The Bright Future Is Right Before Our Eyes

"Hiss~"

"Hiss, hiss~"

Inside the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, the four-meter-long Datura Snake affectionately coiled around Xia Yan, its face constantly rubbing against his body. With its ruby-like eyes, one could not detect a single trace of ferocity.

If one didn't know better, it would be impossible to recognize this docile creature.

It was the very same bloodthirsty and brutal Datura Snake from the Soul Hunting Forest.

This was a level of obedience and gentleness that only Xia Yan could enjoy.

Xia Yan patted its forehead; the scales were ice-cold and incredibly tough, impenetrable even to ordinary arrows.

Not to mention the taut, power-filled muscles beneath those hard scales.

Fast speed, immense strength, high defense.

It was simply perfect.

"This is a small pocket dimension, so there is no danger here. However, I cannot let you out for the time being, so just cultivate here for now."

The Datura Snake showed no dissatisfaction: "Hiss, hiss~"

In the Soul Hunting Forest, it had to dodge danger all day long, but here, it could sleep all day.

However, "Hiss, hiss~"

Xia Yan could understand what it was saying: "You're saying there's no food here?"

The Datura Snake nodded.

Indeed, there was no food here.

Apart from wandering through the entire forest and meadow when it first arrived, it had spent the rest of its time sleeping and cultivating.

Because other than itself, it couldn't see anything that moved.

It didn't even know what it was supposed to eat.

Although it could go months without eating, it needed sufficient stamina to cultivate, so it still had to eat.

Xia Yan pondered; this was indeed a problem.

His monthly subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin seemed like a lot, but he was still growing and needed to cultivate, so he naturally had to eat nutrient-rich food.

But nutrient-rich meant expensive.

He didn't have much money to begin with, and now that he had to cover the Datura Snake's meals, it certainly wouldn't be enough.

"Hmm..."

He had to find a way to make money...

Ordinary low-level soul masters had many ways to earn money. For example, they could work as escorts, acting as a deterrent while being prepared to fight if danger arose, or join soul hunting teams, or even collect herbs and ores in various soul beast habitats.

However, for Xia Yan, none of these were viable options. The only place in Notting City suitable for him was the Soul Fighting Arena.

Soul fighting was a sport beloved by both commoners and soul masters alike on the Douluo Continent.

It was also a great place to make money...

As Xia Yan pondered, stroking the Datura Snake's vigorous and powerful body, he suddenly thought:

Ah, that's right!

The Datura Snake's venom could be sold!

Many soul masters had the habit of coating their weapons in poison, which could greatly increase their lethality.

It allowed them to quickly poison an enemy or soul beast upon breaking their skin, ending the battle with minimal expenditure.

The Datura Snake's venom had extremely strong paralytic and corrosive properties. Although Yu Xiaogang was weak, he was still a two-ring soul master, and even he had nearly lost his life after being bitten once.

There would definitely be buyers.

Thinking of this, Xia Yan didn't linger: "I've got a plan, I'll be right back."

His body vanished in an instant.

Silent and traceless, as if he had never existed at all.

The Datura Snake fell onto the grass due to his sudden disappearance, though such a height meant nothing to it.

"Hiss?"

The Datura Snake wasn't used to this instantaneous departure method yet. Its ruby-like eyes darted left and right.

In the end, it could only lie back down on the grass to bask in the sun.

Xia Yan went to the market in the northern part of Notting Academy and found a pottery workshop.

After buying four celadon bottles, He returned to the small space and had the Datura Snake inject its venom into the bottles.

The Datura Snake had no idea what Xia Yan was trying to do, but it obediently followed his instructions.

It opened its wide mouth, aimed its snow-white fangs at two of the celadon bottles, and milky-white venom flowed out, filling the two small bottles in a few moments.

"Sss?"

They were full, so what now?

It wagged its tail, looking at Xia Yan in confusion.

Xia Yan stroked its head: "If these can be sold, we can make a lot of money."

"Sss!"

The Datura Snake didn't understand what making money meant, but as long as Xia Yan was happy, it was happy too.

Afterward, Xia Yan found a shop.

The owner marveled at the excellent quality and extreme toxicity of the venom, declaring it a top-tier product that could only be produced by a high-level Soul Beast!

He offered half a Gold Soul Coin per bottle, a fair price with no deception.

