Yu Xiaogang never forgot to show off his extensive knowledge to Xiao Yan. As they continued walking forward, he said to Xiao Yan:
"That spotted cat just now belongs to the feline soul beast family. It's naturally very aggressive, but as long as you don't attack it first, it won't easily launch an attack.
If a soul master is of the feline type, using one as their first soul ring is a pretty good choice. Don't be fooled by how small that spotted cat was—if it were a thousand-year-old spotted cat, not even if we were ten times stronger in numbers could we handle it."
Xiao Yan glanced up at the little cat in the tree and thought: Isn't that a bit exaggerated? That little cat looks like something you could kill with one hand. Even ignoring myself, ten big-wet guys, ten level 29 soul masters, couldn't handle one thousand-year soul beast?
Instead of focusing on the soul beast's strength, Xiao Yan looked at the soul rings glowing continuously on Big Wet's body.
Half of his power relied on hidden weapons, and he really hated things that revealed his position.
Had the Douluo soul masters never realized that these glowing soul rings were a huge disadvantage?
Xiao Yan couldn't help but admire how straightforward and open the Douluo soul masters were.
After walking for a while, Yu Xiaogang spotted a bamboo stalk and quickly stepped forward:"Xiao Yan, look at this solitary bamboo. This is also a soul beast, a plant-type soul beast, and it's useful for you.
Solitary bamboo is tough. Its attack isn't strong, but its defense is decent. This one is ten years old because its height doesn't exceed ten meters. Over ten meters, it counts as a hundred-year-old."
"Big Wet, should we hunt down this solitary bamboo?"Xiao Yan's internal energy was building up, ready to act at any moment.
From the start, he had assumed Big Wet came to this soul-hunting forest to practice body-snatching techniques, so when he saw him brag about the solitary bamboo, he naturally thought the attack was about to begin.
The solitary bamboo looked unimpressive, just standing out because it wasn't in a bamboo forest but surrounded by tall trees.
Its body gently swayed, the bamboo strips rustling with the wind.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head:"Not yet. If there's no better option, it'll be our last resort. Choosing soul rings requires caution—each soul ring is irreplaceable. When a soul soldier upgrades to a soul master, they can absorb the soul ring of a hundred-year soul beast.
More precisely, they can absorb soul rings from soul beasts younger than four hundred and twenty-three years. I studied many soul masters' growth and failure experiences carefully. Four hundred and twenty-three years should be the upper limit for the first soul ring. So, I want your first soul ring to approach this limit as closely as possible."
Xiao Yan thought: If this Big Wet really wants to take disciples, whoever becomes his student is pretty unlucky.
His teacher's research contradicts itself and is mostly theoretical, which would be bad enough—but on top of that, there's always the risk of sudden death.
According to Big Wet, absorbing soul rings depends entirely on your physical constitution.
Following his theory, if you can't handle it, you might just explode from the inside.
Dying at the hands of the teacher you believe in—what a tragic disciple fate.
"Even for soul rings from a hundred-year soul beast, those from a hundred-year beast and those from a nine hundred-year beast look the same color, but their attribute boosts differ greatly. Pursuing the soul ring's limit safely is a must-learn course for every excellent soul master."
As they kept moving forward, Xiao Yan kept hearing more of Big Wet's ridiculous theories.
If he weren't mentally mature and firm, a six-year-old child might have been conned into paralysis.
After searching for a while, many soul beasts that fit the criteria appeared, but Yu Xiaogang didn't rush to attack and patiently kept looking.
They chose to camp in a low-lying area surrounded by complex terrain and tall trees.
Yu Xiaogang took out a large glass bottle from a bracelet-shaped soul device on his wrist and handed it to Xiao Yan:"Scatter this evenly around."
Having suspected Big Wet had another soul device, Xiao Yan was now sure. He took the bottle and walked around to scatter it.
The bottle contained some powdery medicine with a sharp smell.
Having absorbed the memories of the Tang Sect traitor Tang San, Xiao Yan was highly skilled in medicine and poisons.
After years of research, he found himself gifted in pharmacology, improving on the original Tang Sect discoveries to a new height.
Just by looking, he knew the powder repelled snakes and insects.
More than that, Xiao Yan noticed the maker's technique was average.
If one added a bit of Qinghe Grass and Blue Glow Flower powder, the effect would be at least three times stronger.
After scattering the powder, Xiao Yan handed the bottle back.
"Do you know why I asked you to scatter it around the perimeter?"Yu Xiaogang's face was serious, like a teacher testing a student.
Xiao Yan sat down and replied:"Two reasons, I guess. One, to repel snakes, insects, and rats. Two, to mask our scent, ensuring we can rest safely at night."
Yu Xiaogang nodded in satisfaction:"Exactly. This is snake-repelling powder, my secret recipe. Remember, in the forest, especially one with soul beasts, try not to use fire.
Although most wild animals and soul beasts fear firelight, some very powerful ones actually like it. If you encounter them, unless your cultivation is strong enough, you're as good as dead."
The sky darkened gradually, but the forest was far from quiet. The sounds of insects, birds, and even wild beasts' roars echoed endlessly.
Without a fire, it was pitch black around them. Xiao Yan and Yu Xiaogang ate a simple dinner and rested against a big tree.
Big Wet was definitely a top-level salesman. Even though it was rest time, he went over all the things he had told Xiao Yan during the day, questioning him thoroughly to deepen the impression.
Since crossing over, Xiao Yan had noticed his memory had improved greatly—he never forgot anything. Though he disagreed with Big Wet's full of holes theories, he still remembered everything.
After the questioning, Yu Xiaogang was impressed by Xiao Yan's memory and became even more determined to make him his disciple.
But thinking of his own past, Yu Xiaogang's voice lowered and hoarse, carrying some sadness:"Xiao Yan, do you know why I say it's most important for soul masters to cultivate while they are young?"
A poem popped into Xiao Yan's mind, and he blurted out:"If the young don't work hard, the old will only have regrets."
Yu Xiaogang felt a bit upset hearing that. He had a lot to say, but at that moment, no words came out.
Finally, silence settled, and Xiao Yan closed his eyes to rest.
Keeping his sanity while listening to Big Wet's full of holes theories was not an easy thing.
(End of chapter)