Flender watched Gangzi, and only after he nodded did Flender swiftly spread his wings and chase after the distant boar.
Several minutes later, Flender caught the Explosive Flame Boar, which had fallen unconscious again, and tossed it onto the ground.
A thrilled smile spread across Gangzi's face. It had been at his instruction that they let the Explosive Flame Boar go just now, and he had already received a prompt in his mind saying that the Plague God trial was complete.
Naturally, he had Flender catch it again.
Watching Gangzi limp toward the boar, a sickly smile still on his face,
Flender couldn't help vigorously shoving his glasses up his nose, the corners of his mouth twitching wildly.
"Just what has Xiao Gang been through all these years?"
In the little courtyard beside the Broom Shop in Suotuo City,
Lu Xian, who had been practicing his control over the Ice Element, suddenly received several notification chimes.
[Wish Rank D, executor completion: 100%.] [Reward: 500 days of cultivation, Soul Ring age increased by 150 years.] [Domain strength increased by 20%.] [Wish Rank E, executor completion: 100%.] [Reward: 200 days of cultivation, Soul Ring age increased by 60 years.] [Reward: Immunity to All Poisons.]
Ignoring the 200 days of cultivation he had gained thanks to Gangzi's talent, Lu Xian grinned from ear to ear.
"This time, I've really struck it rich."
"Those ten-trial assessments really are powerful."
"And setting aside the cultivation I got from Gangzi, the increase to Soul Ring age and Immunity to All Poisons are both incredibly useful rewards."
After choosing to accept all but most of the other rewards, Lu Xian's cultivation immediately rose to Level 35.
His First Soul Ring also successfully crossed the hundred-year threshold, transforming into a Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
At the same time, he smoothly accepted a body immune to all poisons. Lu Xian preferred to call it Poison Immunity. From now on, poison-type Soul Masters would have to go around him.
Dugu Bo, of course, was an exception. At this stage, even if his poison didn't work, Dugu Bo could still slap him to death.
In his good mood, Lu Xian didn't forget his two workers, either. He quickly sent their rewards over.
"Jinx's Twentieth Trial, 'Soul Beasts Also Love Cleanliness,' is complete."
"Reward: 100 days of cultivation, all Soul Rings increased in age by 25 years."
"Domain power increased by 5%."
Hearing the notification in his mind, Tang San's mouth began to curl wildly upward.
What did 100 days of cultivation mean?
After accepting it, his Level 21-and-a-half Soul Power shot straight up to Level 23.
The power of his Soul Skills had also increased a little, and even more precious was that the power of his Bad Luck Domain had begun to rise.
Not only had its range expanded, its influence had also increased dramatically.
"If I want to reach the pinnacle of the continent, I'll have to keep working hard to complete the trials!"
Tang San wasn't the only one who received a reward prompt. Gangzi had just finished absorbing his Third Soul Ring when his came through, too.
"Plague God's Tenth Trial, 'Majesty of the Plague God,' is complete."
"Reward: 180 days of cultivation, all Soul Rings increased in age by 8 years."
"Poison resistance increased by 10%."
After absorbing his Soul Ring, Gangzi had smoothly broken through to Level 31. The 180-day cultivation reward entered his body, but he remained at Level 31.
And that didn't even include the cultivation he had gained from training for half a year after reaching Level 30.
The little joy Gangzi had felt at receiving a reward instantly vanished.
"Looks like relying on cultivation alone won't work. I can only depend on the trials if I want to keep improving."
"It's fine. I still have 89 trials ahead of me."
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang had finished absorbing his Soul Ring, Flender approached him with a cheerful expression.
"How did it go, Xiao Gang? How powerful is your Soul Skill?"
Gangzi closed his eyes and took a look. Then he decided it would be better to let Flender see for himself.
He released Luo Sanpao, and the yellow, yellow, and purple Soul Rings rose in succession.
After stuffing two carrots into Sanpao's mouth, Yu Xiaogang immediately used his Third Soul Skill.
"Fart like a blazing inferno, burning mountains and boiling seas—Luo Sanpao!"
With Sanpao's back turned to the trees, which stood dozens of meters tall in the distance, its whole body began to turn fiery red.
Pffft!
Accompanied by a muffled blast, a cloud of crimson mist swallowed the trees whole.
Gradually, the trunks and branches began to burn.
The flames spread for half an hour before they finally managed to scorch the trees.
"This power..."
Flender had wanted to say, "How can it be so weak?" But noticing that his old friend didn't look too pleased, he swallowed the words.
Yu Xiaogang really wasn't in a good mood. Burning Mountains and Boiling Seas sounded impressive, but its power was decidedly underwhelming.
Part of the reason was that he had already released all his energy, but even at full strength, the Soul Skill was riddled with flaws.
It had a long windup, insufficient power, and enormous energy consumption. It was plagued by all these shortcomings.
But Yu Xiaogang soon banished the gloom in his heart.
I have the Plague God's inheritance. What do I have to fear?
Once I complete the trials and my Soul Ring age and cultivation improve, why wouldn't my Soul Skill grow more powerful?
What's more, he now had a 10% resistance to poison. The road to the pinnacle lay right before him.
All in all, the master and his two disciples were fairly satisfied with this trip.
The three of them immediately decided to leave the Star Dou Great Forest, where they had stayed for half a month.
"Xiao Gang, don't forget to have Tang San come study at Shrek after he graduates."
"Don't worry. I will."
Tang San met Flender's expectant gaze and nodded to confirm it.
Having a Soul Sage vouch for him was better than being all alone.
After parting ways in Soul Hunting Town, Flender flew toward Suotuo City.
Meanwhile, the master and disciple returned to Nuoding City in a rented carriage.
Several days later, the gates of Nuoding City appeared before them. The two who had been away for nearly a month felt as if a lifetime had passed.
"Nuoding City, your emperor has returned!"
In the Lu Family Courtyard in Suotuo City,
a broom floated in front of Lu Xian.
After its Soul Ring had transformed into a thousand-year one, the broom had grown even faster in flight, and its ability to ride the wind had become even stronger.
Its bristles had also begun to harden.
Not only that, the bristles could actually scatter like flower petals and attack enemies like arrows or blades.
Lu Xian couldn't help exclaiming,
"Thousand-year Soul Rings are terrifying indeed!"
Gangzi: "It's not that impressive!"
From now on, Lu Xian could ride his broom to travel and also turn into something like a bomber.
The broom's branches could regenerate without limit, which meant the ammunition in his hands would never run out.
Enemies who couldn't fly no longer posed any threat to him.
Next was his Immunity to All Poisons. He had originally been wondering how he could get his hands on the Immortal Herbs inside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Now he had a lot more room to work with.
But Lu Xian wasn't in a hurry to take those Immortal Herbs. After all, Dugu Bo was guarding a treasure without knowing what he had. The Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was right there; it wasn't going anywhere.
He'd better raise his strength first.
He had also come up with a few ideas for his upcoming Fourth Soul Ring.
His Martial Soul, the Silver Light Orb, could turn an object into a Soul Skill before it even reached Level 10. Could he try binding a living creature instead?
A cat, a dog, a snake, a mouse—something like that.
These little animals might not have much fighting power at first, but who knew how ridiculously strong they could become as the Soul Ring of the bound target advanced?
His broom was the best example.
Excited by the idea, Lu Xian secretly resolved to try binding a living creature for his Fourth Soul Ring.
If it didn't work, he would consider other useful objects.
If ice could be bound, then why not fire, earth, wind, and lightning, too?
Following the path of the elements would be a fine choice.
Before you continue