Chapter 178: The Gap of the First Soul Ring, Part 4
Yu Xiaogang took an odd satisfaction from the scene. Turning to Tang San, he said,
"Xiao San, this soul beast is called a Snake Vine Flower, a particularly weak plant type beast. Aside from its mimicry, it doesn't possess any notable abilities. But, being a low level beast, it's missed a crucial detail. It mimicked the four meter long Mandala Snake, implying it would need to be at least 400 years old. There's no way a soul beast that strong would be found in this area of the forest what a foolish creature."
Aggravated by his own frustrations, Yu Xiaogang took out some of his irritation on the defenseless Snake Vine Flower, slapping its vines a few times before turning away with Tang San. But suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his side and was thrown several meters away.
"Ugh who's there?!" he gasped, clutching his injured waist and peering in the direction of the attack.
Ahead, he saw Luo San Pao growling in a defensive stance against a massive serpent. The creature's thick, scaly body bore fresh marks where powerful jaws had snapped onto it marks from a Mandala Snake, specifically a 422 year old Demon Venom variant.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes went wide with rage, realizing that, in the last moment, it had been Luo San Pao who shoved him out of the way, sparing him from more grievous harm. Tang San quickly rushed to his teacher's side, sensing the tense situation.
With gritted teeth, Yu Xiaogang managed to command,
"Luo San Pao! Third soul skill Light Wing Slash!"
Upon receiving the command, Luo San Pao's wings glowed brightly as twin golden arcs flew at the Mandala Snake. Yet, the snake's seasoned instincts kicked in, allowing it to deftly dodge the attacks, leaving Yu Xiaogang's face flushed with fury and embarrassment. Despite his reputation as a powerful Soul King, a mere hundred year old snake had forced him to scramble.
"Curse it all," he muttered bitterly, feeling humiliated. "If only Luo San Pao could fuse as a martial soul... it's all this damned mutated soul's fault."
At that moment, Yu Xiaogang's patience snapped. No longer willing to spare his energy, he called out loudly,
"Luo San Pao, fourth soul skill Light Roar Cannon!"
A blinding flash burst from Luo San Pao's mouth, hitting the Mandala Snake squarely. The impact was devastating, tearing the serpent in half. Yet even so, its head writhed and hissed in defiance, a testament to the tenacity of snake type soul beasts.
"Luo San Pao, pin its head make sure it doesn't strike again," Yu Xiaogang ordered coldly, barely concealing his spite. Tang San watched in awe, impressed by his teacher's forethought in neutralizing the creature's threat even after it was struck down. He hadn't realized yet how pathetic it was for a Soul King to struggle against a mere hundred year soul beast.
Inwardly, however, Yu Xiaogang's mind was racing, and he soon found himself scheming. Given the recent popularity of origin based training methods thanks to Ye Wen's influence, many soul masters were beginning to prioritize long term soul enhancements over sheer power. However, dual martial souls like Tang San's presented unique opportunities, and perhaps even advantages, if approached strategically.
With his decision made, Yu Xiaogang turned to Tang San.
"Xiao San," he said, "you are no ordinary soul master. Most follow the origin strengthening path, where their first soul ring reinforces their soul to cultivate in harmony. But in your case, we might want to prioritize combat effectiveness. This Mandala Snake, despite being a creature of average strength, has unparalleled aptitude for adding an entangling skill and might even impart a poison effect, boosting your battle prowess." He paused before adding, "The choice is yours. If you wish to stay true to the origin path, I won't stop you. But if you want strength now, then this snake's ring is the best choice."
Tang San took a moment to reflect on the potential of his twin martial souls. In his view, anything that could inspire such awe in his highly knowledgeable teacher surely had to be extraordinary. Looking firmly at Yu Xiaogang, he resolved,
"Teacher, I choose to absorb the Mandala Snake's soul ring."
Yu Xiaogang nodded approvingly, handing him a knife.
"Then, go ahead. I'll keep watch over you."
Without hesitation, Tang San delivered a decisive blow to the Mandala Snake's head, ending its life. A soul ring formed in the air above its remains, and Tang San summoned his Blue Vine martial soul to begin absorbing it. As he watched his student struggle to refine the ring, a cold smirk crept onto Yu Xiaogang's face.
With his knowledge, he was keenly aware that the Mandala Snake's 422 year ring slightly exceeded Tang San's capacity, and although he could manage with effort, the grueling pain of absorption would be much worse due to the snake's venomous nature.
"This snake is my little gift to you, Tang San," Yu Xiaogang mused vindictively. "You can thank your father for that."
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