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A chorus of discussions rose and fell. The work-study students gathered around all looked shocked; although their aptitude was ordinary, they knew that a spirit ring's rank was closely related to a Spirit Master's own strength.
Yet now, they had personally witnessed Tang Chuan, with a ten-year spirit ring, directly defeat Tang San, who had a hundred-year spirit ring. To Yu Xiaogang, this was nothing less than a resounding slap to the face.
Seeing the people around discussing animatedly, Yu Xiaogang's face was so dark it seemed water could drip from it. The next second, he angrily strode toward Tang Chuan, his entire aura becoming sharp and imposing.
Looking at Yu Xiaogang, Tang Chuan showed no fear. He even raised his head, looking at him with a half-smile and eyes full of sarcasm. "Teacher…" Tang San saw that his teacher's expression was a bit off and quickly spoke to ease the atmosphere.
But Yu Xiaogang acted as if he hadn't heard, walking directly in front of Tang Chuan and angrily questioning him. "The Clone Spirit Ability you just used? What kind of spirit beast was it from? Also, shouldn't a spirit ability only have one effect? How can you immediately use Binding after releasing a clone? How can your Blue Silver Grass be stronger than Little San's? Aren't you a ten-year spirit ring?" He spoke with increasing agitation, his voice becoming sharper, as if he wanted to forcibly strip away Tang Chuan's victory with words.
Hearing this, Tang Chuan lightly patted the dust off himself and said with a rather indifferent tone, "Yu Xiaogang, why are you so agitated? Didn't you once say that a Spirit Master's growth path should be tailored to individual abilities and be different for each person? How come now that Tang San has lost, you act as if I've overturned your spirit theory?" Tang Chuan continued, "I've said it before, your direction for cultivating Blue Silver Grass is wrong."
As soon as these words came out, they immediately hit Yu Xiaogang's weak spot. "What did you say?!" His eyes widened instantly, and anger almost burst out of his eye sockets.
"I said—" Tang Chuan enunciated each word clearly: "Your theory regarding the cultivation direction of Blue Silver Grass is wrong. Blue Silver Grass should not follow the control system path; its essence is a plant with an extremely strong vitality. Following the control system entirely wastes its innate talent."
"You're spouting nonsense!!!" Yu Xiaogang finally erupted in rage, shouting loudly and scaring the surrounding students into quickly retreating a few steps. The next second, he took a fierce step forward, his face ashen, pointing at Tang Chuan and yelling, "My spirit theory is something I researched for over twenty years, having read countless ancient texts and summarized the growth trajectories of numerous Spirit Masters. Who are you, a mere greenhorn, to question me?! What right do you, a Spirit Master with a ten-year spirit ring, have to say I'm wrong?!"
Tang Chuan was not intimidated by this anger; instead, he smiled slightly and said, "Since your theory is so correct, then tell me, why did I win today?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression was extremely ugly. His mouth twitched, and then he gritted his teeth and squeezed out a sentence: "Your victory this time… is merely because the spirit ring you absorbed happened to match your current state, plus you used a clone to disrupt his vision and break Little San's rhythm.
Simply put, you won by luck using some underhanded methods; it's fundamentally not an issue with the cultivation direction of Blue Silver Grass!" He spoke with absolute certainty, as if defending himself. It was also as if he was trying to save face for Tang San.
Immediately after, a glimmer of wisdom flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, as if he had grasped some logical fulcrum. His tone became sharper again, and he continued: "A large part of why you won today is also because Little San underestimated you.
If he had used Binding the moment he launched his attack, you wouldn't have been able to release a clone at all." At this point, Yu Xiaogang paused, then turned his gaze to Tang San. "Plus, your first spirit ability is too bizarre.
I have studied spirit beasts and spirit rings for many years and have come across thousands of spirit beast records, yet I have never seen a spirit beast ability similar to your first spirit ability.
A ten-year spirit ring, capable of such a level of clone ability? This isn't a problem with my theory; it's because you fortunately absorbed an extremely rare, or even mutated, spirit beast spirit ring! You were just lucky to obtain such a rare spirit ring. Even if you tried again, you might not find the same spirit beast.
You won not because your cultivation direction for Blue Silver Grass is correct, but because you luckily triumphed due to the chance of a rare spirit beast. The growth and cultivation of a Spirit Master must never rely on chance! The control system path for Blue Silver Grass is the result of my long-term experimental verification.
Your so-called life-system path is merely a blind man touching an elephant. Once you enter a higher realm, such as after three or four rings, you will find that the coordination between spirit abilities lacks logic and a system. At that time, you will be completely crushed by Little San!"
