On the other side, Qin Ming quickly rushed onto the stage and carried Tang San down. As soon as they left the platform, an emerald light shone—Jiangzhu had already been waiting, immediately casting her healing soul skill. At the same time, Dai Mubai handed the recovery sausage made earlier by Oscar to Tang San's mouth.
"Tang San, hurry and eat it."
Pale-faced, Tang San said nothing. He silently bit down on the sausage.
"Let's go back first." Qin Ming scanned the team around him as he spoke, carrying Tang San toward the passage.
Not long after they entered the rest area, Yu Xiaogang, who had rushed down from the viewing seats, hurriedly came up, his face anxious.
Beside him, Liu Erlong's face was full of fury. "Hmph! Who would've thought Yang Yunhai, at such a young age, would already have such a vile heart. To deliberately sow discord on the stage like that! Back then, Xiaogang clearly only made suggestions out of goodwill, and now he even turned and bit back! When he was just a fatherless, motherless civilian soul master with no background, did he really think he could hunt some top-quality optimal-aged soul beast?"
"In a backwater like Nuoding Academy, I bet even the instructors' first soul rings weren't more than 100 years."
"Exactly!" Xiao Wu's face was equally furious. "That guy doesn't know how to appreciate kindness! He even went all out against Third Brother—his heart is vicious beyond measure."
"And to think I used to look after him back at Nuoding Academy. What a waste, his conscience must have been eaten by dogs."
'…' Ning Rongrong gave Xiao Wu a sidelong glance.
Back at the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena, Tang San had been the one who went for the kill. There was barely any bond between them to begin with, and even that was long gone. Moreover, Yang Yunhai had already shown mercy everywhere—not just in Suotuo City, but also this time on stage. If he hadn't, a little trick would have knocked Tang San out cold, and they wouldn't even still be in the tournament.
She truly couldn't fathom how Xiao Wu could say these words with a straight face. Tang San had literally been thinking of using poisoned hidden weapons to sneak attack earlier.
Flander, crouched by Tang San to check his injuries, shook his head. "This isn't much. Using words to disrupt the enemy's morale before or during a match isn't ethical, but it is an effective tactic. In the Great Spirit Arena, this sort of thing is very common."
'Effective tactic? I'd say Yang Yunhai was trying to wake Tang San up.' Ning Rongrong kept that thought to herself.
Yu Xiaogang stayed silent, his expression set like someone who'd been slandered and wronged but felt above explaining.
Tang San also remained silent, his mind replaying Yang Yunhai's words from the stage.
That he had made no progress in comprehending his Martial Soul.
That absorbing beast-type soul rings had stripped Blue Silver Grass of its plasticity and creativity?
His thoughts drifted back to Yang Yunhai's soul skills:
First soul skill, Extension—complete with the inherent Entanglement ability of vine-type beasts, with infinite extension as a bonus.
Second soul skill, Absorption—providing constant energy to fuel Extension.
Third soul skill, Parasite—adding yet more variation to the vines born of Extension.
Three soul skills, each dovetailing with the others, forming a seamless chain—that was what made Yang Yunhai's control inescapable.
And his own three soul skills? Alone, they were fine, but linked together? His third soul skill, Spider Web Restraint—wasn't that something Yang Yunhai could replicate with just his first soul skill? The vine bud and vine walls he'd created on stage earlier proved that.
A strange thought rose unbidden: Had he wasted a soul skill slot?
Looking back, Yu Xiaogang had never once told him that his soul skills needed to complement one another. So, when obtaining his third ring, he hadn't paid it any mind.
Even when Yu Xiaogang had advised him on his first and second soul rings, he hadn't said a word about synergy.
Gu Zhu—Yu Xiaogang had said it himself, back in the Beginner Soul Beast Forest. If nothing better could be found, then hunt a bamboo or snake-type beast. Less than 100 years old.
At that memory, Tang San's heart gave a sudden jolt.
As a teacher, Yu Xiaogang had never once guided him toward the myriad variations Blue Silver Grass could manifest. True, failing to grasp them was his problem—but hadn't his teacher failed him too? And when it came to soul skill combinations…
His eyes shifted to the side, emotions mixed.
Yu Xiaogang did treat him like his own child—that was undeniable.
But then again, wasn't that only because of his talent?
As these thoughts churned, Flander withdrew his hand and addressed everyone. "It's just blood loss and some bone shock in the shoulder. Nothing too serious. With tomorrow and the next day both free of matches, he should recover mostly in two days."
Hearing this, the group let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Let's go," Flander added. "The match is over—we're heading back."
Elsewhere, in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy rest area.
Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo, Xue Qinghe, and the three Deans entered behind Emperor Xue Ye.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. Greetings, Sect Master Ning." Yang Yunhai and his teammates gave a polite bow.
Dugu Bo simply gave a curt nod.
