Devouring Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing!

Earlier, Qian Lingye had already learned the details from the system.

Her Martial Soul, strictly speaking, could not be called a Martial Soul, but was instead the power of a Great Old One.

Thus, his Soul Rings could not be obtained by hunting Soul Beasts, either. He could only form them through his own power.

Soul Rings formed this way were not only the most compatible with him, but could also grow, improving as his strength increased.

Self-sufficient and self-evolving, they had limitless room for growth.

And Qian Lingye's spiritual power, having lived two lives, was immense, twice or even several times that of his peers.

So after contemplating for just half an incense stick's time, he had fully grasped the mysteries of the rules governing his Soul Rings.

A dark presence swirled around Qian Lingye as the Soul Power within him flowed like a slender stream, circulating through his meridians.

Within his dantian, a faint black ring was slowly taking shape.

With some of his attention free, Qian Lingye sent out a wisp of his spirit to contact Golza.

There were almost no spatial limits on communication between him and his summoned beasts.

Even separated by tens of thousands of miles, they could communicate freely.

Right now, for instance, he could use Golza's five senses to perceive the battlefield ten thousand miles away in real time.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was still shrouded by Gagi's barrier, forming a cage that no one could enter or leave.

Golza and Gagi's destructive power was astonishing. In just one hour, they had leveled more than half the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strongest fighter was Sword Douluo, but even his cultivation was only at level 95.

At level 95, dealing with a single 300,000-year Soul Beast was already a struggle, let alone two.

Given enough time, wiping out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not be difficult.

Qian Lingye felt no guilt whatsoever. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had depended on the Heaven Dou Imperial Family for generations and opposed Spirit Hall in secret. From grand schemes to petty tricks, it had caused plenty of trouble and had long since become a hostile force.

And that Heaven Dou Imperial Family was even more shortsighted, a bunch of wine sacks and rice bags.

Yesterday, those people had even dared to come and demand an explanation from his mother. They must have eaten a bear's heart and a leopard's gall.

That had touched Qian Lingye's most untouchable reverse scale!

Since they had provoked him first, there was no need for leniency.

If they were not destroyed today, they would surely become a threat someday.

Uprooting them now would save trouble later.

Just as Qian Lingye made up his mind, his sea of consciousness suddenly detected an unfamiliar fluctuation in the earth's veins.

A thin fissure quietly opened in the barren mountainside beneath his feet.

A slender, flexible tentacle emerged from the crack.

Immediately afterward, human pupae, pure white from end to end and wrapped in viscous nether-energy cocoons, slowly rose from underground and floated silently before him.

Qian Lingye raised an eyebrow slightly.

He understood at once.

This was Gagi's ability.

It captured living beings, sealed them in cocoons, drew out their nutrients, and transported all the finest "prey" through the earth-vein space to his side as an offering.

It was a fine monster that knew what to do.

Qian Lingye casually raised a hand, black mist curling around his fingertips, and gently tore open the spirit cocoon nearest him.

The cocoon casing broke apart, and the nether energy dispersed.

The delicate, youthful, slightly pale face of a young girl was revealed. She lay unconscious and still.

Qian Lingye froze for a moment.

This face...

Ning Rongrong?

Inside the cocoon, Ning Rongrong's eyes were tightly shut, her breathing steady and her expression peaceful. She was merely in a deep coma.

A faint, soft glazed light lingered around her, a sign that her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Martial Soul Origin had yet to disperse.

Immediately afterward, the second human pupa beside her broke apart, revealing a slender, coldly beautiful figure. It was Zhu Zhuqing.

Both women had been perfectly restrained by Gagi's underground nether energy. Their vitality was completely intact, and their meridians, Soul Power, and bodies were unharmed.

Only the purest, most fundamental power of their Martial Souls floated above their bodies, shimmering, clear and flawless, like peerless treasures stripped of dust.

Gagi's innate ability was exceptionally special. Its underground prison could not only capture living beings alive, but also perfectly seal their Martial Soul Origins without the slightest loss, preserving the finest refining materials for its master.

The instant the two breathtaking Martial Soul Origins appeared, a system notification sounded in Qian Lingye's mind.

[Exceptionally rare Martial Soul Origins detected!]

[Top-tier auxiliary type: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Martial Soul Origin (complete and pure)]

[Ultimate agility-attack type: Nether Civet Martial Soul Origin (refined to the utmost)]

[Dark Devouring triggered. The Martial Soul traits and complete Soul Skill Origins of both targets can be replicated without loss and incorporated into the host's own Soul Ring, improving its quality. No backlash will occur, and the targets' lives will not be harmed!]

A sharp gleam flashed through Qian Lingye's eyes.

Plunder without loss!

Not only can I replicate their Martial Soul Origins, I can copy their Soul Skills and improve the quality of my own Soul Ring...

My Martial Soul is pretty damn awesome.

It's a bit like the Dark-Dark Fruit.

