After hearing Yan's words, Xie Yue rolled his eyes in exasperation, stepped over, and smacked him on the head.
"What do you mean, it's dawn? Did the poison turn you stupid?"
"You were knocked out by Xiao San's poison just now. Did you forget?"
Only then did Yan come to his senses. He patted his head and said, "Holy shit, right."
As he spoke, he walked up to Tang San and met his gaze for a moment, then threw his arms around him in a tight hug before gripping his shoulders with both hands.
"Brother, you're fucking amazing. I concede!"
"You're only a Soul Elder, yet you beat me so badly I didn't even get a chance to fight back. I'd already lost when I broke the rules and used a Soul Skill, and even then I still couldn't win. You're incredible!"
"No wonder the Pope took an interest in a genius like you. Your Blue Silver Grass really is extraordinary. I misjudged it. If you ask me, yours isn't Blue Silver Grass, but something like... Fire God Grass!"
Yan's sudden display left Tang San unsure whether to laugh or cry.
He could see it now. Yan was really just a thickheaded fool without any ill intentions, the sort who was completely straightforward. He was a decent person.
As for Yan's naming sense... that fell quite a bit short.
Fire God Grass? What sort of mental wiring came up with a name like that?
Xie Yue pulled Yan back and extended a hand to Tang San.
"Sorry, Yan was impulsive just now. Xiao San, you've proven your strength. We underestimated you. You're certainly qualified to be a substitute, and you even have the potential to become a main team member."
"But the seven of us have trained together for years. The upcoming tournament is a team competition, after all, so you might not get to start. I hope you understand."
"We can train together from now on and build our coordination."
His words were so tactful that no one could have found fault with them.
Tang San nodded and shook Xie Yue's hand, not particularly concerned about being a substitute or a starter.
Naturally, it would be best if he could avoid competing and slack off.
It was only a Soul Master Tournament. Even its best reward was merely three Soul Bones, which really weren't worthy of Tang San's attention.
Not to mention, without him, Shrek Academy's fighting strength had dropped dramatically. The Spirit Hall Academy Team could be said to have no decent opponents.
If he spent the time needed to prepare for the tournament doing something else, he would improve much faster.
"Understood. I'm only here in case I'm needed. You seven are still the main team."
After he demonstrated his abilities, everyone present became much friendlier toward Tang San.
Whatever else might be said, this world's underlying logic was still that the strong reigned supreme. The bigger fist spoke the hardest truth.
Hu Liena skipped over, her chest rising and falling in waves, and leaned close to Tang San, a pink gleam flashing through her eyes.
"Welcome to our team, Xiao San."
At the same time, Hu Liena's second Soul Ring lit up.
Second Soul Skill, Fox Charm!
Anyone with slightly weaker mental strength or willpower would freeze on the spot after being struck by this move. In a match or on a battlefield, that was a fatal opening.
Seeing Hu Liena approach, Xie Yue raised an eyebrow. He had intended to raise a hand to stop her, but then lowered it again.
"Ah, Hu Liena is still so mischievous."
Yan chuckled. "Captain, it's not like you don't know her temperament. Doesn't every team member have to get pranked by Hu Liena like this?"
Every team member had been charmed by Hu Liena when they first joined, waking to discover that their faces had been drawn all over like a tabby cat's.
It seemed Hu Liena intended to play the same old trick on Tang San.
Tang San noticed something, but paid it no mind. Without the slightest hesitation, he met Hu Liena's gaze, purple spreading through his pupils.
Purple Demon Eye!
After being strengthened by the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, his Purple Demon Eye had evolved once more. Ordinary control-type Soul Skills had no effect on him.
Boom!
The instant she met Tang San's gaze, Hu Liena felt as though lightning had struck her. Her pupils contracted, her mouth opened unconsciously, and she fainted outright, collapsing into Tang San's arms.
Feeling the warmth of the delicate body in his arms, Tang San sighed helplessly. Why bother? Why insist on making trouble for herself?
At the sight, Xie Yue was stunned at first, then genuinely grew anxious.
"What happened?"
Tang San helplessly patted Hu Liena's bottom. There was nothing he could do; he was rather short right now, and that was all he could reach. Then he pushed Hu Liena toward Xie Yue.
"Soul Skill backlash. She'll be fine soon. I forgot to mention that ordinary control-type Soul Skills don't work on me."
"Oh, and I have my own things to do. Since I'm a substitute, I won't be training with you for now."
With that, Tang San turned and left.
Xie Yue supported Hu Liena by the shoulders. Only when he saw her regain consciousness did his expression ease, his gaze exceedingly complicated as he looked at Tang San's retreating back.
Just where did this kid come from?
An External Soul Bone, a thirteen-year-old Soul Elder, and he could even resist control-type Soul Skills?!
Calling him an ordinary genius couldn't begin to describe him!
No wonder the Pope had made him join the team. Even Xie Yue felt a sense of crisis.
Tang San was only thirteen now, yet he was already this strong. What about later?
Just then, Hu Liena murmured something, interrupting Xie Yue's thoughts.
"...Purple!"
Xie Yue let go, somewhat curious. "What was purple?"
Hu Liena's eyes were unfocused as she murmured, "I don't know. I passed out. Before I lost consciousness, all I could see was purple."
"Oh, where's Xiao San? I need to ask him properly how he resisted my Soul Skill!"
Xie Yue rolled his eyes. "He left ages ago. Said he had something to do. And you-always playing tricks on people for no reason. You finally ran into a tough one, didn't you?"
"Everyone has secrets. Don't press him."
Hearing this, Hu Liena's expression grew exceedingly complicated. Tang San's purple eyes kept surfacing in her mind.
Tang San's face, too, was deeply etched into her mind.
Just what ability was that? Was it a Soul Bone? Why would Blue Silver Grass have an ability like that?
Countless thoughts swirled through Hu Liena's mind. That scene had already sunk deep into her memories, and she probably wouldn't forget it for the rest of her life.
"Tang San, I'll remember you!"
In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.
During those six months, Tang San mostly cultivated alone. He did not think Xie Yue and the others could help him much, and cultivating by himself was more efficient instead.
But for some reason, Hu Liena kept coming to see him whenever she had nothing to do. She was like sticky candy, clinging to him relentlessly.
After three months of letting things settle, Tang San had more or less completed his initial absorption and consolidation of the four great immortal herbs' medicinal effects, and his Soul Power had reached rank forty.
Almost as soon as he reached rank forty, Yue Guan had already found Tang San a Soul Beast to provide his fourth Soul Ring: a five-thousand-year-old Poison Scorpion Emperor.
That was the benefit of having a major power behind him. He did not need to worry about Soul Rings at all.
However, Tang San declined Yue Guan's kindness. He had his own, better arrangements for his fourth Soul Ring.
Today, Yan had also broken through the rank-fifty threshold and happened to need his fifth Soul Ring. A bishop from Spirit Hall had originally been assigned to lead the team out to hunt Soul Beasts.
But for Tang San's sake, Yue Guan took on the responsibility of leading the team.
Their destination: Sunset Forest!
Tang San's objective was very clear. With Spirit Hall backing him, plus the Aromatic Silk Beauty's ability to draw creatures together, he would be doing himself a disservice if he did not get a top-quality Soul Ring!
The God King Tang's original Cave Demon Spider was no longer good enough.
Before you continue