"That makes sense! Perfect sense!"
At some point, Ao Yin had already pulled up his pants. Standing behind Tang San, he suddenly lavished praise on Yu Xiaogang.
Tang San, who had been concentrating, was startled so badly that his whole body jolted.
"Ah, shit, Ao Yin, what the hell is wrong with you?"
Ao Yin grinned and scratched his head. "Listening to Master's words is better than listening to Master's words..."
"Still, I'd like to interrupt for a moment. I want to go deeper inside. Could you step aside?"
Having just finished taking a dump, he felt refreshed. It was time to get down to business; he had not come here to listen to Yu Xiaogang teach some master's class.
However, Yu Xiaogang had no intention of moving aside. He said bluntly, "Little Ao, your martial soul is the exceedingly rare Coiling Dragon Staff. It won't be easy to find a Soul Ring that suits you!"
"The best choice would be... dragon-type soul beasts, but... dragon-type soul beasts in nature are practically extinct. Even Sub-Dragon Species soul beasts are extremely difficult to find!"
Ao Yin was somewhat surprised and thought, What bad idea is Yu Xiaogang cooking up now? He's actually taking the initiative to give me advice?
"Cut the useless nonsense. I'm not becoming your disciple."
Yet Ao Yin still killed the conversation with a single sentence.
He had known all this long ago. Earlier, he had happened to receive a reward—the clue to a Sub-Dragon Species soul beast, the Fire Glass Vine Serpent, was in the Soul Hunting Forest!
However, a soul beast of that level was simply beyond the reach of the current Ao Yin. Yu Xiaogang's words meant nothing to him.
Ao Yin remembered that if they went a little deeper from here, they should encounter a Datura Snake.
If nothing unexpected happened, this Datura Snake should become Tang San's first Soul Ring.
Steal it!
He had to steal it!
Ao Yin chuckled. "Master, I can't coil a dragon, so I'll just go coil a snake instead..."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang raised an eyebrow and smiled. "So Little Ao wants to hunt a snake-type soul beast?"
"Indeed. Before coming here, I had already sent people to investigate. Sub-Dragon Species soul beasts have almost vanished from the Soul Hunting Forest. Snake-type soul beasts truly are the best choice for your first Soul Ring!"
"Little Ao, before coming here, I discovered traces of a 422-year-old Datura Snake in the Soul Hunting Forest!"
Hm?
Since Yu Xiaogang knew of this Datura Snake, he must know its attributes. The person most suited to use it as a first Soul Ring was not Ao Yin, but Tang San!
So why was he so kindly sharing the information with him now?
Yu Xiaogang saw Ao Yin's apparent confusion and explained, "It's just that this Datura Snake is extremely fierce. You cannot kill it on your own!"
"If you're willing, I can help you kill it and make it your first Soul Ring!"
Cooperation?
Would Yu Xiaogang really be so kind?
Ao Yin smiled faintly. "May I ask what Master's condition is?"
"Little Ao, you know that I've always wanted you to become my student!"
Hearing this, Ao Yin hesitated slightly. After a long while, he took a deep breath and reluctantly said, "Fine! For the sake of my first Soul Ring, I'll agree after it's done!"
"Hahahaha!"
Yu Xiaogang laughed heartily in relief.
"Teacher! You..."
But Tang San, standing beside them, felt as sick as if he had eaten fly droppings. Just as he was about to demand an explanation from his teacher, Yu Xiaogang quietly pressed down on his shoulder.
In a low snort that only Tang San could hear, he said, "Shut up. I'm doing this for your own good!"
"For my own good?"
He and Ao Yin were sworn enemies, yet his teacher insisted on taking Ao Yin as a student and even claimed it was for Tang San's sake? Tang San could not make sense of it no matter how hard he thought!
Afraid that Tang San would ruin things, Yu Xiaogang murmured, "That Datura Snake possesses both toughness and venomous properties. It is most suitable as your first Soul Ring!"
"Mine?"
Tang San swallowed, but his teacher had clearly just said it was for Ao Yin's first Soul Ring!
"Silly child, do you think I can't tell that this boy has no intention of becoming my disciple? The reason I said that was merely to make him charge ahead for you!"
Cannon fodder!
That term instantly surfaced in Tang San's mind, making his heart tremble.
Ao Yin's strength was indeed considerable. Was his teacher planning to use him as cannon fodder?
On the surface, he would say that he would lend a hand, but in the end, he would only protect himself. Once Ao Yin and the Datura Snake became entangled and both suffered grievous losses, he would let Tang San make his move!
"Brilliant!"
Tang San could not help admiring his teacher. This was too ruthless!
"Fine! Since Teacher has spoken, Ao Yin, let's shake hands and make peace!"
Tang San immediately put on a magnanimous expression and proactively extended his left hand, wanting to ease their relationship.
"Hypocrite!"
Ao Yin glanced at Tang San's other hand, which was still wrapped in bandages, then sneered and ignored him outright.
"Let's go!"
Ao Yin walked directly ahead, looking anxious as though he were still completely in the dark.
