[Author's note: I skipped the spar to keep the surprise to be shown in the next chapter.]
"So, how did it go?"
I sat down in the chair while applying the silver healing paste to my bruises, burns and clawed out lacerations. The fire panther [Ju Lian's martial soul] was a really scary martial soul. Each attack burns.
"It went like planned. I won."
That was like a signal for a light show.
Teacher literally jumped up into the air shouting out in joy, "Yeah ho! Fuck you Lou Gao, you old bastard! My student accomplished what you couldn't. He helped the blacksmiths. HAHAH."
I had to watch him move his waist back and forth in his vulgar dissing of the President of Blacksmith association. Man, Teacher Mo Tian is a petty man.
"Come on, Teacher. It has been years, and it is his right to reject you from becoming his disciple."
Before I knew it, Teacher Mo Tian's gruffy face was in front of my face to continue talking. Like always, he went on his excessive tirade about his sad past for the millionth time.
I rubbed the saliva sprayed on me with few remaining strands of shirt on my body and planned to take a birth afterwards. Anyway, it is like a rag right now.
Especially after the spar with Ju Lian. I dragged my thoughts away from the spar to Teacher who wrapping up his daily dissing.
".....and just like that, I, the winner of the blacksmith competition, was rejected for my apparent lack of talent in cultivation. The bastard had the audacity to choose the runner-up Si Long, who was nowhere near my skill. Fuck the old man, fuck his narrow mind."
He then laughed aloud while looking at me, "Now, I could diss the old man for a lifetime. Official patronage from one of the two great royal families. A crown prince, no less."
I busted his bubble by saying, "Don't get so excited just yet, teacher. The prince agreed based on a condition. I need to prove the blacksmith's weapon again."
After all, the spar with Ju Lian was done behind closed door and strictly speaking, Ju Lian was only a talented subordinate of first prince.
SNORT
Teacher's sarcasm rose at this point. "Oh! There, you see, the nobles want something more. They call us greedy merchants when they are the same, running to the prince with better price. This is the reason I didn't want you to join the noble struggles."
I gave a paper and a badge to Teacher in response, " A student badge on my name for Star Luo academy and most importantly the information on location and abilities of every suitable spirit beast for a tiger martial soul, ranging from the measly age of 10 years to 10,000 years."
[Processing..
Compiling the data…
Ding.
Flame Tiger group: Fire attribute, Age: 10-3000 years, Located in Sun Horn Mountain.Frost Tiger group: Ice attribute, Age: 50-4000 years, Found in Frozen Glacier.Spirit Tiger group: Spirit attribute, Age: 8000, Resides in Spirit Valley.Dark Demon Tiger: Darkness, Age: 10,000 years, Hidden in Abyssal Forest.Scorpion Tiger: Posion, Age: 30,000 years, Star Luo Forest.Storm Tiger group: Wind/Thunder attribute, Age: 200-60,000 years, Roams the Tempest Plains.-------]
On and on the list went. From tiger groups which were impossible on earth, due to the nature of tigers. But, in this world, such groups existed to survive.
"They even threw in locations of few spirit beasts aged above 10,000. Bloody fuckers. As if we can survive a spirit beast group like storm tiger group. It was nothing more than tempting us. Who in their right mind would pursue the Dark Demon tiger or the scorpion tigers? They are the worst."
I bit back my retort because I was the one who pursued them. Dark demon tiger, a darkness attribute tiger was without doubt a spirit beast related very closely to one godly spirit beast, Dark Demon god tiger. It could consider to be a spirit beast rivalling the seraphim martial soul of Qian Renxue.
It was the end target of my martial soul evolution.
I mean, the heavenly jewel change protag managed to become a god from the bloodline core of the Dark Demon god tiger. I, Myself possessed a tiger martial soul. Of course, I would pursue the evil spirit beast.
So, all my spirit rings and spirit bones would target and train my body to achieve my goal of absorbing the 65,000 years Dark Demon god Tiger and it's bloodline core.
Of course, saying that to my teacher would brand me as evil soul master. Because, the spirit beasts like Dark demon tiger, Scorpian tiger and obviously, Dark Demon god tiger were the evilest of the evil. The last two directly possessing evil attribute and could only cultivate by eating others.
I groaned as I got up, feeling the injuries from the spar.
The Star Luo Empire, which covers half of the Duoluo continent, is known for its focus on one martial soul - the White Tiger. As a result, the Star Luo Academy and the empire itself have dedicated their resources to tiger martial souls and the spirit rings for the same. They excel in everything related to tiger martial souls, including researching suitable spirit beasts for spirit rings, providing cultivation training grounds, and having abundant herbal resources.
