Chapter 156

In an exquisite private room, Gu Xuan and Tang San sat facing each other at a tea table, Gu Xuan holding a cup of fruit tea, drinking it with relish.

"Xiao San, you came to find me; I suppose you've thought it over." Gu Xuan set down his cup and said softly.

Tang San nodded, then replied: "Brother Gu, I discussed this with my teacher; in the end my teacher also agreed with your suggestion, and he also feels this is currently the most beneficial method for me."

Gu Xuan smiled slightly and said: "It seems Master is indeed an expert, able to discern the key point."

Upon hearing this, Tang San also wore a helpless expression; after he had told his teacher about this, the teacher went three days without eating or drinking, and in the end not only agreed to the suggestion but even muttered that he wanted to meet Brother Gu.

Because the teacher first realized his knowledge seemed inferior to that of a twenty‑year‑old youth—how could a twenty‑year‑old know more than he? Even though Gu Xuan was born into the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, the teacher had researched for decades, and although ninety‑nine percent of it was summarized from books, hadn't he himself read books for decades as well?

Tang San hesitated a moment, then said: "Brother Gu, I would like to buy another Soul‑Returning Pill from you, if that's possible."

Hearing this, Gu Xuan raised his brows and said: "Do you intend to absorb a ten‑thousand‑year Soul Ring? That cannot be solved by a single Soul‑Returning Pill."

Upon hearing Gu Xuan's words, Tang San was surprised again, because he indeed had that idea.

To add four Soul Rings to the Heavenly Hammer, three of them thousand‑year and one ten‑thousand‑year.

Tang San nodded: "Brother Gu, I want to give it a try."

Gu Xuan spoke earnestly: "Xiao San, ten‑thousand‑year Soul Rings and thousand‑year Soul Rings are already qualitatively different; I understand your idea, but sometimes we cannot aim too high—with your current spiritual power, if you absorb a ten‑thousand‑year Soul Ring, you could very well end up exploding and dying."

Listening to Gu Xuan's words, Tang San did not rebut, but he himself knew his spiritual power should barely withstand the soul shock of a ten‑thousand‑year Soul Ring; if he took another Soul‑Returning Pill, he could recover from the previous spiritual backlash, making the fourth ten‑thousand‑year ring not a dream.

Moreover, his fourth ten‑thousand‑year Soul Ring only needs to be from a pure power‑type beast; he can choose one with weak spiritual power to absorb.

Gu Xuan pondered for a long time, then replied: "Xiao San, you are excellent; it's good that you have your own ideas. In that case, I won't advise you further, but I have a suggestion."

Tang San listened attentively: "If you want your fourth Soul Ring to absorb a ten‑thousand‑year level, you had better absorb a soul bone, and at least a ten‑thousand‑year one."

Hearing this, Tang San showed a bitter expression; although he already knew his father was the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent, soul bones are exceedingly rare—how could he just obtain one as he wished?

Tang San replied with a bitter face: "Brother Gu, I think the same way, and my teacher told me the same, but soul bones are too rare; I simply cannot get one in the near future."

Gu Xuan fell silent again, his expression seeming to say, 'This won't work, that won't work—do you still want to absorb a ten‑thousand‑year Soul Ring for your fourth ring? Are you looking to die?'

Tang San understood Gu Xuan's meaning; although helpless, there was nothing he could do—he merely knew his father's identity, but he couldn't find anyone.

Although the Strength Clan has now become his lackeys, they also cannot produce a soul bone.

After a long while, Gu Xuan finally spoke softly: "Xiao San, you have a promising future, but can you be sure you will not change your original aspiration in the future?"

Tang San was dazed by these words—what does 'not changing one's original aspiration' mean? What is my original aspiration? To take revenge on the Spirit Hall? Or to rebuild the Tang Sect? Gu Xuan reminded him: "I mean our friendship."

Tang San suddenly understood and said firmly: "Brother Gu, what are you saying? I will never forget your help and friendship toward Tang San; how could I forget the bond between us?"

Gu Xuan nodded satisfactorily: "Good, Xiao San, once words are spoken, even four horses cannot retract them; since you've said that, I won't hide anything from you."

