Chapter 53: Solving the Backlash Problem
Lin Xuan held the black storage soul tool pendant he had just acquired, his fingertips tracing the cool patterns on its surface, his heart filled with satisfaction.
He had been coveting a large-scale storage soul tool like this for a long time.
His own two deep silver storage soul tool bracers had pitifully small spaces, only able to hold a few scattered forging tools, which was nowhere near enough for his needs.
Now that he had this storage soul tool pendant, which was about the size of half a room, it would come in handy when he eventually dealt with Tang Hao and packed his bags to leave; he wouldn't have to carry so many bags.
As for the purple dragon breath dagger he had demanded as a last-minute price hike, it was an unexpected pleasant surprise.
The thunderous Dragon Might contained within the dagger was several times purer than the previous black scale; it should be enough to support him in activating the Golden Dragon King Bloodline in his body for battle multiple times.
At least until the Golden Dragon Claw was activated.
Lin Xuan carefully tucked the two treasures into his deep silver bracers before looking at Xiao Wu and the others who were surrounding him.
"Boss, are you okay?"
Xiao Wu was the first to rush over, looking him over with eyes full of anxiety.
"Your clothes are torn; how is your body? Were you scratched by Tang San's Blue Silver Grass?"
The other Work-Study Students also crowded around, their faces full of worry. Lin Xuan's school uniform had been shredded by the newly added thorns of the Blue Silver Grass, with strips of cloth fluttering in the wind, making him look quite disheveled.
Lin Xuan smiled and held out his hands to reassure Xiao Wu.
"I'm fine, it's just my clothes that are a bit torn. My flesh is perfectly fine."
Everyone looked closely and indeed, there wasn't even a single scratch on his exposed skin. The places that had originally been torn open by the thorns had already healed as if they were brand new.
"This is the passive effect of my first Spirit Ability; as long as I'm injured, it accelerates healing."
Lin Xuan explained, essentially giving them a heads-up so they wouldn't be too shocked by how quickly his injuries recovered.
"Such minor injuries were already healed while I was extorting that 'Grandmaster' just now."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief, then immediately began to criticize.
"Tang San went too far! To actually use a sinister Spirit Beast like the Ghost Vine for a spirit ring!"
"Exactly! It's one thing to bully the small as the big, but to use such a ruthless sneak attack, how shameless!"
"It's a good thing you're okay, Boss, otherwise we definitely wouldn't let him off!"
"When we get back, we'll tell Village Chief Grandpa. This Tang San is really no good, actually bullying people from his own village."
Everyone was filled with righteous indignation, especially the three newly arrived 'little radishes'.
Lin Xuan smiled and waved his hand, signaling for everyone not to be angry.
"It's fine as long as I'm okay. Besides, I didn't lose out; I even earned two treasures."
He didn't go into detail about the origins of the storage soul tool pendant and the dragon breath dagger, only glossing over it to avoid unnecessary trouble.
No one asked him what that final burst of power was either; they still had a sense of boundaries.
On the other side, inside Yu Xiaogang's room, Tang San suddenly jolted awake from a deep sleep, his chest heaving violently and his forehead covered in cold sweat.
He subconsciously touched the location of his Spirit, where a faint, stinging pain still lingered. At the thought of the agonizing pain of his Spirit being forcibly torn apart, his face couldn't help but turn pale.
He never wanted to experience that Soul-linked tearing sensation a second time.
"Little San, you're awake?"
Yu Xiaogang, hearing the movement, hurried forward and asked with a face full of concern.
"How do you feel? Is the Spirit backlash alright?"
Tang San steadied himself, and seeing that he was in Yu Xiaogang's room, his panic gradually subsided a little.
He looked up at Yu Xiaogang, a hint of unconcealable terror in his voice.
"Teacher, what exactly is Lin Xuan? When he fought me before, his strength wasn't this terrifying. This time, I felt like his strength was at least a Thousand Jin!"
"And at the very last moment, I saw scales appear on his right hand with my own eyes!"
His voice was urgent; the Purple Demon Eye allowed him to see everything with absolute clarity.
The golden patterns in the depths of Lin Xuan's eyes, the violent Dragon Might radiating from his body, and the fine dragon scales that momentarily surfaced on the back of his right hand were all deeply etched into his mind, impossible to shake off.
Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed upon hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly spoke.
"This should be the Spirit Beast hybrid I mentioned."
He paused, explaining further.
"Specifically, a human-dragon hybrid. If I'm not mistaken, one of Lin Xuan's ancestors was a dragon-type Spirit Beast. After all, dragons are naturally lustful; it's not impossible for them to leave descendants among humans at some point.
It's just that by his generation, a bloodline atavism occurred by chance, allowing him to possess a portion of a Dragon's power."
This explanation made Tang San realize the truth, and most of the doubts in his heart dissipated.
The power of a Dragon, whether in the World before his Transmigration or on this Douluo Continent, was an extremely powerful existence.
With such a Bloodline in Lin Xuan's body, it seemed to make sense that his strength was so terrifying.
Previously, he had secretly rejoiced that Lin Xuan wasn't a pure human, but now, he instead wished he could possess such a Bloodline himself.
That power was truly shocking; to tear apart the reinforced Blue Silver Grass with bare hands and a Thousand Jin of force was simply inconceivable.
Speaking to this point, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but sigh, his tone carrying a heavy sense of regret.
"Unfortunately, Lin Xuan's spirit power talent is too low. Innate Third-Rank Soul Power—he's completely wasting such a good Bloodline.
Especially since his Spirit is just ordinary Blue Silver Grass; it's truly a waste of a divine gift."
He spoke of regret, but his heart was filled with envy and jealousy. If he could possess such a Dragon Clan Bloodline, would he still worry about Luo San Pao being unable to evolve into a dragon?
He would have broken through the shackles of a Spirit Grandmaster long ago and soared to the heavens.
Tang San also fell into silence. Thinking of Lin Xuan's terrifying strength, he felt both unwilling and a trace of helplessness in his heart.
After a long time, he looked up and apologized to Yu Xiaogang with a face full of guilt.
"Teacher, I'm sorry. It's all my fault that you lost your last storage soul tool."
Yu Xiaogang waved his hand, pretending not to care.
"It's fine. I didn't have much use for that storage soul tool anyway. If I gave it to him, then I gave it to him, as long as you're okay."
Despite saying this, his heart was bleeding. That was his last piece of decent equipment, and to give it away to Lin Xuan for nothing—how could he not feel distressed?
After a brief silence, Tang San's eyes narrowed, and he urgently asked Yu Xiaogang for advice.
