Chapter 41: The Choice of the Second Soul Ring (Part 3·End)

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The Nine-Jointed Jade was the best among the Bamboo Leaf Green Snakes. Its body had nine scales, which were very hard and difficult to injure with a sharp blade. Moreover, Its poison was extremely potent. It was rumored that even a Titled Douluo would turn into a puddle of pus within two hours if they were bitten and didn't know about toxicology or pharmacology.

Tang San didn't expect to see one in this place. In his previous life, in the novel "Douluo Dalu", it seemed that only Dugu Bo had raised one.

However, in the introduction of the Nine-Jointed Jade in the "Soul Beasts Encyclopedia", it was a strange beast. It wouldn't drop a soul ring after death, so no one would provoke this extremely dangerous poisonous snake.

This was probably the reason why this Wood Spirit Mushroom was able to grow to a thousand years in this forest.

However, Tang San sensed that the Nine-Jointed Jade had soul power fluctuations, obviously becoming a soul beast.

"What kind of snake is that? It's so short, and its tail is red. It looks like a scorpion's hook." Xiao Wu asked in a low voice.

"Nine-Jointed Jade, a highly poisonous snake. It's a strange species, and under normal circumstances, it shouldn't be possible for it to become a soul beast." Tang San frowned. "This one probably stayed on the Wood Spirit Mushroom for a long time, was affected by its spores, mutated, and began to transform towards the direction of a soul beast."

"It's only transforming towards a soul beast? Then isn't it very weak?" Xiao Wu felt relieved.

"Strength and weakness can't be judged just by soul power fluctuations. This snake's venom can poison even Titled Douluo!" Tang San's eyes were solemn. He didn't inherit the memories related to detoxification from Tang San of the Tang Sect. If he was bitten, would his body's immune system be able to overcome the poison with the powerful vitality brought by his first soul skill?

Therefore, to be on the safe side, he had to deal with the Nine-Jointed Jade first.

Thus, Tang San released the Blue Silver Grass Field, wrapped two layers of Blue Silver Grass around himself and Xiao Wu, and covered all parts of their bodies except their noses and eyes. They looked like two moving mummies.

Xiao Wu was speechless: "Do we need to be so vigilant?"

"I don't know how to detoxify, so it's better to be careful and avoid being bitten." Tang San said so, controlling his soul power to make countless Blue Silver Grass leaves emerge from the ground and bind them to the Demonic Eye Demon Tree, the Wood Spirit Mushroom, and the Nine-Jointed Jade.

The Nine-Jointed Jade Snake sensed the danger and instantly curled up into a ball. The nine scales formed a strange ring that spun rapidly, dodging the Wood Spirit Mushroom.

However, the direction it jumped in was exactly where Tang San and Xiao Wu were hiding in the bushes.

"Was it discovered?" Tang San's mind raced, his eyes flashed with purple light for a moment. He saw the figure of the Nine-Jointed Jade clearly and immediately released a Blue Silver Grass, binding the Nine-Jointed Jade, which couldn't dodge in midair, into a Blue Silver Ball, revealing only a snake head.

Tang San picked it up and said, "Although it's transforming towards a soul beast, it's not a soul beast after all. But its body is very tough, its speed is fast, and its figure is concealed. If my eyes weren't sharp... As for why it discovered us, snakes don't seem to use their eyes to catch prey, but can sense the heat in animals' bodies."

Xiao Wu walked over and looked at the Nine-Jointed Jade in Tang San's hand. She said in confusion, "It doesn't seem to be that powerful."

Tang San pinched the Blue Silver Ball and brought the Nine-Jointed Jade's mouth to the Seven-Star Ladybug in her hand.

The Nine-Jointed Jade immediately opened its mouth and bit the Seven-Star Ladybug.

In an instant, the Seven-Star Ladybug didn't even have time to struggle before it died. Even its shell deflated at a speed visible to the naked eye, scaring Xiao Wu into throwing it away.

Slap!

