Soul Land: I Am the True Grandmaster

Chapter 215: The Cost and the Gain

"Your Eminence, I truly had no idea," Yu Xiaogang continued to insist, trying to sound as genuine as possible. To bolster his defense, he even summoned Luo San Pao, his somewhat pathetic spirit companion. "Take a look, Your Eminence does my martial spirit look anything like it could handle lightning attributes? Since childhood, it's been clear I'm not suited to train in a lightning natured environment. If it weren't for the guidance of Master Ye Wen, I'd still be stuck at level 29."

Tang Hao gave Luo San Pao a once over, unimpressed by the clumsy creature. Internally, he began to wonder if he might have misjudged Yu Xiaogang. With a snort of irritation, he decided to drop the matter. At least he'd discovered the issue in time.

"Since we're aware of the problem, ensure that Tang San's training continues safely using the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's resources. You're able to manage that, aren't you?" Tang Hao commanded coldly.

Yu Xiaogang immediately bowed, fawning, "Yes, yes, Your Eminence. Since you've asked, I'll make all the necessary arrangements for Tang San."

With a final huff of irritation, Tang Hao left the room, leaving Yu Xiaogang to stand there, his face twitching in barely concealed frustration.

Damn you, Tang Hao.

The entire Shrek team, including Tang San, had now settled into Thunderclap Academy. Given the academy's ties to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, there were plenty of suitable training facilities, and though they often felt out of place, they did their best to adjust.

Tang San endured his rigorous training in silence, his mind haunted by the memory of Ye Tianshui's decisive victory. Every time he meditated, he saw her face, her smirk. This image alone fueled his resolve, even as his training took a brutal toll on his body.

"Not enough… not nearly enough," he repeated to himself each night as he cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Skill. His body was covered with red and blistered lines from exposure to the academy's constant low level lightning field, his skin scorched to a dark, blistered hue, giving him an almost charred appearance.

Despite the physical toll, Tang San barely seemed to notice, the desire for power driving him to push beyond his limits. His self discipline slowly spiraled into a frenzied, masochistic obsession. Any traditional martial arts master witnessing Tang San's state would have immediately recognized this as a clear case of qi deviation.

Watching from the shadows, Tang Hao was disturbed. It was becoming clear that this rigorous training was more than his son could handle alone. He could only hope the clan's specialized medicinal baths would help Tang San recover without lasting harm.

In a world where medicine was only beginning to develop, thanks to Ye Wen's influence, the clan's herbal remedies were highly valued, even without considering the rarity of the ingredients. Fortunately, Tang Hao had the sense not to demand these treatments outright, or there would've been a fierce conflict.

With the aid of these medicinal baths, Tang San's body eventually began to recover. The raw burns and scars left from the constant electrical exposure faded, leaving only faint traces of his ordeal. Tang Hao was satisfied. As long as Tang San could continue training, any lingering scars were of little consequence.

In the blink of an eye, a year passed. Tang San, though now permanently tanned from the effects of the electricity, had finally seen the fruits of his relentless training. Summoning his Blue Silver Vine martial spirit, he observed faint streaks of lightning coursing along its tendrils, illuminating his expression with an odd blend of pride and determination.

"Teacher, look my father was right. My martial spirit has evolved," Tang San said, his teeth flashing in a bright contrast to his darkened skin.

Yu Xiaogang observed Tang San, his expression complex. If it weren't for Tang Hao's feud with his clan, this disciple of his could bring him unprecedented renown. But then, this transformation was nothing particularly new. Plants taking on elemental attributes had been known to happen, and Ye Wen's Theory of Origins had thoroughly explained the process by which human martial spirits could undergo such metamorphoses.

Despite his inner indifference, Yu Xiaogang forced a pleased smile. "Congratulations, Tang San."

After a pause, he added, "But be careful. Constant exposure to the lightning environment has allowed your spirit to evolve, yes, but it has limits. No need to overdo it. Speaking of which, there's an upcoming All Continent Advanced Spirit Master Tournament. Shall we take a break from training and watch the tournament together?"

The thought of getting away from his training, even briefly, was tempting. And as Tang San agreed, a familiar image appeared in his mind an indelible memory of his last battle with Ye Tianshui.

"Alright, teacher," Tang San replied.

Yu Xiaogang's smile grew. Young people are so easily motivated.

According to the original trajectory, this tournament would have been the stage for Tang San and Shrek Academy to shine. But now, at just level 37, he found himself reduced to the role of spectator. Though he told himself that appearances didn't matter, he still wore a cloak and mask to hide his darkened appearance, his confidence shaken.

Watching the tournament from afar, he caught sight of her. There she was, standing tall and proud, effortlessly cutting through her opponents. It was as though the tournament had become her personal exhibition.

"So powerful…" Tang San murmured.

Despite his own advancements, Tang San felt no closer to matching Ye Tianshui. Even with the added lightning attribute to his spirit and the completion of his Zhuge Divine Crossbow, the gap between them remained insurmountable.

Sensing Tang San's frustration, Yu Xiaogang offered a consoling pat on his shoulder. "Don't let it discourage you. This world will always have extraordinary talents that defy common logic. That's just reality."

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