"Teacher, I feel like I still have the ability to defeat Lin Xuan this time, but... is there any way to avoid the backlash after the Spirit is torn apart?
If I don't solve this problem, I'll have no hope of winning the next time I fight Lin Xuan.
My Blue Silver Grass is shredded as soon as it gets close to him, and I have to suffer the backlash every time; I simply can't hold out for long.
But if I can solve this backlash problem, I feel that winning against Lin Xuan shouldn't be an issue when we fight again."
His tone was urgent. Compared to before when the Blue Silver Grass couldn't even touch Lin Xuan, this time his Blue Silver Grass had actually managed to pin Lin Xuan down.
It was just that Lin Xuan's strength was too great. Although his Blue Silver Grass had been reinforced twice, it was still as brittle as paper; against a Thousand Jin of force, it was no different from foxtail grass.
Every time his Spirit was torn apart, the pain of the spirit power spasms was unbearable, making it impossible to focus on the battle.
If he could solve this part of the backlash, he believed that if all his Blue Silver Grass swarmed at once, he should be able to control Lin Xuan.
Yu Xiaogang patted Tang San's head, a flash of understanding in his eyes. He felt the same way; after all, Tang San had indeed controlled Lin Xuan in the end. Although Lin Xuan eventually broke free, it was because Tang San couldn't use his full strength to restrict him due to the backlash.
"I was just about to teach you this.
I didn't teach you before because you had never encountered an opponent who could forcibly snap your Spirit.
Now that you've encountered one, you naturally need to be prepared in advance.
It's impossible to completely avoid backlash. The Spirit is connected to the Spirit Master's Soul; once it's damaged, backlash is inevitable.
But I have a method that can reduce the effects of the backlash to a minimum, at least so it won't affect your subsequent fighting."
Yu Xiaogang said after a pause.
Upon hearing this, hope instantly ignited in Tang San's eyes, and he quickly followed up:
"Teacher, what is the method? Teach me quickly!"
He believed that this was the only thing he lacked to win against Lin Xuan.
"Don't be in a hurry."
Yu Xiaogang signaled for him to stay calm.
Then he explained the difference between attacking with a reinforced Spirit and attacking with a summoned Spirit to Tang San.
"I noticed before that you basically like to reinforce your Spirit to fight Lin Xuan.
I understand it's for better control over the enemy.
But given the current situation, your method of attack needs to change."
"But Teacher, Lin Xuan's reaction speed is too fast. If I use summoned Blue Silver Grass to attack, my control will decrease. I couldn't keep up before, let alone now."
Tang San shook his head.
Although summoned Blue Silver Grass could avoid backlash, he couldn't achieve precise control over it.
Against an 'expert' like Lin Xuan, even the slightest deviation would affect the outcome of the battle.
"I knew you would think that, but it's not like there's no way.
The core of this method is to pre-reserve a trace of spirit power within the Spirit to form a buffer barrier."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head, having gained a preliminary understanding of Tang San's stubborn nature. He demonstrated as he spoke.
"When your Blue Silver Grass is attacked and about to be torn apart, actively cut off the spirit power connection between that damaged vine and the main body, while simultaneously detonating the pre-reserved buffer spirit power to offset most of the backlash's impact.
This way, the damage you receive will be greatly reduced, and you can even immediately drive other Blue Silver Grass to continue the fight."
Tang San listened with rapt attention, nodding as he memorized, for fear of missing any detail.
This method seemed simple, but it contained profound spirit power manipulation techniques that ordinary Spirit Masters would likely never have the chance to encounter.
"Remember, the key lies in the timing."
Yu Xiaogang emphasized:
"Cutting the connection and detonating the buffer spirit power—these two actions must be completed at the exact moment the Spirit is torn. If you're late, it'll be too late. In the coming time, practice hard and make sure you know it by heart."
"Yes, Teacher! I will definitely practice hard!"
Tang San nodded solemnly, fighting Spirit reigniting in his eyes.
Although Lin Xuan's strength was still terrifying, as long as he learned this method, he would no longer fear the Spirit backlash and could use the Blue Silver Grass for Binding and sealing without any reservations.
When the time came, no matter how strong Lin Xuan was, he wouldn't be able to withstand the exhaustion from the overwhelming amount of Blue Silver Grass; there would always be a chance to subdue him.
Yu Xiaogang looked at the fighting Spirit in Tang San's eyes and nodded with satisfaction.
He also had his own calculations. As long as Tang San could defeat Lin Xuan, he might be able to find out the secret of the Dragon Clan Bloodline from Lin Xuan.
If he could thoroughly research this Bloodline power, perhaps it could also provide inspiration for the evolution of his Luo San Pao.
As the night grew deeper, the light in the room flickered.
Tang San sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, beginning to silently practice the reservation and manipulation of spirit power according to the method Yu Xiaogang taught him.
The Blue Silver Grass Spirit quietly emerged, vines gently swaying in front of him, repeatedly going through the process of 'reserving spirit power—cutting the connection—detonating the buffer'.
As long as he perfectly mastered this power, he would seek out Lin Xuan again and take back everything he had lost.
Actually, he had another path he could take.
That was to train his control over summoned Blue Silver Grass.
Until he could control the summoned Blue Silver Grass as freely as his own Spirit Blue Silver Grass.
Yu Xiaogang had also recommended it to him, but doing that was clearly much more time-consuming.
Tang San felt that he couldn't wait that longChapter 54: Backlash Cracked, Mongrel
In the following days, Lin Xuan practically counted the days as they passed, his heart and mind entirely focused on anticipating the appearance of "Old Tang."
With only two months left until he turned nine and a half, every extra day of waiting added to the anxiety in his heart. After all, Tang Hao's shadow was always like a thorn in his back; only by having his trump card in hand could he truly feel at ease.
Tang San, on the other hand, had fallen into silence, disappearing all day and no longer provoking him as frequently as before.
This allowed Lin Xuan to enjoy a rare period of peace. Besides his daily Cultivate to consolidate his level twelve spirit power, he also picked up the task of nurturing Blue Silver Grass again.
The Blue Silver Grass he had previously used to mask his Breakthrough had been deliberately destroyed by him, yet the remaining roots had quietly sprouted new buds even without anyone's care.
This scene made Lin Xuan overjoyed.
The characteristic of Blue Silver Grass being endlessly resilient was far more powerful than he had imagined.
He hadn't forgotten that besides being able to inherit Tang Wulin's spirit ring system, his own Blue Silver Grass Spirit could also independently absorb spirit rings.
