At dusk, Lu Chen finished his ten thousand sword swings. Maybe it was because he'd beaten up Tang San earlier that day, but this time the system was unusually generous and handed him something good.
[Host completed Daily Ten Thousand Sword Swings Mission. Reward: One piece of Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber!]
A dark yellow crystal appeared in Lu Chen's Storage Soul Tool.
[Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber]: A special substance produced in the brains of whale-type Soul Beasts. It is an extremely potent tonic of pure Yang energy, with certain aphrodisiac effects. Consuming it can strengthen a Soul Master's physique.
The Great Sea was another paradise for Soul Beasts. It was said that the number of Soul Beasts there was at least ten times greater than on land. Whale-type Soul Beasts were undoubtedly among the Overlords of the Soul Beasts.
Humans were like meat on a chopping board out at sea. No human had ever dared to venture deep into the ocean. Therefore, hunting a Thousand Year Demon Whale might be possible with the help of powerful Soul Masters. But the Demon Whales that were ten thousand years old or more all lived in the deep sea, and each one was exceptionally powerful. Who would dare provoke them?
Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber was as rare as a phoenix feather on the mainland.
Lu Chen had once asked around for Whale Rubber, but he'd found nothing. Soul Masters in this era had no idea what Whale Rubber was truly good for. Most of the low-year Whale Rubber on the market was monopolized by the nobles and used as an aphrodisiac.
With this piece of Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber, Lu Chen was confident he could absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring when he reached the third ring.
Seeing that the sky had grown dark, Lu Chen took a bath and returned to Dormitory One.
Inside, Xiao Wu was lying on her stomach on the bed, munching on a carrot as she read. Her little feet swayed gently in the air.
Lu Chen had earlier mentioned to Lu Jin Nian that he wanted to change dorm rooms, but his request had been flatly rejected.
Xiao Wu, on the other hand, had long since forgotten their earlier unpleasantness after he'd "bribed" her with a carrot that cost one Gold Soul Coin.
When Xiao Wu saw Lu Chen return, she greeted him. "Lu Chen, you're finally back. I was so bored!"
Lu Chen glanced at the book in Xiao Wu's hands. "You're actually interested in the history of Soul Masters?"
Xiao Wu patted her chest proudly. "Of course!"
Lu Chen smiled but said nothing. He sat cross-legged beside his bed and quickly entered a meditative state, Soul Power slowly circulating around him.
Xiao Wu pursed her lips in exasperation. "Training again? You really are a cultivation maniac!"
Lu Chen replied calmly, "I don't want to be at someone else's mercy in the future."
Xiao Wu seemed to think of something, and a trace of sadness flashed in her eyes, as if she'd recalled a worry buried deep in her heart.
Silently, she put the half-eaten carrot into the Storage Soul Tool Lu Chen had given her, then sat beside him and began to cultivate as well.
At midnight, a breeze stirred the poplar trees outside the window, making their leaves rustle.
Suddenly, a muffled voice boomed in Lu Chen's mind: "Back Mountain Woods!"
A trace of helplessness flashed in Lu Chen's eyes. What was bound to happen had finally come. I never thought I'd provoke a god of slaughter like him!
He glanced at Xiao Wu, who was still cultivating, then flashed to the window and slipped outside.
"What's he doing in the middle of the night?"
Xiao Wu watched Lu Chen's departing figure, suspicion in her eyes. After hesitating for a moment, she nimbly climbed out after him and followed.
Lu Chen made his way to the Open Ground where he'd fought Tang San. He called out coldly, "Senior, I'm here. Please show yourself!"
A tall figure emerged from the shadows. He wore a simple gray robe, and disheveled black hair fell over his shoulders. His weathered, aged face was lined with hardship, and his Turbid Eyes made him look as though he were near the end of his life, despite his appearance suggesting he was only about fifty.
Lu Chen knew who the newcomer was, but still asked respectfully, "May I ask why you called me here, Senior?"
Tang Hao said nothing. Soul Power suddenly surged around him, and a vast Soul Power Pressure crushed toward Lu Chen without warning!
Oh no!
Lu Chen's heart tightened. The Mysterious Iron Hammer appeared instantly in his hand. He planted it in the ground and gritted his teeth, struggling to keep his swaying body upright!
He absolutely couldn't let the Asura Demon Sword be exposed now!
If the Asura Demon Sword was exposed, who knew what Tang Hao might do to him?
Crimson light shone from Lu Chen's body, flowing over him in waves. He was already at the very limit of his endurance.
Seeing that Lu Chen still hadn't revealed his Martial Soul, Tang Hao's Soul Power Pressure suddenly intensified.
Divine Realm, Asura God Palace.
Seated high upon the Divine Seat, Asura God stared at the scene at Nuoding Academy in the Water Mirror and said coldly, "Hmph! If the Asura Demon Sword hadn't sensed that Lu Chen was in danger, you would have nearly ruined my plans!"
Divine Power suddenly tightened around his fingertips. "You may escape the death penalty, but you won't escape punishment!"
Nuoding Academy.
Just as Tang Hao was about to increase the pressure again, a beam of Crimson Sword Light shot down from the sky, wrapped in Majestic Divine Might, and struck Tang Hao in the chest.
"Pfft—"
Tang Hao grunted and stumbled half a step backward. At almost the same moment, the Divine Slaughter's Domain that had lain dormant within him for years suddenly went out of control. Countless traces of Slaughter Aura began to invade his body.
Tang Hao's eyes filled with apprehension. That sword light seemed to have crossed countless spaces to strike him. Only a God could do that!
Tang Hao realized that a powerful figure was protecting Lu Chen. The instant the thought crossed his mind, he no longer dared to stay. He took a deep look at Lu Chen's bowed head, left a fading afterimage behind, and vanished into the woods.
At the same time, Xiao Wu's voice sounded from behind Lu Chen. "Lu Chen, where are you?"
Lu Chen felt the pressure lift. His legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, murmuring, "He... he just left?"
He hadn't seen Tang Hao get struck by the Crimson Sword Light at all. He assumed the man had left because Xiao Wu had arrived.
Just wait. One day, I'll get even! Never look down on a poor young man!
Xiao Wu spotted Lu Chen and helped him up. "What happened? Why are you lying on the ground?"
Lu Chen glanced at Xiao Wu but didn't tell her what had just happened. If the little rabbit found out there was a Titled Douluo at Nuoding Academy, she'd probably be too scared to even eat!
Lu Chen patted Xiao Wu on the head and said solemnly, "Focus on your cultivation."
Xiao Wu didn't understand, but she could see that Lu Chen wasn't in a good mood, so she didn't ask any more questions.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao stumbled out of Nuoding Academy. He could sense that a pair of eyes had been watching him the entire time.
Only after he left Nuoding City did that deadly sensation gradually fade.
During the day, he'd sensed the Slaughter Aura on Lu Chen and had only wanted to test his strength. He never expected to bring such disaster upon himself—he'd nearly lost his life.
Tang Hao slumped beneath a tree. Blood seeped through the front of his shirt, and cold sweat covered his forehead. His Turbid Eyes remained fixed on Nuoding City, full of apprehension.
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