Chapter 178: The Gap of a Single Ring – Part 4
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This was finding joy amidst hardship.
Yu Xiaogang said to Tang San,
"Xiao San, this soul beast is called the Snake Vine Flower. It's an extremely weak plant-type soul beast with no notable strengths aside from mimicking snakes.
However, it's still a low-level soul beast and hasn't considered the finer details. The Mandrake Snake it's mimicking is four meters long, which suggests that the actual snake must have at least 400 years of cultivation. But there are no such powerful soul beasts in this outer region of the Spirit Hunting Forest.
Hmph, what a presumptuous fool."
Feeling bitter, Yu Xiaogang even mocked the soul beast, arrogantly slapping the Snakevine Flower a few times before preparing to leave with Tang San.
But suddenly, Yu Xiaogang felt a heavy blow to his waist, sending him flying several meters.
"Cough—Who!"
Enduring the intense pain, Yu Xiaogang turned his gaze toward the direction of the attack.
He saw Luo Sanpao facing off against a massive python. Its waist seemed to have been bitten by something powerful, leaving behind some cracks.
The python confronting it was none other than a 422-year-old Poison Sword Demon Mandrake Snake.
(A/N: According to the manga storyline, Mandrake Snakes shed their skin every 211 years. This one had just completed its second shedding, bringing its cultivation to 422 years.)
Yu Xiaogang's eyes bulged with rage as he recalled the familiar sensation from earlier. Clearly, Luo Sanpao had pushed him out of harm's way at the critical moment, only for him to end up injured instead.
Seeing the dangerous situation, Tang San hurried to Yu Xiaogang's side.
Through gritted teeth, Yu Xiaogang growled,
"Damn beast, how dare you ambush me!
Luo Sanpao! Third Soul Skill—Light Wing Slash!"
At his command, Luo Sanpao immediately activated its soul skill. Its wings shone brightly as two golden slashes shot toward the Mandrake Snake.
However, though it was only a hundred-year soul beast, the Mandrake Snake possessed extraordinary combat awareness. With swift movements, it dodged both of Luo Sanpao's attacks in succession.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang's face flushed red with humiliation. As a 59th-level Soul King, he was comparable to a ten-thousand-year soul beast. Yet here he was, unable to instantly defeat a mere hundred-year Mandrake Snake—this was a slap in the face.
Yu Xiaogang cursed inwardly, 'Damn it! If only Luo Sanpao could perform soul possession, how could this beast have possibly dodged? It's all because of my cursed mutated martial soul.'
Deciding not to hold back any longer, Yu Xiaogang shouted, "Luo Sanpao, Fourth Soul Skill—Light Roar Cannon!"
Luo Sanpao's body erupted with radiant light as it opened its fearsome dragon maw, unleashing a wave of energy. The Mandrake Snake couldn't evade in time and was struck, its body severed into two halves.
However, the vitality of snakes was notoriously exaggerated. Even after being split in two, the Mandrake Snake didn't die immediately but instead writhed in agony, hissing painfully.
"Sanpao, pin its head down so it doesn't move," Yu Xiaogang said coldly.
If not for the need to maintain his image as Tang San's teacher, he would have already rushed over to kick the snake repeatedly, venting his earlier fear and anger.
Tang San observed the Mandrake Snake with curious eyes. In his past life, such a creature would have been considered a spirit monster by sects.
Still, he inwardly praised Yu Xiaogang's decision to have Luo Sanpao pin down the Mandrake Snake.
'Truly a knowledgeable teacher,' Tang San thought. 'He knows that even decapitated snakes can launch one final attack, eliminating the last shred of danger.'
However, Tang San still hadn't realized how humiliating it was for a Soul King to be beaten up by a mere hundred-year soul beast.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes flickered with indecision.
Then a mischievous idea formed in his mind.
Due to Ye Wen's influence, the Essence Cultivation School had become dominant on the Douluo Continent, while the once-popular Extreme Combat School had gradually fallen out of favor. After all, most soul masters cared more about heritage than fleeting power.
This was especially true for sects with self-created soul skills—they placed even greater emphasis on inheritance.
Even Yu Xiaogang had gradually abandoned his previous extreme school of thought over the years.
However, with twin martial souls…
Having made up his mind, Yu Xiaogang said to Tang San,
"Xiao San, your talent is extraordinary. Though the Essence Cultivation Method is currently the mainstream on the continent, allowing martial souls to ascend to higher levels, your situation is different. Your initial cultivation focused on the relatively combat-weak Green Vine martial soul, so you need a significant boost in combat ability. While this Mandrake Snake may lack in other areas, it has a natural advantage in granting entangling soul skills. Moreover, I speculate it can also imbue your Green Vine martial soul with poison attributes to some extent.
However, the choice is yours. If you wish to follow the Essence Cultivation Method to strengthen your Green Vine martial soul, I won't stop you. But if you desire greater immediate strength, you can choose to absorb this Mandrake Snake. Its cultivation years are nearly at your absorption limit, making it the ideal choice for you right now."
Tang San fell silent. The distinction between essence strengthening and combat strengthening was clear, but it was hard to say which was superior, especially for someone like him with twin martial souls.
On the way here, Yu Xiaogang had already explained the pros and cons of twin martial souls to Tang San. The second martial soul could directly absorb ten-thousand-year soul rings during cultivation, far surpassing ordinary soul masters.
Though Tang San didn't know the specifics of his second martial soul—the hammer—he was certain that if even his powerful teacher was hesitant to discuss it, this martial soul was no ordinary thing.
With clear and resolute eyes, Tang San looked at Yu Xiaogang and said,
"Teacher, I choose to absorb the Mandrake Snake."
Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly and handed Tang San a dagger.
"Then begin. I'll guard you."
Without suspicion, Tang San plunged the dagger into the Mandrake Snake's head, causing it to suffer complete brain death. A bright soul ring condensed in the air.
Summoning his Green Vine martial soul, Tang San absorbed the soul ring and began the arduous process of assimilation.
Yu Xiaogang's gaze grew dark and cold as he watched Tang San absorb the soul ring.
With his knowledge, he could tell that this Mandrake Snake was a 422-year-old soul beast that had undergone two skin-shedding cycles.
Though it slightly exceeded Tang San's absorption limit, as long as he wasn't too hasty, the extra two years wouldn't be a problem. The human body inherently possessed latent potential that could be unlocked to break through limits.
However, this soul ring was actually a trap Yu Xiaogang had set for Tang San—a small act of retaliation to vent his frustration.
If he truly wanted an entangling soul skill, there were plenty of plant-type soul beasts to choose from. There was no need to select a Mandrake Snake.
Plant martial souls and animal soul rings could be absorbed, but their compatibility was poor, resulting in a longer assimilation process. During absorption, the pain would be excruciating, tormenting Tang San without posing a lethal threat.
'Since I can't get back at you, I'll make your son suffer. Damn you, Tang Hao. Just wait,' Yu Xiaogang muttered inwardly.
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