"Since I'm starting with Blue Silver Grass, then for the first spirit ring, I'll still use a Blue Silver Grass spirit ring. It can be considered a proper beginning and end."
Lin Xuan looked at the tender green sprouts in the pot, a plan already formed in his mind.
He planned to continuously stack spirit rings from plant-type Spirit Beasts with the life attribute. He didn't believe that with the potential of the "Son of Nature" combined with a full life-attribute spirit ring configuration, he wouldn't be able to obtain the succession rights of the Goddess of Life.
When the time came, with the four great God Positions of Life, Destruction, Ocean, and the Golden Dragon King in hand, just thinking about it made his strength seem terrifyingly absurd.
Unfortunately, the peaceful days did not last too long.
Only a month later, Tang San appeared before Lin Xuan again, breaking this tranquility.
However, Lin Xuan hadn't wasted his time during this month.
According to Tang Wulin's timeline, this should have been the point where he joined Wu Zhangkong's class. Even without actual teaching scenes, the combat experience belonging to Wu Zhangkong's rigorous training had been completely replicated onto Lin Xuan.
Although his spirit power hadn't increased, his combat techniques, reaction speed, and situational adaptability had all taken a significant leap. Combined with his day-after-day hard training and the Golden Dragon Power as his backup trump card, Lin Xuan felt no fear in his heart.
Seeing Tang San blocking his path once again, Lin Xuan habitually reached out his hand.
This kid was like a piece of dog-skin plaster—impossible to shake off or avoid. He might as well take this opportunity to gain some benefits.
Xiao Wu and the Work-Study Students were already used to this. Every time Tang San came to provoke, Lin Xuan would ultimately win and take the money. Everyone simply crossed their arms to watch the show, waiting to see Tang San suffer another setback.
Tang San's expression stiffened for a moment, clearly extremely resistant to this gesture, but he still silently pulled out a cloth bag containing the ten gold coin subsidy he had just received this month.
The two of them tacitly remained silent. Tang San's gesture of handing over the money was so practiced it was heartbreaking; he had clearly become accustomed to this "paid sparring" mode.
Lin Xuan weighed the money bag. The heavy sensation brought a smile to the corners of his mouth as he casually tossed the bag into his storage soul tool pendant.
"Let's go, the usual place."
Arriving once again at the academy's playground combat area, they were soon surrounded by curious students. Tang San stood opposite Lin Xuan, his gaze sharp as a knife and his tone filled with absolute confidence.
"Lin Xuan, this time, I will never lose again!"
Lin Xuan nodded perfunctorily and responded casually.
"Right, right, right, you said the same thing last time."
He had already guessed that during this month of silence, Tang San must have found a way to crack the Spirit backlash.
Or perhaps he had figured it out and was prepared to use summoning-type Blue Silver Grass to restrict him.
He had specifically consulted the Old Dean before and learned that such techniques did exist, though they were usually taught only at an Intermediate Spirit Master Academy.
After all, Elementary academies rarely involved high-intensity Spirit Duels. A situation like him and Tang San frequently fighting to the death was truly rare.
The Old Dean hadn't held back either, teaching him the core technique for reducing backlash.
By pre-allocating buffer spirit power at the Spirit Nodes and actively cutting the connection the moment the Spirit was damaged, one could avoid over eighty percent of the backlash pain. Although it wasn't convenient for Lin Xuan to use Blue Silver Grass against enemies now, learning an extra skill was never wrong; he would be able to use it sooner or later.
Compared to the ninety percent damage reduction taught by Yu Xiaogang, the Old Dean's method was clearly a bit weaker.
"The duel begins!"
With the command from the spectating teacher, Tang San was the first to move.
"Blue Silver Grass Entanglement!"
"Ghost Vine Parasitism!"
Two Spirit Abilities erupted almost simultaneously. Dozens of thick blue silver vines with thorns surged frantically from the ground, weaving into a dense, airtight net that swept toward Lin Xuan.
It was clear that although Tang San was stubborn, he also knew the advantages of summoning Spirit Abilities. Thus, he intended to use the Spirit itself for precise control while simultaneously deploying summoning-type Spirit Abilities to interfere with the target.
The Blue Silver Grass Spirit vines were also covered with pale purple Parasitic Spores. Once touched, they would instantly take root and sprout, forming a secondary Binding.
Tang San intended to go all out from the start; otherwise, the further it dragged into the Late Stage, the more severe the backlash he would suffer.
At the same time, Tang San's footwork shifted as he executed the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his figure weaving flexibly behind the vines. With his Purple Demon Eye fully active, he locked onto Lin Xuan's movements, clearly intending to play a long-range control game without giving Lin Xuan a chance to get close.
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed as his internal spirit power circulated. Blue Silver Perception instantly spread out, and every movement within sixty meters was clearly reflected in his mind.
Without the slightest hesitation, he exerted force with his feet, pushing Rabbit Tactics to its limit. His figure moved like a ghost through the gaps in the vines, avoiding the oncoming Binding.
With twelve hundred pounds of strength surging through his body, every step Lin Xuan took caused the ground to vibrate slightly. When he encountered vines blocking his path, he simply threw a punch to smash them apart.
The sound of "cracking" was incessant. The reinforced Blue Silver Grass was still vulnerable before him, but this time, there wasn't a hint of panic on Tang San's face.
As it turned out, after learning the technique to reduce backlash, even when the Blue Silver Grass was snapped, Tang San's face only turned slightly pale, and he didn't suffer spirit power spasms like last time.
He quickly cut the spirit power connection to the damaged vines while simultaneously urging new Blue Silver Grass to continue the Binding. Wave after wave of attacks came like a tide, giving Lin Xuan no room to breathe.
For a moment, Lin Xuan actually found himself in a position where he was struggling to cope.
No matter how many vines he smashed, more would surge forth the next second. Parasitic Spores filled the air, forcing him to divert his attention to dodge, and his forward progress was firmly dragged down.
"How about it, Lin Xuan?"
Seeing Lin Xuan's disheveled state as he dodged, Tang San couldn't help but become arrogant, his tone full of mockery.
"Without the advantage of brute force, you are no match for me at all! This time, you're bound to lose!"
"Weren't you very good at fighting before? Why can you only hide now?"
"Hurry up and admit defeat, lest you be wrapped into a zongzi by my Blue Silver Grass!"
The spectating students were also buzzing with discussion. Many thought Lin Xuan was going to lose, as Tang San's control chain was simply too dense, leaving almost no room to breathe.
Xiao Wu watched with burning anxiety and couldn't help but shout.
