"Cut through steel? Now that's what I like to hear!"
Deep within the Sea of Consciousness.
That so-called Grandmaster's earlier talk of theories.
Had made her, a top-tier power attack system tool martial soul, downright sleepy.
She had even wanted to fly out and smash his head.
But Tang Tian's words, "cut through steel."
Had instantly struck the sweet spot of her hammer's aesthetics of violence.
[Ding! Your tool martial soul, Little Iron Hammer, wholeheartedly agrees with your theory of violent damage output!] [She feels this is exactly the domineering spirit you should have!] [Ability acquired: Blood Boiling. Attack power temporarily increases by 5% when Little Iron Hammer is summoned!]
At the same time.
An unprecedented light suddenly blazed in Tang San's eyes.
As though a new door had thundered open before him.
"Flying blossoms and plucked leaves can all wound..."
He murmured to himself.
His heart pounded violently.
Even his blood boiled along with it.
His big brother's words had spoken straight to his heart!
Wasn't this precisely the highest realm of hidden weapon techniques in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record?
Refining the most insignificant things into the deadliest weapons!
Rather than turning Blue Silver Grass into some neither-fish-nor-fowl thing to imitate animals!
He yearned more to refine the ordinary to its absolute limit!
"Brother, I understand!"
Tang San looked at Tang Tian and nodded firmly, his eyes filled with admiration and resolve.
Watching the two brothers exchange meaningful looks.
Completely letting his painstaking advice blow past their ears.
Yu Xiaogang bristled with fury.
"Absurd! Utter nonsense!"
He roared, his face red and neck bulging, spittle flying everywhere.
Not a trace of a grandmaster's bearing remained:
"How could a plant-type martial soul possibly be as sharp as a tool martial soul?"
"You're misleading him!"
Faced with Yu Xiaogang's challenge.
Tang Tian merely smiled disdainfully.
He could not even be bothered to argue.
He simply leaned back against the seat again and closed his eyes to rest.
That silent mockery!
That arrogance of "you're not qualified to make me explain"!
Drove Yu Xiaogang mad more than any words could have.
The atmosphere inside the carriage instantly dropped to freezing.
Dean Zhang coughed awkwardly twice and tried to smooth things over:
"All right, all right. Theory is theory. We still have to see how it works in practice..."
"We'll be there soon."
Several hours later, the carriage finally stopped.
The outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest bustled like a marketplace.
But once their party had their warrant checked and stepped inside the forest, all the clamor was instantly shut out.
Ancient trees towered overhead, blotting out the sky and sun.
Although Xiao Wu was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast cultivating anew.
This body was, after all, still that of a little human girl.
She instinctively shrank her neck and edged closer to Tang Tian.
Tang Tian did not turn around, merely reaching casually behind him.
He caught Xiao Wu's wrist with precision.
And pulled her between himself and Tang San.
"Stay close. The ground's uneven here. Don't get lost."
His tone was very calm, as though he were simply looking after a younger sister.
Xiao Wu froze for a moment, gazing at the boy's back before her.
Though it was not particularly broad.
The warmth coming through his palm felt especially real.
It put her inexplicably at ease.
However, perhaps their luck was poor.
The group wandered around the outskirts for an hour.
Apart from a few ten-year Wind Baboons and some lone bamboo.
They found no high-quality soul beasts.
As they passed a grove of lone bamboo.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang suddenly stopped.
He pointed at one stalk of lone bamboo and said:
"According to my theory, Tang San, if we can't find a Mandala Snake, this hundred-year lone bamboo could just barely serve as an alternative."
In fact, Yu Xiaogang had spotted lone bamboo as soon as they entered the forest.
But he had previously disdained its low age and said nothing.
Now, after getting nowhere for so long, he was eager to prove his worth, so he pointed at the bamboo and said:
"Lone bamboo is inherently tough and has decent defense."
"In particular, this stalk has already reached ten meters tall, matching the characteristics of a hundred-year specimen."
