"What's going on?"
"Isn't Yu Xiaogang friends with the Nuoding Academy dean?"
"Then why didn't he bring the dean along? Does he really intend to take Tang San to hunt his first spirit ring by himself?"
"With his strength as a Rank 29 Spirit Grandmaster, he probably can't even handle a hundred-year spirit beast!"
White World, Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well
Seeing that only Yu Xiaogang had appeared at the academy gates, Dugu Bo felt as though he had seen something absurd.
"Is he not planning to help Tang San obtain a hundred-year spirit ring at all?"
"That might not be the case…"
Tang Chuan folded his arms, narrowing his eyes as he watched the projection.
He understood very well that Yu Xiaogang's real purpose in accepting Tang San was to prove his own theories and shed the label of uselessness.
One of the most crucial theories he wished to validate was martial soul mimicry.
For that, Tang San needed to use Blue Silver Grass to absorb an animal-type spirit ring.
If the Nuoding dean were present and questioned this approach, or worse, persuaded Tang San otherwise, Yu Xiaogang's plan could fall apart entirely.
Looking at it from another angle, perhaps Yu Xiaogang was in such a hurry to bring Tang San to the Spirit Hunting Forest precisely to limit his exposure to broader spirit knowledge, making it easier to guide him according to his own ideas and turn him into a living proof of theory.
Black World, Shrek Academy
As Yu Xiaogang's old friend, Flender knew better than anyone how lacking his combat strength was.
Seeing him apparently heading alone into the Spirit Hunting Forest, Flender was also stunned.
Why hadn't he asked the Nuoding dean for help?
If not, he could have at least asked him to come.
Still, recalling that Tang San eventually obtained a hundred-year spirit ring, Flender suppressed his doubts and continued watching.
Perhaps the dean simply hadn't arrived yet.
The projection continued.
[After meeting Yu Xiaogang, Tang San asked where they would go to hunt spirit beasts.]
[Yu Xiaogang replied that they were heading to the Spirit Hunting Forest four hundred li northeast of Nuoding City. Along the way, he explained the environment of the forest and the precautions for hunting spirit beasts and absorbing spirit rings.]
[As they spoke, Yu Xiaogang led Tang San into Nuoding City to purchase supplies.]
[In addition to food and water such as cured meat, flatbread, fruits, and fresh water, as well as survival items like tents, fire starters, and realgar powder, he also bought a full twenty catties of white radishes.]
Black World, Shrek Academy
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong tilted her head in confusion.
"Grandmaster, why did you buy so many white radishes?"
Yu Xiaogang's face immediately stiffened, then slowly flushed red.
Should he tell the truth, that it was to enhance Luo San Pao's… rather embarrassing ability?
That would completely ruin his image.
If he avoided answering, the projection would expose it anyway.
For a moment, he found himself trapped in an awkward dilemma.
His expression darkened, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed at Ning Rongrong.
This girl always seemed to ask the one question he least wanted to answer.
After a long silence, he finally replied with forced composure.
"You'll understand soon."
Ning Rongrong snorted inwardly, clearly unconvinced, but continued watching.
[After preparing everything, Yu Xiaogang hired a carriage and set off with Tang San toward the Spirit Hunting Forest.]
[During the journey, he gave Tang San a belt-type storage soul tool, which Tang San named the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges.]
[After traveling for a full day and night, they finally arrived. Passing through the marketplace outside the forest, they reached the entrance.]
[After presenting his warrant, Yu Xiaogang led Tang San inside.]
[Upon entering the forest, Yu Xiaogang immediately summoned his martial soul, Luo San Pao.]
[It was a materialized out-of-body spirit, light purple in color with a white belly and face, short limbs, and drooping ears, resembling a small pig, yet possessing its own intelligence.]
[Two hundred-year spirit rings rose beneath Yu Xiaogang's feet.]
White World
Dugu Bo stared in astonishment.
"A materialized spirit that exists independently and even has intelligence? That's truly remarkable."
Tang Chuan nodded.
"Indeed, it has great potential."
In his view, Luo San Pao was far from useless. Since it had a physical form, it could theoretically consume and absorb external energy.
If nourished with suitable materials or spirit beast flesh, its quality or even bloodline might improve.
Given the right direction, it could evolve into something far more powerful.
Unfortunately, Yu Xiaogang had never explored that path.
[Curious, Tang San asked about Luo San Pao's unusual form.]
[Yu Xiaogang could only smile bitterly, saying it was a failed mutation that had held him back, preventing him from breaking through Rank 30 and forcing him to focus on theory instead.]
White World, Shrek Academy
Ning Rongrong burst into laughter again.
"This Grandmaster is really something."
"He says his spirit held him back, yet he claims there are no trash spirits, only trash spirit masters. Isn't that contradicting himself?"
[Sensing his teacher's mood, Tang San quickly offered words of comfort.]
[Yu Xiaogang waved it off and continued forward, letting Luo San Pao lead the way deeper into the forest.]
[Along the path, he explained various spirit beasts and taught Tang San how to judge their cultivation years.]
[Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang spotted a Ten-Thousand-Year Longevity Bamboo and hurried over with Tang San.]
[Patting it, he began to explain.]
["Little San, this is a ten-year Lone Bamboo. Its defining trait is toughness. While its offensive power is weak, its resilience is excellent, making it quite suitable for your Blue Silver Grass."]
[After a brief pause, he added.]
["However, its age is still too low. Let's look around more. If we don't find anything better, we can consider this as your first spirit ring."]
Black World, Shrek Academy
At this point, Ning Rongrong could no longer remain silent.
"Grandmaster, did you really plan to let Tang San absorb a ten-year spirit ring back then?"
"That's only ten years! If his Blue Silver Grass took that as its first ring, it would be completely ruined!"
She continued, her tone sharp with disbelief.
"Aren't you close with the Nuoding Academy dean? With his strength, helping Tang San obtain a hundred-year spirit ring should have been easy."
"Why didn't you ask for help?"
To the side, Flender also looked at Yu Xiaogang, clearly sharing the same doubts.
Tang San himself froze, his mind suddenly thrown into confusion.
That's right… when he obtained his second spirit ring, his teacher had invited the dean to assist.
So why, for the first spirit ring, had he been brought here alone?