Chapter 27: The Thousand-Jin Ant
When faced with Yang Wudi's question, Yang Potian thought for a moment before answering.
"Grandfather, we came into Sunset Forest without any visible packs, so the others likely assumed you had a soul tool, which is usually very valuable and a sign of some wealth."
"And since you brought me along, they must have figured you had some strength. At first, they didn't surround you; their real target was probably me, hoping to use me to force your hand."
"And I think you killed them all not only to prevent them from reporting back but also to teach me a lesson about the brutality of the soul master world."
Yang Wudi nodded, visibly pleased. "Not bad, Potian. You've grasped a lot in a short amount of time."
"Do you know why I killed all five? It wasn't just to stop them from reporting us; it was to teach you a principle. In the world of soul masters, if you strike, you must root out all threats completely, or you'll leave yourself exposed to endless trouble."
"Another thing—did you notice my technique during the fight? I struck swiftly, dispatching them before they could even think of touching you. The Po Soul Spear often relies on agility and speed to end battles quickly. But if you plan to pursue a path of pure strength, how would you handle a situation like that?"
"There's also something even more important. Our Po Clan is a clan of warriors; we are born fighters who refuse to be intimidated. If they had actually taken you, my Po Soul Spear would only have struck harder. This refusal to compromise is the essence of our clan and the true strength of the Po Soul Spear."
Listening, Yang Potian couldn't help swallowing. He realized that he had indeed lived comfortably, forgetting the core principles of his clan and the harsh realities of the world.
"Potian, think carefully about what I've told you. Tell me your thoughts when you've considered it."
The two of them then fell silent. Potian pondered his grandfather's words deeply. In the original story, only a few direct descendants of the Po Clan survived, but they never wavered in their fight against the Spirit Hall. His grandfather's defiant, fearless spirit had made it possible for him to fight even Titled Douluo despite only being a Soul Douluo.
If I reached the same point someday, he thought, could I be as formidable as Grandfather? Would I truly be able to wield the Po Soul Spear as powerfully? Would this path of pure strength really lead me where I want to go?
These thoughts kept him up through the night, and he didn't know when he finally drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Yang Potian slowly opened his eyes, only to find his grandfather's face right in front of him, staring intently. Potian jumped in surprise.
Yang Wudi chuckled softly, finding amusement in his grandson's reaction. "Potian, about what I said yesterday—perhaps it's a bit much for you right now, but do reflect on it."
"Grandfather, I thought it over last night, and I'm determined to follow the path of pure strength, no matter how difficult it may be."
"Good, Potian. I believe you'll succeed. But remember one more thing: in the spirit beast forest, never let your guard down. Always stay alert, even while resting."
"Yes, Grandfather, I understand." Potian nodded, though he couldn't help thinking to himself, I'm only six, and I'm here with a peak-level Soul Sage for protection, yet I still have to be on guard?
After a simple breakfast, the two continued their search for spirit beasts within the Sunset Forest.
Today, luck was on their side. Before long, they discovered an ideal target—a Thousand-Jin Ant nest.
Surrounding the nest were numerous Thousand-Jin Ants, but one ant stood out in particular. It was notably large, over seven and a half inches in length, close to eight.
In any spirit beast forest, Thousand-Jin Ants were a common sight, though they usually existed in large numbers and were primarily ten-year beasts, with hundred-year ants being rare.
Thousand-Jin Ants had remarkable resilience, with excellent natural defenses and immense strength relative to their size. Because of this, they were highly sought after by strength-type soul masters for their exceptional strength-boosting qualities.
Typically, a ten-year Thousand-Jin Ant would measure about three inches, with a powerful pair of mandibles capable of slicing through tough materials. Hundred-year ants rarely exceeded six inches, and only the rare thousand-year ant would reach a foot in length. Thousand-Jin Ants over a thousand years old were extremely rare.
The largest Thousand-Jin Ant recorded had measured around a meter in length, with over 30,000 years of cultivation.
Not long ago, the head of the Strength Clan, Titan, had broken through to Soul Douluo, and the four single-attribute clan leaders had accompanied him to hunt for a spirit ring. Yang Wudi had mentioned that the 30,000-year Thousand-Jin Ant they encountered had formidable defenses, and even Yang Wudi himself had struggled to break through its armor. Its strength was comparable to that of a typical 70,000- to 80,000-year-old beast. Without Yang Wudi's help, even Titan might have lost the fight.
"Potian, that larger Thousand-Jin Ant over there is probably over 500 years, maybe close to 600. What do you think?"
"Grandfather, isn't there anything else more powerful? This ant feels a bit lacking. Could we keep looking, maybe find a dragon-type beast?"
Seriously? My first spirit ring is going to come from an ant? That feels so underwhelming for a reincarnated person, Potian thought, somewhat disappointed.
Yang Wudi shook his head, chuckling at his grandson's reaction. "Potian, you're missing the point. For strength-type soul masters, the Thousand-Jin Ant is a top choice. Titan's eighth ring's spirit ability was incredible—even I envied it. The ant's effect is especially potent for increasing physical strength."
After a pause, Potian nodded in agreement. "All right, Grandfather, the Thousand-Jin Ant it is. Could you help me capture it?"
With a nod, Yang Wudi sped toward the nest. With a slight tremor of his Po Soul Spear, he scattered the smaller ants around and thrust his weapon toward the largest ant. In one precise strike, he wounded it, leaving a large gash from which blood flowed.
Before the rest of the ant colony could react, he grabbed the injured ant and swiftly retreated.
With the power of a peak Soul Sage, handling a mere hundred-year beast was easy for Yang Wudi.
However, he didn't pause once he had the ant. He took Potian's hand and led him quickly away from the nest. Staying too close to a Thousand-Jin Ant nest while absorbing a spirit ring was risky, as it could attract other ants and unexpected trouble.
(End of Chapter)
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