Chapter 22: A Corner of the Plan, Soul Hunting Forest
This was a small path, not wide, just enough for two carriages to pass side by side.
A group of four was walking along this path, conversing as they went.
Leading the way were two middle-aged men; one had a robust physique and sharp eyes—none other than Su Haichao.
Beside him was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties, dressed in tight-fitting attire and wearing glasses; an air of scholarly refinement naturally emanated from him.
Following behind them were Tang Shan and his good older brother, Su Yuntao.
The destination for all four was the Soul Hunting Forest. However, this time both Su Yuntao and Tang Shan needed a thousand-year spirit ring. Even though Su Haichao was already a Spirit Ancestor, as a precaution, he had invited an outside helper.
"Old Su, how is the school running lately?"
Su Haichao turned to look at the scholarly middle-aged man beside him.
This middle-aged man's identity was not ordinary; he was Su Yuan, the principal of Nuoding Academy in Nuoding City, and also a Spirit Ancestor.
His Spirit was a Flamingo, a level 41 attack system Spirit Master.
To tell the truth, when Tang Shan learned that this scholarly principal's Spirit was actually a Flamingo known for its explosive nature, he was truly taken aback.
The ancients never lied to me: one cannot judge a person by their appearance.
"What else could it be? Just barely hanging on."
Su Yuan pushed up his glasses, looking indifferent.
"Every year we send a few to the Intermediate academy, the rest go back to their homes. It might take five or six years before we encounter a good seedling to send to an Advanced academy."
"Tsk tsk, it's really hard on you. Tell me, what were you thinking back then? You were a perfectly fine director of an Intermediate academy, yet you insisted on coming to an Elementary academy to be the principal."
Su Haichao shook his head and suddenly asked curiously, "By the way, are you very close with that Yu Xiaogang who lives in your academy? It feels like he's just freeloading at Nuoding Academy."
Hearing this, the corner of Su Yuan's mouth twitched slightly, and he sighed helplessly.
"I can't say we're close; I can only say we know each other."
"Then why are you..."
Hearing the unfinished meaning in Su Haichao's words, a wry smile appeared on Su Yuan's face.
"That is a long story."
It turned out that Su Yuan had once encountered an Evil Spirit Master and was about to fall at his hands, but was saved by a Spirit Emperor whose Spirit was an eagle.
Su Yuan wanted to repay him, but that Spirit Emperor refused, only saying that if there was a chance, he should do a favor for him.
Years later, that Spirit Emperor made a request, and Su Yuan resigned from his position as director of the Intermediate academy and came to Nuoding City to become a principal.
"That Senior just asked me to take care of Yu Xiaogang, providing him with a place to stay was enough. Since the repayment was so simple, I just agreed."
"I originally thought that Yu Xiaogang had something special about him, but I didn't expect that he would even show disdain for the works of Grandmaster."
Tang Shan, who had been quietly eating the melon in the back, didn't expect that while eating, he would end up eating his own melon.
However, thinking about the shocking remarks of a certain "Grandmaster," he wasn't surprised. He really couldn't compare to a ruthless person who could use his previous theories to contradict his subsequent theories.
However, what caught his attention more was the Spirit Emperor who saved Principal Su—suspected of having an eagle Spirit and being a Spirit Emperor; it was likely the principal of Shrek Academy.
Being able to take such good care of Yu Xiaogang, combined with the similar cultivation level, it was unlikely to find a second one on the entire continent.
This person was also quite abstract; not only did he not compete with his brother for a wife, but he also actively played matchmaker. Simply being a high-level Spirit Master troubled by gold coins was enough to leave one speechless.
By the way.
Tang Shan moved closer to his older brother. "Big Brother, did you go to school at Nuoding Academy when you were young?"
Su Yuntao nodded in confusion.
"Back then, Father was still a deacon of the Spirit Hall, not yet a Hall Master, and didn't have the qualifications to send me to the Elementary academy under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Hall. Father felt the other Elementary academies were about the same, so he simply kept me under his nose."
Su Yuntao, lost in thought, looked his little brother up and down.
"Speaking of which, little brother, isn't it about time for you to go to school?"
Tang Shan shook his head like a rattle. "What school? I have basically mastered the basic knowledge of Spirits and Spirit Beasts. Why should I go to school and gather with a bunch of brats?"
Su Yuntao, who had just wanted his little brother to receive the same treatment as him, was completely countered by Tang Shan's next sentence.
Tang Shan raised his hand and looked at his older brother with a playful expression.
"Besides, Brother, you have to go tell others that I am seven years old and have them believe it."
Looking at Tang Shan, whose height had already reached his neck, Su Yuntao was speechless.
"Shan Zi, come here. Tell us, what is your goal for your first spirit ring?"
Hearing Su Haichao's call, Tang Shan hurriedly quickened his pace.
"Tell Principal Su about your plan."
Su Haichao pointed at Su Yuan, who was showing an interested expression on the side, with a mischievous look on his face.
Facing his father's behavior, Tang Shan was not surprised; everything was proceeding according to plan.
He looked seriously at Su Yuan. "Principal Su, my target for the first spirit ring is a strength-type Spirit Beast. If the quality of the Spirit Beast is higher, then it will be around a thousand years. If the quality of the Spirit Beast is not high enough, then it is not impossible to increase the age by a few hundred years."
An expression of astonishment appeared on Su Yuan's face, just as Su Haichao had expected.
"Are you sure you guys aren't joking!"
Tang Shan nodded triumphantly. "Principal Su, I'm not fooling you; that's what my teacher said."
"Who is your teacher?"
Su Yuan immediately grasped the key point in Tang Shan's words and hurriedly asked.
"Teacher, Principal, you must know him too; it's Grandmaster."
