Tang San's First Soul Skill: Lightning Spark

"Little San, go." After testing a new use for the Blue Silver Spear, Li Yue tilted his head slightly and spoke to Tang San.

The Mandala Snake had already been skewered by him and could no longer counterattack. Its tenacious vitality kept it from dying immediately, so it was Tang San's turn. Only a Soul Beast killed with one's own hands could have its Soul Ring absorbed.

"I'm coming." Tang San gripped the Fire Stick tightly and unleashed the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer upon the Mandala Snake, which had been pinned straight by the Blue Silver Spear.

Aiming at the Mandala Snake's head, she brought the stick down, immediately leaving it dazed and disoriented. Before it could recover, another blow fell, carrying even greater force than the last.

Blow after blow descended. Even though the Mandala Snake was impervious to blades and spears, it could not endure it comfortably.

Tang San's Fire Stick was a blunt weapon. Compared to sharp weapons, blunt weapons were remarkably effective against opponents with high defense, able to break through armor and inflict internal injuries.

She unleashed more than ten consecutive strikes of the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.

Empowered by that force, the Mandala Snake's head was instantly smashed to pulp.

No matter how hard its head was, how could it compare to iron? More than ten hammer strikes from the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer could compress even pig iron by a full circle, let alone a snake's head.

After the Mandala Snake's skull was crushed, a yellow hundred-year Soul Ring immediately emerged from its remaining body.

"This is the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring..." Tang San looked at the bright yellow hundred-year Soul Ring with excitement.

With four hundred years of cultivation, it would have counted as a great demon even in the legends of her previous life. Could she really absorb this Soul Ring?

"Little San, use Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to draw the Soul Ring into your body, then circulate the Mysterious Heaven Skill. You need to pay attention to..." Li Yue transmitted his voice to Tang San and told her a few refining techniques.

"Mm!" Hearing this, Tang San looked at Li Yue gratefully. She released her Soul Power, drew over the Soul Ring produced by the Mandala Snake, and sat cross-legged to circulate the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

The instant the Soul Ring entered her body, she felt a violent surge of Soul Power battering her meridians and body, as though her entire body were about to burst apart.

She immediately focused her mind on her dantian and guided the restless Soul Power along the circulation route of the Mysterious Heaven Skill.

She felt like a groom riding a wild horse at full gallop. Though she desperately tugged the reins, the horse barely obeyed her commands.

The violent Soul Power from the Mandala Snake rampaged through her body, as if venting its resentment at being beaten to death with sticks.

It seemed unwilling to let its four hundred years of cultivation so easily become a gift for its enemy.

Fortunately, as Tang San continuously guided the Soul Power with the internal force of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, the standoff did not last long. The Soul Power gradually lowered its head from its initial unruliness and was slowly tamed and refined by her.

Until it became a Soul Ring on her body—a bright yellow four-hundred-year Soul Ring!

Most Soul Masters' second Soul Rings were probably only around this level.

"Brother Yue, Teacher, I succeeded too." Tang San opened her eyes, beaming with joy as excitement shone in them.

She had successfully absorbed the Soul Ring from the Mandala Snake. She now possessed her first Soul Ring and her first Soul Skill.

This would be the first step for her and Senior Brother Li Yue to establish themselves in this world of Soul Masters. Step by step, she would assist Senior Brother Li Yue in reaching the pinnacle of this world.

"Let me see your first Soul Skill." Li Yue's first Soul Ring flashed bright yellow, and a Blue Silver Spear appeared in his hand.

He was quite curious about Tang San's first Soul Skill. In the original story, the Soul Skill Tang San gained after absorbing the Mandala Snake seemed to be Binding, mockingly nicknamed "Mommy's Binding."

He wondered what kind of Soul Skill it would become when used with the Fire Stick, though it certainly would not be Binding. It would be rather absurd if the Fire Stick could use Binding.

"Little San, your Fire Stick martial soul changed after absorbing the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring."

Yu Xiaogang was not only focused on the bright yellow ring around Tang San. He had also noticed the Fire Stick in her hand.

After absorbing the Soul Ring, Tang San summoned her Fire Stick martial soul again.

Its changes were obvious.

Its once uneven surface had become somewhat smoother, yet fine patterns resembling snake scales had appeared across it, as though real snake scales had been attached to it.

Its formerly pitch-black color had also turned dark green, streaked with faint traces of crimson. It looked sinister and evil; if it were placed in some cultivation world, it would surely be regarded as a demonic artifact.

Based on this, Yu Xiaogang confirmed that Tang San's martial soul was a trash martial soul.

He had not been entirely certain before, but now it was proven beyond doubt. It was indeed a trash martial soul.

The weaker a martial soul was, the more easily it would be affected by Soul Rings. Li Yue's Blue Silver Emperor, on the other hand, had not changed at all after gaining a Soul Ring.

"Yes, Teacher, my Fire Stick really has changed."

Tang San had also noticed the changes in her Fire Stick.

Feeling the texture of the staff in her hand, she found it more comfortable to wield, and it had grown longer as well.

She said happily, "After absorbing the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring, my Fire Stick has become as hard as the Mandala Snake's scales."

Clang—

Li Yue walked to Tang San's side and flicked her Fire Stick with his finger, producing a crisp sound.

Its strength had improved considerably and was already close to the hardness of the Mandala Snake's scales. The reason it had not surpassed them was that it was held back by the original quality of the martial soul.

He congratulated her. "Little San, it seems this Soul Ring suits your martial soul very well."

"Mm, thank you, Brother Yue!" Tang San said gratefully. "If Brother Yue hadn't helped me restrain this Mandala Snake, I probably couldn't have killed it on my own."

The system's familiar voice sounded in Li Yue's mind: "Detected that the host has helped Tang San obtain her first Soul Ring. Tang San's karma has deepened."

"We're brothers, why thank me?" Hearing the system prompt, Li Yue smiled indifferently.

The karmic entanglement between him and Tang San was already so deep that this tiny increase in karma was no more than pouring a cup of water into the sea.

Even if he did not care about it, the increase in karma was still the icing on the cake, making something beautiful even better and lifting his mood further.

Li Yue stepped back a few paces, spun the Blue Silver Spear in his hand, and said to Tang San, "Let me see your first Soul Skill."

"Brother Yue, be careful." Tang San solemnly gripped the brand-new Fire Stick and said, "This is my first Soul Skill, Lightning Spark."

Her Fire Stick had been completely transformed, but she still did not dare underestimate Li Yue. After all, she had never won a single sparring match against Senior Brother Li Yue in her previous life.

Even with the Soul Skill granted by the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring, she did not believe she could defeat Li Yue.

She had a Soul Skill, but Li Yue had one too—and his was even stronger than hers.

The bright yellow Soul Ring around Tang San flashed, and light immediately lit up around her body. She abruptly accelerated and charged toward Li Yue.

The Fire Stick in her hand swept sideways, striking toward his waist with astonishing speed and terrifying power.

"Good!" Li Yue exclaimed. So it had inherited the Mandala Snake's explosive Soul Skill. It was quite a good skill.

Like Pikachu's ever-present Quick Attack, it was a priority move. As a Soul Skill for a first Soul Ring, it was actually quite decent.

He exerted force through his hand and swung the Blue Silver Spear.

With a sharp snap, the spear blocked the sweeping Fire Stick. Using the force-manipulation method of Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to deflect a thousand pounds with four ounces, he completely neutralized the force behind the staff.

Li Yue said teasingly, "What a terrifying attack. I almost couldn't take it."