Chapter 166: All-Continent Soul Master Elite Competition!

The coffin containing Tang Hao was left by Tang San beside Qian Renxue, after all Tang Hao had not yet died, and Tang San did not need to bring Tang Hao back to Holy Soul Village for burial.

After some inquiry, Tang San discovered that among the three, only his soul power level was the weakest; Atolisi had already absorbed his first soul ring, and Xue Ke had even become a two-ring Soul Master.

Although he had not seen her martial soul and soul ring, Tang San understood in his heart that Xue Ke was certainly not lying; she was a disciple of a Title Douluo! Even if Xue Ke herself did not know, her teacher's ability was beyond doubt.

Li Teng, realizing that Qian Renxue did not want to expose her identity, then arranged a secluded, elegant courtyard for her, where attending classes was entirely up to Qian Renxue's own will, but the salary was still paid; Li Teng now also understood that this Title Douluo was precisely the Angel Soul Ancestor Qian who had previously come here to serve, except that she appeared young and deliberately concealed her cultivation.

Under Qian Renxue's "concern" and the boasting of the other two genius classmates, Tang San left feeling somewhat dejected.

Fortunately, although Qian Renxue said she could not teach him cultivation, in practical combat class he could attend together with Xue Ke and Atolisi.

Then let Mom see who is truly a genius! Tang San confidently believed that, possessing the Tang Sect's ultimate skill, he would not lose to those two children, Atolisi and Xue Ke; moreover, he had twin martial souls, innately possessing one more martial soul than they did, so when facing opponents, his future strategies would be far more numerous, something ordinary innate full-soul-power geniuses could not match.

Qian Renxue requested that Tang San go find Yu Xiaogang to obtain his first soul ring; regarding such soul ring matters, his theoretically invincible teacher must have already considered them, so there was no need to ask himself, otherwise the master would easily develop doubts in his heart.

Although Tang San felt uneasy, he had no choice; he merely resented Yu Xiaogang even more in his heart. He could not possibly betray his master on the very first day of becoming a disciple, could he? If he did, how would his mother view him then? He feared she would regard him as a mere sycophant.

"Knock knock knock!"

A knocking sound came from the door of Yu Xiaogang's office.

"Who!" came an immediate rustling sound from inside, as if someone were putting on clothes.

"Teacher, I am Tang San."

Yu Xiaogang put away the plaster on the table and opened the door with a limp.

Tang San frowned at the bruised purple injury on Yu Xiaogang's face and said, "Teacher, what happened to your face? Who did this?"

The Grandmaster forced out an ugly smile, he tightly embraced Tang San, seemingly seeking solace: "Xiao San, as long as you're unharmed, it's good; fortunately you left early."

Tang San suddenly smelled a foul, fishy odor from the Grandmaster's body; his face showed a strange expression—although he was a virgin, in his past life he had been a twenty-six- or twenty-seven-year-old man, so he understood such things.

"Teacher, you" — the Grandmaster couldn't have gone out to visit brothels before, could he? The smell is so strong. This made Tang San's originally uneasy mood worsen, and his impression of Yu Xiaogang in his heart became hard to judge; this pure and clean good man, why would the teacher be a rotten person who loves brothels? The Grandmaster coughed, shut the door, and hurriedly asked: "All right, Xiao San, we won't talk about that—what does His Highness want from you?"

Tang San shook his head: "Sorry, Teacher, His Highness does not allow me to speak of today's matters."

"All right, then may I see your second martial soul?"

Upon mentioning martial souls, the Grandmaster's cloudy eyes instantly brightened.

"All right, Teacher."

Tang San's left hand revealed a pitch-black Haotian Hammer, which naturally shocked Yu Xiaogang throughout his body; his heart surged with excitement, and even the pain behind him seemed to lessen considerably.

"Haotian Hammer! Tang San, since your surname is Tang, put your martial soul away. Do not easily reveal it before others. Without my permission, you must never add a soul ring to this martial soul in the future. Remember this."

Tang San stared, then asked: "Why not?"

