Chapter 242: The Changes in Tang San
Xiao Wu looked at Yang Xiong with a bit of anger: "Good job, Xiao Xiong, you actually made Xiao Bai angry and run off. I think your upcoming trials will be really difficult."
Yang Xiong helplessly replied, "I was just speaking the truth. Is it because I absorbed two 100,000-year soul rings that he has to increase the difficulty for me? Is it because I absorbed two 100,000-year soul rings that Lord Sea God will reject me?"
Xiao Wu said, "Isn't it because you casually hunt 100,000-year soul beasts? 100,000-year soul beasts are beings with human-level intelligence. Don't you think it's cruel to do that?"
Yang Xiong shook his head: "Xiao Wu, you are a transformed 100,000-year soul beast, so perhaps you feel more connected to soul beasts, but in my eyes, I need to keep getting stronger, and soul rings are unavoidable."
Xiao Wu quickly responded: "So now you still lack two soul rings, does that mean you'll need to hunt more 100,000-year soul beasts in the future?"
Yang Xiong nodded: "This is the rule of the soul master world. Even gods can't change it, let alone us mortals."
Xiao Wu seemed a bit upset: "Good for you, Xiao Xiong, I thought you were a good person. I didn't expect you still want to hunt 100,000-year soul beasts. I guess I misjudged you."
Yang Xiong helplessly said, "Little rabbit, I've saved you so many times. Is this how you treat your savior?"
Seeing Xiao Wu extremely angry, Tang San, who had been silent, quickly spoke up to comfort her: "Xiao Wu, don't be so angry. I will strive to become stronger and protect you with all my might."
Yang Xiong looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu and couldn't help but shake his head. The world's rules were like this. Could a mere mortal like him change them?
Tang San looked at Yang Xiong: "Yang Xiong, I appreciate you helping Xiao Wu so many times, but I hope you can apologize to her. After all, 100,000-year soul beasts are like her kin."
Yang Xiong replied, "Tang San, your Clear Sky Hammer hasn't even started absorbing a soul ring yet. In the future, will your Clear Sky Hammer only absorb ordinary 10,000-year soul rings? Will you never consider absorbing a 100,000-year soul ring?"
Tang San was taken aback. He had planned to wait until his Blue Silver Grass reached the 9th ring before adding a soul ring to his Clear Sky Hammer. He would certainly aim for the longest and most powerful soul beast, and a 100,000-year soul ring was one of his goals, even his biggest target.
After a moment of silence, Tang San spoke: "I won't casually hunt 100,000-year soul beasts, but those that are evil can still be killed."
Yang Xiong chuckled: "Now, I don't quite understand, what makes a 100,000-year soul beast evil?"
"I'm not interested in you and Xiao Wu being together, nor do I want to interrupt, but I think that any soul beast that grows to the 100,000-year level, unless it's a plant-type soul beast, must have hunted a large number of soul beasts to reach that level. Even the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python must have done so. I don't think the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python are vegetarians."
"By this logic, what soul beasts in the world are truly good? How can I distinguish between a good 100,000-year soul beast and an evil one?"
Tang San thought for a moment before responding: "Some soul beasts grow normally, but some, not only for survival, but also destroy the Soul Beast Forest and hunt other soul beasts in large numbers. Those are, in my eyes, evil soul beasts."
Yang Xiong nodded: "You may distinguish them like that, but I think that's a bit unreasonable."
"I've heard that you encountered the Deep Sea Demon Whale King in the sea. In your eyes, is the Deep Sea Demon Whale King an evil soul beast?"
Tang San's eyes filled with indignation: "Of course, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King is an evil soul beast. It occupies the Demon Whale Sea area, and most of the soul beasts there have been devoured by it. It has even killed passing ships and soul masters. It's truly atrocious."
Yang Xiong smiled: "That's not entirely true. From what I know, the Deep Sea Demon Whale King is very lazy. It lives independently in the Demon Whale Sea, only opening its huge mouth underwater and waiting for food to come to it."
"And the Deep Sea Demon Whale King never leaves the Demon Whale Sea, nor does it actively attack other soul beasts in different seas. It only considers humans who enter its domain as enemies. This is simply a soul beast's defense of its territory and an attack on invaders."
"Considering the habits of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, from every angle, it should be considered a kind-hearted soul beast. After all, it never leaves its domain to attack others. Do you think I'm right?"
Tang San was at a loss for words. He had been misled into the Demon Whale Sea under the pirates' leadership and even directly encountered the Deep Sea Demon Whale King.
For any powerful soul beast, if a human jumps in front of it, it's like a provocation. Of course, the beast would attack.