The bug fell to the ground, instantly shattering into pieces and turning into a puddle of pus.

"See? This Nine-Jointed Jade's poison is very powerful. If I was bitten, neither of us would be able to withstand it." Tang San tied the Blue Silver Ball to a tree trunk and asked Xiao Wu to watch it.

"What are we keeping this thing for? Just kill it." Xiao Wu was terrified after seeing the Nine-Jointed Jade's poison. She was afraid of being bitten and suggested killing the snake directly.

Unexpectedly, the Nine-Jointed Jade seemed to understand Xiao Wu's words and revealed a wronged expression, as if it was begging the two of them not to kill it.

"It can understand our words? It's so smart?" Xiao Wu was surprised.

"The reason why it's called a strange beast is because it's different from soul beasts. Even if it hasn't completely transformed into a soul beast, it has the wisdom comparable to a hundred thousand year old soul beast and can sense the thoughts of other creatures." Tang San looked at the Nine-Jointed Jade for a while, guessing its situation. "Originally, I planned to kill it directly, but now, I have a new idea."

"You don't want to raise it, do you?" Xiao Wu's body trembled, and she was a little scared.

"That's right, the Nine-Jointed Jade can be tamed. If we can raise it, then we'll have another life-saving method. It can play a great role when we catch them off guard." Tang San stroked his chin. "Moreover, it should have absorbed the spores and vitality of the Wood Spirit Mushroom to begin transforming towards a soul beast. My Blue Silver Grass has an endless supply of vitality, which can be provided to it. In the future, it can naturally be tamed."

Tang San didn't know how Dugu Bo tamed his Nine-Jointed Jade, but he was confident that he could use his martial soul to subdue this little guy.

Thinking of this, Tang San used Endless Life on the restrained Nine-Jointed Jade.

In an instant, the Nine-Jointed Jade revealed a comfortable expression. Its eyes were very agile, and it could make all kinds of human-like expressions.

When Tang San disconnected the Endless Life soul skill, the Nine-Jointed Jade suddenly widened its eyes and stared at Tang San, as if it was dissatisfied with why he had stopped.

"If you listen to me in the future, I'll provide you with life energy. How about that?" Tang San asked the Nine-Jointed Jade.

The Nine-Jointed Jade looked at Tang San for a long time, and its head bobbed up and down, agreeing.

"Wow, it's so smart. It should be able to not only sense our thoughts, but also really understand human words... This is much more powerful than a ten thousand year soul beast." Tang San praised the Nine-Jointed Jade with a hidden meaning.

The Nine-Jointed Jade also seemed very happy and nodded in satisfaction.

"What's the matter? How could a little snake like this be more powerful than a ten thousand year soul beast? It can't even speak." Xiao Wu mocked the Nine-Jointed Jade, proving her identity as a ten thousand year soul beast.

"Hiss!"

The Nine-Jointed Jade stared at Xiao Wu and stuck out its tongue, as if to say: I'm more powerful than you, a ten thousand year soul beast.

Xiao Wu couldn't understand the strange beast's beast language. After all, it wasn't a soul beast yet. However, she could sense that this little green snake was mocking her, and she immediately laughed angrily: "You're just a snake, and you dare to mock Sister Xiao Wu? When I go back, I'll stew you!"

The Nine-Jointed Jade turned its head away and ignored Xiao Wu, as if it was too lazy to bother with this stupid rabbit.

Tang San ignored the "quarrel" between the two of them. He only asked Xiao Wu to keep an eye on the snake to prevent it from running away. He then walked to the Demonic Eye Demon Tree and Wood Spirit Mushroom that were bound by the Blue Silver Grass.

After careful observation, Tang San discovered that the Wood Spirit Mushroom's stalk was covered with patterns similar to the "demonic eye" of the Demonic Eye Demon Tree.

Was this Wood Spirit Mushroom devouring the Demonic Eye Demon Tree's origin?

　Nine-Jointed Jade picture, refer to the manga.