The Grandmaster pondered for a moment, then said: "It is not yet time to tell you; you only need to remember that not allowing you to use this martial soul and add a soul ring is merely for your future plans—you must keep this in mind."

Since his father had also said those words, Tang San trusted Yu Xiaogang more in his heart, yet emotionally he felt somewhat displeased; the Grandmaster's weak strength was forgivable, but now even his questions went unanswered—what use was having him as a teacher? He already felt a bit regretful; indeed he still envied A Ke and Atolisi.

Tang San sighed and then asked: "Teacher, when will I obtain my soul ring? A Ke and Atolisi already have theirs."

Yu Xiaogang blinked, his eyes instantly flaming: "You know them? Could you introduce them to me? Their martial souls are full of potential, extremely valuable for research; if they become my students, their future achievements will surely be limitless!"

A Ke and Atolisi had both arrived in Noding City two months earlier; when Yu Xiaogang saw their data, he was astonished, vowing to take them as disciples—both possessed innate full soul power! One had even reached rank twenty! Matching his number of soul rings.

Yu Xiaogang immediately went to their door, intending to take them as disciples to aid his martial soul research, but unexpectedly he was scolded by Xue Ke in a humiliating fashion—an humiliation he would not forget today! However, if that child were willing to become his disciple, he would magnanimously let it go.

However, his specialty was having a thick skin; thereafter he sought opportunities for various chance encounters, but later Xue Ke complained that he was annoying and reported him to Li Teng, after which Yu Xiaogang finally calmed down a bit.

Atolisi followed Xue Ke around all day, leaving Yu Xiaogang no chance to catch them alone.

Now Tang San is their classmate; if they become good friends and speak well of him, perhaps it will happen after all!

Tang San felt inexplicably disdainful; others' teacher is a Title Douluo—what do you have to compare with them? And still you want to be his teacher? Innate full-soul-power geniuses have limitless futures regardless of whom they follow. Tang San interrupted Yu Xiaogang's daydream, his voice turning somewhat cold: "Teacher, I merely had a passing acquaintance with them; we are not familiar."

Yu Xiaogang came to his senses, seeing Tang San's somewhat displeased expression, he hastily coughed; indeed, in front of his newly accepted disciple, he eyed other talents with greed, which inevitably makes the child feel uneasy, though the Grandmaster also somewhat understands CPU tactics.

Yu Xiaogang let out a soft sigh, appearing as if he were doing it for Tang San's benefit.

"Xiao San, you don't understand; for a Soul Master, there are two major factors determining talent: one is the quality of the martial soul, the other is the innate soul power at the martial soul's awakening. Your innate soul power became full due to the emergence of the Haotian Hammer martial soul, but the quality of your Blue Silver Grass martial soul remains low."

"I wish to take A Ke and Atolisi as disciples in order to study their top-tier martial souls, thereby helping to improve the quality of your Blue Silver Grass martial soul!!"

Tang San's heart remained unmoved, but his expression eased somewhat; since he still needed to rely on the Grandmaster for cultivation and did not want to sour the relationship, he said: "Thank you for your concern, Teacher—so, Teacher, when will I obtain my soul ring?"

The Grandmaster knew Tang San was anxious, and quickly said: "Tomorrow is the school opening ceremony, and the day after that formal classes will begin. However, for you this is merely a delay. The urgent matter now is to enable your martial soul to continue cultivating. I have long planned it: tomorrow morning you will first leave the academy with me, and I will take you to find a suitable soul ring so that you may advance to the Soul Master level."

Upon hearing this, Tang San was overjoyed; only after obtaining a soul ring could he confirm whether his Xuan Tian Gong cultivation was constrained by the soul ring; the Grandmaster's approach exactly suited him, so he eagerly agreed.

The Grandmaster continued: "Xiao San, many consider Blue Silver Grass a worthless martial soul, but after years of my research I find it likewise has its own function. According to my conception and a comprehensive analysis of my research on Blue Silver Grass, I suggest you develop toward the control system in the future; the control system can be called a battle soul master or an artifact soul master, existing as a wavering entity between the two."

