After Yu Xiaogang finished his critique, he asked Russell, “Since your Soul Skill can still be considered a Support System Soul Skill, have you considered continuing to attach similar Soul Rings and pursuing the Support System path?” “No.” Russell was well aware that Yu Xiaogang saw him as a lab rat, so he refused decisively.
“Before my Martial Soul evolved, Blue Silver Grass could follow the Support System path.
Now that my Martial Soul has evolved, I will focus on the Control System in the future.
For other Soul Rings, enhancing the strength of my Martial Soul will be the primary goal.
The effects of Soul Skills will depend on luck.” Yu Xiaogang frowned and retorted, “Your approach to attaching Soul Rings goes against that of most Soul Masters.
Prioritizing strengthening your Martial Soul over pursuing Soul Skill effects—are you still deluding yourself into thinking your Martial Soul will mutate again?” He assumed the posture of a master, hands behind his back, standing tall and straight, exuding a convincing air of confidence: “I advise you once: do not mistake a stroke of good luck for your own fortune.” “In the end, a Soul Master’s cultivation must focus on themselves.
Attaching each Soul Ring must be done with utmost caution.
Otherwise, wasting one Soul Ring slot will surely lead to regret in the future.” “Disorganized Soul Skills, even if individually powerful, are inferior to a well-organized system of Soul Skills.” By the end, his tone had taken on a lecturing quality.
Russell didn’t indulge him and replied sarcastically: “Since the Master knows so much, what do you think I should do?” Perhaps Russell’s words were too veiled, as Yu Xiaogang showed no reaction and said: “Referencing the Soul Ring configurations of powerful plant-system Soul Masters in history holds great significance for reference.
Since you intend to read, you could try deducing the types of Soul Rings they attached to their Martial Souls.” “Your Innate Soul Power is only level four.
If you don’t plan your Soul Rings properly, you will surely regret it when you hit a bottleneck.” Russell shook his head.
“Surely the Master isn’t unaware?
After a Martial Soul evolves, the cultivation speed also changes, equivalent to an increase in Innate Soul Power.
Otherwise, where did my level fourteen Soul Power come from?” “My current Innate Soul Power, even if it can’t compare to Tang San’s Innate Full Soul Power, is only a level or two behind.
I don’t need to sacrifice my future for combat power.” Yu Xiaogang’s stiff expression froze.
Soul Masters capable of evolving their Martial Souls were exceedingly rare in the world, and he had never heard of one in the current Douluo Continent, so he had naturally overlooked this.
He hurriedly tried to recover: “Outstanding talent doesn’t mean you can waste it.
The experiences of predecessors are a precious treasure for later generations.” He was too eager to suppress Russell, hoping to subdue him for his own use.
Even if he didn’t take him as a disciple, a twice-mutated Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul held immense research value and could also serve as an aid and reference for Tang San.
Unfortunately, Russell knew Yu Xiaogang’s character.
Even if some of his words held a degree of truth, Russell wouldn’t bow and submit like Tang San.
However, Russell still needed to read Yu Xiaogang’s books, so he didn’t tear their relationship apart, pretending not to understand his ulterior motives.
“Master, you can’t persuade me.” Russell interrupted Yu Xiaogang, who was about to continue his relentless lecturing: “It’s getting late.
I need to return and cultivate.” “I told you the source of my first Soul Ring.
Find me two books; I’ll return them after reading.” Russell was resolute in his attitude.
Yu Xiaogang had never encountered someone so stubborn and unyielding.
In the past, whether it was Bibi Dong, Flender, Liu Erlong, or Tang San… which one of them hadn’t been persuaded by his eloquent words?
Yet Russell was like a stubborn ox, completely unmoved.
He sighed and shook his head slightly, as if lamenting Russell’s obstinacy.
Slowly, he walked to the desk and took two books from the pile beside it.
Russell accepted the books and kept his promise: “My first Soul Ring comes from a Dragonscale Tortoise-back Bamboo.” With that, he left Yu Xiaogang’s dormitory with the books.
“Dragonscale Tortoise-back Bamboo, no wonder… The Blue Silver Grass developed a scaly surface.
It wasn’t due to dragon bloodline but rather the defensive bamboo segments of the Dragonscale Tortoise-back Bamboo.” Then, Yu Xiaogang furrowed his brows.
“But why is the transformation so drastic?
It’s as if it fully inherited the strength of the Dragonscale Tortoise-back Bamboo… as if the strengths of both were merged into one.” He fell into deep thought.
Tang San, seeing his teacher immersed in his own world, quietly closed the door and left.
Russell returned to Dormitory Seven with the books and saw Xiao Wu proudly showing off the new toy she had bought that day, while the work-study students gathered around, flattering her.
He returned to his bed, leaned against the pillow, and opened a book to start reading.
The books Yu Xiaogang had collected were all high-quality editions.
Among them, the books introducing Soul Beasts mostly contained clear illustrations, which also meant the actual content of each book wasn’t extensive.
Russell planned to finish over five hundred books within two years so that he wouldn’t be clueless when encountering Soul Beasts in the future.
Xiao Wu, tired from playing, returned to her bed to rest.
Unlike in the original story, both Tang San and Russell had new bedding when school started.
After some hesitation, Russell lent her money to buy bedding.
Xiao Wu happily jumped onto the bed, lifted the blanket, and slipped inside.
She let out a comfortable sigh, poked her head out, rubbed it against the pillow, and turned to face Russell.
“Russell, you’ve been on leave for so long.
Did you obtain a Soul Ring?” “Mhm.” Russell responded softly, his gaze never leaving the page.
Seeing Russell ignore her, Xiao Wu’s stubbornness flared up, and she insisted on talking to him: “Then let’s have a fight tomorrow.” “Mhm.” Russell nodded again.
In his eyes, the Soul Beast illustrations were like novel settings, easy to immerse himself in, and he read with great interest.
Xiao Wu snorted lightly, turned her head away, and went to sleep.
The next morning.
“Huh?
When did I agree to that?” Russell was puzzled, staring at Xiao Wu’s puffed-up, angry face.
Even if you’re cute, you can’t just make things up.
“You did!
You did!” Xiao Wu’s eyes reddened, on the verge of tears from anger.
They had clearly agreed last night to fight today, but after one night, Russell woke up in the morning and claimed he didn’t remember promising her.
Her face flushed with a sense of grievance, and she clenched her pink fists, looking ready to unleash a full-on brawl regardless of the consequences.
She spun around and kicked, a gust of wind following her movement.
Her scorpion-tail braid traced a beautiful arc as it swung toward Russell’s face.
“Why are you suddenly attacking…” Russell hastily retreated.
Fighting in the dormitory would result in fines.
He bent his knees slightly and leaped over the bed, jumping out the window.
“Don’t run!” Xiao Wu followed closely behind, jumping out the window after him.
The work-study students rushed after them: “Big Sis and Russell are fighting!
Let’s go watch the excitement!” Over a dozen people charged out together, their commotion drawing attention from other dormitories.
More and more people gathered, converging below the dormitory building.
Russell and Xiao Wu were chasing each other across the Blue Silver Grass.
At this moment, Russell vaguely recalled that Xiao Wu had… probably… spoken to him last night, but bringing it up now would undoubtedly add fuel to the fire—a wise man wouldn’t do such a thing.
Better to hurry up and have a fight, then, without delaying his morning training and reading.
“First Soul Skill, Blue Silver Bamboo-Scale Armor!” Russell was still unskilled at executing Soul Skills, slowing down as he cast it.
By the time the armor fully formed, Xiao Wu had already caught up from behind and delivered a swift kick.