Capítulo 14: Chapter 14: Shian Ti
"Thank you for this, grace."
I smiled in response and helped the old lady to tie the plaster around her arm with an arm pouch.
"Be careful mam, the fracture has not yet healed. I just set it right. So you must be careful for a few more days."
"Thank you, sir. I am a poor woman who couldn't give you anything more than this, my thanks."
"It's fine."
I watch with pity, looking at the old lady, alone in this cruel world, go back to her hut and her solitude.
"Brother Zhang Kun, we need help. He is losing blood."
I ran to the emergency life saving healer, Ye Lingling, who used her martial soul to heal the soul masters returning from Star Luo forest.
In a way, our travel plan along the edge of the forest has two benefits-1, an escape path into the forest in case of pursuit or 2, a way to promote our reputation for healing the injured soul masters.
"FUCK."
The condition of this group is much worse in all the people we met till now.
AI.
[Processing…..Analyzing ....
Patient 1 : Tear into abdomen, cardiac arrest from blood loss, Poslon from Gu spider
Patient 2: Poslon from Gu spider, Necrosis of left hand
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Fuck, these guys provoked some pit of the Gu spider for good soul ring or were plain unlucky.
It seems my decision back then was right, otherwise blindly exploring the star Luo forest is a death sentence. In the Star Luo academy, I learnt the ways and dangers of Star Luo forest.
"Ye Lingling. I need your immediate help to cut this guy's hand, considering it is already dead. Heal it immediately after I cut it away."
"Alright."
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We are on the border of the Longhu kingdom and stopped for resupplying our large group.
A group that was damn big.
Teacher, me and Ye Lingling's family. The blacksmith apprentices that the teacher brought with him who followed him for more than a decade.
The most recent addition from the escape from the Star Luo empire, the tracker team who got discarded and Ju Lian's family.
Well, Ju Lian met us based on the information my mirror forge clone left. The tracker team followed them.u.
Apparently, they are not nobles who can go back with ease even after offending the empress. If the empress told them to die even the in the most indirect way of schemes and betrayal, they must die like excellent dogs.
Well, their presence tells me they don't wanna die.
Frankl, I am surprised and suspicious of them. The tracker team is the most elite hounds of the Star Luo empire, delving into the underworld, skilled in information trade, investigation skills.
If someone escaped their influence like I did, they are the ones sent.
But, for them to be the one to escape is surprising. They are wanted to travel with us till Heavenly Dou empire. In their words, the more numbers, the tougher it is for the assassins and bounty hunters to come.
"Still, I am sorry for not trusting you. You guys are the hounds of empire."
Looking at the Tracker team head -Shian Ti, a soul king with Basker Hound marital soul, I stood firm in my words.
"While my group might help you wear off the small bounty hunters but we would have to face the hunters coming to kill soul king like you."
Shian Ti shook his head and said , " Zhang Kun, sir, do you know the condition the empire is right now?"
I jokingly said, "A pot is about to explode."
Shian Ti spoke in his monotone voice, saying, "No, it was a pot about to explode. Now, it is a ball of flames and chaos. My contacts in the underworld tell me that the factions of the princes are being reorganized. Marriage alliances are being broken and remade, and there are assassinations taking place. The second prince seeks revenge, while the first prince retaliates. The underworld is making immense profits from their trade, surpassing what they earned in the last decade. I know of at least a dozen assassinations on both sides, some successful and others unsuccessful."
Well, fuck. This is worse. I was expecting a game of thrones political battle royale, not the unchained killing fest.
"In fact, you were lucky in keeping the second prince alive, otherwise you would have been dead no matter the preparation you made."
SIGH
It was pure luck at that part. It has been a complete fluke in keeping him alive, based on a gut instinct that Dai Weisi might have betrayed me. Not this convoluted mess.
Shian Ti finally spoke the proper point for his decision to join us. "In fact, if the condition of the empire was anything other than this, we would have been dead from the occasion soul emperor or soul saint sent by them. But all the higher powers are tied up in keeping themself safe, leaving offhanded underworld bounties on us rather than official announcements of betrayal. In fact, we already had a dozen attacks, but all of them were weak, soul ancestors and soul elders. So, we dealt with them, so you don't need to thank us for this."
I could only say, "Fuck, we are in their debt, then. But why join us if you can handle yourself so well? We would be a burden to you."
He pointed at me and Ye Lingling. "Because you represent a chance for a stable future. I can guess you guys are heading for Heavenly you academy and try to connect with the nine heart flowering apple welder in it. We want to join you for passage into the Heavenly Dou empire. Our past identity might never allow entry into the Heavenly Dou empire or any other major forces of employment. But citizenship or being allowed to be a mercenary is possible as long as someone vouch for us."
