Armchair Strategizing: Yu Xiaogang

Yu Xiaogang said, "Mutated Martial Souls can't be judged by normal standards. Sanpao's attacks consume a lot of soul power; my entire reserve is only enough for it to release three attacks.

However, unlike ordinary Martial Souls, Sanpao can replenish soul power by eating. After consuming these two White Radishes, in half an hour, the soul power Sanpao just expended will be fully restored.

The reason I feed it White Radishes is that they're excellent for inducing flatulence."

By the end of this explanation, Yu Xiaogang wished he could crawl into a hole. A Martial Soul that could only fart—how humiliating.

That actually works?

Tang San quietly turned his head, laughing unkindly but without making a sound, so as not to make Yu Xiaogang feel worse.

Just as the master and disciple thought the crisis had passed, another change occurred. Luo Sanpao suddenly faced a direction and let out urgent, uneasy pig-like squeals, "Luo Luo, Luo Luo, Luo Luo Luo..."

The pair became alert again. Tang San's eyes flared with purple light as he pushed the Purple Demon Eye to its limit.

With the Purple Demon Eye's enhancement, Tang San saw a triangular, dark green head rise from the bushes, a pair of blood-red snake eyes staring their way.

"Teacher, ahead." Tang San immediately pointed out the snake's location.

At this moment, Yu Xiaogang had no time to wonder how Tang San could see farther than he could. He urgently needed to know what kind of soul beast was approaching.

With that in mind, he took a fire starter from his Storage Soul Tool and tossed it in the direction Tang San had indicated.

The wind caught it, and the fire starter ignited.

Under the faint light, Yu Xiaogang finally got a clear look at the snake.

"Hiss!" Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but suck in a cold breath. "How can this be? A Mandala Snake—why would such a ferocious soul beast appear in the Soul Hunting Forest?"

At this moment, Yu Xiaogang's heart was a mix of fear and fury. He silently cursed the Martial Soul Hall's negligence. How was the Soul Hunting Forest being managed? Why hadn't such a dangerous soul beast as the Mandala Snake been eliminated in time? Didn't they know that only low-level soul masters came here? Wasn't this just endangering lives?

He could only pray that this snake's age wasn't too high. A ten-year one would be best. Yu Xiaogang made that wish in his heart.

The Mandala Snake seemed unwilling to let the pair off easily. It flicked its tongue, making a hissing sound, and slowly crept closer.

Yu Xiaogang said in a low voice, "Xiao San, let me teach you another theory: more rings, more bones, power in one wave; fewer rings, fewer bones, turn and save your hide. Here, rings mean soul rings, and bones mean soul bones.

Remember, when your soul rings and soul bones clearly outnumber your opponent's, go all out and strike hard.

Conversely, if the opponent holds an absolute advantage, don't hesitate—run immediately.

Life comes first; face is never more important than your life."

Just as Yu Xiaogang was earnestly instructing Tang San, the Mandala Snake had closed to within ten meters.

Under the moonlight, the snake's body was visible, nearly four meters in length.

"Hiss!"

Yu Xiaogang's face turned pale with fear. This was a Mandala Snake with nearly four hundred years of cultivation!

Damn, this was far beyond what a half-baked Soul Grand Master like him could handle.

"Run!" Aware of the gap between them, Yu Xiaogang didn't have a shred of will to fight. He grabbed Tang San and bolted.

"Sanpao, hold it off! Fart like thunder, shake heaven and earth, Luo Sanpao!" Yu Xiaogang shouted, and both of his soul rings flew out simultaneously, settling onto Luo Sanpao.

"Luo Luo."

Luo Sanpao took a deep breath, aimed its rear at the charging Mandala Snake, and with a bang, a yellow gas erupted like a volcanic blast, sending a powerful shockwave.

Caught off guard, the Mandala Snake was sent flying by the earth-shattering fart, tossed far away.

To the Mandala Snake, this damage was no more than a tickle, but it was utterly disgusting.

Hiss, hiss. The Mandala Snake was furious. What, just because it was a snake, it was inferior? Did a snake have no dignity? Was it supposed to swallow the humiliation of being farted on?

No!

Today, it would seek justice for itself.

Seeing the Mandala Snake chasing again, Yu Xiaogang had no choice but to unleash his ultimate move.

"Fart like smoke, lull to sleep, Luo Sanpao."

Luo Sanpao stuck out its rear and with a puff, sprayed a stream of shit-yellow gas that spread through the air.

However, the sleep-inducing fart had no effect on the Mandala Snake. It continued closing in on the fleeing pair and the pig at an alarming speed.

Forced into a corner, Yu Xiaogang once again commanded Luo Sanpao to block.

This time, Luo Sanpao wasn't so lucky. Its soul power was nearly depleted, leaving it unable to use its soul skills.

The Mandala Snake bit down on one of the pig's legs, then flicked its head, tossing Luo Sanpao aside like trash.

The Mandala Snake lunged forward. Yu Xiaogang closed his eyes in resignation.

Yu Xiaogang was in despair. Fragments of his past flashed through his mind. In that moment, he wanted to ask the cruel heavens why they were so unjust, why he had to be so unlucky.

At the critical moment, Tang San swung his arm, flinging Yu Xiaogang several meters away. Then he quickly drew a short sword and unleashed all his abilities to their fullest: Purple Demon Eye, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Mysterious Jade Hand, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Silent Sleeve Sword...

After a heart-stopping struggle, Tang San finally drove the short sword into the Mandala Snake's mouth.

This was a fatal blow for the creature. The Mandala Snake thrashed and writhed on the ground before gradually losing its life.

Not only had it failed to seek justice for itself, but it had also lost its life.

"Xiao San?" Just as Tang San was still reeling from the shock, Yu Xiaogang stumbled over.

Tang San narrowed his eyes. Everything he had just done—his teacher had seen it all.

His soul did not belong to this world. That was something that absolutely could not be known by others.

So what now? Should he kill his teacher to silence him?

Tang San's arm lifted slightly, his Sleeve Sword poised to strike. Yu Xiaogang no longer had any soul power. At this moment, he was confident he could kill him.

But when it came down to it, Tang San wavered. He had once said that a teacher for a day was a father for life.

Now, was he really going to commit patricide?

He still remembered yesterday—the warm gesture of his teacher bringing him dinner...

After an inner battle between heaven and man, Tang San ultimately abandoned the impulse to kill his father.

To cover up his earlier actions, Tang San put on an act. He feigned exhaustion and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Teacher, that scared me to death just now. But I think I stabbed that snake."

Yu Xiaogang hurried over to Tang San's side, checking him here and there. Seeing that Tang San was unharmed, he spoke in a reproachful tone: "Why did you let go just now? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

His words were full of concern. As for the martial arts Tang San had used earlier, he didn't mention a single word.

In truth, what he had seen was very limited. It was late at night, the light was poor to begin with, and besides, he was old—his eyesight wasn't what it used to be.