Gangzi's Legendary Moment: Breaking Through at Fifty Before Reaching Level Thirty-Tang San: You're Asking for Death!

"Your Soul Hunting this time will determine the foundation of your future. You must be cautious!"

"With me here, I'll make sure to plan the most suitable Soul Ring combinations for you!"

Looking at Tang Yin and Tang San, Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, still putting on the air of a Grandmaster. With a proud, self-assured look, he declared that he would plan the best Soul Rings for them.

Tang Yin merely curled his lip, speechless.

Oh, please!

You're going to plan the most suitable Soul Ring combinations for us?

You haven't even figured out your own Martial Soul!

Anyone who believes you is a complete idiot!

Neither Tang Yin nor Tang San responded to Yu Xiaogang's posturing.

Tang San even turned his gaze away, as if he hadn't seen him.

As Yu Xiaogang's stiff face struggled to produce a smile, only for it to stiffen all over again, Director Su felt embarrassed on his behalf.

"Ahem!"

"All right, everyone's here. Let's get going!"

"The carriage is already waiting at the academy entrance."

For the sake of the dean, Fenos, Director Su gave a light cough and tried to smooth things over.

The group left the academy, climbed aboard a carriage they had hired in advance, and set off for the Soul Hunting Forest near Nuoding City.

The carriage jolted along, and the road was long.

Yu Xiaogang clearly wasn't about to let this opportunity for "earnest instruction" pass him by.

As soon as he was settled, he began pitching his theories.

Starting with the classifications of Martial Souls, he once again brought out his so-called "Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul."

He placed particular emphasis on the "Martial Soul Mimicry Theory," trying to convince Tang San.

Blue Silver Grass should develop as a control-type Martial Soul. The ideal First Soul Ring should come from a snake- or spider-type Soul Beast, granting traits such as entanglement, paralysis, and poison.

"Xiao San, your Blue Silver Grass may seem delicate, but if it absorbs the Soul Ring of a venomous snake-type Soul Beast and gains its toughness and poison, it'll be transformed completely..."

Yu Xiaogang talked until he was spitting, his eyes burning as he looked at Tang San, as if he could already see the perfect control-type Soul Master built according to his theory.

But Tang San felt nothing but loathing and murderous intent toward him. He closed his eyes as if resting, ignoring Yu Xiaogang completely and not even bothering to lift an eyelid.

When Yu Xiaogang saw that Tang San wouldn't respond, he grew awkward and turned his attention to Tang Yin.

"Tang Yin, your 'White Jade Hand' Martial Soul is extremely special."

"According to my research, you should develop as a Tool Soul Master, improving your defense and strength."

"You might consider absorbing the Soul Ring of a Soul Beast known for its defense or strength, like an Iron-Armored Rhino or a Rock Turtle, to further increase the hardness and strength of your hands..."

With Yu Xiaogang droning on like Tang Monk reciting sutras, Tang Yin was struggling to keep it together.

Damn it, when were they going to reach the Soul Hunting Forest?

At this rate, he was going to lose his mind!

Tang Yin ignored Yu Xiaogang's advice, too.

The previous afternoon, he'd already dragged his little brother Tang San to the Notting Academy library, where they'd read plenty of books about Soul Beasts.

He had already made plans for both his little brother's Blue Silver Grass and his own Mysterious Jade Hand Martial Soul.

Sitting beside them, Director Su was getting a splitting headache from Yu Xiaogang's endless barrage of theories, but he couldn't very well interrupt.

After all, Yu Xiaogang was supposedly "teaching them," and he had invoked the dean's name.

All Director Su could do was rub his forehead and pretend to be thinking about the route.

When Yu Xiaogang saw that both brothers were unimpressed by his "words of wisdom," he felt his face grow hot.

But as a "great Martial Soul theorist," Yu Xiaogang had a remarkably thick skin—and he was pretty crafty, too.

When he realized Tang Yin and Tang San had no interest in his Martial Soul theories, Yu Xiaogang started interspersing his lectures with information about the Soul Beasts they might encounter along the way, precautions for the Soul Hunting Forest, and the weaknesses of different Soul Beasts.

At least that was useful!

The journey passed amid this awkward, uneasy atmosphere.

A day later, the carriage reached the Soul Hunting Forest.

