Chapter 118: Yu Xiaogang: Why Does Tang San Look Like He Got Uglier?
Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Hao already knew Tang San had arrived at Nuoding Academy and officially enrolled as a student.
"I understand. You may go."
Tang Hao waved off Tang Di, who then left. Even though Tang San's martial soul was the useless Blue Silver Grass, he still had innate full soul power. Once he got his first soul ring, he'd become a Soul Master and qualify for a one gold soul coin monthly subsidy.
One gold coin was enough for an average family of three to live comfortably for several months. Combined with the hundreds of gold soul coins stored in his soul tool, as long as Tang San lived cautiously, he could live quite well on his own.
Tang Hao entered Tang San's room. The moment he stepped in, a terrible stench hit his nose, mixed with Tang Hao's loud snoring.
He found Tang Hao lying on the bed, hugging a wine jar, with several broken jars littering the floor.
"Hao…" Tang Hao's older brother, Tang Xiao, shouted angrily.
Since Tang San—the ever-caring, thoughtful caretaker—had left, Tang Hao's lifestyle had worsened. His clothes reeked of sweat and alcohol, forming an unbearable odor.
Clang!
The wine jar fell and shattered. Tang Hao drowsily opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing his head.
"Big brother? What brings you here? Something wrong?"
Tang Xiao pointed at the room like he was about to explode, his fingers trembling with fury.
"Hao, look at yourself! You're the Clear Sky Sect's current Clear Sky Douluo, yet you live like a beggar!"
Tang Hao had heard this from Tang Xiao and others countless times and had grown numb to it. Still, he replied obediently, "I know I've shamed the Clear Sky Sect… but what can I do now? I'm crippled. My cultivation is stuck forever. If it weren't for passing on the Vast Sea Sky Hammer technique to the next generation, I'd have ended my life already."
Tang Xiao sighed helplessly. Ever since Tang San left, Tang Hao had reverted to this same excuse.
"Hao, Little San is gone."
"Oh." Tang Hao gave a casual response.
"Don't you care at all? He's still your son! He looked after you for three or four years without complaint!"
"Hmph. His martial soul is the useless Blue Silver Grass. At best, he'll end up like that waste Yu Xiaogang—stuck at Grandmaster level. Keeping him here would only embarrass the Sect."
"You're not thinking about the Sect. You're just upset he didn't awaken the Clear Sky Hammer, so you don't consider him your son."
Tang Hao didn't reply, but that was exactly what he thought. He knew the damage Yu Xiaogang had done to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan's reputation. How could a Clear Sky Douluo like him care about a child born of lust who didn't inherit the hammer?
If Tang San had inherited Ah Yin's Blue Silver Grass, he might've cared. But this?
"Hao… when did your heart become this cold?"
Tang Xiao felt like he didn't even recognize his own brother anymore. This wasn't the impassioned, loyal man he once knew.
Tang Hao lay back down. "Please leave, big brother. If there's nothing else, I want to sleep."
Tang Xiao closed his eyes in pain. Time truly could change a person. As the Sect Master, even he couldn't recognize his own kin anymore.
Far away, in the soul beast forest…
Tang San and Yu Xiaogang stood before a massive four-meter-long snake, writhing in pain.
It was a Mandala Snake—one of the most terrifying poisonous beasts below the thousand-year level. Its poison could paralyze and severely damage nerves. Its body was also incredibly tough and lightning fast.
Just like in his past life, Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon, along with a concealed blade from his soul tool, to pierce the snake's lower jaw.
As its struggles weakened, Yu Xiaogang relaxed. But his expression quickly shifted from relief to excitement, then to disappointment.
"Little San, what a pity."
Tang San asked curiously, "Teacher, what's the pity?"
Yu Xiaogang sighed. "Before reaching the thousand-year level, Mandala Snakes grow one centimeter per year. This one is nearly four meters long—about 400 years old. But the theoretical limit for a first soul ring is 380 years. Absorbing this might kill you."
Tang San's eyes widened. What? That's not what he said in my past life!
Back then, 400 years was said to be the ideal maximum for a first ring. What changed?
At that moment, the snake died, and a yellow soul ring emerged.
Yu Xiaogang sighed and patted Tang San's shoulder. "Let's find another one. A good ring is useless if it kills you."
"I believe I can absorb it."
Tang San spoke firmly. He'd done it before. This ring had given him the unbeatable Blue Silver Bind technique.
Yu Xiaogang frowned. "You realize this is life or death? You're a twin-soul innate genius with limitless future potential! You don't need to risk your life on a single ring!"
"Teacher, I'm your student. Don't you believe I can perform miracles?"
Yu Xiaogang hesitated. He recalled the current Spirit Hall Saintess had some unusual soul ring colors too—purple for the second, black for the third. Maybe Tang San truly was special.
"Alright. Absorb it. I'll protect you."
Tang San sat cross-legged and began absorbing the ring. As time passed, Yu Xiaogang finally relaxed. Tang San had passed the danger stage—proving that the theoretical limit wasn't 380 years, but 400.
He'd need to update his research when they got back.
Wait…
Yu Xiaogang frowned again, staring at Tang San's hair changing from deep blue to light blue, and his once fair skin turning slightly bronze.
Why… does Tang San look like he got uglier?
He scratched his chin. Maybe it was the poison in the Mandala Snake's ring. Poison rings could affect one's appearance.
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