"Lin Xuan, keep going! Don't let him look down on you!"
While dodging, Lin Xuan observed Tang San's rhythm.
He had to admit that after cracking the backlash problem, Tang San's control ability had indeed improved by a level. The overwhelming consumption of Blue Silver Grass made even him feel a bit troubled.
"It seems that if I don't show some real stuff, you'll really treat me like a soft persimmon."
A cold sneer curled at the corner of Lin Xuan's mouth. Under Tang San's astonished gaze, he suddenly stopped and took out that purple dragon breath dagger from his storage soul tool pendant.
The dagger felt cold in his hand, and a thunderous Dragon Might instantly permeated the air. Without any hesitation, Lin Xuan gripped the dagger and fiercely slashed his own right arm!
With a "shredding" sound, blood instantly surged out, flowing down his arm and dripping onto the ground.
"Lin Xuan, are you crazy?!"
Tang San's pupils shrank. He hadn't expected Lin Xuan to suddenly self-harm, and even his attacks paused instinctively for a moment.
Xiao Wu was even more frightened and cried out.
"Boss! What are you doing?!"
The spectating students also exploded into a commotion, their faces full of confusion.
"What is he doing? Giving up because he can't win?"
"That shouldn't be necessary. Even if he loses, he doesn't have to do this!"
Lin Xuan, however, didn't care about the wound on his arm at all. Instead, he stared fixedly at the blood staining the edge of the dagger.
As the aura of the dragon breath dagger came into contact with his blood, it instantly triggered a strong resonance. A surge of Dragon Might, far purer and more violent than before, erupted from within his body!
"Roar—"
A low dragon roar sounded from Lin Xuan's throat. It wasn't a physical sound, yet it made everyone present feel a surge of palpitations.
His Golden Dragon King Bloodline was once again activated under the dual stimulation of the dragon breath dagger and his own blood!
Lin Xuan's pupils instantly turned golden, his eyes filled with fine golden patterns. At the wound on his right arm, the bleeding stopped, and instead, fine Golden Dragon Scales emerged, covering his entire arm.
His muscle lines bulged. The original twelve hundred pounds of strength surged to two thousand pounds the moment his Bloodline underwent Awakening!
A violent and overbearing aura swept across the field. The surrounding blue silver vines instinctively trembled, as if they had encountered a natural enemy.
Tang San's face was deathly pale, his Purple Demon Eye filled with terror. He could clearly feel that Lin Xuan's current aura was more than one level more terrifying than before!
"This... what kind of power is this?"
Tang San's throat tightened, and his arrogance was instantly replaced by fear.
He had originally thought that cracking the backlash would guarantee a win, but now it seemed he had still underestimated Lin Xuan's trump cards.
Was the Dragon Clan lineage really this strong?
Lin Xuan moved his right hand, which was covered in dragon scales, feeling the power surging through him. A wild smile appeared on his face.
The reason he hadn't activated his Golden Dragon Power before was that he wanted to test where Tang San's limit was. But now it seemed Tang San's control had exceeded expectations; if he kept hiding his strength, he would instead fall into a passive position.
"Tang San, did you just say I was bound to lose?"
Lin Xuan's voice carried a hint of Dragon Might, low and powerful. He had never felt so refreshed.
"Now, why don't you try again?"
Before his voice had even faded, he suddenly exerted force, his figure charging toward Tang San like an arrow from a bow.
This time, he no longer dodged the vines but instead charged directly into the dense Blue Silver Grass.
His right hand, covered in Golden Dragon Scales, swung out with the weight of a thousand tons. With a single punch, a golden wave of Qi erupted from his fist, covering all the Blue Silver Grass within a meter in front of him.
The vines that had previously made him struggle were now like paper, easily torn to shreds, and even the Parasitic Spores on them were scattered by the violent force.
With such a large amount of Blue Silver Grass being destroyed, even if Tang San had mastered the method to block the backlash, it was impossible for him to instantly control and cut the connections of so many vines.
Severe pain once again shot through his body, but before he could react, Lin Xuan quickly closed the distance.
Tang San's expression changed drastically as he hurriedly urged more Blue Silver Grass to bind him, but no matter how many vines he released, they were all easily destroyed by Lin Xuan.
Tang San's face grew paler and paler, and blood even began to trickle from the corner of his mouth.
The Golden Dragon Power after Awakening not only caused his strength to explode but also greatly enhanced his speed and defense. Under the boost of power, Rabbit Tactics became even more rapid, breaking through all blockades in the blink of an eye to arrive before Tang San.
Tang San was filled with Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, instinctively wanting to retreat, but his wrist was grabbed by Lin Xuan.
The cold touch and terrifying power brought by the Golden Dragon Scales left him unable to move, only able to watch helplessly as Lin Xuan's fist grew larger before his eyes.
"You've lost again!"
The fist stopped right in front of Tang San's eyes, and Tang San himself was frozen in place. Lin Xuan slowly withdrew his fist and spoke indifferently.
He didn't really strike hard; after all, the other person had paid up. He just used a forceful swing to throw Tang San out.
Tang San fell heavily to the ground in a pathetic state. Looking at the Golden Dragon Scales and overbearing aura on Lin Xuan, his eyes were full of fear and resentment.
He had still underestimated Lin Xuan's power. He had originally thought that even if Lin Xuan entered a state of Dragon Power, he would just be able to tear things apart by hand faster, and as long as he cut the connections fast enough, the backlash would be much less.
But who would have known that Lin Xuan could actually strike with Fist Wind? The coverage of the Fist Wind was a whole meter—it was practically cheating!
He simply couldn't figure out why Lin Xuan possessed such terrifying power; it had completely exceeded the scope of a Spirit Master!
Lin Xuan put away the dragon breath dagger. The dragon scales on his arm gradually faded, leaving only a shallow wound, and the wound was healing rapidly, giving him a sense of Passive Healing.
He walked over to Tang San and looked down at him.
"Still want to fight?"
Tang San's face was deathly pale as he shook his head, lacking even the strength to stand up.
Looking at Lin Xuan, Tang San's eyes were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
"Why? Why are you so strong? You're clearly just a piece of scum."
Tang San had been defeated once again, and he had been defeated while at his most confident. This clearly caused Tang San's mental state to break, and he immediately blurted out his inner thoughts regardless of the setting.
"You, Lin Xuan, are just a mongrel with Spirit Beast blood flowing in you! Why are you so strong? I won't accept thisChapter 55: Seizing the Storage and Thoughts of evolution
Lin Xuan heard the word "bastard," and his eyebrows twitched slightly.
