Chapter 66: Yu Xiaogang Arrives

In fact, for Yang Xiong, he is not really interested in mechanical‑type hidden weapons.

Since arriving at the Douluo Continent, Yang Xiong has been focused on cultivating himself, getting stronger alone, and never considered developing hidden weapons, or even weapons in general.

One must know that this world has Soul Guidance Devices; those overseas are truly lethal weapons. If hidden weapons are products of the wuxia world, Soul Guidance Devices are more like products of the fantasy world—completely a different tier.

Moreover, if Yang Xiong truly wanted to study weapons, he would have already been researching gun and cannon weapons. With Douluo Shijie's technology, developing machine guns and cannonballs is not difficult, and compared to hidden weapons, guns, cannons, and Soul Guidance Devices can crush them in terms of tier.

In the Soul Master World, soul power and martial soul are fundamental. Yang Xiong does not wish to waste too much thought on other things, so he never considered this issue. Even his research on herbs is only superficial; he hasn't truly tried alchemy, merely wants to become familiar with various Immortal Herb knowledge.

After returning to Soul Hunting Town, everyone rested properly for a few days; after all, the recent foray into the Star Dou Great Forest was extremely perilous, yet the gains were huge.

Among the eight Shrek students, three obtained satisfactory Soul Rings and became Soul Elders, and especially Tang San also obtained an External Soul Bone.

Under Zhao Wuji's instruction, the fact that Tang San possesses an External Soul Bone must never be publicized. Having roamed the Soul Master World for years, he knows the value of an External Soul Bone; even if Tang San has a powerful backing, it could still attract a storm of blood and turmoil.

This time, after Tang San absorbed the Hurricane Mantis Soul Ring, his soul power rose to Level 31, and Xiao Wu and Oscar likewise rose to Level 31.

Xiao Wu's Third Soul Skill is also Teleportation; Yang Xiong has always wondered how a normal soft‑boned rabbit could have such a skill, which possesses a Space Attribute.

Meanwhile, Tang San is very satisfied with his Third Soul Skill, named Blue Silver Hurricane Formation; after using the Blue Silver Grass Third Soul Skill, all tips of the Blue Silver Grass become like the front legs of a Hurricane Mantis, possessing extremely strong attack and slicing power. It can be said that once Tang San has this Soul Skill, the attack power of Blue Silver Grass is greatly enhanced, no longer limited to merely Entanglement or trapping enemies.

In contrast to Tang San and the others, Yang Xiong feels somewhat conflicted at this moment.

He hides a 2,300‑year‑old Human‑Faced Demon Spider within himself, yet he is extremely conflicted about how to deal with it.

Given Yang Xiong's current Soul Power Level, he cannot yet absorb a third Soul Ring, and the poison attribute of the Human‑Faced Demon Spider is also unsuitable for him.

Lately, Yang Xiong feels his attack power is lacking; he wants to choose a Fire Attribute or Metal Attribute for the third Soul Ring, so his attack and Explosion power can reach a higher tier.

Especially since Yang Xiong devised the Spiral Sphere, he has been pondering how to inject elemental attribute energy into the Spiral Sphere; only then would the Spiral Sphere truly complete its second development and possess formidable power.

Moreover, whether it's the Space Attribute of his first Soul Ring or the Wood Attribute of his second Soul Ring, they are relatively too weak, after all they are merely Hundred‑year Soul Rings.

Especially the first Soul Ring: although through Soul Skill development he achieved Teleportation, the Space Attribute is the most mysterious of all attributes, not something only he can master.

As for Wood Attribute energy, Yang Xiong can inject it into the Spiral Sphere, but it seems to add little destructive power, perhaps due to the nature of the Wood Attribute itself.

After Yang Xiong's prolonged research, he discovered that after absorbing a Soul Ring, one does not inherit all the Soul Beast's attributes; only the attributes of the Soul Ring and the Soul Skill are truly possessed.

For example, absorbing the first Soul Ring of Xuanming Turtle, which itself has dual Water and Earth attributes and also hides Space Attribute, but since the displayed Soul Skill is Space Attribute and the Soul Ring's energy is also Space Attribute, there is no Water or Earth attribute at all.

