Douro Continent

Chapter 366 Is it really just ordinary Blue Silver Grass? (Part 1)

Huo Wushuang sighed softly, "Silly sister, if you really want to defeat him, you need to keep cultivating. Win by your own strength. What's the use of being unreasonable like this? Keep trying, we still have a chance in the qualifying rounds. Facing an opponent who completely counters our attributes, we need to think of new methods. Although he is immune to fire, he is not immune to energy impacts. Have you forgotten what Shui Bing'er did?"

"That's right, that's right, and so am I. Sister Huowu, I didn't run into him in the preliminaries, but I'll definitely help you defeat him in the qualifying rounds." Feng Xiaotian suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said with a face full of righteous indignation.

From the Heaven Dou Arena all the way back to the academy, Tang San's mind kept replaying the entire process of today's match against Tianshui Academy.

For him, this was far more than just a draw. It was the toughest battle of the entire qualifiers, partly because his opponent's Martial Soul Fusion Skill was exceptionally powerful, and partly because he had been suppressed from the very beginning.

Tang San clearly realized that it was his own fault that led to the team's disadvantage. Shui Bing'er's preemptive strike disrupted his original plan. It also showed him the power of other control-type Soul Masters. The next stage would be the qualifying rounds, a stage for individual performances, but the finals, following the qualifying rounds, would still be a team effort.

Every Soul Master has flaws, and individuals are no exception. Only through teamwork and mutual compensation can a Soul Master's strength be maximized. This has always been a law in the Soul Master world, and it is also an important reason why the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is primarily a team competition.

He didn't dwell on the olive branch extended by Emperor Xueye; that wasn't his immediate concern. What he needed to think about now was how to better support his team and how to strengthen himself.

Tang San has always been a persistent person, both in his previous life in the Tang Sect and in this life.

Therefore, upon returning to the academy, he immediately told the master that he needed to go into seclusion again for a period of time to think things through.

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang understood Tang San quite well and knew that this was a crucial period for him. Once Tang San could break through this inner barrier, he would become more mature and even more formidable. At this time, no one could help him except himself. Only by figuring things out and gaining enlightenment could he better understand his own problems. Even a wise man like Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang wouldn't be able to offer much advice at this juncture.

Everyone has different inner barriers, and no one knows what the problem is for others. Only Tang San himself can solve Tang San's problem.

Watching Tang San's figure gradually disappear into the distance, the other six members of the Shrek Seven Devils couldn't help but feel a little dejected. They all understood how Tang San felt at that moment. Since the team was formed, today's battle, although not the most difficult, was one in which Tang San was truly suppressed. They could completely understand Tang San's feelings at this moment.

Xiao Wu wanted to chase after Tang San to comfort him, but Liu Erlong grabbed her arm. "Silly girl, don't bother him now. It's better to let him think things through on his own. Trust him and give him some space."

Xiao Wu looked at Liu Erlong, who gently pulled her into his arms and stroked her long braids.

The master coughed, drawing everyone's attention to himself. "Alright, Tang San is going into seclusion. The next month is also your time to rest. The intense competition of the past month has benefited each of you to varying degrees, but it's far from enough. I think you've all seen that you're not the only geniuses in this world. Tang San encountered opponents who countered him, and you will encounter the same. You are a team, and if you want to defeat Tongji and achieve final victory, you will have to put in even more effort. Therefore, I've decided that during the next month of rest, you will undergo another period of intensive training. What's with that expression? Stand properly. Anyone who objects, I don't mind doubling their training volume."

Screams echoed simultaneously in the hearts of the Shrek Six Devils. Only then did they suddenly feel envious of Tang San. At least, Tang San, in seclusion, no longer had to endure such grueling training…

Tang San chose the same secluded cabin in the woods as before, a tranquil environment and a peaceful world that was most suitable for his cultivation.

