At a distance of a dozen meters or so, the Sleeve Arrow on his wrist was accurate enough, even if its precision was nothing impressive.
The question now was how to deal effective damage to it.
Its stem was hidden underground, making it rather difficult to hit.
Ye Fan noticed Tang San's hesitation and stepped forward with a smile.
"It's just a hundred-year soul beast. Why make it so complicated... here, take this."
With that, Ye Fan handed over the Firestone.
For a plant soul beast around a hundred years old, fire was its sternest father!
To get Tang San to absorb this soul beast, he had even started taking the initiative.
"Thanks, Ye Fan."
Tang San took the Firestone from Ye Fan, and some of his lingering resentment eased.
He had still been wondering why Ye Fan wouldn't lend him his bow and arrows...
Now he wouldn't need them anyway.
With the Firestone, combined with Tang San's Sleeve Arrow and aim,
it took only a few minutes for Tang San to burn the Demon Vine to ashes.
Its enormous root system had instead become shackles binding it in place, leaving it unable to escape.
Following Yu Xiaogang's instructions, Tang San began absorbing the Demon Vine's Soul Ring.
"Seriously, I haven't even eaten yet..."
Xiao Wu rubbed her belly.
As the Demon Vine burned, a fragrant aroma had drifted out, making her stomach protest again.
"Since there's nothing to do right now, go ahead and eat."
Smiling, Ye Fan took off his backpack and handed it to Xiao Wu.
"Hmph, you should've done that ages ago..."
Xiao Wu eagerly took the backpack, sat on the ground, and began rummaging through it.
Just then, Yu Xiaogang turned to look at Ye Fan.
"Your soul beast... aren't you going to look for one?"
Ye Fan was a little surprised.
Yu Xiaogang actually cared about him?
But he soon figured it out.
How was this lecherous Gang concerned about him? He was concerned about when he himself could get out of here.
After some thought, he said to Yu Xiaogang, "There's no rush... I want to wait a little longer. If you're in a hurry, Grandmaster, you don't have to worry about me."
Yu Xiaogang: "..."
If he left now, what would that make him?
At the very least, he had to wait until Tang San finished absorbing his Soul Ring.
Although Luo Sanpao had fainted, Yu Xiaogang kept replenishing his Soul Power, so he wouldn't dissipate yet.
"Wait? What are you waiting for?"
Holding a piece of Carrot Cake, Xiao Wu's head was full of question marks.
Waiting for a Soul Ring meant he was waiting for a soul beast to come and offer itself up to die, didn't it?
Had Ye Fan lost his mind?
What soul beast would do that?
What she didn't know was this.
Ye Fan had kept only enough Soul Power to activate Word Spirit one last time, using all his other activations to make wishes.
He wanted to use Word Spirit to find himself a suitable soul beast.
But with such a vague command, even Ye Fan didn't know whether it would work.
That was why he was taking his time.
Ye Fan patted Xiao Wu's head and gave her a mysterious smile.
"I'm just waiting for a fated encounter."
"Tch, acting all mysterious..."
Hearing this, Xiao Wu thought Ye Fan knew when he would encounter his first Soul Ring.
That put her at ease.
But then, inexplicably, she began to worry again.
If it's fate... doesn't that mean I'm destined to become a Soul Ring?
Forget it. Stop thinking about it!
Xiao Wu shook her head, tossing out her jumbled thoughts, and began munching on her Carrot Cake.
Yu Xiaogang gave a disdainful smile at those words.
"Ye Fan, don't reach for the clouds. For a Soul Master, there's no such thing as the most suitable soul beast. As long as its age is sufficient, you should be satisfied... as for that tongue Martial Soul of yours, let me give you some advice: choose an avian soul beast.
"Among soul beasts, avian soul beasts have the most agile tongues. Not only would they suit your tongue Martial Soul, but they could also give you a sonic Soul Skill.
"That's all I have to say. Think it over yourself."
With that, Yu Xiaogang turned his attention back to Tang San.
His advice contained his own insights.
Of course, there was also a touch of personal revenge...
This brat spoke as though he had a crow's mouth, always bringing misfortune.
Since he had managed to make him strain his tongue, that proved his thinking was correct!
Most importantly, the sooner Ye Fan finished absorbing his Soul Ring, the sooner they could leave.
Hearing this, Xiao Wu stuffed all the Carrot Cake into her mouth.
"Ye Fan... want me... to catch a bird... for you?"
Even her words came out muffled.
Ye Fan smiled and handed her the water flask.
"Swallow what's in your mouth before you speak. This is the first time I've heard of a rabbit catching birds."
Xiao Wu took the flask and gulped down great mouthfuls, not caring whether Ye Fan had drunk from it.
"What, are you looking down on rabbits? Haven't you heard of a rabbit kicking an eagle?"
"If you want, I'll show you!"
"All right, all right... you're the best. Let me eat something, then we'll go look."
Ye Fan was just about to take some food from his backpack.
"Hm? What soul beast is this?"
To his surprise, he discovered a palm-sized golden cicada on his backpack.
It seemed to have smelled the food inside and was slowly climbing onto his backpack from the ground.
Hearing Ye Fan's words, Xiao Wu's attention was drawn over, and she leaned closer.
"Oh, this soul beast is a really rare little golden cicada!"
Xiao Wu recognized the little creature's species at a glance, and delighted surprise appeared on her face.
She turned to Ye Fan and began talking nonstop.
"Ye Fan, normally you couldn't find this little fellow even if you wanted to. It's a very rare soul beast!"
A rare soul beast?
This thing?
Ye Fan stared at the cicada, which didn't even have wings, his face full of disbelief.
"What's so rare about it? Is it really strong?"
Ye Fan looked at Xiao Wu.
There was a hint of anticipation in his gaze.
Could it be... that there aren't many cicadas on the Douluo Continent?
Xiao Wu tilted her head and thought for a moment.
"This soul beast is one bite each, with a lovely crunch!"
Xiao Wu gave Ye Fan a thumbs-up.
Ye Fan: "..."
Glutton!
You're a rabbit. Why are you eating cicadas?!
He rolled his eyes, reached out, and pinched Xiao Wu's cheek.
"I'm asking for useful information, and you're telling me how it tastes?"
"Ah, ow, ow, ow! Let go!"
Xiao Wu escaped Ye Fan's demonic clutches, looking furious.
Then she grew a little more serious and pointed at the golden cicada's back.
"Look, there's a short wing segment on its back. That's the mark of a thousand-year soul beast. Each short wing segment represents a thousand years of cultivation, and it can grow up to ten."
Ye Fan followed Xiao Wu's finger with his eyes.
Sure enough, there was a very short wing segment on the cicada's back.
Without a close look, he would have thought some soul beast had taken a bite out of it.
Xiao Wu continued, "Its full name is the Nine-Winged Golden Cicada. For every thousand years of cultivation, it grows a short wing segment. It only reaches its complete form at ninety thousand years."
"But unfortunately, this little thing has no offensive power at all. I've never seen one make it past ten thousand years."
"They pretty much all end up as little snacks in other soul beasts' mouths."
Before you continue