Tang San, standing nearby, asked curiously, "Uncle, is there something wrong with his martial soul?"
Su Yuntao nodded and said, "Yes, there is a problem. While it's not entirely a waste martial soul, it's not far from it. After all, how much attack power can a sword made of bamboo have? It's really strange, between the two of you, one has a waste martial soul with no attack power but innate full soul power, and the other has a bamboo sword that's all show and no substance."
He didn't elaborate further. Instead, he packed up the martial soul awakening stones and the crystal testing orb, issued martial soul certificates, and grabbed his bag to leave.
Tang San and the other seven children followed behind him.
Ning Tian trailed at the back, silent. In his mind, he selected Tang Hao as the target to bear the side effects. The system's text updated accordingly:
[Martial Soul: Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword]
[Side effects can be assigned to a designated target. Current target: Tang Hao]
[Side effects: Low martial soul quality, rough and dark skin]
[Ding! Detected that the host has two side effects!]
[Host, please choose one.]
'Martial soul!' Ning Tian decided without hesitation.
'Old Hao is already ugly enough,' he thought. 'I'll save the rough, dark skin for that little punk Tang San. After all, a family should be neat and matching, right?'
More importantly, the system's benefits were based on the strength of the target bearing the side effects. The stronger the target, the greater the rewards.
Tang San's innate full soul power came from his cultivation technique—a pseudo-innate full soul power. Tang San's cultivation speed was thanks to his Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Tang Hao, however, was different. Known as a once in a century genius of the Clear Sky Sect, he was nearly at innate full soul power even if he didn't quite reach it. Moreover, Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer enhanced with eight power-type soul rings and a 100,000-year Blue Silver Empress soul ring was far superior to Tang San's half baked Blue Silver Grass and unenhanced Clear Sky Hammer.
Without exaggeration, by transferring the side effect of his martial soul's poor quality to Tang Hao, Ning Tian no longer had to worry about his Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword being snapped or shattered by anyone.
Thus, Ning Tian chose Tang Hao without a second thought. This way, the benefits he'd receive in return would be even greater.
[Host: Ning Tian]
[Martial Soul: Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword]
[Current Side Effects:]
Low martial soul quality (fragile, slow cultivation speed, unable to surpass level 30 in lifetime)Rough and dark skin (significantly reduces appearance)
[Side Effect Assigned to: Tang Hao]
(Clear Sky Hammer martial soul quality greatly reduced, soul power unable to progress)
'It's a pity for Tang San,' Ning Tian mused. He had considered targeting Tang San instead after all, even with twin martial souls and his father, the Asura God, backing him, Tang San's cultivation speed and future achievements would surely suffer. But that wouldn't serve Ning Tian's interests. The side effect of being unable to surpass level 30 would be negligible for someone with twin martial souls. Besides, without Tang San around, where would the fun be? And where would he find such a perfect source to leech off?
On the other side, as soon as Su Yuntao opened the wooden door, Old Jack and Old Tom rushed forward, their faces tense with anticipation.
"Master, how did it go? Are there any children from our villages who can become soul masters?"
"Master, what about our village's Little Six?"
Su Yuntao glanced at them and sighed. "Yes, both of your villages have one. But it's a shame. The child named Tang San has innate full soul power, but his martial soul is the waste Blue Silver Grass. The other, Ning Tian, has a martial soul that's all looks and no substance—a fragile bamboo sword and his innate soul power isn't even level one."
"That's great! Finally, our Emperor Soul Village can produce another soul master!" Old Tom beamed with joy.
To him, it didn't matter what Ning Tian's martial soul was as long as he could cultivate and become a soul master, that was enough.
Old Jack, however, looked uncertain. "Master, is there really no way to cultivate the Blue Silver Grass?"
Su Yuntao patted Old Jack's shoulder and exhaled. "It's not entirely impossible, but no one knows what the Blue Silver Grass can evolve into as soul power increases. Even if he becomes a soul master, he'll probably be a useless one, far inferior even to the bamboo sword. Anyway, I've issued the martial soul certificates for both children. With these, you can enroll them in Nuoding Academy. The academy starts in three months, don't forget. I have to head to the next village now.
Su Yuntao was responsible for awakening martial souls in over a dozen villages near Nuoding City. He had only covered seven so far, and with Emperor Soul Village making eight, he needed to hurry to make it back to Nuoding City before dark.
With Su Yuntao gone, Old Tom and Old Jack immediately started bickering.
"Did you see that, Old Jack? Our Emperor Soul Village is finally sending out another soul master!"
"Hmph, it's just a bamboo sword. Our village's Little San has innate full soul power!"
"Still better than Blue Silver Grass."
"Our Holy Soul Village once produced a Soul Saint…"
"Nonsense! How could it be such a coincidence? A hundred years ago, our Emperor Soul Village produced a Soul Emperor, and then your village suddenly claims to have a Soul Saint? You're just riding our coattails!"
"Rubbish! It's your Emperor Soul Village's Soul Emperor that's fake!"
The onlookers were used to this. The two old men were notorious rivals, squabbling since their youth over whether Emperor Soul Village or Holy Soul Village had truly produced powerful soul masters and who was copying whom.
It took the parents of the seven other children who had awakened their martial souls alongside Ning Tian and Tang San to step in and calm them down before a fight broke out.
On the way back to Emperor Soul Village, Old Tom held Ning Tian's hand and said, "Little Six, you've brought honor to our village today. From now on, you don't have to gather firewood anymore. Focus on your cultivation and strive to become a soul master as soon as possible."
"I will, Grandpa Tom," Ning Tian replied with a smile. At the same time, he mentally assigned the side effect of his rough, dark skin caused by years of exposure to the elements to Tang San.
From now on, no matter how much he was exposed to the sun and wind, his skin would only improve and become fairer. In contrast, Tang San would turn darker and rougher, becoming a rugged, dark complexion man.
Moreover, if Tang San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul underwent a second awakening in the future, enhancing his appearance, Ning Tian's own looks would improve accordingly. Of course, this improvement wouldn't be like Tang San's transformation but rather a refinement of his existing features, removing imperfections without making him look like a different person.
'Old Hao and Little Punk, I hope you enjoy these two gifts I've prepared for you,' Ning Tian thought, a smirk tugging at his lips as he imagined Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer shattering under Bibi Dong's assault during the Soul Master Tournament and Tang San turning into a dark, rugged figure.