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In the dormitory of Shrek Academy, Tang San, having returned from the Star Dou Great Forest, climbed onto the rooftop before dawn.
As soon as he reached the top, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Teacher! Why are you here?"
Yu Xiaogang replied with a warm smile, "Xiao San, I came here for you. I can't help but worry about you while you're at Shrek Academy."
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang San felt a wave of warmth in his heart. His father had disappeared after leaving only a letter, and over the years, it had been Yu Xiaogang and Xiao Wu who had accompanied him as he grew up.
"I arrived at the academy a few days earlier than you. I didn't expect you to break through the thirtieth level so quickly," Yu Xiaogang said with emotion.
"Teacher, why was Ye Lan able to absorb a thousand-year second spirit ring?" Tang San recalled Ye Lan's thousand-year second spirit ring. Because of that, he had also attempted to absorb a spirit ring beyond the usual limit in the Star Dou Great Forest. Unexpectedly, the Man-Faced Demon Spider turned out to be a good match for him, and he successfully absorbed a two-thousand-year spirit ring in a short amount of time.
"I heard that you also absorbed a spirit ring of unknown age?" Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San, questioning him.
"Yes, teacher," Tang San replied, avoiding Yu Xiaogang's gaze.
"I'm already getting old. I haven't married or had children. You are my only disciple, Xiao San—you are like a son to me. If anything were to happen to you, what would I do?" Yu Xiaogang used emotional appeal to change the subject.
"Teacher! I was wrong!" Thinking of all the drumsticks Yu Xiaogang had given him over the years, Tang San couldn't hold back his tears.
"All right! A true man doesn't shed tears easily. The maximum age limit for absorbing a spirit ring is related to a spirit master's physical condition. Each ring position has a limit to what age it can absorb. Ye Lan may have some innate strength, but not to such an exaggerated extent. I suspect that the ability to absorb thousand-year rings is more about compatibility. Perhaps Ye Lan was simply highly compatible with that thousand-year second spirit ring," Yu Xiaogang recalled the countless days spent researching in the Spirit Hall library.
After all, the Spirit Hall's library recorded data spanning over ten thousand years. With such extensive information backing him, he was confident in his theory—though he couldn't rule out the possibility of other special factors being involved.
"Tell me your situation," Yu Xiaogang asked.
Tang San summoned Blue Silver Grass from his palm. It had become thinner and darker, almost as if it were covered in the skin of the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
"Teacher, you're right. The absorption of a spirit ring should depend on compatibility with the spirit beast. When I absorbed that ring, I didn't feel any discomfort at all," Tang San murmured.
"So it's true. Looks like my theory needs to be updated again. Xiao San, the path I chose for you was the right one. As the poison attribute continues to integrate, your Blue Silver Grass will become increasingly compatible with poison. Eventually, even a trace of poison from your Blue Silver Grass could turn someone into a puddle of blood," Yu Xiaogang said proudly. He also recalled Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor. If Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass could evolve to that level, it might not even be inferior to the Clear Sky Hammer.
What Tang San didn't know was that his ability to absorb the Man-Faced Demon Spider's ring so easily was largely due to a shift in his mental state.
After suffering multiple setbacks from Ye Lan, Tang San's heart had undergone a quiet transformation.
"Teacher, are you sure the poison attribute is the right path? Ye Lan's Blue Silver Grass is very different from mine. For some reason, my poison has no effect on him at all," Tang San asked.
"Everyone's situation is different. Xiao San, your Blue Silver Grass is best suited for the poison attribute. Don't you always tinker with hidden weapons? Even though I often say you're putting the cart before the horse, the fact that you enjoy making them shows that poison and hidden weapons align with your nature," Yu Xiaogang explained.
"Yes," Tang San agreed. He had supported the idea when Yu Xiaogang first suggested giving his Blue Silver Grass a poison attribute—after all, he was a disciple of the Tang Sect.
"As for Ye Lan's Blue Silver Grass, I suspect it has undergone some unknown mutation. Since we don't know the exact cause, we can't blindly imitate it. Besides, Xiao San, have you forgotten your greatest advantage? You possess twin martial souls!" Yu Xiaogang encouraged him.
"But I still lost. Even after using the Clear Sky Hammer, I lost again. The Clear Sky Hammer couldn't do much damage to Ye Lan's Blue Silver Vine," Tang San recalled how shocked he was by the vine's incredible regeneration.
"Wake up, Xiao San! Your Clear Sky Hammer doesn't even have a single spirit ring yet—losing to Ye Lan is completely normal," Yu Xiaogang said firmly.
"But…" Tang San remembered the time he had used the Clear Sky Hammer to attack Zhao Wuji.
"No buts, Xiao San! Losing isn't the problem. The problem is not being able to stand back up after losing. You need to act like a real man," Yu Xiaogang said, thinking of Tang San's father, who had always seemed so tall and strong.
"Yes, teacher," Tang San said softly, lowering his head, lost in thought.
"Once a teacher, always a father"—this was Tang San's belief.
Even if he now understood that Yu Xiaogang might not be as perfect as he once thought, his father's words still guided him.
"Xiao San, summon your spider legs."
Eight pitch-black, three-meter-long spider spears shot out from Tang San's back. Yu Xiaogang stared at them intently.
"Xiao San, if I'm not mistaken, your greatest gain from the Star Dou Great Forest isn't the spirit ring that surpassed the limit—it's these eight spider legs."
"They're Eight Spider Lances," Tang San corrected. He felt "spider legs" sounded too ugly.
"These Eight Spider Lances are most likely what's known as an external spirit bone. As your strength increases, they could eventually rival a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone!" Yu Xiaogang said excitedly.
"A spirit bone?"
"Spirit bones are different from spirit rings. While spirit rings enhance martial spirits and provide skills, spirit bones primarily enhance physical attributes. Spirit bones are extremely rare, with a drop rate of perhaps one in ten thousand. External spirit bones are even rarer—among hundreds of spirit bones, you might not even find one external type. External spirit bones are one of the few that can grow stronger over time. As your strength increases, this spirit bone will also enhance your body further. Most spirit bones also come with a skill—your Eight Spider Lances might have one too. You should experiment with it."
After listening to Yu Xiaogang's explanation, Tang San's eyes sparkled with joy. He finally had something that could help him surpass Ye Lan!
The Eight Spider Lances were that rare. Tang San didn't believe Ye Lan could be that lucky too. Then how exactly did Ye Lan absorb a thousand-year spirit ring?
—Shrek Academy, main training ground—
"I've already assessed all your abilities. Now I will begin your intensive training. Dai Mubai! Step forward!" Yu Xiaogang shouted.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Yu Xiaogang with curiosity. As someone with a bit of a filter for the continent's number one theory master, she wanted to see how his training differed from Ye Lan's.
Following that, the Shrek Seven Devils engaged in internal sparring.
Match results:
Dai Mubai vs. Tang San — Dai Mubai lost.
Dai Mubai vs. Ma Hongjun and Oscar — Dai Mubai lost.
Tang San vs. Xiao Wu — Tang San lost.
Tang San vs. Zhu Zhuqing — Draw.
Ning Rongrong vs. Oscar — Draw.
(End of Chapter)