In his spare time, Li Changsheng began asking the system whether his own Soul Skills could change.
[They will undergo corresponding changes, but template progress must reach a certain stage, or you must obtain the rewards in advance!]
Now Li Changsheng was wide awake. Template progress could also be obtained through rewards; he hadn't expected Soul Skills to work the same way.
"Looks like I'll really have to remodel Little San more often from now on."
Time passed, and before they knew it, two and a half hours had gone by.
As the fluctuations within his body gradually steadied, Tang San slowly opened his eyes. A pale blue gleam flashed and vanished, and faint silver patterns also appeared on the surface of the Blue Silver Grass floating in front of him. Though very faint, they were still visible upon close inspection.
A Yellow Soul Ring rose and circled beneath his feet. This was his first Soul Ring!
"Teacher!"
Turning his head, Tang San saw Li Changsheng sitting cross-legged beneath a nearby tree, holding a book on theory. At his feet, Luo Sanpao paced back and forth on his short little legs, as though patrolling the area.
"Finished absorbing it? Tell me, what level are you now?"
"Around level twelve, but I feel like I could reach level thirteen with just a little more cultivation!"
With that, Tang San immediately circulated his Soul Power and unleashed his first Soul Skill.
As the Yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet flashed, Tang San flicked both hands. Several strands of Blue Silver Grass shot from his hands, charging straight toward the tree ahead.
"First Soul Skill, Blue Silver Absorption!"
The Blue Silver Grass, much thicker than before, bound the tree tightly. Then blue light began radiating from Tang San's body.
"My first Soul Skill is called Blue Silver Absorption. It lets my Blue Silver Grass immediately begin absorbing Soul Power and stamina upon contact with an enemy. Right now, I'm using it through entanglement, which is also the most convenient form I can think of at the moment!"
Tang San gave an introduction. Whatever his Soul Skill entangled, it could absorb from it as long as it was alive. As for whether it was lethal, that depended on Tang San's Soul Power output.
"Not bad. Your first Soul Skill is fairly good in terms of both recovery and attack power. However, I do have a suggestion."
"From observing it, I noticed that you activate your Soul Skill by releasing it from your hands. Could you instead activate the roots of your Blue Silver Grass through your Soul Skill, sending them underground to emerge beneath an enemy's feet and catch them off guard? As for its form, I think a cage would work quite well!"
Li Changsheng's suggestion made Tang San's eyes light up. His teacher's words really did make sense. Blue Silver Grass was a plant too, so naturally, it had roots. It seemed he really could do it.
After all, the Drooping-Root Dragon Whisker Vine was one interconnected body inside and out. The parts hanging from the tree and those buried underground were all connected to the same roots. Blue Silver Grass could absolutely take a cue from it!
But would a skill invented this way still count as a Soul Skill?
"If you really can develop a derivative skill, Little San, then of course it would count as a Soul Skill. In fact, it would be a Self-Created Soul Skill!"
"A Self-Created Soul Skill..."
Tang San nodded thoughtfully. He hadn't expected there to be so much to consider with Soul Skills.
With their Soul Hunting complete, Li Changsheng took Tang San back along their original route. No blind Soul Beasts blocked their path along the way, leaving Li Changsheng with considerably more peace and quiet.
"Little San, are you hungry? I still have plenty of dry rations. Take some to fill your stomach first. We'll eat something else once we're back in Nuoding City."
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Taking the dry rations from Li Changsheng, Tang San dispensed with further formalities and began eating.
The two returned to Nuoding City, where Li Changsheng took Tang San to a restaurant for a hearty meal.
With the Gold Soul Coins rewarded by the system, Li Changsheng naturally wouldn't stint on his own people. They ordered whatever they liked, and he even bought plenty of Soul Beast meat and lesser dragon meat for Luo Sanpao.
There were relatively few varieties of lesser dragon meat available on the market, and the prices weren't cheap either, but Li Changsheng bought them anyway.
"Teacher Li!"
When they reached the academy gates, the gatekeeper immediately straightened his posture upon seeing Li Changsheng and greeted him respectfully.
Nodding, Li Changsheng led Tang San toward the dormitories. Along the way, a figure blocked their path.
He sported a crew cut and an expression as stiff as a zombie's, wore a black academic gown, and had a yellowed leather-bound book tucked beneath his arm.
Wasn't this Gangzi? How could I run into him even here?
Although Li Changsheng found it somewhat unexpected, he wasn't particularly surprised.
Beside him, Tang San paid the man no attention either. His head was still lowered as he pondered what his teacher had said in the Soul Hunting Forest. He was now rather interested in these so-called Self-Created Soul Skills.
"Li Changsheng? What are you doing here? These are the student dormitories!"
Hearing the noise, Yu Xiaogang turned and saw Li Changsheng and Tang San approaching.
"Gangzi, how do you have the nerve to ask us first? Aren't you here too? Have you taken a fancy to some student and decided to take them in so you can ruin them?"
"You! Hmph! This Grandmaster is unrivaled in theory. Talking to an ignorant fellow like you is a waste of breath!"
An ignorant fellow?!
Those few words made Tang San raise his head in disbelief. Who dared insult his teacher?
Upon seeing Yu Xiaogang's zombie-like face, a trace of disgust first appeared on Tang San's face, followed by intense fury. This old man dared insult his teacher Changsheng. He already had a way to court death!
"You are..."
Noticing Tang San's gaze, Yu Xiaogang found him increasingly familiar the longer he looked, as though the boy shared some fated connection with him.
"Student, what are your Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power? Could you tell me? I'm also part of this academy."
"I only listen to Teacher Changsheng. Who the hell are you?"
Since the man had insulted Teacher Changsheng like that, Tang San naturally wouldn't show him a pleasant face. Who the hell do you think you are, asking for my information?
Seeing Tang San actually imitate Li Changsheng in treating him this way, Yu Xiaogang could only get angry in a fit of anger. He had broken past fifty years of age at level twenty-nine; he really couldn't beat the man in a fight.
"Hmph! I'm a grandmaster of theory, yet you're taking an eighteen-year-old youngster as your teacher? If you're misguided and led down the wrong path, there'll be no saving you!"
"But this Grandmaster is different. I have the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, along with many famous theories. Countless commoner children rely on my theories to survive!"
Immersed in his own performance, Yu Xiaogang's face brimmed with pride. Now that I've laid all my cards on the table, won't you come running over with a face full of admiration, begging to become my disciple?
Although he didn't know Tang San's Martial Soul or Innate Soul Power, or even his name, he still felt inexplicably compelled to take the boy as his disciple, relying on nothing but a feeling.
"Pfft!"
Standing to the side, Li Changsheng simply couldn't hold it in anymore. Gangzi was as laughable as ever.
The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul? Wasn't that just copying a bit here, borrowing a little there, adding a few changes of his own, then cobbling it all together?
The biggest issue was that he had changed correct theories into incorrect ones.