"Your spirit power is only level five, so get used to it first and don't use it recklessly," Tang San instructed as he and Xiao Wu accompanied Guang Ling to Nuoding Academy. "If you're careless, your spirit power will run out very quickly."
While walking toward the school gate, he continued with a smile, "Try to make more friends your age at school. Don't assume that just because your spirit power is higher than theirs, you're better than them. And unless someone really provokes you first, don't bully anyone."
"We come from humble backgrounds," Tang San reminded her. "Avoid causing trouble when possible—but never back down when it really matters."
"Humble background?" Xiao Wu blinked in confusion.Who from a 'humble' family walks around with over 100,000 gold soul coins?
She didn't press the point though. Instead, she smiled and added, "Don't worry. If someone really gives you trouble, just come tell Sister Xiao Wu. I'll help you smack them down!"
"Thank you, Brother. Thank you, Sister Xiao Wu," Guang Ling said sincerely, her heart warmed by their kindness.
As they walked through the academy gates, even the gatekeeper greeted Tang San and Xiao Wu with a nod of recognition—they were already known and respected within the school. Of course, no one realized that the two had long surpassed the rank of Spirit Masters, each with two thousand-year soul rings under their belts.
As for Wang Sheng—He had already graduated and was no longer at the academy.
After watching the opening ceremony with Guang Ling, Xiao Wu turned to see Tang San watching it intently, a nostalgic look in his eyes. "Why are you so into this? It's just the opening ceremony. Boring. We don't even have to be here."
Tang San sighed. "This is my lost youth."
Xiao Wu looked baffled. Sometimes, Third Brother would just say the strangest things. He was outstanding in many ways—but prone to random sentimental nonsense.
"Guang Ling," Tang San said, turning serious, "from now on, apart from weekends, you'll be living in the work-study dormitory. Socialize with your classmates. If you only interact with me, Xiao Wu, and Grandpa Ma Xiunuo, you'll get the illusion that all soul masters are kindhearted. That'll stunt your growth."
"In addition to cultivating and attending class, I want you to keep a daily diary. Write down what you experience and how you feel every day."
"Who keeps a diary?" Xiao Wu interrupted, rolling her eyes. "That's just a hassle."
"See?" Tang San turned to Guang Ling. "That's what happens if you don't reflect on your experiences. You end up like Xiao Wu—blurting out whatever comes to mind without thinking."
"Hey! You're the thoughtless one!" Xiao Wu puffed her cheeks in protest. "Besides, I've got you as my external brain. Why bother thinking on my own?"
"Right, your external brain." Tang San smirked. "I could probably sell you off one day, and you'd still help me count the money."
"You wouldn't really sell me, would you?"
"What do you think?"
"Hmph! If you dared, I'd report you to Grandpa Jack!"
"Oh no! You'd report me today, slap me tomorrow, and kick me out of Grandpa's house the day after that. You're terrifying. I have to find a way to sell you first!"
"You're asking for it!" Xiao Wu launched a playful punch.
Tang San didn't use Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to dodge. Instead, he simply read the movement in advance and shifted his body accordingly. The air vibrations gave him subtle warnings, similar to how Xiao Wu's Listening to the Wind spirit skill worked.
That soul skill had given Tang San a lot to think about. He was already studying its principles in hopes of integrating something similar into his Ghost Shadow footwork style.
Watching them tease and spar, Guang Ling felt a flicker of envy. She wanted to laugh and jump in, but she understood—her current level was too low. She wasn't qualified yet to be part of that dynamic.
Still, she clenched her fists and swore silently in her heart:
"Brother… I'll work hard until I'm strong enough to stand by your side."
Tang San caught the determination in her eyes and stopped joking around. Instead, he smiled softly and said, "I'm looking forward to seeing your progress this semester."
"Mm!" Guang Ling nodded hard, then turned and walked into the teaching building to begin her first class.
As they watched her go, Xiao Wu turned serious. "Have you thought about what kind of soul beast would be suitable for Guang Ling's first soul ring?"
She had grown fond of the little girl over the past three months. Guang Ling's diligence and quiet resilience had earned her respect.
Tang San replied thoughtfully, "Compared to your Soft Boned Rabbit or my Blue Silver Grass—both of which are beast-type martial souls—Guang Ling's martial soul is a tool-type. That gives her more options."
"But I want her to make the decision herself after she reaches level ten. I've got high hopes for her. If she picks a soul beast that truly suits her, she could become incredibly powerful."
Xiao Wu squinted at him. "Wait. Your Blue Silver Grass is a beast martial soul?"
"Spirit beasts are divided into animals and plants, right?" Tang San began, raising a point he had long thought about. "Then why are plant-based martial souls like Blue Silver Grass automatically labeled 'tool-type'?"
"Just because they look like tools—sickles, swords, vines, bows—that doesn't make them tools. The classification is too shallow."
"It'd be more accurate to call them plant-type beast martial souls. The current naming system just assumes that anything you hold in your hand must be a tool, which is nonsense."
Xiao Wu blinked. "But don't plant martial souls manifest in the right hand, like tools?"
Tang San raised an eyebrow. "Which hand do you use to hold chopsticks?"
"My right… Wait, what's your point?"
"Most people are right-handed. That's why tool martial souls appear in the right hand. But some people are left-handed, and their martial souls appear in their left hand. Last time I helped Brother Tao with martial soul awakenings, I met three left-handed kids—and all of their martial souls appeared in their left hands."
"Martial souls can sense humans just as humans sense them. It's about convenience and compatibility, not classification."
"And?" Xiao Wu pressed.
"And your earlier argument has nothing to do with whether plant martial souls should be classified as tool-type. By your logic, even Mu Tian's martial soul would be considered a tool martial soul, just because it emerged from his right hand."
Xiao Wu blinked again, then laughed. "I get it now."
Then she looked at him sideways. "Are you planning to publish this as your next theory? Another 100,000 gold soul coins?"
Tang San chuckled. "Nah. I was just sharing my thoughts with you."
"Besides, if I published this, it wouldn't fetch much. Maybe 10,000 gold soul coins at best. Reclassifying plant martial souls as beast-type wouldn't really change much. Most of those spirit masters already select plant-type soul beasts anyway."
"At most, they'd just shift categories—from tool spirit master to plant-type beast spirit master. It wouldn't change their cultivation or their lives."