If it continued like this, he could only bully those with lower soul power than himself, but could never act domineering in front of true equals...
Of course, Tang Xiao didn't mind bullying the weak. In this regard, it could be said he had no moral bottom line, nor any principles.
Yet it was still disheartening to realize he could not act domineeringly or overpower those of the same rank with his current condition...
He knew he was not like that evildoer Tang Chen, who had once defeated Qian Daoliu and made the Clear Sky Hammer Sect's name resound throughout the world...
"If I remember correctly, my so-called grandfather in this life, Tang Chen, defeated Qian Daoliu with only a normal configuration of soul rings, right? Yet, he relied on that divine technique—the Great Sumeru Hammer. But he never passed it down to me—ah, to the predecessor, I should say..." Tang Xiao thought silently.
Tang Chen had only imparted this technique to Tang Hao... not even Tang Zhen, his own son, knew of it.
Alas, Tang Xiao could only say favoritism was at work here...
However, the current Tang Xiao was no longer the simpering, naïve Tang Xiao from before. He would most certainly try to swindle that technique from Tang Hao—and it would not be long before he did so.
Still, the truth remained. Without that divine technique, in his current state, he could not leapfrog ranks and challenge higher-level soul masters...
"But man... it's not like I don't have any other path, even if I can't get that technique. Haha." Suddenly, Tang Xiao laughed.
Although the dissatisfaction of being unable to do anything with his ordinary soul ring configuration remained, Tang Xiao, after all, was someone who knew the plot and countless opportunities ahead.
And he had already seized one of the greatest opportunities—the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
So what was the point of lamenting and feeling sad? Nonsense.
"Even if this body's talent is average compared to other so-called geniuses... I can still stack immortal herbs and make it a cheat. And it's not as though I lack methods—I have plenty of ways to make this body stronger. Just wait... I'll overpower everyone step by step. The first step begins with evolving my Martial Soul." With fighting spirit surging through him, Tang Xiao stood up, practically leaping with joy as he walked toward another immortal herb.
Soon, he stood before it...
It was a chrysanthemum with an enormous flower of exceptional violet beauty. Each petal appeared adorably fluffy on the outside, blending seamlessly into the others. It emitted no fragrance, and the stamen rising from its center stretched more than half a foot beyond the petals. The tip glimmered with faint golden radiance...
Yes, this was the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum immortal herb. The very herb Dai Mubai had consumed in the novel—and also the Martial Soul of Yue Guan, the Chrysanthemum Douluo.
Naturally, this herb's effect was to clear the Eight Extraordinary Meridians while strengthening the body and muscles, cultivating a Vajra-like physique. Though exaggerated, this was both what Tang San claimed in the novel and what was written in the book Tang Xiao had stolen from Yang Wudi...
And while this herb hadn't evolved Dai Mubai's Martial Soul in the novel, to Tang Xiao that was not the case.
"This herb has a somewhat complementary effect with the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone... Both are neutral-attribute herbs with similar functions achieved in different ways. Almost like the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, though not as directly opposing. In the novel, because Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing each consumed one, their Martial Soul Fusion even evolved beyond the standard Hell White Tiger fusion..."
Indeed, if both herbs were consumed by one person, the chances of Martial Soul evolution were extremely high—or so the Yang family's book suggested.
Tang Xiao wasted no time. He carefully uprooted the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum according to the method described in the book.
Then he moved and crouched before another unassuming herb: the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone immortal herb.
Fortunately, among the five immortal herbs recorded in the Yang family's book, both the Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone were included.
Armed with the correct method, Tang Xiao uprooted this herb as well.
Sitting cross-legged and recalling the consumption method from the book, Tang Xiao ate the two immortal herbs one after the other.
He first consumed the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, as its effect was the one he wished to inherit. Immediately afterward, he hurriedly swallowed the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, which served as a booster to amplify the Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum's effect.
Crack...
Crack...
As Tang Xiao consumed the two herbs, even without circulating his soul power, their essence surged into his meridians and began moving autonomously, as if they carried their own purpose and destination.
Through his inner vision, Tang Xiao clearly saw the essences of the two herbs coiling like dragons, spreading along unfamiliar meridian routes and colliding against what felt like walls... eight walls in total, each in a different part of his body.
With only a thought, Tang Xiao understood what those walls were—
They were the Eight Extraordinary Meridians still blocked within his body...
Even when he refined the Ice and Fire Alchemy Body, widening his meridians, his Eight Extraordinary Meridians had remained obstructed—just like Tang San in the canon.
The Ice and Fire immortal herbs had required him to circulate soul power, and thus only strengthened the meridians he channeled. Unlike now, when the essence of these two herbs flowed freely, unbidden, with precise intent.
Tang Xiao focused his mind, carefully observing the changes within.
Shatter—
The first wall crumbled, and the soul power in his remaining meridians surged into the newly opened path like a tide.
Shatter—
The second Extraordinary Meridian broke open as well.
Shatter, shatter...
Then the third, fourth, and eventually, after hours of struggle, the final barrier yielded...
At that moment, Tang Xiao felt as if he had transcended the mortal realm, his very spirit evolving.
Break—!
His spiritual power broke through into the Spiritual Abyss Realm.
Tang Xiao clearly sensed his spirit ascending.
After transmigrating, he had long felt his spiritual power was slightly higher than his physique and soul power. He had also sensed he was only a step away from breaking through to the next realm, though he never gave it much importance, knowing it would happen naturally once he became a Titled Douluo at level 90.
Yet to think his breakthrough would arrive now, simply from unblocking the Eight Extraordinary Meridians... It was truly unexpected.
Still, Tang Xiao felt neither shock nor elation, for this breakthrough brought him no immediate, tangible benefit. Without delay, he steadied his focus once more.
Now that his first goal—unsealing the Eight Extraordinary Meridians—was accomplished, Tang Xiao circulated his soul power, seized control of the immortal herbs' essence, and prevented it from merging into his bones or muscles.
At once, he summoned his Martial Soul.
Before the seated Tang Xiao, a miniature version of the Clear Sky Hammer appeared, pitch black from head to end.
Without wasting time, Tang Xiao infused all the essence into his Martial Soul...
Starting from the hammer's handle, threads of velvety blue light intertwined with his soul power, slithering forward like serpents... altering the Clear Sky Hammer, evolving it step by step toward a super Martial Soul.