Swift Victory and Future Paths

As Sheng Jun's transformation enveloped him in a halo of white holy light, Tang San couldn't help but stare in awe. The air around Sheng Jun seemed to shimmer with the radiance of his Martial Soul, casting a divine aura that filled the field with an otherworldly presence. Even Xiaogang, who had seen countless Martial Spirits in his lifetime, couldn't hide his surprise at the sight.

"Sheng Jun, Level 14 first ring Healing system Spirit Master, Martial Soul Corvus" Sheng Jun introduced himself in a swift and dignified manner, the regal aura of his transformation commanding respect. The contrast between his previous friendly demeanor and his newfound sacred presence was striking, leaving Tang San momentarily stunned.

After a brief moment of bewilderment, Tang San composed himself and replied "Tang San, Level 13 Control system Spirit Master, Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass" His voice was steady, though a flicker of uncertainty lingered in his eyes as he assessed his opponent.

"Xiao San, don't let him get close! You are no match for him in hand-to-hand combat, after all, he's the one who taught me!" Ma Hongjun's voice rang out from the edge of the field Tang San nodded, his gaze focused as his suspicion grew, to be able to possess such out-of-the-world cultivation techniques in addition to nurturing such genius martial artists like Ma Hongjun, could Sheng Jun be like him?

As Sheng Jun wasted no time in launching his attack, Tang San sprang into action, his mind racing with strategies and countermeasures. Remembering Ma Hongjun's warning, he decided to utilize his Spirit Ring skill without hesitation. With a swift gesture, he commanded his Blue Silver Grass, invoking the power of his Martial Soul.

"Bind!" Tang San's voice echoed across the field, as the vine-like blue tendrils of his Blue Silver Grass surged forward, seeking to ensnare Sheng Jun before he could close the distance.

Sheng Jun, undeterred by Tang San's attempt, utilized the vines to his advantage with remarkable finesse. With swift and fluid movements, he deftly dodged the oncoming vines, his every motion calculated to evade capture. With a mere gesture, he redirected the vines, manipulating them to create openings in his opponent's defenses. As he rushed forward wanting to close the distance.

 Tang San's vines seemed to recoil as Sheng Jun's hands came into contact with them, the sharp spikes cutting into his flesh. A brief flash of pain shot through Sheng Jun's arm, followed by a strange numbness that spread through his muscles. Instinctively, his gaze narrowed as he assessed the damage but to his surprise, he found that the cuts on his hands were already beginning to heal at an alarming rate. This situation could have been avoided if he had used the Mysterious Jade Hand, but he felt a bit embarrassed to use it in front of Tang San as it is still considered a stolen technique even if it was by accident.

Tang San gritted his teeth in frustration, his mind racing as he recalibrated his strategy. Sheng Jun's mastery of his martial arts skills was evident, and his control over his body was impressive beyond measure. Tang San knew that he would need to adapt quickly if he hoped to stand a chance against such an opponent.

Gathering his focus, Tang San shifted tactics, opting for a more defensive stance as he sought to analyze Sheng Jun's movements with his Purple Demon Eyes. As Sheng Jun closed in, his movements fluid and graceful, Tang San braced himself for the inevitable clash.

With precise strikes and expertly executed maneuvers, Sheng Jun exploited every opening in Tang San's defenses.

Tang San, though skilled in the art of hand-to-hand combat, found himself hard-pressed to keep pace with Sheng Jun's attacks, even with the help of his Blue Silver Grass and all the skills from the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record in his arsenal. With each passing moment, he struggled to maintain his footing against the relentless barrage of attacks, his defenses gradually weakening under the assault.

With a sudden burst of speed and power, Sheng Jun unleashed a devastating round kick, aimed squarely at his opponent's midsection. The force of the blow sent Tang San hurtling backward, his defenses shattered under the sheer impact of the attack.

Gasping for breath, Tang San struggled to regain his footing, the wind knocked out of him by the powerful kick. As he looked at Sheng Jun, his gaze trembled slightly, a flicker of admiration shining through the pain.

At the edge of the field, Ma Hongjun's eyes widened in recognition, a sense of deja vu washing over him as he instinctively covered his stomach. The memory of a similar attack, delivered with equal force and precision, flashed through his mind, leaving him trembling slightly.

"All right, that's enough. Follow me inside" Xiaogang's voice called out, breaking the intensity of the moment. The tension in the air began to dissipate as he started to walk towards the office, Flender beside him, his mood lifted after witnessing his disciple's display of skills, and continued to brag about it to Xiaogang as he walked with him.

Helping Tang San to his feet, Sheng Jun offered a word of praise. "You are really skilled in hand-to-hand combat. If it weren't for the nature of Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul being the bane of your Martial Soul, you would definitely win" Sheng Jun said awkwardly, still feeling a bit embarrassed as another set of information appeared in his subconscious. 

Tang San smiled humbly at the compliment, his eyes burning with determination. Beside him, Ma Hongjun chimed in, retorting that he would still win, his voice laced with unwillingness as they walked alongside Xiaogang and Flender.

Inside the office, Xiaogang wasted no time in delving into the lessons learned from the spar. Addressing Tang San first, he said "Xiao San, I'm sure you have noticed the shortcoming of your Martial Soul, when you were fighting against Xiao Hongjun just now" Tang San nodded in agreement. "Yes, master, my Blue Silver Grass is still extremely vulnerable to elemental damages"

"That's why, for the future development of your Martial Soul, aside from toughness and poison, we can also consider spirit beasts with fire, ice, and other elemental resistances" Xiaogang explained, his tone thoughtful yet firm. The suggestion garnered unanimous approval from the group. Turning his attention to Ma Hongjun, Xiaogang praised the power of his Martial Soul's flames, urging him to seek out attack-type spirit skills to further bolster his abilities. Ma Hongjun nodded eagerly in agreement.

Finally, Xiaogang addressed Sheng Jun, his words carrying a note of curiosity as he pondered the unique nature of his Martial Soul. "As for Xiao Jun, your situation is really peculiar. Not only is the healing of your Martial Soul strong, but your physical attributes such as strength and speed are also high, so I think you should become a type of Battle Healer" he suggested. "It would be a shame to focus on just one thing with your capability. You can try to balance the spirit ring skill between healing and attack-type spirit beasts in the future. You took Crystal Swan, which is good at healing and protecting, as your first spirit ring, so the next one should be an attack-type spirit beast"

With their lessons concluded, Xiaogang and Flender dismissed the group, urging them to rest and prepare for tomorrow, where they would go and register as Spirit Masters at the Spirit Hall. As they bid farewell, Tang San, Sheng Jun, and Ma Hongjun each headed off to their respective resting places, their minds buzzing with newfound knowledge and excitement for the future.