In fact, Lu Xian had his own reasons for not assigning the two of them new trials.
After all, one had reached the Tenth Trial milestone, while the other had reached the twentieth.
Lu Xian planned to give them something big.
And when his Broom revealed that Flender had arrived, it had brought him the perfect opportunity.
When the three of them finally reached Soul Hunting Town, dusty and weary from their journey, Lu Xian hurriedly issued the master and disciple their trial tasks.
"Jinx's Twentieth Trial: Soul Beasts Also Love Cleanliness."
"As a successor of the Jinx, you cannot stand the filth of this world."
"Soul Beasts never wipe themselves after relieving themselves. Please help them complete their cleaning duties."
"Requirement: clean ten thousand-year Soul Beasts."
"Time limit: fifteen days."
"Friendly reminder: every ten trials, you will face a major trial."
The appearance of the trial instantly excited Tang San. He no longer cared how difficult it was.
As long as trials kept appearing, he was more than satisfied.
He had grown used to his cultivation rocketing upward like a launched rocket. Who could stand the tedium of ordinary training?
Yu Xiaogang, standing beside him, wore the same expression. A trial task had appeared in his mind, too.
"Plague God's Tenth Trial: Majesty of the Plague God."
"The Plague God's majesty cannot be challenged. Use your energy to drive away ten thousand-year Soul Beasts."
"Time limit: fifteen days."
"Friendly reminder: every ten trials, you will face a major trial."
Looking at the master and disciple, whose eyes had gone blank for a moment before they broke into strange grins, Flender felt a chill run down his spine.
"What the hell? Why did those two suddenly start grinning like that? And so creepily, too..."
"Xiao Gang, Tang San, what's wrong with you?"
Tang San and Gangzi exchanged glances and saw the same burning excitement in each other's eyes.
They immediately realized the other had received a trial.
Just what you'd expect of my disciple. (Just what you'd expect of my teacher.)
"Nothing. Let's keep moving."
After stocking up in Soul Hunting Town, the three headed straight into the Star Dou Great Forest.
They had only fifteen days to complete their trials, and they still had to hunt a Soul Beast and absorb a Soul Ring.
Time was short, and they didn't dare waste a moment.
After entering the Star Dou Great Forest, Yu Xiaogang and Tang San instinctively edged closer to Flender.
It was the dangerous atmosphere of an unfamiliar environment.
"Xiao Gang, what kind of Soul Ring does Tang San need again?"
"A Plant-type Soul Beast around seven hundred years old. Ideally a Magic Powder Flower or a Ghost Vine."
"Got it."
With a general direction in mind, Flender felt reassured. At least they wouldn't have to wander around like headless flies.
As the largest gathering place for Soul Beasts on the continent, the Star Dou Great Forest teemed with them.
In just that short time, Tang San had already spotted dozens of Ten-Year Soul Beasts.
There were the ever-popular staple food, the Soft Bone Rabbit, which everyone who tried it said was delicious.
And the ever-vigilant Fan-tailed Squirrel.
These were common low-rank Soul Beasts, so the three didn't stop for them.
It wasn't until they had ventured several kilometers into the forest that Hundred-Year Soul Beasts began to appear.
A pack of Gale Wolves came charging at them, but Flender merely revealed a trace of his Soul Sage aura, and they fled in terror.
The sight filled Tang San with longing.
Back in the day, when I was getting my First Soul Ring, my teacher and I were 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 up?
Still, things had worked out in the end. The Datura Snake had become his First Soul Ring.
They continued several kilometers farther. The forest grew denser, and not a trace of sunlight could be seen.
Without the Blue Silver Grass dotting the ground, the forest would have been pitch-black.
And, accordingly, Hundred-Year Plant-type Soul Beasts had become increasingly common in this area.
They were sure to find a suitable Soul Ring for Tang San before long.
But plans could never keep up with change. Before they found a Ghost Vine or Magic Powder Flower, a Ghost Leopard with a thousand years of cultivation appeared.
Its green eyes fixed on the three of them. It had clearly taken them for prey.
"Hmph, you blind beast. Get lost!"
Just as Flender was about to release his aura and scare off the thousand-year Ghost Leopard, two cries suddenly rang out behind him:
"Hands off the leopard!"
"Leave it to me!"
Flender froze, then turned mechanically toward the master and disciple.
"What are you doing? This Ghost Leopard clearly isn't suitable for either of you!"
"Ahem, well... aside from hunting for a Soul Ring, we have some other things to take care of."
"What things?"
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San exchanged glances. Realizing his disciple's task had to come first, Yu Xiaogang turned to Flender and instructed him:
"Catch that Ghost Leopard first."
"Fine... fine."
Flender grumbled inwardly, but still instinctively chose to trust his old friend. After all, he was the Horn of Wisdom.
The Cat Eagle's wings unfurled in an instant, and terror flashed across the thousand-year Ghost Leopard's face.
But before it could turn and flee, Flender had already grabbed it firmly by the scruff.
He carried it back to the master and disciple.
Watching the Ghost Leopard struggle and claw at the air, Flender smacked it on the head in annoyance.
"Hold still!"
The blow left the Ghost Leopard seeing stars. It crumpled to the ground, unable to move.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly signaled his disciple to get on with the task.
Tang San didn't hesitate. He took the fresh water he had prepared earlier from his Soul Tool and went behind the Ghost Leopard.
Under Flender's stunned gaze, Tang San bent down and began cleaning its rear end.
The Ghost Leopard slowly regained consciousness and felt the chill behind it. Its whole body trembled, but it didn't dare resist. Whimpering sounds kept escaping its mouth.
Flender's aura still had it pinned down. It knew it couldn't afford to provoke him.
It could only hope that the two-legged beast behind it would spare its life after humiliating it.
Ten minutes later, the Ghost Leopard was spotless. Only then did Tang San put away his waterskin and stand up.
Then he nodded at Yu Xiaogang.
"Ahem, Flender, cover your nose and mouth."
"Hm? What are you going to do now?"
Flender still hadn't recovered from Tang San's actions. He stared at his old friend, once again utterly confused.
Yu Xiaogang didn't explain. After Tang San stepped behind him, he hurriedly turned around, putting his back to the Ghost Leopard.
"Don't ask. Count to three, then release your hold on the Ghost Leopard."
"Fine... fine."
"Fart like thunder, shake the heavens and split the earth—Yu Xiaogang!"
With a muffled rumble, purple-green poisonous gas crackling with lightning instantly swallowed the poor Ghost Leopard.
Flender covered his nose and mouth and quickly released his hold on it.
Before it could even think about its predicament, the Ghost Leopard was bowled over by that terrifying stench.
It stuck out its long tongue and gagged.
A moment later, it could only tuck its tail between its legs and flee in disgrace from this place where its soul had suffered ten thousand points of damage.
"Whew. That should be one-tenth of the task done."
Tang San nodded firmly in agreement.
Then the master and disciple beckoned to the stunned Flender, and the three continued on their way.
Watching the master and disciple's wicked backs, Flender couldn't help shuddering.
"Damn it, killing a leopard's just one quick blow to the head. Did you really have to torture the poor thing like that?"
Before you continue