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang Chuan couldn't help but roll his eyes and sneer, "Yu Xiaogang, you're quite the sophist, aren't you? You can talk black into white. Truly impressive!" As he spoke, he actually gave Yu Xiaogang a thumbs-up. "You might as well stop calling yourself the Spirit Theory Yu Xiaogang and just call yourself the Sophistry Yu Xiaogang."
As soon as these words came out, the surrounding students exchanged glances. The air was eerily quiet, almost solidified. No one expected Tang Chuan to dare to publicly mock Yu Xiaogang. However, Tang Chuan was completely unconcerned with others' opinions and said to himself, "Yu Xiaogang, since you think I won today because of good luck, then I'll just be lucky. We'll see who gets slapped in the face later.
" After saying this, Tang Chuan no longer engaged with Yu Xiaogang. He turned and walked away gracefully. In his opinion, what was the difference between Yu Xiaogang's words and those of an idiot? Why did he forcibly explain so much? Was it simply because he couldn't accept that he was wrong? Did he not want to admit he was wrong? There was absolutely no need to waste words with such a person.
As he passed by Tang San, Tang Chuan paused slightly, turned his head, and gave his younger brother a meaningful look. Then he lightly patted his shoulder, his voice low but exceptionally clear: "Little San, your Blue Silver Grass has only gained one spirit ring.
If you turn back now, it should still be in time. As the saying goes, an older brother is like a father. I've done what I should, and I've advised what I should. As for how you ultimately choose, that's your own business."
Hearing this, Tang San was stunned. A light flashed in his pupils, and he looked up at his brother's profile, only to find that Tang Chuan said nothing more. "Alas," Tang Chuan sighed, then didn't look back, and quickly left the back mountain. His figure was firm and tall, standing against the wind like a lone pine.
A few minutes later, Tang Chuan's figure gradually faded, finally disappearing completely on the forest path leading to the dormitory. The open space on the back mountain immediately fell into a strange silence.
Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang spun around, his face ashen, and lunged in front of Tang San, grabbing his shoulders heavily, saying with a hint of agitation: "Little San! What exactly were you doing just now?! You have a hundred-year spirit ring, and he's just a Spirit Master with a ten-year spirit ring.
How could you lose?! Do you know? The biggest taboo in a Spirit Master's cultivation is being soft-hearted! Even if he's your brother, you can't go easy on him!"
Tang San was shaken dizzy by Yu Xiaogang and was momentarily speechless. On one hand, he genuinely couldn't explain why he lost. On the other hand, a deep sense of wavering emerged in his heart.
Blue Silver Grass… could it really only follow the control system path Yu Xiaogang spoke of? If Yu Xiaogang was truly correct, then why did I lose just now? Staring blankly in the direction his brother left, Tang San was still recalling Tang Chuan's terrifying explosive power from that punch, as well as that bizarre Clone Spirit Ability.
"Teacher, I… I wasn't going easy on him," Tang San pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice with an unprecedented hesitation. "Brother's strength, speed, and physical toughness are all terrifyingly strong! And his spirit power. I feel… his spirit power doesn't seem to be at the rank ten level at all.
In fact, if he said he was already at rank thirty, I would believe him." In Tang San's mind, if he hadn't used Mysterious Jade Hand to block and defend against Tang Chuan's punches, he wouldn't have been able to withstand them at all.
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang was startled, his face sinking slightly. "What did you say?!" He instinctively retorted, a look of shock flashing in his eyes. "You said his spirit power is as dense as a rank thirty Spirit Master? This… how is this possible? It's impossible for a Blue Silver Grass Spirit Master with only rank one innate spirit power to cultivate so quickly. Even if he had innate full spirit power and cultivated from his mother's womb, it would be impossible."
Hearing this, Tang San pondered for a moment, then nodded and said: "I also think it's impossible, but Teacher, I have another question. I feel… Brother's Blue Silver Grass, its toughness is much stronger than my Blue Silver Grass. Didn't you once say that after absorbing the Datura Snake's spirit ring, my Blue Silver Grass's toughness would significantly increase and its binding ability would become stronger?" Tang San's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. Clearly, today's competition had a considerable impact on him.
Hearing this, a faint light flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, and his expression became solemn. For a moment, he didn't know how to explain. After a brief silence, he remembered what Tang Hao had told him not long ago.
Both Tang San's and Tang Chuan's Blue Silver Grass spirits were not ordinary Blue Silver Grass. A moment later, as if he had already thought of an explanation, he slowly began: "This matter… I know what's going on. Originally, I didn't intend to tell you.
But now, it seems I have no choice but to tell you." Yu Xiaogang paused, a flicker of memory and apprehension crossing his eyes, and said: "Not long ago, your father came to see me. When he finally left, he left me with a message. He said that both your and your brother's Blue Silver Grass are not ordinary Blue Silver Grass. As for what that sentence truly means, I'm not clear either!"