Chapter 197: Smartness Backfires

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*****

"Captain, am I really disturbing your good time? You're not actually going to kill me, are you?" Yu Feng wore a bitter expression, feeling disillusioned as he contemplated the prices of nearby graveyards in Martial soul City.

If he were truly killed by the captain, being buried in this holy land of soul masters would still be an honor.

"What are you thinking?" Tang San hooked their shoulders and led them outside, speaking slowly. "Just kidding, don't take it seriously. But remember, 'while the dead can be pardoned, the living can't escape'. Tonight, you don't need to sleep. I'm giving you both a task: to record a rough map of Martial soul City's terrain. Of course, avoid areas prohibited to us."

Yu Feng was puzzled, "Huh?"

Oslo asked, "All night?"

"Since we still have about ten days until the end of the first round, you can rest the whole day tomorrow," Tang San patted their shoulders. "So, work a little harder tonight. It's your own fault for being unlucky and getting sold out by Yu Tianheng and the others."

"Alright, alright, we deserve it," Yu Feng resigned himself. It's just a terrain map, after all. They could draw it.

"I've been tricked!" Oslo complained, casting a resentful glance at Yu Feng. Then he asked, "Captain, why do we need to draw a terrain map of Martial soul City?"

"Be careful of Wannian Chuan. We're in unfamiliar territory here. Knowing every area will make it easier to escape if something goes wrong in the future," Tang San explained. If Martial soul City had sold maps, he wouldn't need these two.

"Captain, you're really cautious," Yu Feng thought. In his view, Martial soul City could be considered the safest place on the continent. How could anything go wrong here? But he also understood that the captain, Xiao Wu, and Guang Ling came from small cities like Nuoding City. Even though the captain was a descendant of Haotian, he hadn't received any education from Haotian Sect. He made his own way here, so naturally, his character would be more vigilant than usual.

Such thoughts were reasonable.

Tang San escorted the two to the entrance of the inn, watching their figures disappear into the light. Just as he was about to return to his room, he suddenly sensed something. He turned back, glanced in a direction, his eyes flickering. With a few strides, he crossed hundreds of meters and arrived in a dark alley.

"You led me here. What's your business?" Tang San sensed the spiritual and soul fluctuations emitted by the other party. Only a Soul Saint, so although he addressed him respectfully, his tone was casual. He secretly activated a specially made mother soul-guiding camera, about the size of a thumb, and discreetly tossed it near a trash can, aiming its lens at the person.

Sneaky and furtive.

Certainly not a good person.

"Impressive, having a hundred-thousand-year soul ring with only a fifth soul ring." The newcomer turned around, with a rather elderly face, gloomy eyes, and a cluster of beard on his chin.

Tang San recognized him as Shi Nian from Canghui Academy.

"Shi Nian?"

"Tsk tsk, it's quite an honor to be recognized by the captain of the Tian Dou Imperial Academy's team," Shi Nian sneered. "You bullied my disciple, Huo Yuhao, didn't you?"

"Here to seek justice?" Tang San smiled. "As the captain of the Tian Dou Imperial Academy's team, I represent the dignity of the Tian Dou Imperial Academy, that's one thing."

"Secondly, while I did have some conflicts with Huo Yuhao, he hadn't joined Canghui Academy at the time, right?"

"If we talk about recent conflicts, it was just a dispute over a crystal ginseng in a pharmacy in Martial soul City. But we bought it first. If we don't give it to Huo Yuhao, is there a problem?"

"He was just a step too slow. Who's to blame?"

Shi Nian's expression darkened. He hadn't expected the captain of the Tian Dou team to be so eloquent and leave him no room for rebuttal.

However, bringing him to this dark alley, he hadn't intended to be kind.

In terms of strength, he was a Soul Saint, while Tang San was a Soul King. Even with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, so what? The gap in soul power gave Shi Nian enough confidence.

Moreover, Tang San was indeed an obstacle to Canghui Academy's championship and had to be removed.

To kill Tang San?

He didn't dare.

But to leave him half-dead was feasible.

Even if Tang San had means, he might not necessarily win. So, he had a back-up plan. After all, Martial soul City didn't allow fights without reason.

