After Tang Hao and Tang San bid each other farewell, Xiao Lin and Tang San returned to their ordinary daily lives.
With his current strength completely crushing Tang San in every aspect, Xiao Lin found himself a new research topic: the matter regarding External Soul Bones.
Specifically, how to guarantee an External Soul Bone drop from a Soul Beast already confirmed to possess one.
He was talking about none other than the Man-Faced Demon Spider. If Xiao Lin's research proved successful, he would let everything unfold according to the original plot.
The Eight Spider Lances would go to Tang San, and he would personally pocket the External Soul Bone from the Evil Eye Tyrant later on.
However, if his research failed to find a guaranteed method, he would take the Eight Spider Lances for himself and leave the Evil Eye Tyrant for Tang San.
Xiao Lin couldn't possibly give up on an External Soul Bone capable of evolving into a Divine Tool.
Similarly, there was no reason for his good brother Tang San to miss out on having one either. But if he were to take the Eight Spider Lances himself, Xiao Lin needed to think about which traits of the Man-Faced Demon Spider he truly desired.
Considering the compatibility between the Man-Faced Demon Spider and himself, the only Soul Skill he could think of that fit well was something like a "Spider-Sense."
Knowing that the probability of an External Soul Bone appearing in an ordinary Soul Beast was less than one in ten thousand, Xiao Lin was determined not to let it go.
Once one achieved Godhood, an extra External Soul Bone was equivalent to having an additional Divine Tool.
As far as Xiao Lin knew, there were only about five notable External Soul Bones: the Eight Spider Lances, Bibi Dong's wings, the Dark Gold Terror Claw, the Evil Eye, and his own Small Ox Horns.
Though he wasn't entirely sure why, Xiao Lin felt that External Soul Bones only dropped from extremely rare Soul Beasts.
For instance, his soul ring Vajra Giant Ox—while perhaps not as rare as he imagined—was already extraordinary for being a Soul Beast that possessed both "Vigor" and "Vajra" traits. Even the Vajra Tiger absorbed by Dai Mubai's Evil-Eyed White Tiger only possessed the "Vajra" attribute.
Then there was the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
It was said to possess a Devouring attribute and a bloodthirsty nature, making it a pariah among Soul Beasts, constantly hunted by others.
This alone spoke to its rarity.
Speaking of rare Soul Beasts, they reminded Xiao Lin of an even more elusive creature: the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
A sixty-thousand-year Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had nearly killed Tang San back then. It should have an External Soul Bone too, right? Was it the tail, or that thing like a Devilgod Bead?
Tang San hadn't obtained it back then—could it be because the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's External Soul Bone had slipped away to another world?
Who was that protagonist who kept building a harem?
Xiao Lin had long forgotten those names, but the protagonist of that book supposedly rose to power after obtaining something from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. In the end, he even achieved Godhood with Tang San's help, didn't he?
Xiao Lin decided that no matter what, he had to obtain this Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. If it truly had an External Soul Bone, he would help Tang San capture it and give that specific bone to him.
He, Xiao Lin, would just have to work a bit harder and absorb both the Eight Spider Lances and the Evil Eye.
Three External Soul Bones, three Divine Tools—a Trinity.
Absolutely invincible.
Even if Xiao Lin only had his Horned Dragon Staff martial soul, would three Divine Tools make him any lesser than Tang San?
The Eight Spider Lances would evolve into Divine Wings to grant him speed. The Small Ox Horns would evolve into a Divine Laser to grant him power. The Evil Eye would evolve into the Eye of God to boost his Mental Power.
Sss—!
Xiao Lin couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. He didn't even need to figure out how to force the drop anymore; he could just absorb the Man-Faced Demon Spider directly!
But then a problem arose: he couldn't settle for just a "Peter Tingle" Soul Skill.
Perhaps the Man-Faced Demon Spider's speed was actually decent? Otherwise, it wouldn't be able to escape the hunts of other Soul Beasts—it couldn't possibly be counter-killing them every single time, right?
