"Sect Master Ning, is Xiao San alright?" In the familiar room, Yu Xiaogang asked anxiously.
"Nothing serious, just that all his muscles and bones were shaken, plus cold energy invaded his body, injuring his foundation slightly." Ning Fengzhi retracted his Martial Soul and shook his head lightly. "The injuries themselves are no big deal. He's just caught a chill, so he needs to keep warm for the near future."
"That's good." Yu Xiaogang let out a quiet sigh of relief.
That night, in Shrek Academy's dormitory, Tang San slowly opened his eyes.
"Hiss…" As he tried to move, tearing pain swept through his body, forcing him to freeze.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Wu asleep by the bed, her eyes still red from crying.
Tang San's fists clenched and his teeth ground tight. "Lost again! If only I were stronger, I could have crushed that Ice Phoenix instantly. The team wouldn't have lost, and I wouldn't have been hurt, making Xiao Wu worry. I must… I must obtain my fourth soul ring as soon as possible."
"This time we succeeded in using the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique. Perhaps I can use that as a reason…"
Elsewhere, in the hotel suite, Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes from cultivation, her face showing joy.
Moments later, Yang Yunhai and Dugu Yan also awoke.
"I broke through to rank 44." Zhu Zhuqing smiled softly as she shared the good news.
"Zhuqing, congratulations." Dugu Yan returned her smile.
"I think we should celebrate." Yang Yunhai raised a brow, reaching out with both hands and pulling both of them into his embrace, holding on tightly.
"…" The two women responded with exasperated eye-rolls.
Out in public, he was serious and proper. Behind closed doors, he was always teasing—by now, they were used to it.
"Yun…" Inside the soul bone space, Yiner's voice was full of jealousy. During the tournament, she had been stuck inside constantly, and she hated the Soul Master Competition. "Later, we'll go to the bathhouse," Yang Yunhai sent back, reassuring her.
Yiner's cheeks flushed red, and she said nothing further.
The night passed without further incident.
The next morning, Tang San, with Xiao Wu's support, carefully walked out of the dorm room.
"Oscars, hurry and make a few recovery sausages." Xiao Wu called loudly. "Sister Jiangzhu, please also use your soul skill to heal Brother San."
"Got it!" Oscar immediately summoned his Martial Soul and began making sausages. Jiangzhu raised her staff and released a healing light.
"Xiao San, don't go to the arena today. Rest properly in the dorms." Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"Teacher, I've broken through rank 40." Tang San lifted his head and forced a smile.
Everyone froze in shock, and Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened.
Didn't he just reach rank 39 only days ago?
"It should be because of yesterday's success with the Fusion Technique. Everyone's soul power gathered into me, expanding my meridians. When my soul power recovered, I immediately broke through the bottleneck." Tang San explained, then his face grew serious. "Also, because my Eight Spider Lances shattered, I had to rebuild my soul power to mend it. My body feels clearly stronger than before."
"Could this be what they call breaking to rebuild!?" Ma Hongjun gasped.
Then he glanced around and quickly said, "Brothers, next time we must use the Fusion Technique centered on me."
"My meridians also need to be expanded."
"Heh." Dai Mubai shot him a look. "Fatty, not to look down on you, but do you really think your body can handle it?"
"Yesterday, even after we had already used up lots of soul power in our skills, the leftover soul power channeled into Tang San could have raised his rank to 60 or beyond. If it had been at full strength, he could've been pushed up to Soul Saint level."
"Such an enormous energy surge isn't something just anyone can handle. If you're unlucky, your body will explode."
"Ahhh…" Ma Hongjun let out a defeated groan.
"No matter. If it's too much, just stop the supply midway." Yu Xiaogang said flatly. "After the qualifiers, there's a month of rest. Your training will focus on this. The Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors will practice channeling. The stronger the core soul master, the more possible combinations we can test. The more results we succeed with, the more options we'll have in the next stages."
Then he looked to Qin Ming. "Qin Ming, the training sessions from here on will be overseen by you."
"Formations will be centered on Jiangzhu, with Yu Tianheng as the main core. Keep practicing the Seven-in-One Fusion Technique. If we face Thunderclap Academy, this will be key."
"Yes, Master." Qin Ming nodded.
Yu Xiaogang turned to Liu Erlong. "Erlong, go call Flender. Later, we'll take Xiao San to get his next soul ring. His injuries aren't severe. We can ride a carriage to the Sunset Forest. With luck, his wounds will heal on the way. And with our flying abilities, finding a soul beast and returning will be much faster."
"Since his identity has been exposed, now—early in the competition—is the best time to go."
"Alright." Liu Erlong nodded firmly and walked out.
Not long later, Flender, Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang quietly led Tang San out the academy's back gate.
Soon, a decorated carriage was moving steadily out of Heaven Dou City.
"Xiao San, have you thought about what kind of fourth soul ring you want?" Yu Xiaogang asked inside the carriage.
Tang San nodded, testing carefully. "Teacher, what do you think of the Widow Spider?"
Yu Xiaogang paused, his face turning pleased. He nodded. "If you can obtain it, the compatibility will be nearly perfect. It'll link the poison of your Martial Soul with your other three skills, enhancing your control abilities greatly."
"Furthermore, absorbing the Widow Spider's ring would strengthen your poison attributes even further."
"That's what I was thinking." Tang San smiled, then his expression grew firm. "Teacher, I want to try a higher age soul ring. Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing could do it. With my Eight Spider Lances, I believe I can too."
Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply. "It's hard to be certain what age limit you can bear."
If only he'd joined the Heaven Dou Royal Academy back then, he could've asked Yang Yunhai directly. He sighed and turned to Flender and Liu Erlong. "Test Xiao San's body strength. From what you know, how old of a power-type soul ring could he withstand?"
Better to rely on their experience.
"About 5,500 years," Flender said conservatively.
"Around 6,000 years," Liu Erlong judged.
As a power-type battle soul master who had once slaughtered through a soul beast forest and hunted often while teaching at Blue Tyrant Academy, she had experience.
For someone Tang San's age to withstand that was already incredible. Still, compared to Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing…
Tang San's fists clenched, unwillingness flashing in his eyes.
Yu Xiaogang noticed and said, "Xiao San, don't dwell on the gap. You have twin Martial Souls. Even if I can't figure out how Yang Yunhai absorbed a 10,000-year fourth ring, it's not simple. Just look at Dugu Yan—she had rare treasures and a 10,000-year soul bone, yet her fourth ring was still only 1,000 years."
"Xiao San, being able to handle 6,000 years already makes you outstanding."
Immortal herbs, 10,000-year soul bones… Tang San sighed inwardly. He had neither.
'The heavens are unfair,' he thought, before nodding faintly.
"Xiaogang, do you think Yang Yunhai has perfected a mature theory for absorbing higher-aged rings?" Flender asked suddenly.
Yang Yunhai having a 10,000-year ring was one thing, but Zhu Zhuqing also had one. That meant something more.
Yu Xiaogang was startled, then frowned. "It's possible."
"But…" He shook his head with a sigh. "With Dugu Bo and Yang Yunhai's personalities, they'd never share it."
"Selfish, just like Spirit Hall," Liu Erlong snorted.
"Not everyone is like Xiaogang, willing to share their theories openly," Flender said.
"If it could widen the gap between themselves and others, who would give it away?"
'The theory of higher-age soul rings…'
Up in the trees beside the road, Tang Hao's eyes flashed cold.
'If I can interrogate Yang Yunhai and pry it out of him, it will be of immense use to the sect.'
(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.