Upon hearing this, Tang San stepped forward a few paces. "Li Xun, Teacher once taught me that having more Spirit Rings and Spirit Bones means more skills and power in one go. Now that you lack active skills, it indeed puts you at a disadvantage in battles."
He had also caught a hint of Teacher's intention to take on a disciple.
However, this matter didn't affect him, and he was willing to stand by Teacher.
Yu Xiaogang, seeing his disciple Tang San's actions, nodded in satisfaction. "Li Xun, your Wood Carving Martial Soul should have been an auxiliary-type Martial Soul, but due to a mutation, you gained the ability to control plants.
My disciple Tang San, like you, is also a plant-type Soul Master. You two should have many commonalities in your choices of Martial Souls.
Now that you've already lost two offensive Spirit Rings, you must not mislead yourself!"
Li Xun looked at Yu Xiaogang, then at Tang San, and noticed that both of them exuded strong confidence.
They believed that everything they did was right.
"Grandmaster, I have a question for you."
Li Xun organized his thoughts. "Do you think mere hundred-year Spirit Rings for the first two slots can play any significant role in later-stage battles?
Are you planning to use the first Soul Skill to fight against a Titled Douluo?"
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang seemed a bit dazed, Li Xun quickly intensified his argument. "Take Tang San's Blue Silver Grass as an example.
This plant itself is extremely fragile. Instead of thinking about improving the quality of the Martial Soul and laying a solid foundation to expand the advantages of Blue Silver Grass,
you're only focused on boosting surface combat power. What's the use if, in the mid to late stages, the enemy can easily break free with a slight struggle?"
Li Xun's words stunned both Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. They hadn't expected Li Xun to raise such a question.
Tang San thought about the toughness of his Blue Silver Grass and realized that Li Xun's words actually made some sense.
But this gave rise to another problem: what to do in early-stage battles? The Clear Sky Hammer doesn't have Spirit Rings yet. Should he rely on Hidden Weapons?
"All Soul Masters develop this way. Are you saying their choices are all wrong?
Not to mention the nine skills of a Titled Douluo, just at the thirty-level stage, how do you compare with other Soul Masters?" Yu Xiaogang, having regained his composure, felt a surge of anger.
Li Xun had used his own disciple as an example, which was undoubtedly negating his achievements.
If he admitted that Li Xun's viewpoint was correct now, wouldn't that prove that the theories he taught Tang San and the choices of the first two Spirit Rings were wrong?
This was a result he could not accept.
"Grandmaster, after level thirty, with the quality of my Martial Soul and its passives, even with just one skill, it's not something opponents can easily resist."
Li Xun glanced at Yu Xiaogang indifferently. "Moreover, as levels increase, the role of the opponent's first two Spirit Rings will only diminish, while mine, being passive and nurturing other skills, will only grow stronger."
There was one more point he didn't mention.
Judging by the performance of Soul Masters, he wasn't afraid of early-stage battles at all.
Tang San actually wasn't afraid either. In the Soul Master Competition, what decided the outcome were his hammer and Hidden Weapons. The Blue Silver Grass could only handle minor foes.
"Hmph! Stubborn and unyielding!
This is the experience distilled from the practices of countless Soul Masters, yet in your eyes, it's become a flaw. If you don't have means in the early stages, how can you obtain Spirit Rings and guard against villains?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression turned cold as he pointed at Li Xun. "Just in terms of battles, how do you know the first two Spirit Rings won't play a role in the later stages?"
Sorry, but I really do know.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang point at him, Li Xun frowned.
This was an extremely impolite behavior, and even a teacher reprimanding a student in such a manner was quite uncouth.
Moreover, the two of them were not familiar with each other.
"I am merely a twenty-third level Soul Grand Master, and it is indeed too early to discuss future realms now. Whether it's combat experience or level, I certainly cannot be compared to the Grandmaster."
Li Xun composed himself and cupped his hands towards Yu Xiaogang: "However, Tang San and I are clearly different from ordinary Soul Masters. How can we be taught in the same way?"
"The world changes every moment. Even if the Grandmaster is a Titled Douluo, he must consider the actual situation when imparting knowledge!
We must not be bound by the experiences of our predecessors.
Moreover, even if we make mistakes in our early path and lack the ability to hunt Spirit Rings, don't we still have our teacher to shield us from the wind and rain?"
