Ji Yuan Evolves, Bloodthirsty Demon Vine

Tang San bent down to inspect the edge of his shoe. Just as his fingers reached over, that tiny purple-black vine tip shrank back into the hidden layer, leaving only a narrow gap stretched open in the old cloth.

Yu Xiaogang leaned against his back, his breathing weak. "What is it?"

Tang San pinched the sole. "The sole's split."

Yu Xiaogang lacked the strength to look closely. "Forget the shoe for now. Let's get out of here first."

Tang San gave a quiet acknowledgment, but planted his foot more firmly and continued carrying Yu Xiaogang out.

Ji Yuan hid within the hidden layer of the sole. He had forcibly compressed his newly transformed vine body into a thin sheet, pressed between the leather and old cloth.

If Tang San took the shoe apart now, he would see only a dark-colored wooden insole.

He would not allow such a low-level mistake to happen.

His new body was called the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine.

When the name surfaced in his consciousness, Ji Yuan felt no unnecessary emotion. He simply examined the powers he could use.

Tough Binding, basic poison immunity, blood-draining barbs, venom storage.

Compared to the Blue Silver Grass that might snap if stepped on, he now truly qualified as a predator.

Tang San had not gone far when a rustling sound suddenly came from behind them.

Yu Xiaogang immediately raised his head. "Don't stop. It may be a low-level soul beast drawn by the smell of blood."

Tang San asked, "Teacher, can you still command Luo Sanpao?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. "Sanpao was injured. Don't count on it for the time being."

Blue Silver Grass extended from Tang San's hand. "Then I'll try my new soul skill."

Ji Yuan happened to want to test himself as well.

Tang San turned around. A ten-year Poison-Toothed Badger burst from the grass. It was not large, but the smell of Datura Snake blood had reddened its eyes, and it lunged straight for Tang San's calf.

Tang San shouted, "Binding!"

Blue Silver Grass shot from his palm and wrapped around the Poison-Toothed Badger's body, its poison seeping in along the blades.

The Poison-Toothed Badger struggled for a while, its movements slowing, but it did not immediately collapse.

Tang San frowned. "The poison is still too weak."

Yu Xiaogang panted on his back. "Don't lose focus. Strangle its neck."

Tang San controlled the Blue Silver Grass to tighten, and the Poison-Toothed Badger finally stopped moving.

Ji Yuan watched coldly from within the sole.

A watered-down soul skill was still a watered-down soul skill. It could be used, but there was no way it would let him run rampant.

If it had been his demon vine just now, the Poison-Toothed Badger would not have lasted long enough to struggle.

Tang San released the Blue Silver Grass and looked at the Poison-Toothed Badger lying on the ground. "Teacher, is the power of the Datura Snake soul ring really only this strong?"

Yu Xiaogang did not answer immediately. He merely lowered his head to inspect Tang San's Blue Silver Grass.

The grass blades were quite tough, and their poison was above standard as well, but compared to a four-hundred-year Datura Snake, it did indeed lack some of its ferocity.

He said gravely, "Your body has limited tolerance. During the soul ring fusion, it will actively discard part of the violent poison. This is a good thing. If all the poison entered your body, you might not have survived."

After hearing that, much of Tang San's doubt was put to rest. "So it protected me?"

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "You could understand it that way."

Ji Yuan snorted inwardly.

I'm the one who protected you.

But you'll never need to know that in this life.

The two continued toward the edge of Soul Hunting Forest.

Along the way, they encountered several more ten-year soul beasts drawn by the scent of blood. Tang San dealt with them using his new Binding soul skill in conjunction with hidden weapons, while Yu Xiaogang, though weak, continued giving him instructions.

"Don't just bind the limbs. Bind the joints."

"If the poison isn't strong enough, use control to stall for time."

"Blue Silver Grass is not a blade. Don't expect to kill your opponent in one strike."

Tang San responded as he fought, committing every word to memory. "Teacher, I understand."

Taking advantage of every burst of force Tang San used, Ji Yuan continued familiarizing himself with his new body.

The tip of the demon vine twitched lightly within the hidden layer of the sole, trying to store force along the rudimentary path of Disorder Splitting Wind's exertion.

He had not truly learned the core of the hammer technique yet, but the memories of exertion Tang San had left behind while forging were already enough for him to glimpse the threshold.

Vines were flexible. They could bind, pierce, and lash.

As long as he stacked enough force, their killing power would far surpass that of Blue Silver Grass.

At the edge of the forest, a Spirit Hall patrol discovered that Yu Xiaogang had been poisoned and injured, and immediately surrounded them.

The middle-aged soul master leading them glanced at Tang San. "What did you encounter?"

Tang San supported Yu Xiaogang. "Datura Snake."

The man's expression changed. "You two encountered a Datura Snake in the outer region and still made it out alive?"

Yu Xiaogang coughed several times. "We got lucky."

