Chapter 18: Holiday, Returning to Sacred Soul Village

"Time really flies; a year has passed just like that."

Xiao Xian stood in a corner of Back Mountain, pinching a few Steel Needles in his hand, a flash of purple in his eyes, and he twitched his hand casually.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!

The Steel Needles shot out violently.

Clack clack clack—!

They circled around a few small trees in the air, landing steadily in a shape resembling the Chinese character "pin" (three stacked squares), nailed into the trunks.

On closer inspection, each Steel Needle had a tiny flying insect nailed onto it.

"Purple Extreme Demon Eye, really handy."

Buzz—!

Xiao Xian casually performed a move; suction suddenly surged from his palm, and three Stones on the ground rose into the air.

The Stones had not yet touched his palm.

Xiao Xian flicked his palm, and the suction abruptly switched…

Whoosh—!

The three Stones, as if struck by a hammer, whistled through the air, tracing a marvelous path and precisely smashing into the Steel Needles lodged on the trunks.

Clack clack clack—!

The original three Steel Needles instantly sank straight into the trunks, replaced by three Stones that shattered the bark and embedded themselves in the wood.

"Profound Heaven Skill, Control Crane Capture Dragon, also really handy!"

Xiao Xian glanced at the distant trunks and thought silently.

This year had been extremely fulfilling for him.

His soul power had advanced to Level 16 and could soon break through to Level 17.

Purple Extreme Demon Eye, with a panoramic view of the peak, its subtlety is forthcoming.

Suction Palm and Blowing Fire Palm, under the boost of Control Crane Capture Dragon, became far more exquisite.

Ghost Shadow Maze, having learned a handful, is waiting to be refined.

Xuan Yu Hand is the same.

It can be said that this year, his cultivation speed increased, and his combat power surged.

However, these gains are merely superficial.

Xiao Xian's greatest gain remains his understanding of "martial arts," or rather, his comprehension of soul power usage.

"Little San, let's go."

A gentle smile returned to Xiao Xian's face.

He called out to Tang San on the other side of Back Mountain.

Tang San's forehead was beaded with sweat; several sturdy strands of Blue Silver Grass shot out from his palm, rapidly coiling around a small tree in the distance.

He simply gave a strong tug, and the small tree instantly bent.

"Alright, senior brother!"

Hearing Xiao Xian's words, Tang San retracted his martial soul, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and replied from afar.

"Senior brother has become stronger again." They glanced at the silhouette, and silently felt admiration and awe.

In Tang San's mind.

His senior brother is an outright genius.

His cultivation speed is fast, not to mention he also created two major soul skills, Suction Palm and Blowing Fire Palm.

Based on Blowing Fire Palm, he also executed a refined Hidden Weapon Technique.

In Martial Soul Theory, he is even more outstanding.

He is subtly stronger than the teacher.

He originally thought his first martial soul could only honestly be a Food Type.

He didn't expect that under Xiao Xian's guidance, it could also serve as a half‑fledged Control Type.

"Soul skill is a soul skill, martial soul is a martial soul."

"Your soul skill is Blue Silver Sugarcane, but your martial soul is not."

"Although the soul skill lacks combat power, does that mean the martial soul itself cannot be used?"

"That sugarcane plant didn't just make your martial soul tougher?"

"You can use soul power to make the martial soul keep growing. Then why can't you control it to control the enemy?"

"Otherwise, why do you think I had you look for an edible yet tough‑skinned plant soul beast?"

That day, in the teacher's dormitory, faced with the loquacious Xiao Xian, the teacher, like him, was stunned.

After a careful examination.

His senior brother's conjecture was correct.

His first soul skill is indeed generating Blue Silver Sugarcane.

But his martial soul hasn't actually turned into a sugarcane. It merely grew a tough outer skin; its essence remains Blue Silver Grass, which is soft.

This is the result of the intensive training during this period.

It also proves Xiao Xian's idea.

As long as one focuses.

