Brothers' Sparring Match

Hearing that Tang Chuan wanted to spar with him, Tang San pondered for a moment before finally nodding lightly. "Sure. Then let's go outside. It's too cramped here, and we won't be able to move freely."

"Mm." At that, Tang San immediately smiled and turned toward the dormitory door, taking the lead.

"Spar? Spar?!"

An energetic voice rang out. Xiao Wu suddenly sat up from her bed, excitement flashing in her eyes. "I'm going too! I want to watch!"

"Xiao San, you have to help me get revenge. He bullied me when you weren't around last time!"

As she spoke, she flipped lightly off the bed and landed gracefully. After tugging up the Pink Skirt around her waist, she happily followed them, looking as though she couldn't wait to watch the fun.

Tang San smiled helplessly without replying.

Seeing this, the other students in the dormitory also gathered around. Some opened the door, while others poked their heads out, all of them discussing the matter animatedly.

"Tang Chuan and Tang San are going to spar?"

"Seriously? Which of them is stronger?"

"Of course Tang San is the strongest in our year. I heard his First Spirit Ring came from a Mandala Snake that was over four hundred years old!"

"What about his brother? Didn't he just come back? Does he have a Spirit Ring too?"

The boys were all brimming with curiosity. Besides, class had ended not long ago, and they had nothing better to do. Naturally, none of them wanted to miss such excitement, so they left the dormitory in groups.

The weather this season was at its most comfortable, with cool air that carried no chill.

By now, the sky had gradually darkened. It was clear, with stars hanging high overhead. Just as Tang Chuan and Tang San stepped out of the dormitory, they came face-to-face with Master, who was approaching from the other side.

Master had been walking with his head lowered, seemingly still pondering some question. But when he looked up and saw a large group of students surrounding Tang San and Tang Chuan as they came out of the dormitory, his brows immediately furrowed slightly.

"It's almost dark. What are they going to do?" Master muttered to himself before quickening his pace and walking straight toward them.

"Xiao San." Master stopped in front of the two brothers, his gaze sweeping over Tang San and Tang Chuan. "What are you two going to do?"

After seeing Master, Tang San immediately stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said:

"Teacher, I heard that Brother obtained his First Spirit Ring, so I'm planning to spar with him and get a better understanding of each other."

Hearing this, Master nodded and gave a bland "Oh," but an almost imperceptible glint flashed through his eyes.

"Spar?" he sneered inwardly. "Tang Chuan's First Spirit Ring is merely a Ten-Year Spirit Ring. Even if he has a few little tricks, how could he possibly compare with Xiao San? Perfect... Today, I'll make him understand whose Blue Silver Grass cultivation path is correct."

On the surface, however, Master still wore an inscrutable and calm expression. He said softly:

"In that case, I'll go over and take a look as well. It'll be a good opportunity to observe your battle."

"And I can offer you some guidance while I'm at it."

Just then, Tang San seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "Teacher, did you come to the students' dormitory for something?"

Hearing this, Master took a thick book from his robes. The cover was somewhat worn, but neat characters were written across it: Outline of Blue Silver Grass Spirit Cultivation.

"Xiao San, these are some of the research notes I've compiled recently." Master handed the book to Tang San, a hint of seriousness and expectation in his eyes. "They include a Blue Silver Grass cultivation plan I tailored for you according to your Martial Soul's characteristics. Take some time to study it carefully."

"Thank you, Teacher. I'll definitely study it carefully when I get back." Tang San solemnly accepted the book, then bowed to Master again, speaking with gratitude.

A few minutes later.

The group passed through Nuoding Academy's winding corridors and slowly followed the mountain path until they reached an open clearing in the Back Mountain.

The clearing was flat, surrounded by sparse trees. Although the ground was somewhat soft and muddy, it was very clean, clearly having been used as a sparring ground for many years.

Tang Chuan and Tang San stood shoulder to shoulder and slowly walked to the center of the clearing.

The two of them stood more than a dozen steps apart. They stared at each other as their auras began to intertwine invisibly.

At the edge of the clearing, Xiao Wu stood beneath a large tree with her arms crossed, watching the two in the center with eager anticipation.

Beside her stood Wang Sheng and several other Work-Study Students from Dorm Seven. Excitement and nervousness filled each of their eyes.

"Brother Chuan and Tang San are actually going to fight?"

"This is the first battle of the new term!"

"Who do you think is stronger?"

"It has to be Tang San. His First Spirit Ring is a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring, after all."

"Not necessarily. Maybe Brother Chuan's First Spirit Ring is also a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring. It might even be a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring." A Work-Study Student who came from a poor family and could rarely afford enough food, but was often invited by Tang Chuan to eat roast rabbits, voiced his opinion.

The children whispered among themselves, all of them grinning excitedly.

On the other side of the clearing, Master stood straight with his hands behind his back, staring deeply at the two brothers. His expression was calm, but his brows were slightly knitted.

For him, today's battle...

was not merely a spar between disciples.

It was also a powerful rebuttal aimed at Tang Chuan, the doubter. He would make everyone understand that his Spirit Theory could not be profaned. How could he, the dignified Master of Spirit Theory, ever be wrong?

