Yu Xiaogang's words had struck Tang San right in the lungs.
Tang San really was clueless about Soul Beasts' habitats and abilities. He badly needed knowledge in that area.
Only by learning the traits of Soul Beasts could he and Tang Wu absorb Soul Rings best suited to them.
Tang San stopped.
"What do you want?"
"Simple. Become my disciple, and I'll share everything I know about Soul Beasts with you. How does that sound?"
"That's a pretty generous offer, isn't it?"
Yu Xiaogang stifled a laugh, his heart pounding so hard with nerves it nearly leaped from his chest.
Tang Wu cut in, bluntly exposing his little scheme.
"Don't even think about it..."
"I've heard that on the Douluo Continent, you can only have one teacher, and you can never betray them."
"It's just information about Soul Beasts. We can always dig through old books ourselves. There are so many Soul Beasts—surely there's at least one that suits us?"
Tang Wu didn't hold back. He made Yu Xiaogang's last bit of value sound utterly useless.
This time, he didn't even glance at Yu Xiaogang. He simply walked around him.
"Wait, don't go!"
"I won't ask you to become my disciple. I only want to be your teacher in matters concerning Soul Beasts. Just give me the status of a nominal teacher."
He was desperate.
Yu Xiaogang was desperate.
To teach Tang San, he'd begun trying absolutely anything.
Tang Wu stared at Yu Xiaogang in shock.
Good grief. A nominal teacher? Gangzi, I can't believe you came up with that.
Could he really go this far?
Haji Gang, you rascal!
The situation clearly favored them, so Tang San wasn't about to let the opportunity pass.
He pretended to hesitate for a moment, then finally agreed.
Tang San was pleased, and Yu Xiaogang was in good spirits too.
He planned to use the chance to teach Tang San and Tang Wu to slowly grow closer to them. He refused to believe they wouldn't be won over by his charisma.
Gangzi really wouldn't give up.
To help the two brothers break through to Soul Master as soon as possible, he set out that very night for Soul Hunting Forest.
They barely managed to spend the night in town. Early the next morning, they entered Soul Hunting Forest.
After searching for a while, Gangzi led the brothers to a Lone Bamboo.
"This is a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo. It's known for its resilience, which makes it especially suitable for your Blue Silver Grass."
"If you can't find a good Soul Ring, this can be a backup."
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Tang Wu's mouth twitched.
Without meaning to, the thought popped into his head: The Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo willingly sacrifices itself. Congratulations, you've earned the recognition of the Bamboo God.
You've obtained the ten-year white Soul Ring—Blue Silver Pole Vault.
Damn it.
Blue Silver Pole Vault was still chasing him.
Tang Wu wore an expression of utter disdain. "Let's pass on a ten-year Soul Ring. Its quality is too low."
Tang San said nothing, but there was no hiding the disdain in his eyes.
They continued east for about another hour.
Awooooo—
A wolf's howl suddenly rang out from not far ahead. Pairs of green eyes emerged from deep in the forest, glaring straight at the three of them.
Yu Xiaogang's expression changed dramatically at the sight.
"This is bad. Wolf-type Soul Beasts usually travel in packs. They're known for having copper heads, iron bones, and tofu-soft waists."
"We're no match for them. Quick..."
But when he turned around, the Tang brothers were nowhere to be seen.
Tang Wu and Tang San had realized something was wrong and bolted long ago, vanishing in a flash.
"Young people have no honor! Sneaking up on and tricking a fifty-year-old man like me!"
Once the words sank in, Yu Xiaogang swallowed hard, his face turning pale with shock, then took off running.
The moment the situation had started to look bad, Tang Wu and Tang San had already made a run for it.
They were wearing a pair of strange boots, woven from plant vines.
Once they put them on, their speed increased by a full ten percent.
It was a clever little trick Tang Wu had developed by drawing on the properties of his Martial Soul.
That brought us to the light and airy quality of the dandelion.
As Uncle Liu once said:
"Put on straw sandals, and you'll feel like you're flying."
They kept running along the path ahead until they reached Iron Peak Forest. Only then did they escape the wolves' pursuit.
Looking at the dense forest, Yu Xiaogang finally got a chance to be useful.
"This is Iron Peak Forest, the weapon master among plant-type Soul Beasts. Each leaf is as hard as iron."
"It also has tremendous vitality. Even if it's chopped in two, it can recover through sheer vitality. Judging by its appearance, it's about four hundred years old."
After hearing Yu Xiaogang's explanation, Tang Wu looked at Tang San.
"Brother, this Soul Beast is perfect for your Blue Silver Grass."
"Not only does it have abundant vitality that can strengthen your Blue Silver Grass, but you'll also have a good chance of gaining Iron Peak Forest's metalification ability."
"When that happens, as long as you have enough Soul Power, you'll have an endless supply of Hidden Weapons."
Following Tang Wu's line of thought, Tang San casually summoned his own power, and leaves filled the sky.
The thought of turning every flower and leaf into a Hidden Weapon made his heart surge with excitement and his blood run hot.
He nodded at once.
"Good. Then this is it for my Blue Silver Grass's First Soul Ring."
But just as Tang San was about to step forward, Yu Xiaogang suddenly blocked his way.
"Xiao San, listen to me. The first Soul Ring is extremely important. Never choose a plant-type Soul Beast."
"Only an animal-type Soul Beast can provide a significant boost. That should be your first choice."
"You have to listen to me this time. I'm a Grandmaster of theory. Otherwise, you'll definitely regret it someday."
Tang San was deeply displeased by Yu Xiaogang acting like a dog blocking the road.
His brow furrowed even more when he heard how Yu Xiaogang addressed him. Then he spoke.
"First, we aren't close enough for you to casually call me 'Xiao San.'"
"Second, even if I regret this someday, it won't have a thing to do with you."
"Third, excuse me."
Tang San turned and slipped past Yu Xiaogang, his movements smooth and casual.
Gangzi?
Gangzi was nothing!
Iron Peak Forest sensed Tang San approaching and immediately went on alert, its branches whipping wildly.
But plant-type Soul Beasts had little intelligence before reaching fifty thousand years old. They were driven only by instinct.
Their only real means of attack was to shoot metal leaves, but attacks of that level were useless against Tang San with his Purple Demon Eye active.
After going through untold hardships, Tang San finally hunted down the four-hundred-year-old Iron Peak Forest.
"Xiao Wu, stand guard for me."
"Got it, Brother. Don't worry."
Tang San had already learned about the Soul Ring absorption process, so he didn't need Yu Xiaogang to teach him this time.
Absorbing the Soul Ring proved easier than he'd imagined.
Night soon fell. Soul Hunting Forest was especially dangerous after dark, but Tang Wu wasn't worried in the slightest.
He knew for certain that Tang Hao was watching from the shadows.
With a Titled Douluo protecting them, what was there to worry about? They might as well take it easy.
By the time dawn began to break the next morning,
as his Soul Power gradually solidified, Tang San completed the absorption of his Soul Ring.
"Brother, how did it go? What does the Soul Ring do?"
The moment Tang San woke up, Tang Wu eagerly asked him.
Tang San smiled faintly.
Clearly, he was quite satisfied with the result. Then he slowly explained what it could do.