Encounter (Part 2)

"What a coincidence—why did I run into those two again?!" Gu Hengzhi's heart tightened. He secretly summoned his Stone Statue Martial Soul, soul power surging through his body like raging waves as he prepared to strike at any moment.

He fixed his gaze ahead and pondered, If I kill the Mandala Snake, would Tang San be talked into absorbing that ten-year Lone Bamboo as his first Soul Ring by Yu Xiaogang?

As the distance closed, Luo Sanpao's pig-like squeals grew clearer and clearer, like a death knell. Suddenly, a white radish shot out like a meteor and landed precisely in the Mandala Snake's path.

"I have to admit, Tang San's skill with hidden weapons is pretty decent. But this Mandala Snake is mine!" Gu Hengzhi's lips curled upward, confidence flashing in his eyes. Soul power flowed through him like blazing fire, ready to erupt at any moment.

More than twenty catties of white radishes rained down—not too many, but not too few either. Yet Tang San threw them at astonishing speed, like lightning streaking across the night sky, and emptied them all in no time. At this critical moment of life and death, Tang San could no longer hold back. He flung Yu Xiaogang aside, and the Silent Sleeve Arrow hidden in his cuff shot toward the Mandala Snake like a venomous serpent leaving its hole.

Unfortunately, the angle was off. The Silent Sleeve Arrow merely scraped across the Mandala Snake's hard scales, throwing off a string of tiny sparks like fleeting meteors in the night sky. Even so, the Mandala Snake shrieked in pain, its cry like a demon's wail from hell, sending chills down the spine.

Just as Tang San and the Mandala Snake were about to fight to the death, an earthen wall abruptly rose between them with incredible speed, like an impregnable fortress. It was Gu Hengzhi's Earth Wall Technique. Like a guardian of the land, it tightly trapped the Mandala Snake and left it no chance of escape.

Gu Hengzhi leaped up, light as a bird as he jumped from the treetops onto the earthen wall. His movements were elegant yet nimble, like those of a dancer in motion. Immediately afterward, an Earthfall Technique slowed the Mandala Snake's movements like a demon's trap. Then sharp Earth Spikes shot toward it like arrows, pouring down like an unstoppable torrential rain.

"First Soul Skill—God-Summoning! Form Transformation!" At his command, the Stone Statue Martial Soul rapidly disintegrated like shattered stars before gathering over Gu Hengzhi's body once more, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. It ultimately became a battle robe and a Dragon-Headed Cane.

Is that... his Soul Skill? It looks so powerful! Tang San was secretly stunned, his eyes wide and his face full of disbelief.

Gripping the Dragon-Headed Cane, Gu Hengzhi moved like lightning and smashed it fiercely toward the Mandala Snake. However, the Mandala Snake seemed to have entered a bloodthirsty frenzy. With astonishing speed and agility, it narrowly evaded the lethal blow.

"Interesting! You dodged once, but can you dodge a hundred times?" Gu Hengzhi smirked disdainfully. He bent down and pressed his palm against the earthen wall, continuously drawing the power of the Earth Vein from the ground. As that power gathered, the soil around him rapidly changed from dark brown to pale yellow, as if its life force had been drained away.

"Can you take this move too?!" Gu Hengzhi's gaze sharpened. He raised his right index finger high, dazzling light glittering at its tip as though it contained limitless power. The power of the Earth Vein surged toward his body like raging waves before concentrating at the tip of his right index finger. Carrying the might of a mountain, it crashed down upon the Mandala Snake's vital point like a falling meteor.

In an instant, dust billowed into the air and blotted out the sky. Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eyes, wanting to see the situation clearly, only to find his vision blocked by dust. For the moment, even he could not make anything out.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Yu Xiaogang waved away the dust before him, secretly astonished. It should be that little brat Gu Hengzhi. I never expected him to cultivate so quickly and become this strong. I need to question him properly later and find out how he did it!

"Little San, are you all right?" Yu Xiaogang hurried forward and steadied Tang San.

"Teacher, according to your Soul Master theory, this Mandala Snake is extremely suitable for me to absorb. Whether it is its cultivation of four hundred and twenty-three years or its ability to strengthen the toughness of the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, it is the perfect choice!" Tang San's eyes gleamed with excitement as he clenched his fists, as though he could already see his powerful future.

"Correct. In every respect, this Mandala Snake is highly suitable as your first Soul Ring. The person who struck has less than level 20 soul power, so he definitely does not need a Soul Ring. Given my, Yu Xiaogang's, reputation, I'm sure he'll do me this favor!" Yu Xiaogang wore a confident smile, certain of his judgment.

"What a coincidence! We meet again, Gu Hengzhi." Master Yu Xiaogang stepped forward to greet him. The smile on his face was stiff and awkward, as though it had been forcibly pulled into place, unable to conceal its hypocrisy.

"So it's you." Gu Hengzhi's expression instantly darkened, displeasure flashing in his eyes. "What are you here for? Spit it out if you have something to say."

Yu Xiaogang's expression grew even more awkward. He had not expected Gu Hengzhi to show him so little respect, and a trace of anger rose within him. "Fine, let's speak plainly. I see that you have already obtained your first Soul Ring, so you presumably have no need for the Mandala Snake. Could you give this Soul Ring to my disciple to absorb, for my sake?"

A cold smile appeared on Gu Hengzhi's lips. He looked Yu Xiaogang's face over again with an odd expression, as though looking at a ridiculous clown. "No, I don't see how valuable your face is. Because of that fat pig Martial Soul of yours, Luo Sanpao? Or your self-indulgent Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls?" His words were like sharp blades, mercilessly stabbing at Yu Xiaogang's pride.

Gu Hengzhi raised the Dragon-Headed Cane, its base gleaming coldly. Without hesitation, he swung it at the dying Mandala Snake. In an instant, snake blood splattered everywhere, and the Mandala Snake's life came to an end. "I think your skin is pretty thick, though. It might fetch a bit of money if someone skinned it off!"

Tang San flew into a rage at the sight. Pointing at Gu Hengzhi, he trembled with fury. "You! You—you're not allowed to insult my teacher!" Yet deep in his heart, he thought, This boy dared to insult Teacher and even killed the soul beast best suited to me. He has earned his death!

Gu Hengzhi did not argue with Tang San. He lifted the Mandala Snake's body and sped away like a gust of wind in the direction opposite Tang San's camp. His figure flashed through the forest as though he had merged with the surroundings, disappearing from Tang San's sight in the blink of an eye.