The moment they heard the words "External Spirit Bone," all three Soul Douluo rose from their seats virtually simultaneously, while Qin Ming practically launched himself out of his chair as though his seat were on fire.
The three Soul Douluo exchanged glances. Their eyes were far sharper than Qin Ming's, and in an instant they recognized that the Eight Spider Lances protruding from Tang San's back were a Spirit Bone rather than a Martial Soul. But even they could never have guessed that it was an External Spirit Bone.
Just from the aura radiating from the Eight Spider Lances alone, they could feel the immense power it carried.
A child of merely thirteen years—not only had he reached over thirty levels of Soul Power, but he also possessed an External Spirit Bone, a treasure ranked among Spirit Masters only below hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings in rarity. What did this mean? What kind of potential was this? What did it matter that his Martial Soul was nothing more than Blue Silver Grass?
"This—this is truly an External Spirit Bone?" Meng Shenji's voice trembled violently.
The Great Master nodded. "I can confirm it. However, I must ask the three of you to keep this secret. Although the External Spirit Bone has already fused with Tang San's body and won't drop upon death the way other Spirit Bones do, an innocent man becomes guilty when he possesses a treasure. I would rather he not face opponents far beyond his ability to handle before he's had time to grow."
"We understand. Rest assured—we swear upon our own Martial Souls that we will never reveal this to anyone." The gratitude shining in Meng Shenji's eyes was unmistakable.
The reason was simple: the Shrek delegation had not hidden the fact that Tang San possessed an External Spirit Bone from them. That single gesture alone proved the respect they held for Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
External Spirit Bones were far too precious. If any powerful Spirit Master with ill intentions learned of this, they would never give Tang San the space to grow.
In truth, the Great Master was anything but careless. Before coming here, he had conducted an extremely thorough investigation of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. The three Soul Douluo before him were all respected elders in the Spirit Master world, known for their benevolent characters. Otherwise, he would never have so readily revealed Tang San's secret.
*So hot.* That was Tang San's only sensation at that moment. The discomfort his body had felt under the pressure had vanished entirely. Now he felt as though he were being forged inside a massive furnace. The feeling was somewhat similar to what he had experienced when he first absorbed the Spirit Ring of the Man-Faced Demon Spider, but the pain was far milder by comparison—merely a searing heat, without the agonizing agony he had endured that time.
The Mysterious Heaven Skill's internal energy circulated slowly, and though its pace had decelerated, each revolution made it denser and more concentrated. Moreover, it seemed to be ceaselessly battering against certain specific meridians.
That cracking sensation Tang San had felt earlier appeared to be the result of a meridian being forced open.
In that moment of greatest pressure, Tang San had not noticed that the palm of his left hand had begun to glow with a black light. He only sensed a surge of power erupting from deep within his heart. Had the peculiar meridian inside his body not been opened, his other Martial Soul might very well have manifested as well.
Right now, Tang San had no capacity left for thought. He could only endure wave after wave of searing heat washing over him. The Mysterious Heaven Skill within his body seemed to be absorbing this thermal energy, and with each revolution, Tang San felt a measure of relief. So he could do nothing but press on.
After the initial shock had passed, the three Soul Douluo gradually composed themselves. Qin Ming's mental fortitude, however, was noticeably weaker—he still appeared thoroughly agitated.
Meng Shenji let out a long breath. "I never expected this—I truly never imagined that such a genius would emerge in our Spirit Master world. I feel truly fortunate to have met all of you here today."
Flandre likewise exhaled in relief, shooting a questioning glance toward the Great Master. The Great Master gave him a slight nod, indicating that there was absolutely nothing wrong with Tang San.
Only then did Flandre address Meng Shenji. "We cannot claim credit for this child's abilities. He is the Great Master's personal disciple, and his natural talent is exceptional in its own right. These seven children of ours are all heaven-blessed prodigies in the history of Shrek Academy. It's not just Tang San—every single one of them possesses talent that is uniquely their own. The reason we chose to come to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy is that we did not want their gifts to go to waste. We hope that through a superior training environment here, they will be able to fully realize their potential. They are the final group of students Shrek Academy will ever produce. As their headmaster, I truly hope to see them all become Titled Douluo one day—surpassing my achievements by a great margin."
In Flandre's eyes, there was no longer a trace of cunning. Only sincerity shone through. Behind him, the six members of the Shrek Seven Devils listened to his words and felt a peculiar emotion stir within their hearts. They realized that in this moment, Flandre seemed to have grown older, and his silhouette carried a hint of loneliness.
Indeed—what headmaster would feel good about having to bring his own disciples to another academy in order to train? For a man as proud by nature as Flandre, it could not possibly sit well.