"You bullied my disciple, whether before he joined or after, as his teacher, I must seek justice for him," Shi Nian said arrogantly, clearly stating his intention to pick a fight with Tang San.

"We are of the same origin, why rush to harm each other?" Tang San sighed helplessly. "Clearly, we both hail from the Tian Dou Empire. Oh, I almost forgot, Tian Dou emphasizes balance, and the competition among us is quite fierce. And you, you don't understand the big picture."

"Hmph! All I know is how to safeguard the interests of my Canghui Academy." Shi Nian snorted. The remnant dream of martial souls appeared, and a phantom shadow emerged behind him, like clouds and mist, but with a human form. A strange light enveloped Tang San.

However, Tang San just widened his eyes, and his spiritual power surged out, crushing the light, which was manifested by spiritual power.

Pfft!

Thunk thunk thunk!

Shi Nian stepped back three paces, his eyes filled with blood, his face paling visibly, his legs trembling. He collapsed against the wall, looking at Tang San in shock, "You..."

"In a spiritual power contest, even if you're a Titled Douluo, I'm not inferior. And what level are you, just a mere Soul Saint? Have you considered, besides the level of soul power, what else have you got compared to me?"

Tang San chuckled lightly, then turned around, casually raised his hand in what seemed like a celebration of his victory. In reality, he used his soul power to manipulate the mother soul-guiding camera nearby, retrieving it. He then said to Shi Nian, "Be grateful you're still alive. You should be lucky. This is Martial soul City."

Shi Nian's eyes were vacant. He didn't see clearly what Tang San had just picked up. Only after Tang San's figure disappeared did he weakly shout at the eaves nearby, his voice hoarse and powerless, "Get down from there!"

Shua!

Huo Yuhao, holding a soul-guiding camera box about half the size of his head, jumped down from the roof. He helped Shi Nian up, asking with concern, "Teacher, are you alright?"

"Do I look okay?" Shi Nian's mood was grim. He couldn't believe Tang San was so powerful, even struggling to resist him as a Soul Saint.

In that moment just now, he genuinely felt that if Tang San had wanted to kill him, that powerful mental impact could have shattered his brain.

Although he had saved his life, his spiritual power was completely disrupted, and he couldn't perfectly control his soul power. It would probably take some time to fully adjust.

"Was the footage captured just now?" This was Shi Nian's primary concern.

As long as there was a conflict between them, it might disqualify Tang San from continuing in the competition.

"It was captured, but, Teacher, you didn't actually engage in a real fight with Tang San. Plus, from the footage, it seems like you initiated the attack..." Huo Yuhao felt that it might not be easy to pin Tang San down and suggested a careful approach.

"Fool, just leave the part where the teacher fell in the end!" Shi Nian scolded. "The result is what matters most. No one cares about the process!"

Huo Yuhao suddenly felt enlightened, recalling the witty netizens in the comment sections of short videos in his previous life. Shi Nian, this supporting character in the original story, was unexpectedly clever, definitely the most underestimated character!

For a moment, Huo Yuhao felt he had chosen the right master.

However—

Those who could become soul masters were never stupid. They just didn't like using their brains because they had power that ordinary people couldn't have, easily obtaining wealth and status that others couldn't achieve in a lifetime of labor.

When brute force failed, they had to let their brains work again.

The night passed quietly.

As dawn broke, Tang San and Guang Ling, as usual, rose early to practice the Purple Demon Eye, while Xiao Wu woke up a bit later but still managed to join them on the roof to absorb the morning sun's purple energy.

After finishing their practice, the three of them jumped down from the roof together, knocking on the doors of their teammates from the Tian Dou team, ready to have breakfast together.

However, Yu Feng and Oslo, who had stayed up all night, hadn't woken up yet...

"Why haven't Yu Feng and Oslo come down?" Yu Tianheng asked, sipping his porridge, inquiring about the two, his gaze inadvertently landing on Tang San—could they have really been silenced?

"I don't know. They were said to be taken for special training by the captain and didn't sleep all night," Shi Mo replied softly.

"That's unfortunate," Yu Tianheng was glad he had run fast last night, otherwise, he would have had to accompany the two old men for special training, leaving the empty rooms for the night.

However, until the end of the first round, it didn't matter if Yu Feng and Oslo slept all day. It wouldn't waste much time.