Two days had passed since he returned, yet Tang San remained sitting there, lost in thought. He hadn't cultivated at all; his mind was shrouded in a fog. He couldn't figure out where his problem lay, nor did he understand which direction he should take. He even began to doubt whether the path he had been following all along was wrong.

Over the course of two days, Tang San thought about many things, but the more he thought, the more confused he became.

Two days and two nights passed, and he hadn't rested or eaten anything. He spent the rest of his time in a hazy, dreamlike state. This painful feeling continued to rage within him. He didn't even know why he was in pain.

From the day he became a Soul Master, he had always stood at the pinnacle of his peers. Blue Silver Grass wasn't a powerful martial soul, even considered a useless one, but under Grandmaster's guidance, his strength was never inferior to those Soul Masters of his age with powerful martial souls. In fact, he was stronger than every one of them. As time went on, Tang San even forgot about the inherent limitations of his Blue Silver Grass, always placing himself on the same level as those Soul Masters with powerful martial souls, even harboring a sense of superiority.

However, when he calmed down and thought about it carefully this time, he realized that if he hadn't had an external soul bone, the Eight Spider Lances, if he hadn't had the support of his companions all along and the soul rings he had been lucky enough to obtain, perhaps he would be nothing at all.

Each of his spirit rings was of higher quality than others, yet in his previous battle against Shui Bing'er, his spirit skills offered no advantage whatsoever. This situation should have arisen much earlier, but he had concealed this gap through cunning in previous matches and battles. However, once the inherent flaws of the Blue Silver Grass were exposed, Tang San immediately recognized his problem.

A truly powerful control-type Soul Master not only needs to be able to control, but their Soul Skills must also possess a certain offensive capability. Those with a Soul Fusion Skill, like Shui Bing'er, are even more exceptional. But can his Blue Silver Grass do that? No. Even though he already possessed a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring at level forty, without using his external Soul Bone, he would have no advantage against Shui Bing'er.

If my previous opponents lost to me because of a lack of strength, it would be more accurate to say they lost because of my cunning. Once I encounter an opponent whose strategies are no less sophisticated than mine, my weaknesses in control are immediately exposed. This is even after I consumed the Eight-Cornered Ice Grass and the Fiery Apricot Blossom. Without these two celestial herbs, my weaknesses would likely have been exposed much earlier, and even Huo Wu could have easily defeated me.

Why, why is this happening? Will all my efforts over the years be in vain? Tang San knew very well that the inherent deficiencies of his martial soul would gradually become apparent as his soul power increased.

No, we absolutely cannot do that. Blue Silver Grass is not a good martial soul at all. While I am still young, it's not too late to give it up.

Tang San couldn't help but think of his other spirit, the Clear Sky Hammer. That was the inherited spirit of the Clear Sky Sect, ranked first among the seven great sects of the continent's spirit master world. If he had chosen to cultivate the Clear Sky Hammer, his strength would be far greater than it is now; it would have become even stronger.

The more Tang San thought about it, the less confident he became in the Blue Silver Grass. His heart was in turmoil. A jumble of chaotic thoughts made him feel like he was going crazy.

Two days have passed without any cultivation, something unimaginable for Tang San in the past, given his usual diligence. Yet, he feels no urge to cultivate whatsoever.

"Little monster." A green figure appeared in the courtyard outside, and the sudden voice startled Tang San from his vortex of pain.

Perhaps because he had exhausted too much energy in the past two days, Tang San was unable to identify the person from the familiar voice.

Standing up, Tang San walked out of the wooden house. Having sat for too long, his body swayed as the blinding sunlight shone on him.

"Little monster, what's wrong with you?" The green figure arrived in front of Tang San almost instantly. A powerful hand gripped Tang San's shoulder, and the rich soul power, carrying a touch of domineering and wildness, penetrated his body, invigorating Tang San's spirit. Only then did he see who it was.

-

I just finished this chapter. I apologize for keeping you all waiting.

(End of this chapter)