Douluo: Let me loot an airdrop first.

Chapter 11: Encounter with the Datura Serpent

"Child, your name is Tang San, right? I don't know what Xiao Gang said to you that made you enroll so early, without even attending a single class, and without understanding anything about martial spirits, yet you've already become his disciple. But in the Douluo Continent, everyone can only have one disciple, and you've already made your choice, so I have nothing more to say... I just hope you remember that even masters and scholars make mistakes. In the future, if you don't understand something during your cultivation, ask questions and think things through. Never blindly believe in authority..."

After finishing his sentence, Old Qi ignored the reactions of Master and Tang San, gave a shout, and led Ning Yuanshan and the others ahead. He was kind-hearted after all, and intentionally walked ahead of Tang San and Yu Xiaogang to clear the way for them. Although the Soul Hunting Forest was a place where the Empire kept soul beasts, the danger level was still not low. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many mercenaries recruiting customers on the outskirts of the forest.

Ning Yu was speechless at Yu Xiaogang's theory that the absorption period for the first spirit ring was 423 years. In the original novel, Tang San even praised Yu Xiaogang, saying that he truly deserved to be called a master, as his research on spirits was always so precise.

Yu Xiaogang's reason for having Tang San absorb a 423-year soul ring was not "Little San, you have extraordinary bones and talents, you can break through the 423-year limit", but rather "I have studied history and concluded that 423 years is an accurate number".

Ordinary people are different from men and women, and there are physiological differences, but the master did not discuss age, weapon, spirit beast, spirit, or gender at all.

Encountering Yu Xiaogang and Tang San was just a minor incident; Ning Yuanshan and his group continued their hunt for spirit rings.

"Xiao Ning, you said your martial soul is called 'Treasure Box' and that you can take out other things from the box?" As the saying goes, one should not flaunt one's wealth or status. Ning Yuanshan originally intended to hide the special features of his martial soul, but after a few days, he could sense Qi Lao's sincerity. Moreover, Yu Xiaogang could no longer be relied upon. To hunt soul beasts and cultivate his martial soul in the future, he could only rely on Qi Lao. So he named his martial soul "Treasure Box" and briefly explained its characteristics.

"A frying pan is just a common kitchen utensil. If you want to use it to fight, my suggestion is to hunt a Golden Iron Beast. This kind of spirit beast is as hard as metal and stone all over its body, which is the best way to increase the strength of your frying pan." The teacher and student were chatting enthusiastically when Teacher Liu, who was walking at the front and whose spirit was a Great Ape, suddenly spoke up to warn them.

"There's a soul beast ahead, it's a Mandragora Serpent!" Liu Qingfeng slowly retreated. The four people present were a little nervous. "How could a Mandragora Serpent appear on the outskirts of the forest? Elder Qi, should we avoid it?"

To help Ning Yuanshan acquire his spirit ring, Elder Qi invited two teachers to assist him. One teacher, Liu Qingfeng, possessed the spirit of a powerful gorilla and was specifically recruited by Elder Qi to hunt the Golden Iron Beast. The other teacher, Su Manxue, was a support-type spirit master. Ning Yuanshan was hunting the Golden Iron Beast, and dealing with a highly venomous and incredibly fast spirit beast like the Mandragora Serpent was proving difficult, a waste of their energy.

"We can't retreat! Xiao Gang and Tang San are behind us. If they encounter the Mandragora Serpent, it will only be more dangerous. Everyone, prepare for battle!"

As the rustling sound ahead grew closer, Ning Yuanshan swallowed hard.

After all, it was his first time facing a soul beast directly, so it was impossible for him not to be nervous and afraid. At this moment, Ning Yuanshan's palms were sticky with sweat, and beads of sweat were rolling down his forehead.

Ning Yuanshan twitched his nostrils, noticing a slightly fishy smell in the air, a foul stench mixed with a hint of tea and sweetness.

"Take the antidote first..." Old Qi was prepared and hurriedly instructed Ning Yuanshan to take the medicine.

Everyone stood ready, and slowly, they saw a head peek out from the woods.

It was a dark green, triangular snake head, and in the center of the head, a pair of small, bright red eyes were looking in Ning Yuanshan's direction. The Datura snake had finally emerged from the forest. "Holy crap!" Ning Yuanshan exclaimed inwardly. In his previous life, Ning Yuanshan had only ever seen such a large snake, nearly three or four meters long, in a zoo.

"Martial Soul Possession!" Liu Qingfeng took the lead. With a loud shout, he grew two or three heads taller, and long hair grew out from under his torn clothes. A yellowish-brown light instantly enveloped his entire body. Looking closer, Teacher Liu had transformed into a giant ape.

Liu Qingfeng, who resembled an ape, imitated the gorilla by pounding his chest and then yelling "Awooo!" before charging at the datura snake.

"First Soul Skill, Mighty Force!" Su Manxue had clearly cooperated with Liu Qingfeng in battle many times. A staff suddenly materialized in her palm, and the gemstone ornament on the staff head shone brightly. She unleashed her auxiliary soul skill at the right time, adding a layer of force just before Liu Qingfeng swung his fist, which was the size of a sandbag, at the snake's body.

Old Qi wasn't skilled in combat, and besides, he had to protect Ning Yuanshan, Su Manxue, and the others, so he only stayed on the periphery to provide support. Old Qi closely observed the battle on the field, and at the same time, he didn't stop working. He threw all the realgar wine, insect repellent powder, and other medicinal powders he had prepared for this trip into the Soul Hunting Forest onto the Datura snake.

Although Qi Lao didn't possess the same sophisticated hidden weapon skills as Tang San, the Mandala Snake was quite large, and with Liu Qingfeng holding it back, it could still hit its target even when throwing and smashing randomly.

The Mandragora Serpent, a type of spirit beast, has hard scales, incredible speed, and potent venom, but it has one flaw: a lack of endurance.

The datura snake was extremely annoyed by the realgar powder and other drugs thrown out by Old Qi, so it suddenly hissed and its scales lit up.

A faint yellow light shone from the dark green scales, and the Mandragora Serpent opened its blood-red maw, ready to spew venom. Su Manxue, however, had been waiting for this move. She uttered a low shout, and her second soul ring lit up, "Second Soul Skill, Guardian!"

Everyone had already taken the antidote, and now they consciously covered their mouths and noses. In addition, with the effect of Su Manxue's second soul skill, the poison of the Mandragora Snake was greatly reduced. As for Ning Yuanshan, he had kept a distance from Elder Qi and the others from the very beginning of the battle.

Seeing the datura snake open its mouth, Elder Qi and Liu Qingfeng naturally seized the opportunity and launched a fatal attack on the datura snake at the same time.

The datura snake's pointed head revealed its potent venom, while its thick neck indicated that its weakness wasn't at its vital point. Therefore, Liu Qingfeng relentlessly hammered at the snake's eyes, while Qi Lao's iron sword flashed like a streak of light, hurled at the snake's mouth. Shattered scales flew everywhere, and blood streamed from its mouth, clearly indicating a severe injury. It hissed loudly, then its body twisted and sprang across the ground, shooting off like an arrow and disappearing into the depths of the forest.