SoulLand:Ascending to Godhood through Science

"I never imagined a spirit master of the same rank could surprise me so much. But the more impressive you are, the more disappointed I feel in you!"

Disappointed!

Hearing that word, a flicker of flame suddenly reignited in Tang San's otherwise desolate heart.

Was it anger? Frustration? Or perhaps… a spark of defiance?

Before Tang San could fully grasp his emotions, You Xing's voice continued.

"Before we started, my teacher already told you—at this moment, I am the strongest among all one-ring spirit masters! You didn't lose to just any random one-ring spirit master; you lost to me, the strongest!"

You Xing lowered his head and stared down at Tang San, his expression dark.

"And now you think because you lost to the strongest, you're worthless? That your world has collapsed? Tang San, you are far too arrogant! You didn't lose to some nobody—you lost to an invincible force in this realm. Me, You Xing! If one loss is enough to break you, then I regret ever thinking, even for a moment, that you could touch the edge of my power!"

With those words, You Xing straightened up and turned away, preparing to leave.

For some reason, Tang San heard a faint trace of loneliness in his tone.

"W-wait…"

Tang San's trembling voice stopped him. Though his Mysterious Heaven Skill mitigated his injuries, Tang San's body was still weak, swaying as he struggled to rise.

Even though he looked as though a gust of wind might knock him over, Tang San stood up.

Amid the sting of You Xing's words, Tang San finally understood his own thoughts.

"I… want to become someone this boy respects and acknowledges as an equal opponent."

Looking back at his earlier defeatist state, Tang San felt not only a rekindled fighting spirit but also an unspoken gratitude. That gratitude made him unwilling to let You Xing feel "lonely" again.

You Xing turned to face Tang San, his cold expression meeting the determination now shining in Tang San's eyes. He didn't speak, merely watching in silence as Tang San caught his breath and began to speak.

"I was just… tired. That's all!"

"Is that so?"

You Xing's lips curved slightly into a faint smile.

Tang San's eyes widened at the sight. Perhaps due to his exhaustion, even his Purple Demon Eyes couldn't fully process the moment. He thought he might have imagined it, for when he looked again, You Xing had already returned to his usual indifferent expression.

"You and I have a three-year difference in training. Though I said I'm invincible at this level, I know better than anyone that such invincibility is meaningless at low ranks. You're already at rank 13 now. If you'd been born three years earlier, you might already be a Spirit Grandmaster with two rings. Your hidden weapons would have improved in power as well. At that point, who can say how this battle would have ended?"

Tang San shook his head, his respect for You Xing beginning to take root.

"A loss is a loss. You won't turn six, and I won't turn nine. It's pointless to dwell on such hypotheticals. So—"

Tang San lifted his head, his eyes blazing with determination.

"Three years from now, when I become a Spirit Grandmaster, let's fight again!"

You Xing nodded. "I look forward to us growing stronger together."

---

Watching from the shadows, Tang Hao felt a wave of emotion at the sight of this healthy competition. Seeing the way Tang San now viewed You Xing as a rival and target to surpass, Tang Hao's vision blurred slightly.

At that moment, he fully understood what You Xing had been doing—deliberately provoking Tang San to snap him out of his despair.

"What a cold-faced but kind-hearted boy."

If Tang Hao had held any ill will toward You Xing earlier, it had now completely dissipated. In fact, he even found himself feeling a bit of goodwill toward You Chen by extension.

In a moment of reverie, Tang Hao seemed to see shadows of his younger self and his brother in Tang San and You Xing.

And then there was Xiao Wu, filling a role reminiscent of Ah Yin.

Tang Hao's pupils trembled. "Could such coincidences exist in this world?"

At this moment, he felt an eerie sense of déjà vu, as if the present mirrored his past.

Of course, this was purely Tang Hao's imagination. He had imposed his own narrative onto the situation.

In truth, You Xing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu were nothing more than classmates. Even though You Xing and Tang San now seemed to have developed a budding rivalry, it wasn't some tightly knit group. Throwing in someone like Mu Feng or Wang Sheng wouldn't feel out of place at all.

There was no closed circle like Tang Hao's old love triangle, no matter how much his nostalgia tried to paint it that way.

That said, the future was hard to predict, especially with You Chen subtly pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Tang San, perhaps unknowingly, had already begun to admire You Xing. In time, he might even develop something akin to the respect one has for an older brother.

However, based on their current relationships, it was almost certain that Xiao Wu would grow closer to You Xing than to Tang San.

One side had the aura of an admired older brother, while the other was a potential object of infatuation…

Where would Tang San channel his future frustrations? Would he become like Tang Hao's brother, Tang Xiao, silently giving his blessings from the sidelines?

You Chen had already prepared the perfect outlet for Tang San's inevitable frustrations: Yu Xiaogang.

You Chen's gaze briefly lingered on Yu Xiaogang, before he shifted the conversation to Tang San's need for rest. Shortly thereafter, he sent Tang San and his teacher on their way.

Supported by Yu Xiaogang as they left, Tang San suddenly recalled something he had overlooked.

"Come to think of it, You Xing admired my hidden weapons, but… not once did he comment on my martial spirit."

With a soft click, the mansion's gates closed behind them, this time without leaving a gap.

As You Chen reactivated the mechanisms in the courtyard, Tang Hao quietly retreated as well.

Even Tang Hao couldn't infiltrate You Chen's heavily fortified mansion without alerting its master.

When Tang Hao's watchful gaze finally disappeared, You Chen let out a quiet sigh.

"As expected, he has no intention of using his leverage to forge deeper cooperation with me."

On the way back, Tang Hao's thoughts remained on You Chen.

Though it was clear that You Xing and Tang San's future interactions would be amicable, that didn't mean Tang Hao could fully trust You Chen.

Tang Hao couldn't ignore the danger You Chen represented. While he had witnessed You Chen's kindness and tolerance toward young talents like Tang San, he had also seen his ruthless side when dealing with a Spirit Emperor from the Spirit Hall.

A person's true nature often revealed itself in their unguarded moments. Tang Hao wasn't entirely convinced of this notion, but he did believe one thing:

"You Chen's treatment of others is calculated and precise. He decides his attitude based on the other party's valu

e and position."

If You Chen ever deemed Tang San an enemy, he wouldn't hesitate to strike—even if Tang San was just a child.

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