Qin Shuang had only joined the team a few days ago, but her diligence and cultivation talent gradually earned her recognition from everyone.
In particular, Zhao Wuji seemed to value her a lot, especially since her martial soul was the same as his. Moreover, Qin Shuang was an orphan with no family, which resonated with Zhao Wuji, who had also gone through many hardships.
Although Yu Xiaogang had some complaints about Flender adding new members to the team, he ultimately said nothing further after considering Flender's reasoning. After all, the team would indeed need substitutes in future battles.
However, compared to Qin Shuang's arrival, the state of the others wasn't so good.
Especially Ma Hongjun, while he still trained regularly, his mind seemed distracted. Rumor had it he was now dating a noblewoman and seemed on the path to becoming a live-in son-in-law.
Though the rest of the team continued cultivating diligently, it was clear their focus had started to drift.
At Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, attractive and talented students were everywhere. After all, those with poor talent wouldn't have been admitted in the first place.
The Shrek team members stood out for their exceptional abilities, especially those already designated as core members of the school's battle team, making them incredibly popular across the academy.
As a result, the girls received love letters daily, and the boys would often get confessions from beautiful girls just walking around campus. Even Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong were approached by shy admirers while walking together, though the letters were chased off by the fiery-tempered Ning Rongrong.
As for those chasing Ning Rongrong, each one got a taste of the little witch's methods.
Heaven Dou Imperial Academy had two battle teams. The two teams trained together and sparred every two to three days.
As they became more familiar with one another, it became increasingly difficult for the Shrek team to win. The soul power gap was simply too great. The weakest member of the Emperor Battle Team was level 35, and the strongest was already at level 39. At first, Shrek's teamwork and tactics helped offset the difference.
But over time, as both sides grew more familiar with each other's strategies, Shrek's weaknesses became more and more apparent.
Tang San in particular struggled. The Emperor Battle Team had recently added a fire-attribute soul master at level 34. This was a direct counter to Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, which suffered significantly in the face of flames. Although Tang San was still a powerful fighter, his control over Blue Silver Grass weakened greatly in fiery conditions.
Dugu Yan of the Emperor Team had also learned from past failures, becoming much more cautious in her use of poison. She was now better at leveraging her Biphos Snake Martial Soul's traits in battle.
The Shi brothers never dared to charge forward recklessly. Instead, they always guarded Ye Lingling tightly, preventing sneak attacks from Yang Xiong.
Yu Tianheng was especially notable, he had high battle talent and a powerful martial soul. In many aspects, he surpassed Dai Mubai. If not for Yang Xiong's overwhelming combat strength, the Shrek team might have already lost to the Emperor Team.
Yu Xiaogang, aware of Tang San's disadvantages, suggested that Ning Rongrong teach him the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's split-focus control technique. However, Ning Rongrong politely declined, citing clan rules.
Unwilling to give up, Tang San made the same request during a trade with Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi generously agreed and arranged for Ning Rongrong to teach Tang San. However, as per Ning Fengzhi's decision, she only taught him up to the fifth level, "Five Apertures Dispersed Focus." The final two levels were not included.
Still, this was already enough for Tang San. Once he reached the fifth level, he could essentially multitask on five fronts. His control over Blue Silver Grass improved significantly, though its offensive power remained weak due to its innate vulnerability to fire and sharp blades.
One day, while Yang Xiong was meditating in his dorm, Tang San suddenly came to visit.
Yang Xiong was surprised. "Tang San, shouldn't you be learning from the Grandmaster right now? What brings you here?"
Tang San looked serious. "Yang Xiong, I'm willing to trade my Purple Demon Eye technique for your Rasengan. What do you think?"
Yang Xiong smiled. "Honestly, I've been expecting you. Our two self-created soul skills complement each other's weaknesses."
Tang San sighed. "After all these battles and training sessions, I'm beginning to feel that Blue Silver Grass limits me too much. The Rasengan would give me the explosive power I need."
"But I have one condition. My Purple Demon Eye can only be practiced by you. You can't teach it to anyone else."
Yang Xiong shook his head. "Tang San, I understand your thinking. With your talent and strength, you're destined for greatness and won't remain alone. You'll build your own faction eventually."
"A soul skill trade should be mutual. I'll teach you Rasengan, and you teach me Purple Demon Eye—but neither of us should restrict it to ourselves. In the future, we should be allowed to teach it to our core disciples, though not to outsiders. These techniques are personal creations, and their confidentiality must be respected."
Tang San hesitated, then said, "But I'm still alone right now. Isn't that a bit unfair to me?"
