Hearing the familiar voice of Yu Tianming, Zhao Wuji immediately straightened his posture and subconsciously covered the scar on his head. The Shrek Seven Devils also put down their chopsticks, staring closely at the approaching figure.
Yu Tianming was five years older than Tang San. At eighteen, his features were sharp, his muscles bulging, and he stood over two meters tall—a clear powerhouse of the Strength Attack type.
Ah Zhu and Ah Zhi followed behind him, both tall and dressed in flowing long dresses.
After months of cultivation, Ah Zhu had just reached Rank 70 and absorbed the inner core of the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Snake. She hadn't fully mastered the power yet, and her long blood-red hair fluttered like fire serpents without wind. Ah Zhi, having received the legacy of the Sea God, bore the Sea God's trident mark between her brows, radiating a vast and sacred oceanic aura.
Though neither revealed their cultivation levels, the pressure they exuded made the entire restaurant fall into silence. Even the highest-ranked Flender could faintly feel the weight pressing on him.
Yu Tianming walked over to Qin Ming and said with a gentle smile, "Teacher Qin Ming, why not tell them about Tianxin's strength? Let Yu Xiaogang continue thinking Shrek can suppress the Royal Fighting Team."
Qin Ming put down his chopsticks and swallowed nervously. "Tianxin is incredibly powerful. He's the biggest guarantee for the Royal Fighting Team to win the championship. To avoid enemies targeting him, I couldn't reveal his cultivation too easily."
"Shrek isn't made up of outsiders. Just go ahead and tell them, Teacher Qin Ming."
Qin Ming glanced at the Shrek group, took a deep breath, and said loudly, "Yu Tianxin, captain of the Royal Fighting Team, is the core of the entire team. His cultivation is so strong that he didn't even participate in the team battles of the Soul Elder level. If he had, Shrek wouldn't have stood a chance."
"Yu Tianxin?" Ma Hongjun stole a glance at the tall Yu Tianming in front of him and asked impatiently, "Senior Qin Ming, don't keep us in suspense. What level is the captain of the Royal Fighting Team? Has he already reached the Soul Ancestor level?"
"Yu Tianxin isn't a Soul Ancestor," Qin Ming shook his head, "He's already a Soul King, at Rank 58. And he just turned eighteen this year."
"Eighteen! Rank 58!"
Everyone from Shrek gasped. How was that possible? Even Dai Mubai at sixteen was only Rank 38. How had this Yu Tianxin cultivated to Rank 58?
What they didn't know was that, had they absorbed immortal herbs, they too could've reached Soul Emperor level in five years.
Yu Xiaogang could no longer suppress his curiosity. He stood up, strained his neck, and asked, "Who are you? Tianxin is my nephew—how do you know him?"
Yu Tianming's lips curved slightly in a mocking smile as he looked down on Yu Xiaogang. "It's been ten years, my foolish uncle. Don't you recognize me? And now you're at Shrek Academy posing as a teacher, misleading the students?"
Looking at the tall figure who bore some resemblance to his father, Yu Xiaogang instantly realized—it was Yu Tianming.
He remembered when Tianming first awakened his martial soul and he had offered to guide his training. But Tianming had scorned his theories, insulting his hard-earned research. Yu Xiaogang flushed with rage, pointing at Yu Tianming, but was too agitated to say a word.
With his scruffy beard and disheveled appearance, Yu Xiaogang now looked like the village fool as he trembled in frustration.
Yu Tianming ignored him and casually pulled a redwood chair from his storage space, placing it between Ning Rongrong and Tang San. He sat down as naturally as if he were part of the Shrek Academy.
He casually draped an arm around Ning Rongrong's shoulders. The mischievous little witch blushed, her hands nervously clamped between her legs.
As for Ah Zhu and Ah Zhi? As his personal attendants, they remained impassive, eyes downcast, standing straight behind him.
Seeing Ning Rongrong's reaction, Oscar, who had harbored feelings for her, gave a bitter smile. 'So Rongrong truly loves Yu Tianming. They're the real pair. For her happiness, I should give them my blessing.'
Flender, sensing Oscar's feelings, glanced over at the boy he had raised. That bitter smile stirred memories of Liu Erlong in his heart.
Everyone present seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.
Yu Tianming turned to Tang San, his gaze gleaming with familiarity, and said gently, "Little San, long time no see. Seems like you followed Yu Xiaogang's advice and chose beast-type spirit rings for your third ring."
Tang San smiled slightly. After absorbing the Man-Faced Demon Spider, not only had his Blue Silver Grass transformed in appearance, it gained the ability to absorb life force. That had made him fully trust Yu Xiaogang's theory.
"Although I've absorbed three beast-type rings, my Blue Silver Grass has evolved. I believe Teacher's theory is absolutely correct—plant-type martial souls can absorb beast rings."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's excitement overtook his anger.
"Yu Tianming, just because you can't have the grapes doesn't mean they're sour. You saw how strong Tang San was at the Great Spirit Arena. Even a Blue Silver Grass can become this powerful under my guidance. Still think my theory is flawed? It's too late to regret now. Disrespectful people like you don't deserve my guidance."
