Chapter 16: Sparring
"Good. Then we'll go straight to the teachers' private sparring grounds. It's quiet there, so we won't be disturbed."
With both sides agreeing, Dean Wang Zongchang made the decision and led the way.
The group of 4 passed through the teaching building and headed toward a more independent area at the back of the academy.
Before long, they arrived at an open air venue tucked into a secluded corner.
The grounds were not especially large. The floor was paved with hard bluestone slabs, clearly built for teachers to spar or to instruct senior students.
After stepping in, Dean Wang Zongchang smiled at Lin Mo.
"Lin Mo, is this place private enough?"
"Rest assured. I guarantee no one besides the 4 of us will know the process or the result of your spar."
When Yu Xiaogang proposed a spar between Tang San and himself, Lin Mo's face had remained expressionless, but his mind was clear.
He naturally understood Yu Xiaogang's intention. He wanted to use Tang San to probe the details of Charmander.
Lin Mo did not resist the idea. In fact, he was a little eager.
He also wanted to see how far he could go relying only on Charmander against Tang San, without using his second Martial Soul or Blood Burst.
However, before the spar began, there were some unpleasant truths that needed to be said clearly.
Lin Mo looked at Yu Xiaogang, then glanced at Tang San standing silently beside him, and spoke slowly.
"A spar is fine, but I have 1 condition."
Yu Xiaogang's stiff face tightened slightly. He was surprised, but he still listened. "Speak."
"Since this is a spar between Spirit Masters, it should naturally rely only on Martial Souls and Spirit Abilities."
Lin Mo's gaze landed on Tang San.
"Therefore, Tang San, you cannot use those strange weapons you forged yourself."
He was obviously referring to Tang San's hidden weapons.
After Tang San returned with Yu Xiaogang from obtaining his first Spirit Ring, things had unfolded exactly as Lin Mo expected.
Tang San had already found a blacksmith shop outside Nuoding City, both to make a living and to use the tools, materials, and space to forge his hidden weapons.
Lin Mo did not want to get hit by a silent sleeve dart or a Godly Zhuge Crossbow during a spar for no reason.
If poison was involved, it would be even worse.
Even if Tang San probably would not use poisoned hidden weapons in an academy spar, it was still better to be cautious.
Hearing Lin Mo's condition, Tang San's pupils contracted slightly. A flicker of surprise passed across his face.
He knew Lin Mo was aware of his weapons, but he did not expect Lin Mo to bring it up so directly here, and forbid him from using them.
He also did not expect Lin Mo to take his hidden weapons that seriously.
After all, in the eyes of the 2 people Tang San cared about most, Yu Xiaogang and Xiao Wu, those strange weapons were treated like children's toys, with no real value.
Tang San subconsciously glanced at his teacher.
Yu Xiaogang only pondered for a moment before making the decision for him.
He looked at Lin Mo and said firmly, "That is only natural. Since it is a spar between Spirit Masters, it should of course be a competition of Martial Souls and Spirit Abilities."
"Little San's blacksmithing work is merely to make a living. It's not fit for refined company, and naturally won't be used here."
In Yu Xiaogang's mind, Lin Mo did not pose any real threat to Tang San.
Even if Lin Mo had reached Rank 10, without a first Spirit Ring he could not possess a Spirit Ability. His strength increase was limited.
Even if Lin Mo's Spirit was fire attributed and naturally restrained Blue Silver Grass, the gap in Spirit Power rank and real combat experience was right there.
Yu Xiaogang had absolute confidence in his disciple's combat ability.
Tang San had mastered extremely strange movement techniques, and his first Spirit Ring, taken from a Datura Snake near the age limit, greatly improved the toughness and strength of Blue Silver Grass.
With his first Spirit Ability, Binding, Tang San's strength had changed dramatically compared to before.
Under these conditions, Yu Xiaogang did not believe Lin Mo, who did not even have a Spirit Ring, could defeat Tang San, who was already a true 1 Ring Spirit Master.
Attribute suppression existed, but how could it bridge an absolute gap in strength so easily?
He even felt Lin Mo's proposal to ban those weapons was likely because Lin Mo lacked confidence and wanted to weaken Tang San as much as possible, just to last a bit longer and avoid losing too badly.
Since his teacher had agreed, Tang San also nodded at Lin Mo and spoke steadily.
"I agree. In this spar, I will only use the Blue Silver Grass Spirit."
There was confidence in his eyes. While he was curious about Lin Mo's Charmander Spirit, he had even more confidence in his own strength.
Even without hidden weapons, he was certain he could win.
With both sides agreeing, Dean Wang Zongchang chuckled and stepped forward, smoothing things over while also stating his stance.
"Alright, alright. Since the conditions are set, I will serve as the referee for this spar."
With a warm smile, his gaze swept over Lin Mo and Tang San.
"You two can go all out. With me, a Spirit Ancestor, watching, there will be no accidents. No one will disturb you."
He spoke with full confidence. A Spirit Ancestor was already top tier combat power in a place like Nuoding City.
Watching over a spar between 2 children who were not even Spirit Grandmasters yet was more than enough.
With the dean personally serving as referee and protector, Lin Mo and Tang San's last bit of concern vanished.
They faced each other, both seeing the rising battle intent in the other's eyes.
Then, under the expectant gazes of Yu Xiaogang and Wang Zongchang, Lin Mo's mind shifted slightly.
A flash of red light appeared.
A small dragon like creature, orange yellow all over with a flame burning at the tip of its tail, appeared on the ground in front of him.
Charmander.
Charmander seemed to sense the tense atmosphere as well. It lifted its head, large blue eyes staring warily at Tang San.
A low "char" rumbled from its throat, and with a whoosh, the flame on its tail flared several inches higher, full of energy and battle intent.
"This is… the Spirit that hatched from that egg?" Yu Xiaogang's breath caught. His eyes widened as he stared at Charmander by Lin Mo's feet.
Even though Tang San had already reported the news, hearing it and seeing it were completely different.
Seeing a living external Beast Martial Soul with his own eyes struck Yu Xiaogang far more strongly than any description.
Dean Wang Zongchang was also seeing Charmander for the first time. A trace of amazement appeared in his eyes.
Yu Xiaogang almost subconsciously compared Charmander to his own Luo San Pao.
The moment he did, the difference in quality was obvious.
.....
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