Since he dared to expose his Dragon Power, he wasn't worried about causing a stir.
In the Douluo Continent, Spirit Beast hybrids were not rare; at most, they were considered a special Physique, hardly some earth-shattering secret.
What surprised him was that Tang San would curse so viciously; he found it rather amusing.
He really wondered what kind of expression this kid would have if he found out about his own true identity as a half-human, half-Spirit Beast.
In the crowd, Xiao Wu's gaze toward Lin Xuan became increasingly warm.
She had always felt that of all humans, he was the most pleasing to the eye; so this was the reason.
As a transformed Spirit Beast herself, the word "bastard" was no different from poking her own sore spot. At this moment, her gaze toward Tang San was filled with undisguised disgust.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao, hiding in the shadows of a distant tall building, crushed the wine jar in his hand with a "crack" the moment he heard those two words, amber liquid splashing everywhere along with pottery shards.
His cloudy eyes suddenly became bone-chillingly cold.
How dare this little brat? How dare he view a "bastard" as a source of shame?
One must know that he and Ah Yin were, in a sense, in that kind of relationship, and their son naturally was as well. It was not Tang San's place to remind him of that.
The meager amount of goodwill Tang San had accumulated in his heart over the years was instantly wiped out by those two words.
"That's right! You are a bastard!"
Tang San seemed like a madman, snarling as he lay paralyzed on the ground.
"A monster that's neither human nor Dragon! Why are you stronger than me?"
Lin Xuan sneered, his tone indifferent.
"Say whatever you want, I don't care. I only know that you've been crushed and beaten by me time and time again."
"If I'm a bastard, then aren't you even worse than one?"
He really wasn't that angry—after all, the Golden Dragon King Bloodline did flow within him. Strictly speaking, he wasn't a pure human.
But there was no reason to let someone point at his nose and curse without fighting back. Revenge was a must.
Lin Xuan stepped forward and squatted in front of Tang San. Tang San subconsciously shrank back, his eyes filled with terror.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to you."
Lin Xuan's tone was flat, but his hand movements were not hesitant at all. He pinned down the struggling Tang San and forcibly yanked the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges from his waist.
This storage soul tool was of vital importance to Tang San. The massive amount of Hidden Weapons, herbs, and miscellaneous items he carried with him all relied on this treasure for storage. Without it, just those Hidden Weapons alone would weigh him down so much he wouldn't be able to take a step.
"Give it back! That's mine!" Tang San struggled to snatch it back, but Lin Xuan kicked him in the chest, sending him flying. He crashed to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"If you're going to fight, then fight properly. Resorting to personal attacks after losing—isn't that a bit impolite?"
Lin Xuan looked down at him, shaking the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges in his hand.
"Consider this as compensation for your insults."
"You'd better keep your mouth clean next time. Otherwise, it won't be something a single storage soul tool can resolve."
After saying that, he didn't spare Tang San another glance and turned to walk toward Xiao Wu and the others.
Tang San lay on the ground, watching Lin Xuan's retreating back. The sharp pain in his chest and the humiliation in his heart intertwined. His vision went black, and he fainted once more.
It wasn't until the figures of Lin Xuan and the others had completely disappeared at the end of the playground that Yu Xiaogang, who had been hiding in the corner, sighed and slowly walked out.
He stared in the direction Lin Xuan had left, muttering to himself.
"The Dragon Clan Bloodline is indeed pure; just activating it allows his strength to surge. Unfortunately, it's too thin; otherwise, he wouldn't have needed an external stimulus like the dragon breath dagger to activate it."
"However, based on his current Bloodline concentration, it can support him up to the Spirit Ancestor level at most. After that, he will likely stagnate."
He stood there, analyzing the power Lin Xuan had exposed from top to bottom. The more he thought, the more he regretted.
"If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have given him that dragon breath dagger no matter what!"
At the thought that the key to unlocking Lin Xuan's Dragon Power state was something he had personally handed over, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but feel a wave of regret.
But things had already come to this, and regret was useless. He could only helplessly step forward and pick up the unconscious Tang San.
Wanting to get the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges back from Lin Xuan?
The Old Dean clearly didn't want to get involved in their grievances, and he didn't have any friends in Nuoding City he could rely on. Should he go to Flender for help?
Thinking of his old friend's temper, Yu Xiaogang fell into silence.
Flender had always prioritized Liu Erlong. If Flender found him, he would have to be prepared to Face Liu Erlong, and he hadn't made that mental preparation yet.
Furthermore, his Tang San hadn't been fully cultivated yet. Meeting Flender like this would make him feel like he had lost a lot of Face.
Just as Yu Xiaogang stood there holding Tang San and pondering a strategy, he suddenly felt a violent restlessness from the Spirit within his body.
Before he could react, Luo San Pao had already uncontrollably emerged from his body. Wiggling its plump body, it hurriedly rushed toward the spot where Lin Xuan had been standing.
"San Pao! Come back!"
Yu Xiaogang quickly gave chase, his heart full of confusion.
Luo San Pao was usually lazy and rarely had such urgent moments. What on earth had attracted it?
He followed Luo San Pao to a pile of messy rubble at the edge of the playground.
This was where Lin Xuan had left traces when he destroyed the Blue Silver Grass earlier. He saw Luo San Pao acting like a little piglet, frantically rooting at the ground with its large nose, making urgent "wuwu" sounds.
"San Pao, what are you looking for?"
Yu Xiaogang squatted down and asked curiously.
But Luo San Pao ignored him completely, continuing to root around until it dug out a stone stained with a bit of dark red blood from the cracks in the rubble. It stopped its movements and wagged its tail incessantly at the stone, looking absolutely famished.
This was something that had accidentally dripped onto the ground when Lin Xuan pierced his arm with the dagger.
It was just a drop of blood; Lin Xuan hadn't cared much about it.
Yu Xiaogang picked up the stone and pinched a bit of the dried blood with his fingertips. With a slight sniff, he instantly identified it as Lin Xuan's blood.
A faint Dragon might remained on it, identical to the aura Lin Xuan had released earlier.
He was about to ask Luo San Pao why it was so obsessed with this blood when Luo San Pao's intent suddenly transmitted into his mind.
"Good... good for me..."
Yu Xiaogang's heart stirred, and a bold guess instantly surged into his mind.
Although the dragon blood in Lin Xuan's body was thin, it was incredibly pure. If Luo San Pao could absorb more of it, perhaps... perhaps it could allow Luo San Pao to Breakthrough its existing constraints and complete its evolution!
