"Alright. Grandpa agrees."
Ma Xiunuo nodded in understanding. He knew Tang San well—he was a child with a deep thirst for knowledge, determined to make a name for himself through martial soul research.
In the future, he would certainly go to Spirit City, the heart of the continent's soul master world, where countless martial soul records and soul master texts were stored.
Right now, he probably understood that he came from a small village and lacked the foundation to match the elite students there. He wanted to wait until his strength had grown—until he could stand tall before venturing into that arena.
"Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, thank you for your understanding."
Tang San bowed respectfully, then bid farewell and prepared to return to Nuoding Academy.
After all, as soon as school started, he had only taken one class before heading into the forest with Ma Xiunuo and the others to hunt his first soul ring.
Now that he had obtained it, he naturally had to return—otherwise, the academy might forget he ever enrolled.
—
"Stop! Nuoding Academy. No entry for idlers!"
The gatekeeper blocked Tang San's way.
It was a simple matter—Tang San's appearance had changed, and he wasn't wearing the academy uniform but the loose brown-green outfit he wore during his soul hunt. The guard couldn't recognize him.
"I'm a student here," Tang San explained patiently. "I just came back from hunting my soul ring and haven't changed yet."
"Soul master?" The gatekeeper hesitated but remained skeptical. "You're just a kid. I know most of the students here—and I don't recall seeing you before."
"I know Brother Tao," Tang San said, giving him a clue. "We chatted when I first arrived."
"Brother Tao? Wait… are you a distant relative of Master Su Yuntao?" The guard blinked. "What happened to your appearance?"
"Martial soul mutation. It affected how I look."
Tang San raised his hand, releasing his martial soul. The Blue Silver Grass, now threaded with faint silver veins, sprouted from his palm. A yellow soul ring hovered around him.
The gatekeeper's attitude changed immediately.
"You've become a soul master!"
"Just lucky. I had some talent, and Brother Tao and Master Ma Xiunuo helped me during the soul hunt," Tang San said modestly, chatting a little more before heading to the academic affairs building.
—
Director Su, the academy's academic director, saw Tang San and squinted.
"You here to register, little guy? Enrollment's over... Never mind, show me your martial soul certificate, I'll get you sorted. Ninth dormitory still has space."
Tang San smiled, taking out the new certificate that Ma Xiunuo had issued.
"Director Su, don't you recognize me? I'm Tang San."
"…Tang San? Tang San?!"
The director was stunned.
"You already got your soul ring? You're back so soon? Didn't you take half a month off? And what's with your appearance—adding a soul ring can change your face now? You don't look like a village kid anymore, more like some noble's heir…"
"It's the result of a martial soul mutation," Tang San replied calmly, picking the parts he could safely share. "I just came back to let the academy know I can resume attending classes."
"A studious child indeed," Director Su said approvingly. "Other students would just return after their leave, even if they finished early. You actually came back to report."
The tone, the attitude—still the same as when he first enrolled.
Clearly not some hidden noble heir—just a talented commoner whose martial soul mutation defied expectations.
And the boy wasn't arrogant at all. That made him even more likeable.
"Now that you're a soul master, you can apply for graduation. You're literate too—would you like to apply?"
Tang San shook his head.
"I'm still far from mature. I'm not even familiar with the academy yet. Graduating now would feel strange. I haven't even visited the academy library—I heard it has more books than the Spirit Hall…"
"Before, I grew wildly. Now, I need to lay a solid foundation. I don't want to be laughed at when I step outside in the future."
"Haha! With your strength, who would dare laugh at you?"
Director Su chuckled. But deep down, he was thrilled. If Tang San could graduate at a high level, it would bring prestige to Nuoding Academy—and students from other towns might start enrolling here.
More importantly, Tang San was in Mo Hen's class. Mo Hen reported directly to him. If Tang San succeeded, that would mean a promotion… maybe even a raise.
Just the thought of it made his day.
"But you're right—you're only six. Still too young. Settle in and grow."
"I'll take my leave then… Oh, by the way, please inform Teacher Mo Hen that I've returned. I wouldn't want him to be startled by my appearance."
"Of course."
—
After leaving the administrative building, Tang San returned to Dormitory Seven.
From his roommates, he learned that in the few days he'd been away, Xiao Wu had become the new boss of Nuoding Academy. Even without his help, she had defeated Xiao Chenyu and the others with ease.