Xia Yan sold all four bottles on the spot, earning two Gold Soul Coins.

His assets tripled in an instant, Surging from one Gold Soul Coin to three.

As for the origin of the venom, the owner naturally wouldn't ask too many questions; there was no benefit in it for him.

Regardless, he would buy whatever Xia Yan brought to sell later.

Afterward, Xia Yan took the money to buy some meat, and the Datura Snake ate until its belly was bulging, Happily rolling over to expose its stomach.

Sell venom—buy food—produce venom—sell venom.

A perfect positive cycle.

And Xia Yan could also eat more nutritious food.

A four-win situation:

Selling venom for money to buy food for the Datura Snake, win one.

Xia Yan enjoys the benefits along with it, win two.

Because the Datura Snake won, Xia Yan wins along with it, win three.

Because Xia Yan won, the Datura Snake wins along with him, win four!

In the Soul Hunting Forest, A black snake over two meters long, knocked unconscious by a foul-smelling fart, lay limp in a pile of fallen leaves.

The Black Rot Spear Snake was best known for its toxicity; one bite, and within half an hour, half of one's body would rot away, Hence the name Black Rot Spear Snake.

Yu Xiaogang waited for the murky stench to dissipate:

"San, this snake is about two hundred years old, just right for you."

Tang San did not have the slightest doubt, But Tang Hao was shocked. The first Soul Ring limit could reach four hundred years, yet this was only two hundred!

How could you let my son absorb a two-hundred-year Soul Ring?!

In his anxiety, he found a Black Rot Spear Snake with an age between three hundred and fifty and four hundred years, Beat it half to death, and tossed it over.

"Who?!"

Yu Xiaogang noticed movement in the canopy and became immediately alert; most of the fierce beasts here were over two hundred years old and were not easy to deal with.

Then, he saw a Black Rot Spear Snake with half its body severely wounded, Hissing as it fell from the canopy, Writhed in pain on the ground, its dark brown mouth wide open, its sharp fangs broken and dripping with bright red blood, Extremely eye-catching.

Yu Xiaogang was stunned.

A Black Rot Spear Snake?

And the age was just right?

He was overjoyed: "Quick, San, use your long sword to finish it off. Its age is higher; it's even more suitable for you!"

Tang San did not doubt him, directly retrieving a long sword from the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges to execute the Black Rot Spear Snake, which no longer had the strength to resist.

A yellow spirit ring slowly emerged.

"Xiao San, quickly use your spirit power to guide the spirit ring. Let's leave here first and absorb it in a safe place."

The Black Rot Spear Snake certainly hadn't fallen and half-killed itself.

It must have been the work of another spirit beast or a spirit master.

Regardless, they had to leave immediately.

The two then retreated along the path they had come, and twenty minutes later, they arrived behind a hidden thicket where Tang San slowly guided the spirit ring, settling it onto his Blue Silver Grass.

The absorption went very smoothly.

He gained the spirit skill, Bind, with a radius of twenty meters, accompanied by corrosive snake venom.

The Blue Silver Grass also underwent a subtle change, appearing slightly darker, though it might be unnoticeable without a close look.

Of course, both Tang San and Tang Hao noticed it.

But neither cared; wasn't it normal for a spirit's appearance to change after absorbing a spirit ring?

"Hmm, just as I expected."

Yu Xiaogang nodded with satisfaction. As expected of the theory he endorsed, he had already mapped out the subsequent plan: venomous snakes, poisonous vines, venomous spiders, poisonous moths, venomous scorpions...

He would definitely make the Blue Silver Grass full of deadly toxins!

He truly was the best teacher on the continent!

He seemed to already see the future where his good disciple stood at the Spirit Master Tournament to vindicate his name!

Tang San also nodded with satisfaction.

The first spirit ring had been absorbed, so could the second be far behind?

As long as he listened to his teacher, he would definitely become strong!

In the shadows, Tang Hao also nodded with satisfaction, though his satisfaction was tinged with helplessness.

Sigh, Yu Xiaogang is only a two-ring master after all; he is too weak.

It seems he really can't do it without me.

At the thought of how much effort he had put into his son's growth, he felt a wave of fulfillment.

As expected, I am a devoted and hardworking father...

He seemed to already see the image of his son and himself, side by side, crushing Martial Soul Hall.

For a moment, everyone was very satisfied, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

A beautiful future was right before their eyes.