Yu Tianming glanced dismissively at him. Yu Xiaogang had clearly taken Tang San's success as proof of his own brilliance.
'How is a Rank 29 failure this bold? He could run wild in the Hall of the Pope because Bibi Dong liked him—but acting this arrogant in front of me? Who gave him the courage? Does he really think I'm a pushover?'
Yu Tianming didn't get angry. Instead, he grew playful.
"You really think ordinary Blue Silver Grass could awaken with innate full spirit power? Or that it could transform so much after just a few beast rings?"
Those two questions stumped Yu Xiaogang.
'Why did Blue Silver Grass change so drastically after three rings? I don't know either. The full spirit power came from the Clear Sky Hammer, but I can't say that here.'
He fell silent.
Zhao Wuji, watching from the side, nodded to himself. 'I always thought the Master's theory had flaws—so this was it.'
Yu Tianming turned to Tang San, explaining,
"Little San, I think your martial soul isn't just ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Every species has a king. Blue Silver Grass has the Blue Silver King—and the Blue Silver Emperor."
"Blue Silver Emperor?!" Tang San and Xiao Wu exclaimed at the same time, exchanging looks.
Tang San's gaze locked on her. "Blue Silver Emperor? Xiao Wu, how do you know about that?"
Xiao Wu, being a soul beast, had been trying to stay unnoticed since Yu Tianming's arrival. But her exclamation drew everyone's attention.
She had no choice but to respond, "I only heard of it in legends. The Blue Silver Emperor is the ruler of Blue Silver Grass, possessing unmatched life force."
Yu Tianming clapped slowly and looked at her meaningfully. "Correct. The Blue Silver Emperor is the sovereign of Blue Silver Grass, fully embodying its incredible vitality. It's said to be immortal. Tang San's martial soul may contain its bloodline, giving it immense potential. That's why it changed so much. But unfortunately, beast rings don't suit it. Most of its potential is now wasted."
Tang San lowered his head, staring at his palm in silence.
Xiao Wu's eyes glinted, fixed on him. She remembered hearing tales of the Blue Silver Emperor in the Star Dou Great Forest. It was said that the Blue Silver Emperor had turned human and fled with a human years ago.
'The Emperor sacrificed itself thirteen years ago—and Tang San is exactly thirteen now. Could he be the Blue Silver Emperor's son? Is that why I feel so close to him?'
Everyone fell silent. Only Zhao Wuji scratched his head and mumbled, "Right, right. It makes sense. Just absorbing rings can't trigger evolution. The martial soul must have potential. Only then can it evolve properly. Little San picked the wrong spirit beasts, so his evolution went off-track."
Though he was muttering, everyone clearly heard him.
Yu Tianming applauded softly, "Zhao Wuji is absolutely right. Throughout history, countless soul masters have absorbed all kinds of rings—but very few evolve. How could mere Blue Silver Grass change this much with just a few beast rings?"
Flender looked at Zhao Wuji in surprise. 'When did Old Zhao start sounding like Xiaogang, delving into martial soul theory?'
Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed. 'Martial Soul Evolution Theory! My Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls needs to become Eleven! Once I publish it, who will dare doubt me again?'
Tang San, after a long silence, took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
"Brother Tianming, you must know. Is there a way for my Blue Silver Grass to evolve into the Blue Silver Emperor?"
When asking for help, Tang San was never prideful. "Brother Tianming"—the tone couldn't have been more sincere.
Yu Tianming looked regretful and patted his shoulder. "Little San, once you go down the path of a Control-Type Soul Master, there's no turning back. Especially after absorbing three beast rings—you can't evolve into the Emperor anymore."
Tang San's expression darkened. But recalling the life-draining trait of his soul, he stubbornly asked, "Brother Tianming, do you think I can still reach the end with my current martial soul?"
"If by the end you mean Title Douluo, then yes. But no matter how it mutates, it'll remain a high-grade martial soul. It'll never compare to a top-tier one like the Blue Silver Emperor."
"Never become top-tier? Brother Tianming, is there no remedy at all?" Tang San asked, eyes glowing with purple light, gripping Tianming's arm.
Tianming calmly pulled his arm away and replied with regret, "You've already absorbed three beast rings. Your path is set. I suggest you keep going with beast rings—don't end up empty-handed trying to do both."
Hearing this final verdict, Tang San's vision went dark. He slumped into his chair, eyes closed, jaw clenched, breathing heavily.
His fingers brushed the hidden crossbow in his sleeve.
Memories of time with the Master flooded his mind. 'Yu Xiaogang, you worthless fraud. A mere Rank 29 Soul Master dared take me to hunt rings, almost getting me killed. You insisted I absorb beast rings. Had I taken plant rings, I might have become the Blue Silver Emperor. You used me to test your broken theory. You deserve death.'
'And Yu Tianming—you knew I went astray from the start, but still didn't stop me. Let me absorb three beast rings. You also deserve death.'
The Master, who had toiled in theory for decades, suddenly realized the holes in his ideas after listening to their conversation. Just as he was reflecting on how to revise them, he noticed Tang San's devastated state.
The great bluffer Yu Xiaogang finally realized his precious disciple had been swayed by Yu Tianming.
(End of Chapter)
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