Song of Ass and Fire

The Soul Ring Age was close to the limit, it offered a moderate improvement to cultivation talent, and it had an eighty-seven percent Soul Ring compatibility rate.

Every piece of information told Wang Qi that it would be nearly impossible to find a first Soul Ring better suited to him than the Mutated Blazing Vine soul beast in the Soul Hunting Forest.

How could Wang Qi possibly give up? He had already made up his mind. Even if hunting the Mutated Blazing Vine might be dangerous, he wanted to give it a try.

Otherwise, there would have been no need for Wang Qi to cooperate with Yu Xiaogang at all. After three days together, Yu Xiaogang would not have assumed that Wang Qi speaking up for him meant Wang Qi had softened toward him.

Scholars looked down on one another. Having some understanding of Wang Qi's personality, Yu Xiaogang knew that Wang Qi definitely had some ulterior purpose.

"Could it be the Ghostfire Moth? Wang Qi's Martial Soul is a mutated Humanoid Flame Martial Soul. According to his theory, he should want to obtain the Ghostfire Moth's flame-attachment ability."

"That must be it. If he truly obtains the Ghostfire Moth's flame-attachment ability, Wang Qi's Humanoid Flame Martial Soul will become extremely powerful in battle."

"Not a bad idea, but that brat Wang Qi is still too young. He has no idea about the Ghostfire Moth soul beast's peculiarities. In a place artificially maintained like the Soul Hunting Forest, Ghostfire Moths can hardly exceed two hundred years of cultivation."

"Wang Qi, your theory is sound, but your knowledge is too limited. If you acknowledge me as your registered teacher, I wouldn't mind adding a note to my theory of the eleven core competencies of Martial Souls, stating that this theory was developed thanks to your inspiration."

As they pursued the Ghostfire Moths, Yu Xiaogang began imagining Wang Qi's disappointed expression once he discovered that no Ghostfire Moths over two hundred years old could be found in the Soul Hunting Forest. The thought alone thrilled Yu Xiaogang.

"Master, if I remember correctly, your Martial Soul is called Luo Sanpao, right?" Wang Qi suddenly asked Yu Xiaogang while they traveled.

"That's right. What is it? Do you have some unique insight into Luo Sanpao?"

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Wang Qi hurriedly waved his hands. "I wouldn't dare call it an insight. But I heard that Luo Sanpao's Soul Skill attack method seems to involve farting, is that right?"

Afraid that Yu Xiaogang's fragile heart might misunderstand and launch into a long speech about how he no longer cared about such insults, Wang Qi quickly explained, "Please don't misunderstand, Master. I have an immature idea regarding Luo Sanpao's Martial Soul Skills."

"Last year, I came across some records about a former senior in the Nuoding Academy library. That senior's Soul Skills were related to farts as well. He graduated from Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy at eleven, later cultivated to the Soul Elder realm, and was said to be invincible beneath the Soul Ancestor realm. Even Soul Kings could only barely contend with him."

"There was only one record concerning that senior's sudden surge in strength: while hunting a Soul Ring at night, his Soul Skill came into contact with a campfire when he activated it—then it ignited explosively!"

"I guess that senior was fighting a soul beast at night when his Soul Skill touched the campfire. The Soul Skill caught fire, and its power greatly increased. Since your Martial Soul Skills are similar to that senior's, I was wondering whether using flames could increase the power of your Soul Skills."

Farts could be ignited? What kind of person was Yu Xiaogang? The biological son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's clan leader, the current Pope Bibi Dong's former boyfriend, and the Martial Soul Theory Master of the modern Soul World—would he study farts?

But he could not show weakness before an eight-year-old child like Wang Qi. His mind raced as he considered how to answer Wang Qi's question.

"If you have something to say, say it plainly. Since I have already acknowledged your talent in researching Martial Soul theory, there is no need for you to beat around the bush with me."

Wang Qi's eyes lit up at Yu Xiaogang's words, and he immediately began cautiously asking about Yu Xiaogang's Soul Skills and how they were activated.

