"What exactly did that kid do to Xiaosan just now?" Liu Erlong asked, her voice filled with confusion as she stood beside Flender.
"I'm not sure," Flender replied, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "But the aura that was gradually intensifying earlier couldn't have been faked. Also, did you notice that after Tang San was struck vomited that mouthful of blood, his spirit seemed to improve?"
Liu Erlong's gaze immediately shifted to Tang San. "You're right! It really is true."
It was inevitable for anyone who trained for a long time to accumulate hidden injuries in their body, and even Tang San was no exception.
These injuries often caused a disconnect between movements and reactions, as well as a mismatch between soul power and techniques. Of course, the effect was subtle—like a balance scale missing a small corner on one side.
However, the current Tang San didn't seem to suffer from this incongruity. On the contrary, after a brief moment of pallor, his complexion quickly returned to a healthy rosy hue, and his skin even appeared firmer.
"There must be some secret between the two of them," Yu Xiaogang said calmly. "In fact, I've noticed for a while now that Xiaosan and Tianyang's cultivation methods are different from ours."
He paused, as if searching for the right words, before continuing, "For example, our cultivation is like lighting a fire with flint. It works, but it's very primitive. Xiaosan and Tianyang, on the other hand, seem to have entered a new era. Their method of making fire is no longer flint but a lighter."
It's worth mentioning that the lighter was something Xiao Tianyang had won through a lottery.
Since it was of no use to him, he had given it away. After all, lighting a fire with Emperor Flame was a trivial matter for him. Besides, these lighters had no special functions other than being permanent, and they were obtained from the first-level lottery.
They weren't rare or valuable, so why keep them? To be honest, a lighter like this wasn't even as good as a simple matchstick!
"Let's end today's matter here," Flender said, standing with his hands behind his back, his expression serious. "The gap between systematic cultivation and our primitive methods is too vast. There have been rumors recently that Spirit Hall is working hard to bridge this gap. If they find out about this, the consequences could be disastrous!"
"I agree," Yu Xiaogang nodded. "Additionally, we should remind the other children. As Tianyang said, 'You shouldn't harbor intentions to harm others, but you must always be on guard against them.'"
Flender nodded in agreement. "It's better to be cautious."
"What are you two talking about?" Liu Erlong asked, her face filled with confusion, especially at Yu Xiaogang's words. "That brat actually said something so profound? I find that hard to believe. Did he copy it from some book or something?"
Yu Xiaogang: "..."
Flender: "..."
'Just how much resentment do you have toward him? Is it really necessary?'
While Tang San and the others might only have a vague understanding of Xiao Tianyang's capabilities, the teachers knew it all too well.
This only confirmed what Xiao Tianyang had said at the beginning: he had many secrets, and how much they could uncover depended on their abilities as teachers. They had believed this statement before, and now they were even more certain of it.
…
The next morning, Tang San was fully recovered, and everyone else had also adjusted their conditions.
With no further obstacles in their way, they immediately set out to search for soul beasts. However, out of caution, they moved more slowly and maintained a tighter formation. This change in behavior showed just how much Xiao Tianyang had shaken them.
But this was precisely the effect Yu Xiaogang wanted. A true teacher doesn't measure success by how many battles their students win, but by how much they grow from their failures.
It was clear that Tang San and the others were learning from these setbacks. Although they still stood no chance against Xiao Tianyang, their spirit was commendable. Moreover, as long as they improved after the trial, wasn't that enough?
However, while they gained something from this experience, their search for soul beasts didn't go particularly smoothly.
Whether their luck had run out or there simply weren't many soul beasts along their chosen route, the soul beasts they encountered were either too young or unsuitable for Zhu Zhuqing and the others. After spending most of the day searching, they found nothing.
What was even more disappointing was that Xiao Tianyang didn't attack again. Of course, Tang San and the others weren't eager to fight.
It was just that if Xiao Tianyang didn't strike now, he would surely do so when they were least prepared. Although the outcome would likely be the same, being prepared at least gave them a chance to resist.
If they were caught off guard, they would have no chance at all.
Between the two options, Tang San and the others preferred the latter. After all, in that case, even if they couldn't win, they could at least force their opponent to exert some effort.
Even if they ended up beaten badly, so what? They had been beaten badly by Xiao Tianyang before, and they had survived. Now that their physical fitness had improved, their resilience had become one of their few advantages. They were much more resistant to being beaten!
But if Xiao Tianyang didn't attack now, they would surely suffer later.
Suddenly, Tang San raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop. He turned to Yu Xiaogang and said, "Teacher, if we continue searching like this, we'll just be wasting time. I have an idea..."
"We've already said that once we enter the forest, we're only here to observe. How you proceed is up to you to decide. You don't need to report to us," Yu Xiaogang replied indifferently. "But remember one thing: you represent not only yourself but the entire team. Your decisions will determine their future, and your lives are at stake. So, be cautious before making any decisions."
At this point, Yu Xiaogang wasn't being overly verbose.
Judging by Tang San's serious expression, Yu Xiaogang could tell that whatever plan he had in mind was likely very dangerous. Otherwise, why would Tang San, who was always so prudent, show such an expression?
Tang San nodded solemnly at Yu Xiaogang's words but didn't abandon his idea. Instead, he turned to his teammates and said in a deep voice, "I have a plan that can quickly attract soul beasts."
"But won't we risk being surrounded?" Dai Mubai frowned. "If we encounter two or three, we can retreat calmly even if we lose. But if a large group comes, even if they're relatively low-level, it could be very dangerous."
"Don't worry," Tang San said, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I know of a place here that ordinary soul beasts wouldn't dare approach."
"Are you talking about the poisonous mist arranged by Poison Douluo?" Flender couldn't help but ask. "The poison there is troublesome even for us to deal with. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Don't worry, Dean. I'm sure," Tang San replied confidently. He then took out a bright flower and explained, "This herb is a rare treasure called Youxiang qiluo (Fragrant Silk Beauty Immortal herb). Not only can it directly enhance strength, but it can also nourish the soul. The fragrance it emits is essentially like a moth to a flame for soul beasts."
By this point, there was no need for Tang San to continue. Everyone already understood his plan.
…
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