Oh, Isn't This Gangzi? Still Level 29?

Before setting out, Zhou Tao first discussed Spirit Ring allocation with Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo truly lived up to his status as a Titled Douluo.

In response to Zhou Tao's needs, Dugu Bo directly suggested hunting a five-thousand-year Earth Dragon Banyan.

This plant-type Spirit Beast was essentially a giant banyan tree, its trunk covered in dark-golden earth patterns.

Its roots burrowed into the ground like dragon claws and could extend hundreds of meters at most.

Its bark was as tough and flexible as ten-thousand-year vine armor. In an instant, it could grow countless aerial roots and bind enemies tightly.

Moreover, this Spirit Beast had three major advantages:

First, it could draw upon the Power of Earth to rapidly restore Soul Power.

As long as it rooted itself underground, it could use countless rootlets to absorb earth energy and transform it into an endless supply of Soul Power.

Second, its rapid growth granted it formidable regenerative abilities.

As long as some roots remained in the soil, it could swiftly regenerate its body and branches, healing broken limbs.

Third, its exceptional toughness gave it powerful area control.

The branches and roots of this Spirit Beast combined flexibility with hardness, making them difficult to sever quickly. Combined with its countless rootlets, it could rapidly bind enemies, making its group-control abilities extremely strong.

After listening to Dugu Bo's introduction, Zhou Tao immediately made his decision. This was the one.

The Earth Dragon Banyan was practically a perfect match for his Martial Soul.

As long as he obtained this Spirit Ring, his combat strength would absolutely soar.

Morning sunlight fell across the streets of Nowell City.

At dawn, there were only a few pedestrians on the streets.

Zhou Tao, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan rose early and headed toward the forest to hunt Spirit Beasts.

After a simple breakfast, the three prepared to depart.

Just as Zhou Tao was about to leave, he heard a familiar voice.

"Stop!"

The voice was not loud, yet it carried a condescending arrogance, as though speaking to a student who had made a mistake.

Zhou Tao paused and turned his head to look.

Two familiar figures sat at a tea stall by the roadside.

Gangzi and Little Scumbag.

Zhou Tao's gaze swept over them, but his face remained expressionless. As if he had seen nothing but air, he turned to leave.

"I told you to stop~"

"Are you deaf?"

Gangzi deliberately raised his voice, making it shrill, cutting, and unpleasant.

Zhou Tao remained calm and turned to face Gangzi.

He was not angered by it. He merely looked at Gangzi calmly, as though looking at a lowly dog.

Seeing that his provocation had failed to rile Zhou Tao, Gangzi's expression immediately darkened.

He sized Zhou Tao up a few times. Noticing that Zhou Tao's Soul Power did not seem particularly high, he resumed that haughty, arrogant posture.

A master of theory!

Pointing out flaws in all under heaven!

It was as though Zhou Tao were an inadequate test paper, one from which he could freely pick out several faults.

"Kid, it has been a long time since I last saw you."

"Life without going to school has not been easy, has it?"

"Without a Grandmaster's guidance, it seems you are still only a Soul Scholar."

Gangzi spoke slowly, his tone brimming with self-righteous superiority.

Ever since obtaining Tang San as a genius disciple, Gangzi's confidence had grown more and more inflated.

Now.

Seeing Zhou Tao, the brat who had once embarrassed him, he wanted nothing more than to humiliate him ten thousand times over.

Before Zhou Tao could answer, he let out a sigh to himself.

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the guests at the nearby tea tables to hear.

"You child are simply too arrogant because of your talent."

"You think having a little talent means you can stop striving."

"You never know how to work hard. You loaf around all day and wander everywhere."

"Is the Soul Beast Forest a place a little Soul Scholar like you can come to?"

"If you do not cultivate properly every day, if you work one day and slack off the next two, what prospects could you possibly have?"

Zhou Tao remained utterly calm as he watched Gangzi indulge in his fantasies.

It was like watching a circus clown.

Utterly ridiculous.

At this moment.

Dugu Bo had also figured out what was happening. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Tao raised a hand to stop him.

"Senior, let me handle this person."

At this moment.

Hearing Gangzi's mockery.

Quite a few people at the tea stall turned their attention over.

Some were curious, while others were simply watching the show.

Some also felt it was inappropriate, but no one intervened.

At this moment.

Tang San finished his breakfast and turned to look at the two of them.

His gaze lingered on Zhou Tao for several seconds, and then his expression shifted slightly in surprise.

He gently tugged on Gangzi's sleeve and said softly:

"Teacher, something is wrong."

"The Soul Power fluctuations around him are more than those of a Soul Scholar..."

Tang San's voice was quiet, but everyone heard him clearly.

Gangzi's expression instantly froze.

The tea stall immediately fell silent.

Quite a few people turned to look at Gangzi as though he were a clown.

Gangzi's face swiftly turned bright red, then within a single breath became the color of pig liver.

"How is that possible?"

Gangzi's voice was sharp, making him sound like an idiot.

"His Soul Power is at least level twenty," Tang San added.

Gangzi opened his mouth, wanting to say something to salvage the situation and restore his image, but found himself completely choked up.

Seeing this, Zhou Tao burst out laughing.

"Trash will always be trash."

"There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Yu Xiaogangs!"

At those words, everyone burst into laughter.

A few people even laughed so hard that they spat.

Today's show was far too entertaining.

Just moments ago, Gangzi had been provoking him, yet in the blink of an eye, everything had reversed.

That slap to the face had come fast and hard.

Hearing those words, Gangzi's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and he panted like a bull.

His body even began to tremble slightly.

He was practically exploding with rage.

What Zhou Tao had said was precisely his famous line.

There were no trash Martial Souls, only trash Soul Masters.

With Zhou Tao's alteration, Gangzi had completely become synonymous with a trash Soul Master.

"What did you say?"

Gangzi instantly roared. This brat actually dared to insult him.

He wanted to kill Zhou Tao.

"There are no trash Martial Souls, only trash Yu Xiaogangs!"

"Could you not understand something so simple?"

"Then let me explain it to you."

"You are trash, a trash Soul Master who forcibly ruined his own Martial Soul."

"A fraudulent Grandmaster who finally broke through to level twenty-nine at fifty."

"Trash like you can only teach trash disciples."

Zhou Tao spoke coldly without expression.

There was nothing extra in his eyes, only pure contempt for trash.

"Zhou Tao, dare you say that again?"

Hearing this, Tang San was displeased as well.

The Grandmaster's disciple was trash?

Was that not insulting him?

This Zhou Tao had once again chosen the path to death.

Tang San's right hand naturally hung at his side, his five fingers spreading slightly.

A wave of Soul Power quickly spread from his body.

Gangzi was consumed by fury, his eyes seemingly ready to spit fire.

Today, he had completely lost all face.

No.

He had to win it back.

He absolutely had to kill Zhou Tao.

"Little San, step back."

"This brat is so arrogant that he is not worth you making a move."

"Your teacher will personally teach him a lesson and let him know the price of arrogance!"