Tang San focused intently, seemingly guessing what Gu Xuan would say next.

Indeed, Gu Xuan said: "Soul bones exist within the sect, but with my current authority I cannot mobilize them; I can help mediate, but you must produce something that can move Uncle Ning, even if its value falls short of a soul bone—at least I can speak a few words for you."

Gu Xuan was quite serious, and Tang San also understood his meaning; although Gu Xuan is a genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect and his grandfather is one of the two great guardians of the sect, he lacks the authority to allocate a soul bone. This is a common problem among major powers—not something that can be changed by mere sentiment.

Nevertheless, upon hearing this information, Tang San became excited again; previously he didn't know the way, now he does—he only needs sufficient chips, which is completely different from having nothing before.

This situation means that if his chips are sufficient, he can exchange for a ten‑thousand‑year soul bone, and then adding Soul Rings to his Heavenly Hammer will be assured—the fourth ten‑thousand‑year ring is no longer a dream.

Listening to Gu Xuan's flower, Tang San also began to ponder what he could produce to move Ning Fengzhi.

After thinking it over, the only thing left was hidden weapons; initially he had only sold the Tang Sect's most basic hidden weapons to Brother Gu, who was very pleased—clearly, hidden weapons hold absolute appeal for members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect.

While watching Tang San ponder, Gu Xuan timely reminded: "Xiao San, I have a proposal."

Tang San looked over.

Gu Xuan said softly: "Actually, Uncle Ning quite likes your hidden weapons, but the batch he previously bought from you was of low grade, at most able to effectively kill Soul Ancestors; if you could produce higher‑grade hidden weapons, talking with Uncle Ning would be easy."

Tang San raised his eyebrows—this is exactly what he had guessed, except he currently has no time to assemble hidden weapons.

"Brother Gu, I do have this idea, and I indeed possess higher‑grade hidden weapons here, but I currently have no time to assemble them," Tang San said, troubled.

Hearing this, Gu Xuan's heart stirred—what he wanted was precisely that you have no time, otherwise how could he easily rope you in? "Xiao San, I understand your feelings, but I think this way: you really don't need to be so wary; if you don't trust others, do you not trust me either?"

"You can hand over the brief process and assembly method of the hidden weapons to me; after we produce a batch, we will stop production, and no hidden weapons will leak onto the market—I can sign a confidentiality agreement with you on this point; later, if we need more hidden weapons, we will have you approve, knowing the quantity before proceeding."

"This way we can perfectly guarantee that this confidential information will not be leaked."

"And if it is the most core hidden weapons, we will uniformly entrust them to you to handle, and we will certainly not make it difficult for you."

"I know a sect's confidential information must never be exposed, which is why I came up with this method."

"As long as it does not involve core secrets, you will suffer no loss; you will not only receive a sum of forthcoming wealth, I will also go to Uncle Ning's place to help you obtain that soul bone, and incidentally I should be able to give you a Soul‑Returning Pill."

Listening to Gu Xuan's series of words, Tang San hesitated, because what Gu Xuan said made sense; aside from the top ten hidden weapons, the Tang Sect's other hidden weapons are not necessarily required to be self‑assembled.

After all, the true core consists only of the top ten hidden weapons; the rest, although some hidden weapons have tremendous power, are not core.

Tang San pondered for a long time, then finally agreed.

Gu Xuan also smiled; the goal was achieved.

Giving Tang San a soul bone, even if somewhat wasteful, but upon reflection, if Tang San received a ten‑thousand‑year torso bone, for him now it would bring an unparalleled boost, yet for his future self, a Soul Master's most important soul bone position would be missing.

The torso bone is most important because this soul bone position can give a Soul Master the greatest benefit; even if Tang San were to obtain a hundred‑thousand‑year soul bone in the future, as long as it is not a torso bone, its effect would ultimately be diminished.

After all, the torso bone is the one that gives a Soul Master the greatest physical enhancement, and this is also Gu Xuan's purpose.

Subtly, it weakened Tang San's later potential.

ps: Correct the typos first, then revise.

(End of chapter)