Conversely, the Power Attribute appears somewhat vague, as if not fully manifested; it seems more like an enhancement of Qi Blood and physique. After absorbing two Power‑type Soul Rings, his body, strength, even the power of his punches and kicks all increase markedly.

At this moment, Yang Xiong cannot help recalling the Force Clan; the Force Clan pursues pure Power‑type Soul Rings, yet from another perspective, normal Power‑type Soul Beasts generally possess strong Earth Attribute, such as the Titan Giant Ape and the Thousand‑Weight Ant; these two Soul Beasts represent Power‑type Soul Beasts, but they mainly exhibit Earth Attribute. Power seems to represent toughness, or rather the vigor of Life Force and Qi Blood.

Especially among all attributes in the Douluo Shijie, it seems there is no Power Attribute at all; descriptions of Power Attribute are relatively vague.

There are several questions about the Human‑Faced Demon Spider; according to Soul Master World history, External Soul Bones are generally obtained during the Soul Ring absorption process, and there is no phenomenon of absorbing a soul bone alone. During Soul Ring absorption, the person and the Soul Beast have no physical contact; it is more like the Soul Ring's energy flowing into the body and transforming it.

Regarding the Eight Spider Soul Bone, Yang Xiong naturally desires to possess it; for a Soul Grandmaster, this item is like a cheat. Especially since Yang Xiong has a primary martial soul, if he also has devouring ability, the Eight Spider Soul Bone could function as eight weapons; combined with his Divided Mind Control, battling enemies would pose no problem and would also reduce bodily injury.

However, Yang Xiong already has the External Soul Bone Xuanming Armor, and its main body also resides at the spine; can he still absorb a second External Soul Bone centered on the spine?

Yang Xiong does not wish to waste a Soul Ring slot casually, nor waste this priceless Soul Bone. Moreover, from his own perspective, he finds the Human‑Faced Demon Spider's Soul Ring rather inferior—both in age and attributes.

……

Since entering Soul Hunting Town, Lin Gong has vanished without a trace, presumably now protecting himself covertly,

The group rested for two days before returning to Shrek Academy; along the way, Xiao Wu appeared rather worried, and no amount of Tang San's consolation helped.

At this moment, Shrek Academy looks bustling with construction; beside the existing male and female dormitories, a new building is being erected at a rapid pace, likely to be completed within a few days.

Before entering Sunset Forest, Yang Xiong had already removed his load, and after returning to school he put it back on himself.

As Yang Xiong expected, Ning Rongrong had already approached Tang San alone, mainly to discuss purchasing hidden weapons. Tang San only agreed to first craft a set; the specifics of the transaction will be discussed later, requiring communication with the sect's actual decision‑makers.

When Zhao Wuji was discussing all matters of the Star Dou Great Forest with Flanders, besides Flanders there was unexpectedly a middle‑aged man present.

The middle‑aged man, after hearing Zhao Wuji's description, spoke: "The bull roar you mentioned should come from the legendary Azure Bull Python, a forest emperor of legend. As for Tang San and Xiao Wu's safety, I think Tang San's father intervened."

Zhao Wuji showed a hint of surprise on his face: "He is actually Tang San's father, but how could Tang San's martial soul be Blue Silver Grass? Yet only such a person would have the strength to rescue Xiao Wu; otherwise they wouldn't have asked Lin Gong to stay out of it, probably fearing that Lin Gong fighting the Titan Giant Ape would hurt Xiao Wu."

The middle‑aged man laughed: "Tang San's martial soul isn't just simple Blue Silver Grass; he has a dual martial soul, and his other martial soul is one of the strongest in the world."

Flanders thought for a moment before speaking very seriously: "It seems that next time the children hunt Soul Rings, I'll have to intervene personally, even taking all the teachers together, to ensure safety."

……

The next morning, when everyone arrived at the cafeteria they were pleasantly surprised; the meals had greatly improved, adding various meats in addition to the usual vegetarian dishes.

