Chapter 55: Not Playing with You Anymore

"It's quite nice, now it's temporarily mine."

With one hand up and one down, he casually tossed the soul tool he had obtained from Tang San.

The reason he said temporarily was that he wasn't sure if Tang Hao would have any reaction to this.

At this point in time, Tang Hao should have already left the city of Nuoding.

However, even if he was still here, it wouldn't matter much.

Considering Tang Hao's character, if someone bullied Tang San, he might intervene. But to seek revenge for a seven-year-old child over a mere soul tool was unlikely; his tolerance shouldn't have diminished to such a level.

Moreover, his apparent talent was very poor, and he wouldn't be seen as a threat.

As for the Meridian Breaking and Qi Controlling Method and swordsmanship, Tang Hao might not be able to see through the former, and he wouldn't care about the latter. In Tang Hao's eyes, the techniques of the Haotian Nine Ultimates, the Chaotic Wind Hammer Technique, and the Exploding Rings were the strongest.

More likely, he would see him as a whetstone for his son.

If things really went beyond expectations, he could simply return the item.

A storage-type soul tool like this could be easily obtained with money, and he didn't see it as anything special.

The key was to have a legitimate opportunity to provoke Tang San and explore his background.

Since he had decided not to pursue the path of inheriting the Divine Position, he would likely confront the Divine Realm in the future.

From all aspects, it was beneficial to understand in advance.

As for the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone, he wasn't in a hurry to obtain it. Even if he got it, he couldn't use it temporarily. He had to wait until he tested his soul power in the Spirit Hall before revealing that he possessed a hundred thousand year soul bone.

And Su Cheng wasn't sure where Tang Hao was now. If he happened to be guarding the corpse, wouldn't he be walking into the lion's den?

The best time would be when Tang San and his group went to Shrek Academy. Tang Hao would definitely follow them then, and they wouldn't cross paths.

...

At this moment, Tang Hao hadn't left yet. Originally, he wanted to spend some more time with his son, secretly getting along with him for a while. Unexpectedly, he witnessed the conflict between Tang San and Su Cheng.

However, Su Cheng had misunderstood one thing.

Because of the legacy of his predecessors, the Haotian Sect had a good grasp of practical combat with martial and soul tools. Tang Hao actually saw some insights into the Meridian Breaking and Qi Controlling Method and noticed Su Cheng's agility in soul power manipulation and skill in combat.

But he didn't care.

In Tang Hao's view, Su Cheng had chosen to study combat techniques because of his poor talent, making it difficult for him to advance. This kind of forsaking the foundation for the branches made him look down on Su Cheng even more.

As for Tang San's failure, such setbacks were nothing in Tang Hao's eyes. Without even getting injured, it was just losing a round in a sparring match with peers. Losing a soul tool was even less significant.

"Just take it as an experience for San'er. This child has average talent but good comprehension, which suits him as the first stage of his growth. If he truly wants to oppose the Spirit Hall in the future, this is just a minor obstacle."

Thinking of this, Tang Hao's eyes became more profound and complex, containing various emotions such as sorrow, anger, and hatred.

"Ah Yin..."

...

Inside the Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang sat quietly in the room, listening attentively to Tang San's description of the previous battle.

"...Teacher, why was my Blue Silver Grass martial soul so easily cut by Su Cheng, even though it had been enhanced with a hundred-year soul ring and gained toughness?"

Listening to his disciple's despondent and puzzled tone, Yu Xiaogang didn't rush. He first picked up his tea cup and took a sip before calmly speaking:

"San, do you remember what I told you before? The Blue Silver Grass martial soul is most advantageous for development as a control type. You asked me at the time, how can Blue Silver Grass, so fragile and easily broken, trap enemies? How can it withstand their struggles? How did I answer you?"

Tang San's expression became pensive, as he repeated the words of his master at the time, "Grass is soft and flexible, capable of transforming into various forms under control. For future soul ring choices, focus should be on two aspects: toughness and toxins. With the advancement of soul power, the Blue Silver Grass itself will become much tougher than natural Blue Silver Grass when more soul power is infused. With the additional effects of soul rings in the future, trapping enemies won't be difficult. And if Blue Silver Grass possesses toxin effects, it can naturally serve an offensive purpose."

"Now think carefully about those words."

"Are you suggesting that..." Tang San's eyes brightened, "it's not that this development path is wrong, but rather that I haven't enhanced it enough?"

"Exactly," Yu Xiaogang nodded. "You've only attached one soul ring so far, still a long way from the final goal. San, you have full innate soul power, and you have a unique advantage in cultivation. When you attach the second and third soul rings, you'll be able to fully demonstrate the control effects of the Blue Silver Grass martial soul."

"But that Su Cheng, he didn't even use his martial soul."

"That's because his cultivation is too low; even if he used his martial soul, it wouldn't have had much effect. It's better for him not to use it, which can relax your vigilance," Yu Xiaogang said disdainfully.

Despite always saying "there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters," he was actually someone who valued martial soul talent the most because he had suffered from the drawbacks of having a low-quality martial soul.

Seeing Tang San's expression of enlightenment, a faint smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's stiff face. He patted Tang San's head and didn't blame him for losing the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges Night.

Instead, he comforted him, "Take it as an experience for San'er. With your graduation, your soul power will be at least twenty levels higher than his. When the time comes, you'll have a proper fight with him again. Let the soul tool be temporarily in his possession, and you'll win it back in the future. Teacher believes in you."

...

However, Tang Hao and Yu Xiaogang's expectations for Tang San were destined to be disappointed.

Three and a half years later, Su Cheng, who had already attached the third soul ring to his Eternal Sword, quietly completed his graduation procedures.

This matter wasn't complicated at all.

As long as your cultivation reached the basic threshold and you had enough money, graduating from such a low-level academy was actually very easy.

In this world where individuals possessed extraordinary martial prowess, the group of soul masters themselves was a privileged class.

Even when a soul master reached the realm of Soul Douluo, as long as they registered with the Spirit Hall, they could receive a direct title of nobility from the country, becoming the lowest rank of noble, a baron.

"Goodbye, Tang San. Take good care of your sixth soul ring."

Su Cheng walked out of the academy gate, a relaxed smile on his face. "Tian Dou City, here I come."