Chapter 52: The Grandmaster Is a Fraud

Ding! Side quest "Challenge Tournament" completed. Rewards have been distributed!

In an instant, soul power surged within Meng Bei, quickly propelling him to the threshold of level 50.

That evening, the Shrek team gathered in their hotel for dinner. Around the table, everyone seemed hesitant to speak, yet a mix of curiosity and disbelief hung in the air.

Unexpectedly, Dai Mubai was the first to break the silence.

"Meng Bei, your cultivation…?"

Meng Bei instantly understood what Dai Mubai was asking.

The rest of the Shrek students were equally eager to know the answer.

They all remembered that it wasn't long ago when Meng Bei was only at level 30, as they had helped him hunt for his third soul ring. Now, he had not only surpassed level 40 but also absorbed a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring.

The speed of his advancement wasn't just extraordinary—it was outright ridiculous.

Everyone gazed at Meng Bei, desperate to know the secret behind his rapid cultivation.

Meng Bei, however, simply shook his head, placed a finger to his lips, and made a "shushing" gesture.

"Sorry, everyone. This is a family secret of the Meng Clan and cannot be shared with outsiders. All I can say is that this method doesn't damage one's foundation, but it's not easy—it requires tremendous effort. Please don't press me for more."

With that, Meng Bei fell silent and refused to say another word.

The others were itching with curiosity, but since Meng Bei wouldn't elaborate, they felt too embarrassed to press further.

Moreover, upon learning it was a family secret, they became even more reluctant to pry.

Only Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing looked particularly serious. Unlike the others, they seemed determined to delve deeper into the matter.

Their situations were unique—they faced intense royal competition. The crown prince, Davis, and Zhu Zhuqing's older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, were six years older than them and far ahead in soul power.

While others had ample time to grow, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had little room for future development.

If Davis ascended the throne, Dai Mubai might not be executed, but he certainly wouldn't be allowed to grow into a Title Douluo. The best outcome would be to have his cultivation crippled and live as a powerless royal.

Since Zhu Zhuqing was Dai Mubai's designated princess consort, their fates were intertwined. If Dai Mubai fell, her future would also be bleak.

Thus, the two of them were particularly eager to learn Meng Bei's cultivation method.

If they could raise their soul power by ten levels, they could almost catch up to Davis's strength.

Dai Mubai repeatedly attempted to probe Meng Bei for answers, but Meng Bei was steadfast, keeping the secret tightly guarded. Frustrated, Dai Mubai could only fume helplessly.

On the other hand, Tang San already knew about Meng Bei's unique cultivation method. Although envious, he understood that the technique was exclusive to Meng Bei's martial soul, the Snow Rabbit, and was not applicable to his own.

However, he was particularly intrigued by Meng Bei's fourth soul ring.

"Meng Bei, how did you manage to absorb a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring? Isn't the maximum limit for the fourth soul ring supposed to be five thousand years?"

Tang San asked seriously.

Meng Bei pondered for a moment and quickly came up with a way to annoy the Grandmaster.

Feigning surprise, he looked at Tang San.

"Third Brother, you mean you didn't know? As far as I know, didn't your third soul ring already exceed its limit?"

Tang San scratched his head awkwardly and chuckled.

"Well, Meng Bei, I really don't know much about it. My third soul ring was absorbed under unique circumstances."

"Is that so?" Meng Bei pretended to think for a moment before speaking.

"Third Brother, was this 'maximum soul ring limit' derived from the Grandmaster's Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls?"

Tang San nodded.

Meng Bei smirked knowingly and began explaining.

Before continuing, he planted a seed of doubt in Tang San's mind.

"Third Brother, this isn't a complicated matter. Among noble families, it's practically an open secret. However, given your humble upbringing and long-time studies under the Grandmaster, it makes sense that you wouldn't know."

As expected, Tang San's expression immediately darkened.

Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the others perked up their ears, eager to hear more.

Seeing their reactions, Meng Bei began.

"Simply put, the so-called 'maximum soul ring limits' are based on historical records of soul masters' achievements in absorbing soul rings. As understanding of martial souls deepened, these records have continuously improved over time."

Fearing Tang San wouldn't believe him, Meng Bei sought corroboration.

"Dai Mubai, the Star Luo royal family must have records like these, right?"

Dai Mubai nodded. "Yes, these records from past soul masters have always been our benchmark for determining soul ring limits."

Meng Bei then turned to Tai Long, who also nodded.

As a member of the Strength Clan, Tai Long's family naturally had similar records.

At this point, Tang San's expression grew grim. With his intelligence, he had already pieced together the truth.

Meng Bei confirmed Tang San's suspicions.

"The Grandmaster, being of noble origin, compiled these historical records into a cohesive framework, which he then published as the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls."

Tang San's chest heaved with anger.

The Grandmaster had never mentioned this to him.

Meng Bei's words made Tang San feel like a clown, manipulated by the Grandmaster all these years.

Tang San stood up furiously.

"So, Meng Bei, you're saying the Grandmaster is a fraud? He simply compiled these records into his Ten Core Competencies and presented them as universal standards, even though these records were human achievements and can be surpassed. Is that right?"

Meng Bei secretly chuckled but chose to counter Tang San's outburst.

"Third Brother, how can you say that? The Grandmaster is your teacher; you shouldn't call him a fraud!"

"Moreover, while these records can be surpassed by geniuses, they're still invaluable benchmarks for ordinary soul masters."

Tang San's face contorted with frustration.

He was a genius!

With innate full soul power, twin martial souls, and mastery of Tang Sect techniques, he could easily break these so-called limits.

If his third soul ring, a 2,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider, was manageable, then his first and second rings could have been much stronger.

He could've aimed for a 500-year first ring and a 1,000-year second ring.

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