Soul Land V: Rebirth of Tang San

His cultivation base hadn\'t increased, nor had the strength of his body. But the feeling was just different.

After silently reflecting for a while, a peculiar look flashed in Tang San\'s eyes. He knew what had happened to him.

After fusing with the Time Variation Seal, exposed to the faint washing of the river of time, the aura of his past life weakened. Because of that sliver of divine consciousness within him, his memories couldn\'t possibly be wiped out by the river of time to such an extent. However, after the cleansing of the river of time, this plane subconsciously accepted his existence. The reason his body felt lighter was because the plane\'s suppression of him as an outsider had almost vanished.

It\'s not that the plane had stopped rejecting him, but rather the presence of the Time Variation Seal, in a sense, blinded the plane. It could no longer sense that he was a foreigner.

This deception would decrease in effectiveness with the future increase in his cultivation base. But as long as the Time Variation Seal continued to advance with him, it could maintain its concealing effect. Without the suppression from the plane, the greatest benefit for Tang San was that he could better absorb the Origin Energy of this world for his own use and enhance his cultivation and self-improvement more effectively.

Without a doubt, this benefit was tremendous. Just as he had anticipated before, the fusion with the Time Variation Seal would bring about a qualitative change in him.

If asked which of the five great Demon God Transformation Imprints in his body he should refrain from using in the future, it would definitely be the Time Variation Seal. Moreover, the Time Variation Seal couldn\'t be fused with any other bloodline to produce mutations. Because that could potentially cause the aura that deceives the plane to disappear.

A smile crept up the corners of his mouth. What a correct choice indeed!

He exhaled a long breath. Tang San returned to a meditative state, absorbing what seemed to be the increasingly dense Origin Energy in the air, continuing with his practice of the Mysterious Heaven Method.

Mu Enqing was quite efficient. The next morning, he called Tang San and Wu Bingji into his office. He told them that the academy had approved their proposal, allowing them to form a group for actual combat. They could arrange the specifics themselves. They should also keep it a secret from other students. When going out to execute the mission, the students must not know that a teacher would secretly follow and protect them.

When Wu Bingji stepped out of Mu Enqing\'s office, the way he looked at Tang San had changed. How capable this kid was, managing to have the academy make an exception overnight.

"Really choose that one?" Wu Bingji asked Tang San in a low voice.

"Hmm, let\'s go for that one. It\'s pretty good, high risk but high reward too," Tang San nodded without hesitation.

Wu Bingji said, "How did you convince Teacher Mu?"

Tang San smiled and said, "I just told him that the academy\'s practical combat courses are ineffective, lacking the test of life and death, so it\'s hard for everyone to unleash their potential. By the way, why didn\'t you come to see me last night?"

Wu Bingji said, "I entered a meditative state myself yesterday. I feel like I\'ve gained a deeper understanding of the ice element. Speaking of which, I really should thank you. Ever since our talk that day, I\'ve had a great feeling about my practice these past few days. It\'s as if I have new insights every day."

Tang San gave a thumbs up and said, "That\'s because senior brother has high comprehension skills!"

Wu Bingji said, "Let\'s not talk about that. If we\'re going to hunt the Winged Tiger, who do you plan to bring? How many people should our team comprise?"

Tang San said, "I don\'t think we need a big group. You, me, plus Senior Brother Gu Li, Sister Cheng Zicheng. Well, let\'s also bring Du Bai. The five of us should be about right."

"What?" Wu Bingji stared at him in disbelief. "Just the five of us? Do you think we can take down a Seventh Stage Winged Tiger?"

Tang San shrugged his shoulders and said, "You can\'t just look at levels. Also, I\'ve already told Teacher Mu that we are undertaking this mission for training purposes. Are we supposed to bring everyone? Gang up in a group attack? More people doesn\'t necessarily mean better. With many, it can be chaotic, hindering command. It can even complicate teacher\'s rescue efforts. A smaller team allows for better training. And as long as our abilities complement each other, outclassing might not necessarily be impossible. I didn\'t choose the Winged Tiger just for money, but also to temper ourselves, for real. Don\'t you want to advance to the Seventh Stage, senior brother? How can you achieve that without pressure? Facing the utmost pressure as the absolute main force will certainly offer you many more benefits. Senior Brother Gu Li\'s control, Sister Cheng Zicheng\'s scouting and necessary rescue, along with our coordination, would be quite good."

