บท 190: Chapter 177: Embodiment of Martial Souls
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Rustle!
The nine-fold crown of the blood-colored cloud tree trembled, and countless blood-colored leaves drifted down.
"Be vigilant, don't let those leaves fall on us." Tang San used his soul power to adhere to his body surface, repelling the densely packed slender blood-colored cloud leaves. "These leaves carry an extremely strong corrosive aura. My martial soul's life force is repelling this corrosive aura."
Hearing this, everyone immediately covered themselves with a layer of soul power.
If they hadn't all undergone tree-climbing training and made some progress in controlling soul power, they wouldn't be able to condense a soul power outer layer.
"Covering soul power like this consumes a lot of energy," Huo Wu said.
"No worries, watch this."
Tang San raised his hand, and the Blue Silver Emperor from the endless grassland entwined around everyone's waists, restoring their soul power.
Soul skills require soul rings to be used.
But Tang San, who had already become a Soul King, had evolved the Blue Silver Emperor to an incredible extent. Even without using soul skills, its passive recovery ability was comparable to using the first soul skill when he was still a Soul Douluo.
The combination of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot was condensed into a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, terrifyingly enhancing the Blue Silver Emperor.
Feeling the soul power transmitted by the Blue Silver Emperor, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, no longer worrying about soul power consumption.
Three minutes later, the falling leaves of the blood-colored cloud tree stopped, and more than twenty red tentacles extended from its trunk, piercing the back necks of more than twenty dry corpses.
Crack!
With the sound of bones rubbing against each other, more than twenty dry corpses stood up, roaring towards Tang San and the others.
"So eerie!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed, "Are they zombies?"
"It should be said that they are corpse puppets." Tang San immediately discerned the essence, reassuring everyone not to panic. "The ability for humans to control the movement of their bodies based on thoughts relies on the transmission of information through the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the nervous system. Those tentacles are controlling their movements by manipulating their brains, brain stems, and spinal cords."
"So, attacking their back necks will do?" Huo Wu's third soul ring shimmered, a small golden light beam emitted from her index finger, instantly piercing through the throat of one of the dry corpses, breaking its head.
Snap!
The lower body of the dry corpse fell, leaving only a head connected by tentacles, suspended in mid-air, opening and closing its jaws, both eerie and ridiculous.
"It looks... quite fragile?" Huo Wu was surprised. "My attack just now didn't even use one twentieth of my soul power."
"It's very simple, after all, they're all dry corpses, their blood and soul power have been completely drained, naturally making their bodies as fragile as weathered stones." Tang San waved his hand, and countless Blue Silver Emperors entwined around those dry corpses, with a slight pull, causing their heads to detach.
For a moment, the heads of more than twenty dry corpses hung on the blood-colored cloud tree, moving their jaws incessantly, appearing quite ridiculous.
"It turns out they're just appearances, not useful." Yu Feng chuckled.
"The methods of the fallen aren't that great." Oslo chimed in.
However, Tang San frowned, saying, "This shouldn't be the case. Even if the cultivation of this cloud tree has been forcibly enhanced by some means, it has reached ninety thousand years. It couldn't be this weak. Such attacks are not even comparable to some thousand-year-old plant-type soul beasts..."
"Next, I will communicate with this cloud tree using my martial soul. Shi Mo, Xiao Wu, Shi Shi, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong, guard me."
"Guang Ling, Huo Wu, both of you have long-range attack capabilities. Aim at the top crown of this cloud tree and stop that Blood Sword Norman from continuing those eerie actions."
"The rest of you, wait until Guang Ling and Huo Wu finish their attack before deciding. See if this ninety thousand-year-old cloud tree will counterattack. If it doesn't, then the soul of this cloud tree is probably affected by Blood Sword Norman's secret method, leaving only instincts... it must be so, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to control this ninety thousand-year-old cloud tree."
"If my guess is true, then you go up the tree and kill Blood Sword Norman."
"And after Guang Ling and Huo Wu's attack, if this cloud tree goes wild, then we'll leave immediately. A ninety thousand-year-old plant-type soul beast with strong vitality is not something we can easily deal with."
After speaking, Tang San put away the endless grassland, walked to the trunk of the blood-colored cloud tree, placed his right hand on it, and released his martial soul again, causing the Blue Silver Emperor to root itself inside the cloud tree.
