Writing the Future

Chen Xi looked at the words that had appeared in midair. The tip of his pen lightly tapped the desk before him, deep thought filling his eyes.

"A four-hundred-and-twenty-three-year Mandala Snake."

"That's far too dangerous. I'll help you change it to something safer."

Chen Xi murmured to himself as he raised the Pen of Destiny. Using it, he erased the original four-hundred-and-twenty-three-year Mandala Snake, then used Writing the Future to change it into Ten-Year Bitter Bamboo.

The instant the words were written, Chen Xi felt another trace of life force drained from his body. An irresistible wave of drowsiness washed over his mind, making him yawn. He then slumped over the desk and fell into a deep sleep.

The final words displayed were: Soul Hunting Forest, attach soul ring, Ten-Year Bitter Bamboo.

The Pen of Destiny returned to Chen Xi's body.

Soul Hunting Forest.

By now, night had completely fallen.

Yu Xiaogang led Tang San cautiously through the Soul Hunting Forest when more than ten faint green points of light suddenly appeared ahead and steadily approached them.

"They're Netherwolves."

"Little San, stay here and don't move around."

Yu Xiaogang's voice was low, but there was no trace of panic in it.

Once the Netherwolves fully entered his field of vision, Yu Xiaogang gave a soft snort. "They're just a pack of ten-year-old wolf pups, yet they dare harass me."

"Sanpao!"

"A fart like thunder, Luo Sanpao shatters heaven and splits earth!"

Luo Sanpao's eyes flashed. His somewhat round body sprang into the air, and a thunderous boom echoed continuously through the forest.

During this, Yu Xiaogang put on a mask for himself and casually put one on Tang San as well.

The encircling Netherwolves were instantly blasted away. Two of them slammed into trees and could not get back up no matter how they struggled.

After dealing with the Netherwolves, Yu Xiaogang continued leading Tang San deeper into the forest while teaching him various things.

As they went deeper, Luo Sanpao, who had been following at Yu Xiaogang's feet, suddenly began barking uneasily. The surroundings fell silent in an instant, while threads of a fishy stench filled the air.

"Tonight is unusually restless."

Yu Xiaogang swept his gaze across the surroundings, warily watching every movement nearby.

"Teacher, over there."

Tang San pointed in a direction.

"A Mandala Snake!"

"I hope it's only a ten-year one."

Yu Xiaogang drew a deep breath and silently prayed in his heart.

Although he was a rank twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster, his martial soul left him with poor combat ability. Even among Soul Grandmasters, he was practically at the bottom.

Against a relatively ferocious soul beast like a Mandala Snake, if it was over a hundred years old, he might not necessarily be able to defeat it.

When he clearly saw the Mandala Snake's appearance, Yu Xiaogang's eyes darkened slightly. Yet after glancing at his newly accepted disciple, his expression remained exceptionally steady.

"Little San, I'll teach you a principle now: more rings and bones, unleash your skills; fewer rings and bones, run for your life."

"The rings refer to soul rings, while bones refer to soul bones. As for what soul bones are, I'll teach you later."

"Now, look at the Mandala Snake before us. If it were a ten-year one, we could still try to fight it. But it's four meters long, so its age is likely around four hundred years. We need to leave immediately."

Yu Xiaogang grabbed Tang San and skillfully turned to run.

"A fart like thunder, Luo Sanpao shatters heaven and splits earth!"

As he ran, Yu Xiaogang also had Luo Sanpao buy them time.

The Mandala Snake was knocked flying some distance by the sudden attack, then swiftly chased after them. The first one it caught up to was Luo Sanpao. The Mandala Snake opened its huge, bloodied maw and bit down.

As it bit Luo Sanpao, the Mandala Snake injected its venom into Luo Sanpao's body. Sensing Luo Sanpao's condition, Yu Xiaogang recalled him without the slightest hesitation.

Yu Xiaogang looked back and saw that the Mandala Snake was getting closer and closer. He could not help lamenting his miserable life in his heart—and now he was even going to implicate the disciple he had just taken in.

Tang San, whom Yu Xiaogang was dragging along as they ran, quietly raised his arm. A sleeve arrow silently shot out.

As the Mandala Snake chased them beyond its territory, it suddenly stopped and did not continue pursuing them. Thus, the sleeve arrow that had originally been aimed at its vital point struck its hard scales instead.

The attacked Mandala Snake was just about to become enraged, but after looking at the two fleeing humans ahead, the not particularly intelligent Mandala Snake decided to follow its instincts and remain within its territory.

As the Mandala Snake turned back toward its territory, it lashed its tail and sent a large stone flying.

The stone shot out like a cannonball and struck Yu Xiaogang in the back. The tremendous force and momentum sent Yu Xiaogang flying uncontrollably into an ancient tree.

Tang San was sent flying with him as well. However, Tang San was luckier—he crashed into a Ten-Year Bitter Bamboo, snapping it in half before falling to the ground.

A white soul ring flew out from the bitter bamboo and hovered in midair.

Tang San looked at the white soul ring floating in the air, then in the direction the Mandala Snake had left. His heart felt strangely empty, as though something had slipped away from him.

Finally, Tang San went to Yu Xiaogang's side. When he discovered that Yu Xiaogang had already fallen unconscious, deep contemplation filled his eyes.

"When we first entered the forest, Teacher said that if there really wasn't anything suitable, I should choose Bitter Bamboo as my soul ring."

"In this situation, absorbing a soul ring seems more likely to ensure both Teacher's and my own safety in the forest."

Tang San murmured to himself, his gaze involuntarily settling on the white soul ring floating in midair.

After careful consideration, Tang San sat cross-legged and used his own Soul Power to draw the soul ring down onto himself, beginning the refinement and absorption process.

The next morning.

In a room within a residence in Heaven Dou City, Chen Xi, who had been sleeping with his head on the table, suddenly heard a knock at the door.

"Xiao Xi, time to get up."

"Have some breakfast, then I can start teaching you the basics of being a Soul Master."

She Long's steady voice sounded from outside the door.

Chen Xi lifted himself from the desk, rubbed his eyes, and forced himself to wake up a little. Recalling what had happened last night, he let out another yawn.

"I wonder if this Writing the Future ability is actually useful."

"I still feel so sleepy."

Chen Xi muttered to himself, washed up quickly, then opened the door.

"Uncle She Long."

Chen Xi's voice sounded listless.

"What's wrong?"

"Didn't you rest well last night?"

She Long placed a hand on Chen Xi's wrist and sent his Soul Power into Chen Xi's body, carefully examining his condition.

After She Long's examination, he found that aside from somewhat excessive Mental Power consumption, there was nothing wrong with Chen Xi's body.