"How can you openly question my Spirit theory?" Grandmaster's voice was a low roar, his face red with fury. He stood behind his desk, breathing heavily.
"My theory on Spirits cannot be wrong! Blue Silver Grass, as a control-type Spirit, has a clear path for cultivation. You're trying to stray from the established path and pursue some 'life system.' You can do that on your own, but don't mislead others here!"
In front of him were two young men. One was Tang San, his expression grim, his gaze shifting between Grandmaster and the other youth. This second boy, Tang Chuan, was Tang San's older brother. He had similar features to Tang San but with a sharper edge.
As someone who had been reborn into this world, Tang Chuan had read the original story and knew the true potential of the Blue Silver Grass was its vitality. He was frustrated that Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang, was forcing Tang San to develop it as a control-type Spirit. This led to useless Spirit Abilities being added to the Blue Silver Grass, such as:
First Spirit Ability: Binding!
Second Spirit Ability: Parasite!
Third Spirit Ability: Spider Web Restraint!
Fourth Spirit Ability: Blue Silver Prison!
Tang Chuan believed these control-type abilities were completely pointless. The Blue Silver Grass, a plant-type Spirit, was already naturally capable of binding, controlling, and restraining. Adding Spirit Abilities that did the same thing was like "taking off your pants to fart"—utterly redundant.
On the Douluo Continent, everyone knew that Blue Silver Grass had immense vitality. The old saying, "wildfire cannot burn it out, and the spring breeze blows it back to life," perfectly described its core strength. Ignoring this powerful "life system" to cultivate a "control system" was an idea that only Yu Xiaogang could come up with. In the novel, it was this misguided direction that caused Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Spirit to waste several valuable Spirit Ring slots early on.
Yu Xiaogang's theory was that without poison attributes, the Blue Silver Grass had no attack power. However, Tang Chuan knew this was wrong. Another old saying, "grass, wood, bamboo, and stone can all be swords; flying flowers and plucked leaves can also harm people," proved that any Spirit could be powerful if the Spirit's quality and Spirit Power Rank were high enough. Chrysanthemum Douluo's Spirit, the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, was a plant-type Spirit, and it was incredibly strong.
Tang Chuan was certain that Yu Xiaogang's cultivation method for the Blue Silver Grass was completely wrong. He knew he absolutely could not follow this path. As Grandmaster's anger grew, he pulled a tattered notebook from a shelf, his expression agitated.
"One of my ten core competitive theories of the Spirit Master world is that plant-type Spirits are not necessarily unable to absorb animal-type Spirit Rings!" he declared. He then looked at Tang San, his tone serious. "The Blue Silver Grass itself has a certain toughness, and snake-type Spirit Beasts also have characteristics like binding and toxins. That's why Little San and I are going to hunt a hundred-year-old snake-type Spirit Beast in the Spirit Hunting Forest. If we succeed, Little San will gain an excellent control-type Spirit Ability, which will align perfectly with the Blue Silver Grass's cultivation direction!"
Tang Chuan sneered. "Grandmaster, I agree that a plant-type Spirit can absorb an animal-type Spirit Ring. But if plant-type Spirit Beasts also have toughness and toxins, why do you insist on a snake-type Spirit Ring instead of a plant-type one?"
He continued, his voice sharp. "Since you say the Blue Silver Grass is a plant-type, why force it to follow the logic of an animal Spirit Beast? Why not let it follow a path that truly belongs to plants? For example, poisonous vines, man-eating flowers, or venomous thorns. Don't they all have natural poison, extreme toughness, and active attack capabilities that are just as good as a snake's?"
Grandmaster's face froze. His mouth twitched, and he was speechless for a moment. He couldn't find a way to argue against Tang Chuan's logic. After a long pause, annoyance flashed in his eyes. He waved his hand dismissively. "What does a child like you understand? The binding ability of a snake-type Spirit Beast has been proven effective by countless Spirit Masters. Based on my many years of experience, if Little San absorbs a snake-type Spirit Ring, he will definitely get a binding-type Spirit Ability, which is much more practical than your wild ideas."
Tang Chuan said nothing more. He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly spread. A subtle spiritual energy flowed into his palm. A faint blue halo appeared, and a blue-green sprout emerged—the tender, yet tough, Blue Silver Grass. It had a soft, lively aura, and it stretched out quietly like a small, green snake. In a blink, it had wrapped silently around Grandmaster's arm, binding his sleeve without any aggression.
"Grandmaster," Tang Chuan said softly. "What do you feel right now?"
Grandmaster lowered his head, his brows furrowed in confusion as he stared at his arm, which was tightly bound by the Blue Silver Grass. "What are you trying to do?" he asked, his tone wary.
Tang Chuan's expression was blank. "Do you see me using a Spirit Ability?"
Grandmaster was startled. His pupils contracted slightly as he realized what Tang Chuan was showing him. "You mean..."
"Yes," Tang Chuan interrupted, his voice laced with sarcasm. "The Blue Silver Grass itself is capable of binding. This is an innate characteristic, not an ability that needs to be activated with a Spirit Ability. Without using any Spirit Ability, it can perform basic restraint and binding."
"So, I have to ask, Grandmaster, why do you insist on adding another binding-type Spirit Ability? Isn't that like 'taking off your pants to fart'—completely pointless?" Tang Chuan's voice grew firmer. "That's why I'm saying the Blue Silver Grass should absorb plant-type Spirit Rings and follow a life system instead!"
The office fell into a deep silence. Grandmaster's face turned grim, the muscles around his eyes twitching. His forehead throbbed. He was speechless, feeling both shame and anger, yet he couldn't refute Tang Chuan's point.
A moment later, Grandmaster's face flushed red. He was breathing heavily, his emotions completely erupting. A child had just dismantled his Spirit theory on the spot, and he felt he had nowhere to hide his embarrassment. If he didn't force the issue now, how could he continue to teach Tang San?
"You! You're simply arrogant! Talking nonsense!" Grandmaster slammed the table, pointing a finger at Tang Chuan. "You're just a few years old! A Spirit Scholar who doesn't even have a Spirit Ring! What right do you have to question my Spirit theory that I've researched for decades? What do you understand about Spirits? What do you understand about control?"
He continued to roar. "You're just a little brat whose Spirit is the useless Blue Silver Grass and whose Innate Spirit Power is only Rank one. Do you think that just because you've read a few books and are quick-witted, you can negate the experience of the entire Spirit Master world?!"