Ning Tianchen guessed that Tang San, unwilling to fall behind, would choose to cultivate the Hao Tian Hammer martial soul.
However, the obstacle of cultivating twin martial souls was something Yu Xiaogang had never been able to overcome. It was only because Tang San obtained Xiao Wu's hundred-thousand-year soul ring and inherited the Sea God's legacy that he was able to cultivate twin martial souls.
For Ning Tianchen, cultivating twin martial souls was equally a challenge.
At the very least, one needed a suitable hundred-thousand-year soul ring. Only after the body was strengthened by the soul ring could it have a chance to bear the soul powers of two martial souls.
As he was pondering this, Oscar couldn't help but ask, "Tianchen, what are you looking forward to? Could it be that the Shrek Team has gotten stronger?"
Ning Tianchen waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing. By the way, Xiao Ao, didn't you also want to become a battle-type soul master? There might be a kind of soul beast suitable for you."
Unlike the original timeline, Oscar hadn't ended up with Ning Rongrong, so he shouldn't have developed such an obsession with becoming a battle-type soul master.
But for some reason, he had recently brought it up.
Even Ke Jie, who was deeply knowledgeable about martial souls, had never heard of an auxiliary-type soul master successfully transitioning into a battle-type soul master, so he rejected Oscar's idea.
"What should I do?" Oscar straightened up and perked his ears.
His desire to become a battle-type soul master stemmed mainly from the bullying he endured at the hands of Dai Mubai.
His current soul power level was no lower than Dai Mubai's. If he could become a battle-type soul master, people like Dai Mubai wouldn't be able to bully him anymore.
Ning Tianchen explained, "You've always been trained as an auxiliary-type soul master. To transition into a battle-type soul master, you'll need to undergo battle-type training. Recently, I came across information in the academy's library about a soul beast in the Extreme North region that has a natural ability to replicate things. If you can obtain its soul ring, you might gain the ability to replicate soul skills."
Chen Huayu interjected, "Doesn't that mean you could copy anyone's soul skills? If you copied a Title Douluo's ninth soul skill, wouldn't that pack quite a punch?"
Ning Tianchen shook his head—he wasn't sure either.
Oscar's eyes lit up.
This kind of soul beast seemed to be exactly what he needed.
Ning Tianchen added, "The Mirror Image Beast is extremely difficult to hunt, and if its age is too low, it won't have the desired effect. So, after the Soul Master Tournament ends, you'd better train for a while in the sect's special squad. Wait until your soul power reaches above level sixty before considering its soul ring."
If Oscar could obtain the same soul skills as in the original timeline, he might later be able to replicate the Dragon Pattern Seven Kill Sword martial soul, adding another formidable force to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
---
"Xiao San, so you're experiencing a clash between your soul powers now?" Yu Xiaogang said gravely.
"I originally opposed you cultivating the Hao Tian Hammer, and now we've run into trouble."
Tang San gave a bitter smile. "Teacher, though my current situation is dire, I don't regret cultivating the Hao Tian Hammer. Without the Hao Tian Hammer martial soul, I wouldn't have been able to defeat Ning Tianchen."
Yu Xiaogang sighed deeply. After some thought, he said, "From now on, you can only add soul rings to one martial soul. Until we find a solution, you absolutely cannot add soul rings to the other martial soul."
"If I'm not mistaken, you probably can't cultivate soul power right now, can you?"
Tang San nodded.
Before leaving Sunset Forest, he had tried to cultivate his Blue Silver Grass martial soul. But as soon as he began, the two streams of soul power within his body became turbulent, followed by excruciating pain.
"This is indeed troublesome."
In the short term, Yu Xiaogang couldn't think of a solution.
But he knew that Bibi Dong must have experienced what Tang San was going through now in order to successfully cultivate twin martial souls.
After some thought, he decided to visit the Spirit Hall alone and ask Bibi Dong for a solution, no matter what.
"After the tournament ends, we'll search for immortal grass again. For now, only immortal grass can help you successfully break through to level fifty."
Tang San had considered this as well, but immortal grass wasn't easy to find.
They had combed through the Thunderclap Gorge and only found one patch of immortal grass; the other seven were just pseudo-immortal grass or lesser variants.
As for Dugu Bo's medicinal field—
After hitting a wall twice in Sunset Forest, Tang San no longer believed that Dugu Bo truly had a medicinal field.
"Will your current condition affect the matches?" Yu Xiaogang asked the question he was most concerned about.
Tang San shook his head. "As long as I only use one martial soul, it won't. As for the finals… we'll figure that out later."
Yu Xiaogang deliberated for a moment and arranged, "Alright, try to appear last in the lineup as much as possible to avoid worsening your condition. As for the match against Ning Tianchen, we'll have to make other plans."
While teacher and student were speaking, a loud voice came from outside the door. "Don't stop me! Where's the young master!"
"Teacher, the patriarch of the Power Clan has arrived. I'll go meet him first."
Yu Xiaogang didn't object and vacated his office.
Upon entering the room, Tai Tan scrutinized Tang San carefully.
Tai Tan asked, "You possess the Hao Tian Hammer martial soul? Is your father Tang Hao?"
Tang San nodded and then displayed his Hao Tian Hammer martial soul.
After confirming his identity, Tai Tan knelt down and respectfully said, "Old servant Tai Tan greets the young master."
Tang San was flustered and quickly helped him up. "Patriarch Tai Tan, what is the meaning of this? Please rise quickly."
After exchanging pleasantries, Tang San immediately asked, "Patriarch Tai Tan, do you know what happened to my father?"
"Young master, isn't your father by your side? Old servant heard that you left the academy alone and obtained four soul rings." Tai Tan looked puzzled.
Tang San's heart tightened—he hadn't expected Tai Tan to guess this much.
Clearly, before coming to Shrek Academy, Tai Tan had learned the full story from Tai Long.
Of course, this was no match for Tang San. "Patriarch Tai Tan, my father left when I was very young and hasn't appeared since. My soul rings were obtained with the help of an old friend of my teacher—it wasn't my father's doing."
With that, he handed over the letter Tang Hao had left behind years ago.
"It's indeed the master's handwriting. Actually, all old servant knows is that a major event occurred involving the master back then. But the specific details, old servant doesn't know."
"Young master, don't worry. The master will surely tell you about it in the future."
Through fragmented bits of information from those around him, Tang San roughly guessed what had happened.
Years ago, after his father broke through to become a Title Douluo, he fought with members of the Spirit Hall.
That battle was the reason the Hao Tian Sect was forced into seclusion, and they—the father and son—had ended up wandering outside.
"To see the young master today fills old servant with great joy. Why don't you come to the Power Clan as a guest? Since the master isn't here, if the young master needs anything, the Power Clan will certainly assist you without fail."
Tang San shook his head and declined the invitation.
"Patriarch Tai Tan, the promotion matches are about to begin, and we still need to focus on training—we can't leave for now. In the future, if there's an opportunity, I'll definitely visit."
Tai Tan agreed, "Right, right, right—prioritize the Soul Master Tournament. That boy Tai Long hasn't caused you any trouble, has he? When I get back, I'll give him a good scolding."
"Patriarch, you're exaggerating. Tai Long's performance has been excellent, and he's opened up many opportunities for the team."
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