Without waiting for anyone's response, Yang Xiong vanished from his position. Everyone stood shocked, especially Zhao Wuji, while Tang San consumed Oscar's recovery sausage to heal as quickly as possible.
Yang Xiong pursued the Titan Giant Ape's trail for several kilometers before arriving at a relatively open area. He called out clearly, "Members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, please reveal yourselves."
When his words met only silence, Yang Xiong reluctantly produced the Sect Master's token that Ning Fengzhi had given him. "People of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, seeing this token is equivalent to seeing the Sect Master himself. Please come out immediately."
A helpless sigh emerged from the shadows, followed by a figure stepping into view.
Yang Xiong's eyes widened in surprise upon recognizing the person. "Teacher Lin Gong? Why is it you? Have you been the one secretly protecting me all along?"
Lin Gong appeared somewhat exasperated. "I taught you for six years. What's wrong with protecting you secretly?"
Yang Xiong stood dumbfounded. "Teacher Lin, aren't you just a Spirit King? Can you adequately protect me in this Star Dou Great Forest?"
According to Yang Xiong's expectations, his secret protector should at least be a Spirit Emperor or Spirit Saint. A mere Spirit King seemed insufficient. In the Star Dou Great Forest, a Spirit King amounted to nothing. Even Zhao Wuji, a Spirit Saint, faced considerable danger here, especially against a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast like the Titan Giant Ape.
Lin Gong suddenly glared, his beard bristling with indignation. "What kind of look is that, you little brat? Who told you I was a Spirit King?"
Yang Xiong appeared dazed. "If I remember correctly, you claimed to be a Spirit King when you were my homeroom teacher. Have you perhaps achieved some breakthroughs in recent years?"
A trace of mockery crossed Lin Gong's face as an enormous Purple Bamboo materialized in his hand, accompanied by two yellow, three purple, and three black spirit rings.
Upon seeing Lin Gong's spirit rings, Yang Xiong's face displayed extreme astonishment. "How is this possible? You're actually a Spirit Douluo! Why would the sect send a Spirit Douluo powerhouse to protect me?"
Yang Xiong maintained some self-awareness. Spirit Douluos typically served as inner elders—why would one be assigned to protect a mere Spirit Grandmaster like himself?
Pride flickered across Lin Gong's features. "This old man is the Ninth Elder of the sect. How could a mere child like you comprehend such matters? If I hadn't recognized your potential as a promising talent, I wouldn't have volunteered to protect you."
"Unfortunately, you've strayed somewhat from the proper path, little brat. You used to love reading so much that I thought you showed promise for cultivation in research directions. Instead, you now focus wholeheartedly on physical training, which seems like putting the cart before the horse."
Doubt colored Yang Xiong's expression. "That doesn't make sense. As a sect elder, why would you have a thousand-year fifth spirit ring? With a top-tier plant martial spirit like Purple Bamboo, you should have reached Spirit Douluo level easily. With optimal spirit ring configuration, becoming a Titled Douluo should have been achievable."
Lin Gong's face stiffened at these words. "What does a little brat like you understand? This old man wasn't born into the sect. I only joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School in recent decades due to certain circumstances. Although I'm now a sect elder, I'm technically a guest elder. If I hadn't been thoroughly bored and if Ning Fengzhi hadn't repeatedly invited me, why would I bother teaching you little brats?"
Yang Xiong quickly inquired, "Teacher Lin, did you also follow me to the Sunset Forest back then? No wonder I heard classmates mention you stopped teaching for a period."
Lin Gong's expression turned cold. "A mere Spirit Master actually dared venture alone into the Sunset Forest. If this old man hadn't followed secretly, you would have died countless times over."
Yang Xiong pressed urgently, "Teacher Lin, can you sense any traces of a Titled Douluo? Is there perhaps a Titled Douluo near us right now?"
Lin Gong rolled his eyes at Yang Xiong's question. "Do you think Titled Douluos grow on trees? Besides, I'm merely a Spirit Douluo—how could I sense a Titled Douluo's presence? You've read extensively; you should understand there's a qualitative difference between Spirit Douluos and Titled Douluos."
Yang Xiong persisted, "Teacher Lin, can you detect whether the Titled Douluo who taught Teacher Zhao Wuji a lesson a few days ago is present?"
Lin Gong's expression grew serious. "How do you know a Titled Douluo was responsible for Zhao Wuji's beating? With your current strength, you shouldn't have been able to sense that night's battle."
Yang Xiong smiled knowingly. "To beat Zhao Wuji, a powerful Spirit Saint, so thoroughly while leaving him essentially uninjured suggests pure physical strength was used. A Spirit Douluo couldn't accomplish that, correct?"
Lin Gong nodded in agreement. "A Titled Douluo did indeed appear that day. His strength and aura were extraordinarily powerful—likely no weaker than Sword Douluo or Bone Douluo. Why do you ask?"
After careful consideration, Yang Xiong said, "Teacher Lin, please accompany me in pursuing the Titan Giant Ape."
Lin Gong's face grew stern. "Although I'm a Spirit Douluo, I cannot defeat that Titan Giant Ape, let alone rescue anyone from its grasp."
Yang Xiong's expression also turned serious. "Who said anything about rescuing anyone? Since we've come to the Star Dou Great Forest, I need some body-refining toxins. If we encounter any thousand-year poisonous spiders or snakes along the way, I want to capture them for poison extraction. Please help me watch for them, Teacher Lin."
Incomprehension crossed Lin Gong's face. "What are you thinking, little brat? The sect has plenty of toxins available. Why do you need to come to the Star Dou Great Forest personally?"
Yang Xiong urged, "Let's follow the trail and search. Perhaps we'll make unexpected discoveries."
Lin Gong remained speechless for a moment before directly carrying Yang Xiong in pursuit toward the Star Dou Great Forest's center. His speed far exceeded what Yang Xiong could achieve alone.
Lin Gong proved himself a true academy teacher with extensive knowledge and exceptional speed. He could sense spirit beast traces immediately and determine their ages at a glance.
The Titan Giant Ape's charge had scattered many spirit beasts with its powerful aura. Only exceptional spirit beasts dared remain along this path.
After helping Yang Xiong capture two consecutive thousand-year spirit beasts, Lin Gong suddenly expressed surprise. "How peculiar! There's actually a Man-Faced Demon Spider here, over two thousand years old. Do you need this type of spirit beast's toxin?"
Yang Xiong's joy was palpable, his excitement evident. "Teacher Lin, spider-type toxins are exactly what I need most! Let's capture it immediately!"
As expected, after traveling approximately eight hundred meters, they discovered an enormous spider. The creature was entirely dark, with a body exceeding one and a half meters and eight long legs stretching over three meters each. Each leg appeared razor-sharp, and white patterns on its abdomen formed a human face—unmistakably a Man-Faced Demon Spider.
However, this Man-Faced Demon Spider had clearly suffered severe injuries. Its body was a mess of blood and flesh, with even the carapace on its abdomen shattered.
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion