To enter the Spirit Hunting Forest, preparations had to be made.
Zhao Liuyun first informed his Martial Uncle, then sought out the recently returned mercenary group leader to extend his leave, and finally packed his own dry rations.
Only after completing these three tasks did he follow behind Tang San, entering the Spirit Hunting Forest with the three others.
It must be said that Yu Xiaogang's permanent pass for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was truly convenient.
With the pass, one could enter the Spirit Hunting Forest at will. As long as they didn't bring out too many medicinal materials at once, they wouldn't be charged.
Even if you did take a bit too much, once it was stowed in a Soul Tool, the people from the Spirit Hall wouldn't dare to search.
Yu Xiaogang didn't recognize it, and the Dean looked down on it.
Tang San, however, would collect some poisonous items.
"We'll split whatever we find in half. Since we're friends, I, Zhao Liuyun, won't stand on ceremony! Helping you hunt for a spirit ring will be my compensation."
After greeting the guards at the entrance, the four entered the Spirit Hunting Forest under their respectful gaze.
The weather was considerably colder than when they left the academy.
However, the Spirit Hunting Forest's location meant the temperature difference throughout the year wasn't too significant, and the vegetation was primarily evergreen broad-leaved forest.
Looking around, it was lush green, with branches and leaves intertwined.
The drawback was the thick layer of dead leaves on the ground, a favorite hiding spot for venomous insects, snakes, and scorpions.
With the slightest inattention, venomous snakes could dart out, scorpions could leap up, or centipedes could crawl out from these spots.
To avoid this, the Dean, as the strongest among the four—a Power Attack System Tool Spirit Elder with the optimal spirit ring configuration of two Yellow and two Purple—naturally walked at the forefront to clear the path.
His Spirit was the Flame Spear, a fiery elemental long spear, over two meters long with flowing flames, quite suitable for disturbing the grass and startling the snakes.
"What kind of Spirit Ring are you planning to acquire this time?" Zhao Liuyun asked Tang San.
He was preparing to set someone up, but couldn't make it too obvious.
The principle was to never hold back when fanning the flames, but never force the situation if things turned unfavorable.
Tang San was hunting for a spirit ring, and Tang Hao, concerned about his good son's safety, would inevitably follow closely behind.
It would be foolish to trap himself.
He needed to ask about everything and let Grandmaster make the final decision.
That way, no matter the outcome, all of Tang San's resentment would naturally be transferred to his beloved teacher, who was like a father.
Yu Xiaogang's sturdy shoulders would surely be able to bear the wrath of the 'Rat' (a nickname for Tang Hao).
"I require sturdiness, and a powerful toxin..." Tang San described his requirements in detail.
Zhao Liuyun shook his head and interrupted, "I mean the specific Spirit Beast."
Tang San looked towards Yu Xiaogang.
A hint of arrogance appeared on Grandmaster's face.
He had originally wanted to hear what insights Zhao Liuyun, who had read the entire academy library, might have, but unexpectedly, he was just another shallow scholar.
He could only excel among the students!
He clenched his left hand placed on his chest, adopting a look of being in complete control:
"The Spirit Beast I have chosen for Xiao San must be able to enhance the control power of the Blue Silver Grass, strengthen the poison attribute, and simultaneously increase the inherent toughness of the Spirit itself."
"Snake species, such as the Man-devouring Serpent, the Heaven Nether Spirit Serpent, the Azure Sea Demon Serpent, and so on."
Aside from the Man-devouring Serpent, the other two were completely unheard of by Zhao Liuyun. This was probably the knowledge accumulated by major power legacies, separate from the Spirits themselves.
A trace of envy rose in Zhao Liuyun's heart, and he resolved that in the future, he must travel and observe all schools of thought, gathering all the knowledge of the Douluo Continent.
"Centipede species, such as the Hundred-Legged Giant Centipede, the Corrupt Poison Dragon Centipede, and so on."
He had a slight impression of these.
Zhao Liuyun remembered a mercenary group teammate named Wu Qianming, a tank with the Adamantine Bear Spirit, who was nearly killed by a corrosive spray to the face.
"Spider species, such as the Underground Demon Spider, the Human-Faced Demon Spider, and so on."
"Plant species, such as the Ghost Vine, the Bone-Melting Azure Silk, and so on."
Zhao Liuyun looked troubled and hesitated, saying, "Most of these Spirit Beasts are extremely vicious and are likely very rare in the Spirit Hunting Forest."
Yu Xiaogang smiled confidently: "No matter. I have purchased information and heard there is a Ghost Vine currently in the Spirit Hunting Forest?"
