Immortal Herbs?

The sun rose as it always did, and Jiang Mingyang met Tang San and the others at the dining hall once more.

As they parted, Jiang Mingyang patted Tang San on the shoulder. "Brother Tang, our meeting must be fate.

The times are turbulent across the continent. A fine young man ought to accomplish deeds that will be remembered for generations.

May we both have done so by the time we meet again."

With that, he turned and strode away. Tang San watched him go and could not help marveling at what an extraordinary man he was.

That bearing, that presence... Is this the level of the Douluo Continent's finest young talents? It's absurd!

In his previous life, Tang San had been criticized to an absurd degree, almost unanimously. There were three main reasons:

The first was Tang San's attitude at three different stages of his life.

Early on: "I'll take responsibility for my father's mistakes."

Later: "My father did nothing wrong."

After becoming a god: "Do you acknowledge your crimes...?"

He was deferential at first and arrogant afterward. But if you looked at it another way, you could say Tang San had the makings of a formidable leader. When he lacked strength, he kept his head down and swallowed his anger. Once he grew strong, his attitude naturally changed.

The second was that Tang San had destroyed Slaughter City with an immortal herb, allowing Evil Soul Masters to run rampant ten thousand years later. But really, who could have foreseen what would happen ten thousand years into the future?

As for the third, and most important, reason: the author...

Of course, Tang San had an overwhelming number of faults in Douluo II and III. There was no denying that.

But none of that had anything to do with Jiang Mingyang. He and Tang San had no conflicting interests, so why meddle? He could hardly walk up and curse the man out! Tang San's faults were his own business.

Jiang Mingyang returned to Sunset Forest. He had come here to train himself, after all. He had only been here two days and had barely done anything. How could he go back now?

He headed straight into the inner forest, near the core region.

Once there, Jiang Mingyang began searching for a suitable opponent.

It could be neither too strong nor too weak. It had to be weaker than him when he used the Divine Sword Thunder-Control Art, but stronger than him normally—something like the Ten-Thousand-Wall Demon Tiger he had faced before.

Suddenly, two wolves, each roughly three meters long, pounced at him from either side.

Jiang Mingyang immediately used his Second Soul Skill to dodge. Facing the four wolves, he wore a rare look of caution.

They were Windwhistle Wolves, far more intelligent than ordinary Soul Beasts.

A Windwhistle Wolf that reached ten thousand years of age generally possessed the intelligence of an eleven- or twelve-year-old human.

The "windwhistle" in their name spoke to their speed. In Sunset Forest, they were unquestionably the fastest and cleverest Soul Beasts at their level.

But their speed was not the only reason Jiang Mingyang was wary. Windwhistle Wolves also lived in packs.

The Windwhistle Wolf Tribe had a keen sense of teamwork. These four appeared to be around six thousand years old, with the eldest nearly seven thousand.

They were clearly of a similar age, which meant there was also a Windwhistle Wolf King.

If all five attacked together, Jiang Mingyang would have no choice but to use the Divine Sword Thunder-Control Art and fight head-on. He should at least be able to survive.

After all, these four wolves were nowhere near as strong as the Ten-Thousand-Wall Demon Tiger. They were probably the strongest in the pack apart from their leader, and judging by their ages, that leader could be no more than ten thousand years old.

Sure enough, a breeze stirred, and a Windwhistle Wolf more than five meters long appeared. Jiang Mingyang estimated that it was right around ten thousand years old.

He immediately stepped backward through the Seven-Star Steps, preparing to unleash the Divine Sword Lightning-Controlling True Art.

Then the great wolf rapidly barked, "Rrr, rrr, rrr..." Jiang Mingyang's Seven-Star Steps slowed to a halt.

The Windwhistle Wolf King had said, "Lend me your lightning so I can transform."

The pack showed no real intent to attack, but Jiang Mingyang did not dare let down his guard.

As it happened, Jiang Mingyang had learned the language of the Windwhistle Wolf Tribe before he turned six. The wolves were intelligent enough to communicate with.

In a dangerous encounter, knowing one more language meant one more chance of survival. That was why Jiang Ti had insisted he learn it.

When Jiang Mingyang stopped, the four other wolves crouched as though ready to attack.

Jiang Mingyang hurriedly growled, "Rrr... rrr, rrr... rrr, rrr." ("You haven't reached ten thousand years yet. You want to use my lightning to cross that threshold?")

Hearing him speak, the Windwhistle Wolf King quickly stopped the four wolves, who had only been pretending to attack to draw out his lightning. "Rrr, rrr... rrr, rrr... rrr, rrr." ("You speak our language? You should have said so! Yes. Help me, and you can go wherever you please in Sunset Forest from now on.")

Jiang Mingyang asked, "Rrr... rrr, rrr, rrr, rrr." ("What if you deceive me? We're from different species, after all!")

Seeing that Jiang Mingyang was willing to help, the Windwhistle Wolf King answered happily, "Rrr." ("With lightning as powerful as yours, even if I reach ten thousand years, the five of us together won't be your match.")

Jiang Mingyang asked another question. "Rrr." ("What will you give me in exchange?")

The Windwhistle Wolf King replied eagerly, "Rrr." ("I once ate a medicinal herb, and that's why I transformed so quickly.

I had others in my tribe try eating herbs to transform too, but some seemed poisonous. Many died as a result.

I can take you there to have a look. You might find something useful. If nothing else, you can use the herbs as poison.")

Jiang Mingyang was startled. Could that be Dugu Bo's territory? He asked, "Rrr..." ("Isn't that place poisonous? Can you get in?")

The Windwhistle Wolf King gave him a long look. "Rrr..." ("How did you know that place is dangerous now? I ate the herb before that man arrived.

But I gave herbs to my tribe after he came. He put a poisonous barrier around the place. Once our kind reaches five thousand years, though, we can turn into a breeze and drift inside without being affected by the poison.

Help me reach ten thousand years, and I can turn into a breeze that wraps around you like a sphere and carries you in.")

The wolf then tossed Jiang Mingyang a Purple Sun Ginseng and a Ten-Thousand Sun Fruit. "Rrr." ("The ginseng is a deposit. Eat the fruit to restore your Soul Power.")

Jiang Mingyang could not help being surprised. Soul Beasts knew how to stash away treasures!

He was not worried that the gifts might be poisoned. With the lightning of his Self-Created Soul Skill, any poison would be as good as nothing.

That Purple Sun Ginseng had to be three or four thousand years old! Apart from those few Immortal Herbs, hardly anything could match its effects.

Jiang Mingyang nodded, stepped backward through the Seven-Star Steps, and unleashed the Divine Sword Lightning-Controlling True Art.

The Windwhistle Wolf King stretched out its neck while the other four wolves stood guard around it.

Lightning packed with explosive force and destruction surged toward the king. It howled without pause, but showed no intention of dodging.

As the destructive lightning struck, the Windwhistle Wolf King absorbed and released it again and again. A current of vitality emerged, driving its transformation forward.

After releasing lightning for a short while, Jiang Mingyang's body could take no more. He bit into the Ten-Thousand Sun Fruit.

He repeated the process until, half an hour later, the Windwhistle Wolf King howled for him to stop. Jiang Mingyang's part was done.

The Windwhistle Wolf King began to transform.