Demonic Sound Summons Taotie

The Human-Faced Demon Sheep was still struggling desperately under Ye Tianming's suppression, letting out cries like a baby's wail.

Its miserable cries seemed to cloud the mind, making it hard to bring oneself to attack it.

"Xiao Chen, kill it quickly!"

Only then did Long Chen snap out of it. He drew the Sharp Dagger, stepped up to the Human-Faced Demon Sheep, and plunged it into its neck.

The Human-Faced Demon Sheep struggled in agony for a few moments, then collapsed and lay still.

Only then did Ye Tianming withdraw his Soul Power.

"Judging by the rings on its horns, this Human-Faced Demon Sheep should be around four hundred years old. Xiao Chen, when you absorb its Soul Ring, your body may take quite a beating."

"Uncle Ye, I'll be fine."

Ye Tianming patted Long Chen on the shoulder.

"Good. Just focus on absorbing it. I'll protect you."

Wisps of mist slowly rose from the Human-Faced Demon Sheep's corpse, gradually gathering into a Soul Ring that glowed a faint yellow.

Long Chen sat cross-legged on the ground and steadied his breathing. Then, with a thought, he slowly drew the Soul Ring toward himself.

As it approached, Long Chen could feel waves of intense energy.

He took a deep breath and calmed his mind. Following the method Ye Tianming had taught him, he carefully guided the energy within the Soul Ring to merge with his soul.

The energy seeped into his body like a trickling stream, flowing slowly along his meridians.

Long Chen could clearly feel it nourishing every cell in his body and gradually increasing his strength.

But the good times didn't last. As the absorption deepened, the energy within the Soul Ring suddenly turned violent, battering his body like a storm.

He felt as though his body were about to be torn apart.

"Hang in there, Xiao Chen."

Ye Tianming and Ye Lingling stood nearby, watching Long Chen.

This was a stage every Soul Master had to pass through on the path to growth.

Long Chen clenched his teeth as sweat ran down his cheeks.

He focused inward, using his willpower to control the rampaging energy and make it his own.

As time passed, the violent energy was gradually tamed, becoming a gentle force that nourished every inch of Long Chen's skin, every bone, and even the depths of his soul.

His breathing gradually steadied, and a faint glow shimmered around him.

When the last trace of energy had been fully absorbed, the Soul Ring vanished.

Long Chen slowly opened his eyes. Feeling the surging power within him, he was filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment.

"Uncle Ye, I did it!"

Ye Tianming nodded with a smile, his eyes full of relief.

"Xiao Chen, well done. How do you feel?"

Long Chen stood up and stretched his limbs, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Uncle Ye, I feel much stronger. The Soul Power inside me is more abundant, and I can control it more precisely. My senses have also sharpened quite a bit."

"These are the benefits of absorbing a Soul Ring. Your strength has clearly reached a higher level. Only after gaining a Soul Ring can one be called a true Soul Master. But this is only the beginning. As you continue to improve and obtain more Soul Rings, your abilities will grow further—and you'll face greater challenges as well."

"I understand, Uncle Ye."

Long Chen's expression was resolute.

"I'll keep working hard and won't let you down."

Ye Lingling watched Long Chen from the side, admiration in her eyes.

"Long Chen Bro, you're amazing! You got your first Soul Ring so quickly, and your Soul Power must have increased a lot too, right?"

Long Chen turned to Ye Lingling and replied gently:

"My Soul Power increased by two levels. I'm at level twelve now."

"Two levels at once! What about your Soul Skill?"

The father and daughter both looked at Long Chen, curious.

Long Chen furrowed his brows.

"Uncle Ye, the Soul Skill I got is a little strange. I can't quite explain how it feels."

"Oh?"

Ye Tianming was slightly taken aback.

"Then show me."

"All right."

Long Chen released his Dark Night Demonic Lute Martial Soul.

The black Demon Lute floated in front of him as his fingers lightly plucked its strings.

As the first Soul Ring suddenly lit up, a mass of black mist poured out of the lute. In the blink of an eye, it gathered in the air and formed a phantom.

Ye Tianming and Ye Lingling were both startled by the phantom's faint black glow.

It had a sheep's body and a human face, and looked somewhat like the Human-Faced Demon Sheep, though not quite the same.

It stood over five meters tall, with two sharp horns, tiger-like teeth, and clawed, human-shaped hands.

Even stranger, a huge eye gleamed blood-red beneath each of its arms.

Though it was only a phantom, it looked incredibly vicious.

It let out a baby-like cry that made their scalps tingle.

"W-what is that? A mutated Human-Faced Demon Sheep?"

Ye Tianming's eyes widened.

He had never seen such a strange beast.

Long Chen's heart tightened.

He knew this was a ferocious beast from ancient myths and legends, called Taotie.

Taotie, Taowu, Hundun, and Qiongqi were known as the Four Great Ferocious Beasts of Antiquity. Taotie was a fierce, gluttonous beast.

Long Chen never expected that his Dark Night Demonic Lute could summon a Taotie Phantom.

"Uncle Ye, it seems to be an ancient divine beast called Taotie."

"Taotie?"

"Yeah. I heard a storyteller mention it while I was wandering around town before. I thought he'd made it up, but I didn't expect a beast like that to actually exist."

Ye Tianming nodded, still doubtful.

"I've lived most of my life and this is the first time I've heard of Taotie. I wonder where that storyteller learned about it. Xiao Chen, what is the Soul Skill you got?"

Long Chen withdrew his Martial Soul, and the Taotie Phantom disappeared with it.

"Uncle Ye, my first Soul Skill is a little strange too. I call it 'Demonic Sound Summons Taotie.' When I use this Soul Skill, I can summon Taotie through the lute's sound. Taotie is gluttonous and has the Devour Ability. It can devour all Soul Skills at the hundred-year level, and can also devour and weaken Soul Skills above that level to some extent."

"D-devour?!"

Ye Tianming's expression changed dramatically.

He had already been worried that Long Chen might be controlled by his Heart Demon. He hadn't expected Long Chen's first Soul Skill to be so evil.

Long Chen already had the Devouring Power of an evil-attribute Martial Soul.

And that power seemed to be exceptionally strong.

If he couldn't control the greed in his heart, the consequences would be disastrous.

Long Chen seemed to sense what Ye Tianming was worried about.

He didn't know why he had ended up with a Soul Skill like this, either.

Long Chen felt as though his body were merely a vessel, carrying an unknown force. With his current strength, he still couldn't fully control that powerful force.

He suspected that as his Soul Power increased, Taotie's Devouring Power would grow stronger as well.