Luo Sanpao

The two men and the beast walked through the forest for about half an hour. The trees around them grew denser, and the light grew dimmer.

A small clearing appeared ahead. A single stalk of bamboo grew all alone in its center. Green from top to bottom, it rose straight toward the sky, about four or five meters tall.

Yu Xiaogang pointed at the bamboo and explained in an even tone, "This is a ten-year-old Lone Bamboo, a kind of Plant-type Soul Beast. It's easy to judge a Lone Bamboo's age: if it's no more than ten meters tall, it's a Ten-Year Soul Beast. Only above ten meters does it count as a hundred-year Soul Beast."

Tang San walked over to the Lone Bamboo, gripped its stalk, and squeezed hard. It bent slightly beneath his palm, then sprang back. It was indeed quite resilient, much more so than ordinary bamboo, but that was all.

"Teacher, are we going to hunt this Lone Bamboo, then?" Tang San asked casually, releasing it.

Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "Not for now. If there's no better choice, we'll have to settle for it in the end. Lone Bamboo is tough by nature. It isn't very aggressive, but its defense is good. Adding it to Blue Silver Grass can give it a certain amount of resilience."

Tang San's mouth twitched slightly at that.

If there's no better choice, we pick this? A Ten-Year Soul Ring?

A genius with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, and his First Soul Ring comes from a ten-year-old Lone Bamboo? People would laugh their teeth out if word got around. How does this Yu Xiaogang have the face to call himself "Grandmaster"?

Tang San took a deep breath. I can't lose my temper, I can't lose my temper. I've kept up the act for so long; I can't let it all go to ruin in an instant.

"Luoluo!!!"

Just then, Luo Sanpao suddenly cried out.

Yu Xiaogang immediately snapped to attention and looked in one direction.

By now, the sky had gone completely dark. In the gloom, more than ten ghostly green points of light were approaching them.

"They're Netherworld Wolves." Yu Xiaogang's voice dropped, a trace of tension in it.

Six wolf-shaped Soul Beasts in all were slowly approaching Luo Sanpao.

Luo Sanpao's presence seemed to make them uneasy. As they drew closer, they advanced in a semicircular formation.

Tang San barely hesitated. He swept his right hand across his waist, and a mask appeared in it. He swiftly put it on, making sure it fit snugly. Then he took out the Vajra Hammer and gripped its handle.

Yu Xiaogang turned around, intending to give Tang San a few instructions. But before he could speak, he saw that Tang San had already put on a mask and was braced as if facing a formidable enemy.

Yu Xiaogang's mouth twitched. "Xiao San, why have you put on a mask?"

His tone carried a hint of subtle awkwardness.

"Oh, Teacher, there's a lot of poisonous gas in the forest. I put on a mask to protect myself," Tang San explained with a perfectly serious expression, his voice muffled behind the mask. "Do you want one too?"

But what Tang San was thinking was, I'm afraid you'll stink me to death.

Yu Xiaogang didn't know how to react. Could Xiao San know that Luo Sanpao attacks by farting? Impossible. It must be a coincidence; there really could be miasma in the forest...

"Oh, I have my own." In the end, Yu Xiaogang simply nodded, then took out a mask and put it on as well.

The two exchanged a glance, a subtle understanding in their eyes—neither said it outright, but both knew perfectly well.

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and fixed his gaze on the Netherworld Wolves again. He let out a low shout:

"Fart like thunder, Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao!"

Before the words had finished leaving his mouth, Luo Sanpao swung around, aiming his backside at the Netherworld Wolves.

Boom!!!

A tremendous blast erupted, shaking leaves from the treetops in a rustling shower. A thick cloud of yellow mist shot from behind Luo Sanpao and spread rapidly like a mushroom cloud, engulfing all six Netherworld Wolves ahead.

The thickness of the mist, the yellowness of its color, and the foulness of its stench were simply breathtaking.

Tang San instinctively pressed his mask tighter, his eyes narrowing to slits.

The six Netherworld Wolves clearly hadn't expected to encounter this kind of "biochemical attack." Their once-cautious formation collapsed in an instant. The wolf in front was flipped straight onto the ground by the blast, while the others retreated, letting out terrified whimpers.

Their noses were a hundred times more sensitive than humans', so naturally the impact on them was a hundred times greater. They shook their heads and sneezed desperately, tears even welling up in their ghostly green eyes.

In less than three breaths, the six Netherworld Wolves tucked their tails between their legs and vanished into the darkness without looking back.

The battle ended even faster than Tang San had imagined.

A rare smile appeared on Yu Xiaogang's face. He took two white radishes from his robes and casually tossed them to Luo Sanpao. At the sight of them, Luo Sanpao immediately began snorting with excitement and crunching them down.

"Does Sanpao only eat white radishes?" Tang San couldn't help asking.

Yu Xiaogang gave Tang San a bitter look and sighed. "You saw it yourself. Sanpao attacks by farting. It's a good thing you put on a mask, or you wouldn't be able to stand the smell by now."

"Few foods can compare to white radishes when it comes to bringing on farts. With two white radishes to replenish him, the attack Sanpao just used will recover in about half an hour."

Tang San slowly raised his thumb.

Has Yu Xiaogang never thought of feeding him something else? Tang San wondered.

What if he were given a different food? Say, the meat of a Soul Beast containing spiritual Qi, or some heavenly material or earthly treasure that could stimulate his bloodline. Would it have a different effect?

But Yu Xiaogang only thought about the farting, about how feeding him white radishes could restore his uses of that attack.

"Martial Soul Mutations really do come in all shapes and sizes," Tang San couldn't help remarking as he looked at the fat purple pig.

Yu Xiaogang was silent for a moment before speaking. "Martial Soul Mutations can be good or bad. Mine was a detrimental mutation. It mutated from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the number one Beast Martial Soul under heaven, into the Trash Martial Soul it is now."

"But Teacher, didn't you say there are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters?" Tang San tilted his head, a child's innocent expression on his face and his voice full of confusion.

Those words were like an invisible hammer, striking Yu Xiaogang squarely in the chest.

"Ah! Th-this... this..."

Yu Xiaogang's face reddened at a speed visible to the naked eye, the flush spreading from his neck to the roots of his ears. He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, but quickly realized he had no way to explain himself.

There were no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters.

It was a famous saying Yu Xiaogang often used to lecture others.

Yu Xiaogang stood rooted to the spot, at a complete loss and overwhelmed with shame.

Tang San stood quietly, tilting his head as he looked at Yu Xiaogang. His gaze was pure and puzzled, like a child who truly hadn't understood and was humbly asking for guidance.

But only he knew how good he felt at that moment.

Of course, Tang San's "innocent" expression was flawless. He even blinked, as though waiting for Yu Xiaogang to give him a reasonable answer.

Yu Xiaogang stole a glance at Tang San and saw nothing but confusion and expectation on his young face, not the slightest hint of mockery or teasing. He breathed a small sigh of relief.

The child is still young. He probably didn't do it on purpose, Yu Xiaogang reassured himself. He wasn't being sarcastic, he wasn't taking a jab at me, he wasn't trying to embarrass me...

"Ahem." Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat, trying to make himself look less awkward. "Well... Xiao San, you're right. There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters. That saying... uh... applies to everyone, myself included, of course."

Yu Xiaogang paused, as though giving himself courage. "Although my Martial Soul underwent a detrimental mutation, I've never given up on my research. I believe that one day, I'll be able to prove my worth."

After saying this, Yu Xiaogang forced a smile, a very strange one.

Tang San nodded. "You're right, Teacher."