WebNovels

Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Enemies Meet on Narrow Paths, and the Desired Attack Boost

"Little Tian, are you sure you don't want this soul beast?"

Deep within the Great Star Dou Forest, a white-haired youth—barely 1.5 meters tall, with delicate features—rested the tip of a crystalline, azure-blue longsword against the skull of a soul beast.

One gentle push, and its life would end.

This was Chen Junting.

Two and a half years of relentless training, combined with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's full-scale support, had transformed him beyond recognition. The two stars glowing on his Seven Kill Sword—one yellow, one purple—were proof enough of his current strength.

Half a year ago, he'd already reached Level 20 and acquired a Human-Faced Demon Spider as his second soul ring. Now, he stood at Level 24.

Today's mission? To help Ning Tian secure her second soul ring. The six-hundred-year-old Shadowwind Spirit Weasel trembling beneath his blade was one of their pre-selected targets.

"Absorbing this soul ring would likely grant you a skill that removes negative status effects," Chen Junting said, trying to reason with her. "Are you certain?"

Ning Tian—now a striking young beauty—shook her head with a soft smile. "Brother Junting, I've already decided which soul beast I want for my second ring." She pulled out a projection-type soul-guided device, and the image of a white tiger shimmered into view.

"The Windrend Tiger," Chen Junting murmured.

He understood immediately. The Windrend Tiger had only two standout traits: speed and offensive power.

And since Ning Tian's first soul skill already provided a speed boost…

"Alright," he said with a nod. "If I recall correctly, the sect's records mention a six-hundred-year Windrend Tiger whose territory lies nearby. Let's go take a look."

With that, he flicked his wrist—and sent the Shadowwind Spirit Weasel flying. He deliberately spared its life, minimizing unnecessary slaughter.

But just as they turned to leave—

Whoosh!

Chen Junting didn't even turn around. He simply tapped his sword tip backward.

A burst of blood mist exploded in the air behind him.

"Weasel-type soul beasts… really do hold grudges," he muttered, turning to see the headless corpse of the weasel and the yellow soul ring hovering above it.

After a moment's thought, he grabbed a nearby stick, impaled the corpse, and hoisted it up.

"Perfect. We'll use the blood scent as bait."

"Come on, Little Tian."

Ning Tian didn't flinch at the scene. After all, she'd witnessed death since the age of six.

Roar!

A low growl echoed through the dense forest.

Perched on a massive tree branch, Chen Junting—Seven Kill Sword in hand—and Ning Tian—cradling her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—opened their eyes simultaneously. Both focused intently on the bait dangling from their fishing line.

"The 'fish' has taken the hook."

No sooner had the words left his lips than the trees to their left shuddered violently, as if struck by a gale.

From the underbrush burst a tiger over 2.6 meters long—snow-white fur, razor-sharp claws, and wings like scythes. Its eyes locked onto the weasel's corpse, but its natural wariness kept it from lunging immediately.

"Just over six hundred years… perfect."

Without hesitation, Chen Junting activated his first soul skill—the yellow pentagram flared. His eyes fixed on the tiger's limbs and wings, and six razor-sharp sword beams lanced out, aiming to cripple it instantly.

At the same moment, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda glowed.

Amplified by Ning Tian's first soul skill, Chen Junting's sword beams became blindingly fast. Even the hyper-alert Windrend Tiger couldn't react in time.

Its four limbs and both wings were severed clean off. Six geysers of blood erupted, drenching the grass in crimson.

Before it could even roar in pain—

Pew!

A streak of light shot down from the treetop, ending the tiger's life in an instant. Its eyes, filled with fury and disbelief, dimmed as a yellow soul ring rose slowly above its corpse.

"Clean and efficient, Little Tian," Chen Junting praised, leaping down from the tree with the girl in his arms. He grinned at Ning Tian, who held a compact soul-guided ray gun.

"Well… I guess so!" she replied with a playful wink, then gently guided the soul ring toward a clearing.

Meanwhile, Chen Junting approached the tiger's corpse and began rummaging through it.

Moments later, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"No way!"

He quickly sliced open the base of the severed wings and pulled out a small object—a bone fragment that eerily resembled the tiger's own wings.

"Holy… wow."

He turned and locked eyes with the tiger's lifeless, hate-filled gaze.