Once these words were spoken, Su Yuan, who was already surprised by the previous words, was almost stunned.
Who is Grandmaster? He is currently recognized as the number one person in theory on the Douluo Continent, and his influence has continued to ferment with the appearance of some who achieved the first thousand-year spirit ring as a Two-Ring Soul Master.
Perhaps, if one suddenly mentions a Titled Douluo, a low-level Spirit Master might not know them, but when it comes to Grandmaster, everyone truly knows him.
Su Yuan's expression changed from surprise to suspicion.
"Are you sure you aren't lying to me?"
Su Haichao stood with his hands behind his back, looking relaxed, and spoke faintly.
"Don't forget the sixth treatise on martial souls released half a year ago. Let me ask you, what is Shan Zi's Spirit?"
"the sixth treatise on martial souls, Body Martial Soul with full spirit power, so that's it, so that's it."
After Su Haichao's hint, Su Yuan suddenly understood.
"That Grandmaster had the fortune to meet the Blue Silver Emperor, so it is not surprising that he would take a Disciple with a Body Martial Soul and full spirit power."
People only believe in the truth they have made up in their own minds. Su Haichao just gave a simple hint, and Su Yuan had already completed the whole story.
"Tang Shan, is this Grandmaster's arrangement?"
Su Yuan, who was gradually recovering, was a bit curious.
Tang Shan nodded obediently.
I am Grandmaster myself. I want to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring and say it's Grandmaster's arrangement; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
"How much certainty is there?"
Tang Shan made a nine gesture.
"Ninety percent probability, it is indeed worth a try."
"Grandmaster is indeed Grandmaster. Not only did he let many Spirit Masters verify the possibility of the first thousand-year spirit ring, but he also cultivated a Disciple who might be able to achieve the first thousand-year spirit ring."
"Tang Shan, if you really do it, I'm afraid you will truly be the first person on the continent to have a first thousand-year spirit ring."
That might not be the case.
Tang Shan's eyes narrowed slightly. The time when that theory was published should be the same year as the Spirit Awakening of a certain Miss Angel. Using Spirit Bones to enhance physical fitness—he didn't believe a super Douluo wouldn't think of that. Perhaps this theory had already created a cultivation monster on the Douluo Continent. He just didn't know if Miss Angel was still insisting on going undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire; if so, that would really be a waste of talent.
Regarding the use of Spirit Bones to enhance physical fitness, Tang Shan had thought of it long before the theory was published, but Spirit Bones were not that easy to absorb.
Look at a certain twin spirits quasi-Spirit Elder in the douluo two era; absorbing an external Spirit Bone of a thousand years failed. This was certainly related to the Spirit Beast being too powerful, but it also showed that although Spirit Bones can be inherited, there are conditions for absorption.
Even if other Sects could find extremely gentle and easy-to-absorb Spirit Bones, letting a quasi-Spirit Master who didn't even have a spirit ring absorb one would only be more difficult.
Not everyone is Miss Angel; her Divinity is her ancestor, the Spirit Bone can be inherited, and she has a super Douluo grandfather.
Thinking about it, Tang Shan couldn't help but feel sour.
What kind of starting point is this? Heaven-Defying family background, apart from having a pair of outrageous parents, it's basically holding the script of a Dragon Overlord.
Unfortunately, it still lost to a brain in love.
It's not that you can't have a brain in love, but unless you are the protagonist, the consequences of a brain in love are unpredictable.
Tang Shan reminded himself again that on the Douluo Continent, one can start from appearance, but one can only stop at appearance.
Look at the consequences for those who don't stop at appearance.
Bibi Dong, who started from talent; the Silver Dragon King, who believed in wisdom; Ma Hongjun, who turned over a new leaf;
What about those who started from appearance?
Feng Xiaotian won the beauty; Tianmeng subdued his great natural enemy;
And a certain Huo Gua—let alone what kind of "dog training" abuse he encountered, just ask, didn't he just crave the pink-blue-haired girl with the Spirit Fusion Ability?
The result? From the perspective of actual gains, Wang Dong'er, Wang Qiu'er, Tang Wutong—that's a full three people; he basically won everything, right?
How outrageous.
Feeling his body being lifted up, Tang Shan returned from the brainstorming session. At this moment, he found that he had been tucked under his father's armpit.
"We need to speed up, otherwise we won't be able to reach the town next to the Soul Hunting Forest by nightfall."
Su Haichao lowered his head to explain, looked at Su Yuan, and both activated their spirit power and sped away.
"Yuntao, activate your Spirit Ability and keep up."
Looking at the two big and one small figures moving away, Brother Tao was dumbfounded in place.
No, Dad, little brother's current physical fitness feels stronger than mine, yet you pick him up and leave, is that appropriate?
Helplessly, a bright yellow spirit ring appeared under Su Yuntao's feet, Spirit Possession, wolf characteristics appeared on his body, he activated his Spirit Ability, and chased towards the three people in the distance.
The Soul Hunting Forest was established jointly by the Spirit Hall and the two great Empires, as well as other Kingdoms and Principalities.
The reason for its establishment was very simple: to provide a relatively safe environment for low-level Spirit Masters to obtain their first few spirit rings.
Otherwise, if you ran directly to the Star Dou Great Forest for a ten-year or hundred-year spirit ring, even if it was just the edge of the outer zone, you would be taking a huge risk.
Without low-level Spirit Masters, where would high-level Spirit Masters come from? Titled Douluo are not castles in the air; they cannot appear out of thin air.
PS: The little author has signed a contract, please collect, recommend, vote for monthly tickets, keep reading, etc. Also, everyone, please comment a lot.
Loving Book So Far! check Out 50+ Advanced Chapters
patreon.com/HehBoy