"The selection of a soul ring is related to the various advantages of the martial soul."

"The developmental directions of Blue Silver Grass are quite rich, because its lowly nature allows it to grow in many directions; moreover, its weakness means it will not reject any attribute of soul ring, and its consumption of soul power when used is remarkably small, which determines that you can make ample use of it relying on your own soul power." "Does a martial soul also reject a soul ring?" Tang San asked in surprise.

The Grandmaster's face showed an excited expression: "If the martial soul's attribute clashes with that of the soul soul ring, attempting to attach the soul ring to the martial soul will produce a rejection phenomenon. For example, beast martial souls find it difficult to attach a poisonous soul ring. Although a martial soul is an energy entity, in a certain sense it is also a life form, another manifestation of the host's life."

"If a poisonous soul ring is forcibly attached, one would likely poison oneself first. Among beast martial souls, few can absorb toxins themselves without transferring them to the host, but Blue Silver Grass is different—it is itself a plant, and being weak, absorbing toxins poses no difficulty at all."

Tang San retracted his somewhat cold expression, feeling also a bit guilty; it turned out he had misjudged the teacher, who cared deeply about his martial soul path, never expecting Blue Silver Grass to possess so many advantages!

"After my careful research, developing the Blue Silver Grass martial soul toward the control system is most advantageous; although Blue Silver Grass is extremely fragile, as soul power increases the martial soul also becomes stronger, so when you pour more soul power into it, it becomes far tougher than natural Blue Silver Grass."

"Later, with the added effect of a soul ring, restraining enemies will not be difficult; and if Blue Silver Grass carries a toxin effect, it will naturally also produce an offensive capability."

Tang San's eyes lit up excitedly: "So I am to absorb a poison-attribute spirit beast as my soul ring?"

The Grandmaster wore an expression of "a child can be taught": "Exactly, a poison-attribute spirit beast is the most suitable for you!"

However, Tang San suddenly thought of his severely injured father and asked: "Teacher, if we choose a martial soul development direction based on advantages, Blue Silver Grass possesses tremendous vitality and can be seen everywhere on the Douluo Continent; shouldn't I then pursue the healing system?"

Yu Xiaogang waved his hand indifferently, smiling: "Xiao San, Soul Masters are divided into battle soul masters and artifact soul masters two major categories; under these two major categories are further subdivided into food system, control system, combat system, healing system, etc. And among these categories I can clearly tell you: the control system is the strongest system! Without exception! You are my disciple, so naturally you must follow the strongest system!"

Tang San stared, then asked doubtfully: "The strongest? But hearing it, the strongest ought to be the strong attack system, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang could not help but chuckle: "This is just the popular misconception, Xiao San; I ask you: if you are a control system Soul Master, you can use Blue Silver Grass to bind the body of a strong attack system Soul Master whose attack power is astonishing, then continually harass him—would his mighty attack still be effective? He could not even touch your body. In the current Soul Master system, the control system can overcome everything!"

A flame of inexplicable determination ignited in Tang San's eyes; A Ke is a support system, Atolisi is a strong attack system, so he naturally must take the control system to counter them! Let Foster Mom see who is truly a genius!

Soon, Tang San returned to the dormitory, tidied up, and the next day went out with the Grandmaster to obtain a soul ring.

Three years later.

On the training ground of Noding Academy.

「3111, 3112, 3113」

Under the gentle sunlight, a silver‑white‑haired girl in black tight clothing did push‑ups; sweat dripped from her face, her arms trembled, her muscles tensed, and for her physique even one more push‑up would be nearly impossible.

Moreover, a gold‑haired girl in a hood sat on her back, crossing her slender white legs as she enjoyed the sunlight and lazily scolded, "A Ke, look at your movements—they're all out of shape!"

"If you can't keep going, you could just quit being a Battle Spirit Master and become a support specialist—why insist on cutting your hair? Besides, you're not bad‑looking; being an ornament isn't so bad either."

Xue Ke couldn't help rolling her eyes, gritting her teeth and snapping, "Shut up, you damn teacher! If you keep talking I'll throw you off."

