Chapter 10: The Plan to Restrain Tang San

A few days later, Cheng Xiao, Tang San, and Xiao Wu set off together, heading to the Star Dou Forest under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Hall.

"That one is Ghost Vine, about three hundred years old. It's my second soul ring. Among plant-type soul beasts, it's considered quite fierce..."

"This is Bitter Bamboo, the greenest plant-type soul beast, capable of promoting the growth of Blue Silver Grass..."

"This is Crow-Tengu Gourd..."

Thanks to the guidance of the Grandmaster, Tang San had a profound understanding of soul beasts. Along the way, he effortlessly shared his knowledge of various soul beasts.

Cheng Xiao realized he probably couldn't reach this level. Although he recognized these soul beasts, he wasn't very familiar with their various characteristics. In this regard, Yu Xiaogang was indeed not useless; at least, his knowledge was well-organized.

"This is a Soul-Binding Vine. Be careful and don't get too close. It's a parasitic soul beast, usually parasitizing on trees. If any living creature approaches, it will trigger the Soul-Binding Vine's reaction, tightly entwining the intruder, eventually suffocating them to death, becoming nourishment for the tree it parasitizes."

"This Soul-Binding Vine is probably close to five hundred years old. Don't worry too much; it won't attack actively. It only reacts when its vines are touched. It's considered a very low-intelligence soul beast."

Cheng Xiao squinted his eyes and murmured, "Five hundred years..."

"Leave it to me!"

Cheng Xiao couldn't awaken his shadow as a soldier temporarily; he could only use basic shadow power, similar to the strength of an ordinary soul master.

In this case, it was more suitable to follow the control system route or the agile attacker route in the early stages.

To deal with Tang San, who could turn hostile at any moment, Cheng Xiao believed he needed a method specifically tailored to him.

In his previous life, Cheng Xiao was just an ordinary person, and his fancy techniques naturally couldn't compare to Tang San, who came from the Tang Sect.

The most challenging techniques for Tang San were roughly the Hidden Weapon Techniques, Clear Sky Hammer (Haotian), Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Crane Controlling Dragon Capture.

He temporarily couldn't deal with the Hidden Weapon Techniques, and he could ignore that. Tang Hao had instructed Tang San not to use the Haotian Hammer easily, and unless Tang San was pushed to extremes, he could temporarily ignore it. Tai Chi was profound, flexible against strength, enough to deal with capturing techniques like Crane Controlling Dragon Capture.

That left only the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Cheng Xiao needed to find a soul skill that could restrict Tang San's agility!

And the Soul-Binding Vine could likely provide a control skill.

Cheng Xiao decided to take a gamble.

Tang San, upon hearing this, was suddenly shocked. "Xiao Cheng, are you out of your mind? This Soul-Binding Vine is over five hundred years old! The absorption limit for the first soul ring must not exceed four hundred and twenty-three years!"

Cheng Xiao smiled and said, "I'm not out of my mind. Haven't you forgotten your teacher's research? The strength of a soul master's body determines the upper limit of the soul ring's absorption years. People's physical strength enhancement is a challenging thing, so there is a universally recognized limit on the absorption years of soul rings."

Cheng Xiao knew this theory from Yu Xiaogang wasn't entirely accurate or complete.

He was well aware that the absorption years of soul rings were related to the quality of the martial soul, the strength of the body, and the strength of the soul. But he didn't need to help Yu Xiaogang perfect the theory. He naturally wouldn't bring it up.

"Can I reason that if my body is stronger than an average person's, I can withstand a higher limit of the soul ring's absorption years? With my current physique far surpassing my peers, according to the theory, I want to try the limit of the absorbable years."

As a transmigrator, Cheng Xiao was confident that his spiritual power was stronger than an ordinary person's. Although the power he could mobilize was relatively small due to the conflict of martial souls, the essence was still a divine-level martial soul.

Plus, the intense training over the years and the Tai Chi practice compensated for his innate deficiencies, and his physique closely followed.

