Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

Nuoding Academy, Dean's Office.

"Xiaohang, Tang San has already obtained his second spirit ring. Aren't you curious to see how his current strength measures up?" Ma Nuo put down the materials in his hand and spoke to the man seated in a chair, engrossed in a book.

"There's nothing worth seeing." Closing the book, Grandmaster raised his head to look at Ma Nuo and said calmly, "Xiao San has sparred with Cheng Xiao several times in private, but he has always lost."

"But this time, Xiao San's second spirit ring has given him the parasitic ability of the Ghost Vine. Once activated, it will be almost impossible to defend against. Moreover, combined with his first spirit ability, it can create unexpected results. Previously, Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass lacked the power to determine the outcome of a fight, but now that he has the parasitic ability, Cheng Xiao will no longer have a chance of winning."

Hearing this, Ma Nuo frowned slightly and said, "Xiaogang, Cheng Xiao is still a genius with innate full spirit power, and he possesses a top-tier beast spirit."

"As far as I know, Cheng Xiao left the academy half a month ago with another genius with innate full spirit power to hunt spirit beasts on their own. I think their strength shouldn't be as weak as you make it sound."

"Besides, didn't you say Tang San sparred with Cheng Xiao before and lost? In my opinion, since both of them have now obtained their second spirit rings, we might as well let them spar again to see who's stronger, Tang San or Cheng Xiao. What do you think?"

"Xiao San won't lose." Grandmaster shook his head, saying calmly, "If you want to see it, go ahead and arrange it. I, too, am curious to see the effects on the human body after Xiao San uses his second spirit ability."

"Now that's more like it, Xiao Gang." Ma Nuo laughed heartily. "Then it's settled. Once Cheng Xiao and Xiao Wu return from their spirit beast hunt, I'll arrange it right away."

Hearing this, Grandmaster nodded, then stood up, gave Ma Nuo a slight nod, and left the dean's office.

…

"Teacher, you called for me."

Tang San gently knocked on Grandmaster's door. As soon as he entered, he saw Grandmaster sitting in a chair, staring intently at him.

"Xiao San, you're here." Grandmaster stood up from his chair, walked over to Tang San, and reached out to pat his head.

After two years together, Grandmaster had come to regard Tang San as his own son, so patting his head had become a habitual gesture.

"Take a break. Your cultivation speed has been astonishing." Grandmaster pulled Tang San to sit down. Looking at the boy who barely reached his shoulder, Grandmaster couldn't help but marvel. An eight-year-old child had cultivated for just two years and already reached the level of a Spirit Grandmaster. In contrast, he himself had spent decades to barely achieve that.

"Teacher, I'm not tired." Tang San shook his head lightly, then smiled. "Teacher, without your guidance, I wouldn't have progressed so quickly. If you ask me, the reason I've been able to cultivate so fast is all thanks to your excellent teaching."

"You little flatterer." Hearing Tang San's praise, Grandmaster smiled in satisfaction and said, "The dean of Nuoding Academy wants to see you spar with Cheng Xiao. As your teacher, I thought I should let you know in advance so you're mentally prepared."

Tang San said, "Teacher, I've sparred with Cheng Xiao many times. His spirit is very unique. I've never seen him use Spirit Possession. Most of the time, he relies on two short swords he forged to fight."

"Oh? A beast spirit that never uses Spirit Possession?" A gleam of light flashed in Grandmaster's eyes as he pondered.

"That's right." Tang San nodded. "Based on my observation, his first spirit ability seems to be a self-enhancement skill, which strengthens both his body and his weapons."

"A first spirit ability that is a self-enhancement skill? What kind of spirit beast did he hunt for his first spirit ring to choose such a foolish ability?" Grandmaster shook his head in disbelief, finding it laughable that Cheng Xiao's first spirit ring was for an enhancement ability.

It was evident that Cheng Xiao had not apprenticed under him. After all, he was just an eight-year-old child—how could he fully grasp the complexities of spirit theory? To choose a self-enhancement skill for his first ring, especially from a hundred-year spirit beast, was something Grandmaster could hardly imagine. The boost from such an ability would likely be insignificant.

"Forget about Cheng Xiao, Xiao San. Let's talk about you." Grandmaster's eyes gleamed with wisdom as he said, "Xiao San, after obtaining the Ghost Vine's spirit ring, your Blue Silver Grass should have become even thinner and more resilient, correct?"

"Yes, Teacher. After absorbing the Ghost Vine's spirit ring, my Blue Silver Grass has indeed become more resilient than before." Tang San nodded and prepared to release his spirit.

"Wait a moment." Grandmaster stopped Tang San's hand, then looked out at the sunlit window, speaking leisurely, "Let's head to the academy's back mountain. I also want to see the effects of your second spirit ability." With that, Grandmaster led Tang San out of the room and to the back mountain of Notting Academy. Since it was the afternoon, the area was quiet and empty.

"Go ahead, Xiao San. Release your spirit for me to see." Grandmaster gestured to Tang San with his hand.

Tang San nodded slightly, then slowly extended his right hand. As blue light shone, the Blue Silver Grass, which had changed from light blue to deep blue, emerged, gently swaying in his palm.

"Just as I expected." Seeing the changes in Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, Grandmaster leaned in slightly, carefully examining the plant in Tang San's hand. He muttered to himself, "My spirit theory is indeed correct. After absorbing the Ghost Vine's spirit ring, the Blue Silver Grass is starting to take on some of the Ghost Vine's characteristics."

Taking a deep breath, Grandmaster calmly pointed to a nearby tree. "Xiao San, try wrapping your Blue Silver Grass around that tree and give it a pull. Let's see how strong it is."

"Yes, Teacher." Obediently, Tang San followed the instruction. With a flick of his hand, the Blue Silver Grass shot out and wrapped around the tree in an instant. As he channeled his spirit power, he pulled hard, and the tree began to bend under the pressure.

Watching Tang San execute the task so obediently, Grandmaster nodded in satisfaction. Then he walked over to the tree wrapped by the Blue Silver Grass, inspected it carefully, and gestured for Tang San to come over.

Tang San retracted his Blue Silver Grass and approached Grandmaster.

Pointing to the spot where the tree had been wrapped, Grandmaster said calmly, "Not bad. Although your Blue Silver Grass has become thinner, its tensile strength has increased significantly. Look at the spot where it wrapped around the tree—there's a dark, scorched patch. I believe this is the corrosive toxin your Blue Silver Grass acquired from the Ghost Vine's spirit ring. Coupled with the neurotoxin from your first spirit ring, obtained from the Mandala Snake, the two toxins combined are enough to deal with most spirit masters you'll encounter."

"Alright, Xiao San. Now release your second spirit ability so we can see how the parasitic effect works."