Yu Xiaogang gave Tang San a warning look. "A small lack of patience ruins great plans!"
Tang San took a deep breath, slowly withdrew his left hand, and gritted his teeth. "Yes, Teacher!"
Once he absorbed his first Soul Ring, he would definitely tear apart Ao Yin's filthy mouth!
At the very front, Ao Yin tilted his head slightly, the corners of his lips rising. Who is plotting against whom is still uncertain!
Was a 422-year-old Datura Snake really that formidable?
Ao Yin could smash it dead with a single strike of Myriad-Jun Strength!
Since Yu Xiaogang was narrow-minded and wanted to use him as cannon fodder, then he would have to hold back a little and have some fun with this master and disciple!
The three traveled together. An hour later.
"Ah, it looks like there's no need to search for any Datura Snake. I've found my first martial soul!" Ao Yin suddenly cried out in surprise.
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San frowned slightly. "What's going on?"
The two looked toward where Ao Yin stood and saw that he truly seemed to have found some precious treasure.
Yu Xiaogang focused his gaze and saw that it was a Lone Bamboo, growing exceptionally well.
Ao Yin said excitedly, "Master, my martial soul is the Coiling Dragon Staff. This Lone Bamboo should be no worse than that Datura Snake as my first martial soul, right?"
Tang San frowned beside him. "Is this Lone Bamboo really that good? Good enough for Ao Yin to willingly give up the Datura Snake?"
"Cough, cough!"
Yu Xiaogang hurried forward, examined it, and commented, "This is a ten-year Lone Bamboo. Its defining trait is toughness. It can greatly strengthen a martial soul's resilience and defensive power!"
Toughness?
Wasn't that precisely the first trait Blue Silver Grass needed?
Tang San swallowed, somewhat tempted.
Afraid that Ao Yin would change his mind, Yu Xiaogang hurriedly said, "This ten-year Lone Bamboo is completely unsuitable for the Coiling Dragon Staff. It is more suitable for Little San's Blue Silver Grass!"
"Little San, don't you agree?"
Tang San looked at his teacher, who was earnestly recommending it, and for a moment could not tell whether he was being deceived or whether that was truly the case.
He asked doubtfully, "Teacher, isn't this ten-year Lone Bamboo's age a little too low?"
"Hm?"
Yu Xiaogang had not expected Tang San to not only fail to play along, but to ask such a serious question.
But he could not worry about that now. He needed to fool Ao Yin first.
He immediately said with a solemn expression, "Little San, Soul Ring traits and quality are the most important things. Age is not the most important factor!"
"Besides, your Blue Silver Grass is soft and weak. After absorbing it, its vines will become harder and tougher, making it more difficult for enemies to break free from their bindings!"
"It is most suitable for your Blue Silver Grass!"
Yu Xiaogang spoke with great eloquence, and every word struck Tang San right in the heart. If that was the case, then the ten-year Lone Bamboo truly was suitable as Blue Silver Grass's first martial soul.
However, Ao Yin remained unmoved and refused to yield. "Master, don't try to fool me. This bamboo is big and straight. If it becomes my Coiling Dragon Staff's first martial soul, it will definitely make my weapon much bigger!"
"Ignorant! Coiling Dragon, Coiling Dragon—of course, dragons are best coiled around a staff. Dragons and snakes are one family, and snakes are the most suitable for you. This doesn't suit you!"
"No! I want this one!"
"No! Listen to me, Master would never harm you!"
"Give it to me!"
"No!"
The two argued back and forth, actually grappling over a ten-year Lone Bamboo.
Tang San, standing beside them, was dumbfounded. "Neither of them is willing to give in? Could this ten-year Lone Bamboo really be that good?"
Ao Yin was the sort who would never act without profit and would not suffer even the slightest loss, while Master was invincible in martial soul theory.
"Ten thousand Copper Soul Coins!
If you give up this ten-year Lone Bamboo and let Tang San have it, not only will I help you hunt the Datura Snake, I'll also compensate you with ten thousand Copper Soul Coins!"
Yu Xiaogang panted heavily. In the end, he helplessly compromised and resorted to the power of money.
He had no choice. The Datura Snake was over four hundred years old, and he could not handle it alone. Yet he did not want Tang San to miss such a good opportunity, so he could only use both money and deception to persuade Ao Yin to hunt it with them!
"Ten thousand! Copper Soul Coins?"
Ao Yin and Tang San were both stunned.
Of course, Ao Yin was only pretending, while Tang San had never seen that much money before and was genuinely shocked beyond measure!
His heart trembled. Teacher is serious! This ten-year Lone Bamboo must definitely be a treasure!
Just as he was about to ask Master for clarification—
Suddenly!
Hiss—hiss—
An incomparably piercing hiss sounded from behind them.
Yu Xiaogang and Ao Yin, who had just been grappling over the ten-year Lone Bamboo, both turned around.
"Datura Snake!"
Yu Xiaogang's scalp went numb, while Ao Yin's eyes lit up!
Before you continue