Chương 19: He broke through the 5-year-old barrier at level 29 in Chapter 19; his foundation is truly solid!

"What a pity, it's not a control skill."

"The very first skill went astray."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head as he looked at the smug Tang San.

"I might never be a control-type Soul Master again."

"You must become a power-attack type Soul Master."

"Blue Silver Grass is a strong offensive type."

Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang sighed.

"It's ruined, it's ruined."

"Just as useless as Su Chen."

"Fortunately, this martial soul is not important."

"Practice however you like."

Tang San walked up to Yu Xiaogang.

"Teacher, you previously said that Su Chen's foundation was destroyed, his combat experience was zero, and his cultivation had reached its limit. But you saw it yourself: he not only killed the two-thousand-year-old earth dragon, but also absorbed his second spirit ring, and his spirit power has risen to level twenty-one. Did you... make a mistake?"

Yu Xiaogang stared at the deep purple second spirit ring on Su Chen's body, remained silent for several seconds, took a deep breath, and began his theoretical analysis again.

"Tang San, you don't understand." He pointed at Su Chen, his tone resolute.

"Cultivation isn't about a single moment, but about a lifetime. He may be strong now, but that's because he's mortgaging his future potential!"

He paused, then continued, "Look at him, his first spirit ring is a thousand years old, his second is two thousand years old. Can his body handle that? He'll be fine in the short term, but there will definitely be problems in the long run!"

"Like a candle, the brighter it burns, the faster it goes out."

"I dare say that his cultivation speed will slow down more and more from now on."

"Level 21 might be his ceiling. That's the price of an unstable foundation!"

As soon as Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, Su Chen's aura suddenly surged, clearly indicating a breakthrough in his soul power level.

"Master, I'm sorry, I've just broken through to level twenty-two."

Yu Xiaogang's face instantly turned green.

He gritted his teeth,

"I bet his cultivation speed will only slow down more and more. Level 22 is his ceiling! No, at most level 25, he'll get stuck! He'll never be able to break through level 30 in his lifetime!"

Tang San couldn't hold back any longer: "Master, you previously said that Su Chen's foundation was destroyed, and that level 21 was his ceiling. Now that he's at level 21, you're saying that level 25 is his ceiling. What if he reaches level 30 later?"

Yu Xiaogang was speechless, stammering, "That... that's different! He's an exception! He doesn't represent the general rule!"

Tang San: "... So your theory doesn't work in special cases?"

Yu Xiaogang: "..."

Tang San continued, "Furthermore, Master, you previously said that Su Chen's combat ability was zero, yet he killed a four-hundred-year-old Mandragora Serpent. You said a two-thousand-year-old Earth Dragon was impossible to deal with, yet Su Chen crushed it. Shouldn't your theories... be revised?"

Yu Xiaogang's face turned pale and then red, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time.

Su Chen watched this scene with a slight smile on his lips.

"Yes, yes, the master is right. The master is truly amazing."

Yu Xiaogang was stunned for a moment, thinking that Su Chen had finally given in, and was about to nod when Su Chen continued: Su Chen continued, "Master, you're only at level twenty-nine, yet you're already over fifty. Your steady and diligent perseverance is a model for us all. Unlike me, I'm only twenty-two at such a young age. My foundation is too weak, and my cultivation is too fast. I'm truly ashamed."

The entire room fell silent for a second.

Tang San burst out laughing, then covered his mouth, his whole body shaking with laughter.

Yu Xiaogang's face changed from white to red, from red to green, from green to purple, and finally turned into a liver color.

Tang San burst out laughing, then quickly covered his mouth, but his shoulders still couldn't help shaking violently.

Yu Xiaogang trembled with rage: "You... you..."

Su Chen looked completely innocent: "Did I say something wrong? Didn't the master always emphasize a steady and methodical approach? At fifty years old and at level twenty-nine, that's incredibly stable. I'm only six years old and at level twenty-three, that's far too unstable. The master is truly amazing."

Tang San finally couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

Yu Xiaogang was so angry he couldn't speak. He flicked his sleeves, turned around, and strode back, shouting, "Let's go! Back to the academy! I'm not going to stoop to your level!"

Six years have passed in the blink of an eye.

In Su Chen's eyes, the six years of study at Notting Junior Soul Master Academy were nothing more than an insignificant prelude to a long journey of cultivation.

But for Xiao Wu and Tang San, these six years have brought about earth-shattering changes.

The three set off from Nottingham and traveled south for three whole days before finally arriving at the south gate of Soto at noon on this day.

"We've finally arrived!"

Xiao Wu stood at the city gate, stretched out a big yawn, and her scorpion braid swayed back and forth behind her.

Six years have passed, and the little girl with braids has grown into a graceful young woman.

She had long, straight, and slender legs, a tall and slender figure, and a refined face with a touch of heroic spirit.