Once this thought arose, it grew wildly like weeds. He looked at the blood on the stone and then at Luo San Pao, who was staring eagerly at it. A flash of greed and determination crossed his eyes.
Luo San Pao was his lifelong obsession. To make it evolve into a Dragon, he had put in countless efforts but had never made any progress.
Now, Lin Xuan's dragon blood might be that sliver of hope!
"Lin Xuan..." Yu Xiaogang whispered the name, a hint of madness flashing in the depths of his eyes.
"If your Bloodline can help my San Pao evolve, then it will have been put to good use."
He carefully put away the blood-stained stone, then picked up Tang San and quickly left the playground.
At this moment, he was already calculating in his heart.
How could he obtain more of Lin Xuan's blood without anyone knowing?
Seizing it directly was too risky. Lin Xuan's strength far exceeded his expectations. Forget Tang San, even if he and Tang San teamed up, they likely wouldn't be Lin Xuan's match.
Framing him might attract the Old Dean's attention... Thinking all the way, Yu Xiaogang returned to his room, placed Tang San on the bed, and then impatiently took out the blood-stained stone, guiding Luo San Pao to absorb the residual dragon blood energy.
He saw Luo San Pao step forward and gently lick the blood on the stone. The spirit power around its body instantly became active, and its originally somewhat listless aura also grew visibly stronger.
Most importantly, he felt that his own Bottleneck, which was like a stubborn rock, had loosened slightly.
"It works! It really works!"
Wild joy flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, further strengthening his resolve. As long as he could continuously obtain Lin Xuan's dragon blood, the hope for Luo San Pao's evolution would grow greater and greater!
After so many years, he had finally found a way to make Luo San Pao evolve.
As long as Luo San Pao evolved, he would no longer be a waste. He wanted to show those who once looked down on him how he, Yu Xiaogang, would make a counterattack.
However, how to get Lin Xuan's blood was indeed a question worth pondering.Chapter 56: Refusing to Sell dragon blood, Researching spirit tools
Yu Xiaogang sat in his chair for the entire night, his eyes bloodshot. His mind was filled with various ways to obtain Lin Xuan's blood.
Taking it by force was out of the question; even if he and Tang San teamed up, they likely wouldn't be Lin Xuan's match.
Stealing it covertly offered few opportunities, and he feared that framing Lin Xuan would alert the Old Dean. Every method came with a significant price, leaving him so conflicted he was nearly driven mad.
It wasn't until the horizon turned pale that he suddenly slapped his thigh and settled on the most direct idea—buying it with money!
In his view, Lin Xuan's actions always showed an obsession with gold coins and treasures. His past "robberies" of Tang San were undoubtedly an inheritance of the greedy nature of dragons.
Since that was the case, if the price was high enough, it might not be impossible to buy a drop of Lin Xuan's blood.
At dawn, Yu Xiaogang blocked the entrance of Dormitory Seven.
Being intercepted by Yu Xiaogang again, Lin Xuan's anger flared up instantly. A cold light shot from his eyes as he prepared to treat Yu Xiaogang to a dose of his 1,200-jin fist on the spot.
But before Lin Xuan could show his impatience or throw a punch, Yu Xiaogang spoke hurriedly, quickly explaining his purpose.
"Lin Xuan, I mean no malice this time, nor am I here to cause trouble. I only wish to make a deal with you."
He took a deep breath, putting on a display of utmost sincerity.
"As long as you are willing to provide some of your blood, I will agree to whatever conditions you set. Whether it's spirit tools, rare herbs, or even Secret Manuals for Spirit Abilities, I can find a way to get them for you!"
Hearing this, Lin Xuan inwardly cursed his own carelessness.
He guessed the sequence of events almost instantly.
Some of his blood must have been lost on the battlefield during yesterday's fight and was picked up by Yu Xiaogang.
There was nothing else special in his blood, but it did contain a trace of the Golden Dragon King's aura.
He believed that for dragon-attribute Spirit Masters, that stuff held a fatal attraction.
However, he never expected Yu Xiaogang to have the audacity to block his door for a trade so openly.
A trade? He refused immediately without even thinking.
"Get lost, I'm not interested."
What a joke. He had the Golden Dragon King Bloodline in his body; even if the concentration was thin, it was by no means ordinary.
If he really gave Yu Xiaogang enough blood, there was no guarantee that pig-like Luo San Pao wouldn't actually evolve into a dragon.
Although he might be able to control Yu Xiaogang in reverse once his Golden Dragon King Bloodline fully manifested in the Late Stage, he simply didn't have the inclination.
In his eyes, Yu Xiaogang was just a disgusting toad. It was already polite enough not to step on him; did he really think he'd help him evolve his Spirit?
It was pure fantasy.
Yu Xiaogang's face stiffened, clearly not expecting Lin Xuan to refuse so bluntly.
He hurriedly added more conditions, his tone carrying a hint of urgency.
"Lin Xuan, don't be so quick to refuse!
While your Bloodline is special, it's a fact that its concentration is thin, and your Innate Third-Rank Soul Power is an unchangeable shortcoming.
You can rely on your Bloodline to fight above your rank now, but once your opponents get stronger—at the Spirit Ancestor level at most—your shortcomings will be fully exposed!
But if you're willing to provide blood to help me evolve Luo San Pao, I can promise to find a way to help you increase your Bloodline concentration!"
He threw out a heavy lure and then quickly added more.
"To take a step back, Tang San and I can owe you a favor!
Tang San has the potential to break through to become a Titled Douluo. A favor from a future Titled Douluo is priceless; should you encounter any trouble in the future, he can act on your behalf!"
Lin Xuan frowned as he listened, his patience completely exhausted.
There was only one month left until he turned nine and a half. Once "Old Tang" appeared, he would be completely free of his shackles. Who would he need to answer to then?
Making empty promises to him? How laughable.
"Not interested."
Lin Xuan's tone was icy as he mocked him mercilessly.
"If you really had a way to increase dragon blood concentration, you would've used it to evolve that pig of yours long ago. Why would it be my turn?
As for Tang San's favor? I don't believe for a second he'd remember my kindness. We're from the same village; don't I know his character better than you?
I'll be thanking the heavens if he doesn't cause me trouble after he gets stronger. Help me?
What a joke!"
After saying that, he didn't bother wasting any more breath on Yu Xiaogang. With a casual wave of his hand, a surge of majestic power swept Yu Xiaogang away.
Yu Xiaogang crashed heavily to the ground, feeling pain everywhere. The gaze he directed at Lin Xuan was filled with resentment and indignation, yet he was helpless.
