Gangzi and Tang San's Grand Examination

In fact, not assigning new trials to the two was Lu Xian's own consideration.

After all, one of them had reached the ten-trial milestone, while the other was at the twenty-trial mark.

Lu Xian intended to arrange something big for them.

And discovering Flender's arrival through the broom provided him with the perfect opportunity.

When the trio arrived, dusty and travel-worn, at the Soul Hunting Town outside the Star Dou Great Forest, Lu Xian hurriedly issued the trial tasks to the master and disciple.

Jinx Trial 20: Soul Beasts Love Cleanliness Too.
As an inheritor of the Jinx, you cannot tolerate the filth of the world.
Soul beasts do not wipe their backsides after excreting; please assist them in completing their cleaning tasks.
Requirement: Complete cleaning tasks for ten thousand-year soul beasts.
Time limit: 15 days.
Friendly reminder: Every ten trials will usher in a major trial.

The appearance of the trial instantly invigorated Tang San; he no longer cared how difficult the content was.

As long as the trials kept appearing, he was already satisfied.

Having grown accustomed to the rocket-like surge in his cultivation, who could still endure the boredom of regular training?

Sharing the same expression as Tang San was Yu Xiaogang beside him, as the trial content had also been delivered to his mind.

Plague God Trial 10: The Majesty of the Plague God.
The majesty of the Plague God brooks no provocation; use your energy to drive away ten thousand-year soul beasts.
Time limit: 15 days.
Friendly reminder: Every ten trials will usher in a major trial.

Watching the master and disciple beside him, whose eyes had gone blank for a moment before breaking into eerie smiles, Flender couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

What the hell? Why are these two suddenly giggling? And why do they look so lecherous while doing it...

"Xiaogang, and Tang San, what is wrong with you two?"

Tang San and Gangzi exchanged a glance, both seeing the burning intensity in the other's eyes.

They immediately understood that the other had received a trial.

As expected of my disciple (As expected of my teacher).

"It's nothing, let's continue moving forward."

After restocking in the Soul Hunting Town, the three headed straight into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

They only had fifteen days to complete their trials, and during that time, they still needed to hunt soul beasts and absorb soul rings.

Time was tight, and they dared not delay for even a second.

Upon entering the Star Dou Great Forest, Yu Xiaogang and his disciple subconsciously moved closer to Flender.

This was caused by the dangerous atmosphere permeating the unfamiliar environment.

"Xiaogang, what kind of soul ring does Tang San need again?"

"A plant-type soul beast around 700 years old; preferably something like a Magic Powder Flower or a Ghost Vine."

"Understood."

With a general direction, Flender felt more confident, no longer wandering aimlessly like a headless fly.

As the largest gathering place for soul beasts on the entire continent, the soul beasts within the Star Dou Great Forest were as numerous as the hairs on an ox.

In just this short interval, Tang San had already spotted dozens of ten-year soul beasts.

There were the common rations, the Soft Bone Rabbits that everyone agreed tasted good.

There were also the highly vigilant Fan-tailed Squirrels.

These were all very common low-level soul beasts, and none of them caused the trio to stop.

It wasn't until they had penetrated several kilometers into the forest that hundred-year soul beasts slowly began to appear.

A pack of Gale Wolves that approached in a group was scared into a panicked retreat the moment Flender revealed a sliver of his Soul Saint aura.

This scene filled Tang San's heart with longing.

He recalled the old days, when he obtained his first soul ring, he and his teacher had been chased all over the forest by a Datura Snake.

If Flender had been there back then, how would that Datura Snake have dared to act so insolently?

But the final result had been good, as the Datura Snake became his first soul ring.

Continuing for another few kilometers, the forest vegetation became even denser, to the point where not a single ray of sunlight could be seen.

If not for the Blue Silver Grass dotting the ground, the forest would have been pitch black.

Correspondingly, within this range, hundred-year plant-type soul beasts had slowly become visible everywhere.

It wouldn't be long before they found a suitable spirit ring for Tang San.

But plans could never keep up with changes; appearing even earlier than the Ghost Vine or the Magic Powder Flower was a thousand-year-level Ghost Leopard.

Its glowing green eyes locked onto the trio, clearly marking them as prey.

"Hmph, you blind beast, get lost!"

Just as Flender intended to release his aura in a routine manner to scare off the thousand-year Ghost Leopard, two startled cries suddenly came from behind him:

"Spare the leopard!"

"Leave it to me!"

Flender froze in place, turning his head mechanically to look at the master and disciple. "What are you doing? This Ghost Leopard is clearly not suitable for either of you!"

"Ahem, well... besides hunting for a spirit ring, we have some other matters to attend to."

"What matters?"

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San exchanged a brief look, and realizing his disciple's task needed to be prioritized, Yu Xiaogang turned to instruct Flender:

"Just catch the Ghost Leopard first."

"Fi... fine."

Although Flender grumbled inwardly, he subconsciously chose to trust his old brother—after all, who else was the Horn of Wisdom?

The wings of the Cat Eagle unfurled instantly, and the expression of the thousand-year Ghost Leopard turned to one of sudden terror.

Before it could even turn to flee, the back of its neck was firmly seized by Flender.

He carried it back to the master and disciple.

Watching the Ghost Leopard struggle and flail its limbs, Flender gave it a sharp slap on the head in annoyance.

"Behave!"

Struck hard, the Ghost Leopard saw stars and collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly signaled his disciple to complete the task quickly.

Tang San did not hesitate; he took out the fresh water he had prepared in advance from his Soul Tool and walked behind the Ghost Leopard.

Under Flender's stunned gaze, Tang San lowered his head and began to clean the beast's rear.

As the Ghost Leopard regained consciousness and felt the cold liquid behind it, it trembled all over but dared not resist, letting out continuous whimpers.

Flender's aura was still suppressing it; it knew these were people it could not afford to provoke.

It only hoped that the two-legged creatures would spare its life after this humiliation.

Ten minutes later, the Ghost Leopard was spotless, and Tang San finally put away the water skin and stood up.

He then nodded toward Yu Xiaogang.

"Ahem, Flender, cover your nose and mouth."

"Hm? What are you doing now?"

Still reeling from Tang San's actions, Flender looked at his old brother with a face full of question marks.

Yu Xiaogang didn't offer much explanation; once Tang San retreated behind him, he hurriedly turned around, facing away from the Ghost Leopard.

"Don't ask questions. Count to three, then release your suppression on the Ghost Leopard."

"Fi... fine."

"Farts like thunder, shaking the heavens and earth, Yu Xiaogang!"

Accompanied by a muffled sound, a purple-green toxic gas crackling with lightning instantly engulfed the poor Ghost Leopard.

Flender also covered his nose and mouth, hurriedly releasing his suppression on the beast.

Before it could even process its situation, the Ghost Leopard was sent tumbling by the horrifying stench.

It stuck out its long tongue and began to retch.

A moment later, it could only tuck its tail between its legs and flee in terror from this place that had inflicted ten thousand points of psychological damage.

"Phew, that should be one-tenth complete."

Hearing this, Tang San nodded in affirmation.

The master and disciple then beckoned for the dumbfounded Flender to continue their journey.

Watching the wicked backs of the pair, Flender couldn't help but shiver.

"Damn it, killing a leopard is a simple matter—did you really have to abuse the poor thing like that?"