The patrolling soul master looked at the snake blood by Tang San's feet, then at the Blue Silver Grass in his hand. "Your first soul ring?"

Tang San did not hide it and released a yellow soul ring.

The surrounding patrol soul masters exchanged glances, all looking surprised.

The leader said, "Kid, you've got some nerve."

Yu Xiaogang immediately cut in. "It was my misjudgment. Take me to treat the poison first."

The man stopped questioning them and waved for someone to help.

Ji Yuan drew in every trace of his aura.

The people from Spirit Hall were not especially powerful, but there were many of them here, their soul power chaotic. Any leakage could cause trouble.

He had only just evolved. What he needed most was not to show off, but to hide even deeper.

After returning to Notting City, Yu Xiaogang was taken away to treat his poison wound. Tang San remained at his side, his face full of exhaustion.

The physician cut open Yu Xiaogang's sleeve. Seeing the patch of purple skin, he could not help frowning. "Good thing you took an antidote. Any later, and this arm would have been crippled."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San. "Did you hear that? In the Soul Hunting Forest, you can't rely on luck every time."

Tang San said quietly, "Teacher, I was too reckless this time."

Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "No, I underestimated that snake. You survived and even absorbed the soul ring. You already did well enough."

Tang San looked at his right hand, where Blue Silver Grass swayed softly in his palm. "But I lost my memory for a while in the middle."

Yu Xiaogang's hand stopped as he was being bandaged.

The physician glanced at them, then tactfully stepped aside to organize his medicine box.

Suppressing the pain, Yu Xiaogang asked, "What do you remember?"

Tang San said, "The snake lunged at me, and I was about to stab it. When I woke up, it was already dead, and its gallbladder had been torn apart."

Yu Xiaogang stared at him. "Your left hand?"

Tang San spread open his left hand. "It aches, like I used too much strength."

After a moment of silence, Yu Xiaogang continued wrapping the bandage. "Your second martial soul protected its master. That is the most reasonable explanation for now. You cannot let it lose control again in the future."

Tang San asked, "Then how do I control it?"

Yu Xiaogang raised his eyes. "Cultivate your Blue Silver Grass, strengthen your body, and do not deliberately provoke your left hand. Once your foundation is stable enough, I'll find another way."

Tang San nodded. "I trust you, Teacher."

Coiled in the sole of his shoe, Ji Yuan nearly unfurled his newly grown barbs.

Good. Trust him well.

The more Tang San trusted Yu Xiaogang, the less likely he would suspect parasitism.

That night, the two returned to Notting Academy.

The moment the door to the Seventh Dormitory opened, Xiao Wu jumped off her bed. "Tang San, you're finally back! I thought a soul beast had carried you off."

Wang Sheng also crowded over. "Boss, did you get your soul ring?"

Tang San released his yellow soul ring, and the Seventh Dormitory immediately erupted.

"A hundred-year soul ring!"

"Boss really became a soul master!"

Xiao Wu circled him once, then suddenly twitched her nose. "You smell strongly of snake."

Tang San withdrew his soul ring. "We encountered a Datura Snake. Teacher was injured."

The playful look on Xiao Wu's face faded somewhat. "What about you?"

Tang San shook his head. "I'm fine."

Xiao Wu snorted. "Liar. Your face is pale as that."

As she moved closer, her scorpion braid slid over her shoulder, its tip brushing Tang San's sleeve.

The spores Ji Yuan had hidden in her wooden comb and braid simultaneously sent back the aura of a hundred-thousand-year origin.

After completing his evolution, that aura tempted him even more strongly.

Yet he still did not rush to devour it.

Tang San had only just absorbed his soul ring, and residual fluctuations still remained in his body. Yu Xiaogang would also be watching him closely.

This blood bag needed to be raised.

Tang San sat by the bed. Just as he was about to circulate the Mysterious Heaven Skill to stabilize his realm, a blocked sensation came from his meridians.

Ji Yuan's new vine roots gently curled within his body, drawing away a strand of newly formed inner force while also forcing the toxins left behind from absorbing the soul ring to the edges of his bloodstream.

Tang San's chest felt tight, and he braced himself against the edge of the bed.

Xiao Wu immediately asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Tang San had just been about to say he was fine when sweetness surged up his throat. Black blood spilled from the corner of his mouth and dripped onto the floor.

Seventh Dormitory fell silent at once.

Wang Sheng shot to his feet in fright. "Boss!"

Xiao Wu reached out to support him. "Tang San, don't scare us!"

Tang San clutched his chest. His left hand was so heavy he could not lift it. Ji Yuan had driven deeper into the edge of the Clear Sky Hammer's origin, and a dragging pain ran through his entire arm.

He looked toward the door, his voice hoarse. "Go get a teacher."

But hurried footsteps sounded outside first.

Yu Xiaogang stood there with an outer robe thrown over his shoulders. The moment he saw the black blood on the floor, his expression changed drastically. "Tang San, hold out your left hand!"