Qian Renxue stepped directly on the back of her head, smashing her face into the dirt.

「. waa waa waa. 」

Qian Renxue snorted disdainfully, "You dare say that? You're just a puny thirty‑third‑rank Soul Elder—watch me crush your skull."

Beside them, the blond‑haired boy watching felt both pity and envy as he turned to Tang San, who was warming up nearby, and said, "Little Three, I'm so jealous—could you get Teacher Qian to step on me too? I'd love to be trampled by her jade feet!!"

Tang San twitched his mouth speechlessly; this guy has excellent martial soul talent and is quite handsome, but his personality is really low‑brow—"You could try telling Teacher Qian and see if she'll step on you."

A Tuolisi wore a mournful face, "If I had Avalon, that would be great—now I'm not worthy enough to endure it; my head would get crushed."

Before the two could finish, Qian Renxue's impatient voice came over: "You two, what are you wasting time on? Hurry up and decide the winner—wasn't the point to let me see who's the best Spirit Master? After today I'm leaving Nuoding Academy."

Tang San and A Tuolisi locked eyes, and instantly a fierce fighting spirit blazed in their gazes.

A Tuolisi said calmly, a hint of sharpness flashing in his gentle azure pupils, "Sorry, Little Three, I will definitely not lose this battle—I want to become the strongest support for Teacher Qian and A Ke."

Tang San likewise refused to yield; relying solely on his martial soul he couldn't match A Tuolisi, but with the Tang Sect's secret arts he could at least stay invincible—if Teacher Qian hadn't forbidden him from using hidden weapons, A Tuolisi would absolutely not be his opponent! This is his confidence in the Tang Sect.

The two took Xue Ke, who was doing push‑ups, as a boundary line and stood on opposite sides, ready for battle.

The force from the jade feet behind her head gradually lessened; Xue Ke pulled her head out of the dirt, shook it like a dog shaking water, looked up, and saw the two about to fight again.

Xue Ke panted as she asked Qian Renxue, "You said a few days ago you were leaving Nuoding City, yet they've just arranged another duel—where are you going this time, and when do you plan to return?"

Qian Renxue, still stepping on her head, chuckled intriguedly, "Of course I'm going to the All‑Continent Spirit Master Elite Tournament—a grand event held every five years, and this year happens to be the opening."

"Huh? You want to enter a competition? You, a Soul Emperor, going to fight in a tournament full of Soul Ancestors? Holy shit, what are they even playing at?" Xue Ke couldn't help cursing.

"I'm only eighteen—shouldn't I be allowed to compete? Besides, this year's tournament isn't ordinary; they're not the kind of ordinary Spirit Masters you can compare with."

Xue Ke suddenly thought of Jun martial soul and the others; in her past life she had likewise followed the Shrek path, only later forming an alliance with Jun martial soul and a few others.

The maximum age limit for the All‑Continent Spirit Master Elite Tournament is twenty‑five. The tournament is jointly hosted by the royal families of the Tian Dou and Xing Luo empires, with the Spirit Hall as co‑organizer, and it is the grandest martial soul competition in the Spirit Master world.

Since the regulation requires contestants to be under twenty‑five, this age limit focuses the competition on clashes between young Spirit Masters and gives all young Spirit Masters an important stage to display their strength and talent.

According to age, Qian Renxue is certainly eligible; Jun martial soul and his companions are now fifteen, Ye Feng is a bit older, yet they seem to have indeed participated in two editions of the All‑Continent Spirit Master Elite Tournament, and a group even produced a Continental Genius Ranking.

Qian Renxue is going to compete with them? But in her past life that edition didn't have Qian Renxue either—there was only a Holy Angel. Ah, she realized: could that Yue Zheng Ling also be one of Qian Renxue's aliases? Xue Ke is truly impressed—this guy has so many aliases! Double alias! Qian Renxue's alias is Qian Ling'er, and Qian Ling'er's alias is Yue Zheng Ling, nesting dolls, right? Two chapters, wow, guys—after this comes the other transmigrators' plot.

(End of chapter)