I need them all.
Not even the spirit hall can dare say it is better than the Star Luo empire.
Teacher, hearing my logic, sighed and said, "So, what is the so-called test or grunt work they gave you? SNORT, just like the nobles, even when he requires us to stay in the competition, we must flatter him."
I took up the badge and said, "Humiliate a student in Star luo academy by thrashing him and, by doing so, show the nobles the advantage of blacksmith weapons."
Teacher asked with a sinking expression, "Who is the student?"
I understood the teacher's worries.
Humiliating a regular student, even if they're a genius like Ju Lian, won't influence the nobles in believing the blacksmith's weapons strength, even if the First prince comes forward.
The student who was targeted to be humiliated by Prince Dai Weisi must have a special identity.
"In fact, One can easily guess the student's identity. After all, the student must be of similar age to me, but me winning against him will be a humiliation. The kind that will be deal a death blow to the student's name. So, we can guess two things from that. He must have a soul ring by now and, most importantly, an identity that every noble cannot ignore."
Teacher tiredly said the target's name, "The new prince revealed by the emperor, Third Prince Dai Mubai."
———The next day——
CLICK CLACK CLICK CLACK
CLICK CLACK
The sounds of the carriage wheels turning faded into the background for me as the carriage fleet followed the Third prince back to Star Luo Academy. Of course, considering my student identity, I was given a carriage to sit inside.
I started my cultivation by compressing the soul power bit by bit. It was not as simple as being said. Compressing less was useless and compressing more will lead to my meridians blowing up.
[ AI Suggestion: One more point of soul power can compress.]
Of course, with the help of AI, I can always stay on track regarding the amount of compression. Little by little, the soul power being compressed in increased as my meridians themselves were getting more used to the compressed soul power.
The compression of soul power is not unbelievable for most people.
It occurred naturally as a soul master rises through levels until the gaseous soul power becomes liquid at the soul saint stage, solid at Title Doulou.
The advantage of soul power compression is naturally making the meridians resilient, which is useful when absorbing soul rings.
The other advantage is that the compressed soul power is naturally stronger than the same level.
Yes, I am a genius in a way. Now, in combat, I won against Ju Lian who already has one soul ring.
Of course, my aim was not simple compression. It was soul core.
[Soul core.
It was the condensation soul cores. In soul 2 and 3, it became a widespread knowledge that soul cores were the ultimate form of solid soul power.
1st soul core means you reach the Title douluo. In the current era, it was condensed instinctively by the soul masters when they breakthrough rank 90. In the future, the soul masters systemically mastered the way to condense the soul core at rank 70.
2nd soul core means you could reach Limit douluo. Generally condensed at rank 95 or above, because any rank below means wishing for the soul master's body to blow up.
3 soul cores means you were a god.
The advanatages of soul cores were simple- Ease of breakthrough, faster recovery of soul power, and increased control over soul power, hence decreased wastage of soul power.
Note: Soul core doesn't give increased cultivation speed. In fact, it reduces it.
Special form of cores: Bloodline cores [Dark Demon God tiger], Divine cores [God Positions].]
[Author note: This was completely canon complaint.]
BOOOOM
I was literally knocked out of cultivation by the explosions. It as especially painful as hurled out of the broken carriage into dirt.
COUGH
COUGH
Spewing the sand in my mouth, I got to my combat stance while possessing my martial soul. I looked around to see the destroyed carriages and the prince with his group standing in a formation away.
The civilians and horses were running away from the explosions caused by the source of chaos.
A man dressed in armour with tiger sigil, filled with spotted fur from head to toe, was choking the life of a black clothed enemy, probably an assassin, with a fucking single hand. The scariest part was not his scars. Nor was the many bodies surrounding him.
No, it was the six rings floating around him- 2 yellow, 2 purple-2 black.
"I must say, the second prince is really daring enough to send just 4 soul ancestors and 2 soul kings with me around."
Prince Weisi walked forward while Soul emperor guard crushed the head of the final assassin. "That's because they are expendable. After all, unlike the nobles bound by blood ties and interests. These trash are rogue civilian cultivators who may change the side anytime. So, he used them to consume my forces. But, unfortunately for him, you are here, Uncle Zhu Wan."
Zhu Wan laughed happily while walking towards the group, not caring about the fact he stepped on the heads of the corpses. "Anything for my favourite nephew and niece."
Zhu Zhuyun smiled as she said, "Likewise, you are my favourite uncle."
