Gangzi: Xiao San, Do You Feel a Chill Down Your Back?

That morning,

Xu Peinian was meditating and regulating his breathing as usual when the academy sent someone to inform him that a visitor had come looking for him.

Outside the academy gates.

A hooded man dressed in Spirit Hall attire stood beside Xu Peinian, seemingly reporting something.

"Young Master Xu, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, whom you had us monitor, have made a move."

"Oh? What are they up to?" Xu Peinian asked with interest.

"According to reports from the scouts over there, Yu Xiaogang called upon the principal of Notting Academy and took Tang San to hunt for his second soul ring. Judging by their route, they should be heading for the outskirts of Star Dou Forest."

"Gangzi, you really have some nerve..."

Xu Peinian rubbed his chin with one hand, lowering his head as he began to brainstorm.

Last time, we temporarily drove away most of the soul beasts in Soul Hunting Forest. This time, Gangzi actually had the nerve to take Tang San straight to Star Dou Forest.

If I remembered correctly, the principal of Notting Academy was only a Soul Ancestor. In that case, Gangzi, I'd arrange an even more exciting show for you this time...

"You weren't exposed, were you?"

"Reporting to you, Young Master: ever since you told us there might be a Titled Douluo secretly protecting them, the brothers have been extremely cautious. We frequently rotate the people watching them, and we won't let the same familiar face appear twice. They shouldn't have noticed."

"Very good. Then go find a soul beast that is exceedingly rare in this world but has extremely poor aptitude. Preferably... then do this, and finally that. And remember, absolutely don't pick one of our own."

Xu Peinian whispered his instructions into the man's ear.

"Yes!"

The hooded man clasped his fists in salute, then turned and left after receiving his orders, disappearing around the street corner.

Gangzi, little bastard San, I hope you enjoy the good show I've arranged for you... Xu Peinian sneered inwardly.

He would never show mercy to those destined to become his enemies. It would be best to toy with them first, then wipe them out completely with thunderous methods.

At that thought, Xu Peinian suddenly remembered that another opportunity awaited him in Sunset Forest. He certainly would not hand such a good thing over to Tang San and the others.

Elsewhere,

On the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.

"Ah-choo!"

Yu Xiaogang was leading Tang San and the principal toward the forest when he suddenly sneezed.

His walking posture still had a slight pigeon-toed tilt to it. Who knew whether it was a lingering aftereffect from the last time his ass had exploded.

"Xiao San, don't worry. This time, your teacher will definitely find you the highest-quality soul beast best suited to you. I spent several days researching and ultimately decided to find you a Ghost Vine that is over five hundred years old."

Yu Xiaogang looked at his obedient and sensible disciple and patted his chest in assurance.

"Mm, Teacher, I believe you."

Tang San answered respectfully on the surface. As for what he truly thought, no one knew.

Yu Xiaogang was quite satisfied with his disciple's response, feeling that his own disciple was far more sensible than that troublesome Xu Peinian from before.

The principal of Notting Academy stood nearby like an invisible tool, watching the touching display between master and disciple unfold before silently guarding them.

As the three entered the outskirts of Star Dou Forest, Yu Xiaogang and the others fell quiet.

Though it was only the outskirts, they still had to proceed carefully to avoid encountering high-year soul beasts wandering around.

Suddenly,

A conversation drifted over from a clearing not far from Tang San's group.

"Big Brother, is there really a Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad around here?"

A skinny, somewhat lecherous-looking man asked the scar-faced burly man beside him.

"Of course. I paid a hefty price for this information. They say the Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad is a soul beast with top-tier bloodline. At just a hundred years old, it can kill ordinary thousand-year soul beasts, and it can even evolve by devouring."

The scar-faced man scanned the surroundings as he explained it to his second brother.

"Doesn't that mean I've hit the jackpot this time? Once I absorb the Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad's soul ring, not only can I break through to Soul Elder, but my strength will undergo a qualitative leap?"

"Second Brother, just tell me whether Big Brother treats you well or not."

"Hehe, Big Brother's been nothing but good to me. We really are blood brothers. Once I break through to Soul Elder, I'll take you into the city and let's have some fun with a few top courtesans!"

The skinny man was ugly to begin with, and when he smiled, his features squeezed together, making him look even more lecherous.

"Enough. We can talk about that later. First, let's find the Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad."

After a pause, the scar-faced burly man continued:

"According to the information, that demon toad should be somewhere nearby."

The two brothers began searching the area, one in front and one behind.

Seeing this, Tang San immediately looked toward his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, only to find that Yu Xiaogang was looking at him as well.

The two like-minded men exchanged a glance for a moment, and Tang San was the first to speak softly.

"Teacher, how about we..."

"Mm, let's follow them and take a look." Yu Xiaogang nodded, directly finishing his sentence.

After a brief exchange of understanding, the master and disciple followed after the pair of brothers ahead.

The utterly bewildered principal had not even figured out what was happening when he saw the master and disciple bend down and sneak forward. After freezing for a moment, he could only follow them.

Half an hour later.

"Big Brother! Look over there! Is that the Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad we're looking for?"

A deliberately hushed cry rang through the silent forest.

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang immediately looked toward the sound, just in time to see the lecherous man pointing in a direction as he questioned the scar-faced man.

Following the direction he indicated, Tang San's group lowered their gazes and saw a blackish-purple toad, half the height of a man and the size of a calf, its body covered in pustules as it crouched amid a cluster of shrubs.

"Big Brother, is that the legendary Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad?"

"It has the build of a calf and pustules covering its body. It looks like it really is a demon toad. And it seems to be only around six hundred years old. Hahaha, Second Brother, you really stepped in shit this time!"

The moment the scar-faced burly man finished speaking, the lecherous man beside him became excited and hurriedly urged him,

"Big Brother, then let's make our move!"

"What are you so anxious for?" the scar-faced man, as the elder brother, berated him. "The Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad isn't easy to handle. I hear its tongue is covered in barbs, extremely tough, and shoots out at tremendous speed. Not to mention the poisonous gas sprayed from those pustules all over its body."

Upon hearing the scar-faced man's words, a flicker of interest flashed through Tang San's eyes. He then looked at Yu Xiaogang beside him and asked in an extremely low voice,

"Teacher, have you heard of this Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened. He had never actually heard of any Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad, but to maintain the image of a learned teacher before his disciple, he could only force himself to answer,

"I... I have. The Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad's traits are indeed more or less as they described."

"Then compared with the Ghost Vine you mentioned before, which one is more powerful?"

After asking, Tang San held his breath and looked at Yu Xiaogang expectantly.

When faced with a difficult question, Gangzi fell silent again.

"Uh... Xiao San, the Ghost Vine is a parasitic plant-type soul beast with potent neurotoxins. I thought it would be rather suitable for you."

"As for this Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad, although it is powerful, it is far too rare in this world, so I did not take it into consideration."