The Great Master patiently explained, "An External Attached Soul Bone is a miraculous existence. It is a special type that exists beyond the six standard categories of Soul Bones. If the probability of ordinary Soul Bones appearing from Soul Beasts is one in a thousand, then the probability of an External Attached Soul Bone appearing isn't even one in ten thousand. Moreover, the condition for absorbing an External Attached Soul Bone is that you must first absorb the Soul Ring of the Soul Beast from which the bone dropped. The torso-type Soul Bone we generally refer to is typically the breastbone. But the Soul Bone you absorbed is the vertebrae. Based on my earlier observations, I can confirm that it is an External Attached Soul Bone. Do you know, child, that in the world of Soul Masters, there is a ranking of the most precious things a Soul Master can possess, called the Soul Master's Dream Ranking? Among them, External Attached Soul Bones have always held the second position. They rank just below the nearly impossible-to-obtain Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring."
The Great Master used the easiest-to-understand method to tell Tang San just how precious the eight spider legs he had thought of as monstrosities truly were.
"Are these eight spider legs really that powerful?" Tang San couldn't help but wonder silently.
Having spoken so much, the Great Master's throat was a little dry. "It's chilly this morning—put your clothes on first. Remember, never tell anyone what I've told you about the External Attached Soul Bone today. Although an External Attached Soul Bone cannot be absorbed by others the way ordinary Soul Bones can, there is a saying: 'The tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind.' The fewer people who know you possess an External Attached Soul Bone, the better. It will prevent anyone from targeting you out of jealousy."
Tang San put on his outer robe and asked the Great Master, "Teacher, what exactly can my External Attached Soul Bone do?"
The Great Master replied, "I can't say precisely what its uses are right now. It will require a period of study to figure out. Starting today, you will add a new training task to your routine—that is, to master the use of the External Attached Soul Bone as quickly as possible. From what happened earlier, your External Attached Soul Bone possesses extremely powerful offensive capabilities. It can not only pierce through targets but also carries a lethal poison. If I'm not mistaken, the venom on those spider legs should be controllable. You should be able to release it at will. At the same time, given the length of those eight spider legs—have you ever considered what it would be like if you used them in place of your legs to move forward?"
Tang San was a clever person, and with the Great Master's hint, he immediately understood. "If that were the case, not only would my speed increase, but the impact of terrain on my speed would be greatly reduced."
The Great Master smiled faintly. "Exactly. So among the abilities these eight spider legs grant you will be terrain-independent rapid movement. As for their other benefits, you'll discover many more surprises in the future. Moreover, they will evolve every time you advance through a Soul Ring absorption. Their power may even exceed your imagination. With them, you now have the opportunity to fight opponents within a ten-level gap on equal footing across all ranges. And because of the rarity of External Attached Soul Bones, unless you reveal it yourself, no one will know that these eight spider legs are an External Attached Soul Bone. Most people will simply assume it's another manifestation of your Blue Silver Grass. After all, aside from their hardness, they look quite similar to Blue Silver Grass on the surface. As for how much control you can develop over them in the future, that depends on your own effort. If you can turn those eight spider legs into eight venomous lances that move at your will like extensions of your own arms, imagine how much your combat power would increase."
By the time Tang San and the Great Master returned to Shrek Academy, the sky had fully brightened. The Great Master had shared a great deal of knowledge about Soul Bones today, and although it was only the general overview, Tang San needed time to gradually absorb it all.
"Little San, go eat. Starting today, I'll arrange a new training schedule for you."
Tang San looked up at the Great Master. "Teacher, are you leaving?" In his mind, the Great Master had set up his training regimen and would probably be departing. He couldn't help but feel a wave of loss.
The Great Master smiled gently. "Don't worry—your teacher isn't leaving. I'm actually concerned that you might run into problems while practicing with the External Attached Soul Bone. This bone is already part of your body, completely fused with your vertebrae. If something went wrong, it could very well be fatal. So I have no choice but to stay."
"The Great Master isn't leaving? That's wonderful!" Upon hearing that the Great Master would stay to continue guiding his training, Tang San was overjoyed.
A look of longing crossed the Great Master's face. "Little San, do you know that I really want to see what you'll be like in twenty years? My decision to stay isn't just for you—it's also for your companions at the academy. Every one of you can be called a genius. If you don't have the right training methods, wouldn't that be a terrible waste? Flandre has quite a bit of training experience, but he's still lacking in many details. I hope that in the future, you can become a formidable group. To achieve that, I need to start now and guide you all with the best training methods."