She wore a pink dress with a white belt around her waist, making her look like a rosebud about to bloom.

"Soto City." Tang San stood behind her, looking up at the three large characters on the city gate, his eyes filled with anticipation.

In six years, Tang San has changed quite a bit.

With black hair and black eyes, a handsome face, and a well-proportioned figure, he carried a bulging bundle on his back. His gaze was more composed than it had been six years ago, and his every move exuded the competence of a martial artist.

But what remained unchanged was his admiration for Su Chen—a deep-seated respect that had remained constant for six years.

Su Chen walked at the very front.

With black hair and black eyes, a tall and slender figure, and a handsome face with a touch of composure, he had grown from a child into a teenager in six years. The childishness in his brows had faded, replaced by a maturity beyond his years.

He wore a simple black robe with no jewelry around his waist; the only adornment was an antique storage ring on his left ring finger.

"Brother Chen, where are we staying? I'm starving!" Xiao Wu ran to Su Chen's side in three quick steps and naturally took his arm.

Su Chen said calmly, "Let's find a hotel to stay in first, and then go to Shrek Academy to register tomorrow."

Tang San nodded: "I heard that Shrek Academy is in the suburbs. Let's settle down here today and conserve our energy."

The three walked along the main street. Soto City was the largest city in the Kingdom of Barak, and its prosperity far surpassed that of Notting City.

Shops lined both sides of the street, and pedestrians came and went in an endless stream, with shouts of vendors and the sounds of bargaining rising and falling.

Xiao Wu looked around, everything seemed new and exciting. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she pointed to a luxuriously decorated hotel by the roadside: "Brother Chen! That one looks nice! Let's stay there!"

Su Chen looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a three-story building with rose vines climbing all over the exterior walls. Two pots of blooming red roses were placed at the entrance, and the signboard read "Rose Hotel" in gold lettering, exuding an air of luxury.

"Okay." Su Chen nodded.

The three people pushed open the door and entered.

The hotel lobby was decorated in a magnificent style, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, red carpets covering the floor, and a faint fragrance of roses in the air.

When the receptionist saw the three of them enter, she immediately put on a smiling face.

"Three guests, would you like to stay at the hotel or have a meal?"

Xiao Wu eagerly said, "We need a hotel! Give us the two best rooms!"

"Okay—" Just as the receptionist was about to flip through the registration book, a lazy voice suddenly came from behind her.

"Wait a minute."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable domineering air.

The three turned around and saw a blond boy walking in from outside the door.

The boy was tall, half a head taller than his peers, with a handsome face but a hint of wickedness.

He was wearing a white brocade robe with the collar open, revealing his muscular chest.

What's most eye-catching is that he has a twin beauty on each arm.

Both girls were twenty years old, alluring and seductive, dressed provocatively, nestled in the boy's arms, occasionally letting out a coquettish laugh.

The blond-haired youth walked to the front desk, not even glancing at Su Chen and his companions, and said to the innkeeper, "I'll take these two rooms. Let these three find somewhere else."

Xiao Wu's face darkened: "Why? We were here first!"

The blond youth then turned his head, his gaze casually sweeping over the three of them, a disdainful smile playing on his lips: "Why? Because I'm Dai Mubai. The best room in this hotel is always mine. You outsiders, go somewhere else."

Xiao Wu snapped, "Who do you think you are? Why should we leave just because you say so?"

Dai Mubai released the two beauties, crossed his arms, and looked down at Xiao Wu.

He was almost a head taller than Xiao Wu, and his posture carried a clear sense of oppression: "Little sister, you've got quite a temper. You're also a Soul Master, right? I advise you to be sensible, or you'll suffer."

Tang San frowned and stepped forward to block Xiao Wu's path: "My friend, there's an order to things. We're only staying one night, why make things difficult?"

Dai Mubai scoffed, "First come, first served? In Soto City, my word is law."

Xiao Wu, having reached her limit, rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight: "You're asking for it!"

Dai Mubai didn't take it seriously; instead, he became interested.

He took a step back, spread his arms, and said in a flippant tone, "Oh? You want to fight? Fine. I see you three are all Soul Masters, come at me all at once, I'll give you a three-move head start."

Xiao Wu and Tang San exchanged a glance.

Then, the two of them laughed at the same time.

"Hahaha..." Xiao Wu laughed so hard she bent over, one hand clutching her stomach, the other gripping Su Chen's arm.

"What did he say? He wants the three of us to attack together?"

Tang San couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head and asking, "My friend, are you sure?"

Dai Mubai frowned, completely baffled by what the two were laughing at. He said in a deep voice, "What are you laughing at? Sending all three of you at once is an honor. Hurry up, don't waste my time."

Xiao Wu wiped away the tears of laughter and pointed at Su Chen: "He's enough on his own, the two of us won't join in the fun."