Chapter 189: Betrayal Between Master and Disciple
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Sunset Forest!
Tang San's body trembled violently, his face twisted in agony as he endured excruciating pain. The cause?
His martial soul had absorbed the seventh spirit ring, awakening his Martial Soul Avatar and activating its core essence. However, the essence of his Blue Silver Grass was unable to withstand the power of the Mandala Snake King, a spirit beast over fifty thousand years old.
Though his body was strong due to various reasons, he forcibly endured the process, resulting in a malignant mutation.
Inside Tang San's dantian, his Blue Silver Grass twisted and contorted unpredictably—at times transforming into spider legs, at other times into a serpentine form—never resembling its original plant-like appearance.
Several hours later, Tang San coughed up a mouthful of blood but gradually regained consciousness.
Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong rushed over to check on him, with Yu Xiaogang appearing the most anxious.
Tang San opened his eyes, filled with disbelief and emptiness. His dazed expression and vacant gaze reflected his shock as he muttered the same phrase repeatedly:
"How could this happen? How could this happen?"
Yu Xiaogang's urgency was palpable.
"Xiao San, what's wrong? Xiao San…!"
Tang San, hearing his master's voice, instinctively summoned his martial soul. But what appeared was an abomination—his once graceful Blue Silver Grass had become grotesque. Instead of a plant, it resembled a monster, taking the form of a serpent with barbed spider legs, oozing a sticky, indescribable slime.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—seven spirit rings appeared one after another. Each ring was derived from formidable creatures: Mandala Snake, Ghost Vine, Man-Faced Demon Spider, Man-Faced Demon Spider, Crypt Demon Spider, Bloodthirsty Demon Spider, and the Mandala Snake King. Any single one of these spirit beasts was immensely powerful, but when combined, the result was an abomination—a complete mismatch.
In a numb tone, Tang San murmured,
"After absorbing the spirit ring, instead of strengthening my martial soul, all attributes of my Blue Silver Grass have decreased by 30%. The amplification from my Martial Soul Avatar, as well as the enhancement of my spirit abilities, barely exceeds 30%. Worse still, when I activate my Martial Soul Avatar, I end up poisoning myself—with paralysis toxins, neurotoxins, and corrosive venom. Before I can even harm an enemy, I end up harming myself."
"Even if I use my Eight Spider Lances to absorb the poison in my body, the next time I activate my Martial Soul Avatar, I will still be poisoned again. Why is this happening? A fifty-thousand-year-old Mandala Snake King—how could it grant me such a disastrous Martial Soul Avatar?!"
Eyes bloodshot with rage, Tang San suddenly lunged at Yu Xiaogang, his hands wrapping around his teacher's throat. Overwhelmed by fury, he roared hysterically:
"Teacher, tell me! Why did this happen?!"
Yu Xiaogang, merely a Spirit Grandmaster, was powerless against Tang San's grasp. His face turned pale as his eyes rolled back, unable to resist.
Flender and Liu Erlong were both horrified. They immediately rushed forward and forcefully separated Tang San from Yu Xiaogang, each grabbing him from one side.
"Tang San, calm down! That's your teacher!"
"Tang San, let go! Can't you see you're about to kill him?!"
Once freed, Yu Xiaogang clutched his throat, gasping for air. His expression was one of utter devastation as he shook his head in disbelief.
"Impossible… This is absolutely impossible! According to my research, plant-type martial souls can absorb beast-type spirit rings, and the stronger the spirit ring, the greater the enhancement should be! A fifty-thousand-year-old Mandala Snake King should have granted you an immense boost—how could it have weakened your attributes instead?"
"Furthermore, plant-type martial souls are a subclass of tool martial souls, meaning they exist outside the body. How could it possibly cause self-poisoning?"
The truth was, Yu Xiaogang's so-called "research" was fundamentally flawed. A mere Spirit Grandmaster trying to dictate the optimal seventh spirit ring for a soon-to-be Spirit Saint—such an absurdity was doomed from the start.
While the Blue Silver Grass martial soul was relatively weak, it still had potential. The correct approach should have been to absorb a spirit ring from a soul beast with a similar nature, reinforcing its essence and quality.
However, Yu Xiaogang's misguided theory fixated on shortcuts, believing that absorbing powerful and domineering spirit rings would result in exponential growth. Yet, since the core of Tang San's martial soul hadn't strengthened, the essence of Blue Silver Grass remained unchanged. By the time he reached his seventh spirit ring, there was no foundation left to support the activation of his Martial Soul Avatar.
If Yu Xiaogang had truly understood martial souls, he wouldn't have dismissed Luo San Pao as a "waste martial soul," nor would he have stagnated below rank 30 for decades.
Tang San, still trembling with fury, was forcibly held back by Flender and Liu Erlong, their wary gazes filled with unease.