And it doesn't have any side effects.

But my Martial Soul seems picky. Out of this whole pile of people, it only said these two had Martial Souls that could be replicated.

It probably only copies high-quality Martial Souls and doesn't take trash.

"All right, replicate them immediately!"

Qian Lingye decisively gave the command in his mind.

Overbearing black mist instantly swept around him, enveloping Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

Two entirely different, pure Origins slowly separated from the women's bodies, flowing along the black mist and pouring into every limb and bone in Qian Lingye's body.

One was radiant as glazed tile, warm and substantial, bearing the versatile amplification power of the continent's foremost auxiliary.

The other was dark and mysterious, light beyond compare, containing ultimate speed and strength.

The instant the two Origins entered his body, the nascent dark Soul Ring Qian Lingye was forming shuddered violently.

Glazed golden patterns and shadowy nether markings instantly appeared across the pitch-black ring, raising it to a new level. The speed at which it condensed increased severalfold.

The soul embryo, which had originally been developing step by step, underwent several transformations and refinements in just a few moments.

Qian Lingye closed his eyes and focused his mind, quietly refining and fusing them.

Ten thousand miles away, within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The fires of battle swept across the land, and mountains and rivers trembled.

The sect grounds had long since lost their former glazed splendor. Halls had collapsed, stone steps had shattered, dust filled the sky, and wreckage and ruins lay everywhere.

Gagi's pale-cyan hemispherical barrier sealed off the entire mountain range. No one could leave, and no one could enter. Completely cut off from the outside world, it had become a battlefield unto itself.

Its enormous body floated slowly above the sect, long tentacles sweeping in every direction. Any sect disciple or powerful Soul Master who stood in its way was instantly sent flying and grievously injured.

Meanwhile, Golza's mountain-sized lava body charged recklessly forward. Crimson lava flowed across the earth, scorching heat seared everything around it, and hard mountain rock melted at its touch. The sect's sturdy hall-protecting formations shattered one after another.

If gods stood in their way, they killed gods; if buddhas stood in their way, they killed buddhas.

And they were advancing toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's forbidden grounds.

That was where the Earth Vein was hidden, the foundation on which the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had stood for ten thousand years!

"Stop them! Stop them, quickly!!"

Ning Feng's eyes nearly split with fury as he shouted the order at the top of his lungs.

The surviving senior members and sect-protecting elders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect fought with all their might. Buff upon buff was stacked, and countless defensive Soul Skills were piled together into a wall of bronze and iron, blocking the way to the forbidden grounds.

Above them, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's elites launched another fierce assault. Countless Soul Skills bombarded the barrier, filling the sky with streaks of light in a magnificent display, yet they still could not make so much as a ripple in it.

Yu Yuanzhen's face was ashen, thunder and lightning raging around him. He unleashed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's ultimate lightning power, but it only made the barrier shake violently, with no sign of breaking.

Scraping!

They were utterly and completely scraping!

Among the crowd, the people from Shrek Academy were frantic.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had been abducted, and their fates were unknown.

They themselves were trapped here too, unable even to guarantee their own safety.

Yu Xiaogang looked around and lowered his voice. "This can't go on. Tang San, use that move."

Tang San stared at him. "Teacher, should I use the Clear Sky Hammer?"

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "It's the only way now! I just analyzed the situation. That Soul Beast with the fleshy tentacles uses them as weapons, but they're also its weakness. As the saying goes, hardness overcomes softness, and softness overcomes hardness. Your Blue Silver Grass can't do anything to it, but your Clear Sky Hammer is exactly what counters it!"

After listening to Yu Xiaogang's analysis, everyone's eyes lit up.

Ma Hongjun flattered him. "As expected of Grandmaster. Third Brother, it's all up to you."

Oscar stuffed two sausages into Tang San's hand. "Third Brother, you have to save Rongrong!"

Tang San gripped the sausages and nodded firmly. "I'll do my best!"

He had not been confident before, but Yu Xiaogang's analysis had greatly boosted his confidence.

After all, when it came to theory, Grandmaster was invincible.

Second Martial Soul, Clear Sky Hammer!

Tang San gave a low shout in his heart.

He turned his palm, and a small black hammer appeared in his hand out of thin air.

A dark glow surrounded the hammer, and patterns of mountains, rivers, the sun, and the moon were engraved on its head. It gave off an ancient, weathered, and overbearing presence.

"As expected of the Clear Sky Hammer, the continent's foremost offensive Martial Soul. It truly lives up to its reputation," Flender said approvingly.

Gripping the Clear Sky Hammer, Tang San flew toward Gagi.

The instant he swung the hammer, a violent wind whipped up with tremendous force.

In terms of sheer strength, this blow certainly could not compare to that of a top expert at level seventy or eighty, but the overbearing destructive intent contained in the Clear Sky Hammer made even Flender's heart tremble.

This Clear Sky Hammer was simply born for slaughter!

