The Datura snake, in terms of both speed and strength, was not something Tang San could contend with at the moment. As he saw the snake's head lunging at him, Tang San stepped into the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track; with a slight sway of his body, he had already moved laterally a distance of three feet. Tang San knew that for him, there was only one opportunity. If he did not succeed, then the Datura snake would certainly not be fooled again.
In a critical moment, Tang San made a swift decision. He channeled almost all of the Mystic Sky Technique's power into his hands; a blue light flickering within his palms. With a pulling and pushing motion of his left hand, his body shifted position once again under the effect of the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
The Datura snake only felt a sudden suction force coming from the side of its head, causing its head to uncontrollably turn. At this moment, its mouth, which was wide open due to its lunge at Tang San, was about to snap shut.
A blue light, as if appearing out of nowhere, quietly waited there. Just as the Datura snake's head turned, the instant before its mouth closed, puff—
The nearly four-meter-long snake's body stiffened for a moment. The one-foot-two-inch dagger had completely penetrated the snake's mouth. In the next second, the Datura snake's body convulsed violently. For a time, sand and stones were sent flying, and its hard body, as it swept through, left the bushes and small trees it touched as if they had been ravaged by a tornado, with branches and leaves shattered and scattered.
After delivering that full-force stab, Tang San had rapidly retreated using the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, managing to dodge the Datura snake's tail swipe just in time. Tang San, who was very familiar with the characteristics of snakes, would not assume that the Datura snake would die right away.
"Xiaosan," Da Master called out urgently, startling Tang San back to reality. He knew that everything he had just done had inevitably been seen by Da Master. His soul did not belong to this world, and this, obviously, could not be known by anyone. What should he do?
Kill Da Master to silence him? Tang San believed that with the attack power and uniqueness of the Soundless Sleeve Arrow, he had at least a 70% chance of success, and Luo San Pao was already incapacitated. But how could he bring himself to do that? Da Master was his teacher, and although they had only been together for a few days, he had already earned Tang San's sincere respect. There was no choice but to lie.
Tang San deliberately stumbled, rolling onto the ground.
Da Master reached out quickly to catch him. After all, he was a level-29 Grand Soul Master. Even though his Martial Soul was not as good, his Soul Power was still present. He supported Tang San, "Xiaosan, how are you?"
"Teacher, that scared me to death. Why didn't the snake chase after me?"
As Da Master watched the Datura snake's terrifying destruction, he reproached, "What were you thinking, letting go all of a sudden just now? Do you realize how dangerous that was?"
In reality, Da Master had not seen as much as Tang San had imagined. After all, it was in the dead of night, and Da Master did not have the visual capabilities of the Purple Demon Eyes. In the darkness, Da Master had only vaguely seen Tang San's body falling backward and the flickering light on the blue dagger. He had not even noticed the crisp sound of the Sleeve Arrow striking the Datura snake.
"I don't know what happened. My hands were sweaty; it seemed like they suddenly slipped. Teacher, I wildly swung the dagger you gave me earlier and seemed to have stabbed that snake."
Upon raising Tang San's hand, it was indeed covered in cold sweat. Da Master could guess that Tang San had stabbed the Datura snake, and most likely hit a vital spot, otherwise, why would such a fierce and vengeful soul beast suddenly stop pursuing them?
"Don't go over there yet, just wait and see. Snake-type soul beasts are extremely tenacious and don't die easily."
Tang San gasped deeply, which wasn't an act, as he was starting to feel drained.
Facing the powerful hundred-year Datura snake, Tang San had used his full strength in that instant. If he hadn't managed to pull the snake's head over with Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, the outcome would have been completely different.
After this near-death experience, Tang San had already secretly decided that once he returned, he would find a way to arm himself as much as possible. Until the Mysterious Heaven Method was mastered, various mechanical hidden weapons were clearly the best choice, which was also what Tang San was most adept at.
The master and pupil stood at a distance, carefully observing. The Datura snake's hysterical struggles gradually quieted down. Its body twisted continuously on the ground, breaking all the vegetation above, revealing the mud underneath.
Da Master had given Tang San a treasured sword. One foot two inches might not be long, but it was enough to pierce through the Datura snake's brain. That was a fatal injury.
As the Datura snake's struggles grew weaker and weaker, Da Master finally relaxed, then his expression started to change, transitioning from previous panic to ecstasy, "This is fantastic, truly fantastic. Xiaosan, you've got a prospect for your soul ring now."
"Teacher, what are you talking about? You don't mean this snake, do you?" Tang San asked in surprise, looking at Da Master.
Da Master nodded seriously, "Yes, exactly this one. Before reaching a thousand years, the Datura snake grows one centimeter for each year it lives. This Datura snake is nearly four meters long, meaning it has a cultivation of nearly four hundred years. That's close to the limit for a Soul Scholar to absorb their first soul ring when advancing to become a Soul Master. With your innate full soul power, absorbing its soul ring will not be a problem."
"But, teacher. My Martial Soul is plant-based, and this Datura snake is a beast-type soul beast. Can I make it into a soul ring? Won't there be a conflict?" Tang San asked doubtfully.