Now that he had absorbed his seventh spirit ring, it was time to return. Yet, throughout their journey back, the four remained silent. No one dared to speak.
---
At the gates of Shrek Academy!
Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, Lu Qibin… along with Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun, had all gathered to welcome them back.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Ma Hongjun attempted to lighten the mood with a joke.
"Third Brother is back from his spirit beast hunt! Now that you've absorbed your seventh spirit ring, you're officially a Spirit Saint—how envious!"
Had he remained silent, it might have been better.
But the moment he spoke, Tang San's entire body erupted with killing intent. A savage, predatory expression twisted his face.
Without another word, he bolted into the academy, his emotions in turmoil. He didn't want to talk. He didn't want to see anyone.
He just wanted to be alone.
Ma Hongjun was startled, rubbing his belly with dissatisfaction.
"Third Brother becomes a Spirit Saint and no longer acknowledges his brothers? Releasing killing intent on us—how ungrateful. Dean, Erlong Dean, what kind of spirit ring did Third Brother absorb to make him so agitated?"
Flender sighed heavily.
"A Mandala Snake King over fifty thousand years old... but instead of enhancing his martial soul, all its attributes have decreased by 30%. When he uses his Martial Soul Avatar, the toxins from the martial soul even backlash against him."
Ma Hongjun's small eyes widened in shock, his plump face full of disbelief.
"How could that happen? Absorbing a spirit ring should make him stronger, not weaker. A Mandala Snake King of that level... what a waste."
Dai Mubai's gaunt face also revealed surprise.
"If that's the case, isn't Xiao San crippled now? With his Martial Soul Avatar unusable and Blue Silver Grass weakened, how can he save Xiao Wu?"
Hearing their words, Yu Xiaogang's face twisted. The remarks pierced his pride, pushing him to the edge.
"There must be some mistake! My research is flawless!" he shouted, storming off toward the academy.
Yu Xiaogang was determined to reorganize his notes and prove that his theories were correct.
Liu Erlong watched him leave, worry clouding her face. She feared that Yu Xiaogang's stubborn obsession would eventually break him. The catastrophe that befell Tang San was a direct result of Yu Xiaogang's misjudgment—an unbearable burden for him.
But Yu Xiaogang wasn't the only one on the verge of collapse. Tang San, too, was unraveling.
---
On the rooftop of the teaching building, where no one else was present, Tang San stood alone. He summoned his martial soul, watching the grotesque Blue Silver Grass slither out like monstrous tentacles.
His vacant gaze lingered as memories flashed through his mind—the unwavering dedication of a lifetime, the countless hours of training—only to find himself forever trapped beneath Wang Li's shadow.
He still remembered the scorn once heaped on Wang Li—a so-called waste with a mutated Blue Silver Grass, locked in petty squabbles with Wang Sheng. But everything had changed.
Wang Li became an insurmountable mountain, casting his shadow over Tang San's world.
Now, when Tang San thought back to Wang Li's sapphire-like Blue Silver Grass—so vibrant, so majestic—he realized how grotesque his own martial soul had become.
His face darkened, and he let out a furious roar:
"Yu Xiaogang, you ruined me! Blue Silver Grass was never meant to be like this! My first martial soul is crippled... my second martial soul is sealed because of it... A mere Spirit Saint, my strength declining instead of rising—how can I avenge my father, rescue Xiao Wu, or surpass Wang Li?!"
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Eight four-meter-long spider legs burst from his back—pale white bones glinting with a blood-red sheen, radiating a sinister, malevolent aura.
A gray film clouded Tang San's eyes. When the sunlight hit him, his shadow on the rooftop was no longer human—it was the twisted silhouette of a humanoid spider.
"Kill..."
---
That night.
Tang San stood outside Yu Xiaogang's room, his foot slamming into the door. The wooden panel shattered with a loud bang, jolting Yu Xiaogang awake.
Tang San stepped inside, his cold gaze locking onto his teacher. Yu Xiaogang's initial panic subsided, replaced by irritation.
"Xiao San, what are you doing breaking down my door in the middle of the night?"
Tang San's figure blurred, and the Eight Spider Lances shot out from his back. His voice dripped with mockery.
"Yu Xiaogang... you're a failure—a failure among failures. What kind of spirit beasts did you choose for me? Damn you... you've ruined my Blue Silver Grass."
"My strength is regressing, and I can't attach spirit rings to my second martial soul. You've trapped me at the Spirit Saint level... How am I supposed to survive Slaughter City? It's all because of you—this useless trash!"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes reddened. For years, others had ridiculed him as trash. Now, even his own disciple echoed those same words, shattering the fragile defenses of his mind.
