Violence to Violence! Blood to Blood!

His movements appeared slow, but in reality, they were as fast as lightning.

His body twisted at an incredible angle, dodging the lethal strike just in time.

The claws of the Shadow Leopard grazed the hem of his clothes, tearing away only a scrap of fabric.

Having missed its mark, the Shadow Leopard turned nimbly in mid-air and landed steadily.

It crouched low, emitting a threatening growl, its ghostly green eyes locked onto this unexpectedly agile human.

Situ Xuan finally looked at the soul beast properly. His gaze was terrifyingly calm, as if he were examining an inanimate object.

"Too slow."

He said softly, slowly clenching his right hand into a fist.

The Shadow Leopard seemed provoked; it pushed off with its hind legs and lunged again.

This time its speed was even greater, its figure leaving a blurred trail in the air.

But Situ Xuan was faster than it.

He stepped half a pace forward with his right foot, his body leaning slightly. The moment the Shadow Leopard reached him, his fist struck out like a cannonball.

"Bang!"

A dull thud echoed through the jungle.

The punch hit the Shadow Leopard squarely on the bridge of its nose—one of the most vulnerable spots for any feline.

The Shadow Leopard let out a painful howl, its forward momentum coming to an abrupt halt.

Situ Xuan did not give it a single chance to catch its breath.

His fists rained down like raindrops, each one whistling as it tore through the air.

There were no flashy soul skills, no brilliant lights, only the purest, most primitive violence.

"North Star Hundred Rending Fists!"

A flurry of fists enveloped the Shadow Leopard's entire body. Head, spine, ribs—every one of Situ Xuan's punches struck a vital point with precision.

The Shadow Leopard tried to resist, tried to dodge, but within that impenetrable web of fists, all its struggles were in vain.

The sound of shattering bones rang out incessantly. The Shadow Leopard's howls gradually faded from high-pitched cries to weak, helpless whimpers.

Situ Xuan's final punch struck directly at the Shadow Leopard's heart.

The blow appeared gentle, but it actually contained a terrifying hidden force.

The moment his fist touched its fur, the Shadow Leopard's entire body shuddered violently before collapsing limply to the ground.

It was dead.

Situ Xuan slowly retracted his fist, his breathing as steady as before, as if that storm-like assault had not consumed a shred of his stamina.

Just then, a strange scene unfolded.

The Shadow Leopard's corpse began to emit a soft white light, then gradually turned transparent.

A few seconds later, the body vanished completely, replaced by a milky-white orb of light the size of a fist.

This orb of light floated in the air as if alive, radiating pure energy fluctuations.

It drifted slowly toward Situ Xuan, circled him, and finally came to a stop in front of his chest.

Situ Xuan reached out a finger and gently touched the orb.

The orb immediately transformed into countless specks of light, like fireflies on a summer night, rushing to merge into his body.

A warm current flowed through his meridians and finally gathered in his dantian. He could clearly feel that his soul spirit had improved by a faint margin.

"So this is the spiritual energy orb of the Spirit Ascension Platform?"

Situ Xuan muttered to himself, feeling the changes in his soul power.

But what excited Situ Xuan even more was the thrill that came from the battle itself!

No need for restraint!

No need for concealment!

No need to hold back!

Violence returns to violence!

Blood returns to blood!

Blood for the blood god! Skulls for the skull throne!

This is how a battle should be!

This is how a fight should be!

This is how a man should be!

At this moment, the pent-up frustration that had long been hidden in Situ Xuan's chest suddenly transformed into a surge of heroic spirit that simply had to be vented!

Situ Xuan stopped absorbing the spiritual energy orb; according to the original records, such an orb was not only highly beneficial to visiting soul masters, but also an irresistible temptation to the soul beasts within the world of the Spirit Ascension Platform!

Situ Xuan felt the soul power within him stir slightly as he absorbed the orb of spiritual energy, yet the corner of his mouth curled into a wild arc that felt entirely out of place in the tranquil forest.

What he needed was not this insignificant improvement, but a battle that could truly make his blood boil and allow him to unleash his full strength!

Was this Spirit Ascension Platform not the perfect stage for exactly that?

He no longer moved with caution; instead, he strode forward in a chosen direction as if he were taking a stroll in his own backyard.

The thick layer of decaying leaves crunched loudly under his feet as he wove between the thick tree trunks, making no attempt to hide his tracks. The milky-white spiritual energy orb, not yet fully absorbed and still swirling around him like a swarm of fireflies, appeared exceptionally conspicuous in the dim woods.

They emitted pure and alluring energy fluctuations, acting like the brightest lighthouse in the darkness, announcing to every predator in this forest that a "moving meal" had arrived.

He had not gone far when the canopy to his right shook violently, and a giant bear covered in rock-like armor roared as it charged out, its scarlet eyes locked onto Situ Xuan... or rather, the spiritual energy orbs surrounding him.

A century-level soul beast, the Rock-Armored Bear, possessed astonishing strength and formidable defense.

"Well timed!"

Situ Xuan did not dodge or retreat; he charged straight toward the giant bear. As the beast reared up on its hind legs and swung a paw capable of shattering boulders downward, he ducked low, slipping into the bear's guard like a ghost.

"Beidou Bone-Breaking Fist!"

His fist did not strike the hard rock armor but instead landed with pinpoint precision in the gap between the armor plates, sending a sinister yet highly penetrating force deep into the beast's body.

"Crack!"

A teeth-grinding sound of bone fracturing echoed from within the Rock-Armored Bear.

The giant bear's massive body stiffened abruptly, its roar cut short, and it collapsed to the ground like a falling mountain, the fierce light in its eyes fading rapidly.

Soon, another spiritual energy orb drifted up, joining the "procession of orbs" circling Situ Xuan.

He didn't even glance at it and continued forward.

A Venomous Water Python lurking in the swamp mud suddenly launched an attack, its foul-smelling venom shooting out like an arrow.

Situ Xuan shifted his feet, his figure leaving behind trails of afterimages as he easily dodged the venom, simultaneously forming his fingers into a blade.

"Flying Bird Sky Slash Wave!"

His hand-blade slashed through the air; an invisible blade of energy tore through the atmosphere, precisely severing the seven-inch mark of the Venomous Water Python.

The serpent's massive body writhed powerlessly for a few moments before dissolving into a third orb of light.

A pack of ten-year-level Gale Wolves attempted to surround and hunt him, numbering seven or eight in total.

They coordinated perfectly, pouncing from different directions. Situ Xuan spun his body, his legs sweeping out like a whirlwind.

"Beidou Thousand Consecutive Kicks!"

Leg shadows filled the sky, each kick landing on the most vulnerable waist, abdomen, or joints of the Gale Wolves. The sound of shattering bones merged into a continuous rhythm, and the pack howled as they were sent flying backward, wiped out in an instant.

The number of surrounding orbs grew by another seven or eight; by now, the spiritual energy orbs circling him resembled a small nebula, emitting a vast and alluring aura of energy.

Wherever he passed, the roars and wails of soul beasts rose and fell, but they quickly returned to silence, leaving behind only more drifting spiritual energy orbs, like a path of starlight paved for the god of death.

The atmosphere in the forest grew increasingly heavy; some of the weaker soul beasts, sensing the gathering energy and the invisible murderous aura radiating from Situ Xuan, had long since retreated in terror.

But at the same time, more powerful presences were drawn in, casting greedy and dangerous gazes from the depths of the forest.