Tang San's heart surged as his second Martial Soul emerged. With a leap forward, his foot stamped heavily onto the ground.
A thunderous boom echoed as Tang San collided violently with the Saber-Toothed Hound. In an instant, the beast's body was sent flying backward at even greater speed, flesh and blood spraying out like a storm.
The Saber-Toothed Hound's bones shattered from the impact, its flesh torn apart before it even had a chance to scream.
With a final thud, the corpse of the Saber-Toothed Hound lay motionless in a pool of blood.
A Spirit Beast nearing a hundred years of cultivation—ordinarily, even a Great Soul Master might not handle it so effortlessly, let alone a one-ringed Soul Master like Tang San. Unfortunately for the beast, it had encountered Tang San.
"This second Martial Soul indeed has effects similar to a Beast Spirit. Even without a Soul Ring, activating it significantly enhances physical strength."
Rolling up his sleeve, Tang San examined his left arm. It appeared as though red Blue Silver Grass had coiled around it, covered in crimson patterns.
Even Tang San's father and uncle were deeply puzzled by his second Martial Soul, as it defied conventional categorization.
Martial Souls were traditionally divided into two main types: Beast Spirits and Item Spirits. Yet Tang San's second Martial Soul resembled neither—it was more like a brand that transformed upon activation.
As Tang San pondered over his second Martial Soul, a white Soul Ring floated up from the Saber-Toothed Hound's corpse. For ordinary civilian Soul Masters, this near-hundred-year Spirit Beast's Soul Ring would be a prized possession—though Tang San had no interest in it.
The moment the Soul Ring appeared, a wisp of faint red mist drifted out, as if drawn toward the back of Tang San's left hand. The emblem of his second Martial Soul flashed with a red glow, absorbing the mist.
This sight didn't surprise Tang San. Four years ago, when he had attached his first Soul Ring, he'd discovered that his second Martial Soul seemed capable of absorbing certain substances. These red vapors not only enhanced his Soul Power but also gradually awakened his second Martial Soul.
"This must be what Father called the aura of slaughter. Perhaps the intensity of the battle wasn't enough—this is far too little."
Tang San had good reason to insist on training alone. Over the years, he'd realized his second Martial Soul thrived on genuine combat, not mere slaughter.
The one-sided massacre earlier had yielded only a negligible amount of slaughter aura.
After collecting the slaughter aura, Tang San continued his journey. Before long, the scent of blood on him attracted a pack of Spirit Beasts—exactly as he'd intended by deliberately smearing himself with blood.
"Earth Wolves—communal Spirit Beasts, vicious by nature, fond of human flesh, and highly aggressive. Each pack is ruled by a Wolf King, ranging from a dozen to a hundred members. The wolves usually have ten-year cultivation, while the Wolf King reaches the hundred-year level." At a glance, Tang San recognized the beasts before him.
The rustling of leaves grew louder as more Earth Wolves appeared, surrounding Tang San in a pincer formation. He was now completely encircled by the wolf pack.
"Earth Wolves with ten to hundred-year cultivation, and a five-hundred-year Wolf King. Still not enough." Even trapped within the pack, Tang San remained composed, shaking his head as he spoke.
Awooo!! Provoked by Tang San's arrogant demeanor, a fifty-year Earth Wolf howled and lunged at his throat with lightning speed.
With a whoosh, a purple glint flashed through Tang San's eyes. In the world of Purple Demon Eyes, the attacking wolf moved in slow motion—every vein and heartbeat clearly visible.
Profound Jade Hand activated instantly, his palm hardening like jade as it transformed into a blade. A single lethal slash severed the wolf's throat. Blood sprayed as the wolf collapsed, dead before it could even twitch—swift, ruthless, and precise.
As a wisp of slaughter energy seeped into his Martial Soul, howls erupted through the forest. The surrounding Earth Wolves went berserk, swarming toward Tang San in a dense wave.
"Though this won't truly test my combat skills, I might as well practice Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track with you all." Tang San's gaze sharpened. With a long cry, his feet blurred as he dragged elongated shadows behind him, weaving through the pack with impossible agility.
His hands became blades, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track carried him through the wolves, and Purple Demon Eyes pierced through every weakness. The rhythmic sounds of slicing filled the air—one slash, one wolf. Tang San moved too fast to follow, each strike cleanly severing another throat.
Throat cuts, heart pierces, marrow extraction, skull splits—every strike was fatal.
Amid the pack, Tang San was a god of slaughter, carving through them with chilling efficiency. Soon, wolf corpses piled like mountains, blood flowing in rivers, the metallic stench thick in the air.
White Soul Rings floated everywhere while crimson slaughter energy seeped from the corpses, all absorbed by his Slaughter Martial Soul.
With a final whimper, the five-hundred-year Wolf King's head flew high after a few exchanges. Its yellow hundred-year Soul Ring emerged, and as the thickest strand of slaughter energy was absorbed, Tang San finally felt a distinct change—his Soul Power surged with exhilarating satisfaction.
Marveling at the shift, Tang San mused, "This Slaughter Martial Soul is incredible. Absorbing slaughter energy even boosts my Soul Power."
Just as he reveled in its power, the ground split open behind him—a thick black shadow lunged in ambush.
"I noticed you long ago."
A sneak attack? Tang San was no stranger to such tactics. Channeling Soul Power into his Storage Soul Guidance Device, a silver needle materialized in his palm.
With the storage ring, his Hidden Weapons were always at the ready.
Dodging the ambush in the same motion, he flicked the needle. A silver streak flashed—blood sprayed as the lurking Spirit Beast froze behind him, a fist-sized hole punctured through its skull where the needle now embedded itself into the earth.
This wasn't an Earth Wolf, but a Spirit Beast resembling a giant sandworm. Its entire body was covered in dark golden crystalline segments, with no eyes on its head. Its mouthparts formed six serrated petals, concealing seven or eight sharp tentacles inside - the very ones that had just launched the sneak attack.
"Sunset Worm, blood-drinking creatures. You must have been drawn by the wolf blood on the ground. Pity, I noticed you long ago." Tang San approached slowly, retrieving his silver steel needles as he looked at the fallen monster with a leisurely smile.
When this Sunset Worm died, it never understood how it had been counter-killed. Its ambush tactics had always been successful before, but this time it didn't even get a chance for a second move - Tang San had slain it the moment it attacked.
It thought it could catch Tang San off guard, never imagining it would instead be killed by Tang San's Hidden Weapons.
(End of Chapter)