The Lone Bamboo and Yu Xiaogang

Yu Tianheng had been suffering for the past three months.

The pride of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan made it impossible for him to attack anyone whose rank was lower than his own, leaving him no choice but to watch Li Xun interact with Dugu Yan every day.

Yet he could do nothing about it.

He had thought of many countermeasures, but all of them had been useless. Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo were still more familiar with Li Xun than with him.

However, Li Xun would soon reach the same rank as him. As long as the two of them had a conflict, he would have a legitimate reason to spar with Li Xun. Then he could seize the opportunity to kick Li Xun out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

That was what Yu Tianheng thought.

Heaven Dou Empire's Soul Hunting Forest.

A huge carriage slowly traveled along the official road.

"This is the Soul Hunting Forest!"

Ning Rongrong poked her head out of the carriage. "I heard that the Spirit Beasts inside are all raised by the empire. Is that true?"

"That's right. Moreover, ordinary people need an authorization token to enter." Qin Ming nodded.

"Do we need one too?"

"That won't be necessary. All teachers and students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy may enter for free."

While they chatted, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

Many low-ranked Soul Masters had gathered at the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest.

Some of these Soul Masters made a living by helping others obtain Soul Rings, while others were unwilling to spend money and slowly formed teams to hunt Spirit Beasts themselves.

When Li Xun stepped down from the carriage, he saw a bustling scene filled with noise and activity.

"Let's go."

After saying that, Qin Ming led the way toward the gate.

Everyone hurried after him.

The Spirit Beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest were of very low rank. Along the way, Li Xun barely saw any that had lived for many years.

He did see quite a few Ten Year Gu Bamboos.

As it happened,

the Gu Bamboo was precisely Li Xun's target this time.

But not the Ten Year Gu Bamboo that Grandmaster had sought for Tang San. He was looking for a Thousand Year Gu Bamboo.

Bamboo had always been easy to overlook, which was why people did not understand it very well.

In fact, it was one of the fastest-growing plants in the world.

Under natural conditions, its fastest recorded growth rate was more than one meter in a single day.

Moreover, its ability to reproduce was extremely strong. As long as there was a single bamboo plant, it could become an entire bamboo forest after a few years.

After studying it carefully, Li Xun discovered that the Lone Bamboo possessed both of these traits, along with exceptional toughness.

"Xiao Xun, isn't the Lone Bamboo too ordinary? Should we choose another Spirit Beast instead? Perhaps one with poison, to give your Martial Soul some additional traits?"

Qin Ming turned around and spoke to Li Xun.

Before coming, he had not known that the Spirit Beast Li Xun intended to hunt was the Lone Bamboo.

Qin Ming had once seen Li Xun's First Spirit Ability.

From his perspective,

although Li Xun's First Spirit Ability had a wide range, its control was very weak. At most, it could restrict an opponent's movement.

Even if it happened to strike the enemy, the thorns on the sapling would not inflict much damage.

What use could a sapling barely half a meter tall have in battle?

That was why he had thought of adding some poison or another trait to the sapling.

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher Qin Ming, but I've been studying the Lone Bamboo for a long time. Besides, absorbing a Spirit Ring of the same attribute will also help improve the quality of my Martial Soul."

Li Xun smiled and declined Qin Ming's goodwill. What he valued had never been short-term benefits. The path of a Soul Master was still very long, so he needed to take the long view.

When Yu Tianheng heard their conversation, his eyes lit up, and a trace of ridicule appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He had never heard of any noble Soul Master choosing the Lone Bamboo as a Spirit Ring. This thing had neither offensive power nor any special traits. Even if it grew there, it was nothing more than a target.

Even an ordinary person with an axe could chop down a ten-year or hundred-year Lone Bamboo.

Still, he was more than happy to see Li Xun choose it as his Second Spirit Ring.

"Once you obtain your Second Spirit Ring, we'll be Soul Masters of the same level. I hope you won't be too weak by then." Yu Tianheng stared at Li Xun's back.

"Little Brother Li Xun, are you really going to choose the Lone Bamboo as your Spirit Ring? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect should be able to provide you with a better choice, right? If not, I'll go find Grandpa and have him take you to the Sunset Forest to choose one."

Dugu Yan slightly furrowed her willow brows and spoke with some concern.

"What do you know? My brother naturally has his reasons for choosing it. My father, Sword Grandfather, and the others don't object." Ning Rongrong put her hands on her hips and glared at their expressions, puffing out her cheeks angrily.

These people actually thought that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was deliberately treating her brother poorly.

But how could they know that Brother Li Xun had Twin Martial Souls? He did not need to worry about lacking offensive methods at all. Her father had also said that Li Xun might be right about the direction he had chosen for the development of his first two Spirit Rings.

At that thought, Ning Rongrong's eyes shifted, and she suddenly became happy. That's right! They don't know that Brother Li Xun has Twin Martial Souls!

Li Xun felt exhausted by the situation.

If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have agreed to come with them. Now he had to explain himself over and over again.

Just as they were discussing the matter, an angry shout suddenly came from the distance.

"A bunch of level-ten little wolves dare to act recklessly in front of me! San Pao, get ready."

"Farting like thunder, blasting the heavens and splitting the earth—Luo San Pao!"

Boom—

A tremendous roar came from the distance.

Li Xun was stunned by the shock. "Luo San Pao? Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang?"

That incantation was simply too famous. Moreover, he dared to swear that it was probably unique among Soul Masters.

Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan were startled by the sound.

They hurriedly moved closer to Li Xun.

Compared to everyone else's reactions, Yu Tianheng was incomparably excited.

"Teacher, can we go in that direction?" Yu Tianheng pointed toward where the sound had come from, his voice trembling.

"Is he someone you know? I have no objections, but we'll have to ask Xiao Xun." Qin Ming glanced at Yu Tianheng in surprise.

Li Xun shrugged indifferently.

He naturally knew what Yu Tianheng was thinking at that moment. "I have no objections. Lone Bamboo can be found anywhere. It's fine to take a look over there first."

Besides, he also wanted to meet Grandmaster in person.

If he had guessed correctly, Tang San should be there as well.

"It seems Yu Xiaogang and the others came to help Tang San obtain his Second Spirit Ring."

Li Xun thought to himself.

During the past two years, to avoid falling behind Tang San, he had cultivated Chakra during the day and meditated on Soul Power at night. He had nearly died from overwork.

It was only after he learned Heart Separation Control half a year ago that his situation began to improve.

Now that he knew Tang San was at the same level as him, he felt relieved, but a faint sense of urgency also rose in his heart.

Since they had decided to go and take a look, the group headed toward the source of the sound.

Before long,

three figures appeared before everyone.

Two adults and a child.

The large and small figures were wearing masks as they watched the other person in the distance deal with a Ghost Vine. Three wolf-shaped Spirit Beast corpses lay around them as well. Judging by their appearance, they had probably been killed by having their throats slit.

"Uncle!"

When Yu Tianheng saw the middle-aged man wearing a mask, he shouted excitedly.

Li Xun followed Yu Tianheng's gaze.

A crew cut and a full beard—the classic appearance of Yu Xiaogang. He was easy to recognize.

"The one beside him must be Tang San, God King Tang San."

At this time, Tang San had yet to undergo the Blue Silver King's plastic surgery, so he was not particularly good-looking.

"Who are you?"

The three of them were somewhat surprised to see the group that had suddenly arrived.

Yu Tianheng excitedly stepped forward. "Uncle, it's me, Tian Heng!"