Yang Xiong looked at the situation with a sense of helplessness; it seems the person he feared most has finally arrived, and he hopes they won't interfere with his cultivation.

As expected, during the morning class, besides Flanders, another middle‑aged man appeared.

The middle‑aged man looked somewhat gaunt, even a bit melancholy and despondent, yet with his arms crossed he exuded a hint of arrogance, like an inspecting official.

Flanders was the first to speak: "This is my good friend Yu Xiaogang, who has extensive research on martial souls and cultivation. From now on he will be in charge of teaching you cultivation matters; you may call him Master."

Yu Xiaogang then nodded, but his face also appeared very cold: "From today onward, I hope you all rise early; breakfast will give you sufficient nutrition to support a day of cultivation, but if you cannot even get up early, then you need not eat."

"I have already reviewed data on each of your specific conditions; although you are all geniuses, that is still insufficient. From now on you will undergo harsh training, so you can truly lay a solid foundation and become strong in the future."

All the students seemed shaken by Yu Xiaogang's words; Yang Xiong, however, was unusually speechless, feeling that Yu Xiaogang's speech sounded somewhat odd.

Yu Xiaogang continued: "Today is the first lesson; besides your data, I also need to assess each of your combat powers."

"Dai Mubai, step forward; today I give you a task: they will all take turns attacking you, and you need to defeat them all."

Dai Mubai's face darkened upon hearing this, unsure whether to step forward, and he turned his head toward Yang Xiong and Tang San, knowing their combat power is not inferior to his.

Yu Xiaogang showed a hint of doubt on his face: "You are Level 37, while they are at most Level 31, and even four of them are Great Soul Masters; can you not even handle this?"

Dai Mubai then stepped forward with unusual determination.

Yu Xiaogang continued: "Tang San, you go first; you may not use your Third Soul Skill or any hidden weapons."

Soon Dai Mubai and Tang San began fighting; although Dai Mubai was powerful, after a skirmish he was quickly defeated by Tang San, who also forced Tang San to unleash his Third Soul Skill, and throughout the fight Tang San employed many Tang Sect techniques.

Yu Xiaogang, looking at the somewhat dejected Dai Mubai, then said: "Remember, among Soul Grandmasters of the same rank, Control System Soul Masters are the strongest. Their attack power may be lacking, but they can effectively restrict enemies, especially below Level 60, where Control System Soul Masters can even hold absolute advantage among peers."

The others seemed motivated by his words, while Yang Xiong made a snide comment; Yu Xiaogang's statement was good, but he seemed to have forgotten one thing: there is no Title Douluo of the Control System on the entire Douluo Continent, and besides, if Tang San didn't use Tang Sect's ultimate techniques, how could the control of Blue Silver Grass alone possibly defeat Dai Mubai?

Yu Xiaogang glanced at the group, especially at Yang Xiong, then continued: "Tang San's use of the Third Soul Skill violates my earlier requirement, so let him help you take on an opponent."

"Yang Xiong, although you are only Level 26, I've heard your combat power is formidable, so you will face Tang San, but Tang San remains prohibited from using his Third Soul Skill."

"Dai Mubai will next confront the team of Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong, as well as the pair of Ma Hongjun and Oscar. You are a high‑rank Soul Elder; defeating a combination of two Great Soul Masters should not be a problem."

Yang Xiong stepped forward directly and said, "Sorry, I'm already Level 27 now, so when fighting Tang San there's no need to limit the Third Soul Skill; otherwise the battle would be too uninteresting."

Yu Xiaogang was taken aback by this; he had originally thought Yang Xiong was the least gifted of everyone, since Yang Xiong's Innate Soul Power was only Level 6 and he was widely regarded as a worthless martial soul, but he didn't expect that the twelve‑year‑old could already reach Level 27, and his soul power was not inferior to anyone else's.

Yu Xiaogang seemed to see the casualness in Yang Xiong's eyes, even his strong confidence in his own strength, and then nodded, "That works too, then Tang San doesn't need to be restricted from using the Third Soul Skill."

(End of chapter)