After renting a house with a basement near Notting Academy, Xiao Lin, Tang San, and Xiao Wu had finally secured a secret base.
For the next half month, they continued their training in the usual manner, occasionally visiting the secret base to discuss forbidden topics.
In the dimly lit secret base, in the basement, the three of them were somewhat flushed.
"Is this for real? Doesn't that mean Blue Silver Grass would turn into an aphrodisiac?" Xiao Wu sneered, expressing her dissatisfaction with Xiao Lin's suggestion to turn the Blue Silver Grass into a food system martial soul.
He had to pick such a soul beast, how improper.
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at Xiao Lin, secretly making a vow to protect the pure and innocent Tang San.
"What? This is the stimulation of youthful hormones, it's very normal in the adult world. You can make a lot of money from it."
"Don't demonize it, okay?"
Xiao Lin had no self-awareness about his questionable idea.
This time, the three of them were discussing whether Tang San's martial soul could evolve into an attack or control-type martial soul.
Xiao Lin, while ensuring Tang San primarily focused on vitality and transitioning to a food system, suggested a soul beast with an aphrodisiac effect.
The idea was that it could release a fragrance that caused other soul masters to lose their rationality, making it a control-type skill.
Since vitality was inherently tied to life force, once Tang San successfully transitioned to the food system, the aphrodisiac Blue Silver Grass could be used as a form of medicine.
Xiao Lin was confident it would be a huge market.
"Tang San, do you think you can be happy making iron if you don't have money? Can you still play with hidden weapons? Can you buy precious ores?"
"Forget it, Lin Ge, I also think this isn't proper."
In the end, Tang San resolutely rejected Xiao Lin's suggestion, not wanting to disappoint Xiao Wu.
Furthermore, if his martial soul became that way, following Xiao Lin's theory, Tang San felt he would lose his integrity.
He would probably even end up turning into a pervert.
"If you really want to make money, why not make some aphrodisiac medicine?"
"Lin Ge, let's pick another one."
Tang San frowned seriously and said, while Xiao Wu secretly nodded in agreement.
If Tang San had agreed, she would never share a bed with him again.
You know, boys and girls shouldn't get too close, right, you perverted rabbit? If Xiao Lin knew what Xiao Wu was thinking, he'd definitely mock her like that.
"Alright, let me be more serious. Recently, I found a soul beast that's very suitable for you, Tang San."
"It's called the Soul Gathering Pumpkin, and it can forcibly absorb the soul power of nearby plant-type soul beasts to help it break through."
"This is different from your Blue Silver Grass. Your Blue Silver Grass communicates with surrounding Blue Silver Grass to collect soul power, but the Soul Gathering Pumpkin does it forcibly."
"Moreover, this Soul Gathering Pumpkin is incredibly strong in vitality because it absorbs the soul power of other plant-type soul beasts. Do you understand what I mean?"
Xiao Lin, at this point, was discussing a more appropriate soul beast seriously.
"So, if I get this soul ring, it could give me a great vitality and allow me to absorb the soul power of my enemies?"
"That sounds great, but it doesn't have the regeneration ability."
Tang San was very satisfied with this soul beast, but he thought the regeneration ability of the Cotton Pollen was better.
You can't have both the fish and the bear's paw, after all!
"Soul Gathering Pumpkin?" Xiao Wu murmured softly, and it seemed like she had seen it in the Star Dou Forest before.
Xiao Lin noticed her expression and teased, "What's up, little silly rabbit, you have something to say?"
"I'm not silly," Xiao Wu pouted, unwilling to chat with Xiao Lin. She just secretly noted down the soul beast, planning to help Tang San find it when she had time.
"By the way, Lin Ge, why are you so insistent on the Man-faced Demon Spider for your second soul ring? It's not even suitable for you, and you want a 2,000-year-old one?"
