Soul Land: I Am the True Grandmaster

Chapter 210: A Sudden Burst of Insight for the Great Tang Hao

The Shrek team's heads were buzzing. They had been looking forward to training and enjoying their youth at such a prestigious academy, yet now they were being forced to leave. Outside Tian Dou Royal Academy, Flender looked to Yu Xiaogang for an explanation, but a single look from him stopped any questions, and they walked on in silence.

Their new residence was a cottage in a rural village near Tian Dou City. Even so, the high rent made Flender wince.

"Come in," a voice commanded.

With heavy hearts, the Shrek team returned to their rooms, while Yu Xiaogang and the three Soul Saints Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Shao Xin heard someone summoning them. Yu Xiaogang's face darkened.

What does Tang Hao want now? Always changing his mind it's exhausting. But he had no choice. As a Soul Emperor, he was a small fry with no power to resist.

Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Shao Xin knew each other well, and Shao Xin had helped heal Zhao Wuji's injuries when Tang Hao had previously attacked him. Hence, they were all aware of Tang Hao's identity. The four of them entered the largest room in the cottage with apprehension.

Although they were all seasoned men Zhao Wuji in particular wasn't one for personal hygiene even they found Tang Hao's stale stench overwhelming.

"Greetings, Your Eminence," they said respectfully.

Tang Hao glanced at them impassively. Though they were technically his son's teachers, he held little regard for them. Just Soul Saints, after all.

"Yu Xiaogang, send Xiao San to Thunder Academy to study," Tang Hao ordered.

Yu Xiaogang, who had assumed that Tang Hao might suggest the Botanical Academy, was immediately taken aback.

"No way!" he blurted out.

Tang Hao frowned, his presence emanating a faint but menacing pressure. Yu Xiaogang froze, though he composed himself and explained.

"Lord Haotian, Xiao San's martial soul is a plant type how could he study at Thunder Academy? You're aware of Master Ye Wen's Theory of Origins. It wouldn't be a good match."

Hearing this, Tang Hao relaxed his pressure and replied, "I have my reasons. Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul isn't as simple as it appears. His martial soul inherited part of his mother's abilities, though it hasn't fully awakened. If he trains in Thunder Academy's mimicking environment, it could activate the latent power in his martial soul. With your connections, he shouldn't have any trouble getting in, right?"

Under Tang Hao's cold gaze, Yu Xiaogang broke into a cold sweat.

Damn it! Tang Hao won't leave my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan alone, will he? If Xiao San joins Thunder Academy, it'll practically bind the clan to the Haotian Sect.

Yu Xiaogang's mind raced, but he couldn't come up with an argument. Since the fateful day he'd killed Chihiro Ji, Tang Hao's life had taken a sharp turn. Facing both the regret for his lost love and his newfound impotence against Spirit Hall, Tang Hao had fallen into a cycle of self destruction. Despite his strength, cheap liquor had become his only escape, dulling his senses over six long years.

But learning about Tang San's twin martial souls had reignited his hope. Recalling his cherished memories with Ah Yin, he realized that Tang San's martial soul might carry the same rare potential as hers. Common knowledge on Douluo Continent held that children inherited a parent's strongest martial soul unless a mutation occurred. Yu Xiaogang's initial suspicion that Tang San had twin martial souls due to his innate soul power now appeared to be a misjudgment. Twin martial souls were exceedingly rare, scarcely documented even in the collections of the three great sects.

Tang Hao, however, was fully aware that Tang San's Blue Silver Grass wasn't ordinary; it was the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine, a martial soul as powerful as his Haotian Hammer. Thinking back to Tang San's impoverished childhood, Tang Hao could see why one of Tang San's martial souls had weakened. But six years of training had given Tang Hao ample time to study Ye Wen's works "borrowed" from local bookshops and to realize that Yu Xiaogang's choice of soul rings for Tang San would have been fine for an ordinary Blue Silver Grass, but not for the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine.

Fortunately, the damage was minor, as Tang San's current soul rings were still in the millennium range. With the future addition of higher tier soul rings, he could still restore the Thunderous Hell Prison Vine's original power. Activating its latent thunder attribute would enable it to reach its true form, and with two high tier weapon martial souls and a total of 18 rings, Tang San's potential would exceed even Tang Hao's original hopes.

As a wielder of two weapon type martial souls, not beast type, Tang San could summon both simultaneously. Tang Hao couldn't help but envision his son's Haotian Hammer with nine black rings, wrapped in thunderous Thunderous Hell Prison Vines. Paired with the Haotian Nine Absolutes, the Ring Explosion, and the Grand Xu Mi Hammer, a future level 95 Tang San would have the strength to challenge even the most powerful Titled Douluo.

If Ye Wen had known what Tang Hao was thinking, he'd be incredulous: Since when did this hammer wielding brute become so astute? But Ye Wen's theories had provided such a thorough foundation for soul masters that Tang Hao's natural instincts had begun to awaken.

Mentally exhausted and unable to find a solution, Yu Xiaogang finally replied with a bitter smile,

"I'll…see what I can do. But Xiao San's situation is complex, and I'll need my father's permission."

Tang Hao, fully aware of Yu Xiaogang's inner struggles but also of his usefulness, relented.

"Don't disappoint me, Doctor Yu. If you do, neither you nor the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will be able to handle my wrath. And remember, Xiao San's time is precious don't make him wait. This is his prime training period."

Then, turning to the other three teachers, he added,

"You three keep supporting my son. When he becomes powerful, you'll be rewarded."

With that, Tang Hao's figure flickered and vanished from sight.

The four men exchanged glances. Then, with looks of sympathy, Flender and the others directed their attention to Yu Xiaogang. Flender, his closest friend, gave him a silent, supportive pat on the shoulder before leaving with Zhao Wuji and Shao Xin.

High ranking factions could be useful, but one man able to threaten an entire clan posed an enormous risk. As independent soul masters, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Shao Xin could disappear and go into hiding if necessary.

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.

Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10