Time slowly passed. Roughly three days had gone by.
As Tang San slowly opened his eyes, the sight inside the cave startled him.
Blue specks of light drifted throughout the cave. They were all energy that had escaped while he absorbed the Soul Bone.
"Where's Teacher?"
He looked around, but Li Changsheng was nowhere to be seen. His mother, however, was still in the same place.
Compared to before, Ah Yin was in much better condition now. After she absorbed the vitality in the air, she converted all of it into energy to sustain her growth.
Thus, to Tang San's eyes, both Ah Yin's leaves and branches had regained their vibrant appearance.
Tap, tap...
"Who's there!?"
Hearing movement at the cave entrance, Tang San immediately grew alert.
"Roar!"
The first thing that came into view was a large, golden-yellow "dog." Calling him a dog was not quite accurate, because he not only had a dragonlike tail, but also a pair of dragon horns on his head.
"You're Sanpao? How did you end up looking like this?!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Tang San's eyes. This was practically a live-dog transformation trick! Looking at him now, Tang San could not even recognize the little dog he had been before.
"Thanks to you, Sanpao absorbed some energy and evolved!"
At that moment, a voice Tang San knew all too well came from behind Luo Sanpao. It was Li Changsheng.
He was also carrying some freshly prepared food. "You must be hungry after finishing the absorption, right? Come have something to eat."
Li Changsheng spoke to Tang San with a smile. After his template progress broke past fifteen percent, his Soul Power Level had reached fifty-seven, a full two-level increase. With the Soul Ring the system had given him as well, he did not even need to visit the Star Dou Great Forest again.
At those words, Tang San realized he really was a little hungry. Without standing on ceremony, he picked up a leg of meat and began eating. Teacher Changsheng really was a good cook. His food smelled and tasted wonderful!
"By the way, Teacher, could we take Mother with us too? The conditions here are too harsh. Even this energy won't last very long!"
Halfway through eating, Tang San could not wait any longer and asked Li Changsheng. He wanted to take his mother away from here, then ask Tang Hao about the exact reasons face-to-face when he met him later.
"Yes, but after you finish eating, absorb this first too."
Li Changsheng did not refuse. Instead, he took the Life Spider Spear out of the system space.
Since it currently only had a thousand-year age, the energy the Life Spider Spear emitted was not particularly powerful, but an extraordinary vitality could still be felt within it.
"This is... a Soul Bone? No, it looks like an External Soul Bone."
Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly. The Life Spider Spear's appearance closely matched his impression of an External Soul Bone.
"That's right. This is an External Soul Bone called the Life Spider Spear. I obtained it through a chance encounter. Little San, you're following the path of life, so absorb this External Soul Bone as well!"
"Well... thank you, Teacher Changsheng!"
Surprisingly, Tang San did not refuse this time. He understood that since Teacher Changsheng was giving it to him, it was for his own good. Continuing to decline would only make things difficult for his teacher.
Besides, he was already at level thirty-nine now. Absorbing the right leg bone had sent him soaring a full five levels! With just a little more cultivation, he would be able to break through to level forty steadily!
"Absorbing the External Soul Bone won't significantly increase your Soul Power, but it can improve through other means, such as absorbing the life energy here! Afterward, you can also nourish it with your own Soul Power to increase its age and quality!"
"So that's how it works!"
Tang San nodded, took the Life Spider Spear, and pressed it directly against his back.
"Hiss!!"
A tearing sensation rapidly spread throughout his body. The Life Spider Spear seemed to be constantly burrowing into his back, attempting to fuse with his flesh.
"Don't resist. Try nourishing it with your Soul Power. Resisting will only make the pain worse!"
At Li Changsheng's reminder, Tang San endured the intense pain and began releasing his Soul Power. At the same time, he began circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill within his body.
Because their attributes were compatible, Tang San did not even take very long to finish absorbing it.
"Can you retract it?"
"I-I'll try."
With a thought, the Life Spider Spear immediately retracted. This was better than in the original story, at least. It would not move around at random.
"Mm, not bad, though you're still a little unpracticed. Once we return to the academy, I'll design specialized cultivation plans for all of you. Things should be much better then."
"That will do for now. Summon it again and absorb the life energy here. I'll transplant Ah Yin for you."
"Ah Yin? My mother... her name is Ah Yin?"
Li Changsheng froze. He seemed to have let something slip, but he did not deny it and simply nodded.
"Ah Yin..."
Tang San silently repeated his mother's name, then summoned the Life Spider Spear and began absorbing the energy drifting around him.
Meanwhile, Li Changsheng walked over to Ah Yin and slowly crouched down. Looking at her vibrant appearance, he murmured:
"Don't resist. We'll take you away to a more comfortable environment."
As though she had heard Li Changsheng's words, Ah Yin did not resist, allowing him to transplant her into a flowerpot. Without something like Dugu Bo's Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse, Ah Yin could only be carried.
"Teacher, I'm done absorbing it!"
Hearing this, Li Changsheng instinctively looked at Tang San's back and discovered that the Life Spider Spear was actually glowing green.
What abilities did this thing have?
Li Changsheng did not know, and the system had not provided an explanation either. Still, presumably, it was unlikely to be something like poisonous spikes.
If it had a recovery skill, then once Tang San cultivated the Clear Sky Hammer, wouldn't he be able to heal himself while using Ring Detonation?
Wouldn't that be damage-free Ring Detonation?
"Mm, let's go."
Setting his speculation aside for now, returning to Shrek Academy took priority. So many days had passed. He wondered whether Flender would be anxious.
After leaving the waterfall, Li Changsheng found another carriage with Tang San, and only then did they set off on the road back to Suotuo City.
"Teacher Changsheng, there's something Little San would like to tell you."
Inside the carriage, Tang San held Ah Yin's flowerpot. After hesitating for a long time, he still decided to pass the Mysterious Heaven Skill on to Li Changsheng.
This man was his teacher, and an existence who surpassed even his father. If someone like him could not be trusted, Tang San could not think of anyone else who could.
Besides, he would definitely rebuild the Tang Sect in the future, which meant Li Changsheng would be the Tang Sect's supreme elder!
What was wrong with learning the Mysterious Heaven Skill in advance?
[Detected that disciple Tang San wishes to appoint the host as supreme elder. His filial devotion is commendable.] [Rewards: Enhanced Mysterious Heaven Skill (teachable), Pill Refining Method]
Nani!?
What did Tang San mean by this?
Li Changsheng was dumbfounded. He treated Tang San as a student, but Tang San treated him as his dad?
At this thought, Li Changsheng maintained his outwardly calm expression and said, "Little San, what did you want to say?"
(Sword Douluo)