NOVEL NEXT Chapter 223: 219. Practical Lesson
As soon as Luo Sanpao appeared, it started rubbing against Yu Xiaogang's leg.
"Xiao San, this is my martial spirit, you can call him Sanpao," Yu Xiaogang said.
Luo Sanpao seemed to understand his words, looking at Tang San with its dopey eyes, showing a bit of a fawning expression.
"Teacher, is this your martial spirit?" Tang San asked in surprise as he looked at Luo Sanpao.
Even though he had only just started learning about martial spirits, he knew that beast martial spirits should manifest by attaching to their host, not like this.
Luo Sanpao gave a dissatisfied grunt in response to Tang San.
Yu Xiaogang's face showed a hint of bitterness. "My martial spirit is a mutated one. When Sanpao first awakened, my spirit power was only half a level."
"Because of that, my spirit power will never break through level thirty in this lifetime, which is why I've dedicated myself to specializing in theory," Yu Xiaogang explained, his voice filled with resignation.
Tang San remained silent.
He had always known there was more to Yu Xiaogang's story.
"I'm sorry, teacher, I didn't mean to bring up something painful."
"It's fine. I've long since gotten used to it," Yu Xiaogang said, shaking his head in self-deprecation as he clenched his fist beneath his sleeve.
"Let's move on, Sanpao, lead the way!"
"Roo-roo!" Sanpao waddled forward, sniffing around as it walked, while Yu Xiaogang and Tang San followed closely behind.
"Teacher, why is your martial spirit called Sanpao?" Tang San asked as they walked.
Yu Xiaogang calmly explained, "It likes making a 'roo' sound all the time, and it can only launch three attacks."
---
"What a useless martial spirit," Xiao Wu muttered, rolling her eyes.
She stretched out her arms to balance herself, preventing herself from slipping out of the warm nook she was resting in.
"It is pretty pathetic," Ling Yuan Douluo agreed, holding onto Xiao Wu and nodding.
"Pathetic? It's about to get disgusting," Qian Renjue said with a cold smile as he continued to follow them from behind.
Ling Yuan looked at Qian Renjue's back.
Something about his demeanor was different, and she felt a sudden sense of unease.
"What's wrong with His Highness?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.
"Just follow along," Dugu Bo interjected quietly, stepping past Ling Yuan and hurrying after Qian Renjue.
"Am I missing something?" Ling Yuan frowned slightly, holding Xiao Wu tighter as she sped up to keep pace.
---
Inside the Sea God's Heart, they continued to trail Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, listening to Yu Xiaogang explain the traits and habits of various Hundred-year-old spirit beasts.
Tang San was holding a beautifully crafted short sword, its blade emitting a faint chill.
He suddenly thought of an important question.
"Teacher, how do you determine the strength or age of a spirit beast?"
"Identifying a spirit beast's strength isn't hard," Yu Xiaogang said calmly, pointing ahead. "See that lone bamboo over there? It's a plant-type spirit beast. Its attack isn't strong, but its defense is decent—it's very resilient, and it could be useful for you."
"A ten-year-old lone bamboo won't grow taller than ten meters. Only when it surpasses that does it reach the hundred-year mark."
"Therefore, the age of a spirit beast is usually determined by its size and the color of its spirit power. The color corresponds to its strength, which aligns with the color of its spirit rings."
Tang San nodded, understanding, and asked, "Teacher, should we hunt that lone bamboo?"
The bamboo stood out, not because it looked impressive but because it was the only one amidst the trees.
The lone bamboo swayed gently, its leaves rustling softly in the wind.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "Not for now. If we can't find anything better, we'll settle for it."
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's explanation of the upper limits for absorbing spirit rings, Tang San couldn't help but feel fortunate to have met him.
Truly, Yu Xiaogang was deserving of the title of Grandmaster, with his precise knowledge of martial spirits.
---
"Hmph! What ignorance. The highest limit is not 423 years," Xiao Wu sneered, rolling her eyes again.
She then glanced at Qian Renjue with a flattering smile. "The highest is His Highness's thousand-year spirit ring."
Ling Yuan Douluo couldn't help but chuckle at Xiao Wu's fawning effort. No wonder Nana called her "the boot-licking rabbit."
However, she couldn't deny that martial spirit cultivation, filled with uncertainties, was being reduced to something overly rigid by that zombie-faced man.
But Qian Renjue wasn't paying attention to Xiao Wu's flattery.
His eyes remained fixed on the lone bamboo, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Tang San and his teacher were moving too slowly, and Qian Renjue was losing patience.
Turning to Dugu Bo, he ordered, "Senior Dugu, go catch a hundred-year-old Mandala/Datura Snake and deliver it to them."
"Your Highness?" Dugu Bo asked, puzzled.
Qian Renjue simply continued, "Make sure it's alive, and lively at that."
"Understood!" Dugu Bo nodded and quickly moved to carry out the order.
As Yu Xiaogang and Tang San walked further ahead, Qian Renjue withdrew the Sea God's Heart, allowing Dugu Bo to slip away undetected.
Ling Yuan Douluo stayed silent throughout, watching quietly.
Qian Renjue then summoned, "Ah Yin, come out."
"Yes~" A soft, feminine voice answered, and a warm, fragrant presence pressed against Qian Renjue's side.
Ah Yin, her figure graceful, clung to Qian Renjue, blushing as she pulled back just enough to give him some space.
"Activate your Blue Silver Domain and hide our presence," Qian Renjue instructed calmly.
"Yes, Master," Ah Yin nodded, and with a thought, her Blue Silver Domain spread out, covering the area in a soft blue light.
The Blue Silver Grass around them swayed gently, making their presence blend into the surroundings as if they were part of the grass itself.
"Let's go. Keep following them," Qian Renjue said as he took Ah Yin's hand, silently moving forward to catch up with Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.
He wanted to see if Yu Xiaogang would really have Tang San absorb the spirit ring from a mere ten-year-old lone bamboo.
Ah Yin followed joyfully, holding onto his warm hand.
"Your Highness," Ling Yuan called softly as she caught up, lightly holding onto Qian Renjue's sleeve to stay within the domain's protection.
---
They continued forward.
It seemed as if Yu Xiaogang was taking Tang San through a practical lesson, with Luo Sanpao's keen nose detecting low-level spirit beasts hiding here and there.
Most were only at the ten-year level and didn't pose much of a threat.
As Yu Xiaogang explained their names, traits, and how to identify their age, they pressed on.
"Roo-roo!" Luo Sanpao's call suddenly rang out, more urgent than before.
Yu Xiaogang immediately sensed danger. He quickly grabbed Tang San's shoulder, directing his gaze toward a certain direction.
"Xiao San, put on your mask and hand me two radishes."
"Yes, teacher." Tang San hurriedly donned the prepared mask and handed two white radishes to Yu Xiaogang.
Suddenly, the surrounding area fell silent.
The faint sound of rustling could be heard, and the air began to fill with a slight stench, carrying hints of sweetness and tea-like fragrance.
Tang San wrinkled his nose, frowning. He instinctively blurted out, "There's poison!"