But in Tang San's eyes, her current strength was just enough to bully rookies.
At that moment, Xiao Wu was eating takeout from the second-floor cafeteria with Wang Sheng and others.
The money?
Definitely not the gold soul coin the Spirit Hall gave her.
Xiao Wu likely didn't grasp the concept of money well, and may have spent it all—or been tricked by some Nuoding merchant.
From Wang Sheng and the others?
Even more impossible. Most of them were from villages or small towns, or were working students.
Being able to afford a basic meal was already something—they couldn't afford second-floor luxury.
So there was only one explanation:
She had collected "tribute" from the noble students.
—
"Little San, you're back?"
Xiao Wu looked up. She was a little surprised by his changed appearance, but still recognized him immediately.
As a 100,000-year-old soul beast, she had her own way of distinguishing people.
"He's Tang San?" Wang Sheng was stunned. "I thought he was a new student who came late… Getting a soul ring changes your looks that much? No wonder everyone wants to become a soul master!"
Others reacted similarly.
But Tang San knew their hopes would be dashed.
His own appearance changed because he carried the blood of the Blue Silver Emperor—or rather, inherited its genetic material from his mother, a Blue Silver Emperor who had taken human form.
The Thousand Root Banyan soul ring had likely stimulated those dormant genes, activating them and making them dominant.
It confirmed a theory Tang San had pondered: that so-called bloodlines were just genetic factors.
Unlike the forcibly sealed Golden Dragon King core inside Tang Wulin in later eras, the Blue Silver Emperor's influence was integrated into every one of Tang San's cells.
To "abolish" his bloodline would be equivalent to destroying his DNA—an impossible task without killing him.
He couldn't be certain whether Douluo Continent's martial soul inheritance followed genetic principles, but the planet followed similar laws to Earth. It orbited a sun. Physics, biology—they couldn't be that different.
Tang Hao looked like an ordinary man. He hadn't become handsome just because he was a Titled Douluo.
Su Yuntao, Si Si—no one's appearance changed dramatically after getting a soul ring, even when their soul rings matched well.
Because martial souls, while part of the body, were highly stable. Most of the time, they didn't affect a person's outward appearance.
Soul rings might enhance strength or flexibility—but not beauty. Only if a mutation affected genetic expression would appearance be changed.
Tang San could—because of his Blue Silver Emperor lineage.
But he preferred to think of it as a genetic factor.
Because genetics is destiny.
Dragons beget dragons. Phoenixes beget phoenixes. Mice dig holes.
Fantasy or not, this world still followed certain scientific laws.
In the original story, Oscar could replicate Tang San's martial soul using his blood. That was likely a soul skill that allowed him to analyze the genetic material for the Blue Silver Emperor and Clear Sky Hammer in Tang San's blood.
And the Mirror Beast… well, that was a whole different matter.
—
Wang Sheng finally broke the silence.
"Tang San, you really got a soul ring? But I thought your martial soul was just Blue Silver Grass. How'd your soul power increase so fast? Are you like Sister Xiao Wu—innately full of soul power?"
Tang San shook his head.
"Just innate level six. Maybe it's mutated. I also have my own insights into cultivating the Blue Silver Grass."
Xiao Wu tossed aside her half-eaten carrot and stepped up.
"Little San, wanna fight me? Let's see who's the real boss of Nuoding Academy!"
"If you win, I'll hand over my title as boss. How about it?"
"I'm an auxiliary-type soul master," Tang San said, not refusing. In fact, he wanted to test his strength—and Xiao Wu was a good opponent. "My combat ability isn't that strong."
"But I'll spar with you—once I've fully understood my first soul skill. After all, you've been a soul master longer, and are more experienced in using soul skills."
Xiao Wu pouted, slightly disappointed. But she caught the second part.
He still wanted to fight her?
An auxiliary daring to challenge an assault-type?
"You're an auxiliary and still want to fight me?" she said, hands on her hips. "I thought you'd chicken out… But alright. Sister Xiao Wu will entertain you!"
"By the way—what's your first soul skill?"
"Endless Life—a recovery-type skill. As long as I'm touching the ground, I can restore people to their peak condition. But it's not very effective against poison or dark ailments."
As he finished speaking, Tang San activated his martial soul.
The yellow hundred-year soul ring floated up.
Everyone in Dormitory Seven gasped.
"A hundred-year soul ring?!"