The more Wang Qi listened to Yu Xiaogang's descriptions, the brighter his eyes became. Jet Impact Fart and Slow Sprinkling Fart—these two Soul Skills were simply perfect for fighting in specific terrain.

His eyes shone even more brightly after they reached the gathering place of the Ghostfire Moth swarm.

The Ghostfire Moth swarm's gathering place was a bowl-shaped basin roughly a hundred meters in diameter and nearly thirty meters deep at its lowest point. If Yu Xiaogang's Soul Skills could be used properly in such an environment, their power would be no less than that of a Soul King with a large-area attack Soul Skill.

Wang Qi chuckled. "Master, I have an immature idea. If it succeeds, I believe your combat strength will soar in the future. Even ordinary Soul Ancestors will no longer dare make an enemy of you."

"However, this idea is still only theoretical. How to put it into practice will require your cooperation, Master."

Thus, while the two guards inspected the Ghostfire Moth swarm to determine its numbers, the two of them hid to one side and quietly worked out a plan.

Whenever Yu Xiaogang shook his head and refused, Wang Qi would look at him with a regretful expression and say, "I thought Master and I were the same kind of people, striving to research Martial Soul theory so that more ordinary people would no longer be ordinary. I never expected..."

Yu Xiaogang said, "Tell me. How do you need me to cooperate?"

Wang Qi asked, "Master, it won't be too difficult for you, will it?"

Yu Xiaogang replied, "It won't. It's all for Martial Soul theory."

The Ghostfire Moths they had encountered at noon had led them on a chase until dusk. As for Wang Qi and Yu Xiaogang's discussion of how to use the Soul Skills, it had not taken much time.

Wang Qi then used Gold Soul Coins to pave the way, getting the two Soul Elder guards to cooperate with him and Yu Xiaogang. He also promised that if the plan succeeded, the three of them would take none of the credit for wiping out the Ghostfire Moth gathering place. Only then did the two guards agree to take the risk.

Of course, this was also because the Ghostfire Moth swarm was not very large and was unlikely to cause major trouble for the Soul Hunting Forest.

Under the lingering glow of the setting sun, Wang Qi grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground and slowly scattered it, observing the wind direction.

"There's no wind. Master, I'll be relying on you next."

Wang Qi cupped his hands toward Yu Xiaogang, signaling that they could begin.

Yu Xiaogang nodded to show that he understood. After summoning Luo Sanpao, he pointed at him with a sword-finger gesture.

"Sanpao, go! Fart like mist and smoke, foul fart slumbers Luo Sanpao!" The yellow second Soul Ring beneath his feet rose and flew toward Luo Sanpao along with Yu Xiaogang's sword-finger gesture.

Luo Sanpao then began running around the edge of the valley, farting as he ran. Dense clouds of yellow smoke gradually drifted toward the depths of the valley under the pull of gravity.

Thirty seconds later, Luo Sanpao staggered as if completely drained. Before he could catch his breath, Wang Qi activated Martial Soul Possession and kicked him into the air above the valley.

"Sanpao, fart like thunder, fart pressure covers the heavens, Luo Sanpao!" Yu Xiaogang's face had turned somewhat pale as well, but he still followed the plan and pointed toward Luo Sanpao with a sword-finger gesture.

The yellow Soul Ring flew toward Luo Sanpao, and an incomparably massive cloud of yellow smoke, nearly enough to cover half the basin, descended from the sky and pressed toward the center of the valley.

"Xiao Chenyu, make your move!"

"Watch this! Fire Wolf Possession, First Soul Skill, Flame Bullet!"

Xiao Chenyu instantly completed Martial Soul Possession. The yellow Soul Ring beneath his feet shone brightly, and a fireball the size of an adult's head shot from his mouth straight toward Luo Sanpao's rear.

Almost the instant the fireball touched Luo Sanpao's rear, Yu Xiaogang recalled his Martial Soul. Rumble!

A brilliant firework of flames engulfed the entire valley in the blink of an eye, and the powerful shockwave brought with it a strangely scented gust of wind.