterly unreasonable!"
He roared inwardly:
Fine! Fine! Since you've asked the dean, I'll go along and see for myself!
When you run into trouble, let's see whether you come begging to me!
I'll show you how foolish it is to blunder ahead without theoretical guidance!
Beside him, Xiao Wu had her hand held by Tang Tian.
She glanced back at the Grandmaster, who was stamping his feet in fury.
She couldn't help bursting into a giggle.
Leaning toward Tang Tian's ear, she whispered:
"Brother Tian, you're so mean. Look how angry you made him. His face has gone green."
The corners of Tang Tian's lips lifted slightly:
"That's called curing every kind of defiance."
Early the next morning.
The party of five.
Dean Zhang, Yu Xiaogang, Tang Tian, Tang San, and Xiao Wu.
Rode in a spacious carriage.
Toward the nearby Soul Hunting Forest.
Along the way, in an effort to recover the face he'd lost outside the dormitory yesterday.
Yu Xiaogang deliberately sat upright in the middle and launched into a sleep-inducing lecture.
"Tang San, your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, universally acknowledged as a trash martial soul in the Soul Master World."
"If you want to turn decay into wonder, your choice of first soul ring is crucial."
A trace of fanaticism appeared on Yu Xiaogang's stiff face.
Without caring whether Tang San wanted to listen.
Or even looking at anyone else's reaction.
He simply continued his endless monologue:
"According to my theory of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, since Blue Silver Grass is following the control-type path, it must imitate the properties of vines."
"It can only serve its purpose by entangling the enemy."
"Therefore, the soul ring best suited to you is the Mandala Snake!"
No one chimed in. His voice alone echoed inside the carriage.
Yet Yu Xiaogang seemed immersed in his own world:
"...The Mandala Snake's venom is the supplement Blue Silver Grass needs most, and its toughness can prevent Blue Silver Grass from being easily torn apart..."
In the corner.
Xiao Wu listened until both her ears drooped listlessly.
She muttered softly:
"This Grandmaster really does go on and on."
Just then, a hand lightly touched the back of Xiao Wu's.
Xiao Wu turned to look.
Tang Tian was winking at her with those beautiful, alluring eyes.
Then he flipped his wrist.
As though performing a magic trick!
He pulled a dried ruby carrot from his sleeve.
"Have a snack."
Tang Tian mouthed silently.
Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up like stars.
All her gloom was swept away!
Like a kitten sneaking a taste of fish.
She swiftly took the carrot.
And eagerly bit down with a "Crunch!"
An extraordinarily crisp chewing sound rang out!
Inside the carriage, where only Yu Xiaogang had been speaking, it sounded particularly loud and jarring.
Yu Xiaogang's impassioned voice cut off abruptly.
His face darkened, and he whipped his head around, about to bring out an elder's authority and scold her.
Only to see Xiao Wu holding the carrot in both hands.
Her eyes narrowed in bliss, like a little rabbit guarding her food.
[Ding! On this tedious journey, you fed the Soft Bone Demon Rabbit, becoming her sole source of enjoyment.] [The Soft Bone Demon Rabbit's happiness has increased significantly. Affection +1!] [Current affection: 57/100 (fondness).]
Seeing the notifications on the panel, Tang Tian couldn't help smiling.
But outwardly, he still pretended to look innocently out the window.
As though nothing had happened.
The corner of Yu Xiaogang's mouth twitched several times.
Ultimately, to preserve his dignity as the Grandmaster.
He forced himself to pretend he hadn't seen anything.
Turning back, he continued lecturing Tang San:
"Ahem... In short, the Mandala Snake possesses both toughness and venom, which perfectly compensate for Blue Silver Grass's fragility."
"This is absolutely the perfect match! No other soul beast is better suited to it!"
Though his theory was tedious, it did have some logic to it.
Even Dean Zhang, who had been resting beside them with his eyes closed, heard it.
And couldn't help nodding repeatedly:
"The Grandmaster certainly lives up to his title. That makes sense."
Having received the dean's approval.
Yu Xiaogang finally revealed a trace of smug satisfaction.
But before that smile could fully spread.
An ill-timed, languid voice rang out.
"The Mandala Snake?"
Tang Tian leaned against the carriage window.
A stalk of foxtail grass he'd casually picked by the roadside hung from his mouth.
He countered offhandedly:
"Who decided Blue Silver Grass could only be used as rope?"
Yu Xiaogang's brows instantly knitted together.
He looked coldly at Tang Tian:
"What do you know?"
"Blue Silver Grass is inherently weak. If it doesn't follow the control-type path to improve its toughness, are you suggesting it clash head-on with others?"
"Toughness certainly matters, but vitality is what truly reigns supreme."
Tang Tian spat out the grass stem and sat upright.
He didn't look at Yu Xiaogang, instead fixing Tang San with a burning gaze.
These words were meant only for someone who understood:
"Little San, think about it."
"Our goal isn't to turn Blue Silver Grass into a poisonous rope."
"It's to draw out the explosive, endlessly renewing vitality it possesses as a plant."
Tang Tian raised a finger.
He traced it through the air like a sharp sword:
"They say grass is weak?"
"That's because they've never seen the strength of a tender shoot breaking through the earth, pushing the soil aside!"
"If blades of grass could be infused with soul power, making them as hard as refined steel; if grass seeds could be fired like steel pellets, piercing metal and shattering stone."
Tang Tian's voice wasn't loud, yet it carried a compelling magic:
"Flying flowers and plucked leaves can all wound an enemy!"
"The path we're taking combines vitality with offensive power!"
"Grass can cut through steel too!"
Those words stunned not only Tang San.
Even Little Iron Hammer, slumbering in the Sea of Consciousness, was startled awake by those wildly arrogant words.
Before you continue