#16exchangeAI Model: gemini-3.0-flash
Chapter 16: Sparring
"Good! Then let's go directly to the Teachers' Private Sparring Grounds. The environment there is quiet enough that we won't have to worry about being disturbed."
Seeing that both parties agreed, Dean Wang Zongchang made the final decision and took the lead in guiding them forward.
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The group of four passed through the Teaching Building and walked toward the relatively independent area at the back of the academy.
Before long, they arrived at an open-air venue situated in a secluded corner.
The grounds were not particularly large, and the ground was paved with hard bluestone slabs, clearly meant for teachers to spar or to instruct senior students.
After entering the grounds, Dean Wang Zongchang smiled and said to Lin Mo, "Lin Mo, is this place private enough?"
"Rest assured, I guarantee that no one other than the four of us will know the process or the result of your spar."
When Lin Mo heard Yu Xiaogang propose a spar between Tang San and himself, his face remained expressionless, but his mind was as clear as a mirror.
He naturally knew what Yu Xiaogang was planning; it was nothing more than wanting to use Tang San's hands to figure out the details of his Charmander.
However, Lin Mo was not resistant to this; he was even a bit eager to try.
He also wanted to see to what extent he could fight relying only on Charmander against Tang San, without using his second spirit or Blood Burst techniques.
However, before the spar began, some unpleasant truths had to be said upfront.
Lin Mo looked at Yu Xiaogang, then glanced at the silent Tang Sanbeside him, and slowly spoke: "A spar is fine, but I have one condition."
An eyebrow quirked on Yu Xiaogang's stiff face. Although he was a bit surprised, he still patiently listened. "Speak."
"Since this spar is a contest between Spirit Masters, it should naturally only rely on Spirits and Spirit Abilities."
Lin Mo's gaze fell on Tang San. "Therefore, Tang San, you cannot use those strange-looking weapons that you forged yourself."
He was naturally referring to Tang San's Hidden Weapons.
After Tang San returned from obtaining his first spirit ring with Yu Xiaogang, things were indeed as Lin Mo had expected.
He had already found a blacksmith shop outside Nuoding City to work in, not only to make a living but also to use the available Materials and space to forge his own Hidden Weapons.
Lin Mo didn't want to inexplicably get hit by a Silent Sleeve Dart or a Godly Zhuge Crossbow during the spar.
If these things were coated in poison, it would be no laughing matter.
Although Tang San likely wouldn't use poisoned Hidden Weapons in an academy spar, one must always be on guard.
Hearing Lin Mo's words, Tang San's pupils contracted slightly, and a flicker of nearly imperceptible surprise flashed across his face.
He knew Lin Mo was aware he had forged those weapons, but he hadn't expected Lin Mo to bring it up in this setting and forbid him from using Hidden Weapons.
He hadn't expected Lin Mo to take his Hidden Weapons so seriously.
After all, in the eyes of the two people he cared about most, Yu Xiaogang and Xiao Wu, the strange weapons Tang San tinkered with had no real use and were treated as children's toys.
He subconsciously looked at his teacher, Yu Xiaogang.
After hearing Lin Mo's condition, Yu Xiaogang only pondered for a moment before making the decision for Tang San.
He looked at Lin Mo and said in a firm tone, "That is only natural. Since it is a spar between Spirit Masters, it should of course only be a competition of Spirits and Spirit Abilities."
"Little San's blacksmithing work is just something to make a living; it is not fit for refined company and naturally won't be used in this setting."
In Yu Xiaogang's subconscious, he didn't believe Lin Mo could pose any threat to Tang San.
Although Lin Mo's cultivation had reached rank 10, his strength increase was limited without obtaining a first spirit ring and being unable to possess a Spirit Ability.
Even if his Spirit was fire-attributed and naturally countered Tang San's Blue Silver Grass, the gap in spirit power Rank and combat experience was right there.
Yu Xiaogang highly recognized his Disciple's talent in terms of combat power.
Tang San himself had mastered a set of extremely strange movement techniques, and that first spirit ring from the Datura Snake, which was close to the age limit, had greatly enhanced the toughness and strength of the Blue Silver Grass Spirit.
With the first Spirit Ability 'Binding,' Tang San's strength had undergone a heaven-flipping change compared to before he obtained the spirit ring.
Under these circumstances, Yu Xiaogang didn't think Lin Mo, who didn't even have a spirit ring, could defeat Tang San, who was already a true First Ring Soul Master.
Attribute suppression certainly existed, but how could an absolute gap in strength be so easily bridged?
He even felt that Lin Mo's proposal to ban those weapons...
...was likely because he lacked confidence and wanted to weaken Tang San's strength as much as possible to hold out a bit longer and avoid losing too embarrassingly.
Seeing that his teacher had agreed for him, Tang San also nodded toward Lin Mo and said in a steady voice, "I agree. For this spar, I will only use the Blue Silver Grass Spirit."
There was also confidence in his eyes; although he was curious about Lin Mo's Charmander Spirit, he had more confidence in his own strength.
Even without Hidden Weapons, he was certain he could win this spar.
Seeing that both sides had reached a consensus, Dean Wang Zongchang chuckled and stepped forward to smooth things over while also stating his stance.
"Alright, alright. Since the conditions are settled, I will serve as the referee for this spar." With a warm smile on his face, Wang Zongchang's gaze swept over Lin Mo and Tang San.
"You two can go all out. With me, a Spirit Ancestor, watching here, there will absolutely be no accidents, and I won't let anyone else disturb you."
He spoke with great confidence. As a powerhouse at the Spirit Ancestorlevel, he was already considered top-tier combat power in a place like Nuoding City.
Watching over a spar between two children who weren't even Spirit Grandmasters was naturally more than enough.
With the Dean personally serving as referee and Protector, Lin Mo and Tang San's last bit of concern vanished.
The two looked at each other, both seeing the rising Battle Intent in the other's eyes.
Then, under the expectant gazes of Yu Xiaogang and Wang Zongchang, Lin Mo's mind shifted slightly.
A flash of red light passed, and that small dragon-like creature, orange-yellow all over with a flame burning on its tail, appeared on the ground in front of him once again.
It was none other than Charmander!
Charmander also seemed to sense the tense and expectant atmosphere. It raised its head, its large blue eyes scanning Tang Sanacross from it warily.
A low "wu-ao" sound came from its throat, and the flame on its tail flared up several inches with a "whoosh," looking full of energy and Battle Intent.
"This is... the Spirit that hatched from that egg?" Yu Xiaogang's breath suddenly hitched, his eyes widening instantly as he stared fixedly at the Charmander by Lin Mo's feet.
Although he had already learned the news of Lin Mo's Spirit hatching from Tang San, seeing is believing.
Seeing this living External Beast Martial Soul with his own eyes brought him a far stronger impact than just hearing about it.
Dean Wang Zongchang was also seeing Charmander appear for the first time, and a hint of amazement couldn't help but show in his eyes.
Yu Xiaogang almost subconsciously compared the Charmander before him with his own Luo San Pao.
Upon comparison, the difference in quality was immediately apparent!
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