Chapter 85 The Excited Tang San
"Try it. Maybe your Eight Spider Lances can evolve by absorbing flesh and blood," Luo Ling said, his eyes glowing scarlet, voice laced with tempting suggestion.
Tang San awoke from his dazed pain and saw the soul beast corpses laid out in front of him.
He turned to look at Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang's expression was complicated. Not long ago, he himself had advanced by absorbing flesh through the Blood Demon Ritual. Now it was his disciple's turn.
For a moment, it felt like fate. He thought of the Blood Demon Ritual stored within his soul tool.
If Tang San used it, would he become even stronger?
Although the practice was taboo, using the corpses of soul beasts wasn't morally wrong—after all, beasts and humans were natural enemies.
"Tang San, try it. But if something feels wrong, stop immediately," Yu Xiaogang said after a moment of brooding.
Tang San nodded firmly. He trusted his teacher completely.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Tang San drove his remaining spider leg into the beast's corpse.
A dark violet light flickered across the body, and slowly it began melting, turning into blood.
At the same time, the other seven severed legs on his back started glowing with the same hue.
Tang San felt warmth spreading through his back, and to his astonishment, the broken limbs began to regrow before his eyes.
Excitement surged across his face. Then he felt something else—his soul power had slightly increased.
His eyes widened in disbelief. Was it his imagination?
He focused again, driving the Eight Spider Lances deeper into the remains. The sensation of growing stronger returned—clearer this time.
Restoring his spider legs was actually increasing his soul power.
Tang San's heart raced with exhilaration. He lifted his head, wanting to tell Yu Xiaogang—but then caught sight of Luo Ling smiling faintly at him.
The words died in his throat.
No, absolutely not. He couldn't let Luo Ling know about this.
He remembered Luo Ling's warning about those who killed for soul bones.
If such a heaven-defying ability was exposed, and Luo Ling decided to take it, what then?
While Tang San's mind churned with fear and excitement, Luo Ling's lips curled in a silent smirk.
With his immense spiritual perception, he had already sensed Tang San's power increase.
That hesitation, that swallowed confession—it was obvious. Tang San had intended to tell Yu Xiaogang but held back out of fear.
And by the look of it, neither of them realized how vile this ability truly was in the eyes of the world.
Perfect. If Tang San could one day justify feeding on flesh and soul to grow stronger, turning him into an outcasted evil soul master would be all too easy.
Gradually, the corpses melted entirely into blood. The Eight Spider Lances gleamed once more, fully restored.
"It seems I was right. Your Eight Spider Lances have formidable potential," Luo Ling said with deliberate admiration, his eyes showing a thread of envy.
Tang San caught it—and grew even more convinced he'd been wise not to reveal the true nature of his new power.
Yu Xiaogang also noticed, deep in thought about whether the Eight Spider Lances might connect somehow with the Blood Demon Ritual.
All three harbored their own secrets.
"Well, now that we've tested your ability, it's the next person's turn," Luo Ling said, waving lazily. "Come on, finish quickly. I'm getting hungry—I want dinner."
At those words, Yu Xiaogang pulled Tang San aside. The others caught on and started their own training matches with Luo Ling.
This time, Luo Ling refrained from causing trouble, simply observing each student display their soul skills.
Half an hour later, the exercises ended.
Yu Xiaogang clapped his hands. "Good. I have a rough idea of your capabilities now. You may all leave. Meet me here tomorrow morning."
After dismissing them, he hurried away with Tang San.
Flender and Zhao Wuji soon followed.
Ning Rongrong walked over to Luo Ling, her expression suspicious. "When you fought Tang San earlier, you were definitely up to something."
"Me? Not at all. I was seriously helping him test his external soul bone," Luo Ling said with a faint chuckle, extending a hand to ruffle her hair.
"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong swatted his arm aside, pouting. "I don't believe you. You were obviously scheming something!"
"Then go ahead and think that," Luo Ling shrugged before standing and heading toward the academy gate.
"Where are you going?" she called after him.
"To eat," he said, waving casually over his shoulder.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong tugged at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing beside her. "Let's go too. We'll make him pay for dinner tonight—big time!"
Without waiting for their reply, she dragged both girls along.
Behind them, Oscar watched their retreating figures, eyes filled with melancholy.
Dai Mubai's expression darkened; he turned toward the direction Tang San had gone, his gaze cold and brooding.
…
Luo Ling didn't bother with the Shrek canteen—it was even worse than the school cafeterias he'd suffered through in his previous life. Completely inedible.
Instead, he went straight to Soto City, unconcerned with the three girls trailing behind him.
They soon arrived at an upscale restaurant. Luo Ling ordered a few dishes, while Ning Rongrong added several extravagant ones from the menu.
"When did the three of you get so close?" Luo Ling asked, raising a brow at their easy camaraderie.
"We girls bond naturally!" Ning Rongrong sniffed proudly. "Besides, both Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing have joined our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. They're my sisters now!"
"Is that so?" Luo Ling replied mildly, turning his gaze toward the window.
Outside, a black crow perched upon the roof, glancing once at him before taking flight toward the distance.
Ning Rongrong noticed his distraction and frowned.
Back in the Spirit Hall, he had been the same—detached, indifferent, as if nothing in the world could stir his interest. And now, even at Shrek, it hadn't changed.
At first, she thought his acquaintance with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing might mean he liked one of them. But clearly, he was unmoved as ever.
Interestingly, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had spent the past days subtly asking about him. Ning Rongrong had only answered vaguely, revealing nothing important.
As she stared at Luo Ling's perfectly calm face, her heart wavered. Even after three years beside him in the Spirit Hall, she'd never truly seen through this man.
Luo Ling didn't notice her gaze. Through the crow's eyes, he was watching Shrek Academy.
In a deserted spot behind the mountains, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were speaking privately.
Neither of them realized that, high above in a nearby tree, a crow's crimson eyes were fixed unblinkingly on them.
(END CHAPTER)
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