"What?! How is that possible?!"
Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted sharply.
A breakthrough… becoming a Spirit Elder?
This was something he had dreamed of for decades.
"Just relying on external items—how could they possibly have such an effect…?"
"I've struggled for so many years without success. Why should eating a few precious herbs suddenly make it possible?"
He was incredulous—no, he found it hard to accept.
Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Yu Xiaogang pointed at the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd.
"Then what about this one?"
"This… I'm not completely sure either."
Tang San took the gourd and examined it carefully for a long time, his brows gradually knitting together.
"Judging from its aura alone, this gourd is even more precious than the ninth-grade purple ganoderma."
After searching his memories thoroughly, he spoke with some uncertainty.
"This should be the legendary Earth Dragon Golden Gourd. It seems to enhance strength, defense, and spirit power—and it can strengthen dragon bloodlines."
"In terms of grade alone, it surpasses the ninth-grade purple ganoderma. It's a legendary Immortal-grade herb."
In his previous life within the Tang Sect, no one had ever obtained such an item, and records about it were extremely scarce.
Tang San paused, then spoke decisively.
"Teacher, if you consume either of these, it should help you break through Level 29 and become a Spirit Elder."
"Little San is right."
Flender suddenly chimed in.
"Xiaogang, these two items can help you break through—and they can also help Luo San Pao evolve."
"Boss Flender… where did you get such precious things?"
Yu Xiaogang looked at him with difficulty.
If what the two of them said was true, the value of these items was simply immeasurable.
"I… obtained them by chance," Flender replied after a brief hesitation, deliberately avoiding any mention of Liu Erlong.
"You consume the ninth-grade purple ganoderma to break through Level 30."
"Then give the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd to Luo San Pao. It should allow its martial spirit to evolve."
"…."
Yu Xiaogang fell silent.
Of course he wanted to break through. He had dreamed of it for half his life.
But relying on external items—and such priceless treasures at that…
"The Dean's plan is reasonable, but I think there are risks."
Tang San suddenly spoke.
"What?"
Both Flender and Yu Xiaogang turned to him.
"The ninth-grade purple ganoderma is second only to Immortal-grade herbs. Its medicinal effects might conflict with the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd. Before spending decades fully digesting one, it's best not to take another."
"And letting Luo San Pao consume the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd… will it really work?"
Tang San's words plunged both men into deep thought.
Yes—giving the even more precious Earth Dragon Golden Gourd to Luo San Pao…
If it didn't work, wouldn't that be a terrible waste?
That unreliable Luo San Pao could release gas just from eating a radish.
What if it simply expelled the herb's effects the same way?
Neither of them noticed the faint, dark glint that flashed through Tang San's eyes.
Sorry, Teacher. Sorry, Dean.
To find Xiao Wu—to protect Xiao Wu—I need power.
"How about this?" Flender suggested after some thought.
"Xiaogang, you eat the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd, and Luo San Pao eats the ninth-grade purple ganoderma."
"Or we wait until the effects of the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd stabilize, then you take the purple ganoderma."
"I've decided."
After a long silence, Yu Xiaogang finally made up his mind.
He directly pushed the ninth-grade purple ganoderma into Tang San's hands.
"I'll eat the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd. The ninth-grade purple ganoderma is for you, Little San."
"Te—Teacher?!"
Tang San looked up sharply, his face filled with disbelief.
"Xiaogang, you—!"
Flender was equally stunned.
This wasn't right at all.
Such a precious treasure—if you weren't going to eat it yourself, shouldn't you at least leave one for him or Erlong?
If either of them consumed it, they might leap several levels at once and even directly prepare to hunt their eighth spirit rings!
"Enough!"
Yu Xiaogang said firmly.
"I'm not young anymore. Even if I break through by relying on these herbs, I won't have much room to go further."
"To avoid wasting it on Luo San Pao, the ninth-grade purple ganoderma will go to you."
"You are my pride, Little San. You must become strong—and prove your teacher right!"
"Yes, Teacher! I definitely will!"
Amid the surge of emotion, a trace of guilt welled up in Tang San's heart.
If the two herbs had gone to Teacher and Luo San Pao respectively, then even at his age, Teacher might have had a chance to aim for the Titled Douluo realm.
But now, because of his words, that possibility had been greatly reduced.
Still—
"Teacher, I'm sorry… but I'm not wrong."
"When I become strong and find Xiao Wu, I'll definitely find even more precious herbs for Luo San Pao to repay you!"
Tang San resolved silently.
"Enough talk. I'll eat first. You two guard me."
Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and demonstrated exactly what it meant to devour a gourd in three bites.
He sat down cross-legged at once and began refining the medicinal power.
The moment the energy entered his body, a radiant glow spread across him.
Yu Xiaogang's brows tightened. His skin flushed red, as though his bloodline had been ignited by fire.
His frail body rapidly strengthened.
At the same time, the dull-witted Luo San Pao was summoned unconsciously.
It looked around in confusion, then suddenly trembled as light burst forth from its body.
"This is…?!"
Flender and Tang San were both shaken.
They watched as the originally ugly Luo San Pao erupted with golden radiance. Within the light, its body expanded, its shape stretching and transforming until it was almost unrecognizable.
Its form lengthened, becoming sleek and agile, releasing a terrifying pressure.
"Could this be… the Golden Sacred Dragon?"
The scene instantly reminded Flender of the Golden Triangle's martial soul fusion skill.
Soon, the light faded.
What stood before Yu Xiaogang was no longer the pig-like creature that could only release gas.
It was a golden young dragon.
Though not large—and far inferior to the Golden Sacred Dragon formed through fusion—it had undeniably evolved.
"San… San Pao?"
Yu Xiaogang finally opened his eyes, calling out hesitantly.
"Ang~"
The golden young dragon lifted its head and let out a youthful dragon's cry, filled with closeness and dependence.
"San… San Pao…"
Yu Xiaogang's eyes grew moist.
He reached out and gently stroked the young dragon's head.
"Xiaogang!"
"Teacher—how do you feel?!"
Flender and Tang San asked anxiously.
"Very good… better than ever!"
Yu Xiaogang nodded excitedly, a smile finally appearing.
"I've successfully broken through!"
Not only had his martial spirit evolved, but his spirit power had also surged past Level 29—reaching Level 30!
Decades.
For decades, he had been mocked, despised, and labeled as "trash."
And now—
His martial spirit had evolved.
He had finally broken through Level 29.
He had finally risen!
Sure enough, Yu Xiaogang was not trash.
Even with only half a level of innate spirit power, he had relied on his own perseverance to break through the limits!
What he didn't know was that deep within his body, a faint green light flickered.
A strange purple toxin had already spread throughout him.
"Little San, you should take it quickly too!"
Yu Xiaogang urged eagerly.
"Alright! Then I'll take it."
Tang San took out the ninth-grade purple ganoderma.
He vaguely sensed that the herb was somewhat unusual, but didn't dwell on it.
In his previous life, he had only been an Outer Sect disciple—he had heard of many things, but it was impossible to have seen everything.
Especially after witnessing Yu Xiaogang's dramatic transformation, he didn't carefully probe for any hidden issues.
Without hesitation, Tang San swallowed the ninth-grade purple ganoderma in one gulp—
and began refining it.
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