Why go through all the effort of guiding Tang San?
After all, Zhou Qing is a transmigrator, and besides investigating the truth behind his parents' clash with the Soul Masters, he also has ideas about changing this world.
But it's hard to accomplish alone.
Moreover, he has to consider a crucial question: What if he awakens his Martial Soul but has no innate soul power?
Even if Tang San is willing to teach him the Xuantian Skill, without innate soul power, unless in rare circumstances, it essentially means that his Martial Soul cultivation will be very difficult.
Although from the fact that Tang San could cultivate the Xuantian Skill in this lifetime, it suggests that the human body structure in this world isn't too different from his previous world. Even if his Martial Soul is weak, by practicing the Xuantian Skill step by step, excluding all external and internal factors, he should be able to reach the Title Douluo level, although it may take quite a bit of time.
However, the situation on Douluo Continent…
In the original work, Tang San became a god at around 24 or 25!
If Zhou Qing's Martial Soul is weak and he can't become a Title Douluo within 20 years, he might as well give up on cultivation and enjoy life in the Holy Soul Village.
As for uncovering the truth, he'd have to rely on Tang San—before becoming Tang God King, this kid still had a bit of a righteous heart.
Moreover, to get Tang San to pass on the Xuantian Skill to him, he'd probably have to wait more than a decade. In the original work, Tang San only taught the Xuantian Skill to the disciples of the Tang Sect after becoming a god. Zhou Qing even suspected that the Xuantian Skill had been altered by then.
As for becoming famous as a master...
No background, no influence—does he really think it's easy to become a master?
This is still a world of the survival of the fittest. Even though there are rules on the surface, if you have no background, and without realizing it, you've disturbed someone else's interests, you might suddenly end up dead in some unknown corner.
Even though Yu Xiaogang is incompetent, he still has the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family's background. Even now, most people in the family don't want to acknowledge him, but which power would dare to think that Yu Xiaogang has nothing to do with the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus family?
Thus…
Zhou Qing needs to establish his own background—Tang San, the ready-made protagonist, will be the perfect background for him in the future.
As for the Spirit Hall?
He also considered learning from other transmigrators, like trying to establish a relationship with Su Yuntao. Unfortunately, two years ago, when Su Yuntao came to help the children in the village awaken their Martial Souls, he completely ignored him.
It's understandable.
A normal person, if they're unfamiliar with someone, who would believe the wild claims of a child?
Furthermore, Su Yuntao was responsible for the Martial Soul awakening ceremonies of over a dozen nearby villages. He had to travel long distances and expend soul power. He was exhausted when he arrived and even more tired when he left the village's Spirit Hall. He really didn't have the energy to chat with the village children, and probably just wanted to finish the job quickly, go home, and spend time with his girlfriend.
Tsk!
Isn't this the attitude of most normal workers?
Therefore…
After realizing he couldn't get in touch with the Spirit Hall for now, Zhou Qing had to rely on the villagers to help him buy some books while they went to sell grain.
"Qing-ge." Tang San put down the storybook in his hand and asked Zhou Qing, "How reliable is this story?"
"About 50 to 70 percent reliable."
Zhou Qing didn't look up, continuing to write quickly, "Books sold on the market may have many flaws or speculations in their details, but the overall message they convey is usually correct. For example, for plant-type Martial Souls, it's best to absorb the soul rings from plant-type soul beasts, just like the Blue Silver Grass. This common weed has a strong vitality, and the soul rings it absorbs should ideally come from soul beasts with strong life forces, as it might help its vitality traits grow faster and better."
"Just like how crops need fertilizer to grow better."
"If you choose animal soul beasts for their soul rings, adding abilities that enhance attack power, the plant soul's vitality might be reduced, or its growth could be suppressed, making its attack power weaker than other weapons like the Sword or Whip Martial Souls."
Tang San was confused. "I understand the Sword Martial Soul, but why compare it with the Whip Martial Soul?"
"It's simple. If you add a soul ring from a snake-type soul beast to Blue Silver Grass, it could get a soul skill similar to the snake's coil. But the Blue Silver Grass itself is too fragile. While the soul skill's attack power might be stronger, it will still be inferior to the binding abilities of weapons like the Whip, Rope, or Chain Martial Souls." Zhou Qing could say more, but with the limited knowledge he had from the books on Martial Souls, he kept it conservative.
This way, he could present himself as a smart child in front of Tang San.
If he started discussing ideas like "poison" or the "limits of soul ring years," it might make Tang San suspicious. He would wait to bring those up once he's had access to more relevant books.
Besides, the books he currently had were too few. What he said might not be entirely accurate, and he needed to verify things slowly.
Practice makes perfect!
"I see." Tang San nodded, and since he believed Zhou Qing's explanation, he was convinced that Blue Silver Grass's advantage was its vitality, so it was best to choose a plant-based soul beast.
If he chose an animal-type soul beast, he might temporarily improve attack power, but it wouldn't compare to weapons like a Sword or a Whip. Furthermore, in the long run, it might suppress the Martial Soul's original advantage, slowing down or stalling its growth, making it more mediocre.
As a disciple of the Tang Sect, Tang San had good logical thinking. Once he believed something made sense, he would accept it 70% and keep the other 30% for future verification after awakening his Martial Soul.
"So, if you awaken Blue Silver Grass, what soul beast will you choose for your first soul ring?" Tang San asked, now curious.
Zhou Qing handed over the materials he had planned.
Tang San took it, read aloud: "Blue Silver Grass, Traits: Flexibility, Toughness, Vitality…"