At this point,
Li Xun smiled meaningfully as he looked at Yu Xiaogang: "You are a Titled Douluo, and my teacher is the Sovereign of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. As disciples of both of you, why should Tang San and I worry about Spirit Rings?"
"Do we still need to trouble others to help us obtain Spirit Rings?"
After saying this, Li Xun glanced at the Dean of Notting College.
Although Li Xun's face was full of smiles, Yu Xiaogang felt as if it was a sneer, like a knife stabbing straight into his heart, making him feel suffocated.
"You—"
Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen, his raised arm trembling slightly. He opened his mouth several times but found himself unable to speak.
"Grandmaster, what's wrong?" Li Xun looked anxious, his tone filled with concern.
"Li Xun, do you really not know, or are you pretending not to know?
Yu Tianheng stepped forward, pointing at Li Xun with gritted teeth: "Don't tell me the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School doesn't have intelligence on our Blue Lightning Tyrant School!"
"What intelligence?"
Li Xun looked at Yu Tianheng in confusion.
"Ahem, Xiao Xun, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang is not a Titled Douluo. Due to personal reasons, his level has been stuck at the twenty-ninth level and cannot progress further."
Seeing the awkward situation, Qin Ming coughed lightly and stepped forward to explain.
Li Xun looked bewildered, his eyes clear as he gazed at Yu Xiaogang: "Huh? I thought 'Grandmaster' was his title! But if his Soul Power is stuck at the twenty-ninth level, how does he know what it feels like to be a Soul Master beyond the thirtieth level?"
Hearing the words 'Grandmaster' and 'title' mentioned together.
Yu Xiaogang's breathing became rapid, his fists clenched, veins bulging on his hands, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes fixed on Li Xun.
Over the years, he had heard many sarcastic remarks.
He thought he had grown accustomed to them.
But today, the words of this child made him feel as if he had been stripped naked in front of everyone.
The fact he had always been most reluctant to face was now being peeled away layer by layer.
Qin Ming glanced at Yu Xiaogang's state and pondered for a moment: "Grandmaster is a title given to him by the outside world. The Ten Core Competencies of Soul Spirits you heard about in class were written by him. Li Xun, you must not be disrespectful."
"Oh! So he's the Grandmaster who compiled the teaching materials. I apologize for my rudeness."
Li Xun bowed to Yu Xiaogang: "No wonder the Grandmaster speaks with such authority. It turns out he truly has profound knowledge."
Yu Xiaogang wanted to get angry several times, but the child's innocent expression, though he could tell it was feigned, left him with no outlet for his anger.
"Li Xun, you will surely regret the choice you made today. My disciple, Tang San, is destined to be a goal you can never reach in your lifetime."
Yu Xiaogang silently loosened his fist and turned around with difficulty, his once straight back now slightly hunched, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness.
Qin Ming noticed that Yu Xiaogang was not in a good state and quickly tried to mediate, "Grandmaster, please don't be angry. Li Xun is still a child, and children speak without thinking!"
Tang San, who had been deeply immersed in Li Xun's insights on Martial Souls, now saw his teacher's pale face and felt a surge of anxiety.
The fact that his Soul Power had stagnated at level 29 had always been a sore point for his teacher, Yu Xiaogang.
Now, in front of everyone, a child had torn off this veil of shame, which undoubtedly caused great harm to his teacher.
Tang San's eyes fixed intently on Li Xun.
Although Li Xun's theory about Spirit Rings had some merit, it had not been tested, unlike his teacher's theories, which he had already proven.
Moreover, his teacher had always been extremely kind to him. Seeing his teacher humiliated, Tang San's heart was in turmoil.
As the saying goes, "Once a teacher, always a father."
Seeing his master humiliated, Tang San's killing intent suddenly surged, and he slowly raised his arm, aiming the Sleeve Arrow at Li Xun.
The third principle of the Profound Heaven Treasure Record states: If you are certain someone is an enemy and they have a reason to die, then show no mercy.
At the same time, he pondered how to evade Qin Ming's pursuit after killing Li Xun.
"Hmm? Killing intent."
Li Xun suddenly felt a cold, sinister aura locking onto him. Through the memories of the past, he knew this sensation meant someone had developed a desire to kill him.
"Really? Just because of a verbal argument, you want to kill me?"
Seeing Tang San's arm aimed at him, Li Xun was speechless.
(End of Chapter)