He was truly afraid that if he continued to block the way, Lin Xuan would resort to lethal force and attract onlookers. He had already suffered social death once and was unwilling to go through it a second time.
He could only think of another way.
Lin Xuan didn't care to pay him any mind. He stepped right over Yu Xiaogang's body and headed toward the academy's library.
That was one of the few places in Nuoding Academy where one could find peace, making it perfect for his research.
Entering the library, he found a secluded corner and sat down. Lin Xuan took out the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges he had taken from Tang San.
He wasn't in a hurry to check the contents. Instead, he carefully examined the patterns on the surface of the spirit tool that looked like mere decorations.
To an outsider, these exquisite lines might just be for aesthetics, but with the remnants of spirit tool knowledge in his mind, Lin Xuan knew very well that the core of a spirit tool lay precisely in these patterns.
Generally speaking, as long as one could accurately engrave the Spirit Tool Array Patterns, they could basically manufacture a spirit tool.
However, in the current Douluo Continent, the craft of making spirit tools had been lost for tens of thousands of years. Most spirit tools in circulation today were unearthed from ancient ruins, their true manufacturing methods long buried in the river of history.
Furthermore, most Advanced Spirit Masters on the continent were solely focused on increasing their spirit power. None were willing to distract themselves with researching the truth behind these "useless" spirit tools.
Previously, the only spirit tools Lin Xuan had were the deep silver bracers and the Storage Pendant he had swindled from Yu Xiaogang. Both were things he currently used and couldn't be used for experimental research.
Now that he had the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges, it was the perfect research sample. Even if the research failed, it wouldn't be a pity.
As for the contents of the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges, he had already moved them into his own Storage Pendant as spoils of war. It had to be said that Tang San did indeed have some "thieving" attributes.
Lin Xuan had found quite a few iron ingots inside, along with a pile of scattered components whose purpose he didn't understand. There were very few fully assembled Hidden Weapons.
One must know that most of Tang San's money had been taken by him, so he shouldn't have been able to afford so many Materials. Other than stealing, Lin Xuan couldn't think of any other possibility.
He offered three seconds of silence for Boss Shi San; the man didn't even know there was a thief in his shop.
He had no interest in these Hidden Weapons and couldn't use them himself, but keeping these things in his own hands was a form of weakening Tang San, which Lin Xuan was naturally happy to see.
Pulling his thoughts back, Lin Xuan began to focus on studying the Spirit Tool Array Patterns on the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges.
In fact, back when he was cultivating the Blue Silver Grass Spirit Beast, he had used his Blue Silver Perception to study the meridians and leaf surfaces of the Blue Silver Grass. As a result, he had discovered things similar to spirit tool patterns inside.
However, those patterns were extremely complex. Even a most ordinary ten-year Blue Silver Grass had dense energy flow circuits, far more complex than the low-level Spirit Tool Array Patterns recorded in Dou II and dou era three in his memory.
According to his memory, a first-class spirit tool in Dou II would have at most two or three Spirit Tool Array Patterns plus a Spirit Tool Core.
But the Spirit Power Circuits he found in the ten-year Blue Silver Grass that resembled Spirit Tool Array Patterns numbered at least four or five hundred.
These circuits were densely interwoven to form the complete life form of the Blue Silver Grass.
At that time, Lin Xuan had speculated that so-called spirit tools might be formed by extracting useful parts from these natural Spirit Power Circuits and reconnecting them after screening and matching.
But this was undoubtedly a massive undertaking. With his Realm at the time and his weak mental force, just looking at those dense circuits made him dizzy, let alone screening out the appropriate parts. So, he had to temporarily give up.
Now, having seen the Spirit Power Circuits within the Blue Silver Grass that were complex enough to cause a headache, looking back at these flattened Spirit Tool Array Patterns on the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges, Lin Xuan suddenly felt they weren't that difficult.
Screening from a vast amount of natural circuits was like looking for a needle in a haystack, but surely he could manage to start by tracing and researching existing array patterns?
Thinking of this, Lin Xuan no longer hesitated. He took out a pen and paper from his Storage Pendant and began to carefully sketch the spirit power array patterns on the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges.
Every stroke was aimed at precision, not missing any subtle turn or node.
He had plenty of time now. His spirit power increase had temporarily hit a Bottleneck. Aside from daily training, he could take this time to delve into spirit tool knowledge. Having an extra skill would give him more confidence when facing crises in the future.
The library was silent, with only the rustling sound of the pen tip moving across the paper.
Lin Xuan was immersed in the World of Spirit Tool Array Patterns, completely unaware that Yu Xiaogang, whom he had swept away, was hiding in a distant corner, staring gloomily toward the library, the obsession in his heart growing increasingly frenziedChapter 57: Wrath of the Broken Jade: The Spirit Saint's Scheme
Tang San felt like he was going crazy.
The Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges was gone!
Although he hadn't kept core secrets like the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record inside, it contained the refined iron he had risked stealing, Hidden Weapon components he had forged late into the night, and even most of the Materials for the Zhuge Divine Crossbow, which only needed final assembly.
But now, the spirit tool and all the Materials had been swept away by Lin Xuan in one go. He was so angry his chest felt tight, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
He rushed around the academy looking for Lin Xuan, searching every inch of the playground, dormitories, and cafeteria, finally finding his target in the library.
But the moment he pushed open the door, the sight before him made his eyes nearly burst from their sockets.
Lin Xuan was holding a small iron pry bar, fiddling with his Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges, seemingly trying to pry off the inlaid gemstones!
After a morning of research, Lin Xuan had already figured out the structure of the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges.
The so-called Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges was not a single spirit tool, but was composed of twenty-four small spirit tool components joined together; they could actually be used individually once disassembled.
More importantly, the spirit tool patterns on the surface were incomplete; another half of the patterns was hidden in the grooves beneath the gemstones.
He wanted the complete Formation Diagram. Upon discovering it could be disassembled, he immediately took apart one component to study it.
At this moment, he was carefully inserting a Hundred Forged small iron pry bar beneath a gemstone.
He had a suspicion in his heart.
These patterns were likely just auxiliary; these small gemstones were the core of the storage, similar to spatial treasures, and could not tolerate the slightest carelessness.
But just then, Tang San's roar suddenly exploded: "Lin Xuan! What are you doing?!"
This shout came so abruptly that Lin Xuan's hand jerked. With a crisp "crack," the gemstone was pried off, but it shattered directly into several pieces.
