The Nether Wolves attacked, but a single, coordinated strike from Luo Sanpao sent the pack scattering.
Even the hundred-year-old leader staggered, overcome by the thunderous impact and the overwhelming stench emitted from Luo Sanpao.
Tang San, wide-eyed, barely managed to shield himself.
Yuan Longxuan wiped a trace of sweat from his forehead. "Well, that handled the first threat. Let's move on."
Tang Chuan's eyes glinted as he spotted the Mandragora Snake lurking near the lake, its scarlet eyes gleaming in the dimming light.
"Hiss~~" The serpent hissed, sensing their presence. Its tongue flicked out, tasting the air for prey.
Tang Chuan calmly prepared, pouring realgar powder into the wind, coating the snake's eyes and body.
The Mandragora Snake shrieked in rage, thrashing violently but unable to retaliate effectively.
"Brother Chuan, what are you doing?!" Tang San shouted, horrified.
"This… this is perfect for my first spirit ring!" Tang Chuan replied calmly, manipulating the Blue Silver Grass to ambush the Mandragora Snake.
Yuan Longxuan, ever vigilant, guided Luo Sanpao. "Xiaochuan, step aside! Let me ensure it's safe!"
The thunderous attack from Luo Sanpao, accompanied by the pungent yellow mist, struck the Mandragora Snake with incredible force.
The serpent's massive body teetered, nearly collapsing. Tang Chuan's plan was working flawlessly.
Tang San, however, was feeling uneasy. He realized something strange.
Tang Chuan had been unusually excited earlier, almost fanatical.
Had he deliberately set him up to absorb the bamboo first, then weaken the forest's powerful creatures so Tang Chuan could seize the Mandragora Snake?
The snake, battered and disoriented, was nearly unconscious.
Tang Chuan prepared to strike the final blow...but then, Tang San's eyes narrowed with jealousy and determination.
"No! I won't let him have it all!" Tang San thought.
In a blur, dozens of sharp steel needles materialized in Tang San's hands.
With precision, he launched them at the Mandragora Snake, targeting its eyes, throat, and head.
Several needles penetrated the serpent's skull, crushing its brain instantly.
The Mandragora Snake let out a final, agonized hiss before collapsing. Earth-yellow spirit rings burst from its body, spinning in the air.
Tang Chuan froze, stunned. "Tang San! Look at what you've done!"
Tang San's face reflected a mixture of triumph and guilt. He had claimed the spirit ring, yes....but had he gone too far?
Yuan Longxuan quietly observed, a faint smile on his face. The rivalry between the two brothers was intensifying.
Tang San's jealousy, combined with his ambition, had just complicated Tang Chuan's perfectly laid plans.....but it also proved the strength and potential of his young predecessor.
Tang Chuan's eyes glittered with renewed cunning.
He would adapt, of course. He would find a way to absorb the next ring, and Tang San's zeal, though inconvenient, would ultimately serve his purposes.
The forest, now eerily quiet after the battle, seemed to hold its breath.
The Sun dipped lower, filtering golden light through the canopy, as the two brothers faced each other over the fallen Mandragora Snake, their rivalry only just beginning.
"Brother! I saw it move! I thought it was about to attack you, so I…" Tang San's voice trailed off as he looked down, feeling guilty.
Tang Chuan's eyes burned with fury. His first spirit ring....so close to being his....had been snatched away just like that!
Tang San had acted impulsively, using the Blue Silver Grass to drag the nearly unconscious Mandragora Snake toward him.
He had attacked at the perfect moment, killing the snake and claiming the earth-yellow spirit rings for himself.
Tang Chuan, although clever, had been outsmarted.
Yuan Longxuan, who had been quietly observing from the shadows, smirked.
He had seen the entire sequence unfold. Tang San's action was risky but brilliant....timing, precision, and instinct had all combined in his favor.
Yuan Longxuan could only shake his head and think, These two are truly chaotic geniuses.
Their past and present lives are locked in endless competition, and neither can fully anticipate the other's moves.
Meanwhile, Tang San's spirit sea subtly absorbed the gray energy flowing from the Bewitching Spell, though he remained completely unaware.
The spell forced Tang Chuan to obey Tang San and Yuan Longxuan's instructions regarding the selection of his first spirit ring.
In essence, it ensured Tang Chuan would follow the rules set by his future self....or else risk failure.
Yuan Longxuan, relaxed and leaning against a tree, muttered,
"Alright, I'll stop watching these two clowns and take a nap. Let them figure out the rest themselves."
The morning sun began to pierce the misty forest, scattering dew across the leaves and illuminating the golden shafts of light.
Birds chirped, streams sparkled, and a gentle breeze brought the freshness of a new day.
Nature, as always, seemed to reward courage and cleverness alike.
By mid-morning, Yuan Longxuan had arrived at the classroom with Xiao Wu in tow. Students filled the seats, their energy high, though a few still carried dark circles under their eyes from restless nights.
At the front row sat Wu Ling, now nicknamed the "Beautiful Young Girl " after being appointed class monitor the previous day.
Tang San and Tang Chuan had been moved to the back row as a result, both still recovering from the excitement and chaos of their spirit ring hunt.
Alright, before class officially starts, ask me anything you want. I'll answer everything I know,"
Yuan Longxuan said, casually pulling a soft leather sofa from the system storage and seating Xiao Wu comfortably in his arms.
Tang Chuan, already frustrated from absorbing a barely century-old Evergreen Tree spirit ring, glared at the sight.
Xiao Wu, seated in Yuan Longxuan's arms so confidently, only fueled his rage.
But he knew there was no way to win against the young man in front of him.
Wu Ling raised her hand, eager to speak. "Teacher, yesterday Xiao Wu explained the difference between a thousand-year soul beast and a hundred-year soul beast, but I'd like to know....what about ten-thousand-year soul beasts compared to thousand-year ones?"
Yuan Longxuan slowly released Xiao Wu from his embrace and stood. His expression was calm, authoritative, and patient.
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