Yang Xiong smiled. "Tang San, I won't say too much, but I believe Sect Master Ning or the Grandmaster might've already hinted at this, you're not truly alone. A great force stands behind you. Neither of us are mere wandering soul masters."
Tang San's expression darkened. "Yang Xiong, just what do you know? Do you have other information about me?"
Yang Xiong shook his head. "We may not be close friends, but we share common enemies in terms of background and position. I do know a few things, but some truths can only be told by your own family."
Tang San was silent for a long time before finally speaking. "Alright. The Purple Demon Eye can be traded. But only direct disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan can be taught, and if it's passed outside without permission, I will take it back."
Yang Xiong nodded. "Agreed."
Each of them took out a thick manual from their soul guides. Yang Xiong's contained every step of the Rasengan's design and cultivation, while Tang San's was the training manual for the Purple Demon Eye.
They swapped manuals but didn't open them, putting them away immediately out of mutual trust.
Just as Tang San was leaving, Yang Xiong suddenly spoke again.
"Tang San, there's something I need to clarify about the Rasengan. This wasn't part of our deal."
Tang San looked puzzled. "Is there some flaw with it?"
Yang Xiong shook his head. "The Rasengan's power is great and I'm satisfied with it, but it's a bit difficult to master. You need to have reached the fifth level of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's split-focus control to train it. Since you've already learned the technique, it won't be a problem for you."
"But one thing, I developed this version of the Rasengan based on my current level as a Grand Soul Master. I plan to evolve it further in the future, and that future version will not be part of our trade."
Tang San nodded. "Thanks for the heads-up. Let me also remind you—the Purple Demon Eye is extremely difficult to train early on. It requires high innate spiritual talent. I've been training since I was a child to reach my current level. Also, your age is relatively high, and without previous exposure, it might be even harder for you."
After Tang San left, a faint smile appeared on Yang Xiong's lips.
He had expected this day would come. The limitations of Blue Silver Grass were simply too severe, especially without the dual body tempering of Ice and Fire. It was fragile, vulnerable to flames, and weak against corrosive toxins.
With the recent string of battles against the Emperor Battle Team, Tang San's performance had been lacking. He was repeatedly suppressed, and formal soul duels didn't allow hidden weapons, limiting him further.
In the original story, Tang San had guidance from Dugu Bo, a titled Douluo. Even if Dugu Bo's strength was limited, his combat experience and understanding of martial souls far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Compared to Dugu Bo, Yu Xiaogang had theoretical knowledge but lacked real-world combat experience or insight into martial soul evolution. As a result, he couldn't guide Tang San effectively.
In Yu Xiaogang's eyes, Tang San's martial soul was nothing more than ordinary Blue Silver Grass. No amount of effort could help Tang San unlock its deeper potential, this was the gap between theory and practice.
To compensate for his weaknesses, Tang San would either need to cultivate his second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, or find a way to trigger an early martial soul awakening. But both options were currently out of reach, he didn't even know Blue Silver Grass could undergo a second awakening.
In the end, exchanging manuals with Yang Xiong was the simplest and most direct solution.
Yang Xiong had long admired the Purple Demon Eye.
It was a rare and powerful spiritual cultivation method, one of Tang San's true foundations.
The Purple Demon Eye had four stages: Contemplation, Insight, Microcosm, and Vastness. It provided extraordinary perception and could deal spiritual damage to opponents.
Tang San's breakthroughs came from absorbing Autumn Dew, a head soul bone, and tide-forging on Sea God Island.
However, the original story was vague here. At level 40, even with Autumn Dew, Tang San's spiritual power shouldn't have reached the level of a titled Douluo. Yet he could see through Xiao Wu's identity when even Dugu Bo, who had a top-tier head soul bone, couldn't. Was Tang San's spirit power really stronger than Dugu Bo's at that point?
From that day on, Yang Xiong began dragging Ning Rongrong out at dawn to train the Purple Demon Eye. Normally, she meditated at night and liked to sleep in, so she often threw tantrums when disturbed.
Still, the little witch had impressive talent. She progressed in the Purple Demon Eye faster than Yang Xiong, quickly surpassing his entry level.
According to Tang San's progress, he reached the second stage, "Insight," at age six. Yet after half a month of training, Yang Xiong still felt no reaction. In contrast, Ning Rongrong could already sense the purple energy, making Yang Xiong wonder if he was just not cut out for spiritual cultivation.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and 3 new chapters daily, please subscribe to my : patreon.com/Moorowkeel