A year passed in the blink of an eye.
Behind Nuoding Academy, outside a newly built little cabin.
Li Changsheng stood beneath a large tree, watching a large wooden tub nearby with a serious expression. A young boy sat cross-legged inside it.
"Little San, steady your Qi and focus your mind. Don't let your surroundings distract you. Even though the whale rubber has been refined, you still need to take this seriously!"
Boom!!
Tang San's skin was flushed a pale red all over, and streams of white vapor rose incessantly from the tub, showing just how high his temperature had become after taking the whale rubber.
After a year of honing himself and the changes brought about by the comic-version Tang San template, Tang San was now completely different from before in both appearance and personality.
His hair color and face shape had begun to resemble his comic counterpart's. Although his hair was black at its base, its surface carried a faint, inky-blue sheen.
At the same time, his looks could no longer be described as unremarkable. Refined or cute would have been more fitting.
Throughout this period, Li Changsheng had been responsible for Tang San and the others' body tempering and cultivation.
When it came to theoretical guidance, Li Changsheng likewise held nothing back. If they asked, he had an answer!
"Xiao Wu! That goes for you too. Although it isn't convenient for me to keep an eye on you, remember what I just said!"
After checking on Tang San, Li Changsheng called loudly toward the little cabin.
Xiao Wu was also taking whale rubber. Compared with Tang San, she would definitely benefit more. Whether she used kicking techniques or soul skills, Xiao Wu undeniably relied on physical combat, which placed greater demands on her physique.
"Luo, luo!"
Nearby, the golden Luo Sanpao was yelping happily. The pair of little horns on his head had grown considerably larger than a year ago (roughly the size of those on Weslie's head).
Smiling faintly, Li Changsheng opened his system panel to take a look.
[Li Changsheng] [Template: comic-version Yu Xiaogang (ultimate enhanced version)] [Soul power level: 39] [Soul ring configuration: yellow, yellow, purple] [Martial soul: Luo Sanpao (Light Dragon King, evolution progress: 2%)]
Nothing major had happened during this period, and Yu Xiaogang had behaved himself much more at Nuoding Academy. Although he sometimes took advantage of Li Changsheng's absence to pester Tang San, he was always cursed away.
This had provided Li Changsheng with precisely 0.5% template progress, neither more nor less.
"System, can my soul skills and soul rings be changed a little? Surely, once Sanpao becomes the Dragon King, his first few soul skills won't still be breath attacks?"
Li Changsheng helplessly questioned the system in his mind. Other transmigrators had percentage boosts or defense-ignoring effects for their first and second soul skills. By comparison, his Sanpao lagged far behind.
Yellow, yellow, purple might have been the standard configuration, but he, Li Changsheng, had a system. Surely a modest yellow, purple, purple or yellow, purple, black wasn't asking too much?
[Every 10% of template progress will grant the martial soul one transformation, and soul rings of the corresponding degree will also be improved! Other methods are available through system rewards!]
Only after receiving that explanation did Li Changsheng's expression relax. At 10%, not only would Sanpao transform, but his soul rings could also be altered.
Moreover, he could obtain soul ring-related rewards from the system along the way.
That was quite good. At least at this stage, he had nothing to worry about.
Boom!!
Just then, Tang San finally finished refining the whale rubber in the tub. With a surge of soul power, water splashed inside the tub, and the water that had originally been clear enough to see the bottom turned murky.
"Whew!"
Clenching his fists, Tang San felt that his physique had improved considerably once again.
Teacher Changsheng really is incredible. He's probably the only person on the entire continent who knows that refined whale rubber can be used for cultivation!
After silently marveling, Tang San cupped his hands toward Li Changsheng nearby. "Teacher! Little San has finished absorbing it!"
Boom!
No sooner had he spoken than a commotion erupted inside the cabin as well. Clearly, Xiao Wu had also successfully finished refining hers.
Only then did Li Changsheng walk over. Paying no attention to the stark-naked Tang San, he simply studied the cold water in the tub. It was incredibly murky, almost entirely filled with waste from Tang San's body.
"Hmm... Little San, the whale rubber you've taken has already reached the limit for your current stage. If you want to take more later, you'll need whale rubber of a greater age."
Higher-grade whale rubber was not something that could be bought through normal channels. Everyone called it a lewd drug, but there were quite a few noble gentlemen who genuinely enjoyed taking it.
There were even plenty who had died from taking whale rubber in pursuit of pleasure.
"All right, get dressed first. Don't you still have to go back to class in a bit?"
"Teacher, you've forgotten. Today is the end of term. We're already on break."
Tang San's words left Li Changsheng momentarily stunned. Had time passed so quickly? An entire school year had gone by?
"Is that so? Then I'll see you off later."
Li Changsheng had been living in the teachers' dormitory all along, so he would most likely remain here over the break as well.
"Teacher, why don't you come home with us? Xiao Wu has already agreed to come back with me too."
At that, Li Changsheng remembered something. Wasn't Tang Hao about to come looking for him?
With that thought, Li Changsheng shook his head and declined Tang San's invitation. He still had to cultivate. He would take advantage of this break and strive to reach level forty!
"Little San! Teacher Changsheng!"
After the two had chatted for a while, Xiao Wu finally finished dressing and emerged from the cabin.
Seeing Xiao Wu's increasingly soft, dewy skin, fair with a rosy flush, Tang San's breath caught. Xiao Wu... is a little cute!
"All right, you're both soul masters above level ten now. My requirements for this break are very simple: don't stop your daily cultivation, and read more books on theory!"
"Understood!"
"Got it!"
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a smile. Li Changsheng's requirements might have seemed rather strict, but they knew this was nothing more than their daily routine.
Finishing their cultivation would not affect their free time in the slightest.
Once the three of them had cleaned up the place, Li Changsheng took Tang San and Xiao Wu to the academy gates.
Xiao Wu was a soul beast and did not have much to pack, while Tang San had already packed the night before.
"Be careful on the road, and take this too. I remember there was an elderly gentleman with you when you came to enroll, wasn't there?"
At the academy gates, Li Changsheng hired a carriage for Tang San and Xiao Wu. Before they left, he handed Tang San a burlap sack, then earnestly instructed him:
"Don't stint on yourself once you're home, either. Whether you use it to make food for your father or give some to Old Jack, either is fine."
Because of his own background, Li Changsheng did not dislike the old man.
"I understand! Thank you, Teacher!"
Tang San nodded solemnly, warmth filling his heart. Even though Teacher Changsheng has never met my father, is he still keeping our family's circumstances in mind at all times?
He was clearly overthinking it, however. Li Changsheng was simply looking after Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Old Jack. Tang Hao had probably left Holy Soul Village long ago.