Wu Bingji twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "What\'s with Du Bai? Why bring him? With his meager strength, the Winged Tiger could kill him with a slap."

A trace of mischief appeared in Tang San\'s eyes as he said, "But don\'t forget the function of the Heavenly Fox Eye. He is our academy\'s mascot after all. To hunt the Winged Tiger, first, we need to encounter it. Luck matters too! Bringing our mascot, isn\'t that great?"

Wu Bingji\'s mouth twitched again as he said, "But there\'s one issue I don\'t know if you\'ve considered. Chengzi and I are one thing, but Du Bai and Gu Li are two of the students with the best bloodline talents in the academy. Despite their slow cultivation progress, the academy has never lessened its emphasis on them. Will they agree to go out with us?"

Tang San said, "Let\'s try it. It should be fine. The teacher is protecting us in secret anyway."

Wu Bingji said helplessly, "You\'re really something. But they have to be willing to go."

Confidently, Tang San responded, "Leave it to me, I\'ll persuade them."

The method Tang San used to persuade them wasn\'t difficult at all; first, he found Du Bai.

"Senior Brother Gu Li and I are going on a hunting mission. The academy has approved it, and we plan to take you with us."

"Take me? Am I even up to it?" Du Bai looked at the earnest Tang San in surprise. For some reason, he felt that Tang San seemed more pleasing to the eye today, and even appeared a bit taller.

Tang San said seriously, "You can do it. Your Heavenly Fox Eye will be a great help to us; we need you."

Du Bai was stunned for a moment, then felt a rush of enthusiasm. They need me, they actually need me! For someone who was considered the weakest in the academy, the feeling of being needed was... just amazing.

"Okay! I\'ll go!"

"Good. That\'s settled, I\'ll call you when it\'s time to leave."

Next, Tang San went to find Cheng Zicheng.

"Sister Chengzi, Senior Brother Gu Li and I are preparing to complete a hunting mission. Senior Brother Gu Li said he hopes you could join us, but he\'s too shy to ask you himself. I\'m asking on his behalf, will you go?"

"Go!" Cheng Zicheng said with sparkling eyes.

Lastly, Tang San sought out Gu Li.

"Senior Brother Gu Li, there\'s something I want to discuss with you."

Gu Li looked at Tang San with a puzzled expression; he also noticed that Tang San seemed different, more likable somehow, "What is it? Class is starting soon, get to the point." He was still a bit down about losing to his junior brother the previous day.

Tang San said, "Here!" While speaking, he took out a Spirit Rhinoceros Coin and handed it to Gu Li.

"What\'s this for?" Gu Li didn\'t take it, looking at him with confusion.

Tang San replied, "Senior Brother Gu Li, I\'m planning to go on a hunting mission with Senior Brother Gu Li. I\'d like to invite you."

"Is this payment?" Gu Li asked with surprise. A Spirit Rhinoceros Coin wasn\'t especially valuable, but it wasn\'t negligible either.

Tang San shook his head and said, "It\'s not payment; it\'s a deposit for now. If you\'re willing to join us on this mission. After we return, I\'ll teach you a method that will allow you to defeat Brother Zhang Zebin. If my method doesn\'t work, consider this Spirit Rhinoceros Coin as compensation to you. If it works, you can return it to me. Also, you\'ll get a share of the mission\'s earnings."

"You can help me beat Zhang Zebin? How could that be possible?" Gu Li said instinctively. Zhang Zebin was tough as old boots, and although Gu Li might have an advantage in the early stages, he was helpless later on. Zhang Zebin was his most troublesome opponent, next to Wu Bingji. Without breaking his defense, everything else was futile!

Tang San just shrugged his shoulders and said, "On the day I just arrived, would you have believed that I could draw even with Senior Brother Gu Li? Besides, I have a deposit."

"Alright! Let\'s give it a try." Gu Li took the Spirit Rhinoceros Coin.

With that, the team of five was theoretically ready to go.