In an instant.
A tyrannical spiritual power pervaded into the Blue Silver Emperor and was perceived by Tang San.
This spiritual power was frantic, chaotic, and heterogeneous, as if it were a conglomerate of countless creatures. But Tang San, relying on the aura of the Golden Tree, sensed the true nature of this spiritual power.
Within the spiritual space of the cloud tree, human and soul beast spirits, or fragments of souls, were mixed together, forming a strange spiritual energy mass resembling the appearance of Cthulhu, constantly assaulting a white spiritual energy sphere, causing it to continuously dissipate and vanish.
Perhaps it wouldn't be long before that energy sphere dissipated.
Tang San immediately infused a cluster of Blue Silver Emperor's vitality into it, strengthening its spiritual energy sphere. Then, relying on his vast-level spiritual power achieved with the Purple Demon Eye, he attacked the heterogeneous mixture of spiritual energies.
Moreover, after getting close to that white energy sphere, Tang San's spiritual power could condense a corresponding form in the cloud tree's spiritual space.
In the spiritual embodiment state, Tang San found that he could use both the Blue Silver Emperor and the Haotian Hammer martial souls. With determination, he wielded the Haotian Hammer, using the Disorderly Wind Hammer technique to crush the chaotic soul fragment conglomerate.
Although each time he crushed them, these soul fragments would reassemble, a portion of the dispersed spiritual energy would become extremely pure, crystal-clear like a crystal.
These crystallized portions of spiritual power would voluntarily merge into Tang San and the cloud tree's souls, enhancing the strength of both their spiritual and soul powers.
"This is a great opportunity!" Tang San felt his spiritual power strengthening and improving in quality, overwhelmed with joy. The movements of swinging the Haotian Hammer in his hand became faster and more agile.
"Boom!"
When the Disorderly Wind Hammer technique accumulated to eighty-one strikes, the entire spiritual space of the cloud tree vibrated.
The Haotian Hammer flew out of Tang San's hand, carrying a spiritual storm, distorting the spiritual space, and fiercely crashing into the conglomerate of soul fragments.
The mixed soul fragments burst open, hundreds and thousands of pure spiritual energy crystals scattered, rushing towards Tang San and the cloud tree's souls, strengthening their spiritual and soul powers.
"Roar!"
The Haotian Hammer transformed itself into Nine Haos, already having five heads, and displayed five elemental powers: fire, light, wind, water, and poison. It constructed an extremely intricate energy pattern, forming a pentagram, gathering those soul fragments into a gray sphere, and swallowed it whole.
Immediately, Tang San received a message, "Death, is the attribute of your next head?"
Nine Haos affectionately rubbed against Tang San's spiritual manifestation, then transformed back into the Haotian Hammer. The nine Haos patterns on its hammerhead, the edges of the five heads, and the sixth head were faintly visible, with its eyes being deep gray.
Tang San, contemplating, "In the God Seal Throne, the second head of the Moonlight should have been of the Dark attribute. It was only after Long Haochen's blood exchange that it became Light attribute... This means that Nine Haos' attributes can change based on external factors, as long as the essential attribute of the ninth head is destruction."
"But why is the attribute of the second head Light?"
"Could it be that Nine Haos, reborn with a martial soul, can inherit the attribute power of the previous life?"
Tang San was very sure that Austin Griffin possessed self-awareness, and its coming to the Douluo Continent was probably not as simple as being a "cheat" for transmigrators.
After all, which "cheat" would slip away from its original owner and choose another host?
Moreover, Austin Griffin was the twin brother of the God Seal Throne's Creator God. The entanglement between the two must attract each other. Could it be that the Eternal and Creation God Thrones would also come to the Douluo Continent?
After all, in the storylines of the God Seal Throne, the Thrones of Eternal and Creation were temporarily acknowledged by Long Haochen. After solving the problems of the Holy Demon Continent, the Thrones of Eternal and Creation would follow the guidance of fate, leaving the Holy Demon Continent, drifting in the universe, and descending upon other planes and stars.
Since Austin Griffin was the twin brother of the Creator God, the entanglement between them would inevitably attract each other. The Thrones of Eternal and Creation might also come to the Douluo Continent.
The only question was whether they had already arrived, hidden somewhere, or were on their way...
