Predicting a Soul Ring, Qian Renxue's Wait

"What?!"

Yu Xiaogang visibly froze, though he kept it off his face. Deep down, he was still nervous.

This kid is clearly only in his teens. His Soul Power isn't even as strong as mine. He's probably just a green One-Ring Soul Master.

But... where does he get the nerve to threaten to beat me to death?

"Young man, I'm from nearby Nuoding City. I teach novice Soul Masters, and I came here personally to hunt Soul Beasts. If you leave this one to us, I can give you several books of theory that even Spirit Hall might not know about."

Yu Xiaogang steadied himself and explained where he came from, probing for the other party's identity as he spoke.

"Theory? I don't want that stuff. And I don't care which academy you teach at."

Lu Mingzi was on his guard. He revealed nothing about himself from start to finish, intent only on driving Grandmaster away so he could absorb the Soul Ring.

Heh... Yu Xiaogang's theories? Aren't they just roadside dung?

Even dogs wouldn't want them. What would I do with them?

He stood still, staring at Yu Xiaogang's awkward expression.

This brat doesn't want anything. He's dead set on keeping that Mandala Snake!

Yu Xiaogang seethed, but he was unwilling to give up the Soul Beast. He tried again.

"Enough. Your chattering is driving me crazy. If you don't leave, I'll beat you to death."

Lu Mingzi dug lazily at his ear, his voice full of arrogance.

He had spent half the day chasing this Soul Beast and had wounded it badly. How could he hand it over just like that?

Wouldn't that make me an idiot?

"Little San, this Mandala Snake is close to the upper limit of what you can absorb. We can't give it up so easily!"

Yu Xiaogang stepped back, crouched slightly, and lowered his voice beside Tang San's ear.

"Teacher, you mean... take it by force?"

Tang San understood. Yu Xiaogang praised him for being "clever," then strode forward.

"Young man, I'm sorry, but we don't intend to leave this Mandala Snake to you."

Yu Xiaogang stepped out. Even as he spoke, he felt uncertain. The other party's strength remained a mystery.

Most boys this age near Nuoding City were One-Ring Soul Masters. How much trouble could they cause?

He reassured himself a few more times before finally relaxing.

"Fine. I'll cripple you first!"

Lu Mingzi slammed his right foot into the ground. Sand and stones flew as a gleaming golden ring revolved beside him.

His level-fifteen Soul Power spread across the area, its pressure bearing down on them.

A One-Ring Soul Master!

"Looks like I was right. Little San, I'll use a Soul Skill to have Sanpao stun him. Attack him with your dagger, but don't kill him. We only need to drive him off."

Yu Xiaogang laid out his plan. At the same time, two yellow rings of light appeared around him.

"A fart like thunder—Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao!"

He stepped forward and swept out a hand. A yellow ring flew out and settled around Luo Sanpao.

The pig-like creature's round belly swelled to several times its size, launching him straight into the air.

A curtain of light seemed to form around Luo Sanpao. Yellow light burst forth with an explosion like thunder.

The yellow barrier surged outward and slammed into the ground. Dust billowed up, engulfing every living thing within it.

"No movement. He should be stunned. Little San, let's go!"

Yu Xiaogang and Tang San darted toward Lu Mingzi, masks still covering their faces.

"Had enough fun?"

"First Soul Skill: Void Spirit Slash!"

Before the dust had cleared, Lu Mingzi's voice rang out. A great blade broke through the haze and traced a perfect arc through the air!

"Not good! Little San, fall back!"

Yu Xiaogang's face changed. He grabbed Tang San and pulled him back, but it was too late.

The strike was fast and vicious, aimed straight at their bodies. One hit would leave them crippled.

"Oink, oink!"

Luo Sanpao charged in just in time and put himself between them and the Demonfire Blade, which was wreathed in flame and snake venom.

"Run!"