The Ghost Vine was Tang San's original second Spirit Ring, which Grandmaster had long selected for his disciple.
It possessed a potent neurotoxin. Its Spirit Ability, Parasitism, allowed it to release seeds which, when activated, could quickly take control, catching opponents off guard.
For Blue Silver Grass developing a poison attribute, this was indeed a very good choice, and there really was one in this Spirit Hunting Forest.
It was over six hundred years old, just right for Tang San to absorb.
However...
Zhao Liuyun shook his head: "You came too late. We saw that Ghost Vine being felled when we were on a mission a month ago."
He chuckled inwardly: "I was the one who killed it. Isn't that infuriating?"
During a mercenary mission, Zhao Liuyun secretly played a trick, using his Spirit Ability, Dream Creation, to pave the way and carefully formulated a poison to kill this plant-type Spirit Beast.
Traces?
There were no traces!
The stump had already been dug out and sold by others!
He had also collected the Ghost Vine's sap and prepared the corresponding neurotoxin.
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang's face immediately darkened.
The Spirit Beast information, which he had painfully purchased with a huge sum, was actually outdated!
"However, I know the approximate location of a Corrupt Poison Centipede, between five hundred and seven hundred years old."
This was overheard from casual jokes made by his mercenary group teammates.
Zhao Liuyun considered the matter carefully and decided on this Spirit Ring for Tang San.
Ostensibly, this was the best choice that fit Yu Xiaogang's requirements, could still set Tang San back, and wouldn't provoke Tang Hao into smashing him with his Hammer.
It could imbue the Spirit with the sturdiness attribute. The poison wasn't strong; its effect was slow but extremely stubborn and difficult to dispel.
When selecting Spirit Abilities, people often said to look at the future and view it with a long-term perspective.
In the way of poisons, stubbornness is an excellent characteristic.
But Zhao Liuyun was confident: "Your future is not as vast as mine!"
Considering the immediate present, wanting to use it in actual combat?
By the time your poison takes effect, a battle would have long been over!
Could battles between minor Spirit Masters really consume a lot of time and drag on?
Moreover, after the competition, could you refuse to give the opponent an antidote?
Thus, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass might seem sturdy, but constrained by its inherent quality and lacking the tempering of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot Immortality Herbs, it would still be fragile.
The only thing that could have made him competitive—his poison—would also be rendered useless.
It seemed to have a great future, but in reality, it was worthless!
"It doesn't have the word 'Dragon'..." Yu Xiaogang was a bit conflicted.
The Corrupt Poison Dragon Centipede would have been optimal. Without the 'Dragon,' the sturdiness attribute dropped a notch, and this one was only a backup.
After the incident with the Ghost Vine being taken by others, a sense of impatience inevitably arose in his heart.
And this impatience was amplified by the [Hypnosis]!
"The Corrupt Poison Dragon Centipede is rare; at least, such a vicious Spirit Beast shouldn't exist in the Spirit Hunting Forest. Most of the creatures you mentioned, Master, are not here."
Zhao Liuyun shook his head.
This was not a lie. Overly vicious Spirit Beasts would be cleared out by the Spirit Hall to prevent excessive predation and disruption of the normal forest ecosystem.
The Ghost Vine was terrifying but was a non-mobile plant-type Spirit Beast, which was why it was left behind, allowing them to profit by selling information about it.
Unfortunately, it met the wrong person~
"Let me consider it carefully..."
With the [Hypnosis] applied, the impatience combined with his favorable outlook on the 'stubborn' future, Yu Xiaogang's mind, which had been wavering, gradually solidified.
He stopped the Dean and furrowed his brow in contemplation.
"Xiao San, what do you think?" Grandmaster pretended to consult his disciple's opinion.
"The Corrupt Poison Centipede can provide the sturdiness attribute the Blue Silver Grass needs and possesses a corrosive toxin. Although not potent, it is very stubborn and difficult to remove."
"The characteristic of stubbornness will be very beneficial for the future development of the Blue Silver Grass's poison attribute."
"Although a centipede's flexibility and Agility are not as good as a snake's, it also possesses considerable control abilities."
Relying on previous generations' information, his understanding of Spirit Beast characteristics was strong, and he could foresee the future power of the stubborn characteristic.
Similarly, the words "the future" also stirred a slight ripple in Tang San's heart.
The future, ah~
What a beautiful promised land.
"I will leave everything to Teacher's decision." He trusted and respected Yu Xiaogang immensely, choosing to follow his teacher's guidance without hesitation.
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