Perhaps it really could work wonders.

Bang!

The Clear Sky Hammer struck Gagi's protective energy with a dull thud, followed by a series of distinct cracking sounds.

"It worked!"

Yu Xiaogang said excitedly.

That unremarkable little hammer had actually smashed Gagi's protective barrier!

Though it had only broken the outermost floating barrier, that was enough.

After all, among the people present, only Sword Douluo and a handful of others had managed to do that!

"Third Brother, keep it up!"

Xiao Wu shouted.

Encouraged, Tang San's lips curved up slightly.

This time, he used Oscar's Flying Sausage to fly dozens of meters into the air.

He looked down at the ground, his gaze fixed on the glowing horn atop Gagi's head.

Tang San had observed that whenever Yu Yuanzhen and the others attacked the barrier, Gagi's horn would flash.

Thus, Tang San guessed that the horn must be the key to controlling the barrier!

As long as he destroyed it, he could destroy the barrier and severely injure the Soul Beast before him!

"Clear Sky Hammer!"

Tang San let out a thunderous shout.

The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand, wreathed in lightning, smashed down fiercely.

Thud!

Yet the expected sound of breaking never came. Instead, there was a dull thud.

The immense force of the rebound knocked the Clear Sky Hammer from Tang San's hand. Stunned, he looked up and saw that a pale-cyan, transparent bubble of a barrier had enclosed him, wrapping around his entire body.

"Clear Sky Hammer!"

In a panic, Tang San summoned the Clear Sky Hammer again and struck the barrier blow after blow.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A series of dull thumps rang out.

Only a small patch of ripples appeared on the barrier. Not a single crack formed.

"This, this..."

Yu Xiaogang stared, his eyes wide with astonishment.

He had thought the Clear Sky Hammer's destructive power countered that Soul Beast.

Now it seemed that was not the case.

Perhaps its initial success had merely been a little trick the Soul Beast had used to lure Tang San into taking the bait.

Gagi's eyes swept over Tang San as though it were looking at an irritating mosquito.

Then it casually lashed out with a fleshy tentacle.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The nearly hundred-meter-long tentacle whistled through the air, whipping up a raging gale and smashing several mountains in its path to pieces.

If that blow landed, there was no doubt Tang San would be whipped into a mist of blood.

"Third Brother, watch out!" Xiao Wu's face turned deathly pale.

At that critical moment,

a white figure flashed past.

A piercing sword cry rang out, and the barrier around Tang San shattered.

After saving Tang San, Sword Douluo swung his sword again to block Gagi's attack.

With a boom, Sword Douluo and Tang San were both blasted several hundred meters away.

By the time Sword Douluo steadied himself, a trace of blood was already trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Senior..."

Tang San spoke instinctively, only to be cut off by Sword Douluo's furious roar.

"Shut up! All you fucking do is get in the way! Is that fucking thing something you can handle? Who the fuck told you to go? Fuck!"

In his fury, Sword Douluo no longer cared about his status as a senior and let loose a torrent of curses.

It wasn't a godlike opponent one feared, but a pig for a teammate.

He was already under immense pressure in this battle, walking a tightrope with almost every step.

And at a time like this, he had this fucking idiot of a pig teammate courting death and making trouble for him.

If the little bastard hadn't been classmates with his precious Rongrong, Chen Xin wouldn't have cared whether he lived or died.

When Ning Fengzhi saw that Sword Douluo was injured, his face darkened and he glared at Yu Xiaogang.

"You..."

The words reached his lips, but he swallowed them.

He badly wanted to give Yu Xiaogang a tongue-lashing.

Ning Fengzhi had long known what kind of trash this old waste was.

He didn't know jack shit, yet he went around every day passing himself off as a master of theory, swindling people and leading students astray.

If he hadn't egged Tang San on, Tang San would never have gone, and Sword Douluo would never have been injured.

The situation was already crushing them under a mountain of pressure, and Sword Douluo's injury only piled frost upon snow!

Ning Fengzhi had no time to settle accounts with Yu Xiaogang. He hurriedly shouted to the disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, "Do everything you can to stop them! Their target is the forbidden ground!"

At that moment, Ning Fengzhi fully understood what the two Soul Beasts were after.

Their target was the Earth Vein!

Only the Earth Vein was worth two 300,000-year Soul Beasts attacking at the same time.

And this was Ning Fengzhi's reverse scale, which absolutely could not be touched!

The Earth Vein was the foundation upon which the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been established, the sect's supreme sacred relic, passed down for ten thousand years.

Ning Fengzhi had once sworn in the ancestral shrine that, unless he died, he would never allow any harm to come to the Earth Vein.

Ning Fengzhi did not believe for a moment that this was a coincidence. Someone had to be pulling the strings behind this; someone had to be after the Earth Vein!

Ning Fengzhi's eyes nearly split with rage. "Just who is after my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Just who is it!!!"