"Is that so? Thank you for the compliment, senior," Tian Lin replied indifferently, expressing his gratitude without saying much more.
He wasn't particularly interested in Tai Tan. Even though Tai Tan's family had suffered immense disasters due to Tang Hao, the man remained loyal to him without the slightest hesitation.
Such unwavering loyalty made Tian Lin uncertain about his ability to sway him. His question earlier was merely to gauge how the Clear Sky Hammer compared to the Demon Sword in terms of power at the same level. Tai Tan, being the most knowledgeable about strength, was undoubtedly the most authoritative judge.
In fact, among the four single-attribute clans, the only one Tian Lin was genuinely interested in was the Breaking Clan.
First, the Breaking Clan harbored the deepest hatred toward both the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall. Second, they were the most likely to be recruited. Yang Wudi had no grudges against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and the legendary Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng he longed for was already in Tian Lin's hands, giving Tian Lin a significant advantage in recruiting him. Finally, Yang Wudi's combat prowess was top-tier among Soul Douluos. Although his level was only 82, his true combat power far surpassed Tai Tan's at level 85 and could even rival an average Titled Douluo.
This was also why Tian Lin didn't want Tai Tan and Tang San to reunite just yet. In the original story, Tang San's smooth recruitment of the four single-attribute clans was largely due to his ability to build connections.
"Brother Jun, thank you for your help," Tang San said, standing up after recovering some of his soul power through meditation.
"It's nothing, just a small effort," Tian Lin replied casually. He didn't want to accept Tang San's gratitude, as he had subtly sabotaged him by causing him to temporarily lose a Soul Douluo-level subordinate. "I came today to bring Rongrong and the others back. After that, I'll return to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. But before I leave, I'd like to meet your Master."
"My Master?" Tang San was puzzled about why Tian Lin wanted to meet the Grandmaster, but since it was a minor matter, he didn't ask further questions. "My Master is in the administrative office. Please, follow me."
Tian Lin, along with the Shrek Seven Devils, arrived at the administrative office. He pushed open the door to find an ordinary-looking, buzz-cut middle-aged man sorting through documents.
"Master, I have a friend who wants to see you," Tang San said as he approached the Grandmaster.
"A friend?" The Grandmaster scanned the room, his eyes landing on the unfamiliar face. "Is it you? What do you want? If you're here to consult me about martial soul knowledge, I'm afraid I don't have time."
The Grandmaster's pride was well-known. Unless someone was an exceptional genius, he wouldn't waste his time teaching them.
"Looks like you've forgotten about me," Tian Lin scoffed. This man only cared about his theories. In some ways, he was even worse than Tang San, who at least remembered those who had saved his life. "Never mind. I'm not here to seek your guidance. I'm here to inform you that Rongrong, Hongjun, Oscar, and Meng Yiran are now members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. From now on, we'll make the decisions regarding their soul rings. Please refrain from interfering."
"What did you say?" The Grandmaster stood up angrily. "So, you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? And what of it? Don't forget, they are my students now. Their soul rings are naturally my responsibility. Do you think I would harm them?"
"You wouldn't harm Tang San, but the others? That's another matter," Tian Lin retorted bluntly. He had never had a favorable impression of the Grandmaster, and his decision to have Oscar focus on augmentation only fueled his anger.
"Brother Jun, what do you mean by this? Are you questioning my Master?" Tang San demanded angrily.
Hostility.
Tian Lin could sense hostility emanating from Tang San. Though his intentions in saving Tang San hadn't been entirely pure, saving him was still a fact. Yet, just because of this one question, Tang San now regarded him with hostility. It was truly disheartening.
But it didn't matter. Their relationship had always been one of mutual benefit rather than genuine friendship. Now that Tian Lin had found the means to unlock the path of celestial techniques, Tang San was becoming less important to him. Without a care, he replied coldly, "And what if I am questioning him? As the heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Guardian Douluo, the next clan leader's husband and the Vice Clan Leader personally appointed by Uncle Ning, it is my responsibility to ensure the proper cultivation of our clan members."
"I will not allow anyone to use the future of our clan members as a bargaining chip for the sake of a Soul Master Tournament victory."
"You think I'm using their future as a bargaining chip? Then tell me, what have I done wrong? Did I choose the wrong soul rings for them?" The Grandmaster, confident in his theories, sat back down calmly. Surely, a mere boy couldn't out-argue him.
Tian Lin glanced at those behind him. "There's nothing to say about Rongrong and Hongjun. You have no control over them."
The path of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was singular: augmentation. Even if the Grandmaster wanted to guide Rongrong down a different path, it wouldn't be possible. As for Ma Hongjun, his Phoenix martial soul was a top-tier battle-oriented soul by nature. Anyone with common sense would know how to choose his soul rings. Besides, his teacher was Flender, not the Grandmaster.
"But Oscar and Meng Yiran? That's another story," Tian Lin said, turning to the two. "Tell us, what path has this Grandmaster chosen for you?"
"I'm focused on augmentation. He said my food-type augmentation could stack with Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda augmentation, which would further enhance the Shrek Seven Devils' strength."
"He told me to add soul rings with paralyzing toxins to my Snake Staff, to increase its versatility in battle."
After the two explained, the Grandmaster smiled faintly. "Did you hear that? Where is the error in my choices? According to my theories, these paths will not only help them perform well in the tournament but also be beneficial in the future."
Hearing this, Tian Lin sneered. "Beneficial? Perhaps. But is that thanks to you? The truth is, their martial souls are exceptional to begin with. You've merely taken the paths that could have earned them full marks and reduced them to sixty percent. In your eyes, as long as they pass the threshold, they're good enough, aren't they?"
"Oscar, a food-type martial soul user with innate full soul power—unprecedented in history. If he focused entirely on support, once he achieved the rank of Titled Douluo, his strategic value to armies or major clans would be unimaginable. His status within the clan would naturally rise as well. As for augmentation, do you think our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan lacks support capabilities?"
"And Meng Yiran—her path has always been clear: assault. Her previous toxins were all lethal. But now, you want her to switch to paralyzing toxins. Why? Because you're afraid her strong poisons might accidentally kill someone during the Soul Master Tournament and disqualify Shrek Academy? Or is it because, by switching to paralyzing toxins, she can emulate Dugu Yan and act as a controller, serving as a replacement for Tang San during the early rounds of the tournament, thus better hiding Tang San's strength?"
"Everything you've done is for Tang San's benefit!" By the end, Tian Lin couldn't contain his anger and shouted furiously.