After breakfast, the others decided not to disturb Yu Feng and Oslo's rest and prepared to watch the match together.

However, Tang San was stopped by a team of enforcers from the Martial Soul Hall.

"Tang San from the Tian Dou Royal Academy, right?" The man had a resolute face, confirming Tang San's identity. There was a hint of admiration in his eyes, but he still asked sternly.

"Yes, what's the matter?" Tang San nodded.

"A student from the Canghui Academy reported to the Martial Soul Hall that you attacked their leader, Shi Nian, with mental power, causing him mental collapse and soul power disorder, almost paralyzing him..."

Listening to the long string of four-character idioms from the other party, coupled with his solemn request, Tang San suddenly felt the other person was quite humorous.

"Also, they provided footage captured with a soul-guiding camera—"

"However, we at the Martial Soul Hall feel that the footage only contains a small segment, and it doesn't capture your face, just similar hair color, hairstyle, and clothing. So, we plan to ask you to come and confirm it."

If it were anyone else, the enforcers from the Martial Soul Hall wouldn't be so polite, but Tang San was a master of martial soul theory.

After the first round, everyone knew the name of the captain of the Tian Dou team, who shared the same name as the martial soul theory master.

Fourteen years old, Soul King, with second-millennium rings, fourth-millennium rings, and a hundred-thousand-year soul ring as his fifth ring.

This Tang San was different from the other Tang San!

As a member of the Martial Soul Hall, he naturally understood that such talent must be recruited into the Martial Soul Hall, and the Pope admired Tang San greatly.

In terms of reason and emotion, they had to be polite.

"No problem, lead the way." Tang San didn't give the enforcers from the Martial Soul Hall a hard time and stopped Xiao Wu, Guang Ling, and the others from trying to argue for him. "If you're upright, you're not afraid of shadows slanting. I believe the Martial Soul Hall will give me a fair hearing."

Seeing Tang San's confidence, Xiao Wu, Guang Ling, and the others felt relieved. Yu Tianheng, Huo Wu, and the others were even more indignant towards Canghui Academy, determined to fight them to the death when they met in the future.

They arrived at the Hall of Enforcement.

It was spacious, with fully armed Martial Soul Hall enforcers standing on both sides, wearing bright silver armor, wielding cone-shaped spears, and carrying swords at their waists.

And the one at the forefront of the judges was a Battle Spirit Douluo!

Normally, any elder from the Hall of Enforcement could have come over for this trial, but considering it was Tang San, a Battle Spirit Douluo came personally.

After all, Tang San was a martial soul theory master admired under the Pope's crown, and his own strength was that of a Soul King, with the fifth martial soul being hundred thousand years old. Naturally, he deserved attention.

"Greetings to His Excellency, the Ghost Douluo." Tang San ignored Shi Nian and Huo Yuhao standing beside him, bowing respectfully to the Battle Spirit Douluo to show his respect for a Titled Douluo.

"Hmm, no need for formalities." The Ghost Douluo had a poker face, but there was a hint of a forced smile on his face at the moment. Then he had someone pull up a curtain, projecting the footage from the soul-guiding camera onto it.

The footage was only a segment, taken from an overhead angle, and it didn't capture Tang San's face. But there was no doubt that Shi Nian had been attacked by someone in the footage using some kind of mental means.

"After my examination, Shi Nian's mental power and soul power are indeed disordered, and it will take at least three years of recuperation to fully recover." The Ghost Douluo explained Shi Nian's condition.

"Tang San, do you have anything to say?" Huo Yuhao questioned.

"Hmph!"

The Ghost Douluo snorted, mingled with a hint of mental power, instantly making the faces of Huo Yuhao and Shi Nian extremely pale. "Shi Nian, manage your disciple well. Since I haven't asked you to speak, then don't speak. Don't you understand such a simple rule?"

"Please forgive me, Your Excellency the Ghost Douluo. My disciple is from the countryside and doesn't understand the rules. Please forgive him." Shi Nian quickly apologized on behalf of Huo Yuhao, begging for forgiveness.

"I don't need to argue with a little brat." While he said this, the Ghost Douluo naturally didn't feel any goodwill towards Huo Yuhao's interjection—country kids weren't usually so clueless.