That was Yu Xiaogang's only thought. He fled with Tang San at lightning speed, recalling Luo Sanpao as he went.

In the blink of an eye, the two had vanished to who knew what far corner of the world.

They were no good at fighting, but when it came to running, they were first-rate.

"Cough, cough. Damn it, Luo Sanpao's fart really does stink to high heaven. Why didn't the fanfiction mention that?"

Lu Mingzi emerged slowly, coughing a few more times.

What a shame. I can't kill Tang San. The Tang Hao backing him up is terrifying beyond belief.

With that, he walked over to the Mandala Snake. It happened to wake up just then.

Who said you could wake up?

Lu Mingzi drove his blade into the Mandala Snake's head, killing it on the spot.

A deep-red drop of blood rose from the Mandala Snake's corpse and gathered into a blood orb.

"Soul Beast blood essence!"

Lu Mingzi caught the orb and swallowed it whole.

A scalding current rushed through his limbs and meridians. He could feel that he had finished gathering energy.

It was like a power bank charged to one hundred percent: enough to predict the outcome of absorbing one century-old Soul Ring.

He called that one unit.

"One unit in total. Enough to let me absorb this Soul Ring."

Lu Mingzi sat cross-legged, watching the Mandala Snake.

A yellow ring gradually rose from the Soul Beast's corpse. If no one absorbed it, it would dissipate on its own before long.

Deep Blue, he called silently.

A deep-blue panel appeared before him, displaying the source of his First Soul Ring's absorption and its effects.

[Absorbing Soul Ring: 423-year Mandala Snake. Effect: level-four snake venom]

[Predict outcome?]

"Predict!"

Lu Mingzi chose the prediction without a second thought. A yellow ring immediately appeared around him.

The Mandala Snake's Soul Ring was being devoured and absorbed. Its glow faded, growing dimmer by the moment.

I wonder what my Soul Skill will become after absorbing another Mandala Snake Soul Ring.

Whatever happens... it'll make me stronger.

Lu Mingzi sat quietly on the ground. An hour passed without the slightest disturbance in the Soul Hunting Forest.

That was good for him. He had no guardian, and if a Soul Beast showed up, he would be finished.

Another hour passed. The Mandala Snake's Soul Ring lost all its color, drained completely dry.

[First Soul Skill: Unnamed]

"Hm? Why doesn't my Soul Skill have a name? I might as well call it Void Spirit Slash again."

Lu Mingzi stared blankly at Deep Blue and muttered to himself.

[First Soul Skill: Void Spirit Slash]

Deep Blue changed the Soul Skill's name back, just as he wished.

[Sources: 401-year Mandala Snake, 420-year Flame Lion, 423-year Mandala Snake]

[First Soul Ring: 423 years, Void Spirit Slash. Effects: level-four fire poison, level-four poison-gas emission (can neutralize the poison at will)]

"Poison-gas emission... does that mean I can release poison?"

Surprised, Lu Mingzi stood up.

"First Soul Skill: Void Spirit Slash!"

He summoned his Martial Soul, the Demonfire Blade, and used his First Soul Skill. Thick poisonous fumes poured from the blade.

Flames also burned along its edge.

"Good. Next, I'm heading to the address Qian Renxue gave me."

"Young Mistress, the boy has Twin Martial Souls. Do you truly not want to take him as your disciple?"

The room was dim, lit by a single oil lamp. The speaker was Snake Lance Douluo.

"That's right. Twin Martial Souls are rare, and his future accomplishments could match either of ours. Won't you consider it?"

The portly man beside him pleaded with the cool, reserved woman before them. He was Porcupinefish Douluo.

A woman stood in the center of the room, elegant and otherworldly. Her golden hair shone above silver-white and gold attire, and her skin was as fair as snow. Her beauty was peerless, like an immortal maiden descended from the ninth heaven.

"I won't force this... let the young man choose."

"If he wants to come, he'll be here in ten minutes."