Tracking, Thousand Faces

Ye Hua's gaze narrowed slightly.

Choking him at the neck?

Keeping a low profile?

How underhanded!

As expected of the Grandmaster—using the smallest amount of authority he had to make things as difficult as possible for others!

But it didn't matter. A cheat user didn't care.

He already had a Soul Ring—and it was a thousand-year one at that!

But this matter couldn't simply be let go!

"Tang San, Tang San. I thought you'd changed, but I didn't expect you to be full of dirty tricks?"

"You think I don't have a Soul Ring, so you want to get one first and come back to cause trouble for me?"

"Hmph. Then you'd better pray there's nothing wrong with the Soul Ring you obtain!"

Ye Hua raised his eyes and looked toward the Soul Hunting Forest at the edge of the horizon beyond the window.

Yu Xiaogang was taking Tang San to the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt a four-hundred-year Mandala Snake. They would depart the day after tomorrow.

A four-hundred-year Mandala Snake was indeed a fine choice. Its venom was potent, it was swift, its constricting power was astonishing, and it was highly compatible with the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.

If Tang San got it, the power of his first soul skill would far surpass that of Soul Masters at the same level.

But what if...

Someone else got to that snake first?

Ye Hua withdrew his gaze, picked up his pen, and drew a crooked little snake in the blank space of his textbook. Then he drew an X over its head.

You blocked my application, so I'll steal your prize.

Fair enough.

When the dismissal bell rang, Tang San hobbled past Ye Hua on his wooden crutch.

He paused briefly, his eyes casually flicking toward Ye Hua.

Ye Hua, enjoy your last bit of peace!

Once I obtain my Soul Ring, I'll be able to handle you however I want!

Not convinced? Then take it!

In this world, the strong are supreme, and the winner takes all!

And Wang Sheng and those idiots too. Once I obtain my Soul Ring, I'll repay every bit of your past contempt a hundredfold!

Tang Sect disciples cannot be humiliated!!!

Ye Hua lifted his eyes and met Tang San's gaze, which barely concealed his smugness.

For some reason, the moment Tang San met Ye Hua's eyes, his heart began pounding wildly, and his right eyelid started twitching restlessly.

Tang San swallowed, afraid Ye Hua had seen through his little scheme and even more afraid of getting beaten up again. He quickly looked away and slunk off toward the Grandmaster's office.

"Brother," Xiao Wu sniffed, "Tang San is probably plotting something nasty again. You need to be careful!"

"Yeah," Wang Sheng hurriedly agreed. "Tang San's got a crooked heart, and he already has a grudge against you, Brother Ye Hua. Whatever he's planning must be aimed at you!"

The other Work-Study Students began talking over one another.

"Not just him! He even glared at us before leaving! Maybe he's planning to cause trouble for us too!"

"No way, right? What did we ever do to him? Just because his Soul Power is higher, he wants to bully us?"

"Who knows! He even dared to falsely accuse Brother Ye Hua. Why wouldn't he bully us for no reason?"

Hearing their discussion, Ye Hua led everyone to a small wooded area behind the academy. "All right, all right. I know what I'm doing."

"Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng, and everyone else, come closer. The day after tomorrow, we'll do this..."

The day after tomorrow, on the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest.

Dawn had only just broken. The morning mist had yet to disperse, and the air in the forest was damp, carrying the mingled scent of rotting leaves and dew.

After instructing Wang Sheng to lead the Work-Study Students into an ambush along the only road between the Soul Hunting Forest and Notting City, Ye Hua decisively followed the master and disciple with Xiao Wu.

At that moment, the two of them were crouched behind a cluster of low shrubs, watching the two figures ahead from several dozen meters away.

Yu Xiaogang walked in front, holding a crumpled map and stopping from time to time to check their direction.

Luo Sanpao followed at his feet, its fat body plowing crooked trails through the fallen leaves.

Tang San leaned on his wooden crutch and limped along behind them. The bandages around his right arm had already been stained with grime by the drifting dust in the forest.

"Brother," Xiao Wu whispered, her braid slipping from her shoulder and brushing the back of Ye Hua's hand, "are we really going to do this?"

"Isn't it... a little too much?"

Since leaving Notting City, she had asked that question no fewer than three times.

Ye Hua merely smiled without answering. He raised an index finger to his lips, then tilted his chin toward Tang San.

Xiao Wu followed his gaze.

Much of the morning mist had dispersed, and Tang San's voice drifted faintly over from dozens of meters away.

"...Teacher, once I get my Soul Ring, the first thing I'll do is go back and deal with that Ye Hua!"

Tang San was not speaking quietly.

There was no one in the Soul Hunting Forest besides the master and disciple—not even a ghost in sight. He had no need to lower his voice at all!

"I'll beat him until he kneels before everyone and kowtows!"

"I'll make him understand that offending me, Tang San, was the stupidest decision he has ever made in his life!"