As the Zhu Wan looked at me, I gave a short bow to convey my respects. I internally thought that royalty and nobles were really tedious to greet.
He gave a nod as he dissolved his martial soul- Hell Leopard.
Zhu Wan taught his nephew with seriousness. "Let's go. The assassination attempt failed because I was hidden, and they didn't know I was there. Now that they know, the second prince might send more assassins. Information is crucial in sending assassins."
Dai Weisi snorted, "Let them come. We will dig a hole for every single one of them."
"HAHA! Well done, as expected of a prince."
Even as he basked in Zhu Wan's praise, Prince Weisi obediently led everyone to run back the rest of the way.
Trash talking is one thing. Risking one's life because of stupidity was another thing.
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"...So, the first prince's noble forces are larger and more powerful, but they are easily tracked by the Dai Family Elders' council. While the 2nd Prince's forces are composed of Civilian Soul masters who can be just about be anyone. So, we have to deal with constant assassination attempts."
I listened intently as Ju Lian explained the inner workings of the prince factions. I couldn't help but ask, "Doesn't that mean the 1st prince is disadvantaged by the emperor in this aspect?"
Zhu Zhuyun responded contemptuously, snorting to emphasize her point. "The second prince is just as bound by the emperor's rules as everyone else. The failed assassination attempt on Dai Weisi means an investigation will be started by the emperor. Anyone found guilty will face severe punishment."
She licked her lips, giving off a predatory vibe, and confidently stated, "Some individuals will perish during this investigation. Oh yes! I will really enjoy their deaths."
As she glanced at the noble children, their breath ragged, she remarked casually, "It's a shame—they yearn for power and favor, yet shrink from risk."
The nobles supporting the first prince wield the power to eliminate the second prince yet hesitate to stake everything on a single move. The possibility of his survival—and eventual victory—looms too large a risk.
The reigning emperor was an example to this brutal possible.
In the previous generation, the second prince was born with a full innate soul power and managed to survive to adult hood. He then slew his elder brother and ascended the throne in his place. That's the current Emperor.
"So, little Zhang, prove yourself well. If Dai Weisi falls… your fate will be terrifying."
I nodded, aware that once you mount a tiger, dismounting was no easy feat.
"Look, we are finally back."
"At last."
"My legs are killing me."
"I will kill those servants who ran away. How dare they?"
So, the complaints and whining of the spoiled kids were my welcome to Star Luo academy.
—————-Next day————-
My first day in Star Luo Academy was greeted by the morning sun, which made me immediately exit my cultivation.
As for sleep, sorry. I forgot about such things for years.
The different shades of sunlight gave rise to one thing that I was waiting for, the purple flash of Purple Qi. Immediately I rushed my soul power through my retina, the eye part which receives light.
"WOW!"
Doing this daily was tough, especially since any interruption may need more than a month to get the retina familiar with purple Qi again.
Still, this single moment of sudden increase in senses and mental relaxation makes it worth it.
Ever since I found the method, I had been hooked on it. In fact, I realised while sleep can be replaced with cultivation, the burden on my mind slowly accumulated until I absorbed my first purple Qi.
[AI Task:
Percentage of Retina absorbing Purple Qi: 12% --->13 %]
I don't know how the principle of Tang San's Purple Demon eye works but, I improved my method further by increasing the amount of Purple Qi absorbed.
I believe that the scary feature of Tang sect was their Mysterious Heaven method, which is made after they completely explored all the meridians, including the various applications.
In simpler terms, they explored how to use strength in various parts of eyes and brain with internal energy or soul power. It was something I could't do. And, my modern knowledge didn't possess single scraping of such mysterious ways.
"ZHANG KUN!"
I looked down from walk down the stairs to see Ju Lian waiting for me. It seems winning against him and me being the only other civilian soul master he knew made us friends.
"Ju Lian, What's the matter?"
He hooked his finger back to him while saying, "The first prince told me to introduce the academy to you."
I nodded and jumped down from the roof of dorms.
"Let's go. I wanted to visit the famed library of tigers."
Ju Lian nodded but, said in return.
"I am hungry. Let's eat before we explore. What's the hurry?"
I felt my brow wrinkle in irritation. I found this to be a quirk of Ju Lian. He says one thing and says another completely uncommon thing the next second.
He invited me in his weird, messed way and twisted the conversation into me hurrying him up.
"You fell down on your head when you were a kid."
My statement got a pondering expression from Ju Lian which soon turned to enlightenment, then into sadness and finally settled on him uttering, "No wonder, I am hungry."
I facepalmed as he once again skipped explaining the reason and saying his conclusion of the matter.