After this interruption, Huo Yuhao lowered his head, looking like a quail.

"Is the person in this footage you?" The Ghost Douluo pointed at the person on the curtain, staring at Tang San.

Tang San admitted, "Yes, it's me."

The Ghost Douluo frowned—if Tang San hadn't admitted it, the matter would have been over, and the Martial Soul Hall would have leaned towards Tang San.

But he actually admitted it?

Too honest, isn't he?

"Is that so? Why do I feel like it's not you?" The Ghost Douluo felt he could argue for Tang San again. Wouldn't Tang San understand his intention now?

Shi Nian widened his eyes. He was shocked: "Could it be that Tang San and the Ghost Douluo have some unknown relationship? Oh no, not only did I offend Tang San, but I also offended a Titled Douluo, and it's even possible that I offended the entire Martial Soul Hall!"

Huo Yuhao also opened his mouth wide in disbelief, thinking, "The Ghost Douluo is actually helping Tang San find an excuse! How could I have such a dream?"

"Your Excellency the Ghost Douluo, what I mean is that..." Tang San took a deep breath, then glared at Shi Nian and Huo Yuhao, "I said it's not me!"

"Not—me—completely!"

The last four words, uttered one by one, were accompanied by a hint of mental power, almost causing the space in the enforcement hall to freeze.

Such powerful mental power!

The Ghost Douluo was shocked. He couldn't imagine how Tang San had cultivated, but one thing he could be sure of was that the quantity and quality of Tang San's mental power were no less than his own, and even in terms of quality, Tang San surpassed him by a lot.

If his mental power was like sand on the beach, then Tang San's mental power was like dazzling diamonds.

"Sorry, I got a little excited just now. Please forgive me, Your Excellency the Ghost Douluo." Tang San bowed again, being very polite, then took out a soul-guiding camera ball and handed it over, "Please, Your Excellency, examine it. I also have a recording of the situation at that time."

"It's okay, youthful impetuosity is understandable." The Ghost Douluo didn't even believe the words he said—other fourteen-year-old boys might be impulsive, but if someone like Tang San, a master of martial soul theory, couldn't control his emotions well, then he might as well see a ghost...

(⊙o⊙)…

He really saw a ghost.

Putting aside the strange thoughts in his mind, the Ghost Douluo took the soul-guiding camera ball handed to him by Tang San and projected the footage onto the curtain. Instantly, the complete process, including the sound, was presented.

It was Shi Nian luring Tang San into the alley...

It was Shi Nian trying to vent his anger for his disciple Huo Yuhao...

It was Shi Nian who struck first...

In the end, Tang San was just forced to resist, and he even held back.

For a moment, Shi Nian and Huo Yuhao's faces turned ugly.

Initially, they thought that even if this "evidence" couldn't cause any substantial punishment to Tang San, it could still discredit him and make him ashamed in front of everyone. But they never expected that Tang San also recorded the incident, and the footage and sound were so clear.

"No need to look at me like that. Soul-guiding cameras, mother and child soul-guiding camera balls, are all inventions created by my disciples. Isn't it ridiculous to use such means against me?" Tang San's expression calmed down, as if everything had nothing to do with him. "And also, why do you think I wouldn't notice someone hiding on the roof?"

Shi Nian and Huo Yuhao were speechless.

"The matter is clear now. It was Shi Nian who caused trouble for Tang San." The Ghost Douluo made the final judgment, extremely displeased with this master-disciple duo. "Causing trouble without cause, slandering others, deceiving the Martial Soul Hall, disrespecting Titled Douluos, do you understand the consequences?"

Shi Nian understood that he couldn't gain any advantage in this situation, so he said, "I was solely venting my disciple's anger, and indeed went too far. I am willing to accept punishment."

"Good." The Ghost Douluo thought that Shi Nian still had some integrity. "In that case, you will accept the corresponding punishment: for deceiving the Martial Soul Hall, causing us to waste energy, you will receive a hundred lashes and have to pay a fine of ten thousand gold soul coins; for slandering Tang San, causing damage to his reputation, you will compensate him with ten thousand gold soul coins."

"Do you have any objections?"

Shi Nian gritted his teeth and squeezed out a word, "None."