Was Xiaotian going crazy again? Now that he had calmed down, could he claim his earlier actions were just an impulse? "I've been honest; can you let me off?"
An ominous premonition crept up inside him.
Xiaotian sheathed Sword Fifteen, approached Tang San with a smile, and lightly dusted him off.
"Tang San, though you lost today, don't lose heart. Once we return to the academy, I'll spend time training you devilishly until your soul power hits level 20!"
Xiaotian secretly licked his lips, grinning.
Tang San's heart chilled. Could he refuse? Xiaotian in this state was frightening.
Xiao Wu shared the feeling and stealthily moved aside, lowering her presence, hoping Xiaotian would forget she existed.
"Xiao Wu, you too! Don't worry, I'll be very gentle."
Xiao Wu's cultivation was slightly above Tang San's—she reached level eighteen this year.
Wearing a smile more pained than joyful, she thought Xiaotian was a devil!
In this mood, Xiaotian lacked tenderness or regard for ladies.
Yet strangely, Xiao Wu's heart fluttered with anticipation as she tightened her legs.
Xiaotian pondered and realized he needed to focus more on cultivating soul power.
This past year, he barely sat cross-legged to cultivate soul power directly, instead improving by honing sword intent and sparring with Xiao Wu and Tang San.
Most of his time involved sword practice or training with Sword Fifteen; hence his current soul power level was only seventeen.
Still, Xiaotian wasn't concerned—for he had gained much more.
He had mastered system-given skills like the [Immortal Wind and Cloud Body Technique] and [Drunken Immortal Moon-Gazing Step] to perfection!
Even the [Secret of Military Affairs] acknowledged his proficiency.
Consider this: even with memories of Tang Sect's unique skills, Tang San required ten or twenty years of hard work this lifetime to master them.
Xiaotian regretted neglecting the [Jie Zi Secret] for a year. Triggering it was rare, even with the bonus 10% chance from the [Secret of Bing].
He attributed his smooth progress to little external pressure stimulating his potential.
At critical moments, he believed he'd seize success.
Shaking off distractions, Xiaotian noted sword intent's improvement greatly aided soul power cultivation—like an advanced simulated training environment.
Gazing around the back mountain, he remarked lightly, "Holy Soul Village is really something special. Let's go."
Both interpretted this as Xiao Tian praising the village's beauty. But Xiaotian had another motive.
That's right—because of the hundred-thousand-year soul bone and Ah Yin.
Though the Blue Silver Emperor's leg bone might not suit him, its effect was fantastic. If future good soul bones weren't available from the continent or system, the Blue Silver Emperor's leg bone remained a good fallback.
Days passed quickly.
Xiaotian and Xiao Wu stayed one night at Tang San's house and departed early next morning for Artisan Soul Village where Xiaotian was born.
Craftsman Soul Village—a settlement full of blacksmiths—piqued Tang San's interest. Being a blacksmith himself, he wanted to see if he could learn from them.
More importantly, Xiao Wu wanted to follow Xiaotian and disliked going alone.
Back at Nottingham College, Xiaotian chose not to immediately absorb system-given foreign soul bones. Instead, he waited a few days.
Using sparring as pretext, he beat Tang San brutally for days.
Eventually, Tang San, tear-streaked and bandaged, remained at Dormitory 7 nursing injuries.
"Xiaotian, aren't you half my disciple now? How can you treat your brother like this?" Yu Xiaogang angrily pointed at Xiaotian in the dorm.
Xiaotian waved helplessly. "Master, I'm helping Tang San practice. Look at his speedy improvement this year—even without resources, that's fast, isn't it? You can't deny it."
"Also, Xiao Wu faces punishment if she loses too. I'm impartial. Tang San must also study theory and forge iron daily. This lets him concentrate on practice more in Dorm 7."
Tang San, lying on the bed, gave a bitter look: thanks so much!
Yu Xiaogang, losing the argument, calmly pointed at Xiao Wu standing intact and asked, "And how is this not showing favoritism? Why is Xiao San bedridden and Xiao Wu standing?"
Xiaotian replied without embarrassment, "Because Xiao Wu's a girl, so a little punishment suffices. Ask Tang San if he wants Xiao Wu lying down like himself?"
The Jade Vat sighed in frustration, "Tired, destroy it!" and turned away.
Xiao Wu noticed Xiaotian's gaze and instinctively covered her back, glaring fiercely—though without any real threat.
"Practice well, or next time, you'll be like Tang San!" Xiaotian warned harshly before leaving the dorm.
Seconds later, Xiao Wu's roar echoed from Dormitory 7.
"Xiaotian, you bastard! You're not human! You're a pervert!"
Xiaotian grinned: what a wonderful compliment!
He teased her just to scare her into staying and practicing. Taking advantage, he left the academy for a city hotel.
There, he planned to absorb the external soul bones granted by the system—he couldn't wait!
With Xiao Wu and Tang San safely at the academy, he could absorb soul bones freely without Tang Hao's attention.
What soul skills might this rare ethereal sword wing soul bone offer him?
P.S. This chapter reveals the playful yet harsh side of Xiaotian's mentorship and relationship with Xiao Wu and Tang San. It highlights his growth, the pressures of practice, and the ongoing pursuit of power, balanced with humor and intrigue regarding soul bone cultivation.
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