His wooden crutch stabbed viciously into the mud, scattering a spray of decaying leaves.

Yu Xiaogang walked ahead without responding or stopping him.

"And Xiao Wu," Tang San's tone suddenly softened, "once I deal with Ye Hua, she'll understand who is the right choice for her!"

"Only the strong are worthy of her following!"

"Xiao San," Yu Xiaogang finally spoke without turning around, "watch your words!"

"Besides, a true strong person is never bound by emotions!"

"Take your teacher, for example. For the sake of studying theory, have you ever seen me indulge in romance? No, never!"

"So, having that kind of mindset only proves that you aren't mature enough! What's so good about Xiao Wu that you're this obsessed with her?"

"It's different! She's different from everyone else!" Tang San argued.

"What's different about her?" Yu Xiaogang looked displeased. "After death, everyone is nothing more than a skeleton. All living beings are equal!"

Tang San choked on his words and resentfully shut his mouth.

Yet his pale face still bore undisguised unwillingness.

She was clearly the girl he had fallen in love with at first sight. Even fate itself seemed to be telling him that she was the most important girl in his life.

She! Was! Supposed! To! Be! His!

Why did Ye Hua have the right to cut in?

Behind the shrubs.

Xiao Wu's fingers tightened one by one.

Her loose hand slowly clenched into a tight fist.

"Brother."

"Hmm?"

"I think you've still been too merciful."

Ye Hua glanced sideways.

Xiao Wu's profile had gone taut. The rising sun filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows across her face.

Her face was clearly adorable, yet it had already been covered in frost. Tang San had obviously angered her badly.

[Ding--]

[Xiao Wu Rescue Progress +10%]

[Current Rescue Progress: 35%]

[Detected that Xiao Wu has recognized Tang San's lust for her body. Stage reward triggered: Thousand Faces (Level Eight Soul Tool. No one below Super Douluo can see your true appearance. Can disguise features such as face, clothing, Martial Soul, Soul Ring, and more.)]

Ye Hua looked at the mask within the Azure Jade Bracelet and sucked in a sharp breath.

Ninety-nine percent complete!

What a rare treasure!

A divine tool for murder and arson!

It would definitely come in handy for knocking people out from behind someday!

Moreover, there were very few Super Douluo on the Douluo Continent. Apart from the consecrated elders of Spirit Hall, the consecrated elders of Sea God Island, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Tang Hao, who was still wasting away in Holy Soul Village, there were practically none left!

Those people did not dare move freely either. They were either in secluded cultivation, guarding their sects, or hiding their entire sects from the world!

In other words, as long as he wore Thousand Faces, almost no one on the entire continent would connect what "someone else" had done to him!

Ye Hua composed himself and gently patted the back of Xiao Wu's hand.

"Don't worry. The best part is yet to come."

For the entire day, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang wandered in circles through the Soul Hunting Forest.

They encountered an eighty-year Wind Baboon, but Yu Xiaogang shook his head and said it was incompatible with Blue Silver Grass. They came across a hundred-year Ghost Vine, but Yu Xiaogang thought its age was still insufficient.

After great difficulty, they found a two-hundred-year Scarlet Snake. Yu Xiaogang hesitated for a moment before ultimately shaking his head.

The Scarlet Snake's fire venom conflicted with the wood attribute of Blue Silver Grass. After absorbing it, the power of the soul skill would be reduced.

The only other suitable option was a thirty-year Solitary Bamboo. It had no offensive power whatsoever; even a woodcutter with a firewood knife could easily handle it.

Tang San's patience was worn away bit by bit.

They had walked from dawn until the sun was high in the sky, and searched from noon until the setting sun slanted westward.

His broken leg ached faintly. The splint rubbed his flesh raw, and every step felt like he was treading on a blade.

"Teacher..." Tang San panted while leaning on his wooden crutch. "It's getting dark."

Yu Xiaogang looked up at the sky, his brows twisted into a knot.

Nighttime in the Soul Hunting Forest was ten times more dangerous than daytime. Most Soul Beasts were nocturnal.

After dark, the identities of hunter and prey could reverse at any moment!

But could they leave?

No. The Soul Hunting Forest only allowed entry once a year.

If they missed this chance, then if they wanted to obtain a Soul Ring, they could only go to the more dangerous Sunset Forest or Star Dou Forest.

Those places were even more dangerous!

"Xiao San, let's make camp here and rest," Yu Xiaogang sighed. "Tomorrow, we'll go deeper. There's an area where Soul Beasts are more active. Maybe—"

Before he could finish, Luo Sanpao suddenly pricked up its ears. Its pig snout twitched madly toward the front, and a low whimper rose from its throat.

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed drastically!

Ye Hua also instantly became alert!

It's here!

Deep within the shadows of the trees, scarlet vertical pupils lit up, and a black shadow as thick as an oil barrel and seven or eight meters long shot out!!!