Outside, Tang San opened his eyes, feeling invigorated.
The body of Blood Sword Norman had been discarded to the side, and that piece of million-year-level right leg bone had also been dug out.
After Tang San crushed the chaotic soul fragment assembly within the spiritual space, Blood Sword Norman could no longer effectively control the cloud tree.
Moreover, after Nine Haos swallowed the soul fragments, Blood Sword Norman directly suffered backlash.
In addition to Tang San's message to the cloud tree not to attack Xiao Wu and the others, Huo Wu, Yu Tianheng, and others easily climbed up the tree. The cloud tree even assisted them.
Although Blood Sword Norman was a Soul King, he could barely withstand a few moves from Yu Tianheng, Xiao Wu, and the others, let alone the fact that his spirit had been backlashed earlier due to Tang San's intervention.
"Captain, it's all thanks to you, right?" Yu Tianheng handed over the million-year-old right leg bone. "You must have influenced Blood Sword Norman's spirit through this cloud tree, making it easy for us to kill him. This million-year-old soul bone is rightfully yours."
"No, this soul bone is not suitable for me." Tang San shook his head. His own hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone, rooted in the same origin as the Blue Silver Emperor, was rejected by his own cultivation of the Jade Bones, let alone this million-year-old soul bone, which was also produced by a wolf-type soul beast?
However, it showed that Yu Tianheng and the others could resist the temptation of absorbing the soul bone, indicating their good character.
Tang San continued, "This soul bone, originating from a wolf-type soul beast, is most suitable for Zhuqing and Oslo among us. Both of their martial souls, one being the Shadow Devil Cat and the other being the Ghost Leopard, are the most similar in size and habits to wolf-type creatures, and therefore, the absorption or gain would be the strongest for them."
Zhu Zhuqing's tone was cold, "I don't want it. After all, I haven't been able to perfectly and flexibly use externally attached soul bones. Although absorbing another soul bone could enhance my physical fitness, it doesn't seem to have a greater improvement on my own strength, just an additional soul bone skill."
Oslo also refused, saying, "I haven't even made much effort. It doesn't feel right to absorb this soul bone."
Now, everyone was speechless.
Wasn't a soul bone a rare treasure? They actually didn't want them one by one... They all felt like they might be possessed by ghosts and were seeing things.
"In that case, let's give this soul bone to Teacher Qin Ming." Tang San suggested, "His martial soul is the Blazing Cang Wolf, which happens to be extremely compatible with this soul bone dropped by a wolf-type soul beast."
"Furthermore, Teacher Qin Ming is our leader, taking us to the Star Luo Empire, coming here for training. He must have made a lot of efforts, needing to talk to the Education Committee of the Star Luo Royal Academy, the Lord of White Cloud City, and others, saving us a lot of trouble."
"Consider this soul bone as a reward. What do you think?"
The reason for suggesting giving it to Qin Ming was because Tang San hoped that Qin Ming would sever his thoughts of returning to Shrek.
A million-year-old soul bone was definitely valuable enough.
Moreover, according to Tang San's investigation, the age of this soul bone was close to fifty thousand years, which was excellent. It was estimated to be the same as the bloodthirsty rampage right leg bone from the original story.
"I agree. After all, Teacher Qin Ming has indeed taken care of us quite a bit," Yu Tianheng had no objections.
"I agree too."
"Agreed."
"I second that."
"This soul bone is not suitable for me."
"..."
Observing secretly, Qin Ming was very moved.
"Teacher Qin Ming, there's no need to hide, right? Come out. This is a gift we all want to give you together." Tang San shouted towards a nearby cloud tree.
Whoosh!
Qin Ming jumped down from the tree and, with a few leaps, came to Tang San and the others. He stared at the soul bone for a while and couldn't help asking, "Are you really not absorbing it? According to my observation, this soul bone is at least forty thousand years old! Even a Titled Douluo would fight over it!"
"We don't want it," Tang San turned his head and looked at Huo Wu, Yu Tianheng, and others, seeing them shake their heads. He continued, "Unlike soul rings, the benefits brought by soul bones and soul skills are completely unrelated to martial souls. They are the skills of soul beasts. As a result, when the type of martial soul matches the type of soul beast that drops the soul bone, the benefits obtained after absorption are maximized."
