Three days later.
On a small hill outside Holy Soul Village.
Xiao Lin was sparring with Tang San, wielding his Flood Dragon Staff while Tang San used the Clear Sky Hammer.
Xiao Lin's strikes continuously targeted Tang San's weak spots, making it difficult for him to counter.
"Lin-ge, I give up! Your Coiling Dragon Staff is too long—this is unfair!"
Tang San raised his hands in surrender. Without using hidden weapons, he was no match for Xiao Lin.
The Clear Sky Hammer consumed too much soul power, and Blue Silver Grass lacked durability—it would break every time Xiao Lin exerted force.
As for his Mysterious Heaven Skill and Purple Demon Eye, those were even less effective in direct combat.
"Just call me 'Lin-ge,' drop the 'Xiao' part," Xiao Lin said with an annoyed expression as he retracted his staff.
Though Xiao Lin had no formal training in staff techniques, he knew how to thrust effectively.
The principle of "longer means stronger" was something he used to its fullest advantage.
"Tang San, you really haven't asked your father if he's the Clear Sky Douluo?"
Xiao Lin sat on the ground without any pretense, casually asking.
"No, my dad left without telling me anything," Tang San replied, squatting beside Xiao Lin with a thoughtful expression before shaking his head.
"Looks like Uncle Hao probably went to prepare your first soul ring," Xiao Lin speculated.
Although Tang Hao was often unreliable, he should have at least left a note before leaving.
"Don't worry, Tang San, your dad is the Clear Sky Douluo, after all."
"I'm not worried, it's just…"
Tang San hesitated, afraid Xiao Lin might suspect something.
Though he had lived two lives, this was his first time experiencing what it meant to have a father—it was still an unfamiliar feeling.
"By the way, why didn't you use those techniques you've been practicing?"
Xiao Lin suddenly changed the topic, giving Tang San a dismissive look, as if to say, So what if you trained in some secret art?
"Speaking of which, Tang San, do you want to learn my meditation method and split-focus control?"
"Although these are common techniques on the continent, they're still quite useful. With split-focus control, you can meditate while doing other things."
"Besides, this split-focus control is something specifically practiced by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It allows their support-type soul masters to rival a Titled Douluo in effectiveness."
Hearing this, Tang San was immediately intrigued.
A technique used by one of the top three sects had to be extraordinary.
Even if it was slightly different from the common methods, it was definitely worth learning.
"Can I really learn it?"
Tang San asked curiously. Why is it so easy to share techniques in this world?
"Of course. It only took me a little effort to find these meditation and split-focus techniques—it's no big deal."
Xiao Lin had no intention of keeping these methods to himself. They weren't particularly advanced.
Unless split-focus control was cultivated to the level of the Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart, it was nothing special.
"Tang San, since you're going for a support-based path, you should focus on split-focus control. In the world of soul masters, battles are rarely one-on-one. You need to at least be able to support three people at once."
Xiao Lin earnestly advised as he passed the meditation and split-focus control techniques to Tang San.
Tang San did not refuse. He immediately began practicing.
However, he quickly furrowed his brows. Something felt off.
"Lin-ge, this meditation technique feels… kind of useless?"
"Soul power is stored in the meridians, but it doesn't circulate through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians or gather in the dantian. This method is fundamentally flawed!"
Tang San frowned, then suddenly relaxed.
"Lin-ge, the split-focus control method is useful, but it's just theoretical. Without a better technique, progress will be slow."
Tang San, a martial arts genius, quickly assessed the flaws of the meditation and split-focus techniques.
"Tang San, that's just how meditation works on the Douluo Continent. Even the highest-level meditation techniques only improve efficiency and store more soul power in the meridians. What are these Eight Extraordinary Meridians and dantian you're talking about?"
Xiao Lin pretended not to know. If he could get Tang San to teach him the Mysterious Heaven Skill, that would be a huge gain.
Hearing this, Tang San was stunned.
Wait… what? Even the best meditation techniques here don't utilize the Eight Extraordinary Meridians or the dantian?
Is this world really so primitive that it only relies on absorbing soul rings for cultivation?
Tang San had never expected that the Mysterious Heaven Skill he had been hiding so carefully was actually the most advanced cultivation method on this continent.
"Tang San, the mysterious elder who taught you these techniques—was he a Titled Douluo?"
Xiao Lin asked, giving Tang San a convenient excuse.
"Yes! Definitely!"
Tang San immediately latched onto the excuse, then turned to Xiao Lin with bright eyes.
"Lin-ge, do you want to learn it?"
"Huh?"
Xiao Lin was caught off guard. Did I just luck into getting the Mysterious Heaven Skill?
"It's not a big deal, as long as you don't pass it on to others," Tang San said casually.
Despite his frail frame, there was no sign of the double standard he would later become infamous for.
"Of course I want to learn it."
Xiao Lin agreed instantly. He made up his mind—he would not let Tang San interact with Yu Xiaogang or the Shrek Academy crowd.
Tang San must have been corrupted by them.
In his previous life, Tang San had stolen the Tang Sect's techniques and committed suicide without any resistance.
Not only that, he had been determined to return all of the Tang Sect's secret arts and hidden weapons to the sect.
Looking at him now—so eager to share everything with a brother—there was no way he was the hypocrite he later became.
"Oh, right, Lin-ge, I also have an Eight Trigram Staff Technique. Want to learn it?"
"Yes!"
On the grass-covered hill, the two boys grinned brightly, exchanging knowledge and theories.
Sharing their best techniques with each other, they were not just brothers—they were closer than blood brothers.
"Lin-ge, you've memorized the Mysterious Heaven Skill's circulation route. From now on, use it instead of your previous meditation method."
"Also, the Eight Trigram Staff Technique is both offensive and defensive, but it has a flaw—the 'Dead Gate.'"
"Attacking through the Dead Gate gives your opponent an opportunity to evade and counterattack, which could be life-threatening."
"If you don't use hidden weapons, you'll be in trouble."
Tang San explained the weakness of the Eight Trigram Staff Technique with great seriousness, even revealing his use of hidden weapons.
"Hidden weapons… are they necessary?"
Xiao Lin smirked. I'm a modern person—there are always solutions.
"If the Dead Gate has a flaw, I'll just compensate with my martial soul."
Saying this, Xiao Lin clumsily performed a few moves of the Eight Trigram Staff Technique.
Then, when he reached the Dead Gate and was about to thrust forward, he suddenly infused soul power into his Flood Dragon Staff.
What happened next left Tang San completely stunned.
The Coiling Dragon Staff instantly extended, reaching a length of 2.5 meters.
With one powerful thrust, it pierced straight through the rocky hilltop.
(End of Chapter)