He can still use the Blue Silver Grass itself to entangle enemies.

It is by no means inferior to ordinary Control-type Soul Masters.

Especially since he bears Control Crane Capture Dragon, he can manipulate Blue Silver Grass more exquisitely, achieving better results than ordinary Control Types.

On the road back to the academy.

Tang San seemed to have thought of something and suddenly became a bit excited.

"Senior brother, the holiday starts tomorrow, are you going back?"

At Nording Academy, one semester lasts a year; students must live on campus and cannot leave the school at will.

Tang San hasn't gone back in a year, and Tang Hao has never visited.

He still misses the only family he has in this life.

"I am an orphan," Xiao Xian said flatly.

"...," Tang San suddenly felt embarrassed; in his previous life he was a homebody, and this life he's only seven years old, severely lacking experience, and for a moment didn't know what to answer.

"Go back and pack your luggage," Xiao Xian said without much concern.

"Alright... senior brother, see you later."

Xiao Xian returned to Er She, half‑lying on the bed, gently closing his eyes, recalling the soul power circulation route inside Tang San's body during the recent cultivation.

It has already become one of his habits.

Tang San also returned to the dormitory, packing his luggage while chatting intermittently with Xiao Wu.

"..."

"You went training again with that annoying ghost?" Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose.

Tang San gave an awkward smile.

Xiao Wu's combat power is astonishing; she is lively and combative.

She often looks for him to fight.

In pure close combat, if he doesn't use Blowing Fire Palm, or if Sunlight Spore is insufficient, he loses more than he wins.

After a while, Xiao Wu couldn't help but challenge Xiao Xian again, hoping to claim the title of Boss of Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

But each time she returns defeated.

Xiao Xian used Suction Palm at full force, easily lifting Xiao Wu into the air. Then a Blowing Fire Palm, a whistling, piercing Gale, could directly blow Xiao Wu several zhang away.

Not to mention that senior brother also likes to casually kick the ground, scattering sand and dust everywhere.

Another Blowing Fire Palm...

Xiao Xian calls this technique Flying Sand and Rolling Stone...

Even with his mouth and eyes tightly closed, the pervasive sand and dust can still be forced straight into his nose.

Nevertheless.

Xiao Wu still loves to challenge Xiao Xian, seeming to grow more courageous with each defeat.

Xiao Xian had just finished cultivating and might be tired.

Tang San didn't want Xiao Wu to disturb his senior brother's rest at this moment.

He quickly changed the subject, asking whether she would go back.

Xiao Wu seemed suddenly a bit forlorn, saying she didn't plan to go back. But she quickly brightened, asking if Tang San's home was not far and whether she could go to his house to play.

Tang San didn't have many friends at the academy; Xiao Wu happened to be one, after all, only her soul power could keep up with him and senior brother, giving them the most common ground.

Wang Sheng and Xiao Chenyu only occasionally sparred with them during the first two months.

At first, they didn't really respect Tang San, losing to a Food Type Soul Master... which was indeed somewhat embarrassing.

But later, they gradually, like Xiao Wu, avoided him at all costs.

Being a sandbag doesn't feel good.

Tang San smiled and agreed.

He just said his father's temper might be bad.

They chatted a while longer, and the luggage was almost packed,

Tang San seemed to have thought of something, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

He dashed out of Qi She, heading straight for Er She.

"Senior brother, will you go to my house to play during the holiday?"

Xiao Xian half‑opened his eyes, glanced at Tang San, and a familiar gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Sure."

"..."

Early the next morning.

On the road back to Shenghun Village.

Xiao Wu looked angry.

Tang San kept apologizing.

He hadn't expected Xiao Wu to get along so poorly with his senior brother; he just hadn't told her in advance that senior brother would also come along...

But Xiao Xian seemed very calm, his face still bearing the familiar smile, as relaxed and happy as on a picnic.

"Shenghun Village... the waterfall not far away..."

He murmured silently to himself.