"You're that resentful?"

Then, grinning to himself: "Man, my luck's unreal today."

"Little Tian!"

Seeing that Ning Tian had just settled into meditation—but hadn't yet begun absorbing the ring—Chen Junting strode over and waved the bone fragment in the air.

"Guess what this is."

He tossed it toward her.

Ning Tian caught the dark blur instinctively. Her eyes widened—she recognized it instantly. Not one of the six standard soul bones… but something far rarer.

"An external soul bone?!"

She cradled it like fine porcelain, examining it with reverent care.

"You don't need to be that careful," Chen Junting chuckled.

Ignoring him, Ning Tian gave him a slightly odd look. "If I remember right, Brother Junting… this is the third external soul bone you've stumbled upon, isn't it?"

She tucked it away carefully. She understood without words: he'd already decided it was hers.

And between them? No need for false modesty. That would've been insulting.

"Heh, just dumb luck," he said with a shrug.

But then—his expression snapped sharp.

He scooped Ning Tian up and leapt backward!

A split second later, the trees behind their previous position collapsed in a thunderous crash—their trunks sliced clean through, surfaces unnervingly smooth.

They didn't have to wait long to see the culprit.

"Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear!"

Chen Junting's eyes narrowed at the massive bear looming in the distance. At first, he assumed it had been drawn by the scent of blood… but the bear didn't even glance at the tiger's corpse. Instead, it glared at him—with pure, seething hatred.

'Do I have a grudge with this thing?!'

The thought flashed through his mind—only to be cut short as the bear charged, claws raised, roaring with murderous intent.

"Damn it!"

His yellow and purple pentagrams flared in unison.

First Soul Skill: Sword Unsheathed!

Second Soul Skill: Killing Intent Unleashed!

Ning Tian, still in his arms, wasn't idle either.

"Seven Treasures, Glazed in Light—First: Speed!"

Amplified by her triple-boost support, Chen Junting's aura surged to its peak. With a mighty swing of his Seven Kill Sword, a colossal character—"KILL"—blazed through the air, forged from pure slaughterous intent. This was the first form of the "Kill" Character Mantra: his strongest attack to date.

Yet the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear didn't dodge.

It took the blow head-on.

Though its hide split open in gruesome gashes, the wound was superficial—its combat ability utterly unimpaired.

"That defense… still as monstrous as ever."

Realizing brute force wouldn't work, Chen Junting barked, "Elder Zhang!"

In an instant, a shadow shot forward. By the time it resolved into human form, the raging bear had already collapsed—unconscious.

It was Demon Douluo Zhang Ming.

"Seven hundred years old," Zhang Ming assessed, glancing at the bear before turning to Chen Junting, who'd set Ning Tian down. "You got history with this one?" His face was masked, but curiosity laced his voice.

"It's probably the sibling of my first soul ring," Chen Junting said grimly.

During the "Kill" strike, he'd pieced it together. Two and a half years ago, he'd slain a three-hundred-year Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear cub. Likely, the parents—grieving their loss—had poured all their energy into raising this one, accelerating its growth by four hundred years in just thirty months.

And now, it had struck out on its own… seeking vengeance.

"If that's true," Chen Junting added with a wry smirk, "it should thank me."

Even Zhang Ming and Ning Tian rolled their eyes.

That was incredibly shameless.

Chen Junting chuckled sheepishly, then quickly pulled Ning Tian toward the fallen bear, his tone turning serious. "Little Tian, this seven-hundred-year Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear is a far better match than the Windrend Tiger. Its higher age and stronger bloodline mean a more potent soul ring—but your body should handle it."

Zhang Ming gave a silent nod and vanished back into the shadows, resuming his protective watch.

Ning Tian trusted Chen Junting implicitly. After stabilizing her state, she began absorbing the bear's soul ring.

While she meditated, Chen Junting efficiently butchered the entire carcass.

To his disappointment, no external soul bone emerged—likely because Elder Zhang had knocked it out too quickly, leaving no time for resentment to crystallize.

An hour later, Ning Tian opened her eyes.

"How'd it go?" Chen Junting asked, stepping forward with genuine concern.

Her face lit up with quiet triumph.

"It's exactly the soul skill I wanted—a 30% Attack Amplification."

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