"No need for formality." Xue Ye raised a hand lightly, smiling warmly. His gaze swept over Yang Yunhai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan. "Nephew Yang, your performance today, alongside Zhuqing and Miss Dugu, truly astonished Us."
"To reach the Soul Ancestor realm at such a young age, and even possess 10,000 year soul rings—it leaves me equally astonished," Ning Fengzhi added.
Dugu Bo cut him a glance. "Sect Master Ning, spare us the empty words. On the path of cultivation, there are no shortcuts. Otherwise, my granddaughter's fourth ring would also be 10,000 years. Xiao Hai's achievements are his own. I suspect the three Education Committee members could guess as much."
He turned toward Meng Shenji.
'Could it be related to his Martial Soul's lightning attribute? Did he use lightning to stimulate training?' Meng Shenji wondered silently, though aloud he said only: "Xiao Hai's diligence and progress, we have all witnessed. The other members of the team have also advanced quickly thanks to the training programs Xiao Hai set, supported by Senior Dugu's medicinal baths."
With Ning Fengzhi present, the lightning-attribute secret could not be revealed. 'We'll explain later.'
So he bowed slightly instead. "On behalf of the Academy, I must thank you."
The benefited students quickly bowed as well.
"A small matter." Dugu Bo nodded faintly, turning his gaze back to Ning Fengzhi.
"As for Zhuqing, I merely gifted her a rather fine 10,000 year soul bone."
No wonder Zhu Zhuqing had managed to catch up and break through to Soul Ancestor. 'Dugu Bo truly spares no expense,' Ning Fengzhi thought.
Given Yang Yunhai's talent, with medicinal baths, tireless training, and refined regimens, reaching Soul Ancestor before the tournament was plausible enough.
Hadn't his own daughter, Rongrong, also advanced quickly in this time?
And Zhu Zhuqing had absorbed a 10,000 year soul bone… a soul bone's main benefit was strengthening the body. With it, beyond boosting cultivation, it would also let her body bear a 10,000 year soul ring. That was easy enough to reason out.
But the mental strength needed to endure the impact of a 10,000 year ring? That was harder to explain.
Dugu Bo had only given one soul bone. Zhu Zhuqing surely hadn't absorbed a Wisdom Spirit Bone. Otherwise, Dugu Yan—who had already absorbed one bone to cure her poison—would also have a 10,000 year ring by now.
If he had a head bone, wouldn't he have given it to his granddaughter first?
So then—how had Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing raised their spiritual power? Could it truly have been through training alone? Too simple!
'Impossible to figure out, unless Dugu Bo or Yang Yunhai admit it themselves.' Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly, but smiled outwardly.
"Brother Dugu, your boldness is remarkable indeed."
Then he turned to Yang Yunhai, voice full of admiration. "To reach the Soul Ancestor realm and obtain 10,000 year rings at your age—so far as I know, no one ever has. Not even His Majesty Clear Sky Douluo, the youngest Titled Douluo in history, achieved such results in youth. Brother Dugu, you are truly blessed. What a pity, Xiao Hai—if only you were my son!"
"!!?" Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing tensed up instantly.
'What the hell are you thinking?' Yang Yunhai maintained a calm smile. "Sect Master Ning jests."
Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed. Ning Fengzhi's words carried plenty of implication.
But he wasn't interested!
He didn't need to guess at Ning Fengzhi's plan—it was obvious. Marry off his daughter to tie Xiao Hai to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, wrapping him up along with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. That would leave him at a disadvantage.
But the man's abacus was miscalculated.
If Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo weren't backing him, maybe he'd consider it for safety's sake. But now?
No need at all!
His brows lifted slightly. "Sect Master Ning, in that case you'd best hurry and have another while you're still young. Otherwise, you'll have to rely on recruiting a son-in-law. Hm… I think that Tang San is a fine choice. An heir of the Clear Sky Sect, a twin Martial Soul, an exceptional talent indeed".
"It's just that, in terms of performance, he falls just a little bit short of my grandson-in-law."
The meaning was clear: Too late, little brother. Your eye for talent is lacking. I chose better.
"…" Ning Fengzhi kept smiling, though he understood the jab perfectly. "Today, Nephew Yang truly has shown extraordinary valor."
"Brother Dugu, Sect Master Ning—time grows late. We should be heading back." Xue Ye cut in smoothly, diffusing the tension with a genial smile. He swept his eyes over the team.
"I will continue to watch the matches to come. I hope—" He went on with a few words of encouragement before finally turning to Dugu Bo. "Brother Dugu, I'll take my leave."
"No need to see me off." Dugu Bo gave a slight nod.
They watched as Xue Ye and his retinue departed.
(End of Chapter)
---
This Fanfiction Has Been Completed on Patreon, There is 2 Chapters Ahead of Release for Free Members on my Patreon.
Support me if you like this Fanfiction.
Patreon,com/Fallen_Archangel_
(Remove comma for dot.)
Leave a 5 star Review and a Power Stone.