Ten-Thousand-Year Shadow Berserk Mantis

After placing the Eight Spider Lance Soul Bone into the bracelet Soul Tool on his wrist, Zhao Xiaotian sat cross-legged on the ground to recover his Soul Power. In truth, he had not expended much Soul Power. What he was actually restoring was his Spiritual Power and Spirit Energy.

When he had just killed the Man Faced Demon Spider, he had used a great deal of Spiritual Power and Spirit Energy. Zhao Xiaotian needed to replenish them. As long as he recovered most of it, he would be able to fight a Thousand Year soul beast one-on-one.

Half an hour later, Zhao Xiaotian opened his eyes and looked at his hands, feeling somewhat refreshed. He then examined the Tai Chi Art he cultivated.

He had not known until he looked, but the sight shocked him. He had never expected this eight-thousand-year soul ring to improve his Tai Chi Art so greatly. His Transformation Realm had successfully broken through into the Entering Dust Realm.

This meant that his strength would increase enormously. He had originally thought that breaking through to the Entering Dust Realm would take seven or eight years.

Yet he had completed the breakthrough in only three and a half years. Was this the difference between the laws of this world and those of the Cultivation Continent from his previous life?

Zhao Xiaotian stood up and put aside his earlier thoughts. What he needed to consider now was the choice of his second soul ring.

Qian Jun Douluo and Subduing Demon Douluo jumped down from the tree. "Xiaotian, you're awake!"

Seeing this, Bibi Dong said, "Alright! Since you're awake, tell us about your choice for your second soul ring!"

Zhao Xiaotian nodded. "The Shadow Soul Hunter Mantis."

Bibi Dong looked at Zhao Xiaotian in confusion. "Tell me why."

"According to Spirit Hall's records, this soul beast can only grant a soul master one skill!"

Since Qian Jun Douluo and Subduing Demon Douluo had spent so many years in the Worship Hall, they knew nothing about such theoretical matters. The two brothers stared intently at Zhao Xiaotian.

Zhao Xiaotian did not delay. "The soul skills granted by the Shadow Soul Hunter Mantis are all weapons. The weapon is randomly determined, but its power is exceptionally great."

Bibi Dong nodded. "That's right! This soul beast's soul ring is indeed suitable for you to absorb."

Qian Jun Douluo nodded. "If that's the case, then let's go find this soul beast."

"Alright, Brother!"

Some time later...

The four of them had already spent a week in the Star Dou Great Forest, yet they still had not found a soul beast suitable for Zhao Xiaotian's second soul ring.

Bibi Dong shook her head. "Xiaotian, I think we should just find any soul beast with a suitable cultivation period and absorb its ring."

Zhao Xiaotian nodded. "We have no choice but to do that."

Just as they were discussing the matter, the surrounding trees began to sway, as though some powerful creature were approaching.

After extending his Spiritual Power, Qian Jun Douluo sensed a soul beast that looked very much like a Shadow Soul Hunter Mantis flying toward them. Upon hearing his brother's words, Subduing Demon Douluo summoned his Coiling Dragon Staff and became excited.

Nine soul rings in the optimal configuration appeared before Zhao Xiaotian's eyes. Suddenly, Bibi Dong cried out, "Stop! That isn't a Shadow Soul Hunter Mantis!"

"What!"

Qian Jun Douluo and Subduing Demon Douluo immediately withdrew their pressure and retreated to Bibi Dong and Zhao Xiaotian's side. Bibi Dong explained, "This is not a Shadow Soul Hunter Mantis, but a mutated Shadow Soul Hunter Mantis—the Shadow Berserk Mantis. It is recorded in Spirit Hall's books, but no one has ever absorbed its soul ring. Therefore, it lost its research value and was removed from the list of soul beasts."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaotian also became excited. "If that's the case, I'll leave it to you two Grandpas! Capture it for me. I want this soul ring!"

Qian Jun Douluo and Subduing Demon Douluo nodded, then summoned their martial souls. Working together, they suppressed the Shadow Berserk Mantis. Bibi Dong had seen the origins of this soul beast in old records, but she did not know its cultivation period.

Thus, Zhao Xiaotian did not care how old it was. With one swift strike, he severed the Shadow Berserk Mantis's head. A pitch-black soul ring immediately appeared, though its color was rather faint.

Bibi Dong stared at it in shock. "This Shadow Berserk Mantis actually has ten thousand years of cultivation!"

Zhao Xiaotian did not hear her. His hand had already touched the black soul ring, and the instant he made contact, his martial soul was released.

A black-and-white Taiji appeared behind him and slowly rotated. Zhao Xiaotian quickly sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the soul ring.

Bibi Dong wanted to interrupt Zhao Xiaotian's absorption directly, but Qian Jun Douluo and Subduing Demon Douluo stopped her. They knew that someone capable of successfully absorbing the soul ring of an eight-thousand-year Ice Crystal Black Bird was no ordinary person.

Perhaps Zhao Xiaotian, who was now absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring, would bring the soul master world an enormous surprise—and shock. After pulling Bibi Dong away, Qian Jun Douluo and Subduing Demon Douluo could only wait.

The Qian Jun and Subduing Demon brothers released their Spiritual Power around Zhao Xiaotian and searched their surroundings, while Bibi Dong watched her adopted son with a worried expression.

Meanwhile, in Nuoding City, nine-year-old Tang San had already lived at Nuoding Academy with Xiao Wu for three years. They were now third-year students, and all of Tang San's learning materials were provided by Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.

Yet Tang San would occasionally look in the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest. Although his Soul Power was only at level sixteen, he did not know why his gaze kept drifting in that direction.

It was as though a power similar to that from his previous life was brewing there, as if it could erupt at any moment, making Tang San feel like retreating.

"Little San? Little San!"

"Ah! Teacher, what is it?"

Yu Xiaogang asked in confusion, "Little San, why do you keep looking into the distance?"

Tang San replied, "I don't know either! Teacher, perhaps the academy has assigned too much study lately."

Yu Xiaogang did not question him further. "Alright! Since you think the academy has assigned too much work, I'll have those teachers stop giving you study assignments. From now on, you'll focus on learning theoretical knowledge from me. As for combat, I'll find someone to accompany us to the Star Dou Great Forest and specifically help you accumulate battle experience."

Elsewhere, Zhao Xiaotian's body, still absorbing the ten-thousand-year soul ring in the Star Dou Great Forest, had begun to tremble. He looked extremely unstable, as though he might explode at any moment.

Zhao Xiaotian's consciousness had entered a strange place. When he opened his eyes, he saw bustling streets and herb merchants shouting on both sides.

At that moment, someone beside Zhao Xiaotian, dressed in clothing bearing a Taiji pattern, lightly patted him on the shoulder. "Xiaotian! This is the capital of our Great Zhou. The vendors here come from all over the country, as well as from the outskirts of every Secret Realm."

Zhao Xiaotian instantly realized that he had returned to the Black Tortoise Continent. He asked in confusion, "Senior Brother Zhao Chen, what do you mean?"

Zhao Chen smiled. "What Senior Brother wants to tell you, Xiaotian, is that here, you can use Spirit Stones to buy all kinds of Heavenly Spiritual Treasures. Although it cannot compare to our Tai Chi Sect, there are some things here that our sect does not have."