The Soul Hunting Forest was a low-level Soul Beast forest jointly managed by the empire and Spirit Hall. Soldiers guarded its outer reaches, and anyone entering had to present a special token.

Director Su showed the entry token he had obtained through an application. After checking it, the guards let them through.

Once they entered the Soul Hunting Forest, the air grew damp and wild. Towering ancient trees blocked most of the sunlight, and a thick layer of fallen leaves blanketed the ground.

All around them, unfamiliar insects chirped, while the distant roars of beasts sounded now and then.

After entering the Soul Hunting Forest, Yu Xiaogang felt as if he'd arrived on his own turf. His spirits lifted, and he began showing off his knowledge.

Whenever they came across a Soul Beast, even one only ten years old, he would stop and explain.

"Look, that's a Nether Wolf. They live in packs and are quite fast..."

"That one in the tree is a Wind Baboon. It's nimble and good at throwing things at its enemies. Its Soul Ring might grant some agility or ranged attack abilities..."

"That's a Wood Leaf Monkey. It has a wood attribute and excels at camouflage and using vines..."

At last, as the group passed a Lone Bamboo, Tang Yin witnessed a classic scene.

"Xiao San, look at this Lone Bamboo. Its age is a little low, but as a Plant-type Soul Beast, its toughness makes it well suited to your Blue Silver Grass!"

"If we can't find a more suitable snake- or spider-type Soul Beast, absorbing its Soul Ring might be a decent option!"

There stood Yu Xiaogang—the great Grandmaster who'd broken through at the age of fifty without even reaching level thirty—patting a ten-year-old Lone Bamboo less than as thick as a person's wrist and introducing it solemnly.

"..."

At this, Tang Yin's mouth twitched. He was at a loss for words.

Gangzi! Gangzi!

Were you serious?

You wanted Xiao San to absorb the Soul Ring of this ten-year-old Lone Bamboo?

Even the Soul Ring that would burst out if someone killed you would have a higher age!

Since he'd gone to the Notting Academy library with his big brother Tang Yin and read books about common knowledge in the Soul Master World, Tang San knew that the ideal First Soul Ring for a Soul Master was a hundred-year one.

When he realized Yu Xiaogang actually wanted him to absorb a ten-year Lone Bamboo Soul Ring, Tang San's eyes turned cold, and a flash of fury and killing intent crossed them.

This hateful little flathead actually wanted me to absorb a ten-year Soul Ring?

In this world, I'm going to help Big Brother build the Tang Sect and make the Tang Sect great again!

I have to become strong!

You're trying to ruin me. You've already earned your death!

Back at the academy, I couldn't touch you.

But now, in this Soul Hunting Forest, don't let me find an opening!

Since Tang Yin had told Director Su that he and Tang San planned to each absorb a hundred-year Soul Beast—one with a thunder attribute and a talent for strength or defense, and the other a Plant-type Soul Beast skilled in life and recovery—they would have to enter the depths of the Soul Hunting Forest to find them.

Therefore, on their first day in the forest,

Tang Yin and Tang San spent most of their time traveling under Director Su's guidance.

As dusk approached,

Director Su suggested they find a place to camp for the night and continue searching deeper the next day.

They found an open patch of woodland near a water source.

Director Su and Yu Xiaogang worked together to quickly put up two simple tents and scatter special insect-repellent powder around them.

They ate a simple meal of dry rations, assigned the watch schedule, and prepared to rest.

But just as everyone had relaxed and was getting ready to sleep,

a faint rustling came from the bushes outside the camp.

Yu Xiaogang immediately sensed an opportunity to show off his abilities. He signaled for everyone to keep quiet, pulled out a fire starter, and hurled it toward the sound.

The flare of light cut through the gloom, illuminating several pairs of glowing green eyes.

Three Nether Wolves stood there, looking rather battered. Their bodies were covered in cuts of varying depths and streaked with blood. They seemed to have just come through a fierce fight, and their breathing was weak.

"They're injured ten-year Nether Wolves!"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up, and delight spread across his face.

He thought the chance to display his "Soul Grandmaster" strength and establish his authority had finally come!

He was only level twenty-nine, and his Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, wasn't known for its fighting ability.

But taking on a few injured ten-year Nether Wolves should be no problem!