Soul Land: I Am the True Grandmaster

Chapter 193: The Interception Squad, Part One

Though Blue Silver Grass is notorious across the Douluo Continent as a trash martial soul, it does have one notable advantage: it's far easier to find suitable cultivation environments for it than for other martial souls mainly because it's practically free. Just by training in areas covered with Blue Silver Grass, soul masters can speed up their cultivation. However, since most Blue Silver Grass users have low innate soul power, this benefit has always gone unrecognized by the soul master community.

Although Tang San himself somewhat looked down on the Blue Silver Grass martial soul in the original story, he unknowingly gained a cultivation boost from it, reaching Rank 29 by the age of twelve and nearly breaking through to Rank 30. But in the present, Tang San's martial soul, although appearing as a simple vine, is actually the Thunder Hell Prison Vine and has not yet fully awakened. While he could train among similar vines to accelerate his cultivation, the match isn't perfect, and thus the effect is limited. As a result, Tang San is only barely at Rank 29, with more time needed to reach Rank 30.

With both Oscar and Ma Hongjun sidelined, Oscar's soul ring acquisition plotline is also out of the picture. But that doesn't mean Tang San's Eight Spider Lances are gone. They're still waiting in the Star Dou Forest, attached to some unsuspecting Man Faced Demon Spider.

Meanwhile, deep within the Star Dou Forest, a group of young soul hunters, fifteen in total and averaging less than twenty years old, is navigating through the dense woods. Leading them are a trio of siblings: Ye Wen's children.

Ye Tianchen, the only son, was clearly bored. He still couldn't believe his father had assigned him such a mundane task. "Big sis, do we really need to be here for a hunt like this?"

The eldest, Ye Tianxin, had grown into a stunning young woman. Her long, deep blue hair transitioned to a vibrant crimson at the ends, and she wore it high in a ponytail, giving her a strong yet graceful look. From a young age, she had admired her father as a legend, a belief reinforced by her mother and teachers. Perhaps due to her Fire Dragon King lineage, her temper had become fiercer over the years.

"What? You have a problem with Father's decision?" She fixed her gaze on her brother, whose height nearly matched hers despite their close age difference.

Under his sister's intense stare, Ye Tianchen suddenly cowered, as if some force within her cowed him. Shrinking back slightly, he muttered, "Of course not. I just think it's kind of boring."

"Father has his reasons," Ye Tianxin said analytically. "We've spent years training and perfecting various self created soul techniques, but we lack real battle experience."

The youngest of the three, Ye Tianshui, nodded in enthusiastic agreement. "Exactly, brother! Dad definitely wants us to gain experience and maybe have some fun. I was getting tired of being cooped up in Tianxing territory."

Ye Tianxin and Ye Tianchen exchanged a fond glance with their little sister, and then Ye Tianxin reached out to ruffle Ye Tianshui's soft hair.

"Tianshui, you shouldn't be focused on fun alone. We have to make sure not to disgrace our father," she reminded her.

"Of course, big sister. Who do you take me for? My Ice Dragon martial soul is stronger than you think!" Ye Tianshui puffed up in mock offense, flexing her arms, looking more adorable than intimidating.

The mood lifted, and the group continued forward, spirits high.

A rustling sound from ahead cut through the air, and Ye Tianshui instantly raised her hand, signaling the team to prepare for possible danger. These were top talents from Tianxing Academy, future disciples personally chosen by Ye Wen himself. One of the scouts, a swift attack soul master, dashed up a tree to peer ahead.

"Miss Ye," he reported quietly, "it's a Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent. It looks to be over a thousand years old. Shall we engage?"

The students knew well who the three siblings were. Since joining the academy, the three had made no effort to conceal their identity as the director's children, and everyone acknowledged them as the leaders.

Ye Tianxin scanned her teammates, her gaze settling on a young food type auxiliary soul master.

No, it wasn't Oscar.

Having studied a wealth of books provided by their father, the three siblings knew precisely what skills a Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent could offer. Since the young soul master in question was food type, obtaining such a skill would mean that later, she could offer movement assistance to others.

"Restrain it," Ye Tianxin said calmly.

The serpent was not enough of a challenge for the three of them, so the rest of the team leaped into action, each performing their role. The control type soul masters pinned the serpent down while the attack types moved in to knock it unconscious.

Within seconds, the Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent lay on the ground, twitching as it fainted.

Ye Tianxin confirmed the serpent's length and appearance with a few glances. "It's about six to eight meters long, around thirteen to eighteen hundred years old. Liu Yuanyuan, this would be perfect for you absorbing it should give you a flying ability to help people move quickly."

The young girl, Liu Yuanyuan, trusted Ye Tianxin's judgment. She knew that with her martial soul's natural limitations, this soul ring would allow her to assist low level soul masters in the future. With this ability to support quick escape and movement, she could improve her survivability and versatility.

Though she was just a young girl, Liu Yuanyuan skillfully pulled a sharp dagger from her storage ring and prepared to finish off the serpent with a quick stab.

"Stop!" A voice cracked from the forest, as an attack shot toward Liu Yuanyuan.

Ye Tianxin furrowed her brows, instantly summoning her Blue Gold Overlord Spear, deflecting the attack.

"Who's there?"

The assailant hadn't expected Ye Tianxin to react so quickly. The attack had not been intended to kill, but it also wasn't something children could usually block. Emerging from the undergrowth came an old woman in long robes, wielding a snake headed staff.

"Little girl, that Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent is our prey. You can't kill it," the old woman declared.

Ye Tianxin examined the woman and her weapon, recognizing her with a light chuckle. "Could it be...the Snake Lady of the Unrivaled Dragon Serpent duo?"

Snake Lady's face grew wary; she had been lying low for years, and few people should have any information on her. Was this girl from some old enemy's family?

"Who are you?" she demanded.

"There's no need for you to know," Ye Tianxin replied coolly. "This Phoenix Tailed Crest Serpent is prey that we hunted ourselves. I don't see why we'd simply hand it over to you."

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