Sky Swallowing Toad

A pack of gray-black wolves had barely appeared when thick Blue Silver Grass vines burst from the ground, binding them in place.

"Ha! Watch this." Xiao Wu launched her attack as well. She leaped lightly into the air, performing several graceful flips before reaching the wolves in the blink of an eye. With one kick, she sent one of them flying heavily through the air, unable to get back up for a long while.

"Everyone, move aside. Watch me." At last, Hu Jiu had built up his hammer technique to the eighty-first strike. With a loud shout, he became one with his hammer and smashed toward the wolf pack at lightning speed.

The ground shook as Hu Jiu's iron hammer struck the wolves like a cannonball.

In an instant, flesh and blood flew through the air, and a cloud of dust rose from the ground.

Once the dust settled, Tang San and Xiao Wu found themselves facing a massive crater. The wolves were gone, leaving only severed limbs and scraps of flesh in the dirt.

"Xiao Jiu, y-you can't use that hammer technique on me in the future!" Standing outside the crater, Xiao Wu swallowed hard as she carefully recalled whether she had bullied Hu Jiu at all during this time.

After thinking it over, she realized she seemed to be in a bit of danger.

"Haha, don't worry. You're so cute—how could I possibly hammer you?" Hu Jiu looked amusedly at the still-frightened Xiao Wu. Didn't she know that even if he wanted to hammer her, he would never get the chance to use the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer?

"I never expected the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer to have such terrifying power. Perhaps even Father isn't as skilled as Xiao Jiu!" A trace of shock flashed through Tang San's eyes in the distance. He had taught Hu Jiu that hammer technique himself, yet he had never imagined that a technique meant for forging iron could possess such tremendous power.

"Xiao Jiu, your Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer has already reached the pinnacle of mastery. You carry yourself like the founder of a school. Even Father, who taught us back then, probably never expected this hammer technique to be so powerful!"

At that moment, Tang San felt that he should not focus solely on Tang Sect techniques. He needed to practice the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer more diligently as well. After all, his Second Martial Soul was a hammer. If he could cultivate the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer to Xiao Jiu's level and then use it with his Martial Soul, how powerful would it be?

"What Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer? Isn't this just a blacksmithing technique?"

His talent for acting had seeped into his bones. It was beyond changing.

"Yes, this is the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. But I only heard that name from someone else. We'll know once we go home and ask Father." Tang San nodded.

"Ah, who cares whether it is or not? Let's just call it that. I never expected it to be this powerful either. Once vacation starts, I'll definitely buy two jars of good wine and take them back to thank Uncle Tang Hao." Hu Jiu beamed, acting as though it were real.

"So Little San knows this hammer technique too? Why have I never seen you use it?" Xiao Wu asked curiously from the side.

Tang San: "Uh..."

Could he tell them that he could only swing the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer for sixty-four consecutive strikes?

"Little San, take a look. What kind of Soul Beast is this? Why couldn't we avoid them?" In the end, Hu Jiu rescued Tang San from his predicament.

"These are Shadow Wolves. There's no mistake. This type of Soul Beast has an extremely sharp sense of smell. Even from a li away, they can identify prey through its scent. Perhaps they marked us as hunting targets." Tang San walked over to the Shadow Wolf Xiao Wu had kicked away earlier and examined it carefully before speaking.

"It seems we'll have to be even more careful from now on. If there are other Soul Beasts with this ability, we definitely won't be able to escape." A trace of vigilance flashed in Hu Jiu's eyes. Luckily, these had only been ten-year Soul Beasts. If they had been hundred-year ones, they might have been in danger.

"Mm, it's better to be careful." Tang San nodded, though he was not worried inside. In the Soul Hunting Forest, hundred-year Soul Beasts were already the strongest. Such Soul Beasts could not possibly live in groups. After all, this place was raised by the empire.

Of course, he would not tell Hu Jiu that, lest Hu Jiu lower his guard.

During the rest of their journey, they did not encounter any Soul Beasts capable of detecting them. After walking for two hours, the three of them finally reached the destination of their trip.

"I hear frogs croaking over there. Let's go take a look. It might be a Sky Swallowing Toad." Hu Jiu's ears twitched. He listened carefully for a moment before confirming it.

The three exchanged glances, and excitement flashed through all their eyes.

"Let's go take a look."

Moving quietly, the three made their way toward the direction Hu Jiu had indicated.

After parting a clump of wild grass, they finally saw their target.

"That's right, it's a Sky Swallowing Toad. I just don't know how many years it has cultivated for." Hu Jiu recognized the Soul Beast before him without Tang San's confirmation.

"Yes, it is a Sky Swallowing Toad. Judging from the patterns on its back, it should only have around thirty years of cultivation. It's too weak and unsuitable for Xiao Jiu to absorb." Tang San took a look as well, but quickly shook his head. Xiao Jiu's First Soul Ring needed to be at least around ninety years old.

That was the lowest limit Tang San could accept. As his brother, he would not stand by and watch Hu Jiu throw away his future.

"Mm, we've already entered the Sky Swallowing Toads' territory. I've memorized the aura of this kind of Soul Beast. Follow me—there are several more ahead." Hu Jiu nodded. He did not want such a weak Soul Beast to become his Soul Ring either.

They secretly found several more Sky Swallowing Toads, but none had enough cultivation for their requirements. The strongest had only eighty years of cultivation, which was still too low.

"Be careful, everyone. We'll be nearing the center of the forest if we go any farther. Powerful Soul Beasts might appear." Hu Jiu vaguely sensed something, but it was too far away for him to perceive clearly.

"Mm!" Tang San and Xiao Wu's hearts tightened. Hu Jiu's Perception Ability had been proven throughout their journey, and they had no doubts about his judgment.

They advanced slowly. After traveling some more, Hu Jiu's face suddenly lit up with delight. "Found it. The Sky Swallowing Toad ahead definitely has more than ninety years of cultivation. I can feel it."

"Great! Let's hurry over!" Xiao Wu cheered softly. After so long, they had finally found their target.

"That Sky Swallowing Toad is right ahead. Little San, when the time comes, use Blue Silver Grass to ambush it and trap it."

"Xiao Wu, we'll be counting on you next. Once Little San traps it, use Waist Bow to bring it over to me."

"As for me, I'll prepare my big move here." Smiling faintly, Hu Jiu instantly arranged their tactics.

"Alright!" Tang San and Xiao Wu had no objections. Following Hu Jiu's plan, they could perfectly ambush the Sky Swallowing Toad.

"Move!"

The moment Hu Jiu spoke, Tang San's feet shifted, and he darted forward like a wisp of green smoke.

At the same time, Xiao Wu was no slower. With a light flip, she jumped onto the treetops, then bounded away at high speed.

Back where he stood, Hu Jiu gripped his iron hammer and began swinging it in wider and wider circles. The hammer howled through the air around him, making him seem like a mad demon.