Shaking uncontrollably, Yu Xiaogang's voice was hoarse with rage as he roared:
"Tang San, you ungrateful wretch! Have you forgotten all I've done for you? My guidance, the soul rings I helped you acquire? Without my orders, you'd have had to wait another year. The teachers at Nuoding Academy would've only helped you find a ten-year-old Soul Ring!"
Tang San summoned his martial soul, and the grotesque Blue Silver Grass spread out like monstrous tendrils. He coldly replied:
"Even a ten-year-old Blue Silver Grass would be better than the hundred-year Mandala Snake, as the first soul ring. Yu Xiaogang, without me, you'd have been killed by that Mandala Snake long ago. You're a useless waste. If not for my abilities, you would've been eaten by snakes. It was my foolishness to ever think you were worthy of being my teacher."
"Now, let me show you the soul beasts and abilities you picked for me. First Soul Skill: Blue Silver Bind. Fourth Soul Skill: Spider Stinger. Sixth Soul Skill: Bloodlust Absorption."
Tang San unleashed three soul skills in quick succession. Despite his Blue Silver Grass's attributes being reduced by 30% after absorbing the seventh soul ring, he could still easily crush Yu Xiaogang, a 29th-level Great Soul Master.
Yu Xiaogang was taken aback, not expecting Tang San to act so violently. He immediately summoned his martial soul, but the Luosanshou, his Soul Beast, was far too weak. The beast barely appeared before it was tangled up by Blue Silver Grass.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang himself was pierced through the limbs and ribs by the thorn-like Blue Silver Grass, lifted into the air. The Bloodlust Absorption, a soul skill from the Bloodthirsty Spider, began to drain his blood.
Yu Xiaogang let out a shrill, pig-like scream. Though Tang San hadn't struck any vital areas, the sensation of his blood being drained, combined with the spreading toxins, was far worse.
Tang San watched with a twisted smile, his laugh manic as he reveled in the moment. He had finally released his pent-up frustration. He slowly approached Yu Xiaogang.
"Yu Xiaogang, you're a waste, a complete failure. If not for you, my father—an Ultimate Douluo—would have made me a hundred times, a thousand times more glorious than I am now!"
Yu Xiaogang gasped in fear, regret flooding his heart. He had never imagined his own disciple would do this. Bitterly, he muttered:
"I should never have taken you as my disciple. If I had taken Wang Li instead, with his mutated Blue Silver Grass and my guidance, I would have already been a great success, admired by everyone."
"Don't ever mention him again!"
Tang San, enraged, had always lived in the shadow of Wang Li. He blamed Wang Li for stealing everything from him. Without Wang Li, he would not have been like this.
"I'll kill you, and you will die!"
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Eight four-meter-long spider legs shot out, each one piercing Yu Xiaogang's vital points, deep into his flesh, even passing through him.
"Ah!"
With one last agonized cry, Yu Xiaogang's life force was completely consumed by Tang San.
"Xiaogang!"
Two voices, frantic and full of shock, broke the silence. Flender and Liu Erlong, hearing the scream, rushed to Yu Xiaogang's quarters.
But they arrived too late. They were greeted by the horrific sight of Yu Xiaogang, his body now a hollow shell, drained of all life. The once-living man had been turned into a mere corpse.
The scene was terrifying, brutal, and merciless...
"Tang San!"
Flender's face was filled with murderous intent, while Liu Erlong's eyes glinted with fury. Despite the betrayal and ruin Yu Xiaogang and Tang San had caused to Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang had been their friend for decades. They had accepted the situation, but now, seeing him murdered so brutally, they couldn't hold back their rage.
Boom! Boom!
In an instant, both Flender and Liu Erlong activated their martial souls, each with seven soul rings, both at the rank of High Soul Saint. They launched a furious attack on Tang San, summoning wind blades and flames that tore through the room, scattering books everywhere, reducing them to dust.
Tang San, however, wasn't one to be easily subdued. Using his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he leapt through the window, his voice cold as he called back:
"Flender, Liu Erlong, I killed Yu Xiaogang because he destroyed my Blue Silver Grass martial soul. It's my own fault for choosing him as a teacher. If you want to oppose me, don't blame me for what happens next."
Flender's voice was thunderous:
"You, who killed your own master, don't deserve to be human! He sacrificed so much for you, and you repaid him with murder! I'll kill you! Seventh Soul Skill: Cat Eagle Transformation!"
Liu Erlong screamed:
"Tang San, for killing Xiaogang, I will make you pay with your life! Seventh Soul Skill: Red Dragon Transformation!"
Both immediately gave chase, activating their martial soul avatars. They were filled with murderous intent, leaving no room for mercy.
Tang San glared at the two approaching figures, a cat eagle and a red dragon. His eyes were bloodshot with hatred. He despised the fact that while other Soul Saints could use their martial soul avatars without consequence, for him, using his would poison him first.
"You two have chosen your own path to death..."
(End of Chapter)