"Teacher Qin Ming's martial soul is the Blazing Cang Wolf, and this soul bone is also dropped from a wolf-type soul beast. It's like a green leaf setting off a red flower—complementary."
Naturally, Qin Ming understood this principle and no longer pretended. He took the million-year-old right leg bone from Tang San's hand, sat down cross-legged on the spot, and began to absorb it.
Twenty minutes later, the absorption of the soul bone was complete.
Qin Ming's soul power did not increase, but his physical fitness was enhanced. Most importantly, he gained a soul bone skill that could boost his attack, defense, and speed by one hundred percent.
Moreover, unlike in the original story where Dai Mubai couldn't use other soul ring skills when using the soul bone skill, Qin Ming didn't have this drawback.
This was because the soul bone and Qin Ming's martial soul, the Blazing Cang Wolf, were both wolf-type. Even though they were not the same type of wolf, the compatibility between them was not comparable to Dai Mubai's White Tiger martial soul.
"Teacher Qin Ming, how do you feel? Was the process of absorbing the soul bone enjoyable?" Yu Feng asked curiously.
"Uh... the process of absorbing the soul bone was actually not painful, but the excitement brought by the overall strengthening after absorption is indeed thrilling." Qin Ming clenched his fists suddenly, and his hands turned into wolf claws, emitting strands of fire in the air, bursting.
This million-year-old soul bone also strengthened his control over soul power.
"Moreover, the enhancement of the body also makes the circulation of soul power in the body smoother... I have a feeling that I will be able to reach the Soul Saint level within two years."
"Congratulations, Teacher Qin Ming," Tang San congratulated.
"It's also thanks to all of you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have obtained such a good soul bone." Qin Ming laughed heartily, then walked to the side of Blood Sword Norman's body and cut off his head.
Seeing this bloody scene, Xiao Wu felt a little nauseous, and the others frowned as well.
Although they had just killed someone, this kind of "pulling out the grass to get rid of the roots" behavior was still somewhat chilling and resistant.
Seeing this, Qin Ming wrapped Blood Sword Norman's head in cloth, comforted everyone, and said, "This is the most convenient method. With just one head, it can prove that he was a fallen one. Besides, none of you want to carry a fallen one's body in your storage soul guide, right?"
This was indeed the truth, and no one present wanted a fallen one's body in their storage soul guide.
However, as soon as Blood Sword Norman's head was completely cut off, his headless body suddenly trembled, and then a blood-red short sword emerged from his right hand.
That was his martial soul!
"Bam!"
In a reflex reaction, Qin Ming immediately struck down with his palm, destroying Blood Sword Norman's corpse, and the blazing flames instantly ignited the body.
"Woo~"
From the burning corpse, black skulls made of smoke emerged, resembling the wails of ghosts, emitting a foul odor that was extremely unpleasant.
"What is this?" Qin Ming hastily retreated, and the others became alert as well.
Tang San was also puzzled, but he noticed that the blood-red short sword, under the burning flames, gradually dissipated its crimson color, turning into a silvery-white hue, crystal-clear like a gem, and the golden dragon patterns inside seemed to come alive, winding and twisting, incredibly agile.
When the flames burned out, Blood Sword Norman's body had turned into ashes, leaving only a crystal-clear short sword with shimmering dragon patterns flowing within.
Those dragon patterns were extremely similar to the dragon patterns on Yang Wudi's Dragon Roar Spear.
Perhaps Yang Wudi's transmigration had indeed brought about some kind of cheat, but when he was killed by Blood Sword Norman, his "cheat" was also obtained by Blood Sword Norman.
Tang San approached and picked up the crystal dragon-patterned short sword. After infusing it with soul power, he found that this thing had extremely smooth soul power conduction, and it gave him a feeling that it could cut through and pierce through anything.
"Isn't this the martial soul of Blood Sword Norman?" Huo Wu was shocked. "The person is dead, but can the martial soul still remain in the world? Has it materialized?"
"It's indeed a possibility."
Tang San did know a way to materialize a tool martial soul, which was to become a god, to break through the hundredth level.
The Trident of the Sea God on Sea God Island was condensed after Poseidon ascended to the position of Sea God. After becoming a god, his martial soul materialized and turned into a divine tool.
(End of this chapter)
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