As the mountain breeze brushed past, Tang Chuan's clothes fluttered slightly.

He glanced around, then looked at Tang San standing opposite him. His tone was calm, yet carried a hint of excitement. "Xiao San, are you ready?"

A trace of fighting spirit appeared in Tang San's eyes. He nodded slightly. "Anytime."

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint yellow light lit up around Tang San. He raised his right hand, and Deep Blue Blue Silver Grass grew from his palm.

With his movement, a bright yellow Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet and slowly revolved around his body. The Spirit Power Fluctuation could be clearly felt.

"A Hundred-Year Spirit Ring!" one of the Work-Study Students cried out involuntarily.

"Wow, a yellow Hundred-Year Spirit Ring!"

"Tang San already has a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring, while I don't even have a Ten-Year Spirit Ring yet..."

"What's so impressive? Maybe Brother Chuan will reveal a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring later."

Listening to everyone's praise of Tang San, the corners of Xiao Wu's mouth curled upward with pride. "This is nothing yet. Xiao San is going to surpass Master in the future."

"You don't have to tell me that." Wang Sheng stared enviously at Tang San's Spirit Ring and muttered, "Our dormitory is going to produce a great figure. Don't forget us when you become successful."

"As the saying goes, if you become rich, don't forget your friends! Hehe!"

For a time, every gaze focused on the bright yellow Soul Ring beneath Tang San's feet. Envy, awe, and shock surged through the crowd.

But soon, they all turned their heads toward Tang Chuan.

Tang Chuan's expression was calm. He showed no surprise at Tang San's Hundred-Year Spirit Ring. Instead, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he looked at his younger brother with an ambiguous smile.

The next moment, he slowly extended his right hand and opened his palm.

A Blue Silver Grass entwined with blue-gold light emerged from his palm. It was sturdier than Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, with thicker branches and leaves. Blue intermingled with gold, resembling a symbol of some kingly bloodline.

"Blue-gold Blue Silver Grass?" Tang San's expression changed slightly at the sight.

In that instant, everyone was dazzled.

"What beautiful Blue Silver Grass! It seems even stronger than Tang San's..."

"The color of those leaves is so unique. Is it a Mutated Spirit?"

The crowd's discussion rose and fell. Even Master couldn't help frowning, his heart stirring slightly. Why did this aura give him such an extraordinary feeling?

However, just then, a white Soul Ring quietly rose from beneath Tang Chuan's feet.

The surroundings instantly fell silent.

Not even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard!

Immediately afterward.

"Pfft!"

Xiao Wu was the first to burst out laughing. She raised a hand to cover the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery.

"Tang Chuan, weren't you being a little careless? I thought your Soul Ring would at least be a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring, but it turned out to be a Ten-Year Spirit Ring?"

She shook her head while laughing. "Your Blue Silver Grass may look a little prettier, but a Ten-Year Spirit Ring is far too weak, isn't it? Xiao San, don't hold back. Otherwise, your brother might end up being taught a lesson by you."

The other Work-Study Students from the dormitory exchanged glances. The amazement they had shown moments ago instantly collapsed, and deep disappointment appeared in their eyes.

"I thought Brother Chuan's Soul Ring would be... but..."

"With a Ten-Year Spirit Ring, Tang San could probably tie him up like a dumpling with just one strand of Blue Silver Grass, right?"

"How... how could this happen?" Even the Work-Study Student who had supported Tang Chuan all along stood rooted to the spot, at a loss for what to do.

For a time, laughter and sounds of head-shaking rose and fell throughout the clearing.

Tang Chuan seemed to have become the least-favored person in everyone's eyes.

But Tang Chuan didn't mind. He merely swept his gaze over the crowd, a faint curve appearing at the corner of his mouth, before saying to Tang San, "Xiao San, let's begin!"

When Tang San saw the white Soul Ring rise beneath Tang Chuan's feet, the slight tension in his heart—caused by the blue-gold light he had seen when his brother released his Blue Silver Grass—vanished instantly.

"A white Soul Ring? A Ten-Year Spirit Ring?"

A trace of surprise flashed through Tang San's eyes, and then a smile that he could barely conceal appeared on his face.

Although he tried his best to maintain a calm expression, the sense of superiority quietly rising in his heart continued to surface.

"I never expected Brother's First Spirit Ring to be merely a Ten-Year Spirit Ring."

"I thought... Perhaps my previous guesses were all wrong. In that case, aren't I guaranteed to win?"

However, when Tang San heard Tang Chuan calmly say that they could begin, his heart still tightened slightly for some unknown reason.

Because he vaguely sensed that Tang Chuan's Blue Silver Grass was not ordinary.

Could it be a Martial Soul mutation?

"Brother, be careful. My Blue Silver Grass isn't ordinary Blue Silver Grass—it carries Poison!" Tang San shouted in a low voice before launching the first attack.

A flash of blue light suddenly appeared in his palm. The Blue Silver Grass abruptly surged, shooting into the air like a living snake before darting toward Tang Chuan.

It moved so quickly that it was almost nothing more than a blur by the time it reached Tang Chuan's chest, clearly showing that Tang San had not held back in this strike.

Please vote for more monthly tickets and recommendation tickets.