Jun Tianlin was about to leave when Tian Meng suddenly said "Wait, Xiaotian, my million-year soul bone seems to have a connection with this Tang San."
"A connection?" Jun Tianlin asked in confusion. He focused his senses and found that the skull was warning him again.
This all stemmed from a soul skill that could predict the future. Even when not actively released, Jun Tianlin's perception of danger was significantly sharper.
"Could it be related to Tang San?" He walked back to Tang San's side and activated his soul bone skill. "Future Prediction!"
A powerful light enveloped Tang San, and a strange vision appeared in Jun Tianlin's mind.
Moments later, he came back to his senses, his heart trembling. "What on earth was that scene just now? It was so strange. Damn, the time was too short—I didn't see much."
Jun Tianlin sat cross-legged, deep in thought. The scene he had glimpsed had never appeared in the original novel. He wasn't in it—only Tang San and something else. But since the skull had warned him, it had to be relevant to him in some way.
"Xiaotian, calm down. I don't know what you just saw, but now that you're aware of it, you can prepare in advance," Tian Meng's voice echoed in his mind.
Taking a deep breath, Jun Tianlin nodded. "You're right. Thanks for the reminder, Brother Tian Meng. If what I saw is true, then Tang San, I will help you once more—and help myself in the process."
He then used a secondary foresight technique, embedding two pre-set soul skills within Tang San's body. When the time came, they would activate on their own.
"Tang San, I'm sorry—I have to use you again. But if what I saw truly happens, then this won't be harming you," Jun Tianlin murmured before turning to leave. From the vision he had just witnessed, something extraordinary was bound to occur in the future. He needed time to think.
Tang San, the protagonist of the original novel, really had unbelievable luck. When Jun Tianlin used his future-prediction ability on him, the cooldown period turned out to be an astonishing three years. Now, even if Jun Tianlin wanted to rely on this power to uncover more clues, he couldn't.
---
Three hours later, Tang San slowly woke up. He had completely forgotten everything from the illusion. The only thing he remembered was Shi Nian suddenly attacking him—then darkness.
Rising swiftly and checking himself, Tang San was shocked to find that not only was his mental strength intact, but it had actually grown stronger. In addition, Shi Nian was nowhere to be seen, and his Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night was missing.
"Could it be that Shi Nian let me go, and all he wanted was my skull hidden within the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night? But from what I heard from the dean, he isn't the type to show mercy," Tang San was full of doubts but knew lingering here was dangerous. If Shi Nian returned, he would be doomed.
Using Ghost Shadow Tracking, he quickly made his way back to Shrek Academy, unaware of the truth.
Before he even reached the academy's entrance, he spotted Xiao Wu anxiously waiting for him.
"Brother!" Tears welled up in Xiao Wu's eyes as she rushed toward him.
Because Tang San had been missing for so long, Xiao Wu and Dai Mubai—his closest friends at the academy—had been extremely worried.
It wasn't that the others weren't concerned, but none were as frantic as Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, don't worry. I'm completely fine. I just took a walk in the forest after talking with Brother Jun," Tang San reassured her, gently patting her head. He chose not to tell her about Shi Nian, not wanting to make her worry.
"Where's Teacher? I need to ask him something."
"Teacher has been very worried about you. He's in the Academic Affairs Office now. He told us that as soon as you return, you should go find him immediately," Dai Mubai informed him.
Tang San nodded and turned to Xiao Wu. "Xiao Wu, get some rest. I'll be back soon."
"Okay!" Although reluctant, Xiao Wu understood that Tang San must have something important to discuss. She chose not to insist on going with him.
Tang San arrived at Yu Xiaogang's office. The door was half-open, so he pushed it the rest of the way and stepped inside "Teacher, I'm here."
"Glad you're back!" Yu Xiaogang stood up, his expression serious "Xiao San, what happened? You were just talking with the Sword Lord, and then you vanished for hours."
"I was attacked by Canghui Academy's teacher" Tang San admitted without hesitation
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened "Are you talking about Shi Nian? Did he do anything to you?"
Shi Nian was infamous for his cruelty, his vindictiveness, and his willingness to do anything to achieve his goals. Anyone who crossed him was doomed.
Those who were lucky would die quickly. The unlucky ones? They wouldn't even be allowed to die. They would be driven to utter despair before their minds were destroyed.
Tang San shook his head "He didn't do anything to me. I fainted as soon as I saw him, and when I woke up, my Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night was gone."
"You fainted at the sight of him?" Yu Xiaogang frowned "Shi Nian is a spiritual-type Soul Saint. His mental power is immense—he must have knocked you out instantly. But why would he let you live? He never used to steal without killing."
Unable to figure it out, Yu Xiaogang sighed "Forget it. As long as you're safe. It's just a Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night. You can always make new hidden weapons. And you still have the one million gold soul coins from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan."
"It's not the hidden weapons that concern me. Even if Shi Nian stole them, he can't replicate them without the blueprints. But… there was also a soul bone inside—a skull with plant poison attributes. It was given to me by the Sword Lord of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. After our cooperation ends, I was supposed to give them an additional fee for the hidden weapon blueprints." Tang San frowned. Losing such a valuable treasure right after obtaining it left him frustrated
"What did you say?" Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted drastically. In his plans for Tang San, there were only two ideal types of soul bones:
The first was a strength-type soul bone to enhance his physical abilities for when he added spirit rings to his second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer.
The second was a plant-type soul bone, which would strengthen his Blue Silver Grass, preferably one with poison to increase its lethality.
"That bastard Shi Nian!" Yu Xiaogang's composed image shattered completely. Soul bones were too precious in the world of soul masters—especially skull and torso bones. Having one stolen was an unbearable loss.
Meanwhile, Jun Tianlin had returned to his dormitory. As soon as he lay down, his mind churned with thoughts.
Staring at the ceiling, he muttered 'A butterfly effect? Or something else?'
Though the vision had been incomplete, Jun Tianlin was determined to uncover the truth. Something monumental was coming, and he needed to be ready.