"You are really holding me in high regard, but I am sorry to say, I am not sure that I can enter the academy, much less vouch for problematic folks like you."
He nodded as if it was natural, "That is why we will only travel with you till the empire. If you can arrange that, then it is good, otherwise we will part ways to find ourself another backing or help."
After some brief silence filled with thinking, he said, "I think it is best to inform you of this. While the chaos will be increase overtime, it will end rather swiftly and peace will be restored to the empire to maintain its strength."
I couldn't help but say, "Who can do that? I don't know how, but even the emperor can't intervene in the conflict for the throne. Who else can stop everyone?"
Shian 'Tis voice finally had an emotion, an emotion of fear. "The Dai family. Filled with the descendents of Royalty who didn't inherit the White tiger martial soul, but possess a diverse variety of Top class martial souls, grown strong with the resources of the Star lo empire. Their existence is only for a single reason- Ensure that the conflict for the throne never threatens the strength of empire. Considering the situation, they will move and when they do, they will be swift. I don't know when, but I estimate we have about two more months before the situation stabilizes, and the empire remembers the ant that bite them in the past- us. So, Zhang Kun, we want to travel with you to converse with our strength and save ourselves some effort when facing the many weaklings attacking us because of the sheer numbers of advantage we will have."
What can I say? I said, "Yes, we will be happy to have you. But I must say, we are going to the Star Luo forest for my second ring."
He nodded as if it was alright.
"I have a suggestion for you."
I nodded, considering what he wants to say. This robotic hound that is an ally for now.
"You better avoid sending your teacher or his apprentices into the towns or villages. They have really loose lips. A few nights of sex and booze made them reveal your travel plan to my people. Don't worry, I cleaned the trails they unintentionally left behind."
SMACK
While my face smack hurts, I need to do so to control myself. Thank god, I didn't reveal the exact route and plan, otherwise these guys would have sucked the info from teacher and made off on their own.
The only reason these guys didn't attack or become violent was because we don't have any enmity between us.
That and the fact that the mirror forge clones can double their chance of survival.
But those clones can only be made if enough resources were invested. I can already see all the accumulated wealth being exhausted in making a clone for Shian Ti, but the sheer prospect of having two soul king powers is exciting.
"TEACHER, You Have a job."
Teacher Mo Tian, who was sitting beside the woman subordinate that came with Shian Ti, made me realize she was the one who sucked the info out of him. I think her name was Su Muan.
"Leave it to me, my student. I will start forging right hand."
He immediately took out metals after metals and released his martial soul, "Now, you puppet like guy, cut your wrist and fill this tank with blood."
Looking at the nauseating tank that is bigger than an elephant, I understood Shian Ti's thoughts, "No need to worry, we have the best healing martial soul in the world. So you don't need to worry about your health. So, bleed more with a peace of mind."
——————A month later————
"Roar of ice,"
"Gear 5 : Rippling dual hammer."
BOOOOM
It was the 35th crushing defeat for the 900-year-old Red tiger and it finally yielded with the proof of predecessor shown in front of it. Looking at my 900-year-old 1st soul ring, it shown its consent.
MEOWWWW
Looking at the tiger that has crouched in defeat, exhausted from constant healing from Ye Lingling and spars with me. I felt like crying too. After all, I also underwent the cycle of healing and spars like it.
No, even more so I know that given enough time, I can grow my body enough to surpass the 1000-year-old limit for the second ring. But, I have no time. In order to enter the Heavenly Dou academy, I need to increase my value as much as possible.
Spending a half year to break the limit of my body is the same as committing suicide.
But, I am still unwilling. It was because of the strengthening effect of the soul bone that I can actually break the limit now. After taking the second ring, the effect will decrease. Meaning I would lose the chance.
Fuck, fuck , fuck.
Having vented my anger and feelings, I went towards the Red tiger whose attribute is flame.
"Start the procedure."
MEOW
[Processing….
Analyzing….
Red Tiger : Soul sync 40%
Recommended change to Red Tiger : Change the soul power from the claws to the tail in the reverse path of the Flame claws.
Recommended Change to Host: Change the soul power path to the navel and pelvis through the passage through the liver.]
With prior experience from teaching the Ice Tiger, I grabbed the red tiger's tail and pulled it with all my strength. "Pull the soul power from your flame claw skill, here."
MEOW
I followed the suggestion made from the vast database I made.
[ Soul sync: 63% [temporary] ]
"Enough, time to fuse. Start the sacrifice Red Tiger."
ROARR
Looking at the red ball of light that is zipping through the air for me, I sat in my position to guide the absorption with it. Finally, with the prior data and experience, I got to start a harmless experiment.