The three conditions for absorbing above one's level were met. How could he be willing to give up without trying?

This Soul-Binding Vine was over five hundred years old, only exceeding the limit by a few decades. If he absorbed it, the danger was relatively small. It was an excellent opportunity to test his limits.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu became anxious, grabbing Cheng Xiao's clothes. "No, I disagree. Xiao Cheng, this matter is very dangerous. Even if this theory is true, how can you determine that your limit is five hundred years?"

Seeing Xiao Wu so worried for Cheng Xiao, for some reason, Tang San felt a slight discomfort in his heart. However, after two and a half years of getting along, Tang San also understood Xiao Wu's temper. He pursed his lips and didn't say much.

Cheng Xiao held Xiao Wu's hand, took it off his clothes, and then gently persuaded, "It's okay; I'm not like you guys who can follow the usual path. I want to strive for myself."

Xiao Wu's soft little hand in Cheng Xiao's palm was boneless and delicate as silk.

Seeing Cheng Xiao's movements, Tang San's pupils suddenly contracted, a cold light flashing in his eyes. An unnamed jealousy ignited in his heart, and his hand unconsciously touched his sleeve.

But thinking of Xiao Wu beside him, he eventually moved his hand away from the sleeve, lowered his head, gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to look at this scene.

Tang San was well aware of Xiao Wu's affection for Cheng Xiao. If he was Xiao Wu's recognized and proven brother, Cheng Xiao was another "brother" without recognition but with substance. 

Although he held a high position in Xiao Wu's heart, Cheng Xiao's significance was not negligible. Every time Cheng Xiao trained, Xiao Wu would wait by his side no matter how bored she was.

In Xiao Wu's eyes, both of them treated her very well. Giving up either of them was not something she was willing to do. If the two "brothers" quarreled over something trivial, it would inevitably anger Xiao Wu.

"Hmph, I don't care; you just can't choose this one. Otherwise, I won't help you." Xiao Wu didn't notice Tang San's strangeness at all, pouting and humming.

"Don't worry; it's fine." Unable to convince Xiao Wu, Cheng Xiao shifted his attention to Tang San. "Besides, San is probably very confident, right? This is your teacher's theory, after all."

"Huh? Uh, well, um..."

Both of them turned to look at Tang San simultaneously, making Tang San suddenly feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. Their gazes were like sharp blades, tearing open the darkness in his heart and exposing it to everyone. Tang San felt a bit uneasy, lowered his head, and forced himself not to look at this scene.

"See, San agrees too. If you don't trust me, can you not trust San?" Cheng Xiao said as both he and Xiao Wu looked at Tang San. This made Xiao Wu pout her lips, reluctantly agreeing.

"Then let's make it clear beforehand. Once you sense something is wrong, you must give up. Don't be stubborn!" Cheng Xiao nodded in agreement.

After the agreement, Tang San and Xiao Wu joined forces to weaken the Soul-Binding Vine. The Soul-Binding Vine's intelligence was not high, and its attack method was relatively simple, so its danger was much lower than other soul beasts.

In a short time, Tang San and Xiao Wu cut off all the vines of the Soul-Binding Vine, rendering it powerless, and Cheng Xiao gave it the final blow.

A yellow soul ring condensed from the Soul-Binding Vine, and Cheng Xiao did not hesitate, sitting cross-legged and beginning to absorb it.

Watching Cheng Xiao's actions, Tang San's eyes flickered. For some reason, a hint of evil thoughts arose in his heart, secretly hoping that Cheng Xiao would fail and explode.

He shook his head, giving a self-deprecating smile. "If he succeeds, it can also verify the teacher's theory. It's beneficial for both the teacher and my future cultivation. If I really want him dead, I should do it myself."

"What are you doing?" Xiao Wu, seeing Tang San's movements, was a bit puzzled.

"Cough, nothing, just a bit drowsy. Shake my head to clear up," Tang San said, self-mockingly smiling.