"Absorbing it wouldn't be as perfect as a Mandala Snake, but it would still be a respectable choice."
However, this time, before Tang Tian could voice his criticism.
Dean Zhang beside them frowned.
As a rank forty-two Soul Ancestor, his judgment of such basic soul beasts was clearly more accurate than Yu Xiaogang's.
Dean Zhang spoke tactfully but firmly:
"Xiaogang."
"Although this lone bamboo has grown to ten meters, its age is only just over a hundred years at most."
"For a genius with innate full soul power like Tang San, the theoretical limit for his first soul ring could approach four hundred years."
"Wouldn't this sickly hundred-year bamboo... be too much of a waste?"
"I think it should be at least three hundred years old to be suitable."
Although his words were polite.
They were no different from slapping Yu Xiaogang across the face in public.
Tang Tian could not help himself.
He burst out laughing.
His eyes seemed to say: That's it? That's the extent of Grandmaster's judgment?
Yu Xiaogang felt his face burn painfully.
He was even more displeased inwardly.
But the dean had said it, so he could not shout back as he had at Tang Tian.
He could only nod stiffly and force an attempt to salvage his dignity:
"Ahem... you're right, Dean. I was only trying to leave the boy another fallback option."
To conceal his embarrassment and regain some standing.
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath.
He puffed out his chest and made a bold declaration:
"Hmph, mere lone bamboo indeed isn't worthy of Tang San."
"Searching for a Mandala Snake would be more suitable!"
"Don't worry. According to my research, Mandala Snakes favor dark, damp places."
Yu Xiaogang swept his hand grandly and vowed with absolute confidence:
"If a Mandala Snake really does appear, leave it to me!"
"My soul power may not be high, but I have my own methods for dealing with this kind of soul beast."
"Once I subdue it, Tang San will only need to deliver the finishing blow and absorb its soul ring. Nothing can go wrong!"
Seeing Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang act so imposing, Tang San could not help revising his opinion of him somewhat.
He had originally thought him someone who only talked big and shrank from trouble.
He had not expected that, for the sake of his soul ring.
The man would actually volunteer to challenge a vicious venomous beast.
He did have some of the responsibility expected of a teacher.
Dean Zhang, too, could not help nodding in strong approval.
In his view, Yu Xiaogang was trying to show the students what he could do.
Easing the earlier strained atmosphere was indeed worthy of praise.
Only Tang Tian.
Had a meaningful smile hanging at the corner of his lips.
Looking at the supremely confident Yu Xiaogang.
He thought:
I hope you don't run too fast later, Grandmaster.
After all, with that flag planted so high, the fall will really hurt.
After repeated fruitless searches, with evening fast approaching.
The group decided to find a suitable place to set up camp and rest for a while.
It had to be said.
Yu Xiaogang really did know a thing or two about wilderness survival theory.
"Camp should be set on higher ground with an open view. Sprinkle realgar powder around it to repel snakes and insects, and place the fire downwind..."
As Yu Xiaogang directed everyone in setting things up.
He rattled on about all sorts of precautions, explaining everything with convincing clarity.
Even Xiao Wu was left thoroughly dazzled.
Tang Tian did not contradict him as he had before.
In his view, even criticizing Grandmaster should not mean criticizing him indiscriminately.
Although this fellow was dismal in actual combat and arrogant by nature.
There was nothing wrong with this sort of basic encyclopedic knowledge.
Mm, I'll just treat it as a free wilderness survival lecture.
Once camp was set up.
To make good on his earlier boast of "leave the Mandala Snake to me."
Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and gave a low shout:
"Come out, Luo Sanpao!"
"Luo, luo-"
Accompanied by an awkward, breathy sound.
A round, plump creature.
That looked like a pig yet also somewhat like a dog appeared before everyone.
It looked rather comical.
"Pfft!"
Seeing Luo Sanpao for the first time, Xiao Wu could not hold back and burst out laughing.
Before you continue