Tang San didn't quite understand Xiao Lin's obsession. According to Xiao Lin's theory, something didn't seem right…
"Lin Ge, didn't you say you were going to focus on acceleration and strength with your soul rings? This one has poison."
"Well, it's complicated. I'm researching some things, and I don't really need the Man-faced Demon Spider's soul ring, but I need to use the Man-faced Demon Spider for some experiments."
Xiao Lin smiled faintly, feeling satisfied that Tang San asked him this question with Xiao Wu present.
No matter what, he was hoping that Xiao Wu would eventually help him find the Man-faced Demon Spider, and Tang San was the best hope.
After chatting about body training for a while, Tang San suddenly felt ashamed.
His martial soul didn't give him an advantage over Xiao Lin, and he couldn't help Xiao Lin train.
His Blue Silver Grass was too fragile, and the Clear Sky Hammer was too slow to be of use at Notting Academy.
Tang San even felt that he didn't exert as much pressure on Xiao Lin as Xiao Wu did.
Maybe it was because Xiao Wu wasn't as strong as he was, so when Xiao Lin faced her, he would subconsciously relax his guard, weakening the Immovable Vajra Soul power, which sometimes left Xiao Lin unable to keep up with her attacks.
Of course, this was only when Xiao Wu wasn't using her martial soul.
...
While Xiao Lin was still discussing which thousand-year-old soul beast's soul ring to choose, some powers on Douluo Continent were already in turmoil.
It all started with the Spirit Hall.
When Bibi Dong heard from her subordinates that a letter had arrived from Notting City, she was momentarily stunned, thinking that Yu Xiaogang had changed his mind and was seeking her out for discussion.
Just as she opened the letter, the first part of an academic paper appeared before her.
It was that familiar shock-inducing style, and a smile crept up on Bibi Dong's face.
She immediately realized this was a new paper from Xiao Yan.
As for the author being Lin Dong and the supervisor being Tian Diao Douluo, Bibi Dong wouldn't believe a word of it.
There were hidden Douluo-level experts in Douluo Continent, but none of them used a "diao" (marten) in their names.
As the Pope of Wuhun Hall, she was very aware of this. Moreover, Xiao Yan's handwriting was identical to that of Lin Dong.
Either Lin Dong was Xiao Yan, or Xiao Yan was Lin Dong, but Lin Dong was definitely not a Douluo-level expert.
Though a bit convoluted, that was essentially the gist.
Fortunately, with Xiao Yan's precedent, Bibi Dong was still interested in the paper bearing Lin Dong's name.
"Exceeding the Limit Soul Ring Absorption Method!"
Bibi Dong's eyes twitched slightly as she became increasingly astonished by the paper.
If the previous papers had been well-known concepts that any high-level soul master understood, then this one would completely change the continent's perspective.
No longer underestimating it, Bibi Dong began to read the paper seriously.
The data was very clear, and the conclusions seemed sound. From Bibi Dong's lifetime of experience, the results might very well be true.
As she read further, just as Bibi Dong was nodding in agreement with the paper's conclusions, the paper abruptly cut off.
It was like the feeling of being left hanging at the most crucial moment.
Bibi Dong's face darkened immediately.
"Gui Mei, send someone to find Xiao Yan and Lin Dong. If you can't find them, you..."
"Forget it."
Quickly, Bibi Dong waved her hand, signaling the ghostly figure of Gui Mei to retreat.
"This paper, you and Yue Guan review it, and then go to all the major academies to collect the rest of the paper. Don't forget the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and Blue Electric Tyrant Sect."
Bibi Dong was clearly frustrated. While the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was fine, since Ning Fengzhi understood cooperation, but the relationship with the Blue Electric Tyrant Sect wasn't good at all.
After handing the paper to Yue Guan and Gui Mei, Bibi Dong reclined in her pope's chair, one soft, delicate jade hand resting on her cheek.
"If the paper is true, then could Nana try a 2,000-year-old soul ring for her third one? And her brother, Xie Yue, could try it too..."
(End of Chapter)