Thinking about it, Xiao Lin realized that might actually be the case. Since it eventually evolved into the Sea God Wings for Tang San, there was no way it wasn't proficient in speed. How could something with eight legs be slow?
If I absorb it...
Xiao Lin's mind began to wander.
A two-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider would definitely be much faster than a Rank 20 Soul Grandmaster like himself. It would be perfectly normal to awaken a speed-type Soul Skill.
Based on the spider's attack speed and style, Xiao Lin theorized he might get one of two skills: First, a lightning-fast "Spiderweb-style" physical attack, where his Horned Dragon Staff would create overlapping shadows like a celestial net.
Second, a high-speed energy attack—an energy spiderweb defense via his Vajra Body, or perhaps razor-thin webs combined with Vajra energy to create incredible cutting power.
His Soul Skill might even carry a bit of poison.
However, Xiao Lin was never worried about poison affecting his own body. First, he had Tang San, a master of poisons and antidotes; second, he would have the Eight Spider Lances, which possessed both extreme toxicity and the Devouring ability.
The only issue was that the compatibility between the Man-Faced Demon Spider and Xiao Lin was still a bit off. The enhancement to his physical body certainly wouldn't be as exaggerated as his first Soul Skill.
But with an External Soul Bone on the line, why would he care about the "bicycle" (minor details)? The two-stage strengthening of his Tool Spirit Avatar would be enough to ensure his speed wasn't inferior to Agility-type Soul Masters.
No, I still need to think of a way. The Soul Ring compatibility is just too poor.
He remembered that Huo Yuhao's Dark Gold Terror Claw was something that no one else could absorb, which was why it was gifted to him. Could he do something similar?
Once he had more or less settled his plans for the Man-Faced Demon Spider, Xiao Lin finally found the time to continue researching the possibility of Tang San's "Food-system Blue Silver Grass."
Nuoding City, Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy.
Inside a private office, Yu Xiaogang was trembling all over, his eyes filled with fury as he stared at the manuscript in his hand.
He had been rejected!
He was the "Grandmaster"!
Looking at the reply from the Spirit Journal, Yu Xiaogang almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
"We apologize, but your theories do not meet the requirements of the Spirit Journal. You may try submitting to journals in other cities."
Rejected! They actually dared to reject my manuscript!
Do you even know who I am? Is my research on Blue Silver Grass cultivation and Soul Ring absorption not logical enough? Is this not my 'Optimal Soul Ring Configuration' and 'Optimal Soul Ring Selection'?
Yu Xiaogang felt his pride wounded. He nearly tore the manuscript to shreds.
Damn it! Truly damn it!
Over the past few days, Yu Xiaogang had overheard other teachers whispering behind his back and belittling him. Not only did he ignore them, but he also held his head high, treating them with utter disdain.
A lion does not feel distressed by the mockery of mice.
But that was only because he believed his theories would be immensely popular and become a bestseller across the continent. Now that this had happened, didn't it make him look like a shameless fool?
I am the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang!
Yu Xiaogang's heart was filled with resentment. He was deeply dissatisfied with the editors of Spirit Hall for failing to recognize a shining pearl like himself.
Fine, fine! Since it's come to this, I won't hide it anymore. I'm laying my cards on the table. I am the Grandmaster!
This time, I will sign my name clearly on it. Let's see if you still dare to reject me.
He looked at the crumpled manuscript and frowned. A messy paper like this will make me look petty. I can't let others know I lost my temper.
While the Soul Ring selection for Blue Silver Grass is perfect, it's my fault—hardly anyone can cultivate a trash spirit like Blue Silver Grass. How about I write about Staff-type martial souls this time? What will you do then, Spirit Hall?
Hmph. As for that Tang San... as soon as I reveal the secret of his Twin Martial Souls, he will naturally worship me.
Yu Xiaogang sat back down in his office chair and began writing the Soul Ring configuration for Staff-type martial souls.