"Wait, Teacher Liu—you are going too far."
Xiao Tianyang's voice deepened slightly as he spoke. "First, I didn't take advantage of anyone, nor did I invite the Man-Faced Demon Spider. Second, I never act unless I'm certain of the outcome. Please remember that, teacher Liu."
He paused before continuing, "Lastly, while this incident was an accident, many have benefited greatly from it. Without me, none of this would have happened."
"Tianyang is right. You should not blame others thoughtlessly. You should apologize to him."
Yu Xiaogang's sudden appearance wasn't to defuse the tension but to clarify the truth. Only someone as perceptive as him could fully understand Xiao Tianyang's actions at the time.
Yes, Xiao Tianyang had taken risks—but as he'd said, he never acted without certainty.
And Yu Xiaogang knew this well. That was why he and the others had repeatedly trusted Xiao Tianyang, entrusting Tang San and the others to his guidance.
This wasn't about shirking responsibility or laziness. If they truly wanted an easy life, they could simply do nothing.
But they hadn't.
And if there was one reason for that, it was this: when they left, they had placed their unconditional trust in Xiao Tianyang.
"Besides," Yu Xiaogang added, "if Xiaosan and the others never face real danger, how will they ever understand the true meaning of battle?"
Seeing Liu Erlong's stubborn expression, Yu Xiaogang could only sigh helplessly before turning to Xiao Tianyang. "Since she won't apologize, then I'll do it for her."
Xiao Tianyang sensing something pressed a hand against the boulder, flipping backward to evade—just as Yu Xiaogang bowed deeply toward the rock in apology.
"Grandmaster, there's no need for this." Xiao Tianyang shook his head. "I'm not upset. Teacher Liu was just concerned for Xiao Wu. I simply didn't want to be misunderstood—that's all."
"Fine, fine. I acted rashly this time." Liu Erlong waved a hand dismissively, turning her head away. An outright apology was clearly too much for her pride.
But Xiao Tianyang didn't need one. As he'd said, he only wanted to clear the misunderstanding.
Leaping back onto the boulder, he tilted his head slightly. "Teacher Liu, what was it you wanted to ask me earlier?"
"What's going on with the soul power around Saber?" Liu Erlong was straightforward. Her earlier outburst hadn't been malicious—just a protective instinct for her goddaughter. Now that she'd calmed down, curiosity took over.
"It's a specialized application of soul power—similar to mine." Xiao Tianyang raised his palm, where his soul power swirled into a vortex before coiling like a living dragon.
"How did you achieve this?" Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed with admiration, as if beholding a priceless jade.
Xiao Tianyang retracted his soul power. "First, it requires a unique method of soul power circulation—a cultivation technique. I'm sure you've already guessed that, Grandmaster."
His casual explanation left Yu Xiaogang touched. Such secrets could easily invite disaster, yet Xiao Tianyang spoke without hesitation—proof of his absolute trust in them.
So Yu Xiaogang didn't hold back either. "I've long suspected your innate full soul power stemmed from a special cultivation method. After all, I've never heard of soul power naturally forming a protective barrier like yours."
He paused. "And your subsequent abilities only confirmed my theory. But don't worry—we won't speak of this to anyone, not even Xiao San and the others."
Xiao Tianyang chuckled. "It won't stay hidden forever, and frankly, it doesn't matter if it's revealed. In three to five years, even if I can't face an army alone, I won't be easily captured."
"Don't be careless," Yu Xiaogang warned, his voice grave. "The Spirit Hall has been obsessed with this for years. If your secret gets out—along with your talent and combat prowess—even your teacher's intervention might not save you. You must always be cautious."
Xiao Tianyang nodded. "You are right, Grandmaster."
Yu Xiaogang offered a stiff smile. "Then continue."
Xiao Tianyang resumed his explanation. "The second factor is precision control over one's soul power. It's not just about output during skill activation—it's maintaining command even after it leaves the body."
"How long did it take you to master this?" Liu Erlong couldn't hide her astonishment.
"Half a year. But dual-tasking is secondary—the most critical factor is soul power quality. It must reach a certain threshold." Xiao Tianyang pondered briefly. "For example, an average soul master's soul power is like water. To reach my level, yours must at least be…cement."
Yu Xiaogang: "…"
Liu Erlong: "…"
(Flanders, still patrolling nearby, would've shared their speechlessness had he been present.)
Yet despite their stunned silence, they couldn't refute him. After all, leaping 20 to 30 levels in combat wasn't something just any soul master could achieve—not even a genius like Tang San.
(Though if hidden weapons, terrain, and timing aligned perfectly, Tang San might stand a chance.)
As they spoke, Saber tore through Tang San and the others' formation like an unstoppable force!
But instead of attacking them directly, she severed the Blue Silver Grass linking them together.
"Smart move." Xiao Tianyang's lips curled beneath his mask. "They've been deliberately avoiding Saber, but now that she's deciphered their coordination and dismantled it, they've lost their advantage."
"Not necessarily." Liu Erlong smirked mysteriously, her gaze so piercing that Xiao Tianyang suddenly felt like a specimen under scrutiny.
The next instant, instinctively, Xiao Tianyang slapped the ground, flipping backward—just as a slender hand grazed past where he'd been, razor-sharp nails glinting.
'Zhu Zhuqing!' Xiao Tianyang recognized her instantly.
"Using a decoy to trick me? Clever." Now that he understood, his tension melted into amusement.
Zhu Zhuqing's claws sliced upward, barely missing Xiao Tianyang's nose—not because she held back, but because he'd dodged too swiftly.
Pushing off with his right hand, he sprang into the air like a coiled spring.
"Attacking me with a feint was a smart move—but also a mistake." With that, Xiao Tianyang clenched his fist and punched the empty air before him.
"Crack"
"Dammit! This brat's dragging us into it!" Liu Erlong cursed, yanking Yu Xiaogang aside as the shockwave rippled outward.
…
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