C11 Bet

On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, the only place where a Human Soul Master could safely spend the night.

In a modest courtyard, Yu Tianlang was seated in meditation beside a well, deeply absorbed in the process of integrating an external soul bone.

Yu Xiaogaang and Tang San were quietly conversing at the edge of the courtyard, while Ye Cann fiddled with the Blue Electric Dagger gifted to him by Yu Tianlang, inwardly expressing his gratitude for choosing to live with Yu Tianlang. Without this alliance, he knew that no amount of effort would have allowed him to rise swiftly within the Douluo Continent.

The cultivation resources for Soul Masters were largely monopolized by three dominant organizations, leaving few civilian Soul Masters with sufficient means.

These were the Martial Soul Hall, the most prestigious organization on the Douluo Continent; the Soul Master Academy, a symbol of the Empire; and the Soul Master Sects, enigmatic entities hidden within the depths of the mountains. Each of these organizations controlled territories inhabited by Soul Beasts.

Looking ahead, Ye Cann understood that to navigate the Douluo Continent, he would need the backing of a steadfast and powerful figure. Although a Soul Emperor might not be the pinnacle of combat strength on the continent, such an ally could shield Ye Cann from numerous troubles. Besides, his limited knowledge of the Douluo Continent made the guidance of a Soul Emperor as his mentor an exceptionally wise choice.

Moreover, Yu Tianlang had the unassailable Blue Lightning Overlord Sect standing behind him—one of the Shangsan Sect.

Tang San endured daily torment within the courtyard, disliking the dependency that came with living under another's roof. Moreover, there seemed to be a profound connection between the energy in the courtyard and his own Martial Spirit, almost as if they were adversaries. When practicing the Mysterious Heaven Method, he could sense the flow of Soul Power within him becoming markedly sluggish.

"Teacher, when will we be able to continue acquiring Soul Rings?" Tang San inquired.

Yu Xiaogaang heaved a sigh. Had circumstances not forced his hand, he would have preferred not to stay with this uncle from the sect.

"The turmoil in the Star Dou Great Forest won't persist beyond two days. The king of this forest is no ordinary character," Yu Xiaogaang reassured, patting Tang San's head. "Until you secure a Soul Ring, the Soul Power you cultivate will accumulate within you, never dissipating. Once you obtain a Soul Ring, that stored Soul Power will be unleashed."

The growth of Soul Power is not constrained by the acquisition of Soul Rings, which is one of Yu Xiaogaang's ten core theories. He challenged the long-held belief on the Douluo Continent that ordinary academies and sects must secure Soul Rings for Soul Masters when they hit a Soul Power bottleneck, to facilitate their continued cultivation. However, Yu Xiaogaang's experiments revealed that a Soul Master's Soul Power can continue to grow even without a Soul Ring.

Ye Cann's gaze settled on Tang San, curious about the son of the Douluo Continent's Plane. When Tang San caught Ye Cann's eye, he instinctively dodged before squaring his shoulders and extending a hand, introducing himself, "I'm Tang San from Holy Spirit Village, a level ten Soul Warrior, and my martial spirit is Bluesilver Grass."

Ye Cann scoffed, "Bluesilver Grass Martial Spirit? Nothing but a useless martial soul."

Tang San's expression darkened as he retorted, "I will become the strongest on the Douluo Continent! Even with what you call a 'useless' Martial Spirit! And I don't believe Bluesilver Grass is useless at all!"

With a helpless shrug, Ye Cann replied, "How could a Soul Master with innate full Soul Power awaken a useless Martial Spirit? Do you really see your Bluesilver Grass as trash? It's like the Wind Baboon I killed – a mere ten-year Soul Beast, yet capable of producing a Soul Bone."

Before Tang San could continue, Yu Xiaogaang stepped forward, cutting him off, "There's no such thing as the most useless Martial Spirit, only the most useless Soul Master. What does it matter if his Martial Spirit is Bluesilver Grass? I'm confident that in three years, San will undoubtedly be the strongest among his peers across the Douluo Continent."

Three years later, Ye Cann mused with an inward smile. In that time, Tang San's progress was neither exceedingly fast nor slow. He graduated from Notting Academy and joined Shrek Academy, becoming one of the Shrek Seven Monsters. His Soul Power reached the level of a Soul Sovereign. His skills in launching surprise attacks with weapons had also improved markedly, giving him the potential to change the fate of the entire continent.

"The strongest?" Ye Cann scoffed. "In three years, forget about beating his peers across the Douluo Continent, he might not even be able to defeat me."

Tang San chuckled softly. "A Soul Master nearly killed by a ninety-year-old Wind Baboon—what heights can he reach in three years?"

Tang San and Yu Xiaogaang had seen Ye Cann's narrow victory over the Wind Baboon in the Star Dou Great Forest. Luck played a big part in Ye Cann's triumph; had the Netherworld Cat not intervened, Ye Cann might have perished at the creature's hands.

"Are you Tang San? Care to wager with me? In three years, we'll have a showdown on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. The loser must fulfill any one demand of the winner."

"I accept your challenge," Tang San replied firmly. "In three years, let's meet right here. Make sure you show up."

"It's a deal!"

"It's a deal," echoed Tang San.

Yu Xiaogaang initially wanted to dissuade Tang San and Ye Cann from their bet, but after some thought, he relented.

Tang San was his chosen disciple, a Twin martial spirits Soul Master with Innate full soul power. If, after three years, Tang San couldn't surpass a Soul Master who had absorbed a ten-year Soul Ring, Yu Xiaogaang, as his master, would be disgraced.

"Exactly! Youth should be full of such spirit! A Soul Master must grow through combat. Hiding away in academies and sects will never forge an independent man. Xiaogaang, Ye Cann is my disciple, and the young man over there is yours. We can't miss out on their wager."

"Uncle Tianlang, I wouldn't presume to bet against you," Yu Xiaogaang demurred.

"We're merely the mentors of those two young men. Their bet is hardly interesting. Let's raise the stakes with a wager of our own!"

"I'll defer to your judgment, Uncle Tianlang!"

Yu Tianlang's face twisted into a sly grin as he declared, "If my disciple loses, I'll gift your disciple with a special Soul Technique from the White-Eyed Azure Dragon."

What?

The White-Eyed Azure Dragon stands apart from other Martial Souls in that it possesses the unique ability to bestow its Soul Techniques upon other Soul Masters. Naturally, the efficacy of this gift is amplified by the master's own Soul Power. A Soul Emperor has the capacity to grant a single Soul Technique at most.

"So, what is Uncle Tianlang seeking to obtain from us?"

"I need..."