"Alright," Master nodded slightly. "According to our original agreement, within one year, if your cultivation level or practical combat ability surpasses Tang San's, you win. If you fail to surpass him in both, I win. The wager doesn't need repeating, does it?"
"No, you just have to not welsh on the bet when you lose," Ao Tian said.
"Also," Ao Tian added, "Don't bother me again after this."
Master was a little surprised by Ao Tian's immense confidence, but he still said, "No problem. I'm a good sport, I can do that. I hope you can too."
"I wouldn't stoop to welshing on a bet with you," Ao Tian stated.
"So you're Ao Tian, huh? You've got a big mouth," the Headmaster, standing beside Master, said with interest.
Ao Tian glanced at him without answering.
"Let's begin," he said.
Gu Yue Na looked at Master, gave him a deep look, and then retreated to the side with Xiao Wu.
Master and Headmaster also stepped back a bit. The top of this slope was large enough, leaving ample space in the middle for Ao Tian and Tang San to fight.
She looks down on me. I wonder if she'll change her mind after this battle? Tang San subtly glanced at Gu Yue Na.
"Release your Martial Soul," Ao Tian said.
Tang San nodded. He raised his left hand, and with the surge of his soul power, a Blue Silver Grass with purple markings emerged from his palm and quickly grew, spreading outwards.
A yellow Soul Ring rose from under his feet, pulsating around his body.
"Tang San, Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, a Level 16 Control-type Soul Master. I'm here to learn!" Tang San's voice was clear and full of strong confidence.
He looked at Ao Tian and said, "Ao Tian, if your level isn't higher than mine, your only chance is to defeat me."
"What if my level is higher than yours? Would I just win outright?" Ao Tian asked with a smile.
Tang San was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "Impossible. I've never seen you cultivate. Even if you became a Soul Master before me, it's impossible for your cultivation to be higher than mine now."
Tang San already understood that his Mysterious Heaven Skill was far more efficient than the meditation methods of this world. He had cultivated diligently for the past year, while Ao Tian had wasted his time. How could they compare?
How could there possibly be someone in this world whose cultivation would increase without cultivation?
"Nothing is impossible," Ao Tian said. "But, I still want to fight you. Don't you want this chance too? If you defeat me, you can clear your shame and even win the favor of a beauty."
After saying this, Ao Tian glanced at Gu Yue Na.
How could Ao Tian not understand Tang San's little feelings for Gu Yue Na?
Gu Yue Na looked like a little girl, but the aura she exuded was enough to make people ignore her age.
It was not surprising that Tang San was attracted.
Being exposed like this by Ao Tian in front of so many people, even with Tang San's calm nature, he couldn't help but blush.
Even Master looked at his disciple in surprise, then at the unbelievably beautiful girl, and nodded secretly, a smile appearing on his face.
That girl was indeed outstanding, with an amazing appearance and powerful talent.
Annoyed, Tang San's voice couldn't help but become colder, and he said, "Then release your Martial Soul and let me see if your strength is as impressive as your words."
Ao Tian shook his head and said, "I didn't use my Martial Soul the last two times I defeated you, and it's the same this time."
"Arrogant!" Tang San sneered and stopped talking nonsense. A dozen thick Blue Silver Grass shot towards Ao Tian, like venomous Mandala Snakes.
Each vine of these Blue Silver Grass was as thick as an arm, and they instantly rushed in front of Ao Tian, binding him tightly, leaving only his head exposed.
"It's over," Master said with a faint smile.
"Something's not right. Why isn't Ao Tian resisting?" Headmaster frowned.
Master smiled and said, "It's normal. How many seven-year-olds can remain calm when they see these Blue Silver Grass, which are as fierce as venomous snakes?"
Headmaster nodded slightly, "You have insight."
Master said, "In situations where their cultivation is similar, Control-type Soul Masters are the strongest in a one-on-one fight. Ao Tian is bound by Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass, and the Blue Silver Grass is also coated with the paralyzing venom of the Mandala Snake. It's difficult for Ao Tian to resist now. I've precisely calculated that with Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass's current venom and resilience, even someone who has just broken through to the Soul Grand Master realm might not be able to break free from its restraints."
"Then congratulations," Headmaster said with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ao Tian's voice rang out, "Tang San, is this all the progress you've made in a year? The thorns on your Blue Silver Grass can't even pierce my skin."
Master and Headmaster then noticed that Tang San's expression was a bit off.
"Xiao San, what's going on?" Master asked.
Tang San didn't answer, controlling the Blue Silver Grass to tighten its grip with a serious expression.
His Blue Silver Grass was extremely tough, and under its terrifying binding force, not many people could withstand it.
Even without the effect of the paralyzing venom, as long as Ao Tian couldn't break free from his Blue Silver Grass, he would still win this match.
"I'm not playing anymore," Ao Tian said. His body gave a slight tremor, and the dozen or so thick Blue Silver Grass vines wrapped around him instantly shattered, sending fragments and leaves flying everywhere.
"How is that possible!" Master exclaimed first, his ordinary face contorted, eyes bulging with disbelief.
That was Blue Silver Grass that even those who had just broken through to the Soul Grand Master realm couldn't break free from. How could it just... shatter?
How did Ao Tian do it? Could his strength already surpass that of a Soul Grand Master?
Impossible! Master shook his head fiercely, his heart pounding. He couldn't figure out how Ao Tian had broken through Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, no matter how hard he tried.
The Headmaster looked at Master's frantic expression, then at the battlefield. His face was blank; he didn't know how to comfort Master.
He also had no idea what had happened.
"Your Blue Silver Grass is still too weak for me," Ao Tian said with a smile. "Use whatever methods you have. Otherwise, I'm going to end this."
Tang San's expression was grave. His right hand moved over his belt, and his fingers were already gripping four pebbles.
"Still using this move? It didn't do anything to me last time," Ao Tian said.
Tang San didn't say a word. With a flick of his arm, the four pebbles drew arcs in the air, attacking Ao Tian from different directions.
This was the Parting of the Swallows technique for using Hidden Weapons from the Tang Sect's Hundred Techniques of Hidden Weapons, and it was also Tang San's favorite.
The four pebbles flew out simultaneously, but they followed different trajectories. This required a very deep understanding of Hidden Weapons to execute, making it difficult to defend against.
It was as if four people were attacking at the same time. Who could withstand the simultaneous attacks of four people?
These four pebbles were aimed at specific acupoints on Ao Tian's body. If an ordinary person were hit, they would temporarily lose their ability to resist.
"Just because it couldn't break through your defense last time doesn't mean it can't this time," Tang San's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
His soul power and physical strength had both increased significantly compared to the last time, and the power of his Hidden Weapons was also much greater.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Four crisp sounds echoed. The pebbles seemed to strike against an even harder object, and they shattered on the spot due to the force rebounding from Ao Tian's body.
Tang San's expression shifted slightly. With a flip of his hand, four steel needles, each five inches long, appeared in his grasp.
The needles were thin at the front and thick at the back, with extremely sharp tips. They were one of the Hidden Weapons of the Tang Sect, specifically designed to break defenses.
Bone Piercing Needle!