For Tang San, the reasons behind the Great Master's decision to stay didn't matter. The key was simply that he had decided to stay—and that was enough.
The teacher and student arrived at the academy cafeteria. Perhaps it was because the journey the day before had been so exhausting—the morning food was already prepared, but the room was completely empty.
Tang San quickly ladled out two bowls of porridge, one for himself and one for the Great Master. Shrek Academy was not well-off financially, so the breakfast naturally wasn't anything lavish. Today's breakfast was simple: steamed buns, pickled vegetables, and porridge. Plus one egg per person.
Looking at the breakfast set before him, the Great Master frowned deeply.
"This is what Flandre feeds you?" The Great Master's stiff face looked somewhat dark.
Tang San replied, "This is already pretty good. The buns are filling—it's much better than when I was a child."
"Nonsense!" The Great Master put down the bun in his hand, anger rising. His temperament had always been blunt and uncompromising. "You children are at a critical stage of growth. Your bodies are the foundation of your Martial Souls. Without a strong body, how could you possibly endure intense training? This breakfast might be enough for people Flandre's age and mine, but it is far from sufficient for children like you."
While the Great Master was fuming, Flandre's lazy voice drifted in from outside. "I say, Great Master, it's easy for you to talk. You know perfectly well these kids are all growing. Do you have any idea how much they eat in a day? Sure, you can buy delicacies in Sotuo City, but how could the academy's finances possibly allow me to serve them fancy meals? If you're willing to sponsor it, I have no objections."
With those words, Flandre walked in from outside.
Looking at him, the Great Master's expression softened slightly. "Whatever difficulties the academy faces, I don't care about. But since I've decided to stay, as a teacher here, I absolutely will not let the children suffer. Flandre, leave this matter entirely to me. From now on, what the children eat at every meal will be my decision."
Flandre was secretly delighted. "What's this, Xiao Gang? You've decided to stay?"
The Great Master nodded. "Whether it's for Tang San or for the little monsters you've recruited, I've decided to stay here for a while. Over the past two days, I've taken a brief look at your current teaching methods, and there are many areas that need improvement. You told me the other day that as long as I was willing to stay, you would hand over authority to me—is that still the case?"
Flandre knew the Great Master all too well. Seeing his expression, he could already tell that his old brother-in-arms was determined to shake things up. On the surface he showed nothing, but inside he was overjoyed. The Great Master's theoretical knowledge was unmatched in the world. Without hesitation and afraid the Great Master might change his mind, Flandre immediately said, "No problem. Whatever you want to do, just let me know in advance. All the academy's teachers are at your disposal. Of course, anything involving money—you'll need to tell me first. The academy's financial situation is definitely worse than you imagine."
The Great Master frowned slightly. "I know you people are all proud and set in your ways, but can't you be a little more flexible and find ways to increase income?"
Flandre was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "Even someone as rigid as you knows how to be flexible?"
The Great Master cast a gentle glance at Tang San beside him. "What's wrong with being a little flexible for the sake of these children?"
Flandre chuckled. "Fine. As long as it doesn't go against my principles, do whatever you want."
After breakfast, the bell rang right on time, summoning all the students to the academy's training ground.
Today was exceptionally lively. Not only had both the principal and vice principal—Flandre and Zhao Wuji—shown up, but the Great Master and several other academy teachers had also gathered on the training ground.
Beyond the two leaders, the academy originally had three other teachers—the three who had been responsible for the first three rounds of the entrance exam. Tang San had only met one of them: the elderly man who had scared off quite a few people with his staff Martial Soul.
"Good, everyone's here. I have a few things to announce." Flandre walked up to the seven students, his gaze sweeping sternly across each of them.
"First, let me introduce the academy's teachers to the four new students." With that, Flandre pointed to the elderly man with the long staff Martial Soul whom Tang San had previously met.
"This is Teacher Li Yusong. His Martial Soul is the Dragon Pattern Staff—a sixty-three-level Soul Emperor."
He pointed to the second teacher, an even older man who appeared to be well past seventy. "This is Teacher Lu Qibin. His Martial Soul is the Star Luo Chess—a sixty-six-level Soul Emperor."
(End of Chapter)