Lin Xuan stared at the shattered gemstone in his palm, his Face instantly darkening. He hadn't even had time to verify the gemstone's function before this idiot ruined it; a surge of anger rushed to his head.
Tang San also sensed the aura around Lin Xuan suddenly becoming terrifying. That violent Dragon's might made his scalp tingle, and he instinctively turned to run.
But Lin Xuan was much faster than him. With a sudden burst of speed, he caught up and delivered a vicious kick.
In his anger, Lin Xuan didn't hold back much power, but he deliberately avoided vital spots.
He didn't want to actually cause serious problems for Tang San and provoke Tang Hao's retaliation.
Even so, the power of this kick was still astonishing. Tang San's buttocks were struck solidly, and he flew out like an out-of-control rocket.
"Tang San, I'll tell you one more time!"
Lin Xuan stood at the library entrance, his voice cold as frost.
"If you ever dare to loiter in front of me again, I'll directly cripple one of your legs!"
With a "bang," the library door was slammed shut, cutting off the view from outside.
Tang San flew over twenty meters through the air and rolled on the ground for over ten seconds before stopping, covered in dust and looking pathetic.
Fortunately, Lin Xuan had avoided his vitals, so he wasn't heavily injured, but the humiliation of being kicked away in public was more painful than the injury.
More and more students were drawn by the commotion, and the sounds of whispering and pointing rose and fell.
"Tang San's looking for trouble with Lin Xuan again. Isn't he just asking for it?"
"He knows he can't win, yet he keeps approaching him. I really don't understand him."
"Look at him. He probably really pissed Lin Xuan off this time, right?"
These words pricked Tang San's ears like needles. He lay on the ground, his Face burning, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.
He felt like he had died—a social death.
In the end, Tang San could only pick himself up dejectedly and drag his heavy steps to find Yu Xiaogang for comfort.
He knew Lin Xuan was in the library, perhaps still dismantling his spirit tool and wasting his Hidden Weapon Materials, but he truly didn't have the courage to take another step inside.
Lin Xuan's kick had truly made Tang San see the gap between them.
He was completely unable to resist or dodge.
It was as if his Tang Sect Ultimate Techniques were fake.
At this moment, Yu Xiaogang was sitting at his desk writing furiously, the paper covered in dense handwriting.
Seeing Tang San return in such a pathetic state, not only was there no worry in his eyes, but they instantly lit up. He put down his pen and hurriedly beckoned him over.
"Little San, you've come at the right time!"
Tang San lowered his head aggrievedly, just about to recount his experience, but Yu Xiaogang spoke first, his tone carrying an irrepressible pride.
"I've already thought of a way to deal with Lin Xuan!"
Tang San snapped his head up, hope instantly igniting in his eyes.
"Teacher, you have a way to deal with him?"
"Of course."
Yu Xiaogang handed the written letter to Tang San and explained slowly:
"I have a good brother named Flender. We traveled the Spirit Master's world together back then, as close as brothers, and even earned the title of the Golden Triangle.
By now, he has likely already become a level seventy Spirit Saint!
We might not be Lin Xuan's match, but no matter how great Lin Xuan's strength is, could he possibly rival a Spirit Saint?"
He paused, a flash of ruthlessness appearing in his eyes.
"As long as this letter is sent out, within a month, Flender will surely rush to Nuoding Academy and help us get rid of Lin Xuan!"
Yu Xiaogang said with a fierce gaze.
Previously, he had felt it was a bit embarrassing to ask Flender for help, but Lin Xuan was too tactless.
He had tried to trade with Lin Xuan in good faith, but Lin Xuan not only refused but also damaged his Face, so Lin Xuan couldn't blame him for using force!
Tang San held the letter, his heart filled with both shock and joy.
A level seventy Spirit Saint! That was a high-level powerhouse in the Spirit Master's world. No matter how strong Lin Xuan was, he was just a nine-year-old child. He could beat a Spirit Grandmaster, but could he really beat a Spirit Saint?
Thinking of this, the humiliation and anger in his heart instantly found an outlet, and his gaze toward Yu Xiaogang was full of admiration.
However, Yu Xiaogang knew clearly that on the Douluo Continent, relying on horse-drawn mail took at least half a month for a round trip. To wait for Flender, they would have to lie low for a while.
"Teacher, what do we do next?" Tang San asked urgently.
"Next, we stay our hand. It will take some time for the letter to reach Flender."
A trace of gloom flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
"Until then, we must endure. Once Flender arrives, we'll make Lin Xuan pay the price.
In the meantime, continue to Cultivate diligently and keep an eye on Lin Xuan's movements."
Tang San nodded heavily, the haze in his heart swept away, leaving only anticipation for the future.
But they never imagined that this conversation had been overheard clearly by Xiao Wu, who happened to be passing by the door.
Xiao Wu had heard Tang San searching the whole academy for Lin Xuan and was worried Tang San was looking for trouble again. She wanted to go to the library to see if he was being harassed by Tang San.
But she didn't expect to hear such shocking news while passing by Yu Xiaogang's window.
A level seventy Spirit Saint? To deal with Lin Xuan?
Xiao Wu's heart instantly leaped into her throat. She quietly backed away a few steps and left quickly, keeping her footsteps light.
She knew that although Lin Xuan was powerful, against a Spirit Saint, he had no chance of victory whatsoever.
No, she had to tell Lin Xuan about this as soon as possible so he could prepare in advance. If all else failed, he could even run away!
Xiao Wu jogged all the way to the library, her heart filled with extreme anxiety.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San in the room were completely unaware of this, still envisioning the scene after Flender's arrival.
Inside the library, Lin Xuan was repeatedly studying the shattered gemstone.
He found that within the broken gemstone, there was still a trace of weak spatial energy, but it could no longer be concentrated. It seemed this gemstone was indeed the storage core.
Although one piece was broken, fortunately, there were still twenty-three pieces left, enough for him to study and understand the principles of the spatial spirit tool's Formation Patterns.
Just then, the library door was pushed open again, and Xiao Wu ran in panting, her Face full of anxiety.
"Lin Xuan! This is bad! Something big has happened!"
Lin Xuan looked up and, seeing Xiao Wu's panicked state, his heart stirred.
"What's wrong? Speak slowly."
Xiao Wu swallowed hard and quickly recounted the words she had just heard.
"Tang San and Yu Xiaogang are going to find a Spirit Saint named Flender to deal with you!
That Flender is over level seventy. They said they're waiting for him to come and make you pay the price!"
Lin Xuan's expression didn't change much upon hearing this; instead, he looked like he had long expected it.