Yang Xiong looked at Xiao Wu: "Little rabbit, if a human went near the Titan Giant Ape or the Sky Blue Bull Python, do you think they would kill this human?"
Xiao Wu's face darkened. Having lived in the Star Dou Forest for many years, she knew that the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python had likely killed many soul masters, let alone regular soul beasts.
Tang San, seeming to think deeply, asked: "Yang Xiong, in your eyes, aren't soul beasts either good or bad? To become stronger, do you not care about killing any soul beasts?"
Yang Xiong shook his head: "I don't need many soul rings, and I won't actively hunt 100,000-year soul beasts. But humans and soul beasts are inherently opposites. Humans kill soul beasts for soul rings, and soul beasts eat humans. This is something neither you nor I can change."
"Besides, we have so many people now. Whether it's Yu Tianheng or Dai Mubai, their talents are outstanding, and they will definitely break through to Title Douluo level in the future."
"When they reach Title Douluo, how will they choose their ninth soul ring? Will they want to hunt a 100,000-year soul beast?"
Everyone around fell silent. As soul masters, everyone here was talented. No one didn't want to become stronger, and no one didn't hope to one day gain a 100,000-year soul ring or soul bone.
Xiao Wu's expression changed: "Xiao Xiong, are you saying you'll hunt the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python in the future?"
Yang Xiong shook his head: "Not really, I'm not too interested in the Titan Giant Ape or the Sky Blue Bull Python, but I remember I told you before that Bibi Dong probably still needs a lot of soul rings. Do you think she will lead a team to hunt the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Blue Bull Python in the future?"
"The struggle between humans and soul beasts won't stop because of you or me. Even without Bibi Dong, sooner or later, other soul masters will want to hunt them. This is the stance of humans and soul beasts in this world, and it's the most fundamental rule of this world."
Xiao Wu seemed both angry and trembling, unsure of how to respond.
Even Tang San fell silent. He could restrain his ambition from hunting the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Blue Bull Python, but he couldn't stop others from hunting them, nor could he be sure that he wouldn't look for a 100,000-year soul beast in the future.
Finally, Tang San gritted his teeth: "Xiao Wu, I won't let anyone harm you, nor will I let anyone harm your loved ones. Believe in me!"
Xiao Wu was deeply moved: "Big Brother, I believe you. You will always be my brother."
Tang San looked seriously at Yang Xiong and the others: "Everyone, Xiao Wu is the closest person to me. I hope no one harms her or her loved ones."
Yang Xiong sighed: "Tang San, why go this far? I'm not interested in Xiao Wu, and I'm not interested in the Titan Giant Ape or the Sky Blue Bull Python. You can protect them for a while, but can you protect them for a lifetime? You know that soul beasts live far longer than human soul masters."
The conversation ended in an oddly strange manner. Everyone seemed a bit confused, but there was a sense of realization.
Whether it was the original Shrek Seven or those who joined later, like Yu Tianheng and Duguyan, they didn't have the same close relationship with Tang San as in the original story. After all, Tang San hadn't shown absolute leadership and hadn't shown any grace like giving immortal herbs. At most, they were just classmates with a good relationship.
Even Ning Rongrong, who had always been closest to Xiao Wu, didn't know what to say. After all, there was a deep racial divide between humans and soul beasts. No one could give up pursuing 100,000-year soul rings and soul bones for just one classmate.
The next period of time was marked by a strange kind of calm.
Everyone worked hard at their training and focused on increasing their combat ability in the sea.
Although Xiao Bai disliked Yang Xiong, she quickly got along with Ning Rongrong and the other girls, almost like a close friend.
Under Yang Xiong's arrangements, everyone had to train in the sea every day, even Ning Rongrong and Oscar had to try crossing the ring-shaped sea and Xiao Bai's blockade with the others.
Though everyone would get injured after each battle, they remained exceptionally determined and fought with all their might.
In contrast, Yang Xiong fought Xiao Bai alone each time in the sea, but it seemed that neither of them could truly defeat the other.
In the water, Xiao Bai's combat ability soared. As a 100,000-year Demon Soul Great White Shark, her speed in the sea was incredibly fast. Especially with her massive size and sharp teeth, even Yang Xiong had a hard time.
From what Yang Xiong knew, Tang San had already reached level 70 after the reward from the first trial before Yang Xiong and his group arrived in the ring-shaped sea, receiving a god-given soul ring.
But even though Tang San gave it his all, he only received a 10,000-year soul ring, which was far from the 100,000-year soul ring.
As Posey had said, each soul master could only obtain one god-given soul ring, which greatly disappointed Tang San.
Especially since Yang Xiong already had two 100,000-year soul rings, and both of them were at the Soul Sage level. The gap between the two 100,000-year soul rings was enormous.
(END CHAPTER)
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