[Experiment : External bone-tail
Guide the soul ring self sacrifice to the portal vein, spinal ganglion, lumbar plexus and the pelvic bones in the order of ….]
Yes, I plan to find myself an external bone. I shouted at the Red Tiger to guide its essence into as per the instructions.
'Now, head towards the navel. Good, now towards my back. Hurry, damn it.'
Fuck, it hurts. I don't think I can bear this much longer.
'Fucking stupid idiot, not that way.'
MEOW
Fuck
'Yes, yes, finally. Let's now go to the pelvic bone. YES,'
[Processing... Experiment failed.]
FUCK
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, IT HURTSSSSS."
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[Clash of Fire attribute and ice attribute.
Starting the instructions as per the preparations
Follow the roar of ice soul paths, bring the ice attribute power to the skin at 22%
Bring the Fire attribute at 34%]
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[Change: Increase the soul power to the organs, portal vein, penis.
Ice Attribute to 98%
Fire Attribute to 87%]
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[ Clearing the soul power paths with soul power- Completed by the host
Ice Attribute -0%
Fire Attribute-0%
TING. TING. Soul ring gained]
After this miserable experience, I had to compromise with the age of the second ring and failed in the experiment. I got my second ring.
"Flame claws."
SLASH
SIZZLE
Looking at the tree that got cut and fell down, leaving the sizzling remains. I at least felt the soul skill was ok.
"Incredible to think your mad attempt would succeed. You broke the optimal limit."
I looked at Shian Ti, who held the entire red tiger tribe hostage with his brute strength. I wondered if he really is tracker. Or it might be the fact that the Soul King is just that strong.
Thankfully, Teacher put a self destruction in the mirror forge clone. So, if he wants to use the clone, he would have to protect us.
Teacher just smiled, knowing I had a 900-year-old ring as my first ring.
Hey, to think I have the same cultivation ring in both the first and second ring. It seems the plan must change.
Initially, I thought four thousand year ring for 2nd soul ring and the ice worm [ice, mental] for 3rd ring. Hence balancing the attributes in my body when combined with the immortal herbs and ice-fire well, to force a martial soul evolution. A theory that apparently had success in the past, according to the 2nd prince.
Now, it seems I must force the evolution before third ring, otherwise it will be too late. Because to balance the attributes in the third ring, I need to waste the 4th ring. As for evolution apparent from the 5th ring, unless I am a half soul beast, it is lost because the martial soul will become stable.
"I don't get your reason for choosing the opposite attributes. Everyone who does that are Solo combat madman who doesn't want to have any weakness. Whatever, you succeed anyway. Now, if fire doesn't work, you can use ice. You will always have an advantage in battles of the same level."
"Thank you for the compliment, teacher."
"Let's party and barbecue."
"Hurray."
Looking at the blacksmiths, I could only say that blacksmithing is tiring work. No wonder they are easily led astray by booze and women. They do need to relax. Especially considering the days we spent in the forest to avoid the pursuit and get me a soul ring.
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Shian Ti patiently waited an entire day for the congratulations and celebrations to end before asking.
"So, where to next? Because we are in the forest, it is difficult to get the information. Even if my men are going back and forth for us to get the information, any delay would be a death sentence for us."
Hearing his trust, I couldn't help but ask, "Why are you trusting my opinion so much? I mean, I am a kid, no matter how much of a genius I am."
Shian Ti gave a rather chilling answer, "It is simple: you took part in the conflict for the throne. Age doesn't have any value in that. The prince and the nobles are already putting their life and future on the line in the conflict. Such cruelty while disgusting churns out hardened politicians and warriors, because those who cannot harden themselves die or disappear."
Those who look from outside have a clear vision. It is true from Shian Ti's words. I am sure that the students or participants in the conflict for Throne are beyond the words of mature and calculating, in a way far beyond most peers of the same age.
I thought for a while and answered the truth. "I initially planned to build my reputation slowly with healing and awakening the martial souls. Now, we need to do something big or an incident to do the same rapidly."
"I don't get it. What's with your pursuit of reputation?"
"HAHAHA! It seems you have a less interest in politics or the nature of men in truth. If you found two people seeking shelter because they were banished from their village. Who will you give shelter to if you can only choose one? Most importantly, one is an honest man who donated all his wealth to the poor or a gambler who drinks all day. Like I said, you don't know why they were banished from the village."
"The Kind guy."
"Exactly. I want to be the Kind guy who gets the shelter. Of course, the reality is far more complex, but the thing is that I want to increase my value. The place we are going to next will increase my reputation and also my strength further."
We are aiming for the village, which had the rumours of Wolftaken harassing them. I am sure they are the ones mentioned in the canon, especially when considering the location.
How much will my strength increase if I get another soul bone?
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder